Warden's Wildlife Report 2005 David Nobbs
The year will be remembered at Wheatfen for the late leaf fall well into December.
Walking through the woods early that month was like being there in late autumn
with hazel and oak in full leaf and still green in parts. I have now been observing
the seasons here at Wheatfen for thirteen years and this has really brought home
to me how the seasons are altering. I often reflect on what the predictions for
climate change will mean for Wheatfen in the future?
January started mild but with the fen flooded. Teal and tufted ducks were on
both broads on the 7th. On the 13th there was again a very high tide and coots
on Home Dyke were nibbling on reed canary grass overhanging the dyke.
A woodpecker could be heard drumming very early on the 14th and a good view
of a Chinese water deer swimming across Penguin Dyke was had the next day.
Also early (at 7.30 am) on the 15th a barn owl was hunting over the cut areas on
Old Mill Marsh. That was the first in a series of sightings stretching over the next
few weeks. Snowdrops were out on the 19th in the garden and at the top of
Home Dyke. The 19th and 20th saw the fen flooded again. On the 22nd I found
the headless remains of a moorhen and on the 25th there was a kingfisher on
Mack’s Dyke and the barn owl again on Old Mill Marsh. Towards the end of the
month over 100 teal were on both broads and there were deer on the paths in
good numbers.
February, by contrast, had very low tides; it appeared almost as though
somebody had pulled the plug out at Wheatfen and left stretches of mud exposed.
On Alder Carr path I found a dead Chinese water deer which had been
scavenged by foxes. Low tides continued on the 4th. By the 11th a few early
bumble bees had emerged due to the very mild weather. Sedges had started to
show very early signs of spring growth and large numbers of wood pigeons were
roosting in the woods on the 14th. On Penguin Dyke, on the 18th, a green
woodpecker was feeding on ants by the path next to the decayed wreck of the
wherry “Penguin”. By the 20th we had snow and the rest of the month remained
cold and frosty.
From the 2nd to the 5th March snow lay on the ground. Long-tailed tits in flocks
were going from willow to willow in search of food. Woodcock were seen in the
wood on the 8th and by the 9th milder weather had set in. Bird song was strong
and rabbits were active on the edge of the wood. Out on the fen reed buntings
could be heard and on the 15th frogs were mating in the dyke along Smee Loke.
On the 16th the first spring butterfly – a peacock from hibernation – was seen on
the edge of the garden and a brimstone butterfly also. Coltsfoot was in flower.
Woodpeckers could be heard drumming on the 17th and the next day the first
chiffchaff made itself heard by the cottage. Mining bees were about and a large
pike was also seen by the tide gauge in Home Dyke. Two pairs of grebes were a
welcome sight on both broads as spring was warming up. On the 23rd a lesser
spotted woodpecker was seen behind the office. (An RSPB survey indicates that
generally numbers of this bird are declining, but I am pleased to report that they
are holding up at Wheatfen). With the warm weather a grass snake had emerged
from hibernation and was sunning itself on the path by Home Fen. Marsh
marigolds on the 24th were in flower along a number of dykes. However it was a
false spring and the end of the month became cold and cloudy.
