Hello everyone,
The last week of July has resulted in a steady turnover of waders on the Freshmarsh, an arctic skua chasing the terns on the sea and amazing bittern views.
Car park / visitor centre
Overheard small groups of swallows, house martins, swifts and the odd sand martin whizz about in the air catching flies.
A great spotted woodpecker was calling from one of the dead trees on Monday 26 July and a turtle dove flew through on Saturday 31st July.
Reedbed / East Trail
Within the reedbed including Patsy’s the following were counted as part of WeBS on Monday; gadwall 125, tufted duck 2, pochard 6, teal 4, coot 21, mallard 15, shoveler 2
Other highlights this week has been the sighting of two different adult bitterns from Patsy’s screen. On Saturday they were watched flying across the reedbed on multiple occasions, so if you would like to a bittern this is the place to be. Whilst watching the bittern, a hobby was observed hawking for insects.
Also, within the reedbed are up to 4 great white egrets and 30+ cormorants roosting in the trees plus reed warblers, sedge warblers and cetti’s warblers.
As we have touched on before, now is a great time to look for bearded tits. They are pinging around the reedbed in family groups and can also be seen at the base of the reeds on the Freshmarsh. Whilst scanning the base of the reeds you might even see a water rail.
Bittern, Les Bunyan
Freshmarsh
On Monday 26 July the following were counted on the Freshmarsh as part of WeBS: avocet 663, black-tailed godwit 348, spotted redshank 6, dunlin 131, common sandpiper 2, ruff 13, lapwing 30, redshank 9, little ringed plover 3 and oystercatcher 2.
The evening gull roost is picking up at Titchwell, with up to 12 yellow-legged gulls, 1 Caspian gull, 3 Mediterranean gull plus herring gulls, common gulls and black-headed gulls.
Spoonbill numbers have increased with 12 birds dropping into the Freshmarsh regularly. There have also been about 5 -6 birds using the neighbouring saltmarsh.
An evening visit on Sunday 1 August featured 6 green sandpipers flying around overhead. Whilst on the freshmarsh wader highlights included 61 dunlin, 519 avocet, 4 spotted redshanks, 53 ruff, 1 knot, 3 little ringed plover and 129 lapwing.
Knot, Les Bunyan
Volunteer / Tidal Marsh
Moving on to the northern end of the reserve the WeBS count produced; redshank 40, turnstone 2, ruff 2, oystercatcher 56, greenshank 2, lapwing 16, grey plover 1, dunlin 1, little egret 2.
Beach / Sea
On the beach small numbers of dunlin, sanderling, curlew, bar-tailed godwits and the odd whimbrel have been recorded. Whilst on the sea the the odd arctic skua has been observed chasing the common terns, little terns and sandwich terns for a fishy snack.
Other highlights on the sea include fulmar, red-breasted merganser and common scoter.
Curlew, Phill Gwilliam
And finally
The Autumn Trail is now open for the next three months, this seasonal trail provides an alternative view of the Freshmarsh and a view of the saltmarsh. This path is also very sheltered so it is great place to go in search of dragonflies.
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
Look forward to seeing you visit soon
Lizzie
NW Norfolk Reserves Warden