Lamsdell Bird Ringing and Wildlife Blog: Sculthorpe Moor

Monday, 8 August 2022

Sculthorpe Moor - 8th August 2022

A good session with 17 species trapped and recorded. Amongst the five warbler species caught was the first Cetti's Warbler that we've ringed at this site. The Cetti's Warbler Cettia Cetti differs from the other Warblers that summer at Sculthorpe in that it will not migrate after the summer and will remain in the UK. Cetti's Warblers are also unusual in that they have only 10 tail feathers when most other species have 12.

Juvenile Cetti's Warbler

Sculthorpe provides an ideal habitat for the Cetti's Warbler within its fenland and reedbed areas. Two other warbler species of the Acrocephalous genus, commonly found close to wet areas are the Sedge and Reed Warblers and birds from these species were captured too.

This Sedge Warbler retains a few spots on the gorget

showing this to be a bird hatched this year.

Juvenile Reed warbler

Reed warblers nest in the reedy areas and we haven't caught many breeding birds as our nets are not set in reedbeds. But, now that the young are out and travelling along the streams and ditches to find food we have started to catch a few youngsters.

The Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, of the genus Phylloscopus (Leaf warblers), were also recorded.

Willow Warbler juvenile

This Willow warbler looks a bit scruffy as it has started moulting out of its first juvenile feathers in its post juvenile moult. The changed feathers will be more robust than the feathers it fledged with and help the bird complete its first autumn migration to southern Africa.

There is clearly a broad diversity of resident passerines breeding on site with the usual Robin, Dunnock, Wren and tit species ringed in addition to the less commonly recorded Song Thrush, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Treecreeper and Bullfinch.

This Bullfinch has yet to start its post juvenile

moult into male or female plumage.

Total: 58 (11)

Wren - 6 (1)
Robin - 1
Dunnock - 1 (1)
Blackbird - 1
Song Thrush - 1
Reed Warbler - 3
Sedge Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 6
Chiffchaff - 11 ( 2 (including 1 control))
Willow Warbler - 1
Goldcrest - 3
Marsh Tit - 1 (1)
Blue Tit - 14 (4)
Great Tit - 3 (2)
Treecreeper - 3

About us

Chris and Denise Lamsdell

We have both been birders for about 40 years based in South Bucks near the West London reservoir complexes.

Since September 2021 we have been based in North Norfolk. We have done our bit of twitching in the past, but with other priorities this has become a much reduced activity with a preference for seeing new birds where ever our travels take us.

We both have been ringing since 2005. Our local group was the Runnymede RG while based in Buckinghamshire. Since moving to Norfolk we have started a new group called The Iceni Bird Monitoring Group, aimed at increasing public engagement through colour ringing projects on Black-headed Gull, Turnstone and Lapwing. We ring at several sites including Sculthorpe Moor, Sandringham Estate, Deepdale Farm and also monitor bird populations for the Norfolk Rivers Trust. We do ringing at home and support with foreign projects when opportunities allow. Chris also has an interest in Butterflies and Dragonflies and contains his limited photographic skill to them.