Spring is here at last! It is getting much warmer and the mud from our paths has, more or less, dried out. In other good news, Fen Hide has reopened. The real exciting news is coming from Strumpshaw’s wildlife. Wildlife sighting have been plentiful, so much so, our sightings board is filling up to the point that we need a bigger board. It is that time again where we delve into some of the highlights.
March has been a lively month, in which many birds are returning to the reserve to pair up and build nests. From coots to long-tailed tits. However, the headline story is that our cranes have returned, and it looks like they could mean business yet again. This is the third year in a row where they could be breeding on the reserve. Last year’s chick appears to be alive and well and has been seen hanging around with the parents. Could a sibling be on the cards this year? We will keep a close eye on them and keep our fingers crossed.
Crane pair. Photo credit: Sean Locke
2025 is looking like it could be a great year for bitterns too. At least two or three males are booming somewhere in our reedbeds. They started booming in late February, but are in full booming mode. They sound like someone blowing over an old milk bottle, so keep an ear out.
Our list of springtime firsts is growing rapidly. Chiffchaffs and blackcaps both started singing on 3 March, while willow warblers were singing a few weeks later on 23 March. The first sedge warbler was here 3 days later on 26 March. The first garganey arrived at Tower Hide on 15 March, while the first sand martin (21 March) and swallow (22 March) are both here as well. At Buckenham, little ringed plovers joined the avocets and other waders there on 18 March and little gulls also turned up on 21 March.
Though we haven’t had any rare migrants turn up just yet, we did however, have a few notable sightings. The most unusual perhaps, was a grey seal in the river on 1 March. The next day, 11 Bewick’s swans flew east over the reserve and on 3 March, a female hen harrier was seen flying into roost. Much harder to decipher was a Caspian gull at Buckenham on 26 March. They look so identical to a herring gull, that you’ll need to be a complete expert to notice the subtle differences.
Spoonbills appear to be the next species to colonise the Yare Valley region after the success of great white egrets in recent years. On 9 March, a single spoonbill was seen at Buckenham and on the 14 March, it was joined by another. Then on the 22 March, one was spotted flying over Strumpshaw. Is it only a matter of time till they start to breed here?
Red admiral Photo credit: Sean Locke
After a cold February, many plants and insects are finally making the most of the warmer weather, despite a drop in temperature around the middle of the month. Trees were covered in blossom by the Gnarly Oak, much later this year. Butterflies such as red admirals, brimstones and peacocks were enjoying their first taste of nectar since emerging from their torpor. Nearby, beside the bench near the start of Sandy Wall, the colony of Clark’s mining bees are digging nest chambers, mating and collecting pollen to stock up and feed their young when they eventually hatch.
Mining bee Photo credit: Sean Locke
Along the Sandy Wall, as you scan for basking lizards, the yellow heads of the colt's-foot are poking out from the edge of the path. They only open their flowers when the sun is fully out and high enough in the sky. Primroses are also out along the woodland trail, replacing the snowdrops that are now withered away.
As we enter into April, the breeding season will be underway and hopefully plenty of eggs (not made of chocolate) and fluffy young birds. Maybe even a young crane if we’re lucky.
The reserve will be running some family activities over the Easter holidays. You can find out more about our ‘eggciting’ Easter trail here: https://events.rspb.org.uk/events/104262
If you are visiting, a reminder that we have now moved to our summer opening hours. Reception will be open 9:30am to 5pm.
See you next month!