Kev @kev07713 had been to WWT Welney earlier in the week to see a Savi's warbler and tthe other species on offer, but agreed to go back so that I could tick the Savi's - it would be a lifer for me - it was his third encounter of the year (RSPB Middleton Lakes, Rutland, and now here). We were also going to meet up with his sister Karen @hobbylovinglife and her partner Dean @worlebirder for breakfast and then on to connect (hopefully) with some corncrakes.
We pulled off the main road leading to the Centre and the four of us listened out for corncrake - Kev informed us that the calls he'd had earlier in the week were in the field on the opposite side of the road from where we'd enjoyed them last year. Corncrakes, known for their distinctive calls, have been seen at WWT Welney, particularly on the Ouse Washes. The presence of these birds has been closely monitored, often in collaboration with the RSPB and notably, some of these birds have been identified as part of reintroduction projects in East Anglia (been ringed as part of these project), suggesting some success of conservation efforts in the region.
It is a medium-sized bird, roughly the size of a starling, in the rail family known for their elusive natures. They have brownish bodies with streaked and mottled plumage, which provides excellent camouflage in their grassland habitats. Their underparts are a lighter shade with a distinctive chestnut coloration on the wings, and they have a short, slightly down-curved bill. None of this would be something we would likely see as they are so well hidden. They prefer dense vegetation such as tall grasslands, meadows, and marshes, where they can remain concealed.
We heard one bird way off to our right but then a louder call from our left in the next field so wandered round. It called from an area not too far in front but down in what appeared to be a gully running across the field - this intermittent calling continued for about half an hour, with a second bird, further left occasionally giving a callback to the individual in front. Try as we might, we weren't getting any views. A call from the individual in the field to our right sounded louder and so we went to investigate. Sure enough, it was working along another gully but much closer to the gate we were standing behind and getting louder. At one point Karen thought she was on it, on the far slope of the gully (and I thought I was too) but it turned out to be nothing of note. Kev had posted a video from his last visit - the call is highlighted on one - here. We'd been watching for a while now so decided to leave the birds in peace and make our way onto the reserve proper, open early for Members.
The WWT site is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Ramsar site, Special Protection Area (SPA), a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and is an important site for populations of wintering waterfowl and breeding waders. We made our way through to the Visitor's Centre, passing an area with nest boxes on the fence line, bushes/shrubs beyond. A community of tree sparrows is inhabiting them and were coming in and out - my first of the year. More were seen feeding with house sparrows on the feeders around the Centre.
We checked in with the staff and made our way out onto the reserve, stopping in the main observatory to see what was about. Handfuls of black-tailed godwit fed amongst avocets, redshank, teal, a couple of wigeon and a single female pintail. The observatory is a great viewing area but has windows that shouldn't be opened to avoid disturbance - when we saw a garganey drake, heading into eclipse plumage, I took photos but through the glass and heat haze would barely be a record shot.
We stayed a while, but the draw of the Savi's was too strong and me made our way along to join a handful of others in the hide. They'd had a call a little while before we arrived, and one chap suggested he'd had a brief view - we joined the vigil. A sedge warbler danced around the reedbed in front, singing strongly, giving good views, and kept us entertained. A couple of yellow wagtails spun around the reed beds and grasslands beyond.
Out beyond we could see 10+ whooper swans with cygnets - WWT Welney is a significant site for whooper swans, particularly during the winter months as these swans migrate from their breeding grounds in Iceland to the UK, traveling approximately 1,200 miles across the North Atlantic Ocean with few stops. Injured swans that cannot complete the migration back to Iceland have been known to stay and breed at the reserve. In 2011, a pair of whooper swans, named Romeo and Julietta, bred successfully at WWT Welney, marking the first recorded breeding of whooper swans in Norfolk since 1928. This year’s breeding activity seemed to be a bigger effort than a couple of injured birds.
The heat haze was increasing and even if we got a view of a Savi's warbler, I might not be able get a photo with any detail. Out in the reeds a roe deer watched us as we waited for our quarry. Marsh harriers quartered the edges of the reed beds, and various species took to the wing and mobbed the harriers until they departed. Way out in front a great white egret was feeding with what we first assumed was a little egret, but eventually showed to be a spoonbill. They fed together for a good 45 minutes before the spoonbill departed high, left, and away.
Within 20 minutes the spoonbill was back, circling before dropping not where it had been feeding previously, but out of view at the back of the reed bed. Three green sandpipers flew out into the same area – perhaps a pool we couldn’t see from our position.
We heard a short call from the Savi’s, and we all focussed our attention again - it went silent. About 20 minutes later, a bird flew in from the left to an area that has yielded most of the views of the Savi's ... most of the birds we'd seen doing this so far today having been reed buntings or sedge warblers. But no, out belted a Savi's warbler call! One of the most distinctive features of Savi's warbler is its song, a mechanical, insect-like reeling sound that can continue for several minutes; not dissimilar to a grasshopper warbler; we were only afforded 10 seconds.
Inhabiting these dense reed beds and marshy areas offers both food resources and protection in keeping with its secretive nature. One chap said he could see it climbing but I just couldn't get onto it, until it then flew right - yes! Immediately it dropped from view, and I never did see it come up again, or make another call. A tick is a tick, no matter how small ... doubly true for a lifer ...
We waited and waited, were joined by Nick @old_caley and Anne Truby, but we had nothing more to add. It was approaching lunchtime, and we made our way back to the Visitors Centre for sausage rolls and sandwiches.
After lunch Karen and Dean left to try and see the great reed warbler at RSPB Ouse Fen, while Kev and I returned to the observatory to see if we could locate the red-crested pochard reported earlier and seen by Kev on his last visit. He scanned and once or twice thought he might have the bird at great distance, only for it to be obscured from view as quickly as it had appeared. I couldn't in all conscience tick it.
While we were watching, a kingfisher cut along the edge of the reeds on the front edge. A swallow pounced on it, forcing it down onto the water - it soon recovered and was off again, but with the swallow then repeating its attack - not something we have ever witnessed before. While both species can coexist in the same habitats, their interactions are apparently often marked by competition and territorial disputes, reflecting their shared need for similar nesting and feeding environments. It is apparently recorded that swallows may harass kingfishers, particularly during the nesting season. The kingfisher spun around and made for some taller reeds far to the right. I walked to the other end of the building and located the male kingfisher perched on a reed stem. After a couple of minutes it dived, caught a fish and then stared along the water's edge again, coming into swallow airspace. Before it was forced down again, it spun back and this time flew deep into the reeds.
Kev continued to search for the RC pochard but to no avail. I had a friend's wedding anniversary celebration to attend and so we called it a day and made it home by teatime - another good day out with a few ticks ... can't be bad.
Year list: 218.
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