Dersingham Bog, Nightjar project - 17th June 2025

We are thrilled to be working with Natural England to learn more about Nightjar foraging routes beyond Dersingham Bog, and grateful to Greg Conway of the British Trust for Ornithology for training with regard to fitting and removal of GPS trackers.

We managed to catch three birds and fit tags that will record their movements. Most feeding occurs away from the breeding grounds, so knowledge of areas used by the birds is important, in order to preserve those sites in future years. One area of particular concern is the plan to increase the amount of reedbed along the North Norfolk coast as that may inadvertently destroy areas that the Nightjars depend on for feeding.

GPS tag fitted on adult female

 It is necessary to recapture the bird usually within a week or two, in order to collect the data before the tag falls off, so this work will require a sustained effort during the summer.

Total: 2 (1)

Nightjar - 2 (1) - all received GPS feather mounted trackers.

Marsh Harrier wing tagging - 17th June 2025

 There have been a few disappointments regarding Marsh Harrier this year. A few pairs didn't return to their usual areas and some known nests were predated. It was therefore a relief to tag a brood of three this afternoon. There was a definite male (requiring an F ring) and female (requiring the slightly larger G ring), with a third bird that had a toe span measurement that might have been either male or female. In such cases it is usual to err on the side of caution and fit the larger ring. In this case the weight and wing measurement pointed to it being a female.

Tag fitting of first chick, a definite female.

Processing complete, the chick is ready to be re bagged and wait 

while the other siblings are processed. 

The male weighed 470g compared to the other two at 620g & 670g

The final chick, measured, ringed, tagged and ready for return to the nest.

Total: 3

Marsh Harrier pulli - 3

Sculthorpe Moor - 16th June 2025

 

Captures totalled 31 today, including a Reed Warbler recorded for the third consecutive year. There were juveniles of several species, Wren, Kingfisher, Blue, Great, Coal Tit and also a young Marsh Tit that was fitted with a darvic for the ongoing project.

Some of the Long-tailed and Blue Tits are already starting their primary moult confirming that they've finished breeding.

4M Reed Warbler

Juvenile Marsh Tit

4M Whitethroat

Total: 22 (9)

Blue Tit - 6 (1)
Chiffchaff - 2 (2)
Coal Tit - 1
Great Tit - 3 (1)
Kingfisher - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 2 (2)

Marsh Tit - 1
Reed Warbler - 2 (1)
Robin - 1
Whitethroat - 1
Wren - 2 (2)

Deepdale Farm - 14th June 2025

 After some heavy rain in the night it was quite still at 6am, but soon began to get windier as forecast. Despite the light showers that affected us between about 08:30am and 10:00am, that had not been in the forecast, we managed without any problems and finished on 31 birds.

Recaptures included a Chiffchaff ringed as a 3J in 2022 and caught every year since and a male Yellowhammer ringed in 2022 and not seen since its recapture in June of that year.

Known age Yellowhammer, hatch year 2021

A new Yellowhammer, aged 5, had changed part of its tail.

There were some nice captures of juvenile Long-tailed Tit and Robin, out in largish groups and without any apparent parental supervision.

Red Kite nest, probably with chicks from the behaviour of the adults, also located.

Total: 26 (5)

Blackcap - 1
Blue Tit - 2
Chiffchaff - 5 (2)
Dunnock - 2
Goldcrest - 0 (1)
Long-tailed Tit - 9
Robin - 6
Whitethroat - 0 (1)
Yellowhammer - 1 (1)

Sculthorpe Moor, Hawk & Owl Trust - 13th June 2025

 Today we met up with Chris's trainee DW for Barn Owl ringing at the trust. One box with a video feed was known to have two owlets, pretty good going in a season when so many boxes are being found without eggs. There were also two other boxes to check with a third known to have recently fledged Jackdaws.

The owlets were assessed at 37 and 45 days old so their two eggs would have had other eggs laid between the laying dates. There was a single addled egg.

The older female chick getting a ring.

The second box had a pair exit the box as we approached. It seemed likely that there would be no chicks, but there were, about three weeks behind the family in the first box. They will need another visit in a few weeks.

