Sightings at Sculthorpe Moor (22nd and 29th September 2018)

The weather was surprisingly warm given the time of year, for two consecutive weekends. 

Despite the majority of summer visitors having now migrated, there were still a variety of birds that could be seen across the reserve. 

The following was seen from 12.30pm on the 22nd September:

Greenfinch x 6

Chaffinch x 13

Egyptian Goose x 2 - A pair seen flying north in the field adjacent to the Visitor Centre.

Bullfinch x 1

Nuthatch x 1

Coal Tit x 2

Long-tailed Tit x 1

Wren x 2

Marsh Tit x 5

Little Grebe x 1

Buzzard x 1 

Red Kite x 1

Jay x 2

Kingfisher x 1 - A single male flying around the scrape in front of Victor's Hide. 

Green Sandpiper x 1 - Seen at the back of the scrape, close to Victor's Hide. 

Marsh Harrier x 1 - A single female flying just above the reed bed, in front of the Whitley Hide. 

The following was seen from 12.45pm on the 23rd September:

Greenfinch x 7

Coal Tit x 3

Nuthatch x 2 - One was seen near the Woodland Hide, whilst the second was moving around the trees behind Whitley Hide.

Chiffchaff x 2 - A pair seen moving around the reeds, close to the Whitley Hide.

Kingfisher x 1 - Possibly the same bird seen on two occasions, both in front of the Whitley Hide. The first time it was seen hovering above the water. On the second occasion it flew directly towards the Whitley Hide, just above the water, then passed over the roof and in to the woodland behind. 

Marsh Tit x 2

Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1

Long-tailed Tit x 6

Wren x 1

Buzzard x 2

Green Sandpiper x 1 - Seen at the back of the scrape, close to Victor's Hide.

Sightings at Sculthorpe Moor (1st September 2018)

The beginning of a new month signalled little change in terms of sightings, but it was a pleasantly warm day with temperatures typically between 22°C - 24°C.

Despite excellent photos from some visitors during the week, the Woodcock was unfortunately rather elusive this time round. What was even stranger is the reports of not one but two individuals underneath the boardwalk earlier this week.

That said, there were reports of two Snipe alongside Victor's Hide. When we went to investigate, one could be seen sleeping on the edge of the scrape, whilst the second was apparently hiding among the reeds.

The following was seen from 12.30pm:
Buzzard x 1
Kestrel x 1
Greenfinch x 4 - Plenty of juveniles moving around the feeders near the Jarvis Hide.
Chaffinch x 8
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 2
Bullfinch x 2
Long-tailed Tit x 5
Marsh Tit x 2
Reed Warbler x 2
Snipe x 1 - As previously mentioned, only the one bird was seen but a second was hiding among the reeds.
Pheasant x 2
Swallow x 1

In final news, a family of Spotted Flycatchers (with four juveniles) could be seen feeding in the oak trees around the entrance to the reserve, last Sunday afternoon. They were probably only passing through as there have been no reports of any breeding birds on the reserve this year.

Sightings at Sculthorpe Moor (25th August 2018)

Typically the middle of August can be a quiet time of year for bird sightings and this unfortunately proved to be the case at Sculthorpe Moor, throughout the afternoon.

That said, shortly after our arrival we were made aware of a particularly confident Woodcock, which had taken up residence in the wooded area immediately below the boardwalk, on the approach to the Volunteers' Hide.

This is highly usual behaviour for a bird that is known to take refuge in dense cover, during the day, and will only make an appearance if flushed by someone passing too closely. However, not only did we get excellent views on two separate occasions, but some of the other visitors to the reserve had managed to get excellent photos during the past week (see below).

A real treat and a first for me a Woodcock taken on a visit to @sculthorpemoor whilst on holiday #woodcock #wildlifephotography pic.twitter.com/vsEW2ez6dO

— Shutterbug Photos (@KurtSpindley) August 22, 2018

The breeding season had clearly come to an end and it was noticeable by how many juveniles could be seen across the reserve, mainly on the feeders. Also, as had previously been reported, there were only two fledglings from the Marsh Harrier nest, but given that there had been no breeding pairs on the reserve for the last two years, it has been a bit of a success story.

