Recent sightings
The poor weather continued last week, making conditions difficult for our breeding bird surveys to be carried out and not much has changed in terms of what you are likely too when you visit.
Car Park / Visitor Centre
Small flocks of siskins continue to linger at the tops of the trees or fly over. A couple of bullfinches can be spotted in the car park scrub, whilst the blackcaps, blackbirds and chiffchaffs continue to blast out their songs.
The first spotted flycatcher was seen today (10 /5) along the meadow trail. This trail is also producing regular sightings of water vole.
Spotted Flycatcher, Phill Gwilliams
Reedbed / Patsy’s / East Trail
This is probably one of the best areas of the reserve at the moment. Along the east trail common whitethroat, lesser whitethroat and a grasshopper warbler can all be heard. A woodlark flew over on Sunday morning amongst a steady passage of swallows and house martins. In the paddocks there were 6 yellow wagtails and 2 wheatears. Two further ring ouzels were seen first thing on Thursday morning whilst the first two turtle doves arrived back on Friday.
On Patsys’ there has been the odd sighting of a red-crested pochard along with tufted ducks, gadwalls and pochards. A great white egret continues to be seen regularly flying over the reserve.
In the reedbed the bittern continues to boom, today it had moved closer to the west bank path. The marsh harriers are increasing their activity as some have chicks. There has been another increase in the number of sedge warblers and reed warblers singing away.
As the wind shifted to the south we have observed a notable increase in swifts, swallows, house martins and sand martins darting over the reedbed.
Turtle dove, Phill Gwilliams
Freshmarsh
Due to continuing poor weather the Freshmarsh doesn’t have that many birds with no Mediterranean gulls and very few black-headed gulls. Speaking with other reserves we suspect they have moved to other sites in response to the weather conditions. The same can be said for avocets, our numbers along with Snettisham and Frampton are lower than expected.
Other birds of note on the Freshmarsh include sandwich terns, common terns and little ringed plover.
Volunteer / Tidal Marsh
As per usual these areas are good spots to look for redshank, curlew, grey plover and oystercatcher. At high tides turnstone and dunlin numbers have increased and the odd spoonbill has been dropping into feed.
Beach / Sea
On the beach despite the challenging conditions we finally have the first ringed plover on eggs and there are several more pairs just waiting. Other highlights include small flocks of sanderlings, dunlins and non breeding oystercatchers feeding along the waters edge.
On the sea you expect to see fishing little terns and sandwich terns.
Sanderling, Phill Gwilliams
Despite the weather conditions visitors are still recording over 80 species on a visit to us.
With the wind now coming from the south, hopefully there will be a bit more activity.
If you do visit why not record you sightings on the BTO’s BirdTrack app, a convenient way for you to store your records and for your records to contribute to bird conservation.