31st December 2013
– A wet morning, sunny intervals in the afternoon, south westerly
After a quiet period, a pair of Pintail on Railway Pool in the morning was a welcome highlight but they could not be found later in the afternoon. A Water Rail and three Snipe showed well in the Marsh and the Geese flock today totalled 142 Canadas and 200 Greylags. There were also 183 Lapwings counted on the islands on the pools. In the crop field, the autumn’s highest count of Yellowhammers (23) was noteworthy and there were at least ten Reed Buntingswith them. Six Lesser Redpolls fed in the alders along the central streamline.
30th December 2013
– A wet morning slightly brighter in the afternoon, south westerly
The Peregrine again showed well around Car Park Hide with a Nuthatch on the Oak Hide feeder and a Green Woodpecker feeding on the orchid field adjacent. There were at least tenYellowhammers in the crop field and 50 Shoveler on Car Park Pool with the ever presentKestrel over the crop field.
29th December 2013
– Heavy overnight frost with the Reedbed frozen over
At least one Water Rail showed well in the Marsh from dawn, along with at least six Snipe. ANuthatch visited the Oak Hide feeder.
In the crop field there were at least 15 Yellowhammers, 10-15 Reed Buntings, six Linnetsand ten Chaffinches, whilst flying over or along the streamline were two Skylark, a Meadow Pipit, three Lesser Redpolls and two Siskins. Pairs of Bullfinches were seen by the back gate and in the crop field. 30-40 mixed Fieldfares and Redwings were consuming the last of the berries on the railway embankment.
Many thanks to Brian Harris and Chris Laight for their help in undertaking further work to form hides around the two causeway screens.
28th December 2013
– Mostly sunny but with squally showers on a south westerly
Today’s counts provided by a number of visitors were as follows: two Herons, 40Cormorants, four Mute Swans, the Black Swan, the Little Grebe again on Railway Pool, ten Greylags, 73 Canadas, a drake Shelduck, 275 Wigeon, 68 Gadwall, 217 Teal, 38Mallard, 44 Shoveler, nine Pochard, 19 Tufted, five Moorhen, 35 Coot, 149 Lapwing, tenSnipe, the Green Sandpiper east of the A452, two Lesser Black-back Gulls, one Common Gull, 250 Black-headed Gulls, eight Yellowhammers in the crop field, 250 mixedThrushes, (70% of which were Redwings) east of the A452, two Skylark, and a pair ofBullfinches by the back gate. Kestrel, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk were all seen.
In the afternoon, the Brandon ringing group put in two nets in the Reedbed and one by the feeders and caught 18 Starlings, 28 Reed Buntings, 11 Blue Tits, 15 Great Tits, twoRobins, two Wrens, two Dunnocks and two Goldfinches. There were probably another 10-15 Reed Buntings coming into roost that were not caught.
27th December 2013
– Blustery south westerly
The Bar-headed Goose was again with the Greylags on Lower Siden whilst on the Pools there was a minimum of 274 Teal, another good count. The male Shelduck was again present. There were five Yellowhammers in the crop field, a pair of Bullfinches on the Railway embankment and in the evening at least 800 Starlings came into roost putting on a great display over the Reedbed before finally settling down to roost.
Some bird ringing in the reedbed and around the crop field in the afternoon of the 28th December, if anyone is interested.
26th December 2013
– Sunny, mild, south-westerly wind.
Although the main flooding has subsided over the last two days, the pools are still full and the central stream is still full of dirty flood water.
At least 200 Black-headed Gulls were roosting and feeding on Railway Pool, but only oneCommon Gull was present with them and a single Herring Gull went over.
In the crop field, 15 to 20 Reed Buntings joined six Yellowhammers, eight Linnets and twoHouse Sparrows whilst, along the River, at least seven Blackbirds congregated together in the riverside bushes and two sentinel-like Buzzards seemed to be catching little.
A flock of ten Goldfinches on the railway embankment shared the bushes with 30 Redwingsand about 20 Fieldfares and there another five Goldfinches and a cracking male Lesser Redpoll in the alders along the central streamline.
A Little Grebe fed in the Marsh, along with a number of Teal and Mallard.
Over the last few days, Wrens have been very active with birds seen in a number of locations chasing each other and signing to establish territories, whilst both Blue Tit and Great Tit have been in song as well.
25th December 2013
– Sunny, light south-westerly wind, mild.
The regular adult Peregrine was roosting on the railway arches in the early morning, but later on moved to the floodplain. Other Raptors included at least four Buzzards, twoSparrowhawks and a Kestrel.
