Another pleasant week with sunny spells, a few showers and in contrast to recent weeks, it was mostly calm.
Avian highlights this week have included the Siberian type chiffchaff seen and heard on Thursday, most probably Wednesday too. This intriguing bird has sparked a bit of a debate as it has far more yellow on its wings, tail, flanks and vent than a typical Siberian chiffchaff should have, but sounds nothing like a common chiffchaff; it could well be an intergrade. The only way of being sure is to get a good recording of the bird, so if anyone gets any video/audio of the bird please share it with us at the reserve and we will try to identify this bird once and for all, it could well rewrite what is acceptable for identifying Siberian Chiffchaff.
On Tuesday morning my rent a warden walk were rewarded with amazing views of a bittern, first of all in flight, then in camouflage mode walking and finally preening while sunbathing over a crisp icy pool, an amazing sighting. We also saw a flock of 12 bearded tits, 14 buzzards and marsh harriers beginning to step up their display.
The woodland has held redwing, siskin and lesser redpoll as well as regular bullfinch, goldcrest and treecreepers, all of which have been heard singing. On Sunday a Jack snipe was reported from Fen Hide and common snipe have been seen regularly around the fen.
Wildfowl numbers have been building over the past week, possibly due to the freezing conditions further inland, possibly because they are starting to move back toward their breeding grounds. Today from reception I counted 16 pochard, 31 shoveler, 136 gadwall and 14 teal, with a further 80 teal, 30 gadwall and 17 shoveler from Tower Hide.
Buckenham today had 1250 golden plover, 21 ruff, 320 pink-footed geese and 726 lapwing.
Otters were seen Saturday to Monday at the sluice, but not been reported since, I suspect they have been present throughout the week though.
The paths are much the same as last week; muddy along the riverbank and Lackford Run. The meadow trail diversion is still in place due to Environment Agency works, but all paths are passable with wellies.
The road closure at Strumpshaw Road is still in place and will be until next weekend. Follow the diversion signs through Blofield and turn right at Lingwood going through the ‘Road Closed/Access Only’ signs just off Post Office Road and near the shoulder of mutton pub. I have put two RSPB logo’d signs with arrows on at each location to help, so look out for these if you get lost.
It looks like the forecast is for the temperature is set to rise a little at the weekend, but turns a little wet too. We should see an increase in the dawn chorus with milder weather, blue tits have been checking out the nest boxes for a little while now.