NORWICH LOCAL GROUP

IN THIS ISSUE Autumn 2015

Group Leader’s page 2

Lakenheath Fen 3

Strumpin round the Fen 4

Outdoor meeting reports 5 - 9

Committee 9

Programme 10

All drawings by Mike Langman unless otherwise stated.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no.SC037654 Website: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/norwich/

Group Leader’s page

I hope you have all enjoyed the summer break.

During the break we visited the Titchwell reserve; Ray Kimber had a table full of specimen jars containing a selection of moths. The children were absolutely fascinated by these. It reminded me of my granddaughter who is six years old.

Right from an early stage she has always been interested in creepy crawlies; she would closely watch ants crawling across our path. As she has got older other insects such as Dan Powell ladybirds, moths, flies, spiders and On my birthday I received a card with a picture bees, to name a of a barn owl; she immediately knew what it few have got her was. She lives in the country and sees more attention and she birds in her garden than we do in Norwich. I eagerly catches point out these birds are the pretty ones like these and studies goldfinches, or the ones making a lovely them in her bug box. sound like a blackbird. Now despite the Her school arranges for various animals or weather before she goes to school she has to birds to be brought into her class. They have go and feed her birds. A pigeon had a nest in had small farmyard animals, a hedgehog and a bush in her garden; she loved to watch the a barn owl. She absolutely loved seeing the progress from egg to fledging. barn owl; she told us all about it. On her way We must find a way to harness this home one night in the car with her dad she enthusiasm in young children; she is not saw a barn owl flying in the wild she was so alone, as witnessed by all the children who excited as soon as she arrived indoors she attended the Big Castles event in Norwich. As phoned us to tell us what she had seen. If we they get older, whether it’s the pressure of see a barn owl we have to tell her. school and exams or the opposite sex, or more probably mobile phones or computers and social networking, this interest seems to wane, possibly to return in later years. Is this the reason we do not have many younger members?

On that note our membership is giving us some concern. We need these younger members to carry the flag and fight for nature. It is their future to give nature a home.

Happy Birding David Porter

Page 2

News from Lakenheath Fen

Welcome to the summer news from than ever! We do leave a bit of ragwort Lakenheath Fen! scattered around the reserve though, as it is a really good nectar source for insects. Nesting season is almost past and there seem to be chicks and newly fledged young every- Another survey we’ve been doing is the annual where at the moment! Our biggest news is hunt for marsh carpet moth caterpillars! They that both pairs of cranes have fledged young feed on the developing seed heads of this year – hurray! One pair fledged twins (a common meadow rue, which is a fairly first for here), and the other pair fledged a common plant of Fenland areas. The moth single young. They can currently be seen with itself is quite rare (classified as being their parents foraging on reserve grassland Nationally Scarce) and only found in certain and occasionally taking short flights over the fens and marshes across seven counties in river. They’ll hopefully spend the next month the south-east of England. The caterpillars are or so around the reserve honing their flying small and very camouflaged, but this year our techniques before heading off, with their intrepid counters have found 145, which is 46 parents, into the wider Fens area. more than last year!

Wildlife sightings

May to July – The main highlight was the long staying little bittern, which turned up on 16 May, and was apparently still present through- out June, although very few actual sightings are being reported. More excitement in June Proud parents with their twins! Photo by Dave Rogers was caused by the arrival of a collared pratincole, which was present on and off for Bitterns have also had a good year, with five about a week from 7 June. Other good rec- booming males and four nests being recorded. ords have included red kite, spotted flycatcher, Of these four, we know that at least three of black tern and a random Arctic skua! them have fledged young. Marsh harriers have also done well, with lots of fledged young Otters have been seen regularly on the river. around, though the final tally has yet to be The fenland flowers are all out in bloom at the worked out! moment, from the deep purple of purple loose- strife, to the paler hemp agrimony, and the Most of our work recently has been focussed bright yellow of yellow loosestrife. There are around visitors and bird surveys. A lot of time plenty of butterflies to see too, and if you’re is spent keeping the visitor infrastructure in really lucky, we’ve also had several sightings good order, which generally involves of a hornet mimic hoverfly, Volucella zonaria – strimming and mowing paths! It’s a never- the largest hoverflies in the UK. ending job at this time of year. We’ve also begun the thankless task of removing ragwort That’s all from me for now, hope to see you on from the grazing marshes. We thought last the reserve soon! For more sightings check year was bad, but despite all our hard work out our blog on the website www.rspb.org.uk/ from previous years, there seems to be more lakenheathfen.

