19 January 2022

Weather: Initially overcast with a moderate NW breeze, but clearing later on.

 

Wretham Heath

 

Disturbance: Some limited disturbance from a MV22 Osprey on exercise on the nearby Brettenham range.

 

MV-22 Osprey by Ringmere

Sightings from Ringmere:

Shelduck (3)

Shoveler (9)

Gadwall (10)

Mallard (6)

Teal (46)

Moorhen (1)

Coot (15)

Little Grebe (1)

The Moorhen is the first I have seen at Ringmere since last autumn.

 

Sightings from Fenmere:

Moorhen (1)

 

Sightings from Langmere:

Canada Goose (4)

Greylag Goose (23)

Mute Swan (6)

Egyptian Goose (23)

Shelduck (3)

Shoveler (32)

Gadwall (34)

Mallard (64)

Teal (121)

Pochard (1 - female)

Tufted Duck

Hybrid goose (1 - Canada x Greylag Goose)

Moorhen (20)

Coot (43)

Lapwing (79)

Black-headed Gull (683)

Common Gull (4 - 3 adults and a first-winter)

Herring Gull (6)

Yellow-legged Gull (2 - adult and second-winter)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (341)

All but two of the Egyptian Geese arrived in small flocks at dusk, as did several Tufted Ducks. The four Common Gulls were the highest count for this winter so far.

Stonechat on Wretham heath

Rest of the reserve:

Egyptian Goose (2 - on Stanta to NW of reserve)

Pheasant

Stock Dove (3)

Woodpigeon

Lapwing (8 - flying south over Ringmere)

Buzzard (3)

Tawny Owl (3 - calling at dusk)

Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)

Green Woodpecker (1)

Kestrel (1 - hunting over Wretham heath)

Jay

Magpie (1)

Jackdaw

Rook

Carrion Crow

Coal Tit

Blue Tit

Skylark (1 - singing over Wretham heath)

Long-tailed Tit

Goldcrest (1)

Wren

Treecreeper (1)

Starling (5)

Song Thrush

Mistle Thrush

Redwing

Blackbird

Fieldfare

Robin 

Stonechat (1 - on Wretham heath)

Dunnock

Pied Wagtail (12 - flying west over Langmere at dusk)

Meadow Pipit

Chaffinch

Linnet

Goldfinch

Siskin

Yellowhammer 

Grey Squirrel (2)

Rabbit

With 58 species, this was one of the most diverse visits I have had to East Wretham, with a couple of notable species. Only the second I have seen on the reserve, the Stonechat was present on Wretham  heath (east of the A1075). Both the Skylark and Starling sightings were my first of the year at East Wretham, while the Green Woodpecker (a female) gave good views along the Drove south of Langmere. 

Surprisingly, did not manage to find a Great Tit in the couple of hours that I was there, and there were a couple of other semi likely species (e.g. Wigeon) missed, so 60 species in a visit seems a distinct possibility with a little luck. It will be interesting to see if 70 (or more?) species is achievanble in spring.