Winter notes from the Commons.

 Our winter again has been virtually snow-free although there were a few frosts in the latter part. The wildlife sightings cover December, January and February and are compiled mainly from records made by Mark Clements and myself.

A Kingfisher frequented the main pond (11 Dec) and about 30 Blackbirds were present throughout the site. Pink-footed Geese were heard passing overhead (12 Dec) but not seen due to the misty conditions. A flock of around 200 Pink-footed Geese were seen (14 Dec) heading east, also two wintering Chiffchaffs were spotted. Giant Willow Aphids were still present (17 Dec) and the following day (18 Dec) a Firecrest was seen. Three Bewick’s Swans passed west (20 Dec) and a Fieldfare was also noted. A group of four Fieldfares were present (24 Dec) and Great-spotted Woodpecker’s were heard “drumming” (29 Dec). Drumming is where a woodpecker uses its beak to hammer a tree trunk at high speed – 40 strikes a second for a Great-spotted Woodpecker. This is the woodpecker’s equivalent to a song declaring territory and to attract a mate. Three Siskin and a Firecrest were seen (31 Dec).

A Little Egret and 10 Lapwing headed west (04 Jan) and Dave Billham also reported 11 Grey Lag Geese west.  A group of five Mute Swans headed west and eight Redwings were noted (08 Jan). Mark flushed a Jack Snipe from the marsh and recorded a Kingfisher on the main pond (15 Jan). He also saw a Marsh Tit – a bird that is showing signs of steep decline in north Norfolk with both numbers and locations down over the last five years. Dave Billham reported three Woodcock by the new scrape (20 Jan). The Kingfisher was again at the main pond (21 Jan) and a Peregrine passed south. A Water Rail was noted by Mark (22 Jan) and there was an unusual occurrence of a White-fronted Goose present on the Dew Pond, north of the A149 (24 Jan) reported by Dave Billham. A wintering female Blackcap was found by Pete Geary (25 Jan) and the Kingfisher was back at the pond (29 Jan).

A party of 28 Siskin were present (04 Feb) and the Firecrest was still present (21 Feb) when the first of the year Adders were also found basking. Firecrests have gone from a scarce passage migrant to a breeding bird and is now well-established in many locations along the Cromer-Holt ridge. Three Red Kites were seen passing over the Common (23 Feb) and a Stonechat was present. The first Honey Bee for the year was foraging on the Gorse flowers (24 Feb) indicating that spring is on the way.

Francis Farrow – Hon. Warden