Little Bittern @ Titchwell

I missed the previous Little Bittern at Titchwell so Laura and i planned to an earlish start, which was delayed by a leaking fish tank and heavy rain shower as we went to load the car. Even so we had arrived at Titchwell by 9.30. We soon found the pool the Little Bittern was frequenting and joined the growing crowd. After only 15 minutes the bird was relocated, luckily enough we were near the front and got views using another birder's scope, although not the best views we moved off as it was becoming a bit of a scrum. We walked up to the 'new' hide and despite the sun being in an awkward position picked up 7 Curlew Sandpiper, Knot, Dunlin, Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwit, but no sign of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Looking back towards the information centre we could see a flock of Golden Plover and Cattle Egret briefly in flight pointed out by a warden. We decided not to walk out to the beach instead having a second look for the Little Bittern. Again we only waited a matter of minutes and found ourselves in the right place at the right time. The Little Bittern walked across the front of the reeds in clear view, we couldn't have asked for better views, we could see it streaked brown colouring and yellow beak clearly using only binocular. Driving back via Chosley we saw the regular Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer, before stopping off at North Creake Abbey so Laura could have a look at a vintage fair.

I'd had also better breiefly mention last Mondays jaunt around Maston Marsh and Keswick with James. Marston Marsh has had a lot of word done on it this summer, the paths have been leveled and resurfaced, and 2 'fish refuge' pools and a wader scrape created. A wet winter however will surely see the paths flooded and possibly washed away, as they have not been raised. The wader scrape is also in a position that can not be viewed, so we many never know if it attracts anything. Mini-rant over there wasn't many birds about, with only Kestrel and Great Spotted Woodpecker of note on the Marshes. In the paddocks by Eaton Common we watched a Green Woodpecker and heard an unlocateable Kingfisher. Keswick Mill Pool was also quiet but a sun trap nearby gave us Comma, Holly Blue, Peacock and White butterflies. We wandered back along the main Ipswich Road stopping to photograph the Sandy Stilt Puffballs that grow on the roadside nature reserve. On Saturday i also saw my first winter thrushes of the autumn with 2 Fieldfare flying over Grove Road while walking home from work.