Katherine Puttick Warden - Lakenheath Fen

Marsh carpet moth larvae Adult marsh carpet moth Photos by Lee Gregory Page 3 Strumpin’ round the Fen

We’ve seen a wide variety of weathers this went back to Siberia or North America. summer from hot sunny days through to unseasonably cool conditions with heavy rain. A week later the wet grassland hit back again The range of weather conditions have produced with a Temminck’s stint; unfortunately it was only a good variety of wildlife sightings, a summary of on the reserve for a matter of minutes to refuel which follows. and then it was off again heading north.

To start with the breeding birds had a good More routine scarce species at the fen through- season. The waders on the wet grassland had a out the summer period have included a pair of very good year with 81 lapwings, 92 redshanks, garganeys, which most probably bred at 16 snipe, eight oystercatchers and 12 avocet Buckenham. Regular red kite sightings including nests. The snipe numbers are particularly three together on one day and a good passage impressive as this is a rare breeder in , at of yellow wagtails. Wheatears had a good pas- dawn and dusk they could be heard drumming sage with at least 12 logged throughout April/ all over the reserve. May; this species occurs in variable numbers each year. At the fen, the territory mapping surveys produced 86 reed warblers, 127 sedge warblers, The non avian highlights: swallowtails had a 53 reed buntings, 31 Cetti’s warblers and five relatively late emergence on 17 May, although grasshopper warblers, and we only survey a they remained on show until far later than small percentage of the reserve! Other note- expected, with the final butterfly being seen in worthy breeders include two barn owl nests, a mid July. The second brood of swallowtails have spotted flycatcher nest, a hobby nest and 16 first just emerged as I write on 2 August, these are brood bearded tit nests (a very large increase far less predictable and less numerous than the since the crash year of 2012). first brood. White admirals have had yet another good year with many butterflies being seen The final two breeding species certainly worthy along the woodland trails. of mention are the two booming bitterns and the two bittern nests that have been active at the fen I have been moth trapping regularly this year this year. Marsh harriers have also had a good and have added quite a lot of species to the season with a total of 16 nests found this year. reserve list; the best of which have been small It’s amazing to think this species was down to dotted footman; a moth that only occurs in the one pair in 1971; it shows how some species Broads. This is the first record for the Yare can really bounce back with the creation and Valley and is a very exciting find. A splendid management of wetland habitats. brocade caught on 10 July was a first for Norfolk, this is always a special accolade, although the The non breeding avian highlights have been second and third were caught elsewhere on the slightly limited this year; however as always following nights at Eccles! there have been plenty of species to get excited by. Cranes once again paid multiple visits to the Dragonflies have had a good year (seems to be fen and wet grassland throughout April with a a theme here!) with scarce chasers, Norfolk peak of eight being seen on one occasion. Their hawkers and small red-eyed damselflies all trumpeting calls are always a joy to hear and present in good numbers. Southern hawkers and many visitors were treated to some amazing both darters are now taking over the skies and aerial displays. we are currently awaiting the emergence of the willow emerald damselflies. On 28 April a great white egret was seen at Buckenham, this was the first time I had seen So all in all a very good spring and summer this species on the reserve and what a bird it season with good numbers of breeding birds and was - it paid us a visit in full breeding plumage. insects. This plumage is extremely rare in England; it had bright pink legs, black bill and a neat loral stripe For full event details see www.rspb.org.uk/ contrasting well with the pure white plumage. strumpshawfen. You can also follow On 2 May a pectoral sandpiper was also at Strumpshaw Fen and Titchwell on Facebook: Buckenham, this bird showed very well until it www.facebook.com/RSPBNorfolk Ben Lewis, Warden Page 4 Outdoor meeting reports

Bayfield Estate Bird Walk, Saturday 9 May

It was just the two of us that turned up for our Buzzard the first of several we saw during the afternoon walk around the Bayfield Estate. afternoon. The day was bright, but quite breezy, with threatening clouds never far away. The river and its banks added a pair of mute swans, several Canada geese, four or five Whilst still in the shelducks, at least two pairs each of car park we saw mallards, tufted ducks and moorhens. There several swallows was also a pair of Egyptian geese with a small diving in and out clutch of babies on the far bank. of one of the barns. There Powell Dan The water meadows have undergone a recent was also a transformation with three scrape areas now kestrel hovering established and over the beginning to attract adjacent field. birds. There was a mixed flock of We started off up the hill, and had soon added swallows and house sparrows, jackdaws, crows and house martins tak- chaffinches to the list. The field of pigs at the ing the opportunity top of the hill also had flocks of stock doves for a drink and a and woodpigeons, with a skylark singing in the quick snack on the air whilst performing its aerial display. insects above the pools. Once into the woods we heard several chiff- chaffs, but the leaf cover prevented us from We arrived back at the car with a final tally of getting a sighting. We did however see a pair 31 species seen during a pleasant walk of tree creepers and the inevitable robins. around the Glaven valley. Whilst still in amongst the trees we disturbed a Nick Tims