On the pools, the first Great Crested Grebe for some days joined a male Shelduck, 59Cormorants (a record count this year), two Common Gulls and three Snipe, whilst in the hedgerows and the crop field there were at least 12 Yellowhammers, 100 mixed Fieldfaresand Redwings, three Siskins, a Redpoll and three Bullfinches. 300 Wood Pigeons went over to the north-west and a Nuthatch called by Oak Hide.
24th December 2013
– Sunny, south-westerly wind.
It was no surprise, after yesterday’s heavy and prolonged rain, that the river had flooded the valley. There is extensive flooding around Patricks Bridge and across Lower Siden (the field on the opposite side of the River from Railway Pool). Here, the river spread through the scrapes and then down against the wood and wellies were required to walk into Tower Hide.
Many of the wildfowl had left the main Reserve and were feeding in the flooded margins of Lower Siden. Although there was nothing out of the ordinary, birds showed well from the hide in the sun and occasional heavy rain showers went over, creating splendid rainbows over the main Reserve.
23rd December 2013
– Wet and windy.
In appalling conditions there was relatively little of note and the wildfowl were hunkering down in the driving wind and rain. 13 Teal showed well in the Marsh along with a number ofMallard. Green Woodpeckers were heard and seen in Siden Hill Wood and by the car park. Very few Gulls were present, either on the Reserve or flying over although two Herring Gullsjoined three Lesser Black-backs to move north-west. A drake Shelduck was also present.
22nd December 2013
– Mostly sunny morning, very heavy showers on a blustery south-westerly wind in the afternoon.
Bunting numbers increased today with at least 25 at the southern end of the crop field and in the Reedbed, but there are only four Yellowhammers amongst them.
On the pools, the Little Egret again roamed around, moving from the river to the Dragonfly Pond in the afternoon.
A drake Shelduck was still present and Pochard numbers increased to 17. Two male House Sparrows fed at the car park feeder and were later chattering away in the brambles opposite the car park gates. Ten Goldfinches fed in the alders along the central stream and bothKestrel and Buzzard showed well around the crop field. 50 Redwing were put up off the floodplain by a Sparrowhawk and a small group of Fieldfares and Redwings were feeding on the slowes by the Aeromodellers. Judging by the number that were dropped, they were not that ripe yet after relatively few frosts.
21st December 2013
– Mostly sunny, mild south-westerly wind, clouding over pm.
Yesterday’s female Goosander was still on Railway Pool this morning and the Little Egretroosted on the Car Park Pool initially, before becoming mobile and roaming around the pools and onto the river. A Water Rail showed well in the Marsh at dawn and 600 to 700 Starlingsleft the Reedbed roost at the same time. 12 Yellowhammers joined a few Reed Buntings in the crop field, a Green Sandpiper was on the flash east of the A452 again and two Ravenswent over Siden Hill Wood. Graham’s other counts were as follows: 29 Cormorants, threeHerons, four Mute Swans, the Black Swan, three Greylags, 230 Wigeon, 270 Teal, 80Gadwall, 32 Mallard, 42 Shoveler, 11 Pochard, 17 Tufted, five Moorhen, 22 Coot, 300Lapwing, two Snipe, 50 Black-headed Gulls, 11 Common Gulls, three Lesser Black-backs, the Peregrine, a Meadow Pipit on the tip field and a Shelduck.
20th December 2013
– Sharp frost, sunny, clouding over at the end of the day. South-westerly wind.
The single Little Egret roosted on Railway Pool this morning, a Jack Snipe showed well in the Marsh and a Kingfisher and 15 Common Gulls were counted, along with a Shelduck. ABuzzard was feeding on a dead Greylag on the far side from Car Park Pool.
There is a female Goosander on Railway Pool this evening.
19th December 2013
(no details of weather)
Peregrine, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were all seen today and a Water Rail showed well in the Marsh.
18th December 2013
(no details of weather)
The Peregrine put in one of its regular appearances today and there was a flock of about 100Shoveler feeding on Car Park Pool. 25 Goldfinches fed along the central streamline.
17th December 2013
– Sunny after a frosty start.
Prior to 9 am there were a minimum of 13 Yellowhammers, 13 Reed Buntings, eightChaffinches, eight Linnets, three Greenfinches and three Goldfinches in the crop field or by the car park feeder. There were also at least 12 Pheasants in the crop field.
Despite the fact that most of the berries have now been consumed, there were still 15 to 20 each of Fieldfare and Redwing between the entrance gate cottages and the top gate.
A Buzzard went over low, harassed by a pair of Crows and, by mid morning, three Little Egrets had appeared on Car Park Pool.
16th December 2013
– Overcast, patchy rain, west, south-westerly wind.
No records.
15th December 2013
Records to follow.
14th December 2013
– Mostly cloudy, increasing south-westerly wind.
