RSPB Strumpshaw Fen
Encyclopedia
Strumpshaw Fen is a nature reserve
managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
(RSPB). It is situated at Strumpshaw Fen
, a fen
on the River Yare
in Norfolk, England
. It is a site of Special Scientific Interest
.
It is part of the Mid-Yare National Nature Reserve
established in 1997 by English Nature
(though managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). It was purchased by the RSPB in 1974.
Waterfowl include
Summer migrants
In autumn the reserve is visited by migrating birds both heading south and those seeking refuge from the Arctic winter. These often form large flocks in the winter that gathering to feed or at dusk flying off together to form large roosts. Waxwing
s sometimes visit in search of winter food from Scandinavia.
Its Fen provides one of the few breeding sites in Great Britain
for the Swallowtail. The subspecies
found at Strumpshaw, Papilio machaon brittanicus, is isolated to the Fens of Norfolk and Suffolk in the UK, although widepsread and often common throughout Europe. It is slightly smaller and slightly deeper yellow and more heavily marked in black than those subspecies found on mainland Europe. It nearly always lays its eggs on Milk Parsley
(Peucedanum palustre) in contrast to its European cousin that will select most umbellifers. Swallowtail can be seen from late May to mid-July and often again in mid-August to September. It is the largest resident British butterfly at 8 to 10 cm wingspan.
In early spring and summer the reserve is the habitat of 23 species of dragonfly, including the rare Norfolk hawker
which is protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
, and listed in the British Red Data Books on Insects as Category 1 (endangered
).
Another important dragon fly is the scarce chaser
(Libellula fulva).
, marsh pea
, saw sedge
, six varieties of orchids including the and rare aquatic macrophytes.
Its flower hay meadow is an ecological relict with a high plant diversity due to the continuing centuries old practice of receiving only a cut in late season for a hay crop. In June it is coloured by yellow flag, marsh cinquefoil, bog bean, and ragged robin
(a source of nectar for the adult swallowtails). In early July, there are common sorrel
, the purple glass Yorkshire Fog
, Southern Marsh-orchid
s, yellow rattle
and valerian
. These are followed by purple loosestrife
and meadowsweet
.
When purchased in 1976, it was in a state of being heavily overgrown. Since then considerable effects have been made to restoring it to the open fen landscape of the 19th Century. Initially, this involved breaking up vegetation with high pressure jets and pumping out mud and dto recreate the broad. On going restoration work presently is scrub and invasive plants removal and repair of disused ditches.
Reed bed and fen meadow management includes summer mowing and grazing, seasonal flooding, maintaining water levels, clearing rushes, grazing and mowing, and trampling with livestock to create boggy ground. Wet woodland includes protecting standing dead wood and keep water levels high from April to July.
The reserve contains the largest area of hay meadow in East Anglia
that has remained untouched except for a late hay crop - a practice crucial to the maintenance of its plant diversity.
The reserve is open from dawn until dusk every day (except Christmas Day). There are entrance charges (except for RSPB members). Some parts of trails after rain or river flooding can be muddy or wet so may require wearing walking boots.
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Bird Notes and News was first published in April 1903.The title changed to 'Bird Notes' in 1947. In the 1950s, there were four copies per year . Each volume covered two years, spread over three calendar years...
(RSPB). It is situated at Strumpshaw Fen
Strumpshaw Fen
Strumpshaw Fen is a fen on the River Yare in Norfolk, England, between Brundall and Cantley.Much of the area is RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, a nature reserve in the care of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds....
, a fen
Fen
A fen is a type of wetland fed by mineral-rich surface water or groundwater. Fens are characterised by their water chemistry, which is neutral or alkaline, with relatively high dissolved mineral levels but few other plant nutrients...
on the River Yare
River Yare
The River Yare is a river in the English county of Norfolk. In its lower reaches the river connects with the navigable waterways of The Broads....
in Norfolk, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is a site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
.
It is part of the Mid-Yare National Nature Reserve
Mid-Yare NNR
Mid-Yare NNR is a National Nature Reserve in Norfolk, east of Norwich, established by English Nature and managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds . In RSPB publications, this reserve is known as Strumpshaw Fen....
established in 1997 by English Nature
English Nature
English Nature was the United Kingdom government agency that promoted the conservation of wildlife, geology and wild places throughout England between 1990 and 2006...
(though managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). It was purchased by the RSPB in 1974.
Birds
Residents- Eurasian Bittern; in spring, the male's 'booming' song can be heard. Though they are hard to see as they are well camouflaged.
- KingfisherKingfisherKingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...
present all year and carrying fish back to nests in spring and summer. - Marsh harrierMarsh harrierThe marsh harriers are birds of prey of the harrier subfamily. They are medium-sized raptors and the largest and broadest-winged harriers. Most of them are associated with marshland and dense reedbeds...
