Trip reports

Coach trip to RSPB Strumpshaw Fen reserve

Sunday, 22 June 2008

The outing was led by Barrie Stockwell, with help from Terry Smith and Ted Bell. 32 members enjoyed a pleasant day at the RSPB reserve in Norfolk

The sun shone for most of the day but a strong breeze kept many birds hidden from view. The breeze did not seem to affect the marsh harriers and they were seen doing acrobatics in the air. Sky-watching also gave good views of hobbies, swifts and house martins.

56 birds were seen or heard in total which was a satisfactory number for the reserve and the prevailing conditions:-

Great-crested grebe, cormorant, bittern, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, gadwall, teal, mallard, shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, marsh harrier, kestrel, hobby, pheasant, moorhen, coot, lapwing, redshank, black-headed gull, lesser black-backed gull, common tern, stock dove, wood pigeon, collared dove, swift, green woodpecker, swallow, house martin, pied wagtail, wren, robin, blackbird, song thrush, Cetti's warbler, sedge warbler, reed warbler, blackcap, chiffchaff, willow warbler, goldcrest, bearded tit, long-tailed tit, marsh tit, coal tit, great tit, jay, magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, chaffinch, greenfinch, bullfinch and reed bunting.

Strumpshaw Fen is not just a place for birds and with the help of various books, charts and expert knowledge the following were identified:-

Dragonflies and damselflies :

Banded demoiselle. black-tailed skimmer, 4 spot chaser, Norfolk hawker, southern hawker, red-eyed damselfly, small red damselfly, hairy dragonfly, blue-tailed damselfly and common blue damselfly. (Also hornet)

Butterflies :

Comma, swallowtail, red admiral, brimstone, speckled wood and small tortoiseshell.

Amongst the many specialist plants of the fen the following were seen:

Bee orchid, bog myrtle, bog pimpernel, common spotted orchid, cowbane, fen bedstraw, marsh cinquefoil, marsh pea, meadow vetchling, quaking grass, skullcap, southern marsh orchid, yellow loosestrife and yellow rattle.

Other wildlife:

Grass snake, common frog and grey squirrel

This outing being the last coach trip of the current season, marked the end of a successful season with plenty of birds being seen and many new members becoming involved. We can look forward with anticipation to next season continuing in the same vein.

Thanks to Barrie for organising this outing.