April arrived with better, warmer weather. Brimstone and peacock butterflies were
about and tortoiseshells also. Due to high tides, frog spawn had been washed up
on the bank along Smee Loke and was returned to the water safely. There was an
unusually good quantity of spawn this year as the rise and fall in the tidal waters
on the scale we see at Wheatfen is not well suited to the frog life cycle. On the
4th our first muntjac deer was seen initially in Osier Carr by the boardwalk, then in
the garden and there were a number of further sightings later in the year. This is
not a welcome addition to our list of fauna as muntjacs can do a great deal of
damage to the coppiced hazels. Sedges were in flower on the 7th and willow
catkins were in evidence. On that day also a pair of marsh harriers were seen over
Thack Marsh. The first blackcap was heard in the garden on the 9th. The next day
holly blue butterflies were seen by the car park and the first willow warbler was
heard by Penguin Dyke. On the 12th there was a repeat of last year when I found
a small lamprey dead on the bank of Eleven Bridges Dyke. Heavy rain followed
over the next few days. By the 21st large bittercress was in flower and on that day
a water vole was seen swimming along Smee Loke. The inaugural meeting of the
Norfolk Spider Group was held on the 23rd, a lovely spring day, and many records
were added. Brimstone butterflies were in good numbers on the 24th. The Spring
Walk took place in good weather with orange tip butterflies in the garden. Some
unusual lesser celandines and wood anemones with multiple petals proved of
interest. By the 26th there were dandelions in profusion along the path of Eleven
Bridges which looked particularly impressive with the new bridges all in place. The
first cuckoo was heard by the river and sedge and reed warblers could be heard
on Blake’s Marsh. Orange tip and speckled wood butterflies were evident in good
numbers around the reserve. Coot chicks had hatched on the pond by The Thatch
on the 28th. Over the next few days green-veined whites and small white
butterflies were on the wing.
At the beginning of May the sight of four silver bream spawning at low tide in
Penguin Dyke was one of the most interesting observations of the year. Oak trees
were coming into leaf and alderflies were about on the 3rd. The Dawn Chorus
Walk was held on the 8th – a lovely early morning , albeit cold at 4am! Robin and
tawny owl were the songs heard first this year. An osprey was seen on Deep
Waters, which was an unexpected bonus. Pipistrelle bats, flying in the evening,
were observed by a visiting group. The first dragonfly of the summer, a hairy
dragonfly, was seen at the top of Home Dyke and adders tongue fern had
emerged and was showing along Smee Loke. Early in the morning of the 16th,
while inspecting the repair work carried out on a bridge and casting my eye over
the new planking, I looked up and saw a young fox cub on the other end of the
bridge returning my gaze. What a surprise – at least to me – and what a lovely
moment. The 18th was a warm summer’s day. There was plenty of wildlife to see
and bird song was in full force. Along Smee Loke the red cardinal beetle was in
evidence on vegetation in good numbers and on the 25th banded demoiselles
could be seen hawking along the link dyke from Wheatfen Broad. The first
swallowtail butterfly was seen on the 26th on Four Acres. Two days later a single
red kite, an occasional visitor, was seen flying over Hard Marsh. Flag iris was
coming into flower on Old Mill Marsh and that was the start of a wonderful display.
Orange tip butterflies were still about and on the 29th the first Norfolk hawker
dragonfly was observed resting by the garden. By the end of the month guelder
rose bushes had come into flower as had the first of the common spotted orchids
along the edge of the path by Surlingham Carr.
At the start of June swallowtails had started to emerge with half a dozen spotted
by the river path. Also seen was the first southern hawker dragonfly and the
osprey was still about. On the 3rd four-spotted chaser dragonflies and a red-eyed
damselfly were observed at the end of Penguin Dyke. Meadowrue was in flower by
the 7th. Taking my small boat out on to the Fen Channel, I was surprised
when I disturbed a large pike in the water lilly beds.
Following this, a young jack pike was seen in Smee Loke
Dyke – the dyke which had been dredged earlier in the
year. There were also at this time Norfolk hawker
dragonflies over the car park which shows yet again that
you do not have to go far to see something of interest at
Wheatfen. Swallowtail Day was held in conjunction
with Butterfly Conservationon on the 12th but
cloudy weather allowed only two hours viewing
and small numbers were seen. Eggs on milk
parsley, the caterpillar’s plant food, proved of
interest. I did manage to rescue a swallowtail
from a spider’s web and visitors had a good
view of a live specimen. By the middle of the
month in excess of 120 common spotted orchids
were in flower along the edge of Surlingham Carr. It was a
very good year for this plant. When walking into the wood I
came across a newly emerged stinkhorn fungus with flies on
the mucus tip for about an hour. Black-tailed
skimmer dragonflies were about over the dykes and peacock butterfly caterpillars
could be found on nettles, their plant food. By the 21st meadow brown butterflies
were evident in good numbers and, beside the path on Smee Loke, marsh pea
was in flower. The 23rd and 24th were very hot days at around 30 deg C and
humid too. Small skipper butterflies were quite numerous and swallowtails were
about. The end of the month became stormy with some rain.