The following was seen from 12.30pm:
Bullfinch x 5
Greenfinch x 3
Moorhen x 2
Goldfinch x 2
Marsh Tit x 1
Coal Tit x 1
Cormorant x 1
Sparrowhawk x 1 - A male seen perched in a Birch tree, immediately opposite the Whitley Hide.
Reed Warbler x 1

Sightings at Sculthorpe Moor (8th July 2018)

Another incredibly warm day at Sculthorpe, with temperatures easily exceeding 24°C by midmorning.

It was due in part to the humid weather that there was a significant increase in butterflies, damselflies and dragonflies across the reserve. The butterfly numbers were particularly impressive, with Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Painted Lady, Large White, Small White and Tortoiseshell seen throughout the morning.

Light Emerald moth, found on the boardwalk.

The nesting activities of the majority of birds on the reserve is now in the final stages. A Marsh Harrier fledgling was seen in front of the Whitley Hide on the 4th July. There are four chicks in the nest and hopefully the others will make an appearance any day now. 

It has now been confirmed that a pair of Barn Owls have occupied the nest box in the shelter, accompanied by two chicks and an egg. Whilst this news is particularly promising, it is worth noting that they have only just started to breed despite the adults taking up residence as early as the 4th March!

Also, there were plenty of juvenile Reed Warblers perched in the small trees, just above the reeds, not far from the Johnson Hide. The adults were continuing to bring them food throughout the morning.

The following was seen from 8.00am:

Bulfinch x 2

Marsh Tit x 2

Long-tailed Tit x 1

Jay x 1

Swift x 5

Linnet x 1 - Seen from the Whitley Hide, perched in a bush. 

Reed Bunting x 3

Reed Warbler x 8 - A significant number of the sightings were fledglings, near the Johnson Hide. 

Buzzard x 1

Chiffchaff x 1 - Heard calling repeatedly, near the Whitley Hide.

Water Vole x 2 - Both sightings were close to the boardwalk. The first was seen on Bittern Drain, eating some vegetation, whilst the second suddenly appeared swimming past the Dyke Viewing Platform.  

Sightings at Sculthorpe Moor (16th June 2018)

The warm weather continued at Sculthorpe Moor, with temperatures remaining at around 18°C.

Now that we're well into June, the nesting activity of most birds has reached the fledgling stage. This included the single Tawny Owl chick, in the nest box behind the Forest School, which has now vacated the nest. 

However, the Marsh Harriers are continuing to feed their four young, with the parents making sporadic flights away from the nest. The young will be at an advanced stage of development by now and should be fledgling any time soon.

Early bumblebee sitting on a Foxglove flower.

Common Lizard on the edge of the boardwalk.

The following was seen since 12.30pm:

Buzzard x 2

Bullfinch x 2

Red Kite x 1

Greenfinch x 3

Dunnock x 1

Reed Warbler x 4 - Plenty of nesting activity across the reserve. One individual was seen regularly visiting a nest immediately in front of the Johnson hide. 

Jay x 2

Lapwing x 1

Swift x 3

Reed Bunting x 2

Canada Goose x 1

Greylag Goose x 1

Common Tern x 1 - It's likely to be the same bird that was seen during our previous visit. It continued to make plunging dives into the water, in front of the Whitley Hide.

Goldfinch x 1

Great Spotted Woodpecker x 2

Marsh Harrier x 1 - The female was seen flying low over the reed bed at around 3.45pm. The male had been seen earlier in the day.

There were good views of a Water Vole, sitting on some broken reeds, in the middle of Bittern Drain. Also, there were numerous Red Admirals flying across the reserve. 

Sightings at Sculthorpe Moor (28th May 2018)

The warm weathered continued on the bank holiday Monday, with temperatures remaining at around 20°C.

With the continuation of the warm weather, there were plenty of developments across the reserve, since our previous visit. The Tawny Owl chick, near the Forest School, is still continuing to receive plenty of food and should leave the nest box any day now.

Whilst another Tawny Owl chick has been seen by plenty of people, since it fledged a nest near the Whitley Hide. For the second year in a row now, the female parent of that chick has chosen to nest in a dead tree rather than the nearby Whitley nest box.

The Mute Swan nest, on the approach to the Johnson Hide, has now been vacated with two infertile eggs left behind. However, the latest reports suggest that there are four cygnets on the river, with the parents close-by.

