Hello,
We will kick off this week’s sightings instalment with the star bird of last week; the wryneck. This bird was found by one of our visitors on Tuesday afternoon feeding on the tank road where it remained until Thursday. Surprisingly we have had less than 10 records of wrynecks for the reserve.
Wryneck, Les Bunyan
Thornham grazing marsh continued to hold a couple of whinchats and stonechats. And a scan across the saltmarsh reveals curlews and little egrets.
The reedbed birds continue to be elusive with the bittern performing a daily flight for the lucky few whilst the marsh harrier numbers remain low, which is normal for this time of year as they tend to disperse into the surrounding farmland. However, the little egret roost continues to build with over 70 pre-roosting on Patsy’s before heading to Willow woods for the night. On patsy’s a red-crested pochard lurks amongst the gadwall, mallards and teal.
Moving along to Freshmarsh the great white egrets and grey herons continue to feast on the fish and eels that can be found on there whilst up to 17 spoonbills continue to spend their days sleeping.
Spoonbill, Les Bunyan
Wader highlights over the past week have included: 4 spotted redshanks, 5 curlew sandpipers, 450 Bar-tailed godwits, common sandpiper, 300+ black-tailed godwits, 200+ dunlin, ringed plovers, 2 greenshanks, 100+ avocets, whimbrels and knot. Other highlights on Freshmarsh have included 13 wigeon, grey wagtail and 20+ pied wagtails.
Curlew sandpiper, Les Bunyan
On the sea the odd arctic skua and gannets have passed through west and a black tern flew west on Friday. Whilst the sanderlings and bar-tailed godwits have been performing well along the tideline and there have also been a couple of wheatears on the beach.
The final notable sighting for this week was the arrival of pink-footed geese with 150 passing through on Sunday, a sign that winter is coming, though they are about week earlier than normal.
Let us know your sightings:
Email: titchwell@rspb.org.uk
Twitter: tag @rspbTitchwell
Thanks
Lizzie Bruce
North West Norfolk Reserves Warden