Despite the reserve being open to the public, the visitor centre itself was actually closed. It was possibly because of this that there were so few people around the reserve.
We arrived at around 12.00pm, for the afternoon shift, and were surprised by just how mild the weather seemed to be. In fact, the temperatures remained constant at around 10°C throughout the rest of the day.
The following was seen between our arrival and 3.00pm:
Marsh Tit x 2
Coal Tit x 4
Chaffinch x 15
Wren x 3 - One individual was observed feeding from the surface of the water, just in front of the Whitley Hide. It achieved this by clinging to the bottom of the reeds and moving around the edge of the water.
Greenfinch x 2
Long-tailed Tit x 4
Nuthatch x 2
Water Rail x 1 - A single bird was seen beneath the feeding table on the right hand side, as viewed from the Whitley Hide. After checking the sightings book, it had been seen on numerous occasions over the previous days.
The view from Whitley Hide.
Buzzard x 2
Bullfinch x 4 - The majority of sightings were male, which appears to tally with the sightings of other volunteer wardens throughout December.
Goldfinch x 100+ - It was difficult to estimate numbers, but there was certainly a large flock moving around the Volunteers' Hide. They remained within this area and this was possibly because of the niger seed feeders situated outside the hide. At least 25 individuals could be observed using the feeders at any given time.
Siskin x 2 - They appeared to be part of the flock and were taking advantage of the same niger seed feeders. In fact, the the Goldfinch appeared to be quite tolerant of their presence.
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1 - A single male seen at the edge of Oak Fen.
Despite there being plenty of sunshine on the north Norfolk coast, temperatures struggled to exceed 8°C throughout the morning.
The following was seen since 9.00am:
Little Egret x 2
Stonechat x 2 - The pair were seen close to the Visitor Centre and Coast Road. They have been seen at the same location in recent years.
Marsh Harrier x 2 - The pair were circling on the northern edge of Pat's Pool throughout the morning. At one point a male landed on one of the scrapes (see image below).
Marsh Harrier on one of the Pat's Pool scrapes.
Pintail x 1 - A single bird sitting with a large number of Wigeon on Simmonds' Scrape.
Goldfinch x 4
Buzzard x 1
Grey Phalarope x 1 - It landed briefly in front of the hide on Whitwell Scrape and then proceeded to fly around the water for a couple of minutes. Also seen by other birders at Walsey Hills and near the East Bank.
Dunlin x 12
Knot x 1 - A single bird seen with the Dunlin, on the edge of Simmonds' Scrape.
Sanderling x 1 - Again, a lone bird seen on the northern side of Simmonds' Scrape with 3 Ruff.
The weather was surprisingly warm given that it was late October, with temperatures typically around 13°C. It was also good to see a significant increase in bird activity compared to our previous visit in September.
The following was seen since 8.00am:
Tawny Owl x 1 - There were excellent views by Whitley Hide, as the adult was perched in the entrance to the owl box throughout the morning.
Goldfinch x c100 - A large flock, possibly in excess of 100 birds, was continually moving around the reserve. Some people had reported seeing a few Siskin hidden among the finches.
Chaffinch x 7
Buzzard x 3
Red Kite x 1 - Seen briefly above the scrape, in front of the Tower Hide.
Jay x 1
Nuthatch x 2
Sparrowhawk x 1 - Viewed on two separate occasions, flying above Oak Fen.
Goldcrest x 1
Long-tailed Tit x 5
Coal Tit x 1
Marsh Tit x 2
Despite our best efforts we unable to see any Brambling, despite reports of a pair being seen on the feeders just outside the Tower Hide. Usually there would be significantly higher numbers at this time of year, but with the unusually warm weather it's perhaps not all that surprising.
It was surprisingly warm with temperatures easily reaching 19°C by midday. There was also an easterly wind with speeds rising to around 12mph.
We arrived at the East Bank car park at around 9.12am and proceeded to walk to the beach, to carry out a seawatch. We then made our way back to the visitor centre and after having some lunch, spent the afternoon in Daukes Hide.
The following was seen from 9.12am until 2.00pm:
Gannet x 9 - A mixture of adult and juvenile birds were diving for food along Cley beach.