The final box looked as though squirrels were the culprits that have filled the box with sticks. This box will be emptied later in the year along the one from the meadow that had Jackdaws earlier.

Total: 2

Barn Owl - 2

Norfolk Rivers Trust - Ingoldisthorpe 9th June 2025

 The wind was just low enough to allow a restricted mist netting session ( avoiding any risk of disturbing the nesting Marsh Harrier). The nest was also checked, via use of a drone, and the young found to be too young for ringing and tagging just yet. We were fairly sure, from another female's behaviour, there is a second nest close by but nothing could be found

We got a 9m up over the chalk stream, two 18m, 3 panel nets on the first bund after the base area, and a 12m net behind where the cars were parked.

Considering the limited number of nets up, a total of 28 birds wasn't bad. These included 5 retraps including a female Reed Warbler ringed as as an adult in2023. The number was swelled by a few recently fledged tits, and a Robin, Treecreeper and Blackcap.

Juvenile Treecreeper

Juvenile Robin

Juvenile Blackcap

Total: 23 (5)

Blackcap - 4 (1)
Blue Tit - 1
Dunnock - 1
Great Tit - 6
Long-tailed Tit - 3
Reed Bunting - 0 (1)
Reed Warbler - 2 (1)
Robin - 2
Sedge Warbler - 1 (2)
Song Thrush - 1
Treecreeper - 1
Wren - 1

Deepdale Farm, Open Farm Sunday - 1st June 2025

The day started with a ringing demonstration at 8:30am. We had 4 nets up in the rides most sheltered from the SW breeze. We had a few birds that were caught shortly after the nets went up, that had to be processed and returned due to the possibility that young were being feed.

It turned out to be a slightly odd, if brief session. First bird was a 3JJ Chiffchaff that was returned to the area where it had leapt into a net as the adults were calling in that area and probably feeding it before the bird becoming independent following fledging. The next bird was a retrap Blackcap, ringed at an adjacent ringing site by another group in August 2021. Since that time it has been recorded at Hilly Piece on three occasions, although not in 2023. The second half of that Blackcap pairing was a bird hatched last year that we had already ringed in April of this year. The next bird was an adult Dunnock.

By this point we had been joined by the six people booked in for the demonstration. First of all they were able to see two Whitethroats, then two lesser Whitethroats. Then an adult Wren, another Whitethroat and finally a Blue Tit already with a BP 5 and in full primary moult.

They seemed to find the session very interesting, although none were able to video a release successfully as the birds were just too fast. While taking the nets down we caught another pair of Blackcaps, this time a new male and a female that had been ringed by us on the same day as the first Blackcap female.

We were quite surprised to find a bird already well into wing moult on 1st June 2025.

Whitethroat

Totals: 10 (3)

Blackcap - 1 (3)
Blue Tit - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Dunnock - 1
Lesser Whitethroat - 2
Whitethroat - 3
Wren - 1

Then once the nets were down we joined the exhibitors down at the farm and set up our stand with information and equipment linked to Iceni Bird Monitoring Group and some informative leaflets, miniature bird boxes and stuffed owls on loan from the Hawk and Owl Trust, Sculthorpe Moor. The day was very well attended and there was a great deal of interest in the work of the Hawk and Owl Trust and projects and monitoring undertaken by Iceni Bird Monitoring Group.

Sculthorpe Moor - 31st May 2025

 Monitoring at the beaver enclosure gave us 15 captures, a third of which were retraps. Very pleased, in particular, to reconnect with Reed Warbler BDC6025 that was ringed here in July 2023.

Still only one juvenile from this year, a 3JJ Dunnock.

4M Chiffchaff NTV583

Total: 10 (5)

Blackbird - 1
Chiffchaff - 2 (3)
Dunnock - 1
Reed Bunting - 1
Reed Warbler - 1 (1)
Robin - 1
Sedge Warbler - 2
Wren - 1 (1)

Poland - 15th to 23rd May 2025 - part 2 Biebrza Marshes

Valdi helped with some information for the marshes site. We knew that there had been no snow last winter and fields, usually wet, would be completely dry. Added to this there had been no records of Aquatic Warbler at a regular and usually easy site this year so the chances of the main three marshes specialities of Citrine Wagtail, Bluethroat and Aquatic Warbler may be a struggle with so little water on the fields.