At dawn, 600 Starlings left the Reedbed roost and at least one Water Rail called from the Reedbed whilst two showed well in the Marsh. At least 100 mixed Thrushes fed on or flew over the Reserve with other counts as follows: 22 Cormorants, two Herons, six Mute Swans, a Black Swan, 89 Greylags, eight Canadas, 251 Wigeon, 240 Teal, 85 Gadwall, 64 Mallard, 52 Shoveler, 13 Pochard, 11 Tufted, four Moorhen, 18 Coot, 131 Lapwing, one Jack Snipe and seven Snipe on the Dragonfly Pond, 250 Black-headed Gulls, twoCommon Gulls, a Lesser Black-back, one Meadow Pipit on the tip field, a House Sparrowby the entrance gate and a single Yellowhammer in the crop field.
A very commendable 12 turned up for the Work Party. Many thanks to all those with particular thanks to Chris Laight for his help and enterprise in the formation of the hides at the causeway screens and to Heather for her brownies.
Using some of the money from the Dusky Warbler, it was felt that putting backs and probably roofs over the two causeway screens would help viewing there. There is a tendency for the birds to move away because birders are silhouetted by the flaps. Good progress was made and the works will be finished over the forthcoming weeks. Others dug up re-generating oaks from the embankment between Oak and Railway Pools which will be replanted elsewhere on the Estate. The pole box in the crop field and the large box on the oak tree to the right of Oak Hide were also cleaned out.
Some planings were dug out from the pile in the car park and 11 hibernating Newts were found.
400 to 500 Starlings came in to roost at dusk and a Sparrowhawk was in attendance.
13th December 2013
– Overcast with periodic rain.
No records.
12th December 2013
– Overcast, light south-westerly wind.
No records.
11th December 2013
– Foggy start, sunny later, light south-westerly wind.
No records.
10th December 2013
– Mostly overcast, mild
An immature Peregrine chased the Gulls round Railway Pool at 11.45am and scattered theLapwings and the Starlings and dispersed the wildfowl. Sparrowhawk, Kestrel andBuzzard were again on show, and a large number of Redwings and Fieldfares were scattered across the Reserve with many tens of them dropping on to the far side of the Railway embankment to feed on the hawthorns.
Up to four Yellowhammers were in the crop field or along the causeway with 10+ Reed Buntings as well.
9th December 2013
– Mostly overcast, occasional sunny periods, light south westerly
A pair of Mistle Thrushes and a Green Sandpiper were again on the flash, east of the A452 – when approaching through the underpass, approach with caution to prevent the birds from flying off.
Two male House Sparrows fed at the car park feeders and on the concrete road, a Lesser Redpoll was in amongst a mixed flock of about ten Siskins and eight Goldfinches. There was also a Treecreeper there.
A Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Nuthatch were visitors to the Oak Hide feeder.
8th December 2013
– Mostly sunny, cool west, south-westerly wind.
The adult Peregrine was again in its favoured alder, on the flood plain, opposite Car Park Hide. A Little Egret flew over to the south during the late morning, a Green Sandpiper was again present east of the A452 and three House Sparrows joined four Yellowhammers and 20 Reed Buntings in the crop field.
Other counts today included 57 Shoveler, 209 Wigeon, 182 Teal, 15 Pochard, 79 Gadwall, two Lesser Redpolls over the car park and a further six on the central stream. At least 200 mixed Thrushes, 11 Common Gulls, eight Buzzards, four Jays and two Skylarks with twoMistle Thrushes also east of the A452.
7th December 2013
– Sunny, mild, south-westerly wind.
The drake Mandarin put in a brief appearance on Railway Pool at 9 am., before flying off to Car Park Pool and lingering there for much of the morning. It was not seen prior to 9 am. TwoWater Rails showed in the Marsh just after dawn (with early morning or late evening the best of times) and a Green Sandpiper frequented the flash east of the A452.
Six Siskin and at least ten Goldfinches feeding along the concrete road, the Siskins in the alders and the Goldfinches dropping onto the edges of the road to feed.
There were still plenty of Thrushes with 60 Redwings just after dawn enjoying the hawthorn berries along the causeway and combined totals of 150 to 200 including those along the Old Road and on the flood plain.
Other counts today were 31 Cormorants, two Herons, eight Mute Swans, five Greylags, theBlack Swan, two Canadas, 235 Wigeon, 178 Teal, 68 Gadwall, 66 Mallard, 48 Shoveler, eight Pochard, nine Tufted, five Moorhen, 23 Coot, 250 Lapwing, 13 Snipe, 140 Black-headed Gulls, 11 Common Gulls, one Lesser Black-back, three Yellowhammers in the crop field, a Meadow Pipit on the tip, a Treecreeper on the Old Road, a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the concrete road, a pair of House Sparrows feeding on the margins of the Old Road just up from the cottages, at least two Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel again in the crop field, two Buzzards and at least 200 Starlings in a pre-roost display.