The following was seen since 12.30pm:
Greenfinch x 1
Buzzard x 3
Tufted Duck x 1
Little Grebe x 2
Marsh Harrier x 2 - The pair were on show close to the Whitley Hide, with the female not flying far from the nest at around 3.20pm. All four chicks appear to be doing well.

The Marsh Harrier chicks in the nest. Photo taken by staff at Sculthorpe Moor. 

Reed Bunting x 2
House Martin x 5 - The first sightings for this year, but unfortunately no sign of the Sand Martins.
Kestrel x 1
Swallow x 2
Reed Warbler x 6
Marsh Tit x 1
Bullfinch x 1
Blackcap x 1

Sightings at Sculthorpe Moor (12th May 2018)

It was a warm day at Sculthorpe Moor, with some light rain in the afternoon.

There continued to be signs of spring across the reserve, with the Tawny Owls continuing to raise only the one chick now. Unfortunately, despite the two adults incubating the five eggs initially, only one egg managed to hatch successfully.

It appears that the adult Tawny Owls have been feeding the chick quite a varied diet, including a Mallard duckling, a Mole and what looked like a Moorhen chick.

Also, a pair of Treecreepers were building a nest, behind some tree bark, on the approach to the Volunteers' Hide. A photo of which was taken by Robert Grenfell and can be seen on his Twitter page (https://twitter.com/Grenfy).

Finally, there are reports of a pair of Barn Owls in the box near the Jarvis Hide, which will hopefully breed soon, and the Mute Swans are continuing to incubate 6-7 eggs near the Johnson Hide.

The following was seen since 12.30pm:
Swallow x 2
Bullfinch x 5
Willow Warbler x 1 - Appeared in the trees, alongside the track from the Visitor Centre.
Greenfinch x 1
Canada Goose x 3
Lapwing x 2
Sedge Warbler x 1 - Several heard throughout the afternoon.
Nuthatch x 1
Reed Bunting x 4
Marsh Tit x 1
Grey Wagtail x 1 - Walking up and down the mud, immediately in front of the Johnson hide.
Mistle Thrush x 1 - Seen from a distance, in front of the shelter, near Victor's Hide. Possibly the same bird that was only seen on the 25th March.
Jay x 1
Cuckoo x 2 - At least two birds were heard during the afternoon, with one sighting near the Johnson Hide.
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1
Grey Heron x 2
Reed Warbler x 1 - One very good sighting, but several more were heard throughout the day.

At least one Marsh Harrier was seen by the public, as the pair obviously continue with their nest building. Also, one visitor managed to get an excellent photo of a Weasel, as it was seen near Old Gits Corner.

Sightings at Sculthorpe Moor (21st April 2018)

It was easily the warmest day at Sculthorpe Moor this year, with temperatures reaching around 19°C.

In addition to the warm weather, there were signs of spring across the reserve, including the first Cuckoo sightings of the season. The first was seen perched in a tree in the middle of Oak Fen, just above the Kestrel box. Whilst a second was seen, from Victor's Hide, sitting on a wire at the back of the reedbeds. This is coincidentally the same location that the first Cuckoo was seen last year, on the 23rd April. 

The reserve's youngest warden taking photos.

The following was seen from 12.30pm:

Sparrowhawk x 1

Bullfinch x 6

Buzzard x 3

Greenfinch x 1

Reed Bunting x 4

Little Grebe x 2

Lapwing x 3

Kestrel x 1

Goldfinch x 1

Cuckoo x 2 - As previously mentioned, the first sightings of the year and within 2 days of last year's sightings. 

Reed Warbler x 3 - At least three birds were seen, but several more could be heard calling on the approach to the Johnson Hide. 

Canada Goose x 1

Water Vole x 1 - It was seen swimming along the Bittern Drain, not long after the sighting of a young otter. 

Also, the warm weather resulted in large numbers of butterflies across the reserve, including Brimstone, Peacock and Small White.

Mute Swan sitting on its nest, on the approach to the Johnson Hide.

The previously reported activities of the Tawny Owls, continued without any new developments as the 'pair' of adults are continuing to incubate their five eggs. After discussing the behaviour with someone from a local charity who cares for injured birds of prey, they stated that they may be incubating the eggs because one adult would be unable to effectively cover so many eggs.

