Titchwell’s April Sightings 30th April 2024 Sue Bryan
At long last the incessant rain seemed to have abated at the beginning of the month only to have started again for a week in the middle of the month, as April started to jump into action and spring seemed to be in the air. The temperatures rose a little at the start of the month and we were treated to some strong southerly winds on the 6th/7th from storm Kathleen which heralded the start of many common migrants trickling through to delight the birdwatchers at Titchwell. This did not last as rain, wind and unpleasant weather halted all but the hardiest of migrants.
Car Park, Visitor Centre, Woodland and Picnic Area
Some winter visitors still lingered as Brambling continued to visit the feeders around the visitor centre with a maximum of 8 being seen on 5th. Siskin were also still moving through up to 29th. A Bullfinch was noted on 1st and 10th here along with a Goldcrest. In the car park a Willow Warbler, a summer migrant was heard and seen on 7th with more appearing as the month went on. A Swallow was seen flying over the Visitor Centre on 1st, always a joy to see by all concerned as the harbinger of summer! A Common Redstart caused some excitement in the coach park on 9th, which later re-appeared in the paddocks, viewed from the gate on 11th and 12th. However, it was very elusive as it sheltered from the wind in the hedge line, making it difficult to see for our visitors. The paddocks also produced a Yellow Wagtail on 14th, 28th – 29th. A Black Redstart was also in the paddocks from 27th -29th. A Song Thrush was heard singing by the Visitor Centre on 15th. Blackcaps were noted from the Visitor Centre on 28th.
The car park has always been a good place for passage Grey Wagtails. One was noted here on 16th and 19th. A Green Woodpecker was noted under the feeders by the Visitor Centre on 15th and a Firecrest was heard singing on 18th. A migrant Lesser Whitethroat was heard on 21st, which can often be difficult to see as they love to lurk in the vegetation. A Hobby was noted flying above the visitor centre on 30th.
West Bank Path
A Spoonbill and a Northern Wheatear were observed from the path on 23rd and a Stonechat was seen from here on 25th.
Reedbed
Marsh Harriers and Bearded Tit continue to frequent the reedbed and will now be settling down to start their breeding season. Displaying male Marsh Harriers are such a delight to watch as they fly up so high to call and impress their females. Cetti’s Warblers are now in full song and can be heard frequently from the reedbed all over the reserve on most days in April. A Bittern is also lurking from somewhere in the reedbed and was heard to boom on 3rd which continued infrequently through to the end of the month.
With migrant birds now arriving it is always good to hear the first Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers singing from the reedbed. A Sedge Warbler was heard on 3rd April by the warden and a Reed warbler was heard on 6th April. More arrivals meant that they continued to be seen and reported throughout the month. A Common Whitethroat was heard near the reedbed by the assistant warden on 18th as she was working. A Cuckoo was seen in the reedbed on 29th.
Cuckoo Photo Credit: Phill Gwilliam
Freshmarsh
Our Avocets are still present and are settling down to breed. Ruff were present from 1st to 13th and again on 25th. A volunteer counted 348 Mediterranean Gulls on the Freshmarsh on 3rd along with 159 Black-tailed Godwits. A Common Snipe was present on 1st. Pintail will start to leave us but one bird was still present on 5th. A Spotted Redshank was reported on 8th.
Summer migrants started to arrive on the Freshmarsh this month which included a Little Ringed Plover on 6th, a Common Sandpiper on 7th, both of which were reported on and off throughout the month, a Sandwich Tern on 6th and a Little Gull on 8th. Other notable birds included a Spoonbill on 8th, with 3 on 14th, a Common Tern on 13th and a White Wagtail on 15th. Lesser Black-backed Gulls used to be a summer migrant but can now be seen all year round but numbers still increase in the summer. The commoner gulls are not often reported to the visitor centre so a report of a Lesser Black-backed Gull on the 10th added to our list that day. A Whimbrel added itself to the day list on 24th.
Volunteer Marsh
A Whimbrel, a summer migrant, passage bird was seen on the marsh on 21st and 30th and an Arctic Tern was noted here on 23rd.
Tidal Marsh
A Little Ringed Plover was seen here on 24th and a Common Sandpiper was recorded on 30th.
Beach and Sea
A Red-breasted Merganser was seen on 3rd along with Common Scoter and more Sandwich Terns were seen on 4th with small numbers being reported throughout the month. A Whimbrel was reported from the beach on 6th and 8th. An Eider was seen on 8th. A Merlin was seen along the beach on 11th along with a Purple Sandpiper. A Common Tern was seen on 12th, which was a nice summer migrant record. The 14th saw a late record of 4 Pinkfeet flying away north. On 22nd two Goosander were seen flying by a volunteer and a Great Northern Diver on 27th.
