Titchwell RSPB Reserve Before the Rain

 Yesterday the RPS Nature Group managed a shortish morning's bird photography before the rain set in which was fine as most people were journeying considerable distances back home. There were very large flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover settling on the scrapes in beautiful light showing off their colourful but very good camouflage plumage in with Teal, Dunlin, Wigeon etc. Down on the beach there weren't the expected numbers of waders, certainly compared with the huge flocks at Hunstanton, but most of the species were there in small numbers. Here a couple of Bar-Tailed Godwits and an Oystercatcher with mussel. A lone Black-winged Stilt with a ring (?escapee) posed beautifully. 

RSPB Titchwell

Although a wet day was forecast, we actually only had one very short shower at lunchtime while we were eating lunch inside the visitor centre and the afternoon was fine with good skies and light. Apart from the Snow Buntings, other species included Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Goosander, Little Egret, Linnet and Teal

Snow Buntings

 It is not often that a species gets a blog to itself but the Snow Buntings at Titchwell on Sunday occupied us for much of the morning and were a delight to photograph as they lured us further and further along the beach. Difficult conditions as there was a very strong wind so sand was blowing up and sometimes obscuring the birds. I like the three birds with recession in the second image and the last image would make a very tricky jigsaw!

RSPB Titchwell

The second venue on our RPS Nature Group weekend was Titchwell, one of my favourite reserves for its wide variety of habitats from the Mussel beds that are uncovered at low tide giving feeding opportunities for Black-tailed Godwits, Oyster Catchers and Knot, lagoons with Ruff and Avocets and the ponds and scrubland with a variety of insect life.

Titchwell RSPB beach and Insects

We spent a couple of hours on the beach as the tide receded and the birds visited the mussel beds. The razor shells and old posts set the scene. Finishing with a few insects from the reserve.