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Contents Page
Editors Page Whitlingham Country Park. Adder or Grass Snake. Adder photography. Blast from the past. Habitat. Reservoirs. Wildlife Artist. Brin Edwards. Taking Care of Wildlife. Apples Non Uk. Sardinia. Winter Visitors. Bramblings. Puzzle Page. Alien Invaders. Wood Duck. Did you know? Readers Page. Broomhead Reservoir. Identification. Winter Divers. Norfolk List. Final Part. Whats been around. November to December. Whats on Subscription Information.
Front Cover: Shovelor by Brin Edwards
Contact: Wildlife East Anglia 3a St Johns Close, Norwich NR1 2AD 01603 219119 We strive to make articles as accurate as possible at the time of writing
Editors Page In this edition we have explored some reserves that have been created by the intervention and industry of man. These sites have a chequered history which led to the alteration of the landscape to the extent it bears no resemblance to how it originally was. It is not possible, in such a small country, to avoid this conflict between man and nature but it is our duty to make the best of it. People, in general, do not like to see change and often when proposals are made to extract gravel or to flood a valley there are concerns raised and issues discussed. Often these discussions bring out those who fight hard to stop the plans going ahead, but there are never many who support the changes, accept maybe the businesses who are putting in the plans. Whilst writing these articles it made us wonder if anyone ever goes back to those who opposed the plans to see what they think of the new reserve that has been created. Do they now visit the site and benefit from the new broads or do they stay away? Although we grumble at Government changes, we are lucky in this country that our green spaces are well protected. Decisions like these have to be followed with a solid management plan put in place by the correct organisations and the work is watched carefully to make sure it is in the best interests of the wildlife and people who will continue to use the site. Whitlingham Country Park, in particular, started as a couple of rather soggy meadows with some great plants and a few birds, but it is now a thriving reserve easily accessible by visitors from the city. There is a clever blend between public access areas with excellent walks and trails and secluded sections where it is peaceful and wildlife is left alone. We would like to applaud those organisations who strive to create these areas after necessary disturbance, whilst battling against all sorts of negativity, and problems. Mans destructive nature does not have to leave a big scar and can be converted into something very special. Jill and Robert Wilson Photo below. Fallow Deer
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Whitlingham Country Park Norwich Nature Reserve This site is a classic example of how man can affect the countryside and then put something special back. It was originally part of the Crown Point Estate owned by the famous Colman family and shows evidence of its long history of use. There have been finds from Palaeolithic and Neolithic flint knappers and there are visible ruins of a monks house within the grounds. In 1988 there was an agreement made between Norfolk Country Council and the owners to extract gravel from the meadows alongside the river Yare and then flood the quarries afterwards to create the country park as it is today. After extraction was complete, Lafarge handed the gravel pits over to the Whitlingham Charitable Trust on a long-term lease and they now manage the side alongside the Broads Authority. The Country Park began to take shape with the hand- over of Trowse Wood and Meadow in 1992 To further enhance the reserve in 1994-6, Whitlingham Wood and the Little Broad were purchased. The public were first invited to the flooded pits in 1997 and then the main broad was opened in 2004.
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2006 saw the opening of the flint visitor centre with a lovely coffee shop and visitor information and opposite this area, a camping site was opened in 2013. Covering an area of 35 hectares, the Nature reserve is positioned just outside Norwich in the village of Trowse-Newton. It is now a place where people and wildlife successfully meet offering great recreation and perfect habitat. There is a large outdoor centre at one end of the largest broad where families and locals benefit from activities such as sailing and archery but this still allows plenty of the reserve to be quiet and secluded for waterfowl and other species. It takes about 45
minutes to walk around the broads slowly and another hour to do the woodland trail. During the winter months large flocks of waterfowl stay together on the large broad offering close-up views of Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Pochards , Great-crested Grebes, Canada Geese and other duck species which come close to the edge of the shore line when the lake freezes. Bittern have also been regular visitors around the water’s edge during the last few winters and on the newly opened Norfolk Wildlife Trust Thorpe Marsh and flocks of birds such as Siskin and Redpoll visit the woodland during the winter as it has well established
trees of many different varieties including Larch, Beech and Oak. Rare visitors such as Ring-necked Duck, Red-necked Grebe and Great Northern Diver have also visited the flooded pits in the last few years so it is always good to scan for something unusual. If you walk round the large broad the footpath runs between the River Yare and the broad and during the summer months you can often see Kingfisher here as they nest in the river bank. Another good area for kingfishers is along the edge of the little broad in the tree-line where there are plenty of good fishing branches. The spring brings plenty of chicks including many Egyptian Geese
who bring their young to the water’s edge and coots chasing each other aggressively to get the best spot for their little ones. The remnants of an old fence line can be seen along the back of the broad and the remaining posts are perfect for basking cormorants. At this point there is a small peninsular jutting into the lake and there is a screen for birdwatching, but the path is often a bit overgrown and it is not in a great spot for viewing. The reserve would definitely benefit from some carefully placed hides. If you visit in June and July be prepared to see huge numbers of
damsel and dragonflies as the paths are full of them, Blue-tailed Damsel, Common Blue Damsel, Common Darter, Emperor, Norfolk hawkers, Black-tailed Skimmers, Migrant, Brown and Southern Hawkers, Red-eyed Damsel and others have all been recorded here. Providing a good feeding opportunity for the resident pied wagtails. The woodland offers terrific habitat for woodland birds with several Great Spotted Woodpecker nests (there used to be one in the Oak in the Car Park) and plenty of nuthatches. The woodland walk is often forgotten so is quieter than the rest of the reserve but does
climb a bit so is not really suitable for wheelchair users. In the middle of the woodland are the old lime kilns which are now suitable homes for the local bats. The Country Park is easy to find and is not far from the Norwich southern bypass, you can follow the signs to the Ski slope the park is not far past this. There is plenty of parking but it is pay and display and can be a bit expensive. Thorpe Marshes is accessed from the Yarmouth road and parking is difficult . There are also no facilities from this side of the river. The only downside of this great venue is the large number of dog walkers who visit the site and flount the rules. The staff have put up many signs asking for dogs to be on leads but they are soon taken down. This is a real shame as dogs are often seen in the lake chasing the wildlife and this detracts from the sensible dog owners who enjoy the site with their dogs on leads. Facilities. The Country Park has a visitor centre with toilets, gift shop and cafĂŠ near the camping area. For more information there is a section on the Broads Authority Website: http://www.broads-authority.gov. uk/. If you are staying in the area, Strumpshaw Fen RSPB is only a few miles away, and well worth a visit..
