Recent sightings at Titchwell

As there will be no access to the beach, due to the closure of the path, at Titchwell from late Sunday 25th July onwards, there will be a Coastal Project update instead of weekly sightings report the tide times. The Coastal Project update will inform readers what is happening with the work on the reserve

TITCHWELL MARSH RSPB COASTAL CHANGE PROJECT - click on link for the latest access information

TCCP Update Number 5 : Wednesday 18 August.
We closed the west bank path to the beach during the late afternoon of Sunday 25 July to allow this year’s Coastal Project work to commence.

At the south end, the path was closed at the junction with Meadow Trail and at the north end at the beach.During the first few weeks of the path closure work has been taking place re-structuring the west bank path and improving the freshwater marsh. Images below.
Work has progressed well and we are now hoping that we will regain access to the beach and Island hide in approximately four weeks time. This is slightly ahead of schedule but is dependent on the weather and a number of other factors …let’s hope the weather stays dry!
We will keep you informed as to the exact date the path will re-open with further updates over the next few weeks.

If you would like to see the unfolding story of Coastal Project progress as it happens then please check out our blog http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/groups/titchwellmarsh/blog/default.aspx

During the path closure period, the visitor centre and shop, café, fen and meadow trails and fen hide will remain open as normal. Entry to the reserve will be free and there will be a comprehensive range of nature based events and activities around the accessible areas particularly on weekdays until 3 September (except Bank Holiday Monday) for families. All of these events will be free.

You can find out more information about how work is progressing via:
· Our blog (link above)
· The visitor centre by asking members of staff or volunteers or reading the regularly updated notice board outside the centre.
· By calling 01485 210779 during shop hours or listening to the answer phone message outside shop hours.
· By emailing titchwell@rspb.org.uk

Looking east from the west bank path with Island hide on the left. This whole area had become full of encroaching reed. It will now be a great area (close to Island hide and the path) in which to see waders!

Looking south down the west bank path towards the junction with Meadow trail. The path has still to be added as well as the crest of the bank on the right hand side.
For all the latest Titchwell RSPB news check our new blog at http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/groups/titchwellmarsh/blog/default.aspx

RSPB Ouse Washes Thursday 12 August 2010:
I apologise for being so quiet during the last month but this has been for a couple of reasons.
The scrapes viewable from the hides were allowed to dry out enabling cattle access to areas of the washes that are normally damp or wet; grazing playing a vital role in the management of the washes.

The Environment Agency has been undertaking flood defence works causing a lot of disturbance.

On-going capital works that involves ditch and scrape re-profiling and creation requires particular areas of the reserve to be dry for access purposes.
Consequently very few birds!

The good news is that most of the scrapes now have shallow water in them with plenty of muddy areas for birds to feed and the EA have finished their defence works. Wader passage over the last couple of days has seen plenty of Greenshank, Ruff, Green Sandpipers and Snipe and with the autumn migration under way, it should only get better. One of the most popular scrapes is viewable from the Welches Dam Hide (the nearest one) and has produced some cracking birds during the short period since its creation. This is being increased in size to almost double what it currently is and will be completed in the next couple of weeks.

It should be an exciting couple of months ahead. The reserve is in a favourable condition and should attract many birds as they return from their northern breeding grounds, heading towards southern Europe and Africa.

RSPB Ouse Washes Sat 26 June 2010:
It’s been a bit quiet recently but this morning a Spoonbill has put in an appearance so I thought I should let you know should anyone like to try and see it before it disappears. It was viewable at either the Stevens or Cottier hide from 11am this morning and was settling in for a sleep.

RSPB Ouse Washes Tues 15 June 2010:
BIRDS
Avocet pair with 4 chicks
Spotted Crake – 3 calling at dusk. 2 can be heard from the visitor centre
Hobby – definitely a pair, same goes for sparrowhawk and marsh harrier
Barn Owl – up to 5 hunting the washes and banks in the evening
Garganey, shoveler, gadwall and mallard all with ducklings
Most paired mute swans with cygnets.
Great white egret – thought to be still in the area although not as visible as it has been.
Cuckoos – quite obvious in their search for a suitable host nest in the reed and sedge beds.
ODONATA
Scarce chaser, Four-spotted chaser
Banded & beautiful demoiselle
Red-eyed, blue-tailed, common blue, variable and large red damselflies.
All can be seen in variable numbers along the ditches and rivers.
MAMMALS
Water voles are much more noticeable at the moment with numerous being seen throughout the reserve and also along ditches nearby.

