Wild and Wonderful: Titchwell

Showing posts with label Titchwell. Show all posts

Monday, 15 October 2012

Beautiful Birds: the Spoonbill in North Norfolk

Spoonbill (same family as Ibis)

Back in mid August 2012, we made our first visit to RSPB Titchwell Marsh on the North Norfolk coast. It is a splendid reserve, with good paths and hides. I had very much hoped to see a Spoonbill - a first for me - and we were not disappointed as there in among the geese, Avocets, Little Egrets and other wading birds were nine Spoonbills. What magnificent creatures they are! There is a newly established breeding colony a short way along the coast.

You can see a photo of 19 Spoonbills on the Titchwell lagoons here. You can read about the travels of a ringed Spoonbill here and here.

I have been meaning to post these pictures for a while! It is always a thrill to encounter a 'new' species for the first time!

Friday, 28 September 2012

A Flight of Dragonflies

I seem to have an accumulation of dragonfly photos, so here are a few to add a splash of colour to a grey day ... though the sun has now come out. Enjoy!

Migrant Hawker ... in our Suffolk garden

As above

... the Migrant Hawker again!

First shot at a fidgety Emperor - do they ever stand still?

Male Black-tailed Skimmer (Minsmere)

Pretty sure this is another (rather bedraggled) Emperor.

A Darter - ?Ruddy Darter

?A female Common Darter

ditto

Could this be a Red-veined Darter?

An old female Darter, not sure which kind of Darter though

ditto

Male ?Ruddy Darter ...

... head on!

Emperor, Britain's largest dragonfly ... these hardly ever stop to rest!

Another male Common Darter, I'm guessing

Male Ruddy Darter ... note the 'twine'

... possibly the female Ruddy Darter

I'm very much a novice at identifying these Odonata, so please correct me if you can! These dragonflies were spotted at Minsmere and Helmingham in Suffolk and at How Hill, Hickling and Titchwell in Norfolk during the summer.

Identification aids consulted ...