Fen Trail
The Tawny Owl is still present in the Ivy-clad tree along the trail and is still hiding as best it can! Warblers were represented from the beginning of the month in the shape of Chiffchaff and Blackcap joined later in the month by Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler on 28th and a Willow Warbler on 29th. A Water Rail was seen here on 1st. A Jay and Siskin were noted on 3rd. The 25th saw a Cuckoo seen from here.
Meadow Trail
A Willow Warbler was heard singing along the trail on 5th and a Water Rail was seen from here on the same date.
East Trail, Patsy’s Pool, Old Tank Road area
A migrating Grey Wagtail was present at Patsy’s Pool on 2nd. Bullfinch were recorded in the area all month. A Hen Harrier and a Common Snipe were seen from the Patsy’s Pool area on 3rd. A Cuckoo was heard from the area singing towards the Willow Wood area by the senior sites manager on 18th.
Migrant birds included a Lesser Whitethroat on the Old Tank Road on 13th, a Grasshopper Warbler on 17th- 27th at Patsy’s Pool and a Green Sandpiper from here too. Bittern were reported from Patsy’s Pool on 23rd and 25th. Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers and Lesser Whitethroats could be heard in the area from 23rd onwards. Excitement was caused when a Turtle Dove was seen here on 29th which we hope will stay for the summer.
Grazing Meadow/Thornham Marsh
Spoonbills were seen out on the marsh on 1st and continued to be seen intermittently all month. A Stonechat was recorded nearly every day at the beginning of the month along with a Short-eared Owl which was often either seen hunting over the meadow or sitting on one of the fence posts. It or another Shot-eared Owl as seen here on 27th. Stonechats were also recorded at the end of the month too. A Whinchat was a nice surprise here on 30th. A Hen Harrier was also present early in the morning at the beginning of the month, seen by our merry band of volunteers and staff who birdwatch before their working day. A Water Pipit was seen out on the marsh on 2nd and 6th. The 6th also saw records of a Great White Egret and a Greenshank. Brent Geese which are still with us and seen most days before they migrate back to Arctic Russia.
Short-eared Owl Photo Credit: Sue Bryan
By the 8th of the month a Grasshopper Warbler had arrived, which was heard reeling early in the morning out on the marsh in its usual bramble bush. The bird continued to reel intermittently all month. A Spotted Redshank was viewed here on 14th, 15th and 16th. On 30th a Bittern was recorded out here and so was a Kingfisher.
Thornham Point
Two Stonechat were recorded here on 8th as well as a Northern Wheatear.
Flyovers
Many flyovers were noted this month as the summer migrants started to arrive and some winter migrants were leaving for Scandinavia. Other resident birds were also noted.
Resident birds seen flying over included: a Peregrine on 1st and 10th with two Peregrines on 3rd, Rook on 2nd, a Sparrowhawk on 8th. Common Cranes often wander in the spring and one was seen on 9th. Siskin were noted on 9th, Raven on 10th ,13th and 29th. Barnacle Goose (Feral?) were noted on 10th. Three Cattle Egret were observed by a member of staff on 18th.
Summer migrants arriving included: Spoonbill on 2nd, Swallow all month with 30+ birds on 5th, Ring Ouzel on 5th and 6th, 35 Sand Martins on 5th, 24th and 25th, House Martins on 6th and 7th and Yellow Wagtails on 6th,8th,12th and 13th. The first Swift were noted on 25th. Our visitors always ask about our Turtle Doves, so we were delighted when one was seen on 19th. One lucky member of staff saw an Osprey flying over as she went for a wander on the reserve after work on 23rd. The 30th had a Hobby, Cattle Egret and a Tree Pipit recorded.
Osprey Photo Credit: Marcus Nash
Winter migrants leaving included: a Lesser Redpoll on 3rd, 12th, 25th and 27th, Fieldfare on 7th and a Hen Harrier on 6th.
Other Wildlife
Now that some warmer weather has arrived, it brought out some butterflies and dragonflies. Most butterflies have distinct flying periods with some having a second brood flying period later in the summer. On 2nd April the reserve recorded Holly Blue, Brimstone and Comma. A Large Red Damselfly was also recorded on this date. By the 8th, Comma was added to the list. On 5th a visitor came into the Visitor Centre with a nice photo of an Emperor Moth.
Other wildlife included a Watervole along the West Bank path on 2nd and a Common Lizard on 2nd.