I paid my first visit to Sculthorpe Moor a few days ago and thought it was a really beautiful, unspoilt reserve. I was delighted to see some juvenile Bullfinches on the feeder table, as these are favourite birds of mine but I rarely see them. Other treats included a couple of Nuthatches and my first Bramblings and Siskins of the autumn.
Ron
The prehistoric-looking juvenile bullfinches are being reported as hawfinches by some visitors!
Agree totally that it's a great little reserve (I help out with the wardening there once a month) and of interest throughout the year. One of the few places in Norfolk these days you have a chance of willow tit and lesser spot, displaying goshawks in spring, guaranteed water rails in winter and always the chance of something a bit out the ordinary.
I've had honey buzzard, waxwing, bittern, peregrine, northern bullfinch, firecrest, mealy redpoll, rough-legged buzzard, red kite etc over the years.
Did you find the hornets' nest? About 50 yards before you reach the river, on the right hand side, there is a dead tree stump that angles up at about 45 degrees and the nest is in the end of the stump.
It was thick fog when we arrived on Sunday and the woods were dripping like a Norfolk rain forest. Some amazing spiders' webs and fungi to look at while waiting for the fog to lift.
Missed your siskins but did have hobby, 4 buzzards, 6 jays (locals, not coastal migrants, great spot, 40 pinkfeet, kingfisher, marsh tits, snipe, reed bunting, great spot etc. Hen harrier had been seen in the last couple of days as well as the marsh harriers. We normally manage 45-50 species there in a couple of hours in spring and summer
Many visitors keep coming back simply because, as you say, it's 'a really beautiful, unspoilt reserve'
Cheers,
Gordon
