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Spring (April to May)
A visit at this time of the year provides the opportunity to witness the passage of both waders and passerines through the county, plus the return of many rare and scarce breeding and summering species that Norfolk is renowned for.
A good number of winter visitors are still present for the first few weeks of the month; Pink-footed Geese can still be seen, albeit in much reduced numbers during April, and Brent Geese are usually evident well into May. The numbers of ducks start to reduce by the end of April although small number of Wigeon, Gadwall, Pintail, Shoveler, Teal and Pochard persist right through the summer, as do non-breeding Common Scoter and Eider. Wader numbers on the mudflats remain fairly high throughout April and into May, with smaller numbers remaining for the entire summer too.
Resident species are now active in their recently established territories with some of the most notable birds to be seen including Marsh Harrier, Bearded Tit, Water Rail and Little Egret. The 'boom' of the Bittern can now be heard and is often the first clue that one has taken up residence, Avocet numbers have now greatly increased as the small wintering population is swelled by those returning to breed, whilst in the Brecks Stone Curlews will have returned.
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Wheatear Black Redstart Ring Ouzel |
Spring migration of summer visitors and passage migrants will be underway by April, with some of the earliest ones appearing from mid-March. Wheatears and Sand Martins are usually the first to return, and as the month progresses more and more birds arrive either to breed or on passage to more northerly destinations. At this time a walk along a coastal vantage point can be very rewarding with migrants both passing overhead and dropping into cover to rest and feed. Swallows and House Martins start to move along the coast, Sandwich Terns become evident out to sea, and Black Redstarts and Ring Ouzels are also amongst some of the first birds to pass through.
Spring is the time to learn or reacquaint yourself with the songs which can be the first clue to a birds presence, as the sounds of a host of Warblers soon begin to fill the air. Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats are to be found singing from hedgerows, trees and bushes, and the reedbeds become the home of Reed and Sedge Warblers, where Grasshopper and Cetti's Warblers can also be heard.
Yellow Wagtails delight with their bright plumage, the odd Garganey can be seen and Montagu's Harriers should have returned by the third week of the month.
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Whitethroat Sedge Warbler Yellow Wagtail |
This period is always a good time for waders as Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Sanderling, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Turnstone, Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher are still to be found on the mudflats and the freshwater marshes hold Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff, Snipe and Golden Plover.
However it is for passage waders that Spring is most renowned, with Little Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel moving through along with smaller numbers of Spotted Redshank and Green Sandpiper. Star birds of the period however are Temminck's Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint all of which occur in very small numbers mainly in May.
Small numbers of Dotterel also pass through each spring and there is often a rare wader species recorded most years with Red-necked Phalarope being the most regular.
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Temminck's Stint Wood Sandpiper Black Tern |
As April closes and May begins, Swifts, Garden Warblers, Cuckoo and Turtle Doves arrive, Hobbies can now be seen hawking insects over reedbeds and harassing gatherings of hirundines, and Whinchats and Redstarts pass through in small numbers. Common and Little Terns return to their breeding colonies, Black and Arctic Terns pass through in small numbers, as do Little Gulls with some immature birds congregating to form summering flocks.
The beautiful song of the Nightingale can now be heard on selected local heathland, where Woodlark and Tree Pipit can also be encountered, as well as Stonechat and Woodcock. Golden Orioles arrive back in early May, Honey Buzzards usually return during the third week of the month and towards the end of May, the churring song of the Nightjar will also become evident there.
Spotted Flycatcher, a sadly declining breeder, are always one of the last birds to arrive back, and the odd Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler also pass through, and being migration time one or two goodies always turn up during this period.
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Redstart Whinchat Nightingale | |