We picked up a few extra species around the villages in the marshes, Kestrel, Rook and Jackdaw having been species missing in the earlier location.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Efforts here would mostly centre on seeing Citrine Wagtail, Bluethroat and Aquatic Warbler. None would be new to us, but rarely seen unless abroad nonetheless. 

We tried a broadwalk that was actually closed. It was terribly dry and there could be no chance of Bluethroat there so resorted to looking at insect life.

Orange Tip

The amount of Mistletoe in deciduous trees was impressive.

We tried some pools around the Russian built Osowiec 2 Fort, finding a few damselflies and some Downy Emerald Dragonflies. We could hear Golden Oriole in the nearby trees and saw a few crossing between clusters of trees.

Osowiec 2 Fort

Downy Emerald

The first true marsh site we tried was a stretch of open area near Mscichy. There was water in the roadside ditch but little across the open area out to the rank vegetation where the Aquatic Warblers might be. We didn't see Bluethroat or Citrine Wagtail. We could catch snatches of Aquatic Warbler song but the birds were very distant and it was impossible to link the song to a distant bird on a stick although we though we had seen at least one poorly.

Singing Aquatic close to the nearest bush on the right was 

difficult to see, even with a 'scope.

Mallard

Looking from the bridge at Dobarz we saw some quite close Common Cranes and a foraging White Stork, Green Sandpiper and a Cuckoo. There had been several Cuckoo at Mscichy on our second and  evening visit and the reedbed breeders were taking quite a hammering from the parasitic birds.

Common Cranes

White Stork

European Cuckoo

We started the next day at Mscichy again, but not singing Aquatic and only a poor view of a silhouetted Bluethroat. We couldn't say whether it was a red or white spotted form from what we could see. Next, a morning walk by the River Bug brought an excellent View of reeling Savi's Warbler.

Savi's Warbler

River Bug

Trees of the Red Bog

Lily of the Valley

Chris had been checking reports on E-Bird and it looked as though our only chance of decent Aquatic views might be from a certain bridge, so we decided to give it a go. On the way we passed a field, clearly wet and a real contrast to what we were usually seeing with 77 Black-tailed Godwit. We found the bridge and noticed 3 figures off in the distance. Clearly from the habitat, looking from the bridge would be fruitless. Rain was approaching so we donned plastic coats, took the 'scope and headed towards them.

Black-tailed Godwits

We made our way, through a very wet field, one of us without wellingtons got wet feet, and stopped a few metres from the rank vegetation that the Aquatics favour. We heard one before long and tracked it down. A Quail was also heard and six Blue-headed Wagtail seen.

We spoke to the three French birders, having got them onto the Aquatic and got info for a Citrine Wagtail and Bluethroats near their hotel. They had tried the well known Aquatic site just the day before and seen nothing.

Aquatic Warbler

After the rain, this Aquatic site seen from the road.

Little Owl

As we drove back to the hotel it was close to 9:00pm and dark. There were several Woodcock coming out onto the road through the forest.

Our last birding day and we started at the river site by the hotel mentioned to us last night.

Finally, Citrine Wagtail, albeit a female. Swiftly followed by a decent Bluethroat view.

Citrine Wagtail

Male of Bluethroat pair

Our last stop was at the Dluga Luka Broadwalk. This is a well known site where Aquatics are usually seen very close up. Sadly, there had been none seen there this year, in fact the French birders had tried two days before and seen none. We still decided to go to see this quite famous site for the iconic birds. It really looked unpromising as we arrived, but we walked up anyway getting close views of Tree Pipit and Whinchat.

Marsh Harrier

Whinchat

Tree Pipit

Then we caught the unmistakeable song of Aquatic Warbler.

                                 

                             

There were two singing males and a female. The three engaged in quite a lot of following one another through the grass and inspecting grass clumps. This was not feeding behaviour but prospecting for suitable nest sites. Ours was the first observation of these birds at this site in 2025.

We let Valdi know as soon as we got back to the car, then began the drive back to Warsaw via a site he had given us for Black Woodpecker.