; in spring, pairs perform 'sky-dancing' high in the sky. - Cetti's WarblerCetti's WarblerCetti's Warbler , Cettia cetti, is an Old World warbler which breeds in Europe, northwest Africa and east southern temperate Asia as far as Afghanistan and NW Pakistan. It is the only bush warbler to occur outside Asia...
, the loudest British song bird with a distinctive (once learnt) 'explosive' song. - Hen harrierHen HarrierThe Hen Harrier or Northern Harrier is a bird of prey. It breeds throughout the northern parts of the northern hemisphere in Canada and the northernmost USA, and in northern Eurasia. This species is polytypic, with two subspecies. Marsh Hawk is a historical name for the American form.It migrates...
, - Bearded TitBearded TitThe Bearded Reedling is a peculiar small passerine bird. It is also frequently known as the Bearded Tit due to some similarities to Long-tailed Tits, or Bearded Parrotbill since it was later placed with these after it was removed from the true tits in the family Paridae...
, - Barn owlBarn OwlThe Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. These form one of two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical...
- BullfinchBullfinch* A Bullfinch is one of two groups of passerine birdsBullfinch can also refer to:* Bullfinch , an obstacle seen on the cross-country course in the sport of eventing* USS Bullfinch, the name of two US Navy ships...
es
Waterfowl include
- GadwallGadwallThe Gadwall is a common and widespread duck of the family Anatidae.- Description :The Gadwall is 46–56 cm long with a 78–90 cm wingspan. The male is slightly larger than the female, weighing on average 990 g against her 850 g...
, - Great Crested GrebeGreat Crested GrebeThe Great Crested Grebe is a member of the grebe family of water birds.- Description :The Great Crested Grebe is long with a wingspan. It is an excellent swimmer and diver, and pursues its fish prey underwater. The adults are unmistakable in summer with head and neck decorations...
and - Little GrebeLittle GrebeThe Little Grebe , also known as Dabchick, member of the grebe family of water birds. At 23 to 29 cm in length it is the smallest European member of its family. It is commonly found in open bodies of water across most of its range.-Description:The Little Grebe is a small water bird with a pointed...
s.
Summer migrants
- HobbyHobbyA hobby is a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time.- Etymology :A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horse...
, - Reed warblerReed WarblerThe Eurasian Reed Warbler, or just Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus, is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It breeds across Europe into temperate western Asia. It is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa....
, - BlackcapBlackcapThe Blackcap is a common and widespread sylviid warbler which breeds throughout temperate Europe, western Asia and northwestern Africa, and winters from northwestern Europe south to tropical Africa...
, - WhitethroatWhitethroatThe Common Whitethroat, Sylvia communis, is a common and widespread typical warbler which breeds throughout Europe and across much of temperate western Asia. This small passerine bird is strongly migratory, and winters in tropical Africa, Arabia and Pakistan.This is one of several Sylvia species...
.
In autumn the reserve is visited by migrating birds both heading south and those seeking refuge from the Arctic winter. These often form large flocks in the winter that gathering to feed or at dusk flying off together to form large roosts. Waxwing
Waxwing
The waxwings form the genus Bombycilla of passerine birds. According to most authorities, this is the only genus placed in the family Bombycillidae.-Description:Waxwings are characterised by soft silky plumage...
s sometimes visit in search of winter food from Scandinavia.
Insects
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
for the Swallowtail. The subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
found at Strumpshaw, Papilio machaon brittanicus, is isolated to the Fens of Norfolk and Suffolk in the UK, although widepsread and often common throughout Europe. It is slightly smaller and slightly deeper yellow and more heavily marked in black than those subspecies found on mainland Europe. It nearly always lays its eggs on Milk Parsley
Milk Parsley
Milk Parsley is a plant in the family Apiaceae. Also known as Marsh Hog's Fennel.It resides on wetlands, mires etc., shallow riverbanks, occasionally on ditches and other smaller water features. It's relatively shadow-tolerant. It requires seasonal submerging of the site to compete with other...
(Peucedanum palustre) in contrast to its European cousin that will select most umbellifers. Swallowtail can be seen from late May to mid-July and often again in mid-August to September. It is the largest resident British butterfly at 8 to 10 cm wingspan.
In early spring and summer the reserve is the habitat of 23 species of dragonfly, including the rare Norfolk hawker
Norfolk Hawker
Aeshna isoceles is a small hawker dragonfly that is found in Europe, mostly around the Mediterranean, and the lowlands of North Africa. Its common name in English is Green-eyed Hawker. In Britain it is a rare and local species and is known as the Norfolk Hawker...
which is protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom and was implemented to comply with the Directive 2009/147/EC on the conservation of wild birds...
, and listed in the British Red Data Books on Insects as Category 1 (endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
).
