The Titchwell Birdfest continued this week with birds scattered across the reserve but in many cases, especially at this time of year you might need to look a little harder.
Following the breeding season which requires a substantial amount of energy, many of the birds can look a bit rough around the edges. They therefore undergo a moult which in some cases can reduce their ability to fly, therefore they tend to remain a bit more hidden to protect themselves from predators. This is why you might need to look a little harder when you visit the reserve.
Car Park / Visitor Centre
With a bountiful supply of natural food our bird feeders are quieter at the moment. However a careful scan and you will be able to spot some of the commoner garden birds and whilst you enjoy a pasty from the café our friendly blackbird or robin might come and join you for a snack.
What has been noticeable this week is number of goldcrests flitting amongst the trees in family groups, suggesting they have had a good breeding season on the reserve. Also amongst the trees this week there has been a tawny owl and jays.
East Trail
With the bird song drawing to end for this year, the bullfinches have become more noticeable this week as they quietly moved from bush to bush.
Patsy’s Screen / Reedbed
Several visitors this week have been lucky enough to watch a bittern fly laps around the reedbed and up to 3 great white egrets have been seen in amongst the reedbed. As we head towards September, we have noticed an increase in little egrets coming into roost within willow wood. They often don’t arrive to roost until it is almost dark.
Lots of you have been asking where the marsh harriers are. In August following the breeding season, the Titchwell marsh harriers can become less visible during the day. Many will be feeding out on the arable feeds where there is a plentiful supply of carrion, coming back to the reserve late in the evenings to roost.
Also lurking amongst the reed bed pools this week have been groups of pochard, gadwall and mallard plus small numbers of shoveler and tufted duck. The little grebes can often be heard with their laughing call and water rails squealing like pigs can also be heard.
Overheard flocks of swallows and house martins dart in the sky searching for a food and a few swifts linger on.
Yellow wagtail, Phill Gwilliam
Freshmarsh
This week there have been loads of birds using the Freshmarsh including 21 species of wader. Highlights have included 4 curlew sandpipers, 200 dunlin, 30+ ruff, 60+ ringed plovers, 8+ snipe, 8 golden plovers plus lapwing, black-tailed godwits, avocets and common sandpiper.
In the evening hundreds of gulls are coming into roost including 6 yellow-legged gulls and the odd Mediterranean gull.
Feeding amongst the machinery tracks have been flocks of wagtails featuring pied wagtail and yellow wagtails.
A young peregrine continues to practise its hunting skills over the Freshmarsh, hoping for a snack.
Curlew sandpiper, Nathan Pickering
Beach / Sea
On the beach bar-tailed godwits, oystercatchers, and sanderlings feed along the tidal edge whilst on the sea a black tern was reported on Monday 16 August.
Report your sightings
If you are visiting why not enter your sightings on to BirdTrack. Your records support species conservation at local, regional, national and international scales. For more information follow the link https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/birdtrack
And finally
Our guided walks are coming back from Monday 13 September 2021.
The ‘Discover Titchwell’ walks provide you with a brief overview of the history and wildlife of the reserve and our guides will explain how the RSPB is working to protect our wetland wildlife at Titchwell. For more details please follow this link https://bit.ly/2W2ml7l
See you soon
Lizzie Bruce
NW Norfolk Reserves Warden