May 14th Titchwell

Breeding season at Titchwell

Today, Mum and I were at Titchwell. The sun was out, but it was a bit sparse on the bird front. Half the reserve was surprisingly lacking with them, especially the 2nd and 3rd of the main pools leading to the sea. The first pool, however, was more productive. The birds here were in breeding mode. One corner of the pool, where an island was fenced off to land predators, was covered in black-headed and Mediterranean gulls, sandwich terns, avocets and other birds as they used the island to build their nest and raise their chicks. With so many birds in one spot doing the same thing, they formed a very defensive colony and were able to chase off the approaching marsh harriers with no problem.

Black-headed Gull

Mediterranean Gull

Mating pair of Sandwich Terns

Common Tern

Canada Goose with gosling

While the waders, gulls and terns were still on their nests, the wildfowl (ducks and geese) were already parents. Many of them were taking their small fluffy offspring around the pool with them, leading them to places to feed. Some of the mallards here had large broods averaging between 9 - 13 ducklings. With so many ducklings, it was hard for the mother duck to keep an eye on all of them at once and there were constantly a few stragglers getting left behind and into trouble from neighbouring ducks that bullied the ones that got in their way.

Greylag with gosling

Mallard with ducklings

Little Gull in front of a Black-headed Gull

As well as nesting birds and baby birds, there were also a few other highlights. At least 4 or 5 little gulls wandering around the least busy half of the freshwater pool, dwarfed by it's black-headed cousins. Black markings on their wings as well as their size were a big give away in telling them apart. I had no problem spotting them, but it was Mum who was the one who spotted two little ringed plovers as well as a spoonbill before I did. The spoonbill was a bit distant and half hidden behind a dip over on the far side of the saltmarsh fields. I dismissed it as a little egret at first, but Mum was positive that it was indeed a spoonbill and she was right. And then, as if to rub it in, she also pointed out a kestrel high in the sky. I'm getting bested by someone who's still a novice at birdwatching, when did this happen?

Little Gulls

Little Ringed Plover

Little Egret and Spoonbill (a rubbish and distant shot)

Spoonbill (again, very distant shot)

Kestrel

Avocet

Shoveler

Gadwall

Shelduck

Pied Wagtail

Oystercatcher

Brent Geese

Wind surfing

Jackdaw on a feeder

Large Red Damselfly

Variable Damselfly?

Speckled Wood