Another important dragon fly is the scarce chaser
Scarce Chaser
The Scarce Chaser, Libellula fulva, is a species of dragonfly. The adult male has a bright blue abdomen with patches of black, while the adult female and juvenile male each have a bright orange abdomen. It is about 45 mm in length with an average wingspan of 74 mm. It is distributed throughout Europe...
(Libellula fulva).
Molluscs
- Desmoulin's whorl snailDesmoulin's whorl snailDesmoulin's whorl snail, scientific name Vertigo moulinsiana, is a species of minute air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc or micromollusc in the family Vertiginidae, the vertigo snails....
(On the list of endangered species in the British Isles)
Plants
It is one of only a handful of water bodies in the country to contain Holly-leaved Naiad (Najas marina), a species on the flowering plant section of the list of endangered species in the British Isles and is protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Other important plants are Milk ParsleyMilk Parsley
Milk Parsley is a plant in the family Apiaceae. Also known as Marsh Hog's Fennel.It resides on wetlands, mires etc., shallow riverbanks, occasionally on ditches and other smaller water features. It's relatively shadow-tolerant. It requires seasonal submerging of the site to compete with other...
, marsh pea
Lathyrus palustris
Lathyrus palustris is a species of wild pea known by the common name marsh pea. It is native to Europe, Asia, and North America. It is a perennial herb with leaves made up of oval-shaped or oblong leaflets a few centimeters long. It has branched, coiled tendrils. The plant bears an inflorescence of...
, saw sedge
Cladium
Cladium is a genus of large sedges, with a worldwide distribution in tropical and temperate regions...
, six varieties of orchids including the and rare aquatic macrophytes.
Its flower hay meadow is an ecological relict with a high plant diversity due to the continuing centuries old practice of receiving only a cut in late season for a hay crop. In June it is coloured by yellow flag, marsh cinquefoil, bog bean, and ragged robin
Ragged Robin
Lychnis flos-cuculi, commonly called Ragged Robin, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is species is native to Europe, where it is found along roads and in wet meadows and pastures...
(a source of nectar for the adult swallowtails). In early July, there are common sorrel
Sorrel
Common sorrel or garden sorrel , often simply called sorrel, is a perennial herb that is cultivated as a garden herb or leaf vegetable...
, the purple glass Yorkshire Fog
Yorkshire Fog
Yorkshire Fog or Velvet Grass, Holcus lanatus, is a perennial grass in the Poaceae Family. 'Lanatus' is latin for 'wooly' which describes the plant's hairy texture....
, Southern Marsh-orchid
Southern Marsh-orchid
The Southern Marsh Orchid or Leopard Marsh Orchid is acommonly occurring species of European orchid....
s, yellow rattle
Yellow rattle
Yellow Rattle or Cockscomb, Rhinanthus minor, is a flowering plant in the genus Rhinanthus in the family Orobanchaceae, native to Europe and Western Asia....
and valerian
Valerian (herb)
Valerian is a hardy perennial flowering plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers which bloom in the summer months. Valerian flower extracts were used as a perfume in the sixteenth century....
. These are followed by purple loosestrife
Purple loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria is a flowering plant belonging to the family Lythraceae, native to Europe, Asia, northwest Africa, and southeastern Australia. It should not be confused with other plants sharing the name loosestrife that are members of the family Primulaceae...
and meadowsweet
Meadowsweet
Filipendula ulmaria, commonly known as Meadowsweet, is a perennial herb in the family Rosaceae that grows in damp meadows. It is native throughout most of Europe and Western Asia...
.
Winter
- Hundreds of ducks, including tealTealTeal may mean:* Teal , a medium greenish-blue color* Various ducks:** Baikal Teal, Anas formosa** Black Teal, Aythya novaeseelandiae** Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors** Brown Teal, Anas aucklandica** Campbell Teal Anas nesiotis...
s, gadwallGadwallThe Gadwall is a common and widespread duck of the family Anatidae.- Description :The Gadwall is 46–56 cm long with a 78–90 cm wingspan. The male is slightly larger than the female, weighing on average 990 g against her 850 g...
s and shovelerShovelerThe shovelers, formerly known as shovellers, are four species of dabbling ducks with long, broad spatula-shaped beaks:* Red Shoveler, Anas platalea* Cape Shoveler, Anas smithii* Australasian Shoveler, Anas rhynchotis...
s gather to feed in the reedbed pools. - Near dusk, marsh and hen harriers gather to roost.
- On occasional winters, thousands of starlingStarlingStarlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Sturnidae. The name "Sturnidae" comes from the Latin word for starling, sturnus. Many Asian species, particularly the larger ones, are called mynas, and many African species are known as glossy starlings because of their iridescent...
s roost in the reeds attracting sparrowhawks, peregrinesPeregrine FalconThe Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
and merlinMerlinMerlin is a legendary figure best known as the wizard featured in the Arthurian legend. The standard depiction of the character first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, written c. 1136, and is based on an amalgamation of previous historical and legendary figures...
s.