Adder or Grass Snake Vipera Berus is the only venomous snake of the three species native to the UK. The other two species are Smooth Snake and Grass Snake (Natrix natrix). With a quick glance,it can be difficult to tell the difference between an Adder and a Grass Snake but there are several distinguishing features to help. The Adder has a vertical slit in its eye and a zigzag stripe along its back with a V or X marked on the top of its head. Grass Snakes appear slimmer but are Britain’s longest snake, reaching 130cm in length, and they have a distinctive yellow ring around their neck which is why they can also be called the Ringed Snake. 8.
Aa Grass Snakes pupil is round, unlike the slit pupil of an Adder. Both Grass Snakes and Adders hibernate from October to April and shed their skin as they grow with male adders coming out of hibernation in the early spring, approximately 1 month before the females. They do prefer slightly different habitats, with Adders preferring heath land, dunes and woodland glades and Grass Snakes preferring fens, meadows, ditches, woodland and bogs as long as there is somewhere where they can warm up in the sun. If you find a snake in your garden, it is unlikely to be an Adder and if you see a snake swimming it will be a Grass
Snake as they are happy to spend time in the water. Both species need to be warm to digest their food. Adders like to eat rodents such as short-tailed voles, bird’s eggs, frogs and birds. Grass snakes eat rodents along with fish, insects such as beetles and birds Grass Snake showing neck ring
Adder Eye
eggs. Both can go for long periods of time without eating. Male adders come out of hibernation in the early spring, approximately 1 month before the females. Grass Snakes lay around 40 eggs in June and July and often choose compost or manure heaps where the eggs will be kept warm. The hatchlings then appear in the autumn. With adders, mating occurs Adder basking
in April and early May and around 8-15 live young are born at the end of the summer. These youngsters are left to fend for themselves and hibernate almost immediately, not eating much until their first spring. Adders are mainly found in Southern England but do occur as far north as Scotland, Grass Snakes are more common but only found in Southern England and Wales,
not Scotland or Northern Ireland. Adder venom does occasionally kill but due to modern medicines, this is very rare, only 10 people have died in the last 100 years and most cases are due to people trying to handle the snake. The venom is actually very strong but not much venom is injected in a bite. Symptoms of a bite include dizziness, vomiting, swelling and loss of mobility. If an Adder feels vibrations through the ground it will generally leave rather than attack or it will just blend in so well with its camouflage that you don’t spot it in the first place. As adders do often bask near the edges of footpaths dogs can also get bitten and this is often fatal. Evidence suggests that when the Adder first comes out of hibernation, its venom is stronger so if walking in areas where they are known to be in March/April it is a good idea to wear strong shoes and to keep dogs on a lead. Also, have a good look around before you sit down.
Photographing Adders and Grass Snakes Adders are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside act of 1981, it is an offence to kill, harm or injure them or trade them. They are classified as a priority species by the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Normally, they are shy and retiring creatures so they should not be handled or moved unless for authorised scientific purpose. Snakes should not be moved for better viewing or photography at any time, in fact, a Grass Snake will often play dead when handled. Photographing snakes can be very tricky. Both Adders and Grass Snakes are difficult to find, due to their amazing camouflage and to make it harder they are almost silent when they move. Any vibration of the ground near them will make them wary so stealth is the only way to approach. Even then you will often just see the end of the tail disappearing into the undergrowth. When this happens it is best to wait for a while as they will often return to the same spot. The best time to find them is on a lovely sunny spring day with plenty of warmth in the sun. Look for a sheltered spot along the edge of paths, dykes and woodland. In the early morning they will curl up somewhere to soak up the sun and to get warm. The female adders will often approach the males while they are warming up making this a good opportunity to see them mating. They tend to favour the same area each time so it may need several trips to find a good spot to stand and watch. Be prepared to wait. In April/May time, when the Grass 10
Snakes mate they can form a ball of bodies around one female. When this happens they can be distracted so if you are careful this can also be a good opportunity for a photo, although you can guarantee that there will be twigs, leaves and branches in the way. When they swim, they travel quickly, but this can offer a good opportunity with the full snake visible if you are quick. Because of their need to find the sun, taking photos is made slightly easier than for some subjects because you know the light will be good, but as they are quite small
and tend to move quickly, getting good depth of field can be difficult. Ideally you are looking to get the whole of the snake sharp right to the end of its tail. Raise the aperture to around F9 to get as much in focus as possible and still keep good shutter speed. Unfortunately they generally bask with an escape route behind so they will usually be close to the background which can lead to a messy picture. You may be lucky to find one slightly in the open or crossing a path, but then it will likely be moving too fast to capture the detail. When photographing Adders and Grass Snakes it is imperative that you do not move the snake to get a better position for a photo. If may require patience to wait for the perfect moment but your photo will be more natural and the welfare of the snake must be the first consideration. Adder showing how difficult it is to get the depth of field right. As it began to move the settings should have been altered to a higher aperture setting., but it still makes a good picture. Just not tecnically correct.
