Yes, Sculthorpe Moor reserve was open. To be fair, Monday is the only day it's shut.
Puddles thick with overnight ice, we crunched our way to the boardwalk. Close inspection of the first group of Alders brought views of about a dozen Lesser Redpoll, as usual keeping to the top of these tall trees. The Alders at Titchwell are shorter.
Jarvis Hide feeders were as popular as ever with the commoner woodland birds. Over a dozen Blackbirds, 1 Redwing, eight Greenfinches, an in and out Marsh Tit and Coal Tit, 30+ Chaffinches, the occasional Dunnock and a male Great Spotted Woodpecker.
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| Shy - but proof it's a male |
I do find the bench name 'Old Gits Corner' rather offensive but, appreciate the seat. A well filled feeder but no birds, we've seen Willow Tit here in the past.
Making our way along the river to Whitley Hide, we saw no birds at all, maybe because we kept our heads down, huddled inside coat collars, avoiding the biting wind, not strong but icy.Whitley Hide has views of two feeding areas. The one at the far end was in the sun but lacks near cover. Our favourite, just inside the door, has many birds and the cover of a close shrubby tree from which the birds can venture forth and, return to cover, or, to crack open the sunflower seeds provided on the open table. There's also water and a reed bed which stretches into the distance, dotted with the occasional birch tree. Marsh Harriers often quarter this area but not to-day.
We stayed for about three quarters of an hour - until rigor mortis started to set in - enjoying the two male and one female Bramblings, a pair of Bullfinches, Coal, Blue, Great and Marsh Tits and a host of Chaffinches.
A dozen delightful Long Tailed Tits descended on the table
and a Water Rail made two foraging raids on the seed strewn ground under the feeder, before dashing back into the reeds.
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| Couldn't resist adding this Goony bird |
Lovely.
Hot chocolate from the machine in the Centre was most welcome !
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