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ River Tudd/Marriots Way, Wednesday 13 May

Six of us gathered for John Butcher’s annual Once at the river bridge we found some trip around this little oasis right on the edge of mallards on the water and a pair of chaffinches Norwich. Again it was quite windy as we set in one of the trees by the bridge. Whilst still on off into the trees. the bridge a buzzard flew over us just above the tree tops. As we moved off along the river During the walk down to the river bridge we bank we found a mallard chick on its own saw a pair of dunnocks, several wood pigeons, trying to negotiate the “rapids” and make its plus a number of robins perched in various way upstream to catch up with its mother. A trees along the route. There was a group of little further on we saw a group of jays noisily blackcaps singing in a hopping from tree to tree. In one of the particularly dense clearings, we could see swallows and a pair of bush, but we swifts above us. eventually managed to catch a The walk along the Marriot’s Way did not glimpse of one of produce many birds due to the number of dog them. We had walkers about, but we did get a close up view also heard at least of a chiffchaff perched in a tree immediately two chiffchaffs before above our heads. we reached the river. Page 5 Outdoor meeting reports - cont’d

River Tudd/Marriots Way—cont’d

On the way back to the car park we stopped could eat it, before flying off to join its mate. on the river bridge again and could see a We all watched kestrel hovering against the setting sun. As enthralled for we continued to survey the scene a pair of several minutes herons came in to roost for the night. I then whilst this high- saw a flash of blue fly past us and on through light of the the trees. After a couple of minutes we evening unfolded spotted the kingfisher perched low down in a in front of us. tree overhanging the river downstream from us. As we watched it flew closer to us to the Thanks to John old bridge foundation on the right hand bank, for sharing his then onto a boulder mid-stream. It then called local patch with us and giving us the its mate who promptly flew to join it on the opportunity to witness such a splendid finale. boulder. The second bird soon flew off again, The evening finished with 22 species seen but the brighter coloured bird flew back down- (plus a muntjac and lots of rabbits), and some stream, caught a fish, and then went back to lasting memories.

the bridge foundation to knock it out so that it Nick Tims

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RSPB Lakenheath Fen, Sunday 31 May

Six of us gathered for our visit to this splendid great crested grebes close to the bank. As we RSPB reserve. After a coffee and a chat with were passing New Fen a buzzard flew low the visitor centre staff and volunteers we over the fen. At the far end of the fen there ventured back out into the wind. were groups of greylag geese, several of which had small youngsters. As we moved on The feeders outside the visitor centre had past the poplar plantation the first of the attracted several goldfinches, a greenfinch and showers arrived, although this quickly cleared. a great tit. We then moved on to the Wash- Just before we turned left to enter the reserve land viewpoint to check proper there were a pair of little egrets the river and pools. patrolling the shallows. There were a dozen or so mute swans, We stopped for a rest on the benches at Joist interspersed with Fen viewpoint and watched as several marsh common duck varieties, harriers patrolled the reedbed looking for a coots and a couple of potential meal. A kingfisher landed for a few cormorants in the main seconds on one of the perches provided in pool. There were also front of the viewpoint. A bittern flew out from two or three pairs of common terns patrolling our right and dropped down into the reeds, the river. Whilst still at the viewpoint swallows shortly followed by another one. The pair then were seen and we spotted a reed bunting flew away from us across the fen in a number perched in the reeds. There was a Cetti’s of short hops over the course of several warbler call from the bush behind us and we minutes. Shortly afterwards a single bird flew saw it fly off down the river. back and passed us on the left, not sure if this was one of the pair, or another bird! We started off along the river and soon managed to get a good view of a reed warbler We started off back towards the visitor centre that was repeatedly flying back and forth and soon met one of the reserve volunteers across the river. There was also a pair of monitoring the reedbed that the little bittern