Blast From the Past
Black-crowned Night Heron Holkham (Nycticorax nycticorax)
They breed across Europe and occur regularly through-
out the British Isles as a vagrant with southern Britain recording the most sightings. This small medium sized heron derives its name from the Greek word for night raven, as they predominantly feed during the night time and early morning. They can often be found next to open water where they wait patiently for prey to come along. The adult plummage shows a distinct black crown and in breeding season long head plumes are clearly visible. This individual was photographed at the end of Lady Anne’s drive in ditches visible from the public footpath in the summer of 1999.
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Red Throated Thrush Walton-on-the-naze (Turdus ruficollis) Britains first Red-throated Thrush was found early in the morning on the 29th of September 1994 on the under cliff at Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex where the bird remained until the 7th of October. The first winter male remains the only record to have occurred in Britain and was very popular amongst twitchers travelling from all corners of the British Isles. They breed in the far east and overlap with Black-throated Thrush which has been recorded throughout the UK on a number of occasions with at least 74 records up to the end of 2013. The Essex bird moved into the surrounding gardens and throughout it stay gave excellent views for photography. It could be seen feeding on berries in the hedgerow adjacent to a caravan park.
Red-footed Falcon Kirkby Moor .(Falco vespertinus)
Breeds in Eastern Europe and migrates to Africa in winter. Their northerly migration in spring tends to bring birds further west and in some years there have been an influx into the UK with a number of sightings along the east coast in double figures. Many of the sightings are of birds just moving through but some take up temporary residence like the bird at Lakenheath fen in 2013 and the Horsey bird in June 2011. The Horsey bird was extremely confiding and would land on posts virtually next to where you were standing. The
first summer male would fly around the surrounding fields hawking dragonflies and would then return to the same post to digest its meal. The behaviour of the bird allowed incredible viewing as it would take a flight path in pursuit of its next prey right over the watchers heads. The males distinct grey plumage is a striking contrast to the female which has orange head, crown and
breast. The feet
are described as red but in reality both sexes the feet are a
T
i
very deep orange with pale claws. he spring s the best opportunity to catch up with this wonderful little raptor and living in East Anglia gives the strongest chance to see birds on migration
Wildlife Habitat
Reservoirs
Goldeneye
Can a man made habitat be as good as a natural one? In many cases, yes it can. Reservoirs do take a while to settle once built, but they offer many different habitats that are well managed and capable of supporting a wealth of diverse wildlife. Reservoirs can be anything from a small water storage area on a farm, sometimes only half an acre in size, to enormous features that are over a mile in length. Generally reservoirs do not have islands so the main body of water is clear of scrub and foliage making it a beacon for migrating wildlife. They are usually very deep in the middle, offering a haven for divers, grebes and diving ducks and the edges are shallow with muddy areas for waders and dabbling ducks. Many reservoirs, such as Abberton and Hanningfield Reservoirs in Essex, are open to the public which can create a challenge for management teams to maintain privacy to the resident wildlife. Most visitors
will want to do a circular route so paths need occasionally lead away from the water’s edge and not just stay near the water to allow secure reed beds and waterside plants to grow. The inevitable car park charges from reservoir visitors can be used to manage the habitat. Disturbance can be difficult to control when attracting visitors, but by planting small areas of woodland, hedges and reed fringes
some areas can be protected. If the reservoir is allowed to be over fished or pollution from urban run-off is not checked, this can deter the wildlife. Surrounding meadows also need to be watched to make sure that overgrazing of marginal plants does not happen. There is little information available concerning reservoirs and the effects that human activity has on the wildlife. Some larger sites have an area set aside for wildlife and another for water sports but it is difficult to convince people to stay in one place and the wash may cause damage to water margins. Reservoirs are particularly important for wintering wildfowl. Wildfowl congregate in large numbers on open water where they feel safe from land loving predators. Wigeon, Teal, Goldeneye, Shovelor, Pochard, Gadwall and Cormorants gather along with rarer species such as Scaup, Ringnecked Duck, Common Diver, Black Throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe. The summer months can also be a good time to visit reservoirs as they produce an abundance of dragonflies and damselflies and the meadows surrounding them attract good numbers of butterflies. You may be lucky enough to see a Kingfisher zip past. Grest-crested Grebe
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B R I N Fieldfares. Windy day in the cherry orchard
E D W A R D S
Wildlife Artist 14.