RSPB Ouse Washes Wed 26 May 2010:
First, let me apologise for being so late in contacting you all with what has been happening on the reserve during the last few weeks. Second, let me introduce myself. I am Mike Burdekin and I am undertaking Alex’s (Alex Thomas) role while she is on maternity leave.

We have now completed the second breeding bird survey of the washes and wader numbers appear to be stable, despite floodwaters wetting up the washes again following the May Bank Holiday. The third and final survey will be undertaken very soon and I shall keep you posted with the outcome soon afterwards.

Current figures for several key species would indicate there are lapwing (187pr), redshank (152pr), snipe (138pr), garganey (8pr) and yellow wagtail (50pr). Two spotted crakes can also be heard calling as dusk approaches, including one from the washes straight in front of the visitor centre. Other breeding birds of interest include a couple of pairs of avocets; one of which is in front of Welches Dam Hide. little egrets appear to be breeding again in the osiers as many are present along the entire length of the reserve.

The Pilot Project, wet grassland adjacent to the washes has seen wader numbers drop this year. After three surveys the final figures showed there were lapwing (17pr), redshank (8pr) and snipe (13pr).

It is still a little early to get an idea of how successful the breeding season has been for the waders although there have been several sightings of lapwing with chicks. Concerning other species, it is possible to see mute swans, greylag and Canada geese, coots, moorhens, mallard, gadwall and garganey with their broods.

Raptors that can be seen regularly on the reserve at the moment include marsh harrier, hobby, sparrowhawk, kestrel and the occasional hunting peregrine, although sightings have become more often recently which may suggest there are a breeding pair in the vicinity using the washes to hunt. At dawn and dusk barn owls regularly ghost silently along the riverbanks and over the washes in search of food.

A rarity for the reserve was a great white egret that turned up on the 13th May and was seen by numerous visitors until the 18th.

Recent sightings of other wildlife on the washes include grass snake, water vole, roe and muntjac deer as well as news of a possible otter family seen by EA staff near the Common Wash Hide on the River Delph. dragonflies have just begun to appear, with the first scarce chaser being recorded in the last few days but there are already large numbers of damselflies flitting along the ditches and riverbanks.

Spring is a very rewarding time on the reserve as the next generation of our feathered friends begin to appear. It is a great time to visit even if it is just to watch the frantic activity of the Tree sparrows outside the visitor centre

RSPB Ouse Washes Monday 15 March 2010:
Today was a WeBS count of the washes and the water levels are still deep at 2.05 meters. This means that many of the duck and wader numbers are low for this time of year.
Best hides are Stockdales and Stevens. Stockdales hide has close views of dabbling ducks hidden in amongst the grassy islands. Stevens hide has views of ducks along with a group of greylag geese with 2 pink-feet and 2 white-fronts moving between the washes and the flooded fields know as the Pilot Project. This area also offers good views of lapwing, redshank and dunlin.

Some whopper swans still present, 444 north of the railway and a further 440 on the arable by WWT.

Below are the figures for the whole of the Ouse Washes from Earith to Welmore (including the WWT section)

wigeon 12,666
gadwall 998
teal 1518
mallard 1603
pintail 462
shoveler 503
pochard 1292
tufted duck 1647
coot 2482
goldeneye 5
pink footed goose 2 (stevens hide)
white-fronted goose (back of stevens hide)

lapwing 850
ruff 27
black-tailed godwit 50
redshank 92
dunlin 33
curlew 4

water pipit 13

Recent sightings from group members:

Sightings of interest at Nar Valley Fisheries, Sunday 18th July 2010:-
1 bar-tailed godwit, 1 common sandpiper, 16 great-crested grebe ( of birds sighted one pair with a single chick and another pair with two chicks), 2 kestrel,
67 tufted duck (of birds sighted one pair with a single chick and another pair with seven chicks).

At Pentney Pits, Sunday 18th July 2010:-
The pair of avocet that I reported on a previous date are still in the area with two chicks. I spotted them today, on the far side of the water, viewing from the usual spot at the side of the road.

At Abbey Farm, Flitcham, Tuesday 13th July 2009:
In the sightings book in the hide an entry for 11 common sandpiper for today 13th July. Is this a record sighting for the Narvos area all in one spot? I visited at 3.00pm and there were 7 common sandpiper in view. There were also 3 little owl along the back fence.

