3rd of September: Taming of the Shrew

Whilst loading the trailer on Friday, we discovered this shrew trapped in the tailgate.

Common Shrew (Edward Stubbings)

Later in the day we found a first winter Barred Warbler by the Long Hills. Barred Warblers migrate south from eastern Europe to spend the winter in east Africa. We watched this bird feeding on Elder berries.

Barred Warbler (Joe Cockram)

Over the weekend, the National Trust have had a stall at the Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival. This was organised by Horsey and Heigham Holmes warden Steve Prowse who wrote the following report:

"On Saturday around 1,500 people visited our stand (it felt like more). Badge making and the ‘things we found on the Beach’ quiz were extremely popular and we were packed out all day. Sunday had 50 people visit our stand within 10 minutes of the event opening and it continued like that for much of the day. Around 1,300 visited our stand.

Overall we made around 600 badges and had very little in the way of literature to take back to Blakeney. We were very well received and had plenty of positive engagement over the two days. As a measure of our popularity we have been invited back next year and offered a bigger marquee.

Praise must go to Eddie and Ajay for their enthusiastic help over the weekend, they were superb ambassadors for the Trust and really made it a success."

Steve at the Maritime Festival (Edward Stubbings)

Today, around midday, there was a large movement of Common Buzzards flying west. From the Lifeboat House, we counted over 30 buzzards flying over the Point, harbour and edge of the mainland. It is a rare sight to see so many buzzards flying together in Norfolk

Our low tide seal counts, on the West Sands, have continued to increase throughout August. With Common Seal numbers almost up to 400 at the end of the month and over 900 Greys. A number of unwell Common Seal pups have been seen along the beach over the last few weeks. Just because a seal pup is on its own and out of the water does not necessarily mean it is unwell, however it is only natural that not all pups will survive. If a seal is seriously injured, we do our best to get it to the RSPCA animal hospital at East Winch.

As the breeding colonies have been vacated, we have removed all of the fencing except for a small area at the very tip of the Point, which remains protected all year. Following the end of the breeding season, in the middle of August, dogs are welcome on the reserve once again. We do ask that they are kept under close control, as juvenile and migrant birds are vulnerable to disturbance and all birds need space to feed in peace.

As autumn begins, we look forward to the arrival of our wintering wildfowl. The first flocks of Wigeon and Teal have already been seen out to sea.

 

Sunset, Morston Quay (Ajay Tegala) 

- Eddie and Ajay