I have been fascinated by the appearance of birds for as long as I can remember - in fact one of my earliest memories is as a six year old drawing a picture of a black naped oriole which I saw in our garden in Singapore. I lived there for a couple of years in the early sixties and the intense saturated colours of tropical birds made a huge impression on me. Later back in the UK my parents gave me a copy of the AA book of British birds for my thirteenth birthday and I poured over the wonderful illustrations by Ray Harris-Ching which showed the birds as they appeared to me in life, full of vitality, almost about to fly off the page and very different from the static
side-on poses in my Field Guide. I was hooked and I think I knew at
some level even then that I would spend the rest of my life trying to capture that spark of life in paint. Drawing wildlife became an obsessive hobby but having no clear idea how I would turn this into some kind of profession or ‘career’ I went to University and studied Biology and Ecology. This gave me a scientific framework upon which I could build up a portfolio of precise technical images and for some years I was quite happy working for various publishers as a freelance natural history illustrator. However those Ray Ching paintings I had seen all those years ago plus work by Eric Ennion and later on Bruce Pearson and Lars Jonsson made me realise that Oystercatcher with Laminaria
there was more to depicting the natural world than simple literal illustration. Above all my obsession with drawing and painting birds was to do with emotion, not cold scientific detachment. Gradually I found a way to channel those feelings through saturated colour and bold marks and so creating a personal view through which I could share my excitement. Working larger was a bold and scary first step followed by a change from water-based media such as gouache and acrylic to oils - at last I could tap into those saturated tropical colours from my childhood. Bigger brushes too as I didn’t want to get sidetracked by fussy detail - I was trying to make bold statements, leaving things out, attempting to capture the essence of the birds. This change of approach roughly corresponded with a move from city life in Bristol to a small village on the Suffolk/Essex border and a big garden full of birds. Suddenly I saw paintings everywhere and increasingly frequent trips to the Norfolk Coast, Mersea Island and the RSPB Minsmere reserve provided further inspiration. I always think it’s a bit of a cliche when an artist witters on about being ‘particularly fascinated by light’ or suchlike but I have to say that
Above Two Pintails
Below Preening Lapwing
in my case it’s true. I love the way birds change their appearance so much depending on light conditions and I increasingly like painting them against a low backlight. Here tonal values even out. An Avocet say, with the light behind it at dusk can appear a rich blue or purple and I’m always looking for those unexpected colours in my work. I’ll often spend the last daylight hour in a hide peering through my telescope into the setting sun tying to capture those fleeting yellows, oranges, pinks and purples. Back in the studio I paint from dark to light with a mid-tone colour on the canvas such as alizarin crimson or a purple blue upon which I build up the image with bold chisel shaped marks. Using Through the reeds. Bearded Tits
a drying agent with the oil paint means I can work quickly and paintings are completed in three or four sessions. I try not to overwork things and would rather leave some elements slightly unresolved than have everything completely nailed down. The ideas for my pictures relate to direct observation and often a split-second glimpse of a bird will set in motion an idea for a composition. In October 2013 there was a big storm and I watched a flock of fieldfares being literally hurled through the cherry orchard at the back of my studio. The combination of the wind ripping the last leaves off the trees and the wheeling birds was enough to for me to scribble some quick ideas down on paper from which the painting
developed in the studio. Then just before Xmas I saw a Barn Owl flapping lazily across the meadow being mobbed by eight magpies but it appeared unconcerned, casually dropping a wing now and then to evade their noisy attention. So there’s another painting to add to my ‘to do’ list. You can see more examples of my work at brin-edwards.com along with details of the wildlife art courses I teach in my straw bale studio. My work is shown at The Pinkfoot Gallery in Cley, The Wildlife Art Gallery in Lavenham and The Southwold Gallery. I am a council member of the SWLA and exhibit at their annual exhibition in The Mall Galleries. I also post new work on my Facebook page follow the link from the website.
Taking Care of the Wildlife
Windfalls Now is a good time to put out fruit for the birds as they are made up of simple sugars which are energy rich, and water. Pears and apples are easy to collect as windfalls in the autumn and can be stored in a shed or cold place until the natural source has been used up. February and March are good months to put out a supply of these stored apples to encourage birds into your garden. You can of course also put out fruit that has gone soft and maybe not so good for human consumption but perfect for the wildlife. If you buy fruit that has been waxed, give it a good rinse first.
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Members of the thrush family, Song Thrush, Mistlethrush, Fieldfare and Redwings are particularly fond of apple and can often be seen in large flocks, visiting orchards. You may even be lucky enough to attract Waxwings, as they also look for fruit when the berries begin to run out. Some species prefer to eat their fruit from the ground, but others look for it higher up, so cut some in half and put them on sticks. This also has the benefit of keeping birds off the ground and away from the local cats. Other wildlife will also be attracted to a supply of fruit, foxe and badgers have a particularly sweet tooth and will visit gardens to forage. Unfortunately if you put out too much you may also gain a group of visiting rats so it is advisable to remove waste food and not put out too much.
Previous Page Fieldfares. Above Fiedfare. Below Redwing, Next Page Fox
Wildlife Abroad
Sardinia
Alghero to Bosa
If you are looking for somewhere a bit different, try Sardinia out of Season. It is easy to organise yourself using some of the low cost airlines, and is perfect for an early spring weekend away. The walled city of Alghero is worth a look around and has a beautiful harbour. Out of season this is the best bet for accommodation but you may find somewhere open at Bosa. With a small hire car you can get around and see the wildlife the island has to offer and you don’t have to go far. From Alghero there is an amazing coast road that runs south to the town of Bosa which takes about 40 minutes. It is very rugged and if you are lucky you may see the Griffon Vultures who live in two colonies, just North of the town. There is a CafÊ called Il Grifone, with a layby, where you can pull in to wait for them to appear. The island now has less than 30 pairs, 20.
but they are protected all year round. This area is also good for other raptors including Golden Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Peregrine, Kestrel and Buzzard. All the way along the road there are areas of Holm Oak Woodland with streams which provide a good Sardinian Warbler
food source of insects for birds and the road provides lots of pull in areas. Here you will find Cirl Bunting, Sardinia Warbler, Marmoras Warbler, Serins, Cettis Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Blue Rock Thrush, Willow Warbler and much more
Bosa itself had a good colony of Spanish Sparrows and there are Spotless Starlings just about everywhere. Just to the North of Bosa is a lovely beach full of shells at Cala Cumpultittu which you can walk down to from the road. It is a great spot to stop for Griffon Vulture
a while as the bushes on the way down can be popular with warblers. If you are staying in Alghero, get up early one morning for some sea watching. Stand on the Rocks near The Palace, which is now an expensive Hotel and, if the condi-
tions are right, you may be able to see large numbers of Cory’s Shearwaters North East of Alghero are salty lagoons which encourage Greater Flamingo, Slender-billed Gull and Purple Gallinule. It is no wonder this beautiful island is becoming more and more popular for bird watchers. The island is aware the attraction of wildlife has an effect on the economy and they now carefully protect the reserves and wild areas. They are clamping down on illegal shooting and are working with farmers to stop putting out poisoned carcases out for the raptors. If you would like to visit at another time of year, the island has lots to offer. In the summer there are plenty of dragonflies, including the Norfolk Hawker, and crag martins to watch From April to May you may be lucky enough to hear a Nightingale in one of the Holm Oak woods.
