Tophill Low blog

All the regular species were seen today, including the terns, little ringed plovers and spotted flycatchers awaiting hatching.  The last grass snake survey took place today with 5 being found on the site, including a monster 4 foot female.

The Common Terns on South Marsh East have now reached a total of four pairs this year and are currently sitting.  The neighbouring black-headed gulls have already hatched some chicks. 

A brief attempt by the female Marsh Harrier to seize an easy meal was quickly quelled by the gulls and terns.  The Oystercatchers now have both chicks developing well.

An excellent discovery today was that of Hairy Dragonfly from the new North Marsh Hide.  Never before recorded in this area they were confirmed for the first time today, including an ovipositing female.  Also present was one of the earliest Emperor Dragonflies recorded in Yorkshire.

A passing pair of Black terns were seen today on D reservoir but were gone by 11.00.

Today saw four Ruff on the Reserve's South Marsh East (three being female Reeve's).  The Oystercatcher pair on the Marsh are now sitting on eggs along witha number of Black Headed Gulls.  The Common Terns which returned in the last few days currently stand at four and are rapidly establishing territories amongst the Gulls.  Next door on South Marsh West a lone Common Sandpiper was present along with a Little Ringed Plover.

Quite an interesting array of birds visited the Reserve, including an Osprey on migration to the Watton Reserve at lunchtime.  Also present at Watton was a Wood Sandpiper - the first in the reserve for nearly two years, a Greenshank and the continued presence of the Little Ringed Plovers.

More migrants have come into the Reserve in the last few days with a lot of Wagtails and Pipits moving through.  Amongst half a dozen yellow Wagtails at Watton was a lone 'Blue-headed' Wagtail.

All the usual candidates were present on South Marsh East along with a good numbers of Swallow, Sand Martin and the first House Martins. Three Snipe were also on the Marsh, with two appearing very amorous - we can only hope they will stay and attempt to breed. A pair of Kingfisher were present at the Northern end of the site, and a Buzzard was over East Pond. Siskin were again in the car park and on the feeding station with the orange Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Oystercatcher and Little-ringed Plover were both present on the marshes today. A quick look at recent work in South Scrub revealed a great surprise a Little Egret feeding on the ground amongst the hawthorn. A Barn owl and Roe Deer were also seen.

Green Sandpiper was on South Marsh East today along with the Little-ringed Plover.

The first sallows of the year returned to feed over the reservoirs today.

Several Siskin were present in the Alder of the car park, but the main highlight was a fabulous male Crossbill - the first since the summer. It was in the top of the Norway Spruces at the North of the car park. A Barn owl was also about the site, and a pair of Tawny owls were calling around the new pond in 'D' woods again. One of the most spectacular visitors yet to the new pond was a water diving beetle! - not bad after it has only existed for a couple of weeks. At dusk 7 Shelduck were on South Marsh East which is the most for sometime, showing promise for the breeding season. Finally on the way back to the A164 at 6.30pm a welcome Little owl was seen flying across the road out of Watton Priory - a traditional site yielding few records in recent times.

A rather grim day with sleet, snow and thunder! Not that thsi stopped the practical volunteers as the new Kingfisher nest chamber was successfully installed under the new North Marsh hide. A re-enforced concrete wall was produced to stop the Mink from climbing in, and teh chanber covered with clay and top soil. After a quick render to get it looking just right we will open it up for tenancy. My great thanks to all those involved in a somewhat arduous days volunteering!

First thing started well with 10 Whooper Swans flying South over the car park - which then flew back later on.  The female stonechat was still on Barmston Drain, with Curlew, Smew, Sparrowhawk, Redwing, 5 Little Grebe, 5 Shelduck all recorded.  Of note were 27 Snipe recorded between SME and N Lagoon, and best of all the return of 3 Oystercatchers to SME - where they attempted to breed last season but failed with the rain.  Hopefully they will like the improvements they have made.