We managed to locate the nest hole due to a very vocal youngster. We gave it 45 minutes but no adults returned to the well grown chick that seemed to be the last of the young at the nest. It eventually fledged at 13:05pm. 

Black Woodpecker nest hole and chick

This site was fantastic with Wryneck, Golden Oriole, Hoopoe, Buzzard, Great Grey Shrike, Tree Pipit and Thrush Nightingale also present.

Finally on our way, there was one more species seen just before we joined the main road, Northern Wheatear. The trip gave us 148 species over 8 days, only one being a lifer for us both.

Poland - 15th to 23rd May 2025 - part 1 Bialowieza Forest and Siemianowka Reservoir

 A week birding in Poland focussing on woodpeckers in forest areas, then moving on to the marshes for water reliant species. Most of the first day was taken up with the flight over and drive to the Bialowieza Forest. There were a lot of Red-backed Shrikes seen once we got on to the quieter roads, but the first bird photographed was a Montagu's Harrier.

Male Montagu's Harrier

We had arranged a local guide for the first three days with a 5:30 am meet up so settled into the room we'd booked after going to the Dyrekcyjny Park, only to be rained on. We had seen quite a few species despite the rain, Black Redstart, Sparrowhawk, Song Thrush and White Wagtail amongst them.

It was still raining the next morning when Valdi picked us up. We gave him our key species wants, primarily White-backed Woodpecker that we had never seen and Three-toed Woodpecker that we'd like better views of as the ones we got in Finland weren't too good. It was clear that the rain was keeping birds down. By the end of the first part of the day we were starting to construct a list, but the best sighting was probably a European Bison.

Bison grazing in the rain

We returned to our accommodation for breakfast at 9:00am and arranged to meet again at 11:00am when the rain would hopefully have eased off. It hadn't but we checked out the Woodpecker Bridge and an area by a disused railway line, good for birds.

Valdi took us to a nest hole of a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker 

where the parents were busily attending to their young.

Bison tracks

We walked some of the more sheltered paths through the forest seeing Wood Warbler, Treecreeper, Hawfinch and Middle-spotted Woodpecker amongst others in the poor light. We decided to break at 1:00pm and, as the rain was forecast to stop later try for a Great Snipe lek at the end of the day. It was still raining when we met up at 4:00pm but it all but stopped on the 45 minute drive out. There was a tower in a vast meadow, but the lek had moved after it was built. The light was poor so I didn't take my camera. Valdi took us to the correct area and we were lucky that the birds began to display earlier than usual. Presumably the weather had put a dampener of the previous evenings activity. There were six birds, seen very well through the 'scope. While we stood watching a number of Corncrake called from the meadow. We even managed to see one bird while calling and another in flight.

The next day was better for birding. We stopped at the Mostowa Bridge then Woodpecker Bridge seeing River Warbler and Common Rosefinch but only Great-spotted Woodpecker, so not the  woodpeckers we were seeking. Moving on to the area by the disused railway line we were watching a Red-backed Shrike when a complaining Starling alerted us to something above our heads.

Male Goshawk

Walking the immediate area gave some good views of species we rarely see in the UK.

Wryneck

Icterine Warbler

Spotted Flycatcher

Thrush Nightingale

Moving on towards the Bialowiza Meadows for raptors we saw our only Red Squirrel on the way.

Red Squirrel

There were no raptors over the meadows but we saw 3 Woodlark, heard Marsh Warbler and Corn Bunting and some more of the frequently seen White Storks, and often heard but not always seen Common Crane.

As the rain started again we were taken to a Nuthatch nest hole.

Nuthatches here are much whiter underneath compared to 

the warm colouration of birds in the UK.

The midday birding session focussed on White-backed Woodpecker. Other places tried had drawn a blank. Valdi said that most nests had already fledged, but there was one place where the adults seemed to be a little behind.

A likely site, but we only got very brief flyovers, not really good enough 

as a first view of a new species.

We walked further on, not hearing their calls so Valdi went off track to try and locate the nest hole. We continued on the track, then got a call to follow the rough path Valdi had taken.