Winter Visitors
Bramblings The Brambling is a winter visitor to the UK from Northern Europe and some years are very abundant and widespead. The nature reserve at Sculthorpe Moor near Fakenham in Norfolk is an excellent place to see and photograph this colourful species of bird. The Brambling is similar in size to the Chaffinch and has striking plumage of contrasting blacks and a gaudy orange breast which brings a splash of colour to any garden feeder. In the winters of 2013 and 2014 we (Jill And Robert Wilson) attracted a large flock of over 30 Bramblings male BramblingsM
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to the garden and noticed the different markings on every bird. It soon became clear that every bird had a distinct pattern of spots on the flanks with the spots even varying in colour with some being orange and other almost black. The flank patterns even differed from each side of a bird and the shapes of spotting varied from heavy spotting to slight streaks, some patterns appeared random and some ordered. The birds visiting the feeding station could be counted as the birds all appeared slightly different. Attracting Bramblings to the garFemale Bramblings
den can be fairly difficult as they tend to be quite shy and always seem on edge. The secret is to provide the right food source and after trial and error birds soon began visiting the feeders. The birds were attracted to a well stocked table top feeder with ample supply of black sunflowers. Both males and females would visit the feeders throughout the day and would arrive in small numbers often waiting patiently for their turn to feed. They do spend time with chaffinches and often wait for them to visit the feeder first.
Puzzle Page Uk Bats Species. Word Search
Spot the Difference
Above photo is of a Leislers Bat. Taken offshore on a cruiseship where it had landed for a rest. The crew had very kindly put some branches out for stray wildlife to land in.
Find the 8 differences. Answers on the subscritions page
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Alien Invader Wood Duck or Carolina Duck Aix sponsa. Although this beautiful species does not, as yet, have sustainable numbers, a small feral population is located in the UK. It is listed as a schedule 9 species which means it is against the law to release them into the wild, but many have escaped from captivity over the years, boosting the small number seen. They originate from eastern North America, West America and West Mexico. Numbers here plummeted dramatically in the 19th Century due to the demand of feathers for the European market, loss of habitat and for meat consumption. With the introduction of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which regulated shooting and began to protect habitat, numbers rebounded fairly quickly in the 1920’s. Interestingly, by encouraging the spread of the North American Bea-
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ver the Wood Duck has also benefitted, as they enjoy the same type of wet forest. It is still the second most hunted duck, in the USA after the Mallard. Like the Egyptian Goose, they nest in holes in trees or cavities wherever they can find them and they lay 10-14 pale coloured eggs. This species has adapted very well to
human intervention and sometimes breeds using specially made boxes for them to lay their eggs in. In the UK these mainly quiet birds are regularly kept in collections due to the striking feathers of the male and because they adapt easily to most climates. They are a perching duck, and a wood dweller, so they spend much of their time perched on logs and tree stumps. They are omnivorous and eat insects as well as seeds, fruit and plants. The females are brown with a grey head, white around the eye and a blue/purple iridescent wing panel. The males are almost gaudy with metallic blue/green head and upperparts, dark breast, red bill, white throat and chin, a red eye and sandy flanks. With so many in collections it will be only a matter of time before the successfully breed and establish in the UK - there is already a small feral colony in Dublin that has been successful. Over the last few years there has been a regular Male on a pond in Lowestoft that has given excellent photographic opportunities.
Did you know? Bluebells are a sign of ancient woodland. They have lots of different names, including auld mans bells and wood bells. The bulbs were used to make glue for bookbinding
With Barn Owls it is not easy to tell the males and females apart. However, the females tend to be darker in colour and often have spots on the underside
Orange-tip Butterfly females lay their eggs on May Flower, and Ladies Smock (also known as Cuckoo Flower). The caterpiller can be cannibalistic if more than one is on the same flower.
House sparrows are surprisingly fast in flight and can reach speeds of 50km an hour. They often place nests very close to each other, sometimes only 20cm apart.
The Common Lizard is the only species of reptile native to Ireland, but can be found as far North as the Arctic Circle.
There are two species of Pilot Whale but they can be difficult to seperate. The two types are Longfinned and Short-finned
Separating food from water can be tricky but the Northern Shovelor has no trouble. They have fine hairs called lamellae which act as a strainer.
Highand Cows, often see on UK nature reserves, have the longest hair. For the purpose of the Guiness Book of Records the ear hair is measured and it can be over 12 inches long.
Grey herons are Britains tallest bird but they are surprisingly light, weighing less than 6kg, as they have hollow bones.
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Readers Page
Two lovely photos submitted by Derrick Thorpe both taken in Nnorwich near where he lives. The first is of a pair of 6 spot burnets who are found around areas of birds foot trefoil and the second is a very imposing looking spider. It is a Flower Crab Spider Misumena vatia and lives near yellow and white flowers and is seen between April and September.
