12th May Norfolk - sunny periods, 15C, steady SE light wind

Arrived at Choseley barns (near Titchwell) about mid-day to see the Dotterel which have been present about a week.  On the usual large field, the Dotterel were resting in a tight bunch.  However due to distance and lots of heat shimmer the view of them was no too good.  Then two hares ran straight through the flock and they took flight, this gave better views of them, 26 in all.  They circled around a little while, before returning to the same field and landed a little closer, they then started to feed and spread out over the field giving better views.

This area is also good for our two Partridge species and Corn Bunting, today only Red-legged Partridge could be seen and lots of Hares.

The afternoon was spent at the RSPB Titchwell Marsh reserve, a really good reserve for birds and much more wildlife.  Walking along the main beach path birds can be seen both sides, hearing the 'ping-ping' call of the Bearded Tit i watched and waited for these little reed dwelling gems to appear.  After a considerable while it was realized that, in fact, the sound was being made by a Reed Warbler that was mimicking their call, so no joy.  On the mud edge a Little-ringed Plover was feeding, along with other waders that included Redshanks, 4 Common Sandpipers, Dunlin, Lapwing and Avocet, Turnstone, a single Whimbrel and Grey Plover.

 After a lot of searching a Temminck's Stint, this a a very small wader, smaller than the LRP in the photo above, was found.  It breeds in the high north Europe and Russia and winters in Africa, each year a few pass through on migration.

A good selection of duck were present, Pochard, Teal, Shelduck, Gadwall, Pochard, two drake Red-crested Pochard and a smashing drake Garganey came out of the reeds to feed.  Apart from the usual Greylag and Canada Geese, there was about 30 Brent Geese present, not having yet migrated north.

Two Cuckoo were flying about, one calling.  Marsh harriers were hunting over the reed beds while a considerable number of Swifts, House Martins and Swallows hawked insects everywhere.  Meadow Pipits were coming to the pool edges and there was one Water Pipit spotted, these winter here and usually move away.  The woods and reed beds were full of warblers and other birds singing and holding territories.  In all nearly 70 species were seen during this visit to Titchwell