A rather chilly week, with icy conditions and even some snow for some. The broads at Strumpshaw have remained unfrozen, however the river levels have remained very high throughout the week.
The highlight of the week has continued to be the starling murmuration, with as many as 30,000 now being seen in the roost. Wrap up warm and get in position for around 15.00 (but depends on cloud cover) and enjoy the spectacle of thousands of starlings as well as marsh harriers and sparrowhawks trying their luck with catching them for dinner.
Other birds at the fen have included a short-eared owl on 7 and 9 December, a flyover peregrine on Thursday as well as at least one chiffchaff still present along the riverbank. Snipe have been seen at Fen Hide throughout the week and a small mixed finch flock remains viewable feeding in the alders, containing chaffinch, goldfinch, lesser redpoll and siskin. Bitterns have been seen in flight a few times through the week as have bearded tits, water rails, kingfishers and cetti’s warblers. Marsh harrier numbers are remaining at or around the 17 mark, fluctuating with the weather and the extent of flooding. Bullfinches, like the male above can still be found around the woodland trail and near the sand pit at the moment, listen out for their mournful call.
The Taiga bean goose flock at Buckenham has now risen to 18, this is possibly the peak for this year unless we receive more freezing conditions, in which case more may head in from the north. They are typically found against the railway line in long vegetation, but can take some finding. Please stay on public rights of way at all times, they can be distant, but they are easily disturbed so chose to be far from paths for protection. Also at Buckenham and Cantley are 60+ white-fronted geese, 2681 pink footed geese, 510 wigeon as well as a pair of stonechat.
An otter was seen on Thursday from Fen Hide and a stoat appears to have become fairly regular in front of Reception Hide, although you need to be quick to see it as it runs by. A peacock butterfly was seen in the cold sunshine on Thursday, our last butterfly sighting of the year?
There were a succession of very high tides last weekend thanks to the stormy low pressure that headed south down the North Sea. As is often the case with strong winds in the North Sea, it caused tidal locking at Yarmouth meaning the water could not escape into the sea, with conditions as such, we flooded (see below for water level graph showing the low pressure hitting us, we flood from roughly 0.9m). The reserve has since received a series of very high tides making the issue even worse. The riverbank from Sandy Wall past Tower Hide to Tinkers Lane is currently closed and is likely to remain closed throughout the weekend, please observe the signs and do not cross trail closed barriers. I hope the trail will reopen next week as we are predicted lower tides, the woodland, Fen Hide, pumphouse loop remains open.
https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/station/6205?direction=u