Brent Goose x 34
Little Egret x 3
Manx Shearwater x 2 - The pair of birds were again seen from Cley beach and flew west towards Blakeney.
Wheater x 1 - A single bird seen perched on the sand ridge, just north of Arnold's Marsh.
Meadow Pipit x 2 - One individual was seen close to the Wheater on the same ridge.
Curlew x 1
Kestrel x 2
Buzzard x 1
Ruff x 13 - The majority were seen on Simmonds' Scrape with some in the process of moulting, displaying a large amount of white feathers on the head and neck.
Dunlin x 6 - All were seen on Simmonds' Scrape.
White-front Goose x 1 - A single bird seen hidden among a flock of Greylags. It then proceeded to fly away with the rest of the flock.
Little Stint x 5 - All were seen on Simmonds' Scrape.
Another quiet day at Sculthorpe Moor with a mixture of sunshine and rain throughout the morning.
The following birds were seen from 8.00am: Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1 Kingfisher x 1 - At least one individual seen regularly flying around the reserve, using the the dyke (next to Oak Fen) as a passageway. As was the case last week, it then continued to feed in front of Whitley Hide. It was hovering for long periods of time and diving into the water. Nuthatch x 2 Bullfinch x 1 Coal Tit x 1 Kestrel x 1 Jay x 5 Buzzard x 4 Greenfinch x 4 Goldcrest x 1
An usually quiet day at Sculthorpe, but probably not all that surprising given the time of year. The weather was reasonably warm, throughout the morning, with temperatures remaining steady at around 18°C.
The following was seen since 8.00am:
Chaffinch x 4
Bullfinch x 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 3
Little Egret x 1
Grey Heron x 1
Common Sandpiper x 1 - The single bird initially landed near the Paul Johnson hide and disappeared, but it then made a brief reappearance and flew into the reed bed.
Nuthatch x 2
Coal Tit x 2
Little Grebe x 1
Jay x 8
Kestrel x 2
Buzzard x 1
Kingfisher x 2 - Seen feeding in front of the Whitley Hide, whilst a second bird was seen flying along the dyke near Kingfisher Bridge.
We arrived at the East Bank car park at around 8.45am, to find the temperature distinctly lower than it had been further inland. As the day proceeded it did became considerably warmer and we ended up wearing t-shirts for most of the day.
Unfortunately we were unable to see any signs of the Hobby, despite the recent sightings being fairly regular over the last few days.
However, what was a pleasant surprise was the sighting of an Otter moving up the main drain, alongside the East Bank. It was seen from a distance, at around 9.45am, and continued to move towards Salthouse.
According to some of the local birders there are three in total and this one was heard calling by the bridge, possibly to the others nearby.
The following was seen throughout the morning: Little Egret x 9 Avocet x 6 Meadow Pipit x 1 - A single bird was seen near Blakeney Eye, at the end of the East Bank. Reed Bunting x 1 Curlew x 12 - All seen together directly opposite the Babcock Hide. Egyptian Goose x 3 Green Sandpiper x 1 - A solitary bird seen moving along the water's edge in front of the Babcock Hide. Ruff x 7 Greenshank x 1 - Another singular bird seen in front of the Babcock Hide. Kestrel x 1 Grey Heron x 1 Golden Plover x 3 Sandwich Tern x 1
We arrived at Blair Atholl on the Monday and from here we were able to explore the local lochs and the rest of the Cairngorms throughout the week.
Despite the constant forecasts of persistent rain, the only heavy downpours happened on the Wednesday. The rest of the week resulted in more localised light rain showers that didn't last for more than an hour or two.
Rather than writing a report on all the places we visited I have included a summary below of what was seen and where. However, the main places of interest were RSPB Loch Garten, Loch of the Lowes, and Cairngorm Mountain.
Red Squirrel - Seen close to our campsite in Blair Atholl but also seen on the peanut feeders at RSPB Loch Garten, outside the Osprey Centre.
Osprey - The first pair were seen on the Tuesday at Loch of the Lowes. There were good views of the fledgling, as it was perched close to the nest (with blue ring PH2). It then proceeded to devour a pike that had be given to it by one of the parents.
The second pair also provided a similar spectacle at Loch Garten. The parent suddenly appeared, with the younger bird, and dropped the fish in the nest for the juvenile to take elsewhere and eat.
