It’s not very often you can say that these days especially when it comes to birds. Before you get too excited, it involves species that have already been recorded here.
While carrying out our woodland bird survey last week, I was walking through Willow Wood (by the dead trees if you are looking from the main path), when I heard a coal tit calling nearby. As I was recording the bird on the survey map I noticed low down in the trees close by. When I got a better look through my bins I realised that it had a beak full of insects. The bird soon moved off and I didn’t see where it went. I checked back through the database in the office and can’t find any reference to them breeding before – a new breeding species for the reserve.
The other ‘first’ came on Monday afternoon when I was birding the fresh marsh. I had seen the two Temminck’s stints at the weekend but they had been very distant at the back of the lagoon. On Monday they were showing well on the islands near the Parrinder Hide when I realised there was a third bird with them. I quickly phoned Dave who said that there had been three the day before and he had forgotten to tell me! A few minutes later, a bird dropped in which I initially thought was a common sandpiper. Getting my scope onto it revealed that it was a fourth Temminck’s stint, the first one I have even found and the first time four have been seen together at Titchwell!
Black tailed godwit and ruff by Andy Thompson
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In preparation for Wings Over Titchwell this weekend, the waders are starting to show up. In addition to the Temminck’s stints (still 2 today), we have seen 3 little stint, curlew sandpiper, 7 common sandpiper, 3 little ringed plover, 2 greenshank and 20 dunlin on the fresh marsh in the last few days. Two drake garganey have been showing most days and the bittern was booming this morning. Why not come and visit us over the weekend, you never know what might drop in next?