Titchwell
Titchwell is a flagship RSPB reserve on the North Norfolk coast. Its wide range of habitats in a small area offer birders the chance of seeing over 100 species in a day, especially in spring.
Local birds at Titchwell
Titchwell has a wealth of great birds on show. The reedbeds are especially popular, and with patience, excellent views can be had of Bearded Tits and Marsh Harriers. Waders, including Avocets, breed in good numbers on the marshes, and these are joined by a wide variety of migrant species in spring and autumn. The beach offers a chance to add to the variety of waders and wildfowl, and Snow Buntings can sometimes be seen during autumn and winter. The extensive saltmarsh between the reserve and Thornham often hosts hunting raptors and owls.
Special birds at Titchwell
This reserve boasts a huge list of scarce and rare visitors, as well as 'mega' rarities including a Great Knot in 2016 and a Slender-billed Gull two years earlier. There is always a chance of finding a good bird among the waders, especially in spring and autumn. The woodland areas regularly attract Yellow-browed Warblers each autumn, and scarcer birds at this time include Red-flanked Bluetail and Red-backed Shrike.
When to visit Titchwell
Titchwell offers great birding at all times of the year. A dawn visit in spring is recommended, as the dawn chorus in the reedbeds and out on the marshes can be bordering on deafening. Breeding birds can be easily watched in summer as chicks progress towards fledging, while autumn offers the excitement of the chance of something rare blowing in. During winter, a scan of the sea offers a chance to see a range of sea ducks, grebes and divers. Hen Harriers, Merlins, Peregrines and occasionally Rough-legged Buzzards can sometimes be seen hunting over the reserve and adjacent saltmarshes.
Nearby birding destinations
The whole North Norfolk coast offers great birding. The farmland around Choseley Drying Barns, just south of Titchwell village, is worth checking for Dotterels in May as well as a good selection of buntings and finches. Thornham Harbour to the east has hosted Twites and Snow Buntings in recent years.
How to get there
Titchwell RSPB reserve is just off the A149 between Thornham and Titchwell. Local buses stop at the reserve entrance on the main road.