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.