Snow Bunting at Cairngorm Mountain
Snow Bunting - At least 2-3 individuals were seen in close proximity to the viewing platform at the top of the Cairngorm Mountain.
Crested Tit - There were 3-4 individuals seen in the pine trees, on the left, close to the entrance at Loch Garten at around 10.00am. Despite our best efforts we were not able to find them later that morning.
My son as we walked across the highlands.
At the entrance to the RSPB Loch Garten reserve.
Siskin - A pair were seen, through the glass doors, on the feeders just outside the Osprey Centre at RSPB Loch Garten.
Yellowhammer - A pair were seen on the feeders outside the windows of the visitor centre (see image below) at the Loch of the Lowes reserve.
Spotted Flycatcher - A single bird was seen in the woodland, alongside the pathway, as we made our way back from the walk to Loch Mallachie.
Dippers - A total of 5 individuals were seen as we walked along the River Tilt from Blair Atholl to Aldclune. At one point 3 were seen within a few meters of each other, perched on the rocks, underneath the bridge of the A9.
Viewing window for the feeders at the Loch of the Lowes visitor centre.
Red Grouse - A single bird was seen from the window of the train, on the funicular railway, as we made our down the Cairngorm Mountain.
Wheatear - What appeared to be a recent fledgling, was seen perched on a fence post close to the car park for the funicular railway.
Meadow Pipit - Also seen at the bottom of the Cairngorm Mountain, close to the ticket station.
Grey Wagtails - They were seen at several locations around the local area, but far the highest numbers were seen along the rocky shoreline on the River Tilt between Blair Atholl and Aldclune.
Although not a great day for bird sightings, Sculthorpe Moor did produce a range of butterfly species across the reserve. The following was seen throughout the day:
Red Admiral
Comma
Small Tortoiseshell
Small Skipper
Small White
Large White
Ringlet
Meadow Brown
A single White Admiral had also been seen close to the Woodland Hide, but despite our best efforts we were unable to find it.
However, my 4 year-old-son was really excited to see a Stoat for the very first time. It was running towards us on the boardwalk, close to the Water Vole Bridge, before disappearing into the undergrowth.
It did appear to have at least 2-3 young close-by, considering the sounds emanating from the bushes, but there was no clear sighting.
The following was seen since 8.00am:
Reed Warbler x 8
Bullfinch x 6
Chaffinch x 8
Swift x 2
Swallow x 1
Sand Martin x 4
Nuthatch x 1 - It was seen using the feeders close to the entrance of the reserve.
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1 - Seen feeding on the ground directly opposite the Woodland Hide.
After a prolonged absence I finally returned to Cley Marshes on the Sunday. The weather was considerably more comfortable than it had been in recent weeks, with temperatures staying constant at around 20°C.
The following was seen throughout the morning since 9.00am:
Kestrel x 1 - Hovering alongside the Coast Road when we arrived.
Little Egret x 5
Spoonbill x 1 - Seen at a distance, from the East Bank, flying across Pat's Pool.
Sandwich Tern x 41 - All seen directly opposite Richardson's Lookout on Arnold's Marsh.
Common Tern x 9 - They were seen at the same location on Arnold's Marsh.
Oystercatcher x 11
Avocet x 19
Reed Warbler x 1
Grey Heron x 1
Skylark x 2 - They were seen not far from the Beach Car park, alongside the coastal path.
Sedge Warbler x 1
Also seen along the East Bank were large numbers of Cinnabar caterpillars.
Another humid and uncomfortable day at Sculthorpe Moor, with temperatures rising to around 22°C. Despite the warm weather, only a limited number of species were seen throughout the day.
The following was seen on the reserve from around 8.00am: Marsh Tit x 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker x 4 - This included a juvenile seen on the southern edge of oak fen. Bullfinch x 4 Reed Bunting x 5 Sedge Warbler x 2 Reed Warbler x 2 Kestrel x 1 - A single bird seen hovering at the back of the scrape. Chaffinch x 5 Little Grebe x 2 Buzzard x 4 Nuthatch x 1 Swallow x 1
It continued to be yet another exceedingly hot day, with temperatures easily rising above 20°C. The cloud cover in the morning helped to temporarily avert the worst of the heat until the afternoon, but high humidity made walking around the reserve particularly uncomfortable.
