Bergh Apton Bird Feeding Station

We have a builders yard adjacent to the Scop Hill Nature reserve at Bergh Apton. Some while ago we decided to set up a bird feeding station which is kept regularly stocked with a mixed bird seed, peanuts, niger seeds and suet balls. These we suspended from our Road Sign Rack. Hardly pretty but viewable from our office and a magnet for a great variety of local bird life!

 

Other than the common species one would expect, visitors have included a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, and during last summer a pair of Turtle Doves. We regularly have a visit from Moorhens that habit a nearby pond and Pheasents and Red Legged Partridges seeking refuge from the regular shoots that take place in season on the local farmland.

A typical day today. Long Tailed, Blue and Great Tits, Chaffinches, Robins and a hungry Pheasent.

 



Thorpe St Andrew Marshes

As a rule I like to update my blog with some photographs but didn't have the opportunity this time. As the sun shone brightly and the snow began to melt there seemed to be a bit more activity than in the past fortnight.
I went in search of one of the Water Rails that had been reported recently and encounted one in the dyke near the kissing gate as I approached the marsh. It exited the dyke, crossed the path leading to Bungalow Lane before disapearing in the boggy undergrowth. Far too quick for a photo opportunity!
The Broad was still largely frozen and all the waterfowl and gulls had congregated on the section that remained clear of ice. Large numbers of Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Pochard and Teal but nothing out of the ordinary.
It was whilst walking along the path adjacent to the river that I saw a single Goldcrest in one of the large trees. A first for me on this site! A Cettis Warbler briefly emerged from the reeds near the cattle pen completing a most enjoyable walk in the sunshine.

Thorpe St Andrew Marshes, Christmas Holiday

Events at work have severely restricted my ability to get out and about recently but at least I managed a couple of visits to Thorpe St Andrews Marshes during the holiday period.
My first visit was on Boxing Day morning taking advantage in a lull before a family get together in the afternoon. It proved to be rather uneventful other than the discovery of two groups of fungi on a felled Poplar tree. They appeared wonderfully pristine and new as if only very recently formed.

 

Having virtually no knowledge of fungi I obtained assistance (thanks James, Chris) to identify it as Velvet Shank (Flammulina velutipes). My photograph failed to show the gills and stems to make this ID certain so in in a follow up visit on the 30th December I photographed the underside.

The gills are prominent and the stems are dark brown and velvety (hence the name "Velvet Shank").
They are apparently very resiliant to low temperatures which explains their presence in December and are edible, although I think I'll definately pass on that!
I must admit the discovery of a relatively common but attractive fungi and the interesting little bit of research that I've done on the web have inspired me a bit! Subsequently I have purchased a couple (for cross referencing) of decent reference books for future fungi related discoveries.

Thorpe St Andrews Marshes at the moment is not for the faint hearted, at least if you intend to walk the circuit. Water levels were as high on the 30th December as they have been for some while. The dykes are flooded covering large sections of the marsh footpath with surface water. I measured 8 inches of water in the gate entrance near the cattle pen. Wellington boots are a must!
The flooding appears to be having a somewhat detrimental effect on the birdlife diversity at the moment. It will be interesting to see what the new year brings!

Thorpe St Andrew Marshes

It's perhaps fitting that Thorpe St Andrew Marshes should provide my first blog entry. I've visited this location on and off since the age of ten and have seen a great deal of change to the landscape. The Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve has great potential and has provided many hours of pleasure particularly when I call in to do a circuit on the way home from work. A great way to unwind at the end of the day!
Last thursday I did just this. As the light began to fade I caught a fleeting glance of what I suspected were a pair of Redpolls adjacent to the footpath to the broad. I decided to return the following sunday morning under gloriously bright Autumn sunshine. I was rewarded by not two but around a dozen Lesser Redpolls. Along with a handfull of Goldfinches they were feeding on the abundant Mugwort seeds. Even better they were confident enough to let me approach closely enough to take some reasonably acceptable photographs.