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