At Nar Valley Fisheries, Saturday 5th June:
Sightings of interest were 2 cuckoo, 9 great-crested grebe, 1 green woodpecker, 3 oystercatcher, 8 common tern. I counted 211 nesting holes at the sand martin colony with 150+ birds in the air. The sand martins were constantly in and out of the nesting holes. In conversation with staff from the quarry, they reported that a pair of mute swans had 4/5 cygnets with one being completely white and the others the pale grey normal colour. This pure white color is known as "Polish" which is a genetic varient form. Last year there was a pair of mute swan with a similar brood at the fisheries. I searched high and low for the swans but to no avail.

At Pentney Pits, Saturday 5th June:
Sightings of interest were 36 common tern, 2 little ringed plover, 3 great-crested grebe, 1 cuckoo and 1 common buzzard. On the island at the far end of the pits, where the common tern are nesting, there were 2 avocet which looked as though they were nesting.

At Nar Valley Fisheries, Saturday 22nd may 2010:
Sightings of interest were 2 cuckoo ( 1 sighting and 1 heard), 1 common buzzard, 9 common tern, 1 little ringed plover, 2 turtle dove (1 sighted and 1 heard) and 3 sparrowhawk. At the sand nartin colony I counted 207 nesting holes with 100 plus birds in the air around the colony.

At Roydon Common, Friday 30th April 2009:
1 cuckoo, 1 curlew, 2 linnet, 15 wheatear, 1 ring ouzel, 2 jay, 1 chaffinch, 1 grey partridge,
4 red-legged partridge, 9 lapwing, 2 common buzzard, 2 kestrel, 1 marsh harrier, 1 pheasant

Sightings of interest at Nar Valley Fisheries on Saturday 24th April 2009:
1 buzzard, 4 cuckoo ( heard 4 from different areas of the fisheries all at one time and eventually saw 3 birds), 2 common tern. At the sand martin colony I counted 120 nest holes with approximately 150 birds in the air. I watched a pair of great crested grebes displaying to each other going through the four principal components of their display, as described by Julian Huxley in 1914, head shaking, discovery, retreat and weed ceremonies. I was absolutely mesmerised for all of five minutes as I have only seen parts of the display on previous occasions.

Sightings at Pentney Pits on Saturday 24th April 2009:
1 pinkfooted g oose, 1 green sandpiprer. 1 common sandpiper, 1 yellow wagtail and 1 whimbrel.
You could say that I had an interesting morning.

At Roydon Common, Friday 23rd April 2010:
Sightings of interest were1 chiffchaff, 2 stonechat (male & female), 3 ring ouzel (all males),
1 willow warbler, 1 bullfinch (female), 5 fieldfare ( late I thought to still be here), 3 wheatear
and 2 swallow.

At Nar Valley Fisheries, Sunday 11th April 2009:
Sightings of interest were 2 goosander (male & female), 1 goose, white - fronted, 7 grey heron, 3 swallow and 20+ sand martin at their usual nesting site in the quarry.

At Pentney Pits, Sunday 11th April 2009:
1 redstart, 1 redshank, 1 green sandpiper and 1 little ringed plover.

At King's Lynn docks Saturday 10th April 2009.
There were two peregrines on the silo when I arrived at 10-00am.  One bird was perched on the shelf of the nest box with the other perched on the railings of the walk way.  The bird on the shelf was bigger than the one on the railings and I presumed it was the female. After five minutes she took flight around the silo returning to the shelf after two to three minutes.  She was joined by the other bird, which I presumed was the male, on the shelf and they perched side by side.  After five minutes the female went into the box and out of sight.  The male then went into the box and out of sight to re-appear again five mimutes later flying down to the railings where it perched.  I did not see the female again as she was still in the depths of the box. I left the docks at 10-30am.  From the way that the birds acted I thought, hopefully, perhaps they went into the box to copulate or that they already had a chick in the box! 
I would be interested in constuctive comments.

In the car park at Abbey Farm this afternoon, Wednesday 17th March: a Chiffchaff.

Sightings of interest at Nar Valley Fisheries, Sunday 7th March 2010:-
4 goldeneye, 1 little egret, 9 great crested grebe, 2 kingfisher and 2 oystercatcher.

Sightings of interest at Pentney Pits, Sunday 7th March 2010:-
10 great crested grebe, 6 goosander (3 male & 3 female), 3 redshank and 2 oystercatcher.

Thanks to David Lake