Snettisham Wader and pink foots Spectaculars 2012-2013

Posted on 30/04/2012 by Maria

Pinkfoot GeeseBOOK  YOUR ACCOMMODATION EARLY at Twitchers Retreat B & B to be assured of an restful night and an early start to walk to  Snettisham Reserve to watch the amazing wading spectacular.  This is a truly amazing spectacle with thousands of waders taking to the winter skies. The sound of beating wings and  bird calls in the early morning light is truly memorable.

You will need to wrap up warm and be prepared for an invigorating walk across the marshes to the reserve.  Then its back to Twitchers Retreat  to warm yourself by the  wood burner whilst your  delicious four course full English breakfast  is being freshly cooked for you.  We serve breakfast up to 10.30am, freshly cooked  so that you do not miss any of the action.

Book now for:
– July 2012 – Saturday 21st, Sunday 22nd and Monday 23rd.
– August 2/3/4/5/6  and 18/19/20/21/22nd.
– September Sat. 1/2/3/4 and Sunday 16/17/18/19/20.
– October when the nights are drawing in and the pink footed geese return Tues 2/3 and Thurs 18/19.

There is only one wader spectacular in November,  Saturday 17th.  Then its the amazing formations of pink foots flying over Twitchers Retreat towards the grazing grounds at Brancaster.  There are Pink footed goose spectaculars in Nov. 19-23rd., December 3-23rd and January 1-22nd. When the pink foots migrate we have another wader spectacular in April 27/28 2013.

 

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Swinging Blackbird on the fat ball feeders

Posted on 28/04/2012 by Maria
swinging blackbird having his breakfast at Twitchers Retreat B & B

swinging blackbird having his breakfast in the garden at Twitchers Retreat B & B

The birds are busy feeding as its wet and cold again today.  We have lots of varieties including a stunt bird performing acrobatics!  Has anyone ever seen a blackbird on  a   feeder holding on for dear life?  He repeatedly flies onto the fat ball feeder, clings on, takes several beak-loads and falls to the ground where to enjoy his spoils. 

The whole process continues until he has had his fill and will return later in the day.

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Jubilee in Snettisham

Posted on 26/04/2012 by Maria

Snettisham is a great place to come and celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  There are lots of events marking this historic occasion.  Glebe Singers perform a concert (“Singing in the Reign”) at St Mary’s Church, Snettisham in Norfolk, on Saturday, 26th May.  The concert raises funds for. Music chosen for the concert’s programme reflects the Queen’s reign by a wide range of composers includes music from different parts of the UK and the Commonwealth.

Tickets for the concert cost:£7.50 adults (£2 children under 16) and are available from:
- St. Mary’s Church  (01485 541301)
- The Grapes Gallery , Lynn Road, Snettisham
- The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House (tel. 01485 542891)
- The choir’s website

Entry on the field from 5pm and picnics are welcome.

For more details please contact Rev Geoff Suart on 01485 541301, or the choir on 01778 348001.

There are many other exciting events planned for early June in and around Snettisham.

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April Showers Great for the Garden

Posted on 26/04/2012 by Maria
Daffodils in Spring in Twitchers Retreat Garden

See the spring daffodils whilst having breakfast at Twitchers Retreat

What happened to the idea of a drought – not here in Snettisham, Norfolk.  The rain  has come and it keeps coming with breaks in between.  Great news for the garden right here at Twitchers Retreat Bed and Breakfast where you will find no less than three hideaways where you can sit amongst the birds, relax and enjoy a coffee.

When the sun shines it is glorious and we have seen some break through sun in between the rains.

The garden is particularly vibrant and alive with colour this spring and a variety of birdlife, as always, is evident.  Our resident chickens are producing lovely fresh eggs in regular quantities and our quails are trying to breed.  Although, sadly one of our quails also turned up their toes today.

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RSPB Titchwell & Snettisham Wader Spectacular

Posted on 12/02/2012 by Maria

Although it has be cold with quite a bit of snow the birds have continued to call into Titchwell.   We had a houseful of birders at TWITCHERS RETREAT B & B  they all went out at the crack of dawn for the WADER SPECTACULAR,  the reserve was stunning with the snow and frost, unfortunately the fog rolled in at about 8.30 and they all arrived home freezing at 10ish for breakfast  with huge appetites!!    The day prior to the walk was stunning on the reserve with lots to be seen in on such a clear and crisp morning.

At Titchwell during the first week of February  there was a flock of 250 PINTAIL on the Fresh Marsh and a solitary SCAUP  was seen off shore.  Three female SNEW were seen on the Tidal Pool and a solitary SLOVONIAN GREBE was        seen on the sea.  BITTERN were on Bett’s Pool and a MERLIN was spotted on Thornham Marsh.  A LITTLE STINT was on Volunteer Marsh.  Regularly seen in the wood by the visitor centre WOODCOCK have been seen, w hilst on the Fresh Marsh MEDITERRANEAN GULL  and a WATER PIPIT have been spotted.  Two CHIFF CHAFF have been on the Meadow Trail and a small flock of LINNET were seen on the Fresh Marsh as well as two SPOONBILL.  A visitor that has been around all week is an individual ARTIC REDPOLL.