Throughout the morning it was pleasing to see the female Marsh Harrier continually patrolling the scrape and reed beds. At one point see appeared to have caught a small bird, possibly a warbler, and she would occasionally dive into the reeds just in front of the tower hide.
The following was seen since 8.00am: Nuthatch x 2 Cuckoo x 1 - At least one was heard throughout the morning, then seen briefly near the River Viewing Platform. Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1 Marsh Harrier x 1 - As previously mentioned, the single female was seen patrolling the scrape throughout the morning. Buzzard x 2 Linnet x 2 - A pair were seen briefly, on the ground, alongside Victor's Hide. Lapwing x 2 Sand Martin x 6 Swallow x 1 Blackcap x 1 Reed Warbler x 4 Sedge Warbler x 1 Reed Bunting x 6 Sparrowhawk x 1 Bullfinch x 3 Chaffinch x 8 Jay x 2 Blue Tit x 3 Blackbird x 3 Dunnock x 2 Great Tit x 2 Treecreeper x 1 - It was seen at the bottom of the ramp leading up to the Tower Hide. Song Thrush x 1 Little Grebe x 1 Kestrel x 1 Greenfinch x 3
I arrived at 8.00am to find that the weather was surprisingly warm and with such a little amount of cloud cover the temperatures remained constant at around 17-18°C.
It was well worth the visit because at 8.30am I had an excellent view of a pair of Cuckoo who continued to call to one another as they flew across the water and then headed in a westerly direction, towards Lyng. They continued to call throughout the morning but this was my only sighting.
However, the best was yet to come because at around 8.40am, I witnessed a pair of Cranes as they flew across the field on the northern edge of the reserve. The pair continued to call quite loudly as they too flew in a westward direction, towards the River Wensum.
The following were seen between 8.00am and 10.30am:
Blackbird x 5
Long-tailed Tit x 3
Blue Tit x 6
Canada Goose x 3
Tufted Duck x 3
Black-headed Gull x 93 - Similar numbers to those that were counted during the previous WeBS count on the 14th May.
Coot x 9
Great Crested Grebe x 3
Cuckoo x 2 - As mentioned previously, a pair were seen calling to one another then headed west.
Common Tern x 2 - The pair remained on the island, alongside the gulls, throughout most of the morning.
Reed Warbler x 2 - Several were heard throughout the morning, with several Sedge Warblers, but these were the only the pair that were seen.
Crane x 2 - They were calling loudly as they flew across the field on the northern edge of the reserve.
It was another quiet afternoon at Sculthorpe Moor, after I began my warden duties at around 1.00pm. The weather was very changeable, but temperatures eventually reached 16°C-17°C.
There was plenty of Sand Martin activity over the scrape throughout the afternoon and there were further reports of them using the artificial sand bank by Victor's Hide.
Bullfinch x 2
Blackcap x 1 - A single male seen close to the Frank Jarvis hide.
Greenfinch x 3
Jay x 1
Reed Bunting x 2 Sedge Warbler x 1
Tufted Duck x 2 - A pair were seen opposite Whitley Hide, at the end of the channel of water.
Swallow x 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1 - A single female seen on the southern edge of Oak Fen, near the feeders.
Sand Martin x 8 - As mentioned before, they were seen continually flying above the scrape.
Canada Goose x 2
Nuthatch x 1
Little Grebe x 3
Little Egret x 2 - The pair were seen together as they flew over the scrape in a westerly direction.
The weather continued to be cold and drizzly throughout the day. Therefore, it was unsurprising that the temperatures never exceeded 10°C, and this ultimately had an impact on the wildlife we managed to see.
On a more positive note it was excellent to see at least two Sand Martins entering the artificial nesting chambers, next to Victor's Hide. It was especially surprising since the Sand Martin Bank was only completed in the last three weeks and there was little expectation that it would be visited so soon.
Anyway, the following was seen since our arrival at 9.30am:
Little Grebe x 2
Canada Goose x 3
Bullfinch x 3
Grey Heron x 1
Kingfisher x 1 - It was seen hovering in front of Whitley Hide for nearly a minute. It then headed towards the scrape.
Marsh Harrier x 1 - A single female gliding low over the reed bed in front of the Whitey Hide.
