I’ve been working at Titchwell for about a month now and I’m having a fantastic time! The reserve is looking gorgeous today. Walking around to put some seed out, me and Zoe were struck with the beauty of the snow on the reeds and down the path. On our way back, we were greeted by a very friendly robin hoping for some leftovers I think. He followed us around, hopping around our feet until he got bored and went to find some sympathy elsewhere. Walking along the ditch near the visitor centre we noticed something moving about in the undergrowth. If you’re hoping to see water rail, the ditch is the place to look. Water rails are my new favourite bird, they go about their daily business so innocently but then have a liking for the odd wren which they will skewer with their beak and gobble up... most gruesome (see ‘I have a darker side’ blog to find out more!). Looking a little closer we realised it was indeed a water rail, much to Zoe’s delight.
Later on I had to walk down the path from the visitor centre to the car park so I decided to bring a handful of seeds along with me. The other week I spent a good deal of time looking vaguely foolish in the car park with my hand full of seed outstretched in the hope a robin would come and land on it (I was assured that this was a regular occurrence) but I had no such luck. Second time lucky though! The robins must be extra hungry at the moment due to the snow covering the ground. One flew right up to me, hovered, took some seed and left. The next actually landed!
It’s definitely worth topping up your feeders and water bowls in your gardens at the minute. Frost and snow on the ground makes it harder for birds to find food and many of the berries and seeds nature provides will have been snatched up already. For more information on helping wildlife and stepping up for nature, check out http://www.rspb.org.uk/steppingup/index.aspx
Now, I've been told there's a woodcock about so I better go and have a look. That'll be a life tick!