Finally, there have been reports of a male and two female Marsh Harriers visiting the reserve in recent days. This was then followed by sightings around the 10th April of a pair mating and carrying nesting material into the reeds. If this continues and they breed, it will be in the first time in three years that we'll have a pair nesting on the reserve. It was in 2015 that Mrs H, the reserve's long term resident female, mysteriously disappeared and a different female raised a couple of young in the reed at the back of The Scrape

Sightings at Sculthorpe Moor (31st March 2018)

It was a cold and wet afternoon at Sculthorpe Moor. Throughout our time there, it continuously rained and made for an unpleasant end to the day.

On a more positive note, the nest box near the forest school contained not one but two adult Tawny Owls. I had previously reported that there was a clutch of 2-3 eggs, but in fact the box contained 5 eggs in total (laid between the 17th and 26th of March).

It was unusual to see this number of eggs for a Tawny Owl and that the box was occupied by two adults. It is unclear if the adults are a pair or if they happen to be two females. In either case, its curious behaviour and it will be interesting to observe the young, as they develop over the coming weeks.

Also, there was an adult Tawny Owl active in the nest box near the Whitley Hide. It was likely that this was one of the adults that used the box last year, but as yet no eggs can be seen in the box.

The following was seen since 12.30pm:
Coal Tit x 3
Bullfinch x 5
Marsh Tit x 2
Nuthatch x 1
Reed Bunting x 3
Little Grebe x 2
Lesser Redpoll x 2
Brambling x 2 - Still a couple of birds present despite it being nearly April. After some some additional research online, I did read that some stragglers may remain into April and early May.
Long-tailed Tit x 5
Grey Heron x 1
Mute Swan x 2 - Despite the rising water levels on the River Wensum, one adult was continuing to build the nest near the Johnson Hide, whilst the second adult was actually sat on the nest.
Treecreeper x 1
Goldfinch x 1

Muntjac Deer x 2

Sightings at Sculthorpe Moor (24th March 2018)

The weather at Sculthorpe was considerably more pleasant than it was a week ago. With plenty of activity across the reserve, it was readily apparent that the majority of birds were busy preparing for the breeding season.

This included an adult Tawny Owl, which could be seen on the reserve cameras, occupying the nest box near the forest school. It was incubating 2-3 eggs and it was unclear if this bird was related to the brood that was near the Whitley Hide, from the previous spring.

The following was seen since 12.00pm:
Bullfinch x 2
Marsh Tit x 3
Greenfinch x 2
Coal Tit x 2
Long-tailed Tit x 4
Water Rail x 2 - The usual bird was seen in front of the Whitley Hide, whilst a second was moving through the reeds alongside the River Wensum.
Little Egret x 1
Reed Bunting x 9 - There was a noticeable increase in numbers this week, especially among the reeds near the Johnson Hide.
Little Grebe x 2
Mute Swan x 3 - A pair were building a nest in the reeds on the approach to the Johnson Hide, on the right-hand side of the boardwalk.
Barn Owl x 1 - A single bird perched in the tree, close to the shelter. It didn't appear to be as active as last Sunday afternoon but did fly close to the River Wensum on at least one occasion.
Brambling x 4 - A surprisingly high number of sightings, given that they had not been seen on our previous two visits.
Mistle Thrush x 1 - A single bird moving around the grass area, in front of the shelter, close to Victor's Hide.
Lesser Redpoll x 7 - All seen on the niger feeders by the Volunteers' Hide. There was no sign of the Mealy Redpoll, but they had been reported by other visitors.
Siskin x 1
Goldfinch x 2
Nuthatch x 1
Lapwing x 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1
Oystercatcher x 2

Sightings at Sculthorpe Moor (18th March 2018)

After the heavy snowfall on the Saturday night, I decided to spend a couple of hours at Sculthorpe Moor. The temperatures were very low, dropping down to -2°C, and with the strong winds it felt considerably colder.

View from Whitley Hide

View from boardwalk towards to Dry Wood

The birds were obviously struggling with the cold and there was an abundance of them using the feeders across the reserve, especially near the Volunteers' Hide.

