This Tundra Bean Goose was amongst the Russian White-fronted and Canada Geese at Cantley Marsh in early January. Found and photographed by Dan Monk.
This 3rd winter Iceland Gull at Whitlingham CP in late January (only the 3rd site record) was an excellent find by Robin Chittenden. Photograph by Justin Lansdell.
This White-tailed Eagle (from the IOW reintroduction scheme) frequented the easter section of our area early in the year. Photo by Jane Ferguson.
This Dotterel was not only a great surprise in early March at Buckenham Marsh but a great find by Ron McIntyre, who also took this photo.
After several sightings of a White Stork over the A47 east of Acle in mid March, the bird was eventually located on the ground by Tony Stride on Halvergate Marsh. It was ringed from a Dutch scheme. Photo by Steve Smith.
This Grey Plover was a good inland find at Buckenham Marsh by Dan Monk in early April. Photo by Steve Smith.
This Great Reed Warbler was an excellent find by Mark Eldridge by Cantley sewage works in mid May. An elusive bird but James Lowen managed this great photo.
Remarkably, a second Great Reed Warbler appeared in the mid-Yare Valley in late May. This time at Strumpshaw Fen outside reception hide. Just like the Cantley bird, this one was also only present for a single day. Photo by Ron McIntyre.
Dan Monk struck gold in late May when this flock of 14 Glossy Ibis dropped into Cantley Marshes in front of him. These birds went on to tour the North Norfolk Coast the following day. Photographed by Jonathan Farooqi.
Green-winged Teal are less than annual in Norfolk, so this drake at Buckenham Marshes in early June was a brilliant find by Chris Small. Photo by Drew Lyness.
This first summer male Red-footed Falcon was a great find by Chris Allen on his local marsh in mid June, excellently photographed by Alison Allen. To top a brilliant find, a couple of Bee-eater flew over that same afternoon!
Well overdue in the mid-Yare Valley, Black-winged Stilt finally made an appearance which lasted long enough for several birders to catch up with them. This pair were found and photographed (above) at Buckenham Marshes by Drew Lyness in mid-June. Also photographed by Murray Smith (below).
Long-eared Owl are a near-mythical bird in the mid-Yare Valley, so it was astonishing to find that they had bred locally! At least two juveniles were found and photographed in the area by Drew Lyness, including the bird pictured above that has been showing well at Strumpshaw Fen in early July.
Always brilliant to have an Osprey in our area. This individual was spotted at Strumpshaw by Ron McIntyre in early July, who took the photograph above.
This second-summer Night Heron put in an all too brief appearance at Cantley Beet Factory in late July, though was seen again in mid-August. Found and photographed by Drew Lyness.
Pied Flycatcher made an appearance at several Yare Valley sites in mid-August, including Cantley Beet Factory and this one aboveat Burgh Castle. Photograph by Paul Noakes.
Honey Buzzard continue to delight visitors to the mid-Yare Valley throughout August, with Strumpshaw Fen providing the best vantage point for regular sightings as photographed brilliantly by Jake Gearty.
This Lesser Yellowlegs was found amongst a small group of Ruff at Buckenham Marsh in late September by Steve Smith. Photo by Dan Monk.
This Arctic Warbler was an incredible find in the finders garden at Burgh Castle in mid October. Found, trapped, ringed and photographed by Paul Noakes.
Not as common as in winters past Snow Buntings are always welcome. This bird was 1 of 3 on Gt Yarmouth North Beach in early November. Photo by John Harris.
This female Red-crested Pochard spent a day at Strumpshaw Fen in early October. Found and photographed by Dave Edwards.
This Ruddy Shelduck spent a few days with the Pink-footed Geese in the Cantley area in late November. Photo by Dave Ratcliffe.
What is presumably the same Short-eared Owl that graced Rockland/Claxton Marshes at the close of 2022 was still present into 2023. Photo by Dave Jones.
Merlin is a very scarce bird in the Yare Valley so this bird at Cantley Marsh in early February was very welcome. Found and photographed by Dan Monk.
This Meally Redpoll was a great find in a small flock of Lesser Redpoll at Whitlingham CP in mid March. Found and photographed by Drew Lyness.
This pair of Garganey were our first of the spring on March 23rd at Strumpshaw Fen. Found and photographed by Ron McIntyre.
This Spotted Redshank arrived at Cantley/Buckenham Marshes at the end of April and stayed well into May. Found and photographed by Dan Monk.
After several tantalizing reports of a ringtail Pallid/Montagu's Harrier in and around our area this Montagu's Harrier was eventually located on the north wall of Breydon Water by Drew Lyness and Jonathan Farooqi in mid May. Photo by Jonathan Farooqi.
Initially thought to be a temminck's, this mystery wader at Buckenham Marshes in late May turned out to be a Sanderling! A very scarce bird at the RSPB Mid-Yare Valley reserves, although this spring has seen a remarkable inland passage of them. Found by Drew Lyness and photographed by David Ratcliffe.
This stunning male Red-backed Shrike was found in early June at Wheatfen. A very rare sighting in the mid-Yare Valley. Photographed by Justin Lansdell.
The biggest news from the mid-Yare Valley in 2023 has been a pair of Crane successfully fledging a chick at Strumpshaw Fen. The first to do so in the area for at least 450 years! The family has been delighting visitors to the reserve in early June. Photos by Jonathan Farooqi (above) and Murray Smith (below).
This White-winged Black Tern was a brilliant find by Dave Holman from his house opposite Colney GP in mid June. Viewing difficult so Chris Stone did well to get this photograph.
In what has been a good year for Glossy Ibis this bird was seen at Buckenham Marsh in late June then relocated at Cantley BF by Justin Lansdell who managed this fine photograph.
Subject to acceptance this Lesser Scaup at Colney GP in late June will be a first for Norfolk! A monster find by @Robin Chittenden, who managed this photograph.
This Honey Buzzard was well picked out as it passed over the Brundall home of Jonathan Farooqi in early July and he did very well to grab this photo as it passed.
By the end of June a second Glossy Ibis was found at Cantley BF by Roger Ansell. Photo by Steve Smith.
This Caspian Tern was an excellent find at Buckenham Marsh in early July. Found and photographed by Dan Monk. This bird later relocated to Breydon Water where it was met by a second individual!
Sometimes you just have to admire exotic ducks regardless of origin. This feisty Chiloe Wigeon at Strumpshaw Fen seemed to enjoy showing the local mallards who was boss. An interesting find by Amber Newton in mid-August. Photograph by Drew Lyness.
A few Whinchats passed through our area early Autumn. This one was at Buckenham Marsh in mid September. Found and photographed by Dave Edwards.
This Black Tern was a welcome late September visitor to Whitlingham CP. Photo by David Russell.
This first-winter Caspian Gull was frequenting Whitlingham CP in mid-October. Found and photographed by Drew Lyness.
The second winter period saw a national influx of Waxwings. After the odd flyover sighting in our area this flock of 8 settled at Stoke Holy Cross in early November. Photo by Dave Jones.
Red-throated Diver is very rare away from the coast, so this one which spent time along the River Yare from late October at the Mid Yare RSPB reserves was very sought after by many. Found by Jonathan Farooqi and photographed by Steve Smith.
An extremely rare bird in our area. This young Goshawk was found and photographed by Dave Ratcliffe in early December at Buckenham Marsh.
