Warden's Wildlife Report 2007 David Nobbs
If I had to use just one word to reflect the past year at Wheatfen it would be
“flooded”. Flood conditions prevailed from early January, through the wet summer
to the North Sea surge of 9th November, which provided the highest water levels
at Wheatfen since 1953, and the many flooded days of December. But one must
not forget the hot, sunny and dry days throughout April. All these extremes of
weather conditions had their influence on the reserve - on both the wildlife and on
my work programme as my report will show.
January. The month started cloudy and damp, but with some sunny days and a
kingfisher seen on Penguin Dyke. From the 2nd onwards the fen was flooded, but
little grebes could be seen on Home Dyke. On the 5th I found a dead water vole on
Alder Carr Path. On the 10th, at nine in the morning on the marsh adjacent to Old
Mill Marsh, two foxes were chasing each other around the rushes and making loud
barking calls. There was a flood on the 12th with water up to the garden and many
Chinese water deer were forced up into the wood. A barn owl was seen flying over
Alder Carr on the 14th of the month and two days later there was a further sighting
of a kingfisher by Wheatfen Broad. Snowdrops were out in the garden of the
cottage on the 17th. A strong gale blew up on the night of the 18th and two large
trees came down by Wheatfen Broad. By the 24th the first snow had fallen and
many tracks could be seen, including those of an otter by Crake’s Path near the
river. For the next few days the snow still lay on the fen and on Four Acres a small
flock of bearded tits was seen. By the end of the month there was flooding again
and on the 30th, in mild weather, a marsh harrier was hunting over Thack Marsh.
February. The first day of the month was like a spring day and bees were
buzzing round the hazel catkins. The temperature was up at 13 deg C and the
unseasonable weather continued for a further two days. But changes occurred and
by the 8th there was a light covering of snow on the fen. On the 9th more otter
prints were observed, but this time at the end of Penguin Dyke. This seems to be
the site favoured by the otters at Wheatfen. Scarlet elf cup fungus was showing
its bright colour on the fallen logs in the wet carr woodland. Sedges started to
grow and the wood was alive with grey squirrels everywhere. On the 13th three
little grebes were on Home Dyke and two days later I found a dead Chinese water
deer by Sluice Dyke Path. Our resident swans feeding by the jetty on Home Dyke
made a welcome sight. Flag iris was coming through on Old Mill Marsh and on the
following day, at 7.15 am, the barn owl was hunting over that same marsh. By the
22nd mild conditions had set in with temperatures at 12 deg C. Bees were noisily
active again by the hazels and there was spring growth everywhere. The remains
of a male Chinese water deer were found by the paving slabs near the cottage.
The rest of him had evidently been dragged off by foxes. By the end of the month
coltsfoot was in flower as were a few daffodils by the cottage. On the 28th I was
delighted to finish mowing Old Mill Marsh - despite the floods.
March. The month opened with strong winds on the 2nd and, with a very high
tide, the fen was flooded. I noticed bluebells were coming through in the wood
and opposite-leaved golden saxifrage was flowering along the wood’s damp paths.
There was plenty of bird song. By the 6th the temperature had risen to a very mild
14 deg C. Frogs were mating in the pond - a sight that is becoming more common
at Wheatfen as year follows year and peacock, brimstone and tortoiseshell
butterflies were in evidence having just awakened from their winter’s slumbers.
Marsh marigold leaves were also showing. The following day two woodcock
were seen in the middle of the wood. By the 14th the weather was still mild and
toads were active in the pond. A lone toad swimming on the Fen Channel came
right up to my feet and I was able to take a super photograph of it. On the 16th
the first chiffchaff had arrived and was singing by the Boardwalk. As the month
progressed and the temperature stayed around 14 deg C lesser celandine and
marsh marigolds were coming into flower. Even milk parsley had emerged on the
fen. These were all signs of an early spring (so very different from the one of 2006)
and were the forerunner to an extraordinary April. On the 20th the fen was flooded
again and the headless remains of a grass snake were found on Home Dyke. I
suspect a heron to have been the guilty party in this case. There were further signs
of the presence of otters when, on the 21st, I found the well-eaten remains of a
large bream along Penguin Dyke. Also, I watched a stoat get a good meal from a
small jack pike which I had seen dead earlier that morning. Growth was evident all
over the reserve at this time with meadow-rue coming through on Old Mill Marsh.
