As you are too aware 2020 was a strange one and as I write this, we are entering Lockdown 3.0. Reserves such as Titchwell have spent much of the year opening and closing various facilities with many of you unable to visit us this year.
Despite the lack of visitors, volunteers and staff presence on site the reserve has managed to record an incredible 220 species, subject to some being accepted by the British Birds Rarities Committee and the County recorder. This is an increase of 2 compared with 2019 (218 species) and an increase of 6 when compared with 2018 (214).
As is the norm for Titchwell we started 2020 with over 100 species of bird being recorded on New Year’s Day. Over the next few days, we were treated to 90+ marsh harriers roosting within the reserves reedbeds, purple sandpipers on the beach and a flyover hawfinch. Towards the end of the month the Eastern yellow wagtail that had become a regular feature at the Sedgeford muck heap decided to roost on the reserve with hundreds of pied wagtails. We ended January with a bittern showing incredibly well from the West Bank Path, providing many visitors with their first bittern experience.
Moving into February and the woodcock continued to ‘show’ for many of you whilst small flocks of snow buntings were regularly being seen on the beach. Not to be outdone the bittern and bearded tits were putting on quite a show with some visitors managing to photograph both species together! Towards the end of the month the Mediterranean gulls returned to the reserve along with the red-crested pochards. At the end of month 139 species had been recorded on the reserve.
Red-crested pochard, Les Bunyan
March began with much promise, a guided walk discovered two ravens flying over the reserve; despite their population growth in Norfolk they are still a rare occurrence here. Flyovers cranes were also a common sight for many. Always look up! By mid-March we were completing our final winter harrier roost count and were treated to a booming bittern! And then COVID19 hit the headlines, we were sent home to work and by the end of the month we had closed the reserve to visitors.
By chance we had a livestreaming microphone set up within the reedbed and for the next few months this was for many of us the only way to remain connected with the reserve. We could sit at home and listen to the dawn chorus build as the warblers arrived back from Western Africa, we could hear the bittern boom and listen to waders passing overhead. One lucky listener picked up a stone curlew flying through. By the time the microphone was taken down at the end of the summer about 80 species had been heard on it!!
At this point of the year I would be out with the residential volunteers completing the breeding bird surveys but this year many of the surveys were stopped across the country. Returning from furlough at the end of May I was able to catch the end of the breeding season. With the absence of people would the breeding birds at Titchwell fair better? We can’t say but we know that within the reedbed at least 12 marsh harriers fledged, a bittern boomed for much of the spring and based on the number of bearded tits in the reedbed this autumn, they had a good breeding season. The birds on the Freshmarsh faired less well. Mediterranean gull numbers dropped from 56 pairs to less than 10 and despite 20 pairs of avocets they only fledged one chick. We have strong suspicions that fox predation had an impact this year. Ringed plovers that breed on Titchwell beach had a mixed year, their biggest challenge wasn’t people but the high tides and predation. However, we did see an increase in pairs from 4 to 5 and they fledged 5 chicks.
Whilst the reserve was closed to visitors spring migration was well under way, some of the highlights included osprey, black tern, ring ouzel, blue-headed wagtail, golden oriole and a lesser yellowlegs. Moving into June great white egrets and spoonbills became a frequent occurrence whilst cattle egrets dropped on to the Freshmarsh.
Lesser yellowlegs, Les Bunyan
Finally, in July we were able to reopen the reserve to visitors just in time for the autumn wader passage. Although this year wasn’t the best in terms of species number, we were treated to small flocks of little stints and curlew sandpipers. By the end of the month the year list stood at 188 with Manx shearwater being the latest addition.
August was a great month on the reserve for autumn migration with a red-backed shrike, pied flycatcher and a greenish warbler all being found at Thornham Point. During the middle of the August an early morning seawatch was fruitful with long-tailed skua amongst the arctic skua’s. A few days later a Citrine wagtail was discovered on the Freshmarsh, this was only the third record of this species for the reserve.
The good autumn migration continued into September when a very obliging wryneck was discovered feeding on the tank road. With less than 10 records for the reserve and the showiness of the birds it is no surprise that is was one of highlights for the team in 2020. Over on Patsy’s reedbed a grey heron and a great white egret were having some disputes about who had the fishing rights! The evening little egret roost was building, peaking at around 120 birds. Across on the Freshmarsh, there were plenty of young waders to be seen including small flocks of curlew sandpipers and several little stints. At the beginning of September, 150 pink-footed geese were seen flying over the reserve; a week earlier than normal. As we moved through the month a nuthatch was spotted by one lucky visitor, these are quite scarce for the reserve. September kept on giving with a glossy ibis dropping onto the Freshmarsh on the 14th and a little bunting at Thornham Point on the 15th. At the end of September, we were experienced gale force northerly winds which generally means that it is a good option to do some sea watching. This resulted in a storm petrel, great skuas, arctic skuas, 4 sooty shearwaters and 5 grey phalaropes passing by.
Wryneck, Les Bunyan
Autumn migration carried on into October with the arrival of yellow-browed warblers and redwings. Whilst the wardens were out carrying the first winter harrier roost survey, we were treated to thousands upon thousands of starlings piling through the reserve as they left their nightly roost. A male hen harrier became a frequent occurrence for a while, providing some spectacular views. By the end of October, we saw some of the wintering ducks and grebes return to the sea including Slavonian grebe and long tailed ducks.
During November we were plunged into Lockdown 2.0, which once again limited visits to the reserve for many of you. The evening gull roost was hosting several yellow-legged gulls and Caspian gulls. Whilst two great white egrets were roosting within the reedbed. There were quite a lot of birds flying over as they migrated through including flocks of fieldfare, redwings and bramblings. Listening carefully the odd crossbill and hawfinch were also detected. Some of us were even treated to two male hen harriers!
As we enter December the year end is nearly here, flocks of bramblings and siskins are found in the woodlands around the visitor centre and a woodcock was observed along the meadow trail. One of the most exciting birds for the month was a Black brant tucked in amongst the dark-bellied brent geese. Black brants are a rare American visitor. A lone Bewick swan spent some time on the Freshmarsh whilst small flocks of whooper swans were seen flying over the reserve. The marsh harrier roost continues to build, just before Christmas 82 birds were recorded going into roost and a couple of hen harriers have also been roosting occasionally. Another highlight for the reserve this month was a smew coming in off the sea, this was the first time a smew had been recorded on the reserve for over 10 years! Down at Thornham point a black redstart appears to have taken up winter residence whilst on the sea there have been sightings of red-necked grebes, Slavonian grebes, great northern divers and long tailed ducks.
Smew, Les Bunyan
And there ends the birds of Titchwell 2020 and what a wonderful year of birds it has been, we just hope we can share more of the amazing birds with you in 2021. You can find the complete list below is the complete list (click to expand).