Spring has arrived at North Warren! Over the past week the reserve has come alive with birdsong as the weather has improved and the migrant birds have returned to their breeding grounds. During a routine walk around the grazing marsh this morning chiff chaff, sedge warbler and whitethroat were all heard singing just off the footpaths. Another treat this morning was the nightingale which we heard singing in the blackthorn near the viewing platform, this is the first nightingale that has been heard in this part of the reserve for many years, although it used to be a favourite spot for them.
Sunday was also a good day for birding at North Warren when my colleague found a green winged teal (the N. American equivalent to our regular teal), a pair of garganey, ten yellow wagtails, 2 blue-headed wagtails and a Channel wagtail all on the grazing marsh. The wagtails are often found around livestock as they feed on the flies and other insects attracted by the dung, so at this time of year they can often be seen near one of our herds of Konik ponies.
Up on the heath at Aldringham Walks there has been much woodlark activity over the past few days, one pair in particular have been putting on a good display of courtship behaviour. Dartford warblers can also be heard in this area.
If you are walking near the reedbed at North Warren listen out for our bittern which has been building up its throat muscles over the past few weeks by ‘grunting’, this practice has now developed into its characteristic full boom!