6th December 2013
– Sunny, cool, easterly wind.
Possibly as a result of the extensive east coast flooding, there were, unexpectedly, two Black-tailed Godwits on Car Park Pool for most of this morning, either on the islands or feeding amongst the ducks on the far bank.
An adult Peregrine also showed well in its favoured Alder on the flood plain opposite Car Park Hide.
Water Rails showed well, both in the Marsh and from the causeway, as did a Grey Wagtailwhich fed around the margins on the Railway Pool islands and also in the Marsh itself. There was a very large flock of Gulls over the landfill site to the north and over 25 Herring Gullsand 60 Lesser Black-backs moved north in the morning to join them. Over 600 Wood Pigeons moved east, including a piebald one. Many tens of Redwings and Fieldfares moved between the Old Road, the flood plain and the hedges to the west.
5th December 2013
– Very windy from the north-west, sun and showers.
The drake Mandarin was still on Railway Pool this morning and 37 Cormorants on the Car Park Pool islands was one of the highest counts of the year. The Bar-headed Goose was again amongst the Greylags and the Peregrine in its usual flood plain tree. 13 Common Gulls was today’s count on Railway Pool.
4th December 2013
– Sunny, slowly increasing north-westerly wind.
Yesterday’s drake Mandarin was present on Railway Pool and one of the Peregrines flew over Railway Pool. At least four Water Rails showed this morning two, well, in the Marsh, a third in the Reed Bed and a fourth below Railway Hide. A Grey Wagtail went over, Buzzard,Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were all seen, there were 150 plus Teal on Railway Pool, over 100Shoveler on Car Park Pool, over 300 Wigeon spread across the Reserve, over 200 Lapwingsmostly on Railway Pool, a few Common Gulls on the pools or flying over and six Herring Gulls flew north at 9.15.
3rd December 2013
– Overcast.
A juvenile Peregrine performed well over Railway Pool for five minutes at around 8.30 a.m. this morning. It panicked the Lapwings but clearly had not caught one as it circled low over the pool and “buzzed” the groups of wildfowl with the intent of putting them to flight in order to try and catch them. It singularly failed as the wildfowl were too cute to budge but it was nevertheless fascinating to watch the bird repeatedly try. It eventually gave up and perched in the tall ash tree behind Oak Hide.
Singles of Grey and Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipit went over and at least 200 Fieldfaresand Redwings were scattered across the hedgerows and small woodlands adjacent to the pools. Pairs of Bullfinches were seen along the Old Road and in the back gate copse with aTreecreeper also calling from the latter location.
Just after 11 this morning a drake Mandarin was found on Railway Pool. It was joined by an Aythya Hybrid, probably a Tufted / Pochard cross which has been seen before. A femaleGoldeneye put in a brief appearance and two Water Rail showed in the Marsh with another heard in the Reedbed.
2nd December 2013
– Overcast and still.
A female type Marsh Harrier initially picked up over the crop field at 8.20 am this morning flew east and was lost from sight. This is an excellent record, this late in the season. This bird was wing tagged as part of a study in north Norfolk into the dispersal of young birds from their nests. The bird in question was ringed as a nestling in 2013 although the detail on the tags was not sufficiently visible to give precision as to location of its ringing.
It is part of a five year study of which three have been completed, with other sightings all over Great Britain and down to Portugal and Senegal.
Other birds included Nuthatch on the Oak Hide feeder, Water Rail in the Marsh,Treecreeper and 15 Long-tailed Tits on the central stream, Green Woodpecker on the mown grass behind Oak Hide and 150 Starlings arrived to roost.
1st December 2013
– Initially overcast and cool, but clearing to become sunny.
An interesting selection of birds today, with the best left until last when a Corn Bunting flew over, calling, in the late afternoon. Two male House Sparrows in the car park itself was unusual as they are so sedentary and rarely venture this far away from the cottages by the entrance gates or conceivably down from Patrick Farm.
Better Finch and Bunting numbers in the crop field saw 30 Reed Buntings, 11Yellowhammers, 30 Chaffinch and ten Linnet during the day.
A Green Sandpiper was again on the flashes east of the A452, best viewed from the underpass.
In the Marsh today, there were again two Water Rails, up to four Snipe and a Jack Snipe.
On the pools, 64 Shovelers fed on Car Park Pool, there were over 80 Gadwall present on Railway Pool with 11 Common Gulls and 20 Pochard were split equally between the two main pools. The Bar-headed Goose again joined the Greylags and both Nuthatch andTreecreeper were seen by the south-west pond and along the streamline respectively.
In the late afternoon, 670 Starlings were counted coming in to roost.
Last, but definitely not least, a late Brimstone was on the wing by the Dragonfly Pool.
