A Norfolk year

January in Norfolk is typically a month of easterly winds and cold weather, though with this comes the prospect of influxes of species such as Waxwing and Short-eared Owls. Swans and geese feature strongly, with large numbers of Pink-footed and Brent Geese concentrated on the North Norfolk coastal marshes and fields and wild swans present in large numbers at places such as Welney. Taiga Bean Geese can be found in the Yare valley to the east of the county, which is one of only two regular wintering sites in the UK for this species. Shorelark, Snow Bunting and Twite frequent favoured coastal locations, although at times all can be highly mobile.

During February sea duck numbers are generally at their highest, with species such as Common Scoter and Eider congregating in large rafts, resembling oil slicks, off shore at sites such as Titchwell and Holkham. With them are often smaller numbers of grebes (Red-necked and Slavonian), Long-tailed Ducks and all three species of diver. February is also the month that secretive species such as the Lesser-spotted Woodpecker become noticeable, with male birds more vocal as they mark and defend territories. Our most elusive raptor the Goshawk also becomes more visible, with bounding aerial display flights high above the woodland canopy.

March sees more changeable and unpredictable weather, with the possibility of a selection of seasons in one month! The first of our migrant species also start to arrive back from their wintering grounds, typically these would include Sand Martin, Northern Wheatear, Chiffchaff and Stone-curlew.

These are closely followed in April by the main arrival of our migrant species, with birds such as Cuckoo, Reed and Sedge Warbler, Swift and Common Sandpiper easily seen. At this time of year resident, as well as migratory species, sing and display to attract females and defend territories, this, coupled with the added bonus of trees and bushes not in full leaf, means that passerines that are often elusive, can sometimes be seen well.

May is a month that sees the last of our returning migrants, with the majority of species such as Spotted Flycatcher and Garden Warbler arriving. It is also a prime month for more unusual species such as Bluethroat and Bee-eater that over shoot their breeding grounds, carried further north by southerly winds.

By June breeding is in full swing, and the time of year to search out ‘Norfolk specialities’ such as Nightjar, Honey Buzzard and Stone-curlew at their regular summer breeding sites. The end of the month and the beginning of July is the prime time to search for another Norfolk speciality, Golden Oriole. With only a handful breeding in the UK, Norfolk offers the opportunity to see them at a well watched (and protected) site in the Breckland part of the county. Although the males are bright yellow, they can be amazingly difficult to see, merging easily into the surrounding vegetation, but their chosen habitat (poplar plantations) can be quite sparse allowing flying birds and nest sites to be found relatively easily.

July is the month that wading birds start their migration, swelling the numbers of our commoner resident species such as Ringed Plover, Red shank and Dunlin, More unusual species such as Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint and Wood Sandpiper can also be found, as birds arrive from the east. Birds at this time are almost certainly moulting adults, with the first juveniles not appearing until month’s end.

This passage continues throughout August, which also sees the start of autumn passerine migration with the right weather conditions offering opportunities to see species such as Pied Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike and Wryneck, plus commoner migrants such as Northern Wheatear and Whinchat.

The theme of migration continues into September, with further waves of migrants arriving on the east coast, the first Yellow-browed Warblers should appear by the end of the month, with relatively large numbers of this former rarity now appearing in the county annually. Seabird passage is also prevalent this month and the next, again dependent on the right weather conditions which can produce large numbers of skuas, auks, Gannets and petrels.

October can bring even rarer passerines in the form of Pallas’s, Dusky and Radde’s Warblers which are all annual, but their number is again dependent on weather conditions due to their eastern origins. Late swifts should be checked as the rare Pallid Swift has been found this month.

November’s speciality species is Little Auk, ideally requiring a northerly wind direction with birds coming very close to the shore as they whiz past like little clockwork toys. Sea duck numbers also start to build and rarities such as Bohemian Waxwing invariably start to make an appearance.

December brings the year to a close with its large numbers of geese, with in excess of 150,000 to be found on the North Norfolk coast, the majority of which are Pink-footed Geese accompanied by their rarer cousins in the form of Bean and Barnacle geese.

Wintering raptors, such as Rough-legged Buzzards and Peregrines, are to be found at favoured wintering sites and bunting and finch flocks increase to several hundred at favoured localities.