Reed Bunting x 3
Sedge Warbler x 1
Swallow x 1 - It was gliding over the surface of the water outside Victor's Hide, possibly drinking.
Nuthatch x 3
Whitethroat x 1 - It was seen just beyond the gate to private land, halfway down the track from the Visitor Centre.
Buzzard x 1 Green Woodpecker x 1 - It was heard calling to begin with, followed by a clear sighting between the feeders and Water Vole bridge.
Sand Martin x 2 - The pair were seen flying above Peter Johnson's hide.
Also seen once again was the Water Vole at the Dyke Viewing Platform. It seemed to be unconcerned by our presence and continued to feed for several minutes.
The following was a short video I managed to capture at the time:
It was a quiet morning at Sculthorpe Moor, despite the fact that it turned out to be pleasantly warm throughout the day. I continued with my warden duties, which included filling the feeders and talking to other birders around the reserve.
The following was seen since my arrival at 8.30am:
Buzzard x 2 - The pair were seen circling over Oak Fen first thing in the morning.
Sparrowhawk x 1 - A single bird was attempting to mob the pair of Buzzards but then headed to the Scrape.
Reed Bunting x 5
Little Grebe x 2
Cormorant x 1
Chaffinch x 2
Songthrush x 1
Mute Swan x 2
Greylag Goose x 11
Red Kite x 1 - It was seen flying close to the Visitor Centre mid morning, then drifted south.
Jay x 1
Sedge Warbler x 3 - All were seen alongside the boardwalk, opposite Oak Fen.
Marsh Tit x 2
Treecreeper x 1 - It appeared to have a moth in its beak and was seen close to the boardwalk in Dry Wood.
Canada Goose x 1
Greenfinch x 3
Nuthatch x 1 - Seen briefly on the feeder at the bottom of the ramp, leading to the Tower Hide.
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1 - The male was perched on a branch, close to the Nuthatch sighting, then headed towards Whitley Hide.
It was my first day volunteering as a warden at Sculthorpe Moor and it was fantastic to see such a variety of raptors on display. The weather was also pleasant, with temperatures gradually rising to 12°C, and there was a light breeze throughout the morning.
Map of Sculthorpe Moor.
The following was seen since 8.30am:
White-tailed Eagle x 1 - A distant sighting (at 12.15pm) as it was flying above the wooded area on the eastern side of the reserve. It then drifted towards Fakenham and did not appear again. Nuthatch x 1 Buzzard x 6 - All seen as they mobbed the White-tailed Eagle. They then returned to the reserve after it had been driven-away. Kestrel x 1 - Hovering close to Victor's Hide, late morning. Sedge Warbler x 3 - All seen along the River Wensum and a lot more were heard throughout the morning. Little Egret x 1 Reed Bunting x 3 Marsh Harrier x 1 - A female seen flying along the River Wensum in a westerly direction. Sparrowhawk x 1 - It was seen from a distance on the eastern side of the reserve, flying in a northerly direction. Cuckoo x 1 - It was seen opposite Victor's Hide, perched along the telephone lines at the back of the fen. Kingfisher x 1 Grey Heron x 1
Butterflies and Mammals Water Vole x 1 - At least one was seen along the dyke. It also appeared quite tolerate of us being there as it sat only a foot away from us. Orange Tip x 2 Peacock x 1
It was our first visit to Hickling Broad and it easily met our expectations. The management of the reserve is exceptional and I can now see why it enjoys such an excellent reputation.
The approach to Cadbury Hide.
The weather was slightly warmer than expected, forecasts predicted temperatures of around 8°C, but the large amount of cloud cover did cause temperatures to drop sporadically.
The following was seen since our arrival at 9.10am:
Blackcap x 1
Chiffchaff x 3 - One individual was seen building a nest alongside the path near Deary's Pool.
Little Egret x 2
Snipe x 1 - It appeared momentarily, directly opposite the Cadbury Hide, but then disappeared from view.
Willow Warbler x 1 - Several were heard throughout the morning but the only individual seen was close to the Cadbury Hide.
Bearded Tit x 1 - A single male seen briefly flying above the reeds, on the right hand side, as we walked away from Secker's Hide.