Page 6 Outdoor meeting reports - cont’d

RSPB Lakenheath Fen—cont’d

had taken residence in. It was not long before quite large young. Another reed bunting also we heard it barking in the reeds. This rare popped up periodically in front of the hide. migrant has remained well hidden since it arrived at Lakenheath and very few visitors We continued on our way and stopped briefly have actually seen it; even the reserve warden at New Fen viewpoint. The reedbed was has only had one brief view of it. Whilst still swarming with swifts making the most of the listening to the little bittern a pair of cuckoos insects taking to the air after the rain. Just flew across the back of the reedbed calling as before we got back to the visitor centre we they went past us. saw a red kite being mobbed by rooks as it flew back down the reserve. The feeders out- The storm clouds were gathering again so we side the visitor centre had now attracted a pair moved on to Mere Hide to shelter from the rain of great tits plus at least five youngsters. and grab a sandwich. On the way we spotted a hobby perched in a dead tree in the poplar The day finished with 38 species seen plus the plantation. There was very little activity on the memory of the little bittern barking in the mere with only a couple of pairs of coots with reeds. Nick Tims

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NWT Pools, Wednesday 10 June

There were just three of us that met for an We continued on down the Wensum Valley evening visit to the NWT reserve at Sparham following the main path. As we passed the Pools. We had a terrific start with a pair of new tree plantations there was a pair of grey wagtails in the old mill pond by the road thrushes chasing each other through the trees. bridge. A little further on, we came across a family of blue tits flitting around the bushes next to the We entered the reserve, and started off path. We had a fleeting glimpse of a red kite around the main pool area. The trees had just as it disappeared over the line of trees on good numbers of common woodland birds, the far bank of the river. We also had an even and the pools had a general assortment of more fleeting view of a kingfisher as it flew for ducks and gulls. It was not long before we saw cover behind the trees in front of us. the first common tern noisily Just as we were about to turn back, we heard patrolling the a cuckoo call in the distance, then we watched

skies over the as first one and then a second bird made

pools. There were several short flights along the line of trees in a couple of pairs the mid distance. We could hear these birds

of swans with calling to each other for most of the way back Dan Dan Powell cygnets out for a swim, a heron intently to the main pool, but did not get another watching the shallows for an easy meal and sighting. several great crested grebes diving to explore the depths. As we approached the main foot- The walk back to the car added a great spot- path heading off to Lenwade, we heard a ted woodpecker, a flight of Canada geese and green woodpecker and then saw it fly off a flock of starlings looking for somewhere to across the pool. As we joined the main path, roost for the night. Our two hour visit produced we could hear a reed bunting down by the an impressive 35 species. water’s edge; it took us several minutes to Nick Tims pinpoint which bush it was perched in, but we did eventually see it. Page 7 Outdoor meeting reports - cont’d

NWT , Sunday 28 June

Saturday 27th June was warm and sunny with By the time we reached the observation tower a gentle breeze. However, Sunday was cold it had started to rain so and windy with the constant threat of showers. we gladly took shelter for Despite this there was still a group of nine of a while. Again, very little us willing to brave the elements. was seen here, although there was a reed warbler We started off well with a good view of a male making feeding excur- yellow hammer singing at the top of the tree sions across the path just outside the visitor back to a nest near the BusbyJohn centre. Not to be outdone, tower. a whitethroat joined in a little further along the The rain had stopped so hedge. we moved on. At the beginning of the return track to the visitor We made our way to centre there was an extremely loud wren Cadbury hide where we apparently still actively defending its territory. found several black- The storm clouds were building again by now headed gulls, three little so we made a hasty retreat to the Bittern hide. egrets and two pairs of Unfortunately, this was almost as unproductive coots (one with half grown as the previous two. There was a coot in the youngsters). Whilst we reeds close to the hide that eventually showed were watching one of the itself, a pair of mallards right at the back of the egrets preening, a flight of three avocets took pool and an occasional reed bunting flying off from the pool in front of the next hide. A across the reedbed. At least it did offer shelter pair of lapwings came out of the reeds into a from the rain and somewhere to sit down and clearing, and were followed shortly afterwards eat some lunch. by a pair of chicks. A pair of redshanks then flew in calling to After about half an hour the rain eventually each other as they eased and we made our way back to the cars. landed. We also A disappointing morning ended with a final spotted a pair of BusbyJohn tally of only 26 species. common sandpi- Nick Tims pers making their way along the water’s edge with their tails almost constantly bobbing as they went.

Secker’s hide wasn’t quite as productive; there was a single mallard sitting in the reeds close to the hide and with no other sign of life we quickly moved on. We made our way around the edge of the broad adding common terns, reed buntings and a single marsh harrier to the list.

