Thorpe St Andrew Marshes

A couple of visits to Thorpe Station Marshes during the last week. On my first visit last Sunday I was observing a pair of Reed Warblers at the start of the path that leads to Bungalow Lane when I became aware of a Cuckoo calling very close by. It flew out from an Ivy covered tree and passed immediately overhead affording me the closest view of a Cuckoo that I think I have ever had!

A Cuckoo continued to call this weekend, however it was rather windy and most of the resident warblers stayed within cover. A Sedge Warbler did appear briefly above the reeds enabling a brief photo opportunity.

The Big Norwich Bat Project Part 2

Buffy and Sonia of The Big Norwich Bat Project emailed the results of the survey carried out in my garden on Sunday night. Very comprehensive, it gives details of the night's bat calls including timings and various other bits of information.

We had 8 bat passes consisting of 5 Common Pipistrelle, 1 unidentified Pipistrelle and 2 Noctule. Not sure for the reduction on last years total of 40. It was rather cold, the temperature dropping as low as 8 degrees Centigrade.

All in all a very interesting exercise and well worth surporting.

Thorpe St Andrew Marshes - Warblers In Abundance!

I decided to take advantage of the fine weather and have a stroll around the marshes before lunch. The reserve was absolutely alive with birdsong. There seemed to be warblers everywhere!

Last year almost unbelievably I failed to see a single Blackcap, today I saw two. One near the footbridge, the other on Bungalow Lane. Also seen in abundance were Common Whitethroat, Sedge and Reed Warblers, and Reed Buntings.

I heard my first Cuckoo of the year calling out from the Bungalow Lane area. Also of note were the large number of Orange Tip Butterflies fluttering over the Marsh.

The Big Norwich Bat Project Part 1

Last year I reserved my home square kilometre in Thorpe St Andrew to participate in the Big Norwich Bat Project http://www.norwichbatgroup.org.uk/project.html.

I have always been conscious of the presence of bats in my back garden so was interested to find out more. The survey equipment registered 35 Common Pipistrells, 3 Noctules and 2 unidentifiable Pipistrells.

Today the monitoring equipment was set up for this years survey. It was interesting to note that insect traps had been added from last year. Logically certain types of insect population I assume are linked to bat population.

Stay tuned for the results!