At the end of the month, whilst walking over by Four Acres, I discovered the
remains of a large pike on a bridge over the dyke - another otter meal.
April. Even though the month opened with sunny and mild weather few would
have expected it to become the warmest and sunniest on record. By the 4th there
were many butterflies on the wing and the first orange tips and holly blues were
seen the following day. Greater tussock sedge was in flower and flies and early
insects were about. The temperature on the 10th was 13 deg C and the first
willow warbler was heard along Penguin Dyke. There was also a wonderful sight
of six marsh harriers displaying over Four Acres on the 12th. The temperature
that day was 18 deg C. The first blackcap was singing by the office; the cuckoo
flower (ladies’ smock) was in flower; and over-wintering peacock butterflies had
come from their hibernation and were in very good numbers along the paths. The
following day, the 13th, the temperature rose to 22 deg C. A bittern was heard
booming by the river early on the morning of that day. The temperature remained
high the following day and speckled wood butterflies were about. I also saw the
largest brood of mallard ducklings I have seen at Wheatfen - fourteen. It had been
nearly three weeks since any rain when on the 17th water levels were noticeably
low. That was one of the very few times in the year that such low water occurred.
With all the warm weather the fen was coming into rapid growth. The first sedge
warbler was heard on Blake’s Marsh and I had the good fortune to catch a
glimpse of a lesser spotted woodpecker on an old alder tree along Smee Loke.
Dandelions were in flower along all the paths and willows were well into leaf. Even
oaks were starting to come out. Twayblade orchids were flowering along some
paths; bluebells were in the wood; and a large red damselfly landed on my hat.
By the 19th adder’s tongue fern was in leaf on Smee Loke and dog violets were
in flower - three weeks earlier than the previous year. The 22nd saw the Spring
Walk at Wheatfen with 27 people in attendance. The temperature, at 20 deg C,
was very warm for a spring walk. Green-veined white butterflies and small whites
were about as if it were a summer’s day. The first whitethroat was heard on Old
Mill Marsh, a grasshopper warbler on Four Acres and the first cuckoo on the fen
by the river. Oak apple galls were showing and the apple trees in the garden were
in bloom. All this on the 25th April with the temperature at a very warm 21 deg C.
The highlight of my year occurred two days later on the 27th of the month when,
about three weeks earlier than expected, I observed a swallowtail butterfly. This
is the earliest known record of that butterfly on the wing in the UK. As I walked
along the edge of the wood, and to my amazement, I noticed a freshly emerged
swallowtail feeding on ground ivy. I did not have time to take a photo as it was up
and away. It left me speechless, first for seeing it there at all, and second because
I missed the photo! The same day I saw the first female hairy dragonfly and also a
red admiral butterfly. The month ended warm and sunny. What a month.
May. The first day of May was warm and sunny and ragged Robin was out along
Smee Loke. A queen hornet flew into the office looking for a place to start up a
new home and was shown the door. The first garden warbler for many years was
heard by Crake’s Dyke and the path to the river. As the fen is a tidal waterway
certain creatures are relatively rare, but a lone newt was seen in the pond by
Alder Carr. This was only the second record of such a sighting. All trees except
ash were in leaf and the hawthorn was in full flower and was looking splendid.