Spring
- Courting pairs of marsh harriers perform 'sky-dancing' displays.
- Songs of spring migrant birds including reed and sedge warblerSedge WarblerThe Sedge Warbler is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It is a medium-sized warbler with a brown, streaked back and wings and a distinct pale supercilium. Sedge Warblers are migratory, crossing the Sahara to get from their European and Asian breeding grounds to spend winter in Africa...
s, cuckooCuckooThe cuckoos are a family, Cuculidae, of near passerine birds. The order Cuculiformes, in addition to the cuckoos, also includes the turacos . Some zoologists and taxonomists have also included the unique Hoatzin in the Cuculiformes, but its taxonomy remains in dispute...
s, grasshopper warblerGrasshopper WarblerThe Grasshopper Warbler, Locustella naevia, is an Old World warbler in the grass warbler genus Locustella. It breeds across much of temperate Europe and Asia. It is migratory, wintering from northwest Africa to India....
s and white throats. - SwallowSwallowThe swallows and martins are a group of passerine birds in the family Hirundinidae which are characterised by their adaptation to aerial feeding...
s and swiftSwiftThe swifts are a family, Apodidae, of highly aerial birds. They are superficially similar to swallows, but are actually not closely related to passerine species at all; swifts are in the separate order Apodiformes, which they share with hummingbirds...
s dart across the pools - Great crested grebes and other waterfowl prepare their nests.
- Lesser spottedLesser Spotted WoodpeckerThe Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is a member of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is assigned to the genus Dendrocopos ....
and great spotted woodpeckerGreat Spotted WoodpeckerThe Great Spotted Woodpecker , Dendrocopos major, is a bird species of the woodpecker family . It is distributed throughout Europe and northern Asia, and usually resident year-round except in the colder parts of its range...
s easily heard drumming in the woodland.
Summer
- fen meadow rich with flowers including six species of orchids.
- Many butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies including swallowtail butterfly (late May to early July and again in mid-August).
- Hobbies hunt dragonflies.
Autumn
- OspreyOspreyThe Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
s on their southward migration fish. - Marsh harriers gather in groups to roost.
- Bearded tits form flocks in the reedbeds.
Management
The reserve contains several types of habitats including reed beds, grazing marshes, wet woodland, fen orchid-rich meadows, and the River Yare. These are managed through traditional techniques, including reed-cutting, mowing, cattle grazing and scrub removal.When purchased in 1976, it was in a state of being heavily overgrown. Since then considerable effects have been made to restoring it to the open fen landscape of the 19th Century. Initially, this involved breaking up vegetation with high pressure jets and pumping out mud and dto recreate the broad. On going restoration work presently is scrub and invasive plants removal and repair of disused ditches.
Reed bed and fen meadow management includes summer mowing and grazing, seasonal flooding, maintaining water levels, clearing rushes, grazing and mowing, and trampling with livestock to create boggy ground. Wet woodland includes protecting standing dead wood and keep water levels high from April to July.
The reserve contains the largest area of hay meadow in East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
that has remained untouched except for a late hay crop - a practice crucial to the maintenance of its plant diversity.
Facilities
There are several hides and a number of trails.The reserve is open from dawn until dusk every day (except Christmas Day). There are entrance charges (except for RSPB members). Some parts of trails after rain or river flooding can be muddy or wet so may require wearing walking boots.
See also
- The BroadsThe BroadsThe Broads are a network of mostly navigable rivers and lakes in the English counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. The Broads, and some surrounding land were constituted as a special area with a level of protection similar to a UK National Park by The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act of 1988...
- Buckenham railway stationBuckenham railway stationBuckenham railway station is a railway station in the English county of Norfolk. The station is located on the Norwich-Lowestoft/Great Yarmouth Wherry Line.The station is managed and served by National Express East Anglia....
- Mid-Yare National Nature ReserveMid-Yare NNRMid-Yare NNR is a National Nature Reserve in Norfolk, east of Norwich, established by English Nature and managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds . In RSPB publications, this reserve is known as Strumpshaw Fen....
- StrumpshawStrumpshawStrumpshaw is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk, on the River Yare in Norfolk, England, within The Broads National Park.It covers an area of and had a population of 602 in 245 households as of the 2001 census....
- Strumpshaw FenStrumpshaw FenStrumpshaw Fen is a fen on the River Yare in Norfolk, England, between Brundall and Cantley.Much of the area is RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, a nature reserve in the care of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds....
- Strumpshaw Hall Steam MuseumStrumpshaw Hall Steam MuseumThe Strumpshaw Hall Steam Museum in Strumpshaw, Norfolk is home to a collection of Traction engines, Steam rollers, a Showman's engine and a Steam wagon which are run on special occasions and on the last Sunday of each month from April to October....