The plan this morning was to spend the morning at Titchwell and try again for the Semipalmated Sandpiper. As we approached the reserve news broke "Adult still distantly on freshmarsh from path by Island Hide" We made our way along the path and began scanning for the bird. There were plenty of Dunlin present, mainly adults but with some juveniles among them. A single Curlew Sandpiper was a welcome addition to the year list when it was found feeding among the Dunlin and Godwits. After a lengthy scan, the Semi P could not be located. Then news came through that the earlier report was, in fact, a Common Sandpiper.
High tide was forecast for around 9am, so we walked round to the Parrinder Hide where the light and viewing conditions were much improved. Several scans through the flocks of Dunlin, Godwits, and Avocets failed to locate the Semi P. Avocets were present in huge numbers and when another flock of 25-30 birds flew in they put all the Dunlins up into the air. Shortly after they settled back down on the marsh the Semipalmated Sandpiper was found among them!
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| Semipalmated Sandpiper |
We also had the pleasure of spending some time chatting with Gordon Hamlett, author of the "Best birdwatching sites guide to the Scottish Highlands" A book that proved invaluable on our first trips to Scotland and continues to do so.
Shortly after midday, we decided to make our way to Breydon water hoping to locate the Pacific Golden Plover. We parked in the rugby club car park and started the 2.5-mile walk along Angles Way towards the pumphouse. We were walking at a quick pace but halfway along the footpath, we came to a halt when Brian spotted a Swallowtail Butterfly! I had tried and failed to see these on several occasions in the last couple of years. Admittedly I hadn't made great efforts to visit at the right time or picked the warmer days. It flitted from flower to flower and then briefly came to rest on the footpath.
We walked on and eventually reached the pumphouse. A further 100-150 yards beyond this point we could see a small group of birders. They all had their scopes pointing towards a horse field South of the River Yare. After some general directions from the other birders, I had my first ever views of a Pacific Golden Plover in the scope. It was roosting in the company of two European Golden Plovers. It awoke briefly and allowed for some excellent scope views as it walked a short distance before returning to its slumber. So another lifer and another species that comes off the dipped list.
Two great days of birding, producing five-year ticks and a life tick, with the added bonus of my first-ever sighting of a Swallowtail Butterfly.
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| Swallowtail Butterfly |
We walked on and eventually reached the pumphouse. A further 100-150 yards beyond this point we could see a small group of birders. They all had their scopes pointing towards a horse field South of the River Yare. After some general directions from the other birders, I had my first ever views of a Pacific Golden Plover in the scope. It was roosting in the company of two European Golden Plovers. It awoke briefly and allowed for some excellent scope views as it walked a short distance before returning to its slumber. So another lifer and another species that comes off the dipped list.
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| Pacific Golden Plover |
Two great days of birding, producing five-year ticks and a life tick, with the added bonus of my first-ever sighting of a Swallowtail Butterfly.
