A Day on Titchwell Beach

19th October 2019

Today all the waders on the fresh-marsh were clustered out in the middle and the acres of wet mud in front of Island Hide were totally devoid of any birds. The Parinder Hide wasn't much better, but at least the newly-returned Wigeon were putting on a show.

At Volunteer Marsh the tide was running out exposing some mud in the channel which had attracted a Redshank feeding just 10 yards away.

Further along on the tidal lagoon a Black-tailed Godwit was feeding on a narrow spit quite close to the path. Always amazes me how the birds along this stretch of path can be so tame.

Now on to the beach and I had only got half way to the sea when I came across this Turnstone running around feeding on a dry beach with little or no tide wrack. Notice in the second photo that it has an eye cocked skyward assessing a potential threat overhead.

Now at the water's edge and at this time of year you can normally rely on a good range of the usual suspects on an outgoing tide. The Brent Geese are back in ever-increasing numbers and fill the air with their gutteral cronking.

Oystercatchers love feeding on the seaweed-covered rocks looking for shellfish and crabs. The Curlew however are normally less approachable and keep their distance close to the water's edge.

By far the most numerous bird on the beach at this time of year is the Bar-tailed Godwit with its duller but still attractive winter plumage.

And the outgoing tide continually exposes more mud resulting in quite a lot of movement.






And finally one of my favourite birds on the beach, the Knot. A small group of just five birds flew in and were feeding busily on the pools in front of me, far too occupied in re-fuelling to worry about me. Just wait and they will come to you!!