Scaup x 3 - A single male accompanied by two females, seen from the first view point.
Great Crested Grebe x 4
Grey Heron x 1
Sedge Warbler x 2 - The two individuals were both seen close to the Observation Hut.
One of the Sedge Warblers seen close to the Observation Hut.
Wren x 2
Kestrel x 1 - It was first seen hovering close to the Observation Hut, then directly opposite the Cadbury Hide in the early afternoon.
Crane x 5 - They were all seen flying towards Bygrave's Marsh, but then headed in a north easterly direction.
Marsh Harrier x 1
Pied Wagtail x 2
The following butterflies were seen during our visit, but no sign of the Swallowtail (unfortunately):
I decided to have a quick walk down to Rush Meadow, near Scarning, at 7.10am and take a look at my local patch.
A view of Rush Meadow from the pathway, alongside the stream.
The weather forecast stated that it would be around 8°C, but with the spring sun and very little cloud, it felt considerably warmer. As a result, the following was seen throughout the morning:
Goldfinch x 4
Greenfinch x 2
Blackcap x 3 - A pair were seen together in the woodland, alongside the pathway, on the north eastern corner of the reserve.
Pied Wagtail x 2 - A pair were seen outside the entrance to the sewage works. Significantly lower numbers than had previously been seen here.
Swallow x 7 - All of the birds were perched on a wire suspended above the entrance to the sewage works.
House Martin x 1 - A single bird seen perched with the Swallows.
Songthrush x 1
Little Egret x 1 Kingfisher x 1 - It was seen flying south along the stream, approaching the sewage works.
Grey Heron x 1
Wren x 2
Jay x 2
Kestrel x 1 - It was seen hovering high above the woodland, then drifted north.
It was also interesting to see that the Norfolk Wildlife Trust had been spending some time on the reserve trying to recover some of the species-rich vegetation, after extensive scrub growth over the years.
According to the WREN website, who are providing funding, they will be carrying out a combination of urgently required restoration work and the development of more sustainable site management practices.
This would include the:-
Restoration of the central dyke and the removal of scrub encroachment
Introduction of water-level management
Introduction of a sustainable grazing regime
There is also similar work being carried out at Scarning Fen, in an attempt to secure the future condition of these two sites on the Dereham stream corridor.
Since my previous post regarding the illegal trapping of birds in Cyprus, Chris Packham has released a short film documenting the extent of the problem in the eastern mediterranean country.
I would encourage anyone to sign the petition so, at the very least, government will be required to provide some kind of response to this serious issue: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/191485
What is The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS)?
The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) monitors waterbirds in the UK. The project is managed by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and has been going since its inception in 1947.
The principal aims of WeBS are to identify the size of waterbird populations, determine trends in their distribution, and assess the importance of individual sites for waterbirds. This is in line with the UK's Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).
Species trends, peak counts and site summary data are accessible to all online, via the WeBS Annual Report.
Sparham Pools
The Sparham Pools reserve, which is leased to and maintained by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT), is located near the villages of Lyng and Sparham. The reserve is a series of former gravel pits, that have now been flooded to form deep and shallow pools with islands.
It is popular with birdwatchers as it attracts a number of waders and waterfowl. Notable sightings in recent months have included Osprey, Black Tern and Great Grey Strike. It is now a favoured site for Common Terns and Black-headed Gulls, who breed on the small/artificial islands.
Map of Sparham Pools
Waterbird Populations at Sparham Pools in 2018
The following is a breakdown of species seen at Sparham Pools since 18th Feb 2018.
18th
Feb
15th
Apr
20th
May
Black-headed Gull
2
107
35
Coot
8
2
1
Cormorant
1
1
1
Egyptian Goose
0
0
5
Gadwall
11
2
2
Great Crested Grebe
0
1
3
Grey Heron
0
0
1
Greylag Goose
0
1
9
Mallard
2
0
0
Moorhen
1
0
2
Mute Swan
1
1
2
Oystercatcher
2
0
0
Reed Warbler
0
0
2
Shoveler
4
1
0
Tufted Duck
8
3
0
Wigeon
0
1
0
Total
40
120
63
Waterbird Populations at Sparham Pools in 2017
The following is a breakdown of species seen at Sparham Pools since 14th May 2017.
