Penduline Tit at Titchwell RSPB & Holme Reserves!

Titchwell RSPB
I was up early and arrived at Titchwell RSPB at 7.30am. Bumped into Trevor Girling in the carpark who was a few steps ahead of me! I made a beeline for the main path and joined a small crowd of birders including Warden Paul Eele. All eyes were fixed intently on the reed mace that runs alongside the path out to Parrinder hide. Apparently, the Penduline Tit that was found last night had been seen just in front of where we stood, along with a Stonechat! We watched and waited. It would be a awesome view if it appeared here! Shortly, the Stonechat appeared – now for it's partner in crime. Time ticked by, the sun broke out through the clouds and this made viewing more difficult. Trevor Girling spotted a Reed Warbler skulking about, which I tried to photograph, but in vain. A Wren and a Reed Bunting got us excited until they revealed themselves fully and the Stonechat acted Penduline Tit like, hanging onto reedmace, just to raise the blood pressure every now and again! Hundreds of Chaffinches and Starlings flying west. 2 Snow Buntings also flew west over the path. Cetti's Warbler calling and also saw one by Island Hide and a Marsh Harrier glided over the pools. I scanned the reed mace over and over again with bins and scope, searching and hoping. I stuck it out until 10am and then gave up! I didn't want to watch reed mace ALL day long!

Eddie had seen 3 Yellow-browed Warblers round the Meadow Trail and then sat watching the reed mace just south of Island Hide – nothing. I joined Eddie and we both walked round the Meadow Trail, where I had a full on, but brief view of a Yellow-browed Warbler in a sallow, but not enough time to take a picture. Chatted with three Norfolk birders on route back to the cafe and then sat and had a coffee before we left. Eddie then joined me for the rest of the afternoon.

Holme Marsh Reserve NWT
Little Grebe, several Redwings flying through and starling flocks. 2 Marsh Harriers over the marsh and 3 Snipe flew over.

Holme Dunes NWT – The Firs
Lunch in the new cafe. I was very impressed – the jacket potatoes were much nicer (or so it seemed) than the ones at Cley – maybe it was just my imagination! So, I had jacket potato with cheese and a salad. I didn't give into cake though – that was pushing the purse strings too far! News of a Long-eared Owl at Walsey Hills came on the pager and I heard that there were loads of people there with cars all along the main road and people were queueing to see the LEO sitting in a hedge. I would like to have gone to see this obviously, but didn't want to drive all that way for one bird at the end of the day, especially when I have seen several before!

Holme NOA
Chatted with Sophie for a short while and looked at the new Annual Report for 2013 (see separate post). Sophie didn't think the NW winds on Tuesday/Wednesday would come to much, but mentioned there could be a window of opportunity for rares to drop in the following weekend. Sophie said there were 3 Wheatears along the Thornham Bank today, but not too much else around of note.

Holme NWT – The Forestry
At least half a dozen magpies in here, a couple of Robins and a single Goldcrest was all we managed to see here.

Eddie left to return to Titchwell and I went to visit my parents. Whilst there, the pager bleeped up with Penduline Tit again at 4.45pm!!! Eddie was here around this time and he didn't see or hear anyone that had seen it, so don't know how many people saw it at this time and who etc.

PICTURES TO BE ADDED