Titchwell
Bitterns are regular winter visitors to the Titchwell nature reserve with at least one bird being recorded in most years. Bitterns have even bred here in the recent past. More work is needed to encourage them to do so again.
The reserve is dominated by saltmarsh, intertidal mud and sand dunes, but brackish and freshwater lagoons and reedbeds have also been created. Indeed, Titchwell has the second largest reedbed in north Norfolk and it is an important stepping stone for bitterns between the Norfolk Broads, the Suffolk coast and north Lincolnshire.
The current success of the reedbed habitat is largely as a result of a previous EU LIFE project. This project made emergency action possible to secure the site for future use by restoring 17.7 ha of reedbed.
Now this EU LIFE bittern project has increased the amount of habitat suitable for breeding bitterns and the availability of fish in the reedbed. Work started in September 2003 and finished in November 2003.Two pools, covering about 1.2 ha (3 acres), were excavated, 180 m of new ditches were created and 750 m of existing ditches re-shaped. These provide bitterns with more of their favourite feeding places. More water controls were also put in place to keep water in the reedbed at the right level for reeds and bitterns to thrive.
As well as bitterns, the reserve is home to breeding marsh harriers, avocets and bearded tits. Winter visitors include ruffs, golden plovers, knots and bar-tailed godwits.
In recognition of its importance, Titchwell forms part of the North Norfolk Coast Special Protection Area (SPA), an area designated under European law for the protection of certain particularly threatened species and migratory birds. The SPA runs from Holme to Weybourne, and comprises a wide range of habitats including reedbeds, freshwater grazing marsh, intertidal sand and mudflats, shingle and sand dunes.
You can find out more about Titchwell in the reserves section of the RSPB website.
