Our initial trip was a local one to Godmanchester Nature reserve, where we were surprised to log over 30 species. It was a gorgeous day and we both enjoyed the walk through wooded areas, round a lake and alongside a stream. Plenty of birdsong included willow warbler, blackcaps and chiff chaffs. My first swallow of the year was also seen. On the butterfly front I recorded my first green-veined white of the year.
The following day I had a couple of hours to myself on another warm and sunny afternoon so I opted to visit another local reserve, RSPB Needingworth. Again lots of chiff chaffs and blackcaps, both green and greater spotted woodpeckers seen and 7 species of butterfly including a first small white butterfly of the year.
small white
speckled wood
comma
view from bridleway
peacock
coot and young
chiff chaff
Our main trip of the week was to a rather chilly RSPB Titchwell Marsh. Having stopped to catch sight of some fulmars at Old Hunstanton cliff top, we arrived at Titchwell Marsh at around 9.45.am. It was sunny but with a breeze from the North East so we were glad of our warm jackets and woolly hats!
We followed the paths through the reserve towards the beach,calling in at the various hides en route and added several new species of the year to our lists. Our total of approx 50 species included a flock of brent geese, two marsh harriers, sandwich terns and eventually some bearded tits. At the beach it was a bit too chilly to wander far but we did enjoy the antics of some oyster catchers on the sand.
We also had close views of a muntjac deer which continued to graze, only a few metres from us, obviously well used to humans. Towards the end of our visit, we came across a family of greylags, reminding me that that the breeding season has really begun.
brent geese
brent geese flying and grazing
..and paddling
brent geese
sandwich terns
avocet
hide
little grebe
little ringed plover
oyster catchers on the beach
beach at Titchwell
greylag family
muntjac
Our final stopping point was at Roydon Common; although we didn't spot any Ring Ouzels, it was nice to see a stonechat perched high on a gorse bush.
All in all a busy but enjoyable few days birding, adding several new species to my year list
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