January has arrived, signalling the beginning of a new year and bringing a rejuvenating energy that inspires us to embrace every possibility of a life of bird and wildlife watching that awaits in the days ahead!
It’s a month of resolutions, fresh starts, and the hopeful anticipation of a year filled with time to enjoy our wonderful wildlife and nature that surrounds us. Here at Titchwell we are blessed with an amazing reserve that just gives and gives, producing a fabulous array of birds and wildlife for us all to enjoy.
The month began with endless rain, adding to the rising water levels before a dry but cold spell. The end of the month had an unseasonal spell of warmer weather reaching double figures on some days.
Car Park, Visitor Centre, Woodland and Picnic Area
The year started with a count of 10 Woodcock being seen flying back into roost on 1st. However, the excitement was the tristis race of Chiffchaff (Siberian Chiffchaff) that frequented the area behind the Visitor Centre that many people were interested in. It was often accompanied by one or more over-wintering Common Chiffchaffs. These remained to be seen together until the 4th with the more usual Chiffchaffs being reported intermittently all month. A Song Thrush was seen from the beginning of the month in the trees around the Visitor Centre too. Other birds reported here included Siskin and a Treecreeper. On 6th Brambling were reported with a few being seen on several dates. A Tawny Owl was heard on the 7th which remained all month and seen with difficulty all month hiding in Ivy-clad trees in and around the Fen Trail, Meadow Trail and Visitor Centre. Bullfinches were seen around the area in the middle of the month. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was observed on 10th and a few subsequent days. A Redwing was reported in the car park on 12th which was joined by a Waxwing along the entrance road on the same date for a few minutes.
Photo Credit: Cliff Gilbert
West Bank and West Bank ditch
A Woodcock was reported on the 2nd and more were seen on and off all month either by birders using thermal imagers or flying into roost from their nightly feeding excursions. A count of 15 were seen on 23rd. Water Rail sightings continued all month with most reports coming from the West Bank ditch. Sightings from the West Bank included a Stonechat on 16th along with a Rock Pipit, a Hen Harrier and Red Kite on 18th and a Siskin on 23rd.
Photo Credit: Sue Bryan
Reedbed/Reedbed Pool
The new reedbed pool that has now been cut, is attracting many pipits and wagtails. Water Pipits and Rock Pipits have been reported from here, nearly every day from the beginning of the month. Marsh Harriers are still using the reedbed as a roosting site. Sixty-one were counted one evening flying over the reedbed in the air together but only 30+ used the reedbed to roost that evening. A Hen Harrier was also observed on the 3rd and has been seen regularly since. A Merlin and Stonechat were seen in this area on 3rd too. Bearded Tits continued to be seen intermittently when there was no wind during the month. A Little Egret was reported on 6th. A Kingfisher was seen on 12th and Cetti’s Warbler on 13th and 18th, although these are almost certainly present for most of the time.
Freshmarsh
A few Avocets are seen most days in the month with 6 being seen on 8th. A high count of 30 Common Snipe were seen on 2nd by one of regular birdwatchers which must have been a glorious sight. A Stonechat was watched on 2nd,6th, 20th and 28th here. A Ringed Plover was seen on 8th and a Spotted Redshank was seen on 12th along with a Great White Egret. A member of staff counted 80 Curlew roosting here on 14th.
Our regular ducks were still present throughout the month and included Teal, Pochard, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Wigeon and Shelduck. Pintail were also present on 3rd with a count of 9 on 28th. A member of staff counted 33 Pochard on 28th. Brent Geese and Greylag Geese are also present most days. The Golden Plover flock reached 300 in number on most days with over a 1000 counted on 2nd. Lapwing peaked at 800 on 2nd. A Ruff was reported on 4th and intermittently until 22nd. A Spoonbill was reported here on 2nd.
A Water Pipit was seen from 19th to 22nd and again on 27th with a Rock Pipit on the 22nd too. A probable Cattle Egret was seen by a member of staff that did not stay long on 22nd.