There are several more wader and bird walks in March, April, check the RSPB website at Titchwell for all the news.

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Pink Foots Are Back

Posted on 15/09/2011 by Maria
Red-necked grebe Recorded flying west over the sea 14/09/11
Bittern Seen over the main reedbed 10/09/11 and from fen hide 11/09/11
Little bittern Seen on the pool to right of the west bank path 10/09/11 – 12/09/11
Cattle egret Seen on the reserve 10/09/11 – 13/09/11
Pink-footed goose At least 250 have gone over the reserve 14/09/11 and 15/09/11
Mandarin duck 5 seen in the reedbed pool 12/09/11
Long-tailed duck Individual seen offshore of the beach viewing platform 13/09/11
Osprey Seen flying over Thornham saltmarsh 14/09/11
Peregrine Flew over the beach 10/09/11
Buff-breasted sandpiper Recorded on the freshmarsh 10/09/11
Little gull 2 offshore 11/09/11
Wheatear 2 recorded on the brackish marsh 10/09/11 – 11/09/11
Bearded tit Groups of up to 15 birds seen over the reedbed at the base of the west bank path 14/09/11 and 15/09/11
Bullfinch Heard calling by fen hide 11/09/11

 

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Titchwell/Snettisham RSPB Reserves

Posted on 08/09/2011 by Maria
Red-throated diver Individual recorded offshore of the beach viewing platform 03/09/11 and 04/09/11
Bittern Flew over the freshmarsh 04/09/11; seen over the reedbed by Island hide 05/09/11; seen flying along the reed edge on the freshmarsh 07/09/11
Velvet scoter Individual recorded offshore 04/09/11
Long-tailed duck Male seen offshore 03/09/11, 04/09/11 and 07/09/11
Osprey Flew over the beach 05/09/11
Hen harrier Recorded flying west over the footpath 03/09/11
Common buzzard Seen over Thornham saltmarsh 03/09/11
Water rail Seen along the reed edge on the feshmarsh from Island hide 05/09/11
Little stint Up to 4 recorded on the freshmarsh 03/09/11 – 07/09/11
Greenshank 4 recorded on the freshmarsh 03/09/11
Mediterranean gull Individual present on the freshmarsh 03/09/11 and 04/09/11
Arctic tern Juvenile seen flying east over the sea 05/09/11
Wheatear Seen along the west bank path 07/09/11
Treecreeper 2 seen in the car park 04/09/11
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Certificate of Excellence Award!

Posted on 28/05/2011 by Maria

Trip Advisor

Certificate of Excellence

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Twitchers Retreat B & B RSPB sightings

Posted on 13/05/2011 by Maria
Bittern Heard booming throughout the day 07/05/11 – 12/05/11
Red-crested pochard Male seen on the freshmarsh 07/05/11, 09/05/11 – 11/05/11
Osprey Male flew high over the reserve in a SE direction 10/05/11
Montagu’s harrier Flew east over the reserve in the morning 09/05/11
Common buzzard 3 over Thornham village 11/05/11
Curlew sandpiper 2 on the tidal pool 09/05/11 and an individual in front of parrinder hide 10/05/11
Little Stint Individual recorded on the freshmarsh 07/05/11
Temminck’s stint 4 seen on the tidal pool 09/05/11 and 2 recorded in front of parrinder hide 10/05/11 – 11/-5/11
Mediterranean gull Individual recorded on the freshmarsh 10/05/11
Cuckoo Seen and heard from fen hide 11/05/11
Nightingale Seen on the boardwalk to fen hide 07/05/11
Whinchat Female recorded on the grazing meadow 07/05/11 – 08/05/11 and 11/05/11
Pied flycatcher Individual seen to the east of fen hide 11/05/11
Bearded tit Male seen in front of fen hide 08/05/11 and in the reedbed 11/05/11
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Titchwell RSPB Birders News April

Posted on 29/04/2011 by Maria
Red-necked grebe 2 recorded offshore of the beach viewing platform 23/04/11
Gannet 2 seen flying east out to sea 23/04/11 and 24/04/11; 3 recorded offshore 26/04/11
Bittern Seen flying over the fresh marsh and heard booming in the morning 23/04/11
Pale-bellied brent goose Individual recorded on the fresh marsh amongst the flock of dark-bellied brent geese from parrinder hide 24/04/11 – 25/04/11
Garganey Pair showing well on the fresh marsh 23/04/11 – 27/04/11
Red-crested pochard Male seen around the reserve 23/04/11 – 27/04/11; the female may be incubating as she has not been seen recently
Marsh harrier 6 visible from fen hide 25/04/11
Hobby Individual recorded over the fresh marsh 23/04/11 and 24/04/11
Wood sandpiper Seen on the fresh marsh 23/04/11 and 24/04/11
Greenshank Recorded on Thornham saltmarsh 23/04/11 and on the tidal pool 27/04/11
Whimbrel Recorded on Thornham saltmarsh 23/04/11, and on the fresh marsh 24/04/11 – 26/04/11
Little tern Seen flying over the sea 23/04/11 and 4 recorded on the fresh marsh 24/04/11 – 25/04/11
Short-eared owl Flew over the west bank path 25/04/11
Whitethroat Individual seen and heard calling in the car park 27/04/11
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