The path was strewn with fallen Silver Birch and wet in places. We found Valdi and sat and waited to watch an area of the wood where he had seen an adult. We waited a while then relocated. While moving to a new spot Chris found a recently fledged youngster hanging on a tree trunk.

White-backed Woodpecker juvenile

Continuing on to the new viewing point an adult soon returned to the nest. There was at least one other young yet to fledge.

White-backed Woodpecker

We has finally seen our main objective species, and were all tired after negotiating the difficult conditions underfoot.

The midday break for a shower and food was most welcome. Then at 4:00 pm we were out again, stopping at the Woodpecker Bridge to see a Three-toed Woodpecker that goes there to feed in the early evening. We managed to see it but no chance of a photo due to the light conditions. Then we were moving on and walking to the site of a Pygmy Owl nest. It was quite a lengthy walk after the efforts of earlier in the day. On the way, there were sightings of Marsh Tit, Collared Flycatcher and a brief glimpse of Black Woodpecker. While waiting at the hole for the male to return, usually just before sunset, we heard Woodcock and saw Badger. The male seemed to be overdue as the female came out for a stretch and look around. 

Female Pygmy Owl

She was looking a little the worse for wear, but understandable considering the amount of time she's spent in a hole in a tree. We decided not to wait further as the male was clearly overdue and we had already seen her. We had the option to go to a Tengmalm's Owl nest but decided to finish early as we'd seen Tengmalm's in Finland and handled them in Denmark. Valdi went on his own but they didn't appear. That's only 3 appearances out of 11 visits. We'd made the right decision.

Our last day out with Valdi and before pick up we're watching the storks that are nesting in the garden. They had been on the chimney of the house were we're staying before it was renovated. A structure was placed by the house and the nest relocated to encourage them to keep using the site.

White Storks, no sign of young yet although some nests already have small fluffy young.

Today we are to return to Teremiski Meadows. This site had been a dismal failure in the rain but we hoped for better today. The sun shining made all the difference and species seen included Savi's Warbler, Barred Warbler, Golden Oriole, Cuckoo, Marsh Harrier, Tree Sparrow and beaver.

Teremiski Meadows

Barred Warbler

River Warbler

Great Reed Warbler

Old wooden building built into the ground for cold storage 

I was astounded to spot a large brown mound just on the other side of the trees lining the path. The large bull Bison was resting and seemed unbothered by our presence.

Bull Bison

We then did a boardwalk through the forest. The first half with Red-breasted Flycatcher and Firecrest amongst other species, was much better than the second.

One of a family party of Willow Tits

The scent of Wild Garlic filled the air in the middle of the walk

Bracket Fungus

Then back for our last breakfast of this stay.

Our last sortie out with Valdi was to a village location as we had yet to see Redstart here.

Male Redstart

Snipe

Red-backed Shrike male

The walk took us past the excellent Fanaberia Restaurant where we've 

eaten each day of our stay. 

Teremiski Fields

Lesser-spotted Eagle

Then on to a last location with our guide for a very reliable Grey-headed Woodpecker.

Difficult light conditions, but really is a Grey-headed Woodpecker.

Before leaving we took a brief walk around the Palace Park. No new species, but enjoyed seeing Black Redstart and listening to reedbed dwellers.

Black Redstart 

Female Blackcap with food

Then it was time to move on towards the marshes via a visit to the Siemianowka Reservoir to see a few gulls, terns and other species we'd not picked up around the forest. It was a fair distance so we had two one night stays arranged to break the journey.

Next day at the reservoir we started off with a walk along a dyke then noticing that it was possible to drive between the lake and railway line and, as cars were driving by, took the car as far as was possible. The substrate was sandy and may be unpassable after a lot of rain. 

The shallow water has a severe algal bloom most of the year.

Here we saw species including Hobby, Crane, Hoopoe, Buzzard, Gargany,  Lapwing, Redshank, Sedge Warbler, Fieldfare, White-tailed Eagle, Little Gull, Caspian Gull and a whole collection of terns, Common, White-winged Black, Whiskered, Little and Black Tern - mostly at quite a distance away. But no Bluethroat or Citrine Wagtail.

Greater-spotted Eagle

Tree Sparrow

Yellowhammer

Winter Damselfly

Penduline Tit