Despite waiting for around 45 minutes at Victor's Hide, there was no sign of the Bittern at the back of the Scrape. It had been seen on both the Thursday and Friday, catching frogs on the small pond in front of the trees.

The following was seen since 10.30am:
Long-tailed Tit x 4
Water Rail x 2 - The usual sighting in front of the Whitley Hide, whilst a second was seen along the dyke near Oak Fen.
Kingfisher x 1
Goldfinch x 20
Lesser Redpoll x 4 - All seen on the niger seed feeders outside the Volunteers' Hide.
Mealy Repdoll x 5 - Some were seen with the Goldfinch flock, whilst the rest were seen on the same feeders, outside the Volunteers' Hide.
Siskin x 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1
Coal Tit x 1
Bullfinch x 7
Buzzard x 2
Grey Heron x 2
Barn Owl x 2 - The pair that have taken up residence in the shelter, were actively hunting across the Scrape and over Oak Fen. This went on for a prolonged period of time and they appeared unperturbed by the public watching them close-by. 
Snipe x 5 - Four birds were flushed out on Oak Fen by one of the Barn Owls and they proceeded to fly north.
Reed Bunting x 3
Song Thrush x 1

Sightings at Sculthorpe Moor (10th March 2018)

I expected the reserve to be quieter, given the news of the appearance of a Snowy Owl at Titchwell Marsh. However, there were at least sixty visitors to Sculthorpe throughout the day.

Snowdrops near the Forest School.

The weather was mild, with temperatures between 12-14°C and the occasional bit of light rain in the afternoon. The following was seen since 12.30pm:

Bullfinch x 7

Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1

Marsh Tit x 2

Long-tailed Tit x 5

Nuthatch x 1

Reed Bunting x 4 - All seen on the feeding table in front of the Whitley Hide. Unexpectedly, one male was being particularly aggressive towards other birds that were attempting to land on the table. 

Little Egret x 1

Mute Swan x 2

Water Rail x 1 - Appeared several times throughout the afternoon, in front of the Whitley Hide. It was interesting to see that other birds were very wary of its presence, as it continued to chase them away from under the feeding table. This would make sense given that it attacked and killed a Long-tailed Tit, some weeks earlier.

Siskin x 3 - All seen on the niger seed feeders in front of the Volunteers' Hide. One was a significantly more vibrant yellow colour than the others.

Coal Tit x 1

Greylag Goose x 10

Lapwing x 1

Mealy Redpoll x 2 - They were both seen on the niger seed feeders, near the sightings board, close to the entrance of the reserve. 

Lesser Redpoll x 3 - Seen on the same niger seed feeders and on the feeders in front of the Volunteers' Hide. 

Wren x 1

Grey Heron x 1

Little Grebe x 2

Also, there were reports of a female Marsh Harrier and a Chinese Water Deer seen across the reserve during the day.

River Wensum, near Sculthorpe (4th March 2018)

With the excessive amount of snow this week, followed by 40mph winds causing snowdrifts, it was unsurprising that Sculthorpe Moor had to close for a few days. The boardwalk was unsuitable to walk on and it was only this afternoon that the snow began to thaw, with temperatures rising to around 8°C.

River Wensum, with Volunteer Hide on the left.

River Wensum

It was because of the above, that I finally decided to walk along the River Wensum, which runs along the southern edge of the reserve. My walk started at the A1065 and I made my way towards Shereford, before heading back in the same direction later that afternoon.

The following was seen since around 1.30pm:
Barn Owl x 1 - It was seen flying along the River Wensum, close to the Volunteer Hide. This was very near to the 'shelter', where it had been reported recently that a pair had taken up residence. The shelter contains a nest box and the pair had been observed preening each other, in recent days. There is the possibility that this bird was one of the individuals that had previously been rescued, and coincidentally, released from the same shelter.
Kestrel x 2 - A pair both seen hunting in lose proximity to The Scrape, on the reserve.
Brambling x 1
Buzzard x 1
Woodcock x 1
Goldfinch x 2
Little Egret x 1
Jay x 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1 - A single female perched high in the trees in Dry Wood, near Oak Fen. A possible Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling and drumming, but despite an extensive search it could not be found. At least one bird had been seen on the reserve in recent weeks.

