Pre-edited version of the 'Wildlife roundup' published in the Summer issue of 'Tern' magazine by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust by Robin Chittenden

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Birdline East Anglia report for January-March 2025

 

Parts of northern mainland Europe were unusually chilly this winter. So cold it was a bit like the old days, when most winters great numbers of geese would head west from the continent in search of slightly warmer conditions that are on offer in the UK, as it is bathed in the relatively warm Gulf Stream. With the help of easterly winds, in late December, this resulted in large arrival of White-fronted and Tundra Bean Geese to Norfolk.

 

Both Geese originate from Siberia but in recent years many haven’t bothered to hop cross the North Sea from Holland. RSPB Cantley Marshes had for instance had nearly eight hundred White-fronted Geese. White-fronted Geese can be recognised as they usually have dark bars across their bellies. The white front refers to the small area of white on their foreheads. In young birds both features can be much reduced or not there at all.  By the beginning of March many birds had returned back east, illustrated by one flock of at four hundred birds seen to fly out to sea at Great Yarmouth on 5th March.

 

Tundra Bean Geese could be found almost anywhere often mixed in with the Pink-footed Geese. Scanning through a flock of Pink-feet to find any, look out for orange legs, darker (not grey) backs and a slightly more robust feel to the bird. Pitfalls for the unwary, include the fact that some Pink-feet have orange legs (not that I’ve seen any like that yet) and in some light, I start questioning in my head is that pink or orange. I came up with the rule that if in doubt its more likely to be pink. The orange legs of a Tundra Bean Goose do tend to shout the colour.

 

A Red-breasted Goose was at Morston Quay on 27th January, for just one day, with Dark-bellied Brent Goose flock, but was more friendly with a small flock of Barnacle Geese within the Brent Goose flock. It was speculated, probably accurately, that the Barnacle Geese and Red-breasted Goose had just flown in from Holland. The peculiar thing was that the Red-breasted Goose was never seen again. They normally would hang about for the rest of the winter.

 

Birds mentioned in the Spring issue of Tern included the male Eastern Black Redstart which was last seen at Sheringham 4th March.  So hopefully, it overwintered successfully and has migrated back east. Similarly with the Black-bellied Dipper at Bintree Mill, which was last seen on 25th February. But the two Hume’s Leaf Warblers that had hung on at Holkham from the Autumn only stayed until 3rd. Maybe they continued on a south-westerly course to even warmer climes. Perhaps they ended up wintering in Iberia or the Canaries, like its close relative the Yellow-browed Warbler do on a regular basis but in fairly small numbers.

 

However biggest surprise in the smaller bird department was a Red-flanked Bluetail found during in February in the Norfolk hinterland, near Dillington at the Wendling Beck Project. Apart from being the first to be found in Norfolk in winter, the other slight surprise was it seemed to move on quite quickly, when continuing to stay in the same location might have been more expected. Perhaps it was predated, for instance by a Sparrowhawk.

 

The Grey Seal colony between Waxham and Horsey seems to be going from strength to strength. Post breeding gatherings on the beaches there attracted some of the white winged Gulls that originate from the Arctic. These are the Glaucous Gull and Iceland Gull that are attracted there with the more usual Gulls species, such as Herring Gull, by the titbits to be enjoyed, as a clean-up squad for the Grey Seals. Watching the Glaucous Gull I couldn’t help thinking it was consuming the Grey Seal dung, which was scattered along the beach in some profusion. The Grey Seals there have become so used to people walking along the upper part of the beach they barely raise an eyebrow when you pass by, even if accompanied by a dog on a lead.

 

Early in the winter I had watched an Iceland Gull at Sea Palling with large number of other gulls including Black-headed, Herring Gull and the odd Caspian Gull consuming seafood morsels that had the undignified experience of being picked up by the rough seas and unceremoniously smashed against the fairly recently installed sea defense rocks. The resulting seafood buffet of Razorshells and Shore Crabs was a bonanza for the Gulls. A spectacular feeding frenzy ensued, which many birdwatchers enjoyed. The whole experience enhanced by several Purple Sandpipers attracted there by the now rocky coastline. It seems to have become the best area for wintering Purple Sandpipers in Norfolk.

 

As I write this the first of the summer visitors are arriving with Garganey at NWT Cley Marshes and Ring Ouzels at NWT Holme Dunes, but more about this Springs highlights in the next issue of Tern.