Bullfinch was in 'O' woods, Redwing at the Wildlife Centre, Song thrush in the woodlands, 2 Pintail on 'D' and Mistle thrush on the wall.  Buzzard over-flew the car park.  Barn owl, Great spotted Woodpecker, Curlew, 4 Pintail, and 2 Smew were all recorded.
However the main highlights were a Bittern which flew between the Southern Marshes, a very unusual (for here) Turnstone on the spits and the return of our occasional female Mandarin duck.

9 Snipe were present at North Lagoon, with 130 Lapwing on South Marsh East, 9 Redshank and another snipe feeding, and 5 Goldeneye displaying and diving - a good indicator of the depth of water now present.  Of note was a Marsh Harrier on South Marsh West, a Bullfinch in South Scrub and the Curlew flock and a Redshank on Watton NR.  144 Pochard were on 'D' Res. and other sightings included 4 Grey Wagtails, a Grey Heron, Barn Owl, 2 Little Grebe and a Treecreeper.

Dear Richard,

I read with interest the Tophill Low article in the Driffield Post (Friday 13th). I work at a local village primary school and, being a bird-watcher myself, am starting a Bird Club with about 10 primary school children. I was wondering if you might be available, and kind enough, to drop into school to talk to my group. Sadly, we won't be able to come to Tophill Low as the club is out of school hours, however my pupils would be delighted to meet a wildlife expert at school.

Drake Pintail on 'O' again, with a Barn Owl and 40 Curlew at Watton Nature Reserve along with the return of two Smew thanks to the warmer weather.

We have now got 3 Red head Smew on site, but no drake! 2 were on 'O' Reservoir and one on 'D'.  Also on 'O' was a drake Pintail.  20 Curlew and a barn owl were seen at Watton Nature Reserve, and 10 Siskin were in the car park.  At teh wildlife centre 3 different Great spotted Woodpecker were present, with the Rail and a Brambling.

The practical volunteers were again in action, today they have been rescuing ferns from teh woodland at the site of the proposed disabled access ramp.  In the afternoon a start was made on thinning out some of teh elder from teh 'O' wood - the sites oldest - to encourage a more diverse ground flora and natural regeneration.

Four Common Buzzards passed over the car park heading west early morning, and a Peregrine passed the wildlife centre hide at noon. Water rail and Siskin were again at the feeding station.

Although closed to visitors, Brambling and Water rail were both seen at the wildlife centre. Tawny Owl was heard calling behind the garage and several Woodcock were flushed around the site during work - but sadly none at the centre yet with the ground still being frozen. A particular highlight was a sighting of the wintering Bittern again - it flew out of the small ditch around the 'O' reservoir at noon and into South Marsh West - it is obviously getting desperate what with all the frozen weather of recent weeks. At least there are some small open pools amongst the reedbeds to feed in.

A Waxwing put in a fleeting appearance in the car park early on, and the two Smew and Pintail were still 'O' reservoir. Sightings of Goshawk and Peregrine were recorded, and Water rail and Brambling were again well received at the visitor centre.

The two male Brambling put on the usual show at the feeding station along with the Water Rail. The Smew and Pintail were again present on the 'O' reservoir. Just before dusk one of our regulars managed to find a Firecrest in the spruces just next to the car park inspection ramp. Unfortunately with it being just before dusk there were no further sightings. This would tally with another sighting in late December - and indeed the almost annual occurence in the car park over the winter months.

With a wet day and some new cover the Woodcock still didn't show.  The Water Rail, Brambling and orange-vented Great Spotted Woodpecker were all present before 12pm.

A special opening for a group visit unfortunately showed no Woodcock at all today - the interaction of the two birds or the snow has obviously had some effect on their behaviour.  However the Brambling and Water Rail contiuned to wow, with Siskin in the car park and close up views of a tree creeper.  The Smew and pintail had all moved onto 'D' Reservoir today with the encroaching ice.

A notable development today was the presence of a second Woodcock at the wildlife centre.  Other highlights included the Pintail which had now moved onto 'D' Reservoir, as had one Smew with the encroaching ice.  The two male Bramblings were again present along with the Water Rail.