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