Birdline East Anglia bird news for March 2008 by Robin Chittenden

There was a small influx of three White-spotted Bluethroat, many Black Redstarts and several Firecrests. A passage of Common Scoter over the region resulted in many resting on inland waterbodies.

The White-crowned Sparrow left Cley. Most of the rare winter geese from North America have left with just one Ross’s Goose and one Lesser Snow Goose left by the end of the month.

Norfolk

One of the highlights of the early spring migration was a male White-spotted Bluethroat found between Winterton-on-Sea and East Somerton 26th-27th. The White-crowned Sparrow remained at Cley until 11th.

There were still three North American white geese. The Ross’s Goose was at Heigham Holmes, Horsey or Waxham 11th-30th and another was at Holkham Freshmarsh 1st-17th. The Lesser Snow Goose was also at Heigham Holmes, Horsey or Waxham 11th-31st at least. A white goose seen to fly west over Cromer and Cley 31st was reported to be a Snow Goose but perhaps its was a Ross’s. The three Tundra Bean Geese were still at Welney WWT until 12th and seven were at Horsey 19th and Black Brants were still at Titchwell RSPB, Wells & Holkham Freshmarsh, Morston and Cley NWT.

A Great White Egret was at Binham Mill 17th and one was on the saltings at Thornham and Holme Marsh 25th-27th. A Common Crane was still knocking about in the Welney area until 9th when it was seen near Ten Mile Bank.

The Rough-legged Buzzard was still at Burnham Norton until 31st at least. One flew north-west over Wensum Valley Watchpoint, Great Ryburgh 17th and one was seen near West Runton 23rd. The three Shorelark remained at Cley NWT all month and two were at Burnham Overy Dunes 3rd.

The Great Grey Shrike remained at Kelling all month and one was at Gayton Thorpe 5th and the one at Grimes Graves was still there until 20th The Dark-breasted Barn Owl stayed at Wacton Common until 31st at least.

A Spoonbill Breydon Water 15th and a juvenile Glaucous Gull was nearby at Gorleston and Great Yarmouth 14th-31st at least and another different bird was at Breydon Water 18th and another was at Cley NWT & Salthouse 6th-8th.

Seven Waxwings were at Great Yarmouth cemetery 8th and a Dartford Warbler was at Holkham NNR 15th and a Hooded Crow was seen at Holme 17th.

Returning summer visitors included a Wheatear at Salthouse 17th, a pair of Garganey Buckenham Marshes RSPB 17th, an Osprey flew west at Stiffkey 23rd, a Whinchat at Cley NWT 30th, two House martin over Eccles-on-Sea 30th, Willow Warblers at East Ruston Common 30th, a Garden Warbler at Flordon a Ring Ouzel West Runton 31st.

There was an arrival of Woodlarks with single birds at Thornham Point, Winterton and Mundesley 29th and Little Snoring 30th. Common Scoters were found on inland water bodies at Whitlingham CP, Barton Broad and Rockland Broad.

A Camberwell Beauty came out of hibernation and was found at Stalham 14th.

This article is written by

Robin Chittenden from Birdline East Anglia.

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