After the rain the waders come in

After the woods headed to Snettisham as with the tide due in at lunchtime know there a chance of seeing a Broad-billed Sandpiper which had been seen recently. As the luck was was with had some decent views thanks to some kind birders letting me look through their scope with the bird feeding with a group of Dunlin showing its eye stripe well. Then headed around the reserve as high tide was at its peak lots of Common and Sandwich terns were feeding and a big flock of Knots seen circling in the distance. On the scrape despite it been a low high tide a good number of Black-tailed Godwits were seen in their fine summer plumage along with Redshanks, Oystercatcher, Dunlins and more Knots. Then walked back along the beach where a Oystercatcher was still nesting right by the path but not bothered by the walkers passing right next to her

Common Tern family showing the different ages

Waders on the scrape

Nesting oystercatcher

Then headed to Titchwell where on route a few Hares Grey and Red-legged Partridges were seen including a nice family group of 5 Grey Partridges. Decided to do the quiet coastal walk down to the beach at Gypsy lane which was quite productive with a Barn Owl hunting in the afternoon and quite a few ducks mounting including a pair of Red-crested Pochard. Walking back to the car found a nice family of Chiff-chaffs with 3 young been fed and a Purple Hairstreak was seen as well along with a nice wren.

One of the Adult Chiff-chaffs

The young Chiff-chaffs

Posing Wren

Then headed to the main reserve where i did the autumn which was quite productive with a good number of Warblers with Blackcap, Whitethroat, Cetti's, Reed, Sedge warblers around along with a family group of Bearded Tits. Then got to the viewing area with a selection of waterfowl moulting with a few Ruff and a lone Common Sandpiper feeding on the mini-scrape when across the field another Barn Owl flew out giving some great views.

Hunting Barn Owl

Headed to main scrape where a good number of waders where feeding with over 40 Ruff feeding in the Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks where a Little Gull Showed well for a micro second before been chased off by one of the Black-headed gulls. Also around a hunting pair of Marsh Harrier which distured the wader flock but allowed a good views of the Ringed Plover and Spotted Redshank which had been feeding further back.

Ruff in the evening light