Despite warnings of doom and gloom - "there's no birds at Titchwell", "you're wasting your time", "the water levels too high", "it's going to rain all day" - 55 intrepid birders set out on an overcast morning for a visit to Titchwell in Norfolk. We were greeted at the reserve by the warden with much better news, it seemed there were indeed birds at Titchwell! And the group went on to see many of them. At times it was hard to know where to look first, Marsh Harriers, at least 4 in number, glided lazily over the reedbed or soared overhead in thermals. Bearded Tits played games of "chase me" around the reeds not far from the path. A male Garganey, a real stunner put on a show near one of the hides and was a "lifer" for more than one of the party. Avocets, the emblem of the RSPB, and not long ago a very rare bird, mated only yards from where we stood (we all turned the other way, honest!) We were told that there were 90 Avocets on the reserve, a credit to the people that look after the reserve and a credit to all of us members who's money supports their work.

Lunch was taken on the beach and a scan of the sea soon produced more good birds. Stuart Taylor was, as usual on top form and identified a summer plumaged Red-necked Grebe. Some of the sea duck posed a problem, but with many eyes spotting them and Stuart identifying them they soon found their way onto the day list. After lunch we walked along the beach and watched a flock of between 15 and 20 Shore Larks. These proved difficult to see at times amongst the low lying plants but in the end I think everyone got good views of them. The afternoon was spent in the hides watching birds on the lagoons, We worked our way through many hundreds of Gulls but apart from a 'funny' juvenile none of the specials were found. The long staying Black-winged Stilt was found on the Shooting Marsh on the opposite side of the path from the reserve and after a while we saw it in flight, a very exotic sight.

So as usual Titchwell had come up trumps, I think everyone in the party saw something of interest. We saw a mixture of winter birds waiting to return to their breeding grounds and summer visitors just returning. The group saw around 70 different species of bird, a quite respectable total, not a bad days birding. I'd hate to be around when the so called experts think there are birds to be seen, I'd run out of notebooks or my pen would dry up. As for the threat it would rain all day, the only rain we saw was when we were safely on our way home.

Other things besides birds were seen, while I was showing some of the group the Shore Larks, the others were watching a Seal killing an Eider on the sea. Apparently it was throwing the bird into the air and then smashing it on the water. From all accounts it ended up very dead and then the Seal lost interest in it.