July opened up with the first white admiral butterflies in the clearing in
Surlingham Wood. This site is so good for this species that sightings will always
be had on a good sunny day in the summer months. Other butterflies, including
ringlets and gatekeepers, were on the reserve in good numbers. Purple
loosestrife was in flower on the 2nd and the next brood of tortoiseshell butterflies
were active. From the 5th to the 7th there was heavy rain and the fen was
flooded in parts. Meadowsweet was in flower by the 10th of the month.
Swallowtail caterpillars in good numbers could be found on Thack Marsh and
Four Acres. It was a very good year for yellow loosestrife, which was in profusion,
and milk parsley was also now in flower. On the 16th a visit by a party from the
RSPB enjoyed a good view of a bittern flying past us on Blake’s Marsh and also
the wonderful sight, for several minutes, of a kestrel mocking a marsh harrier on
Crake’s Marsh. The first few peacock butterflies had emerged, but 2005 was a
very bad year for this species. High tides flooded the paths on the 22nd. By the
end of the month, and later this year than normal, the fen was beginning to come
fully into flower. Small white butterflies were in good numbers.
August started with the sighting of a painted lady butterfly in the garden and
brown hawker dragonflies on Home Dyke. On the 3rd, on a visit to the reed beds
to look at swallowtail caterpillars, I got completely and utterly soaked in a rain
storm. However a lovely view of a kingfisher sitting on the bridge on Penguin
Dyke made up for all the discomfort. Our Natural History Day was a complete
contrast to recent years which had been very hot. This year cold
winds kept the temperature below 21 deg C and high tides did
nothing to help the situation. White admiral butterflies appeared in
the garden when the sun did come out. The first wall brown butterfly
was seen by the Thatch on the 11th. There is some concern for this
quite scarce species. Also, in the vegetation by the car park,
harvestman spiders with red mites on them proved a good
photo opportunity. Also at that time dark bush crickets were
in large numbers. Early in the morning of the 13th and by
the Thatch, I had the pleasure of seeing three young
stoats. As I returned to the car park on the 17th a fox
was roaming around and evidently inspecting the
new bench seat put in for the Wherryman’s
Way. I wonder if it approved. On the 18th, an
early misty morning, there was the lovely sight
of cobwebs in their hundreds in the vegetation. Migrant hawker dragonflies were
seen later in the day hawking over Home Marsh. On the 19th there was a repeat
of last year when I found a pipistrelle bat on the floor in the cottage kitchen. Along
Sluice Dyke in the woods a rotten oak tree with many holes in its bark yielded up a
number of lesser stag beetles. This species had not been recorded at Wheatfen
previously which is surprising as they are not uncommon in other locations. By the
23rd high tides were flooding some paths and red admirals butterflies were in the
garden. On the 26th the hornets, which had found a place to set up home in the
cottage, were very active with coming and going at a rapid pace. All this was
above the toilet door - not the most convenient place. However if they are left
alone they cause no harm. A red underwing moth, a quite large and day flying
species, was sitting on the brickwork at the gable end of the cottage. By the end
of the month some flowers were beginning to die off. Common darter dragonflies
could be seen on the handrail by the Boardwalk. August ended dry and sunny.
September started with the weather unchanged. A few fungi had emerged in the
woods. By the 6th brown hawker dragonflies were still active along Home Dyke.