Photo Credit: Phill Gwilliam
Volunteer Marsh
A Rock Pipit was noted here on 7th,with a Merlin on 17th and a Greenshank on 27th.
Tidal Pool
The Tidal Pool has had a few interesting sightings this month. A Water Rail was seen on the pool on 1st,4th, 16th and 25th and joined by a Greenshank on 1st. A Spotted Redshank was seen here all month. Rock Pipits were present until the middle of the month. A Kingfisher was noted on 16th but was seen around the reserve in several places. Pintail were seen here all month but a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, which is a little unusual for the pool, were seen on 2nd. Black-tailed Godwits were seen on 7th and 10th. Birds present on the 10th included a Reed Bunting and a few Dunlin. Avocet were present on and off all month. A Ruff was reported on 13th and 16th with Wigeon and Goldeneye seen on 15th.
Beach and Sea
The Common Scoter flock has diminished in size considerably since the end of last year and is now peaking at around 50 birds or less on most days, making Velvet Scoter sightings more difficult. Two Velvet Scoters were seen on and off until 22nd.
A Great Northern Diver, always a good sighting, was seen on 2nd,7thand 16th. Goldeneye were reported intermittently until 14th. Waders along the tideline included, Dunlin, Sanderling, Oystercatchers, Curlew, Turnstone, Grey Plover and Bar-tailed Godwits on most days. Other birds of note include: Red-throated Diver on 4th and 7th, Great Crested Grebe on 4th, Gannet on 2nd and a Merlin that flew along the beach on 2nd. Linnets are seen on most days with a flock that can range up to 100 birds at times. A Shag was seen on 13th along with a Long-tailed Duck on that day and the following day. A Goosander was reported on 23rd. One of the best sightings flying along the beach, was that of a pair of Ravens on 28th.
Fen Trail
The Fen Trail birds are sometimes under reported but this month include: a Song Thrush on 3rd, 8th and 14th, a Water Rail on 6th,13th and14th, a Redwing on 6th,Chiffchaff on 7th and 15th, Goldcrest on 8th and 14th, Siskin on several dates at the beginning of the month, a Tawny Owl all month and Woodcock on several dates.
East Trail, Patsy’s Pool, Old Tank Road area
A Kingfisher was seen at Patsy’s Pool on 1st and 8th, and a Grey Heron was seen here on 6th. Two members of staff were lucky to see a Bittern at Patsy’s Pools on the 7th, 8th and 11th. A Water Rail was seen on Patsy’s Pool on 8th along with a Little Egret and a Water Pipit was seen here on 23rs and 29th.
Grazing Meadow/Thornham Marsh
Sightings from the Grazing Meadow and Thornham Marsh include Peregrine on 1st and a Spoonbill on 2nd,13th, 14th and 22nd. A Hen Harrier has been seen on several dates until the end of the month. Redwing were noted on 10th and a Common Snipe was noted on 13th. Little Egrets were reported on 13th and 22nd but are probably present for most of the time. A Merlin was seen here on 20th.
Thornham Point
Thornham Point is regularly watched by our volunteers and a Spoonbill was seen on 4th and a Peregrine on 6th.
Flyovers
Pink-footed Geese are still very much in evidence in Norfolk during January and big skeins of geese are still regularly seen flying over the reserve at dawn and dusk as well as other times of day. Red Kites are seen on most dates along with a Great White Egret on 3rd as well as 6th. A Sparrowhawk was noted on 4th and Linnets were recorded on 5th although these are regular birds at Titchwell but are under reported. A Hen Harrier flew over on 7th and 24th. Woodcock are seen flying over on most days either at dawn or dusk. A Common Snipe was seen on 11th and a Peregrine on 14th. A Merlin flew over on 21st, a Spoonbill on 23rd and a Crossbill on 29th.
Other Wildlife
Chinese Water Deer and Muntjac are still around in and around the reserve all month.