There were more large red damselflies along Smee Loke than I had seen for
many years. By the 3rd one or two flag irises were coming into flower. On the
6th we held the Dawn Chorus Walk and a Cetti’s warbler was singing at 3 am
in complete darkness. There was another “highlight of the year” on the 8th. At
around 8 am I was walking in that part of the wood where the white admiral
butterflies are to be seen and I heard a nightingale singing. It stayed for three days
and I was able to get a good sound recording of its glorious song. Glimpses of it
could be had as it hopped about in the low bushes. This was, I believe, the first
nightingale to arrive at Wheatfen in over thirty years. On the day following that I
had yet another special sighting. Early in the morning I found a fox cub sleeping
on the path to Penguin Dyke. Later that same day, as I walked along the path to
Wheatfen Broad, I saw the first banded demoiselle of the year. By the 15th many
butterflies were active along the paths in sunny weather with the temperature at
15 deg C. A nest with young of the great spotted woodpecker was found in an
alder tree along the path by Smee Loke and a moorhen’s nest with eggs by the
bridge. Despite the early emergence of the lone swallowtail butterfly on 27th April
it was a poor year for this butterfly as the heavy rains in June were to reduce
successful egg laying. However on 16th May one swallowtail was seen flying
over the reed on Four Acres. Flag iris was well in flower now with about 60 %
of it in flower some two and a half weeks earlier than last year. By the 18th the
temperature was at 20 deg C. Azure damselflies were about on Home Dyke, our
rare leaf beetle larvae were on meadow-rue and further swallowtails were seen
on the 19th. While walking along the dyke edge on Smee Loke I saw a most
unusual sight. A mating pair of hairy dragonflies fell into the water and they used
their wings as oars to “row” to a reed stem. They clasped this, climbed up and
dried themselves out. Later that day I had only my second sighting of a newly
emerged scarce chaser dragonfly by the small pond next to the Boardwalk. This
was the forerunner to about twenty such recordings at Wheatfen. There was
a big expansion in the number of sightings of this species across the country
during 2007. On the 24th the temperature was 21 deg C. Four-spotted chaser
dragonflies and common blue and azure damselflies were all in good numbers and
red-eyed damselflies were on water lilies at the end of Fen Channel by Penguin
Dyke. On the 25th some egg laying by swallowtails had taken place prior to
terrible bank holiday weather (two and a half inches of rain fell over the weekend
with temperatures at a very low 9 deg C). A young mole, alive, was found on the
Eleven Bridges Path and I had a good sighting of a scarce chaser dragonfly by
the pond at the Thatch. The weather recovered by the end of the month.
June. The 1st of June was a sunny 19 deg C and a swan family with six cygnets
was along Home Dyke. This group afforded me one of the best photographs of
the year. Meadow-rue and guelder rose were in full flower at this time and, by the
2nd, black-tailed skimmer dragonflies and a few swallowtails were on the wing
- the highest number of swallowtails seen in one day was six on the 6th. Common
spotted orchids and flag iris were in flower and a lone painted lady butterfly
was seen by the cottage. Also, just noticeable, was a herald moth caterpillar
camouflaged on a willow leaf by the Boardwalk. On the flower heads along the
paths were soldier beetles in profusion. On the 8th heavy rain did not bode well
prior to the Swallowtail Day. And so it turned out - overcast and dull. Most of the
visitors journeyed from the East Midlands and were rewarded with a lone specimen
resting on a reed stem. On the swallowtail site on Four Acres other insects were
seen including the fen longhorn beetle. The first white admiral butterfly was seen
flying over the car park on the 15th. Water levels in the dykes were high at this
time because of the heavy rain that had been falling over the previous few days.
Brimstone butterflies were in good numbers on the 19th and their caterpillars were
found on buckthorn. More white admiral butterflies were seen in the wood. There
was overnight rain and paths were flooded. The cuckoo was still singing by the
river on the 22nd and there were plenty of hornets active. Purple loosestrife was in
flower and I was able to take my best photograph of a grass snake sunning itself
on a stack of last year’s cut reed. Again, on the 26th and 27th the fen and the car
park were flooded due to the previous days’ heavy rain. On the 28th meadowsweet
was in flower and comma butterflies were active. The month ended with high tides,
but that true gem of Broadland, the marsh pea, was in flower and silver Y moths
were present having migrated from across the Channel.
