Norfolk bird news March 2024

 

A male Rustic Bunting was found at Helhoughton from 7th and a Coues’s Arctic Redpoll was there from 6th, but both could be tricky to locate. A Great Grey Shrike was north of Weeting until 29th. Up to fourteen Shorelark remained in Holkham Bay and one flew past Sidestrand 26th. Up to five Lapland Buntings and up to twenty Twite lingered at Weybourne until 18th.

 

The Long billed Dowitcher returned to NWT Cley Marshes from 15th, having presumably spent three days at Breydon Water in February but which was mostly at SWT Carleton Marshes until 11th.

 

The Red-breasted Goose was seen on and off at various north Norfolk sites including Warham Greens, Stiffkey, Blakeney Freshmarsh, NWT Cley Marshes during March, but predicting where exactly could be problematic. The Red-breasted Goose was seen again at a Lynn Point 2nd-3rd.

 

The female Pallid Harrier continued to roost at Warham Greens until 30th and was also seen near Little Walsingham 7th & 11th. A wild Dutch-ringed White-tailed Eagle was found at Glandford 2nd and then seen in the area at various sites until 16th including, NWT Cley Marshes, Warham Greens, Langham, Weybourne, Wiveton Downs, Stiffkey, Kelling Heath and perhaps the same flew over Winterton 18th, Cantley 24th and Surlingham 25th. It’s tricky to know whether you’re watching a truly wild bird or one of the Isle of Wight released birds or their young.

 

The Glossy Ibis spent most of its time at Stiffkey. A Black-necked Grebe was off Brancaster 6th. A Long-tailed Duck remained on the Relief Channel between Downham Market & Stowbridge until 16th and was presumably the bird seen at Welney 8th. Up to two Long-tailed Ducks were in Blakeney Harbour 2nd & 19th. The Redhead Smew was at NWT Hickling Broad on Brendan’s Marsh until 5th. An Iceland Gull was again at Heacham South Beach 12th.

 

The first summer visitors arrived including Garganey, Ring Ouzel, House Martin and Swallow.