Guess the bird - answer
on the subscription page and below the answers to spot the difference
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UK Reserve Broomhead Reservoir, Yorkshire This fantastic little gem is near the Village of Ewden. It is a little tricky to find as it does not appear to be signposted, but is not far from the A616, which is North of Sheffield. From there,turn left towards Stocksbridge and Deep Car and follow the signs for Bolsterstone, then continue on to Ewden. Parking for the Reservoir is road-side but there is plenty of space to pull over. There are no facilities or toilets in this area and the nearest public transport will only get you to Stocksbridge, Deep Car, with limited service to Bolsterstone. The reservoir was created where
the Ewden Beck meets the River Don and was opened in 1929. Many of the workers stayed in the village of Ewden during its construction, now there is very little of the village left occupied. One of the pack horse bridges was rescued from the flooded reservoir and moved to Glen Howe where it can still be seen. The trails around the reservoir are Yorkshire Water permissive paths which can be extended to include Moor Hall Reservoir totalling 4.6 miles. The Broomhead Reservoir walk by itself is 2.7 miles round. The terrain varies as some of it
is along the edge of the road and some goes through the beautiful coniferous woodland. It can get very muddy in winter so is not all suitable for wheelchairs, but the tarmac surfaced areas can be easily accessed. Ewden village is in the middle of both reservoirs so is a great place to start, giving you the choice of which bits you would like to do. One of the reasons many visit the reserve is for the excellent feeding station in a clearing in the woods. It is situated near the parking pullin on the waters edge at grid reference SK255959. From here, it is 27.
a short walk up the track into the wood. Take a left turn after 25m and 100m further down the feeders are on the right. These feeders are maintained by the locals on a regular basis and so encourage birds in large numbers. If you want to see close up nuthatches, coal tits, long-tailed tits, blue tits, robins and chaffinches then this is the place for you. During the winter, behind the feeder station, the grassy area sometimes floods making perfect pools for the woodlands Crossbill population. They use these puddles to drink from giving very close views, with some patience. It’s a good idea to take some seed with you to support what the local
birders are achieving here. During the winter of 2013-2014 the usual Common Crossbills were joined by several Two-barred Crossbills who stayed right up to May. The area also attracts a large gull roost, Redwings, Fieldfares, Bullfinch, Goosander, Cormorant, Common Buzzard, Mandarin and other Waterfowl. The reservoir itself has also had some interesting visitors in the past, such as a Kumlein’s Gull which stayed for a few days over early January, 2014. There are several other places to visit in the area, including Greno Woods, Carr House Meadows and Kinder Scout National Nature Reserve.
Identification Winter Plumage Divers
The British Isles is a unique place to see all five types of diver which occur in the Northern Hemisphere. The winter months are the best period to look for divers as
they can often be found in coastal estuaries or inland water courses including gravel pits and reservoirs. The name diver is associated with the feeding action where all
prey is caught underwater. The North American name “loon” is a reference to the bird’s clumsiness on land, and is derived from the Scandinavian for lame. All divers breed close to the water’s edge and build a nest on a platform of vegetation which allows the adults to slip easily into the water in search of prey. All divers are extremely agile in water and can dive up to 50 metres in depth to search for prey and can spend up to 3 minutes underwater at a time. All Divers are strong flyers but all need a fairly expansive amount of water to become airborne as they find it difficult to leave the water.
Great Northern Diver. Showing pale blue bill
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They have heavy bones which assists them in diving to the bottom for food. The family of Divers include Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, the rarer White-billed diver and Pacific Diver. White billed diver or Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii) breeds across the high Arctic throughout its range in north America and Russia with birds wintering in the Pacific and coastal regions of Europe. The coastal regions of Northern Britain are an excellent place to see the largest member of the diver family and many records occurring on either the Shetland Isles or the Orknies. Most sightings are during the winter months and some birds like the adult on the Hale estuary proved very popular as the bird allowed very close views for watching and photographing this rare bird.
The general plumage is very similar to Great Northern Diver but the longer yellow bill appears to be more uplifted due to the straighter culmen (upper ridge of beak). This is key to separate the two larger
On this page, White-billed Diver showing straighter upper bill
divers, Great Northern and Whitebilled diver Great Northern Diver or Common Loon (Gavia immer), breeds across North America and winters throughout the British isles, with
many records on inland reservoirs and lakes. They are very similar in size to the White-billed diver but the bill is pale blue in winter plumage and much darker in full breeding plumage. Black-throated Diver (Gavia arctica) breeds throughout northern Europe and Arctic Russia and a small population breeds in Scotland in an area known as the flow country. In breeding plumage the birds have a distinctive black throat which strikingly contrasts with the nape and head. In winter plumage the under-parts become white and when visible on water they show a distinctive white patch on the flanks. The bill is much smaller than both of the larger divers and appears more dagger like and much paler grey. They can often be found in tidal estuaries and inland bodies of water where they are more at home in search of freshwater prey.
On this page. Black throated Divers. Showing white patch and smaller bill.
Bird List Part 5
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Bird Watching is a hobby where many like to record what they have seen - listing. The Bird Watcher can use any forms of listing, from the simple check list where all new sightings are just ticked on a list or using special software to creat a more comprehensive list of their sightings. If you are serious about listing you may consider: This is the final part of the norfolk List
What has been around
November and December Not a major rarity, but the continued presence of an immature Rough-legged Buzzard in East Yorkshire gave amazing viewing opportunities as it was close to the road and searching for road kill along the verges near Bridlington. A number of other birds were recorded in Norfolk with two immatures at Burnham Overy and single birds on Haddiscoe and Halvergate marshes. A superb Drake Bufflehead was found on Orkney mainland on the 1st but appeared to have departed mid-morning on the 2nd. A Red Eyed Vireo was found at Walney Bird observatory Cumbria mid morning on the 4th of November and represented the 6th record of the autumn. The run of Red-flanked Bluetails continued with Shetland recording its 5th of the autumn and Hastings Country Park in East Sussex recording its first for the county.
male Desert Wheatear Lowestoft
It seems that the status has gone from a mega to an annual vagrant in Autumn in just a few short
The Eastern Crowned Warbler remained at Brotton in Cleveland until the 1st of November but had left the sight and was not present on the 2nd. A Blackpoll Warbler was found early morning on the 2nd at Easington in East Yorkshire but after the initial sighting the bird was lost despite extensive searching. This was the second record for Yorkshire with the first being located at Flamborough head in 1993 but only a few managed to see it.
