Every week 2 members from the WVBS take a walk around Pensthorpe Natural Park and record every species that they have seen / heard and how many they have seen. This is submitted into our recorder, David Gibbons, and he collates all the data and sends it on to the County Recorder.
Below are the results from the recent monitoring visits, including a short summary from members.
Wednesday 6th March
Barry and I rolled up to Pensthorpe about 9.00am on very dull murky morning. The drive and car park area were noticeably quiet apart from a few Goldfinches. Moving along to the Wetland Hide the water was still quite high with a mixture of ducks and a couple of whickering Little Grebes we could not locate, although a nice flock of Lapwing made a short display flight around the water. After carefully scrutinising a “blob” sat in a tree down the far western end of the area we finally deduced it was a juvenile Goshawk. It later obliged by flying along the fir tree belt opposite and returning to the same area before finally flying off into the trees towards Fakenham, so unexpected and brilliant. After this lovely encounter, the rest of the walk was back to the usual suspects with a nice find of Siskins in the Alders beyond the Woodland Hide and lone Nuthatch calling at the very top of a tree, but no sign of any Treecreeper to-day. It was good to see a Marsh Tit at the feeder which appears to be seen quite regularly identified by its left leg green over blue ring. On our way to the Old Scrape, along the diverted path, we were lucky enough to spy two Cattle Egrets around the corner from the middle hide from where they would not have been visible. The water held Goldeneye, Pochard and a Great Crested Grebe but it was still too high for any waders apart from a couple of Oystercatcher and Lapwing. 56 Species 1012Birds. Mammals: Grey Squirrel 7, Muntjac Deer 3, Roe Deer 5.
Barry and Ian Monday 11th March
Weather- low cloud, dank and cold (7c) in a keen NE breeze. The weather was distinctly unpromising as we arrived in the car park at 07.45. The only positive thing that could be said was that at least the constant Mother’s Day rain of the day before had passed through! We were not expecting a lot bird wise. Our pessimism appeared justified when we scanned the cover crop and could not see a single bird in it, or the hedgerow alongside it. When we reached the Woodland Hide, we did pull out a few Linnets, a couple of Reed Buntings and a handsome male Bullfinch but the large finch flock present through the Winter was either elsewhere, or had moved on to breed. However, things took a positive turn when we spotted a Marsh Harrier in aerial display high in the sky. Despite the cold weather she knew the breeding season was nigh. Later we spotted a male with her too. Water levels on the Wetland Scrape remain stubbornly high. Duck numbers are now dropping significantly and the highlight here was 3 Great Crested Grebes. At least two Dabchicks were calling but we did not see them. We both had a site tick with a pair of Chinese Water Deer. Formerly, a Broads specialist they are now on the march across the county. Moving around to the hide on Old Squaw, we reached a count of 75 Lapwings and 3 Common Snipe. On the far side of the lake, we heard the brief singing of a Chiffchaff, but his heart was not in it and he quickly stopped. Nonetheless, a clear sign that Spring is around the corner. Red Kites and Buzzards were active from here too. We reached Woodland Hide and saw the usual species plus a pair of Mandarins. They arrived back on the reserve a month ago and are now pairing off to breed. A couple of colour ringed Marsh Tits were noted, and the combinations recorded for posterity. Walking on we were alerted to the tinkling calls of Siskins high in some alders, at least 25. A couple of Lesser Redpolls too which were nice. It was a relief to reach the Wader Scrape to sit out of the cold wind. Wigeon, Goldeneye, Pochard, Shoveler were all here but in small numbers. A Great White Egret gave us a fly through, and a couple of Green Woodpeckers were disturbed by a vehicle and flew to the woods. A couple of Cetti’s Warblers were calling frequently but evaded our eyes. A Chiffchaff called but was not in the mood for singing. The highlight here and of the day was a pair of handsome Mediterranean Gulls floating serenely among the bickering Black-headed Gulls. The first of the year for Pensthorpe we thought. So, the morning ended. When we totted up our birds, we had reached 71 species which was better than we thought we would do. Overall, it was a typical mid-March day. Winter has ended, but Spring has not quite started. Always good to be out at Pensthorpe, but a relief to warm up in the café with a pot of tea and a bun!! Mammals: Chinese Water Deer 2, Muntjac Deer 6. Nick P and Mark H.
Monday 25th March.
The walk around the car park area started our day off well, with Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers, Marsh Harriers and Mistle Thrushes seen. Once in the reserve we soon saw 2 Goldcrests, then a migrant Sand Martin flying over the Wetlands for a short while. From the Farmland Hide we were treated to Skylarks and Linnets flying around the field, 2 displaying Sparrowhawks high up, then the sighting of the day, a group of 6 Cranes. They were flying NW, beyond the A1067, so were outside Pensthorpe's boundaries, but we were able to watch them for a few minutes as they circled then continued W over Fakenham. Little more from the Wetlands hide except a singing Little Grebe, but the muddy edge of Old Squaw Lake harboured a Pink-footed Goose and 2 Snipe. Between the Fisherman's hut and the old railway line we looked up to see another Crane, this one flying high directly above us, heading SE down the Wensum Valley. No surprises at the Woodland hide were followed by a lone Siskin on an unusual route to the Scrape hides, as the whole Wildflower Meadow and Eastern railway line areas were closed off. As we approached the hides there was much Gull calling, telling us that there were now islands exposed. The Gulls were busy pairing up, and included 2 pairs of adult Mediterranean Gulls, with one bird having a metal ring on a left leg with no foot. A Cetti's Warbler was singing, and another nice migrant arrival, a Little Ringed Plover, was feeding at the island edges. An increasing chilly breeze coming through the open viewing flaps eventually sent us off toward the café to end a good day. Paul & Steve C.