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Leaders: Chris Stone and Richard Spowage Reporter: Jacquie Fenn Bird List: David Gibbons Twenty one members met in the car park at Pensthorpe on a very misty and chilly morning for the Dawn Chorus walk. Chris Stone was our leader alongside Richard the reserve manager who guided us round the reserve. At 5 am the birds were already well awake and we were greeted with a cacophony of bird song. The loudest were the raucous Rooks but even they could not drown out the songs of the smaller birds including Wren, Skylark, Goldfinch and the distant calls of the Corncrake and Cuckoo.
We left the car park heading towards the woods and Old Squaw Lake to the bark-like calls of Flamingos, not birds many of us were familiar with! Mist drifted across the lake where islands provided nest sites for many Black-headed Gulls and one lonely Oystercatcher. From the reeds we heard Sedge and Reed Warblers but they were out of sight. The Cuckoo was heard and seen in flight as we crossed the flower meadow. The River Wensum had a good flow on it and was nearly as high as the banks. Flooding in the woods has meant the loss of many Douglas Firs this year. Otters are still present within the grounds and Richard explained that they play a big part in keeping the numbers of Pike in check as they are the main predators of young ducklings. Following the old railway line through the woods a Hare was spotted ahead on the path. Strangely instead of running away from us it headed towards us, then loped away at the last moment. Here we heard Long-tailed Tits, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blackcap and Chiffchaffs. We were treated to close up views of a female Blackcap and a Garden Warbler in the hand as we came across three ringers hard at work. Approaching the wader scrape we spotted two Roe Deer crossing the hillside and had excellent views of the Cuckoo on the topmost branch of a bare tree. A Marsh Harrier flew over the reeds and one lonely Avocet added to the list. Common Terns were spotted briefly. As we headed back towards the visitor centre we passed swathes of Bluebells and Foxgloves yet to flower ferns, mosses and shade loving plants gave the area a magical feel along with the nature inspired sculptures along the route. As we headed towards the Wave Garden the thought of breakfast hastened our steps. I'm sure I heard stomachs rumbling. We were treated to a very welcome cooked breakfast which completed our morning in the most satisfying manner. Our thanks to the kitchen staff. A few people went into the aviary after breakfast to have close up views of the Bearded Tits, nesting Avocets and some extremely handsome Ruffs with their collars in splendid shape. As we watched them an obliging Corncrake ran along the back of the aviary. We did however sympathise with a male Garganey that was being harassed incessantly by a Shoveler! Turtle Doves sat happily in the shrubs. Our thanks to Chris for his knowledge of bird song and to Richard for his time and information about the reserve and it's management. Bird List Pensthorpe Dawn Chorus 11/5/2024 Blackbird Magpie Mallard Chaffinch Song Thrush Skylark Mistle Thrush Woodpigeon Goldcrest Rook Jackdaw Cuckoo Pheasant Chiffchaff House Sparrow Oystercatcher Goldfinch Great Spotted Woodpecker Greenfinch Robin Black-headed Gull Wren Reed Warbler Sedge Warbler Canada Goose Common Tern Greylag Goose Great Crested Grebe Mute Swan Little Egret Herring Gull Coot Barnacle Goose Tufted Duck Swallow Moorhen Cetti’s Warbler Shelduck Sand Martin Lapwing Linnet Great Tit Blue Tit Treecreeper Willow Warbler Coal Tit Blackcap Grey Heron Garden Warbler Red Kite Avocet Shoveler Carrion Crow Marsh Harrier Cormorant Little Grebe Pochard Pied Wagtail 58 Species.
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September 2024
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