Whispering Reeds, a Special Moment

Norfolk Reed, head high with the winter hue of yellows, buffs and golds.  Soft, downy silver seed heads bursting open, the slightest breeze and a gentle whisper.  Acre upon acre spread around the coastal marshes, vast swathes surround rivers and broads.  I’ve walked around them and through them, sailed boats along hidden channels and fished the bays and inlets for hungry Pike, Tench and Bream.  Our flat Broadland landscape.  No hills or mountains here, the horizon only broken by the ghost of a derelict wind pump or distant church tower, maybe a small group of trees, often dead and gnarly, a roost for Cormorants and crows, a lookout post for raptors.  It’s easy to forget this is a man-made scene, a cash crop.  Reed harvested during the winter months to provide thatch for roofing.  A centuries old occupation carried out by strong, tough Marshmen.  Done in the past by hand scythe, now by machine knee deep in freezing water and mud.  During the war years the reedbeds were left untended.  Willow, Sallow and Alder quickly spread.  The value of this habitat was realised by various wildlife and conservation trusts and restoration undertaken.

If you are a creature that makes it’s home in this environment you could be called shy and elusive.  If you can eke out an existence deep among the swaying stems why risk visiting the open edges where a predator could find you?  For observers you give tantalising glimpses and for those with a long lens, frustration.  Let me introduce you to a reedbed resident that has evaded my camera for way too long…..

This, Ladies and Gentlemen, is a Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus) which is neither bearded nor a tit. It’s other name is more suitable, the Reedling but I call them Beardies.  This short winged, long tailed bundle of loveliness is usually seen as it flits over the reeds in small groups.  You are alerted to their presence by the high pitched ping, ping call before they dive down out of sight.  On the 7th I was up at Titchwell, walking the raised path toward Island Hide, when a Birder pointed out a group of about six Beardies just a few yards away feeding on the seed heads.  I could not believe my eyes or my luck!

Me and my shadow

The females lack the males black ‘tache and blue/grey head but is still a very pretty bird

The Bearded Tit lives all it’s life in the vast reedbeds.  During the warmer months it’s diet is insects but as winter nears this changes to the seeds of the Phragmites, Norfolk Reed.  The nests are low down almost ground/water level and they lay between 4-8 eggs, two broods are normal.  The family group stays together to form these feeding parties.  This bird is know to ‘irrupt’ from the reedbeds and disperse to form new colonies, something I once witnessed.  There are only about 650 pairs in the Country but as long as it’s habitat is maintained it is not threatened.

Reach for the seeds!

And with that long, hard, angry stare, it’s time to leave the birds to go about their usually hidden lifestyle.  Over half an hour being treated to a very special moment.