Wensum Valley Birdwatching Society

Twenty-nine members met in the car park of the NWT Sparham Pools Nature Reserve in the early morning light surrounded by the sound of bird song. Setting off we appreciated the fine tone of a singing Garden Warbler, which remained in full cover as we passed by.  Further along the path we stood to listen to a Blackcap and were able to distinguish the delicate differences between its song and that of the very similar Garden Warbler.  The remarkable song of a diminutive Wren came drifting through the early morning air.

The sky remained overcast as we left the reserve to walk beside the River Wensum by kind permission of Charles Sayer.  Another Garden Warbler appeared fleetingly before retreating to thicker cover.  A Reed Bunting was observed across the river but preferred to stay elusive as the rain increased in intensity.  Very few wildfowl were braving the open water in the prevailing weather conditions: a pair of Egyptian Geese and a pair of Gadwall accompanied by Great Crested Grebe.  A distant Cuckoo tried to lift our spirits with its repetitive call and a Grey Heron drifted slowly over the meadows.  Even the Sedge Warblers were staying in low cover, a bird you can normally expect to climb to the top of a delicate stem.

However we were treated to a spectacular aerial display by increasing numbers of House Martins, Sand Martins and Swifts as they descended and rose in pursuit of their plentiful insect prey.

Gaining the shelter of a belt of trees we obtained close views of a Willow Warbler as it performed its song of descending notes.  A few members witnessed a fledgling Treecreeper as it tumbled to the ground in its early efforts to fly.

We progressed along the lakeside paths until we reached the footpath where we were greeted by the sight of over thirty Greylag geese standing in a developing cereal crop with just their heads and necks showing above the sea of green.

We re-entered the reserve and caught a brief glimpse of Reed Warblers as they moved through the marginal vegetation below us.  When we reached a viewpoint we were able to watch the breeding Common Terns, amazing to think that these birds had once again found their way to Sparham from West Africa.

The smell of cooking bacon drew us swiftly back to the car park.  After the early morning start there was a chance to enjoy a bacon buttie, a cup of coffee and a “mardle”.  We had managed to find a total of 58 species despite the adverse weather.

Many thanks to Jaquie and Avril for rustling up the delicious butties.

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