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years. The Winspit bird in 1993 was the first bird to be accessible to the masses and started this impresive run of sightings. A superb Grey Cheeked Thrush was found at Rerwick Shetland on the 8th of November thanks to the observations of the resident who had noticed the unusual bird. The bird remained until the 18th where superb views and photographs were obtained. A very late Citrine Wagtail was found on the beach at South Landing Flamborough East Yorkshire on the 5th of November. The 6th of November saw 1st winter male Desert Wheatears being recorded at Lowestoft Suffolk and Reculver in Kent. Both birds were extremely confiding and excellent photographs obtained. A third Desert Wheatear, a 1st winter female, was found a few miles away in Gorleston, Norfolk on the 8th of November and allowed observers to see both male and female in the same day. Early December another male was found in Norfolk at Winterton on the 5th December Red-flanked Bluetail put in another appearance on the 8th of November with another individual located at Voe. Two Cattle Egrets had almost taken up residence staying in the area of Dungness, Kent, until the end of the year. Glossy Ibis remained at Frampton RSPB in Lincolnshire throughout November and December. The 18th of November Britain’s first Little Bustard for more than 12 years was found at West Bexington in Dorset but soon departed and was not seen again, disappointing the many who travelled south. A few weeks later a second
individual was found at East Guldeford, East Sussex on the 30th of December. The first truly twitchable Little Bustard was located at Fraisthorpe East Yorkshire on the 31st of December which attracted large numbers throughout the birds stay. A juvenile Thayers Gull was in West Yorkshire from the 27th at Mirefield and at Pugneys Country Park on the 27th. The third Blyth’s Pipit of the autumn was found in west Yorkshire on the 8th of December on rough ground in Wakefield West Yorkshire near to Pugneys Country Female Deseret Wheatear, Gorleston
Park. The bird was fairly elusive at times with only flight views being obtained when the bird gave its distinctive call allowing identfication to be confirmed. The bird was more showing after the area was covered in snow and many observers were greeted with extremely close views. The bird remained in the area until the end of the year. A juvenille Ivory Gull visited various sites in the Outer Hebrides from the 13th to the 18th of December and it or another was in Uig harbour on Skye on the 23rd and 28th which from photographs confirmed two different birds.
The wintering Eastern Black redstart remained on the Isles of Scilly to at least the end of the year allowing local photographers to obtain superb views and images. 2 Wintering American Coots remained in County Kerry and the Outer Hebrides until the end of the year A very late Isabelline Wheatear was found on the 23rd of November on the beach at Seaton Snook in Cleveland where it remained for the next few days showing well to the birders. The roundup just features the highlight birds in November and December with many other sightings through Rough-legged Buzzard Yorkshire below. Right Glossy Ibis Frampton RSPB
Whats On A Selection of Events across East Anglia 13th February 2015 Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. Talk – Rutland Water – its development and wildlife. Barkston and Syston Village Hall. 7.30pm. Fifty years ago the site was a patchwork of fields, part of rural England, now it’s one of our most important wetlands. Find out more at this talk by Warden Tim Mackrill. Free
wich. NWT. Join local naturalist, Chris Durdin to explore NWT Thorpe Marshes, in the Norfolk Broads, yet on the edge of Norwich. It’s a charming mix of grazed and ungrazed marshes, ditches and the open water of St Andrew’s Broad. Bring binoculars and a camera if you have them. Wellies are recommended.
13th-22nd February 2015. RSPB Frampton Marsh. Lovebirds treasure Trail. 10 am to 3 pm Price: £2 children. Can you solve the mystery of how animals find love? Follow the tricky trail around 10th February, Tuesday. RSPB the reserve and find the clues. If Norfolk Titchwell. Beginners bird- you get the right answer, you win ing. 1pm a special prize. Telephone: 01205 Price: £6 Adult £4 Child (RSPB 724678 members £1 discount) Booking 14th February, Saturday. Garden essential. New to birding? Join Bird Advice Day. Bedfords Park our friendly guide who will help Visitor Centre. Essex WT 10-4pm. get you started on this fascinating Come to the centre for advice on pastime. Includes advice on idenfeeding and providing for the birds tifying Titchwell’s common birds in your garden. Also make your and how to choose your first pair own pinecone bird feeder. 01708 of binoculars or telescope. There’s 748646 plenty of chance to ask questions too. 01485 210779 19th February 2015 Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. Wild play, Bird 11th February Wednesday. RedBox Building. 1-3pm. Far Ings grave and Lopham Fen SWT. Nature Reserve. With Spring and 10-12pm. Find out about volthe nesting season just around the unteering. Come and find out corner. Come and give our feathabout volunteering opportunities ered friends a helping hand this both at the Fen and at Knettishall half term. £6 per bird box Heath. Discover how you could get Book by phone 01652 637055 or involved with work parties, educa- email faringseducation@lincstrust. tional activities and events. There co.uk (please include your phone are lots of roles from conservation number in your email so we can work to admin. Come and find out contact you). more - just drop in. No experience necessary. 01379 688333 20th February, Friday. Guided Walk of Thorpe Marshes, Nor36.
