Not the rarity they once were but this Cattle Egret (one of two) was a welcome find in mid January at Halvergate. A site that has attracted several of these in recent years. Found and photographed by Tony Stride.
The 20/21 winter has seen several Iceland Gulls along the east coast. This individual was found and photographed along Caister beach in the second half of January by Kevan Brett.
This Tundra Bean Goose was one of two with a Pink-footed Goose flock feeding on harvested sugarbeet fields between Buckenham and Hassingham in early February. Found by Chris Small, photo by Steve Smith.
This 1st winter female Scaup was a good find at Whitlingham CP in early February. Found and photographed by Justin Lansdell.
The February cold snap also brought in this Smew, which graced both Whitlingham CP and the nearby Thorpe Broad. Found by Dave Russell and photographed by Stuart White.
Hen Harriers are scarce in our area and always good to see, and males always a joy. This individual was photographed by Jason Nichols at Burgh Castle in mid March.
Eiders are scarce in our area, especially away from the coast. So this fine drake was a great find on Breydon Water in late March. Found and photographed by Jeremy Gaskell.
Three Common Scoter spent the day of 4th April at Whitlingham CP, foun dby Jeremy Gaskell and photographed by Justin Lansdell
This Kittiwake in early April was only the 8th record at Whitlingham but the 4th this year and the first to linger. A great find by Stu Buck. Photo by Steve Smith.
Above and below, two images of Arctic Terns at Whitlingham CP, part of the usual mid Aprilpassage. Photos by Drew Lyness
Strumpshaw Fen held a spectacular pre roost gathering of Bramblings in early April, including this fine male, photographed by Dave Ratcliffe.
In an adjacent field to the Limpenhoe Ring Ouzel, this Cattle Egret was keeping company with the cows. Photo by Dave Ratcliffe.
Spoonbills are always scarce in our area, especially away from the Breydon estuary, but Buckenham Marsh sometimes attracts a few records. This one in early May was found by Ron McIntyre and photographed by Dave Bryant.
This very elusive White-spotted Bluethroat was an amazing discovery at Strumpshaw Fen in late May. It remained heard but unseen for 2 days and was thought to be a Marsh Warbler! Although it eventually revealed its true identity it remained very elusive, usually only being seen in the first hours of daylight. A great find by Ron McIntyre, who also managed this great photo.
A flock of 9 European Bee-eaters which had been roaming the country touched down in Gt Yarmouth from mid June. Found by Leon Docwra who also kindly allowed birders onto his land to view the birds. Photo by Stu Buck.
This Wood Sandpiper on a small flood at Beighton shows birds can turn up anywhere on migration. Found by Steve Smith and photographed by Justin Lansdell in late June.
This splendid Rose-coloured Starling spent 10 minutes on fat ball feeders in a Gorleston garden in early August. Found by Kath and Paul Gallant and photographed by their grandsonLeo Gallant.
One, possibly two Mandarins were seen in late summer in the mid Yare Valley. This female settled for a few days on the flood at Beighton. Photo by Steve Smith.
This ringed White Stork appeared in the Rockland, Strumpshaw and Buckenham area from late September. No matter what its origin, still a good bird to see. Photo by Steve Smith.
These 12 Common Cranes, first picked up by Justin Lansdell over Whitlingham CP were tracked across Norwich in early November. Photo by James Lowen.
One of 2 Ravens seen at Buckenham Marsh in early December. A rare but increasing visitor to our valley. Photo by Dave Bryant.
This Siberian Chiffchaff was trapped and ringed at the UEA in Norwich in early December. A fantastic record in what, nationally, has been a good autumn/winter for the (sub)species. Found and photographed by Stephen Vickers.
Bewick's Swan is now a scarce bird in our area, so this family party was very welcome at Haddiscoe Marsh in late December. Found and photographed by Alison Allen.
The Cantley/Buckenham Taiga Bean Geese are both low in number and elusive in the 20/21 winter period. Only 6 birds present during this time. This one was photographed by Murray Smith at Cantley in mid January.
This Slavonian Grebe was a great find by John Harris on Breydon Water during the cold snap in late January. Photo by Tommy Corcoran.
With all three white egrets becoming regular in the Yare Valley, how long before we get all of the together? This Great White and Little Egret pair was photographed by Justin Lansdell at Whitlingham CP in late January.
An influx of Pintail into the mid Yare valley in the February cold snap brought this Pintail to the outskirts of Norwich at Whitlingham CP. a rare visitor to this site. Photo by Drew Lyness.
The February cold snap also saw the arrival of this Bittern to Whitlinghaam CP. Photo by Drew Lyness.
Another image of the Whitlingham CP Scaup taken by Drew Lyness in early March when the white facial blaze had moulted through to become more obvious
The February golden spell for Whitlingham CP continued with this Black-necked Grebe, photographed by Dave Radcliffe.
Late March saw a good arrival of Garganey into the UK with quite a few being seen in our area. This party of 8 at Strumpshaw Fen was an exceptional record. with a bonus Great White Egret adding to the scene. Photo by Dave Bryant.
A Grey Phalarope found by Reg Land at Rockland Broad on 7th April after a period of unseasonal northerly gales was a terrific find. Photographed by Justin Lansdell
This adult Little Gull delighted many during its stay at Thorpe Broad from early April. Photo by James Lowen.
Early April gave us a good passage of Ring Ouzels in our region. This nice male at Limpenhoe was photographed by Dave Ratcliffe.
Two weeks after the bird at nearby Rockland Broad, this distant Grey Phalarope was picked out and photographed by Ben Lewis at Cantley Marsh. an amazing duo of records.
This Caspian Tern was an amazing find by Dave Andrews in mid May at the UEA Broad, Norwich. Stayed around for an hour or so, giving time for a few local birders to catch up with it. It also made a brief visit to Whitlingham CP where at least one lucky birder caught up with it. Photo by James Lowen.
This Great Reed Warbler was a fantastic find by Stephen Howell at Breydon Water in mid May. Despite it being between the main road and the railway line it could clearly be heard singing above the noise. Photo by Steve Smith.
A small passage of Honey Buzzards in early June included 2 over Thorpe, Norwich and this bird over Blofield Heath. Photo by Dave Bryant.
This fine adult Yellow-legged gull was a surprise at Beighton in mid July. Found and photographed by Steve Smith.
Garganey have again been proven to breed at Buckenham this year. This female with a single duckling was found and photographed by Justin Lansdell in July.
This Black-crowned Night-heron flew east over Strumpshaw Fen in late July, brilliantly picked up on call by Drew Lyness who managed a quick phone video from which this still is taken.
This head started and colour ringed Continental Black-tailed Godwit arrived at Buckenham Marsh in early August. Found and photographed by Drew Lyness.
This Little Stint was part of the autumn wader passage through the Yare Valley. Almost annual at Buckenham Marsh but still a great find in late August. Found and photographed by Drew Lyness.
Always a good bird to see in the Yare Valley, this Spotted Redshank was found and photographed by Dave Bryant at Buckenham Marsh in early October.
Reading Gull rings is a popular pastime during the winter months and Gt Yarmouth beach is a good place to record ringed birds, This Croatian ringed adult Mediterranean Gull was photographed in Novemberby Roger Parker
This first winter Caspian Gull paid a brief visit to Whitlingham CP in mid November, a good bird for our area still. Found and photographed by Drew Lyness.
This young Red-necked Grebe spent a couple of days on Breydon Water in mid December. A great find by Peter Allard, photo by Steve Smith.