July. The month opened with a good sighting of a hobby over the wood by
Wheatfen Broad on the 3rd. Two white admiral butterflies were seen in the wood
and the mallard ducklings, now bigger, were still skittering about on Mack’s
Dyke. Later that day, at 4 pm, there was a hail storm. By the 4th brown hawker
dragonflies were hawking over Home Dyke and flying round the car park. The car
park is and always has been a good place to see wildlife. I took a walk on the
fen on the 5th to search for swallowtail caterpillars, but, as I feared, the heavy
rains in June had washed away all but a few. This will have a carry over effect
onto the numbers of adults to be seen in 2008. Ringlet butterflies were about on
the 6th, but several were without the normal pattern of small spots. On the 7th
I prepared to take the small Ted boat out on to the broads. As I turned the boat
over I could see a small number of peacock butterfly chrysalises hanging inside
the boat. They were transferred to a suitable spot to emerge in comfort. I was
delighted to see that the plant arrowhead was growing in Deepwater Broad and
that there was also very little algae this year with submerged bur-reed growing
all over the broads. It is difficult to take a boat with an outboard motor on to the
waterways because of all the weed there, but it does indicate what excellent water
quality we have now. The shoals of fish now present show that also. The following
day I was somewhat surprised to see a hare sitting on the car park gravel. By
the 10th the first peacock butterflies had emerged and angelica was in flower.
On the 13th ruddy darter dragonflies were perched along the handrail on the
Boardwalk and dark bush-crickets in large numbers were sunning themselves on
brambles. The temperature on that day was 22 deg C. By the 17th grass snakes
were along the paths and meadowsweet was flowering in profusion on Old Mill
Marsh. There was further evidence on the sparsity of swallowtails this year when a
week later I noticed milk parsley heads in very good flower. Normally these would
have been eaten back by the caterpillars. On the 25th brown hawker dragonflies
were egg laying in Smee Loke Dyke and I found, on thistles, the first of our rare
beetles. Walking along the paths late in the month I noticed plenty of the small and
attractive self-heal plant. There was also skullcap. The 30th was warm and sunny
at 20 deg C and there were plenty of butterflies around the reserve.
August. With the temperature at 22 deg C the first migrant hawker dragonflies
could be seen hawking over Home Fen. On our Natural History Day, the 5th, the
temperature had risen to 27 deg C and white admiral butterflies were about in the
wood. There were plenty of insects and the fen was in full bloom. On the 8th a
swan, as it preened by the small pond, was pulling out feathers in abundance. A
stoat was also seen later in the day by the Boardwalk. There were signs of otter
activity with many footprints found at the end of Penguin Dyke. With warm and
humid weather we had perfect summer conditions for our Bat Evening on the 11th
when pipistrelle and Daubenton’s bats were both detected and seen. By the 14th
heavy rain set in for two days and following on from this butterfly numbers were
very low. Peacock butterfly numbers did not fulfil earlier hopes and expectations.
On the 21st the swan, mentioned above, was swimming round in circles in
the small pond. It was the most odd and unusual behaviour to watch. It later
transpired that, for several days, a cob and pen had been occupying the dyke next
to the pond and I think this swan must have felt enclosed and trapped. What I had
been watching was behaviour brought on by some form of stress. Later that day I
found a half eaten bream at the end of Penguin Dyke - yet another good meal for
an otter. On the 24th two wasp nests were found on paths to Crake’s Marsh. I
stepped on one. This necessitated a very speedy withdrawal and signs were put
up to warn visitors. By the 28th the attractive orange balsam was in flower. The
first osprey of the year was seen circling over Middle Marsh Dyke at lunchtime
on the 29th. It stayed for some time in the area between us and Strumpshaw Fen
across the River Yare. Many hoverflies could be seen on ivy plants around the
reserve. The month ended sunny at 20 deg C and there was another high tide.
September. On the opening day of the month a hobby was seen catching
dragonflies over the car park. On the 4th the osprey was occupying the same
tree as it had in previous years at the back of Deepwater Broad. On the 5th,
by Wheatfen Broad, I found the dreaded harlequin ladybird on angelica. Most
were the black with two red spots variety. By the 8th the fen was flooded again.
Mole hills appeared in abundance this year on the cottage lawn. Common and
ruddy darter dragonflies were in good numbers by the Boardwalk. On the 12th
the “feel of autumn” seemed to take hold of Wheatfen which is not surprising
given the early start to the very long growing season we had had. There were
bees everywhere and wasps and hornets seeking the ivy blossom. By the 19th
fungi were beginning to emerge in the wood and red admiral and speckled
wood butterflies were in good numbers on the reserve. I was surprised to hear a
chiffchaff still about on the 25th. There was heavy rain during the days leading up
to the end of the month and the fen was flooded for two days.