21st February, Saturday. RSPB Bowers Marsh. Walk 10.00am Price: No charge. We shall be looking for wildfowl and farmland birds. The site is very exposed but the walk is on gravel paths. 07985 796657
February and March 8th February, Sunday to Saturday 28th Feb . RSPB Suffolk. Minsmere. The Magic of Minsmere Walks. Start; 9.30 am (3 hours) Price: Adults £5, children £2.50 plus normal reserve entry fees for non-members. Booking essential. Never been to Minsmere? Then this is the walk for you! With more than 5300 recorded species and a wealth of history and archaeological highlights at Minsmere, there is so much to discover. Children must be accompanied at all times. 01728 648281
22nd February, Sunday. Chafford Gorges Essex WT, 10-3pm. Tremendous Trees. Come along and learn all about the trees in Chafford Gorges and who calls them home. Make a willow star to take home. Families. £3 per child. 01375484016 28th February, Saturday. Lackford Lakes Suffolk WT. Bird Identification and Song Guided Walk 11-1pm. Wildlife walk at Lackford Lakes. Guided walk with Paul Holness, identify birds by sight and song. Bring or borrow binoculars. £3 donation. 01284 728706 1st March, Sunday. RSPB Norfolk. Walk. 11:00am-12:30 pm Price: Free. Join our monthly group walk for adults in Thetford; the walks are varied in route and topic, each providing an opportunity to learn something different about the wildlife and heritage of Thetford and the Brecks. This is a
fantastic opportunity to get outdoors in the fresh air, meet new people and enjoy learning more about what can be found on your doorstep. For any budding nature enthusiasts, complete beginners and budding photographers you’ll have the chance to see brilliant urban wildlife such as kingfishers up close. Booking-No need to book just meet us at the Captain Mainwaring statue in the bus station car park 15 minutes before the start of the walk. 01842 753732 7th March Saturday. Carlton Marshes Suffolk WT. Botanical and Wildlife Painting.10-3pm. Come along to this relaxing and supportive workshop with professional botanical and wildlife artist, Ruth Wharrier, looking at range of botanical drawing and watercolour techniques.The emphasis will be on botanical observation and accuracy and seasonal plant material. All abilities will be catered for with individual tuition. Ruth is a very experienced tutor who has run many successful workshops in Norfolk and Suffolk.The centre at Carlton Mashes offers an inspiring setting with enviable views out across the marshes and reed beds. For botanists, Carlton Marshes is one of the very best places in Suffolk for the sheer variety of plants. Further information on the SWT website. £25.00/£21.50 concessions. You will need a packed lunch. Tea, coffee and biscuits are included in the price. 01473 890089 10th March, Tuesday. 1.30-4.30pm . Abbotts Hall Farm EWT.Biological Recording using Mapmate. Mapmate biological recording software is widely used for species monitoring in the UK. The afternoon course aims to introduce new users to recording using Mapmate, and is also suitable as a refresher course for those who
have not used it for a while. The course will demonstrate how to get up and running with Mapmate software, how to enter and retrieve data from the database and how to exchange your records with other users.Leader: Lorna Shaw. £15 per person. 01621 862960 11th March, Wednesday. RSPB Cambridgeshire Fen Drayton Lakes. Wednesday Wander. 10.15 am - 12.30 pm. Price: Adults £4, Children £2, RSPB Members Half Price Come along and join us for a guided walk taking in the sights and sounds of our reserve at Fen Drayton Lakes, we meet at the car park or the guided busway stop, both groups will join up. No need to book, just turn up. 01954 233260 14th March-12th December, Saturday, RSPB Halvergate Marsh. Photography Day. We will start and finish at Orford Quay at: 6am to 6pm in March; 9am to 9pm in July; 8.30am to 8.30pm in August; 7am to 7pm in September; 6.30am to 6.30pm in October; 6.30am to 5pm in November; 7am to 4.30pm in December.Price: £96 for RSPB members; £120 for all others; under 17s half price. Prices include exclusive admission, boat trip, tuition, hot drinks and soup.
Places are limited and booking in advance via Monika is essential. More information on RSPB website Booking essential. WASuffolk@ gmail.com. 22nd March, Sunday RSPB Lincolnshire Frampton Marsh. 2 pm. Price: £4 adults, £2 children. RSPB members 25% off. Booking essential. Has spring sprung? Join this gentle guided walk to see what seasonal specials surround us. 01205 724678 22nd March, Sunday. RSPB Essex. Cudmore Grove. 10.00am Walk. Price: No charge. We shall be looking for waders, wildfowl and passerines. Boots recommended as the grass paths may be wet and the sandy paths also. 07985 796657 26th March, Thursday RSPB Suffolk, Waveney Forest Walk Fritton. 10am - 12.30pm Price: No charge all welcome. Guided walk at Waveney Forest. Meet at car park on the left off New Road,0.5 miles from the Decoy Tavern, Fritton NR31 9AB on the A143. No facilities Leader David Jeffries:- 01502 560838 Robin
Wildlife East Anglia Articles to come: Frampton RSPB, Abberton Reservoir Wildlife Artist/photographer Alien Invaders - Lttle Owl Identification Papers. Blast from the Past Rarity Round Up Wildlife Events South Essex Rescue centre Northern Cyprus
Guess the Bird. White crowned Sparrow at Cley
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offices below. If you have a suggestion for a feature we would be delighted to hear your ideas. All articles are as accurate as possible but we may make mistakes. Let us know if we have and will try and correct it. For advertising from ÂŁ40 and editorials. If you would like to submit please contact us. Unfortunately until the magazine makes a profit we will be unable to pay for articles it Please contact: wildlifeeatanglia@gmail.com This editions mystery bird from the readers page is the Long-tailed Tit. A regular visitor to gardens, longtailed Tits ar often seen in large family groups and visit gardens all over the country. They are particularly fond of fat cakes and fat balls. This particular photo was taken in Norfolk.
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