These three Nature Reserves are situated on the northern coast of Norfolk. The whole of Norfolk, and especially the northern coast, is renowned for landfalls of rare passage migrants because of it's geographical location. Holkham is owned by the nature Conservancy Council and is an area of pine woods, grazing marsh, parkland, intertidal flats, sand dunes and a lake. Both Titchwell and Snettisham are owned by the RSPB. Titchwell has fresh/brackish coastal lagoons, reed-beds, salt marsh and dunes and Snettisham is an area of inter-tidal flats, flooded gravel pits and shingle ridge.

My expectation of seeing some rare birds at Holkham was high but I was a little dissapointed with our visit there. We didn't see any unusual birds and certainly no real rarities. Those birds we did see included Greenfinch, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Curlew, Coot and many Wood Pigeons. The trip was livened up a little when we spotted a Stoat scampering across the car park area to dissapear into the adjacent undergrowth.

Titchwell was probably the most enjoyable of all the reserves we visited during our week long stay in Norfolk. There were many different species of birds feeding or resting in lagoons. Some of them, including my first Snipe and Little Stint, fed very close to the bird hides, so close that my binoculars wouldn't focus. As we scanned the area many of the waders suddenly became restless and took flight. The reason for this became obvious when a diminutive Merlin flashed past over the marsh. I overheard a fellow birdwatcher mention Bearded Tits and looked towards the reeds where I saw a male and female together. Another first for me, and beautiful little birds to boot, with a very distintive call. Other birds seen included Canada Goose, Black-tailed Godwit, and Teal. All 'firsts' again.

We couldn't have arrived at Snettisham at a worse time of day. The tide was right out and the birds were scattered widely over the area and too distant to see well. The sun was also shining directly into my eyes as I 'scoped' the Wash. I did manage to identify a few Turnstones, many Dunlin, one or two Grey Plovers, Oystercatchers, Redshank and Sanderling.