Page 8 Outdoor meeting reports—cont’d

NWT Buxton Heath, Wednesday 8 July

There was a promising turnout for our evening bushes by the car park produced a chiffchaff trip to Buxton Heath with nine members, plus which was busy flitting from perch to perch so four non-members in attendance. Having was easy to spot. As we cleared the trees a donned suitable headwear and applied a green woodpecker gave a quick call and then variety of insect repellents we headed off onto flew off for cover. the heath. Whilst waiting for the light to fade we spotted a couple of small flocks of linnets and we had We had not gone far before we spotted the two sightings of a buzzard in different areas of first of many yellowhammers; this one was the heath, although this may have been the perched at the top of same bird. a tree happily singing away. The open The long wait eventually paid off as we first heath land held very heard the nightjars churring, then we had good few birds; swifts and views of pairs of birds circling around us. At swallows could be least one bird gave us a flypast right along the seen overhead and path where we were standing. the mature trees had the occasional wood It was practically dark with the mist rolling pigeon or collard dove. across the heath as we made our way back to the cars. The final species count was only 14 Having reached the end of the eastern path but we did get some good views of the we retraced our steps to pick up the northerly nightjar. path and the main area of the heath. The Nick Tims

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Your Committee

To contact committee members, please email [email protected] or visit our website at www.rspb.org.uk/groups/norwich/

GROUP LEADER & WEBSITE EDITOR DAVID PORTER

SECRETARY MIKE LILLEY

MEMBERSHIP ELLA HOPPER

TREASURER CAROL ARTIS

OUTDOOR LEADER NICK TIMS - 01263 734823

INDOOR PROGRAMME DAVID PORTER

NEWSLETTER KAREN HARVEY

CAN COLLECTIONS DEE KNAPP

WEBSITE MODERATOR CHRIS DURDIN

ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE LYNDA QUANTRELL

MEMBERS ROY QUANTRELL Deadline for copy for the next newsletter is Monday 2 November. Articles for the newsletter can be emailed to [email protected].

Page 9 PROGRAMME Indoor meetings Outdoor meetings

Start at 7.30 pm and are held at Hellesdon If you are intending to go on an outing please Community Centre, Middletons Lane, contact Nick Tims on 01263 734823, 07448 Hellesdon, Norwich. 516322 or by email Entrance off Woodview Road. [email protected], so that you can be contacted in the event of a cancellation Admission: members £1.50, or unforeseen change of plan. All meetings non-members £2.50 start at 10am, unless otherwise specified. Please remember to bring your Local Group membership card. David Porter

Monday 12 October Sunday 20 September THE FAIR ISLE AND ITS BIRDS NWT Tim Loseby TF714449, PE36 6LQ. Tim is a birdwatcher of 45 years, photographer Admission charges apply for non-NWT for 20 years, regular contributor to all main members. Meet at the visitor centre car park. magazines. The Fair Isle is Britain’s number Passage migrants. Facilities on site. one bird observatory and the classic migration ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ point of the British Isles through all seasons of the year. Fair Isle is one of Tim’s favourite plac- Saturday 17 October es; the photographs have been taken during WELLS WOODS NNR many visits over the last 35 years TF914454, NR23 1DR. Car parking charges apply within the beach ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ car park. Passage migrants. Facilities on site. Monday 9 November ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BIRDS & WILDLIFE Chris Knights Sunday 15 November A return visit by Chris for an evening of HORSEY MERE NT/STUBB MILL wonderful photographs. Chris was a camera- TG456223, NR29 4EF. man on Anglia Televisions Survival All day trip to investigate the Horsey area, then programme. He believes passionately in on to Stubb Mill for the raptor roost and bringing farming and wildlife together. Chris is cranes. Car parking charges apply for non-NT an active conservationist and is vice-chairman members at Horsey Mill. Facilities at Horsey of the Countryside Restoration Trust. An Mill and Hickling Broad. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ evening not to be missed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saturday 12 December Monday 14 December RSPB BUCKENHAM MARSHES THE NORFOLK CRANE STORY TG351056, NR13 4HW. Access to this re- Chris Durdin serve is possible by train from Norwich; Chris is a group member and a former employ- booking is essential if you intend to arrive by ee of the RSPB, he now operates his own train. Bean and white-fronted geese. Bring a Honeyguide Wildlife Holiday company. Tonight telescope. Facilities at Strumpshaw, nearby. he will tell us the Story of the Norfolk cranes, a subject on which he has co written a book.

This will be followed by our Christmas bash

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