What is the Norfolk Bat Survey?
The Norfolk Bat Survey was launched by Dr Stuart Newson at the British Trust for Ornithology in April 2013, to improve our understanding of bats and support their conservation. Since this time, the project has analysed over a million bat recordings from across the county.
With the help of volunteers, the project conducts bat surveys across the whole of Norfolk (and in parts of Suffolk), by providing an opportunity for anyone to take advantage of recent advances in technology for automating the capture and analysis of acoustic data for bats.
The sophisticated equipment is placed at three different locations within a 1km square, which is allocated to a volunteer, and it will record any bat calls throughout the consecutive nights.
These recordings are stored on an SD card which then can be accessed through a computer. Then sound analysis software (such as BatScan) can then be used to closely identify individual species.
Scarning Water Meadows
As part of the project, I'm responsible for monitoring bat activity in Scarning Water Meadows.
The diagram below represents the specific areas, within Dereham, where the recordings will be taking place. The red square, to the bottom left of the image, is where the majority of my recordings will be taking place from the beginning of May until the end of September.
Areas being monitored as part of the Norfolk Bat Survey are highlighted red.
As different species have successfully been identified I'll report the findings (along with uploading the recordings) on this blog. The following information was provided by Hazel Jones (Bat Survey Organiser) at the British Trust for Ornithology.
Results from Saturday 6th May 2017 at TF 97961 12443
The analysis of the recordings detected the following species. The numbers relate to the number of bat passes rather than the number of individual bats.
Species
Total number of passes (all
night)
Common Pipistrelle
490
Leisler's bat
1
Natterer's bat
3
Noctule
32
Serotine
3
Soprano Pipistrelle
40
Below are details of recordings that could not be assigned with any certainty to a single species.
Species
Total number of passes (all
night)
Leisler's bat or Noctule
14
Myotis species
4
Pipistrelle species
7
Results from Monday 8th May 2017 at TF 98466 13275
The analysis of the recordings detected the following species. The numbers relate to the number of bat passes rather than the number of individual bats.
Species
Total number of passes (all
night)
Barbastelle
5
Common Pipistrelle
1
Leisler's bat
1
Natterer's bat
1
Noctule
18
Serotine
2
Soprano Pipistrelle
23
Below are details of recordings that could not be assigned with any certainty to a single species.
Species
Total number of passes (all
night)
Leisler's bat or Noctule
6
Myotis species
2
Pipistrelle species
9
Species Information and Distribution across Norfolk
Common Pipistrelle and Soprano Pipistrelle
The two commonest Pipistrelle species found in the UK, the Common and Soprano Pipistrelles, were only identified as separate species in the 1990s. The two species look very similar and often the easiest way to tell them apart is from the frequency of their echolocation calls.
Soprano Pipistrelle
Common Pipistrelle
The map on the left shows distribution and the map on the right (if present) shows patterns of activity. Deeper red indicates higher certainty of occurrence or greater activity. Maps are derived from statistical models using climate and land cover to explain and predict bat data.
The distribution of the Soprano Pipistrelle bat species in Norfolk.
The distribution of the Common Pipistrelle bat species in Norfolk.
Noctule
The Noctule is one of the largest British species and is usually the first bat to appear in the evening, sometimes even before sunset. They fly in the open, often well above tree-top level, with repeated steep dives when chasing insects. This species can fly at 50kph.
Noctule
The map on the left shows distribution and the map on the right (if present) shows patterns of activity. Deeper red indicates higher certainty of occurrence or greater activity. Maps are derived from statistical models using climate and land cover to explain and predict bat data.
The distribution of the Noctule bat species in Norfolk
Natterer’s bat
Natterer’s bats have a slow to medium-paced flight, sometimes over water, but more often amongst trees, where their broad wings and tail membrane give them great manoeuvrability at slow speed. They normally fly at heights of less than 5m, but occasionally may reach 15m in the tree canopy. Much of the prey is taken from foliage and includes many flightless or day-flying insects.
Natterer's Bat
The map on the left shows distribution and the map on the right (if present) shows patterns of activity. Deeper red indicates higher certainty of occurrence or greater activity. Maps are derived from statistical models using climate and land cover to explain and predict bat data.
The distribution of the Natterer's bat species in Norfolk