October. A cloudy and windy start greeted the opening day of the month. The
vegetation and most flowers had died off and winter work on the reserve started
on the 4th. Our Fungus Workshop held in the woods resulted in 60 species
identified including the rare brain fungus which was found growing under a beech
tree. By the 11th the fallen apples in the garden were being visited by red admiral
butterflies and many wasps. Also hoverflies in good numbers were still about. On
the 13th the Wheatfen volunteers, while working on clearing Home Dyke, were
surprised to see a grey squirrel swim across it. That day was sunny and warm
at 18 deg C, but on the 18th the first frost was recorded. Later that day I came
across a young male swan walking on the Boardwalk to evade an angry looking
large male swan which, interestingly, was sporting a numbered green leg ring. The
fen was also flooded that day. The brilliant autumn colours of the trees this year
were splendid and, on the 19th, the bright pink berries and leaves of the spindle
tree drew one’s attention. The male Cetti’s warbler had started singing again by the
23rd. Later in the month the rare yellow-necked mouse was found in the cottage.
Common darter dragonflies were still active along the Boardwalk on Home Dyke.
November. The weather was sunny and mild for the first few days of the month.
By the 7th the wasp nest on Crake’s Marsh was still showing signs of activity. A
nice group of fly agaric fungi had emerged on the path along Alder Carr. November
the 9th will be in my memory for quite some time. The previous evening the radio
had issued a warning of a North Sea surge and of serious flooding because of gale
force winds. Next morning I arrived with my torch at 6.15 am to find water up to
the garage and the cottage garden flooded. With my waders on I went to check
the mower which is stored on higher ground by the Thatch. I found the water
lapping its wheels. I continued to monitor the water level during the morning and
by noon it had reached its peak. The wood was flooded up to areas I had never
seen wet before and a number of Chinese water deer were there taking refuge on
higher and drier ground. I am pleased to report that Wheatfen Cottage was safe
but the previous day’s gales had brought down several large trees on Sluice Dyke.
In addition one bridge over Smee Loke had floated off. A day to remember indeed.
By the 14th the reserve was open again. After the clearing up I found a dead heron
beside Home Dyke. The first woodcock was seen in the wood and on 16th teal
were on Wheatfen Broad. The annual Winter Walk visitors were rewarded with
the sight of a water vole swimming along the edge of Penguin Dyke. A snipe got
up off the path on Thack Marsh on the 20th and on the following day there was
still remaining one lone common darter dragonfly on the handrail by Home Dyke.
The fen was flooded again for two days from the 23rd but little grebes were active
on Home Dyke. For about a week at the same time each day in late afternoon and
from the car park I was able to watch several hundreds of rooks flying home to
their roost across the river. As the month drew to a close many Chinese water deer
were seen along the path system at Wheatfen during this their rutting season.
December. The weather was mild at the start of the month, but the fen was
flooded again and the reserve had to be closed on the 3rd and 4th. A Chinese
water deer was seen swimming across Home Dyke near the jetty and later in the
day woodcock and snipe were seen. The 5th and 6th brought more heavy rain,
and flooding from the 8th to the 11th closed the reserve again. A very heavy frost
on the 12th transformed the fen into a scene from an old fashioned Christmas
card and provided an occasion to get the camera out. A small flock of bearded tits
was heard on Thack Marsh. The barn owl returned and was seen over Old Mill
Marsh early in the morning of the 18th, and on that day I had the chance at last to
start mowing Old Mill Marsh. This despite the cold easterly wind that had set in
and remained until Christmas. Two snipe were seen on the 29th and at the end of
the year there was mild weather and low tides at last.
As you can see there is never a dull moment at Wheatfen and there are always
plenty of incidents to report. I hope my report has also done justice to the variety
of flora and fauna to be seen, studied and enjoyed on the reserve. Also I hope you
will take advantage of visiting here either as part of an organised event or on an
individual basis. I look forward to welcoming you to Wheatfen in 2008.
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