We didn't get to Sculthorpe Moor until late morning. We'd vacillated about a late visit and then going to Dersingham Bog for Nightjars. Pam did the shopping early as planned, we then both decided that we didn't want to stay out late - rain is forecast for later anyway.
We've never made a summer visit to this reserve before, we didn't know what to expect. The answer is.....not a lot of birds and rampant vegetation. The Woodland Hide was birdless as were the woods on the way to Whitley Hide. We heard Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Garden Warbler towards the end.
Keeping a look-out for the breeding Kingfishers along the Wensum - when tall reeds allowed - we arrived at an empty Whitley Hide. Lovely, plenty of birds coming down to the feeding table, many of them this year's young. Marsh, Coal, Blue and Great Tits, Reed Bunting, Bullfinches and numerous Chaffinches. I've never seen a young Bullfinch before.
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| Baby Blue Tit - a really feisty one, saw adult Bullfinch off. |
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| Young Bullfinch |
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| Young Great Tit |
For the first time ever, we decided to walk to the most distant hide, Victor's and Robinson. Lovely views of the reedbeds and pools, a few Dragonflies to entertain us, Four Spot Chaser and Black-tailed Skimmer.
A butterfly photographer joined us, he'd been to Foxley Woods to photo the White Admirals there. Like us, he'd seen six varieties on Sculthorpe. Red Admiral, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and Ringlet. I also saw several Bee-fly sp. He was very knowledgeable about the reserve, punctuating the walk back with snippets of information. I enjoyed that.
We lunched in the Mill car park, eventually seeing Spotted Flycatcher sallying forth from the tall trees the other side of the river. And....the sun shone all day.
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