A pair of swans with four cygnets also made a pleasant sight. By the 13th red
admiral butterflies were about in good numbers and the grass, which needed
much more cutting this year, was growing again on the paths. The 18th was
Fungus Workshop Day and sixty-four species were found. The list included the
rare parasitic fungus, which lives on other fungi, found in the clearing in the middle
of the wood. Also proving of interest was the very attractive, somewhat exotic,
sycamore moth caterpillar. Wasps were active on the fallen apples in the orchard
on the 20th. There did not seem to be so many this year, but that did not stop
them from using me for target practice as you will see later in this report. I found
a queen hornet from the nest inside the cottage. It was a very impressive insect.
Bird song on the reserve was now quieter with summer migrants having left.
On the 24th the Bat Evening was held in perfect conditions except for the lack of
bats. This was put down to its being a poor year for moths – only eight were
caught in traps that evening. On the 27th there was a very special moment for me
when, at the end of Penguin Dyke, a kingfisher flew right over my head. Bees and
flies were now on the ivy blossom and migrant hawker dragonflies were still
numerous. There were strong winds and high tides on the 28th and the month
ended windy and a little cold.
Early October was sunny and on the 4th I had a surprise visit from ten red-legged
partridges wandering the car park. Red admiral butterflies were feeding on rotten
apples in the garden on the 6th. Whilst scything the right hand side of Home
Dyke, I disturbed some tree wasps which had set up home in the jetty. First I was
stung three times and chased to the car park. I went back later to retrieve my
scythe only to be chased to the Thatch. I was surprised that I could still run that
fast! It took a good couple of days for me to recover from swollen arms. On the
11th the odd peacock butterfly had come out of hibernation as the temperature
was 21 deg C and it was like a summer’s day. The hornets were still active and
teal had arrived on the broads. There was a very high tide on the 18th. Plenty of
fungi were now showing in the woods by the 21st. The following day a kestrel was
hunting for a long period over Old Mill Marsh. The 27th was again as warm as
summer and a brimstone butterfly was flying over Home Dyke. On the 28th a little
grebe was in Penguin Dyke and common darters dragonflies were over Home
Dyke. The fallen sweet chestnuts in the wood were of excellent size this year and
ideal for roasting. I am pleased to say that I beat the grey squirrels to them this
year and gathered some before they had had them all.
There were two very high tides to welcome in November. Two red admiral
butterflies were in the garden on the 3rd and some of the leaves on the trees were
starting to fall at last. On the 8th an old, and now disused, hornets’ nest was
found by the pond on Alder Carr. On the 16th a kingfisher was seen again on
Penguin Dyke. This has become the place where one is most likely to see that
beautiful bird. Woodcock had arrived on the 17th and provided four sightings in
the wood. The Winter Walk took place on the 20th, a cold and frosty morning.
Surviving hornets at the cottage were looked at closely as were reed cigar galls
and wrens’ nests. On the 23rd there was very low water with mud exposed then,
in contrast, two days later we had the highest tide for five years with paths and
parts of the garden flooded. Chinese water deer were seen in the woods and on
the paths and on the 28th a fox was observed crossing the lawn by the cottage.
Many rooks and crows were seen overhead in the evening.
As December began fieldfares and redwings were occupying the guelder rose
bushes and by the 13th many teal were on the broads. There was a further
sighting of a muntjac deer in the garden on the 15th. The barking call of Chinese
water deer could be heard during this their rutting period. Up to two inches of
snow had settled on the 17th with wind and the fen flooded. On the 21st coots, in
number approximately fifty, were observed on both broads. On the 26th a white
hybrid mallard was on Mack’s Dyke. A snipe got up from Home Dyke on the 29th.
For the final few days of the month there was snow and, with heavy frosts,
Wheatfen appeared even more magical. Many animal and bird tracks were found
along the paths.
This diary reflects the seasons at Wheatfen and indicates in a small way what can
be seen here throughout the year. Why not pay the reserve a visit at a time when
you might not normally come – in winter, say, or early spring – and get a sense of
this special place as it reflects the seasonal changes. I also look forward to seeing
you at our organised events in 2006.
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