Muntjac Deer x 3 - They number of sightings have increased in recent weeks and they have been observed at several locations around the local area.

Sightings at Sculthorpe Moor (17th February 2018)

It was an usually warm day at Sculthorpe Moor and it was possibly because of the weather that we had in excess of 120 visitors! This is significantly higher than the numbers we have had in recent weeks and hopefully this will continue.

The warm sun continued throughout the afternoon with very little cloud cover, whilst temperatures remained between 8 to 10°C. Hopefully this is the sign of things to come and that Spring has come early!

A warm afternoon at Sculthorpe Moor

The following was seen from 12.30pm:
Bullfinch x 4
Chaffinch x 16
Goldfinch x 4
Siskin x 3 - A pair were seen perched high in the trees on the approach to Whitley Hide, whilst another individual was seen on the niger seed feeders outside the Volunteers' Hide.
Sparrowhank x 1 - A single bird flying, above the trees, in the direction of Oak Fen.
Reed Bunting x 2
Brambling x 2 - The pair were both seen in front of the Whitley Hide on the feeding tables. It had been noted today that numbers are significantly lower than last year. In fact, a total of 12 Brambling were observed on the 22nd March 2017.
Kestrel x 1
Red Kite x 2 - A pair were observed in front of the Johnson hide, flying high above the wooded area. They then continued to mob a single Buzzard before moving on to the field alongside the visitor centre.
Buzzard x 2
Common (Mealy) Redpoll x 2 - On the niger seed feeders by the Volunteers' Hide.
Nuthatch x 1
Water Rail x 1 - Hiding amongst the reeds in front of the Whitley Hide, throughout the afternoon.
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 2 - Seen gathering food from the feeders in front of the Woodland and Whitley Hide. The male seen gathering in front of the Woodland Hide, was rather ingeniously using the hole in a branch of a tree to secure the seed whilst cracking the shell.
Long-tailed Tit x 2
Moorhen x 1
Wren x 4

Water Vole x 1 - A brief sighting as it jumped into the water, from the bank of the River Wensum. 

Sightings at Sculthorpe Moor (3rd February 2018)

It was cold and damp Saturday afternoon when we started our warden duties at around 12.30pm.

Bittern - Photograph by Mike Lambert

Despite our best efforts, there was no sign of the Bittern that had been photographed by Mike Lambert on the 30th January. It was then seen twice more on the 31st, including along the edge of the recently cleaned out Bittern Drain, beside the River Path Boardwalk.

The following was seen throughout the afternoon, until 4.00pm:

Chaffinch x 19

Bullfinch x 5

Marsh Tit x 3

Buzzard x 1

Mute Swan x 1

Reed Bunting x 1 - A single male moving around the reeds, just in front of the Whitley Hide.

Brambling x 2 - A vibrantly coloured male was visible on the feeding table, to the right of the Whitley Hide.

Kestrel x 1

Goldfinch x 5 - There were significantly lower numbers than on our previous visits but they were still taking advantage of the niger seed feeders, just outside the Volunteers' Hide window.
Common (Mealy) Redpoll x 1 - A single bird on the feeders by Volunteers' Hide. There were reports of an Arctic Redpoll on the 27th and 28th January, but after careful analysis of photographs it has since been suggested that it was in fact a very light Mealy Redpoll.
Lesser Redpoll x 1
Coal Tit x 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 3 - Several individuals were drumming around the reserve, trying to attract a mate, with at least two making plenty of noise near the Water Vole Bridge.
Wren x 2
Dunnock x1
Moorhen x 1

Muntjac Deer x 3 - An unusually high number of deer across the reserve. One individual was moving around just in front of the Whitley Hide, by the edge of the water.

It was pleasing to see the Snowdrops, obviously enjoying the shade from the trees, alongside the boardwalk between the Woodland Hide and Water Vole Bridge.

Also, Scarlet Elf Cup fungus, one of the iconic species to Sculthorpe Moor, could be seen at various locations across the reserve. The bright red cups of the fruiting bodies grow on decaying willow and are already visible in good numbers beside the boardwalks. Some years are better than others and over time the fungus seems to have spread to different areas.

Snowdrops, seen near the Woodland Hide.

Scarlet Elf Cup fungus, seen near the Water Vole Bridge.