Titchwell RSPB - 25.1.15

My first coach trip with the Watford RSPB group in a long time saw us head to North Norfolk for some proper birding with many a year tick awaiting us! The journey up added Red-Legged Partridge and Whooper Swan in Cambridgeshire and Curlew near Heacham. On arrival at Titchwell we had a wander around the footpath towards the visitor centre hoping that we could spot a Woodcock that had been seen before we arrived but there was no sign for us. Out on the reserve the year ticks started coming thick and fast. 2 Water Pipit were a good start as was my first Ruff of the year. I failed to see them last year! 6 Avocet and a showy Spotted Redshank were added before we reached the beach. The beach and sea produced many new ticks including a nice group of Bar-Tailed Godwit, Sanderling, RT Diver and 3 Goosander in off. 4 Snow Bunting then flew along the beach and 5 Eider flew past offshore. My 100th species for the year was ticked off when 3 RB Merganser were spotted sitting on the sea. The last new bird at sea was a lone Kittiwake following a trawler boat. Back on the reserve we saw most of Norfolk's Pink-Footed Geese in the distance, a single Ringed Plover and then a lovely Barn Owl hunting. A couple of us waited as long as we could before the coach left for Hen Harriers coming into roost but they didn't show for us but we did spot a Chinese Water Deer which was only the second one I'd ever seen. I ended the day on 111 species for the year.