Another week of weather contrasts, we have had pleasant sunshine, cloud, lots of wind and a morning of rain, however the weekend is rumoured to be sunny and double figures which could make lots of birds and insects very busy.
Strumpshaw Fen has seen the return of the black-headed gulls this week, this is usually a good indicator of spring, their loud calls and territorial behaviour is always interesting to watch, they can be seen and heard getting prepared for the nesting season from reception and the first broad along the riverbank. We once had one of the largest colonies of black-headed gulls in Norfolk, however due to erosion of the reception islands the colony has now spread out a bit wider. Brash bundles have been added to the islands to encourage the reed growth and we hope the islands will return through sedimentation.
Little Grebes have returned to reception pool as have their larger relatives the great-crested grebes, these can be seen displaying, mainly on the river with their impressive courtship dancing and eerie calls. One of the first chiffchaffs of the year was seen on Tuesday along the riverbank, plenty more of these to arrive over the next few months, the first singing chiffchaff of the season is always something to look forward to.
The woodland is now alive with bird song, a quick walk through this morning produced all the usual tits singing as well as multiple treecreepers, nuthatch, song thrush, robin, blackbird and three great spotted woodpeckers all displaying to each other.
Marsh harriers have been displaying this week with many talon grabbing and sky dancing events occurring. The biggest (in two ways) surprise of the week happened last Friday; I was having lunch in Tower Hide when I noticed a bird of prey fairly distantly over the trees, it was a male goshawk. The bird was displaying and was clearly a very large powerful looking accipiter and is the first time I have seen this species on the reserve, it has also been seen in two other locations nearby so will hopefully stay for a little while for others to enjoy, my photos were too poor to post on here unfortunately.
The wet grassland sites of Buckenham and Cantley have been alive with birds over the past week, many returning waders have stopped off to refuel and enjoy the food at these sites. I visited on Sunday and managed to see 447 black-tailed godwit, 72 curlew, 1100 golden plover and 1050 lapwing at Cantley, these are impressive numbers, it is even a possible record number of godwits. There were also smaller numbers of ruff, dunlin and the first two pairs of oystercatchers returned, right on cue. A female peregrine was sitting in a tree watching over the bird filled reserve, I imagine its a bit like looking at a moving menu!
Insect news- The first brimstone butterfly of the year was seen yesterday at Strumpshaw, near the reception, also yesterday were a large increase in small insects such as flies and even a couple of mining bees. If the weather remains as predicted for tomorrow we could see more brimstones emerging, sparrowhawks and marsh harriers will continue displaying and the wildfowl and waders may well continue to move too.