The new year began fairly mild with days of rain, strong winds and the odd sunny spell here and there. By mid-January, however, the temperatures dropped to zero for the second time this winter and the first time this year. The reserve froze over once again and during most mornings, the vegetation and everything else was decorated in the spiky icy formations of hoar frost. For brief periods of time, Strumpshaw transformed into a winter wonderland with the landscape being crystalised and breathtaking.
As for the wildlife sightings, there's been plenty enough to talk about. So let us begin.
The main attraction this month has got to be Buckenham's rook roost which has gotten a lot of attention recently, including a brief appearance on Winterwatch. I went to visit it myself, though it was a bit windy, I watched around 50,000 rooks and jackdaws fly in for the night at their prefered roosting site that's been recorded since the Doomsday Book in 1086.
Pick a nice day with little rain or wind and arrive just before dusk around 4pm and you will see them do more than just fly over. The perfect night will lure these birds to gather in the fields and even perch on the telegraph wires to the point they almost bend in the middle by their sheer mass in weight. There's no better sight than watching them swirl en masse in the light of the setting sun before heading in to roost accompanied by a cacophony of noise that they produce. It is quite an experience that I highly recomend to go see.
On the wire by Ali Nazimi
Buckenham Marshes have also been very productive with (the highest counts from this month) 2,750 pink-footed geese, 3,770 wigeon, 1,366 teal, 3500 lapwing, 283 white-fronted geese, 680 golden plover and 3 water pipits as well as 2 cranes that were seen on the marshes itself on New Years Day and a hen harrier (ringtail - Jan 27th).
Cantley Marshes, meanwhile, also had an impressive count of 3,000 lapwings, 369 white fronted geese, 3,200 pink-footed geese, 252 black-tailed godwits, 71 golden plover, 8 dunlin, 10 pintails and a female (ringtail) hen harrier (Jan 9th).
Taiga bean geese at Buckenham and Cantley have been a bit of a wild goose chase this winter. The marshes have been an annual wintering ground for this species for many years. They usually get here by late November until mid-January. Unfortunately, they never turned up in November or December last year. However, on Jan 24th onwards, we have had reports of about 4 being seen at Buckenham, though it hasn't been verified. It is also worth noting that a tundra bean goose has made a several appearances amongst the gaggle of white-fronts mostly at Cantley this month, more so than the Taigas.
For Strumpshaw, though seemingly empty most days outside reception, the real action is out in the woods. Hundreds of siskins have been filling the canopy with quite a cacophony of twittering and wheezing calls. Amongst them, you may spot a redpoll. These brown, streaky small birds with a red dot on their forheads (which my dad loves to call "Hindu birds") have been causing some interest amongst some keen birders. There's been a flock of at least 50-60 redpolls around and those who have an expert eye may be able to seperate them further as two different species; lesser and mealy. The differences are so subtle, even I struggle.
Staying in the woods, there have been a few signs of spring already popping up. On Jan 7th, the first snowdrops and hazel catkins emerged. The snowdrops have just started to develop into a small display near base camp. Woodpeckers have started drumming and some birds are claiming their territories already with birds such as song thrushes are singing their heart out. Listen out for treecreepers that are now performing their song while spirraling up the trees.
The otters have continued to appear on a regular basis at reception, swimming as close as the measuring post. Kingfisher sightings have been few, but they are around, just very fleeting glimpses are perhaps the best you are going to get. The same goes to bitterns as well.
Bearded tits have been showing in front of reception. I expect they spent the worst of the cold or wet days hidden away, though I have seen them on the 30th clinging onto the reeds like some rodeo horse during a fairly windy morning. Meanwhile, this month has been great for water rails. The ice and the cold made the water rails more visible outside reception, forcing them out into the open. Great white egrets and red kites have also increased in sightings this month.
The highest tally of marsh harriers roosting at Strumpshaw this January has been 14. While the starlings haven't been recorded roosting of late, though on Monday 23rd, I did see some leave that morning from the direction of the reserve as I was making my way there on foot close to the car park.
Also reported at Strumpshaw this month; a dark-bellied brent was seen on Jan 2nd, a goosander on the river on Jan 21st and on Jan 18th, 3 woodcocks were reported in the woods and another was seen at Buckenham the same day. Quite a charming and beautiful bird if you ever get lucky in locating one.
Woodcock
Finally, the RSPB's Big Garden Bird Watch weekend was under way during the final weekend of January (Friday 27th - Monday 30th). How did you get on? Here at Strumpshaw, we spent an hour counting the birds visiting our bird feeder area. Our results were; 2 coal tits, 3 chaffinches, 1 blackbird, 6 long-tailed tits, 2 marsh tits, 2 dunnocks, 7 great tits, 8 blue tits, 1 robin, a grey squirrel and (surprisingly) a muntjac deer! Let us know how you got on, and don't forget to submit your results.
February is always an unpredictable month. Will spring arrive early this year or will winter extend for an extra month? As it stands, it is getting warmer. But will it last? Find out at the end of February!
Upcoming events a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the winter wildfowl spectacle at Buckenham Marshes:
Winter Wonderland - a guided walk at Buckenham Marshes, 10am, 11 February https://events.rspb.org.uk/events/35639