Breeding Reports

The following sections contain downloadable reports of breeding and some other information from the particular sites. If you have any other report from the Square which is not contained here and would like to share it with our readers please contact the web administrator at email address to be added.

Bayfield

Breeding Report 1998-2012 

by Len Bentley

A report of birds seen and breeding at Bayfield during the period. Click here to download.

Blakeney National Nature Reserve

These recent reports cover the whole Blakeney National Nature Reserve which comprises Blakeney Point, parts of Blakeney Freshes, Chapel Island, Stiffkey Marsh, Stiffkey Meals, Morston Marshes and parts of Blakeney Harbour.  Although mainly birds some also give information on Seals, Butterflies and other wildlife.  Earlier reports were for individual parts of the reserve.

2017

Click 2017 Blakeney NNR Breeding Bird Report to download this report.

2016

Click 2016 Blakeney NNR Breeding Bird Report to download the report.

2015

Click 2015 Blakeney National Nature Reserve Breeding Bird Report to download the report.

Blakeney Point

 

2022

A very disappointing year for Sandwich and Common Terns following last year’s successes. Very few of either species nested.  In contrast, Little Terns had a far more successful year. 

Click on 2022 Blakeney Point breeding bird report to download this latest report

2021

It was a mixed year for breeding terns on Blakeney Point,  Sandwich Terns nested in the highest numbers since 2013,, Common Terns also did well with 324 pairs, the highest since 1980,  but Little Terns fared less well with a record number (217) of pairs only fledging seven chicks.

Click on 2021 Blakeney Point breeding bird report to download this latest report

2014

A poor year for Sandwich and Little Terns due to high tides and predation. To download the full report  click on 2014 Blakeney Point Breeding Report.

2013

4120 pairs of Sandwich Terns nested but only 2000 young fledged.  Avocets and Grey Partridges did well.  Download the full 2013 Blakeney Point Breeding Report.

2012

2200 Sandwich Terns fledged. Common and Little Terns didn’t do as well. Avocets nested on the shingle ridge for the first time ever. Download the full 2012 Blakeney Point Breeding Report

2011

3562 pairs of Sandwich Terns and 160 pairs of Little Terns bred.   
Download the full 2011 Blakeney Point Bird Report

2010

Wardens Annual Report covering birds and other wildlife.
Download the full 2010 Blakeney Point Bird Report

2009

Wardens Annual Report covering birds and other wildlife.
Download the full 2009 Blakeney Point Bird Report

Cley & Salthouse Marshes

These reports cover the area from Cley Beach Road east to Iron Road, Salthouse. Members of the Cley Bird Club have been monitoring breeding birds here since 2003 and annual reports have been produced since 2004. 

2022  

Bitterns bred for the first time since 2008 and Spoonbills bred in N Foreland for the first time. Ringed Plover seemed to do very well but there was  poor productivity for Lapwing and Avocet. It was also another challenging year in terms of weather, with long, dry periods and hot temperatures in July and August.

The full report can be seen by downloading Cley 2022 Breeding Report

2021

After a difficult survey season in 2020, due to covid restrictions, 2021 allowed a full survey to be carried out, as the volunteer team and members of the public were able to visit the reserve throughout the breeding season.
Surveys were carried out of all areas between West bank at Cley, through to, but not including Kelling Water Meadows.

The results of this monitoring can be seen by downloading  Cley 2021 breeding report.

2020

This year has been interesting to say the least. In March, the breeding season was fast approaching but so too was the inevitability of the country being restricted to their homes, as Covid-19 spread across the country. On March 18th, the reserve closed to the public, including the hides and visitor centre. On March 23rd people were told to stay at home. Initially, this included all reserve staff.  As people weren’t allowed to travel, the usual volunteer group who spend a lot of time monitoring breeding birds on the reserve were not able to do so.  This all meant that this year’s surveying was not as extensive as previous years, so key species were prioritised. The results of this monitoring can be seen by downloading  Cley 2020 breeding report.

2019

Breeding success this year was very mixed.  Some species, especially ducks, did quite well compared to the average but others had a very poor breeding season. Only one Marsh Harrier fledged and no Little Grebes but 20 Avocets fledged which was the highest number since 2013 and 29 Lapwing, the highest since 2012. A booming Bittern caused excitement in the spring but it didn’t breed. fFor the first time, a few key species were monitored on the NWT land east of Iron Rd.To see the full details download the 2019 Cley Breeding Report.

2018

The cold weather this spring followed by the hot, dry summer seemed to have an adverse effect on some species but some did well. After a few poor years Mute Swans did much better with 8 cygnets fledging on the reserve.  Again only one pair of Marsh Harriers raised young.  To see the full details download the 2018 Cley Breeding Report.

2017

Dabbling ducks did well again this year. There were also good numbers of Redshank and young but Marsh Harriers did poorly with only one pair successfully raising young. Download the full 2017 Cley Breeding Report.

2016

A good year for ducks, with Shelducks having their most successful year since we started recording.  Little grebes also did well with 9 chicks fledging.  For the first time since 2007, 3 Oystercatcher chicks fledged, but other waders didn’t do so well. Download the full 2016 Cley Breeding Report.

2015

An average breeding season with large numbers of Black-headed Gulls.  For the first time since we started recording, no Mute Swans bred. Download the full 2015 Cley Breeding Report.

2014

A reasonable year considering the flood damage in December 2013.  Good numbers of Avocets and Black-headed Gulls nested sucessfully on the newly renovated pools on Pope’s Marsh but but many Avocet chicks were lost as the parents took them on long walks across the marshes.  Two pairs of Little Tern nested on the new shingle spits created by the surge but unfortunately the nests only lasted a few days – this is the first record at Cley, at least since we’ve been recording.
Download the full 2014 Cley Breeding Report.

2013

Not such a good year as 2012 but still good with 37 Avocets and 5 Little Ringed Plovers fledged. 
Download the full 2013 Cley Breeding Report

2012

Avocets had a great year with 55 young fledged.  Lapwings had their best year yet with 58 young fledged. Stonechats bred for the first time in 20 years.  Little Ringed Plovers hatched eggs for the first time and one youngster fledged.  Bearded Tits and Cetti’s Warblers recovered after last year’s bad season. 
Download the full 2012 Cley Breeding Report.

2011

Garganey and Teal bred.  Only 9 young Avocets fledged.  Bad year for Bearded Tits and Cetti’s Warblers following the cold winter. Little Egrets bred again. 
Download the full 2011 Cley Breeding Report.

2010

Little Egrets bred for the first time. A pair of Mute Swans raised 3 Greylag goslings! Only 10 young Avocets fledged. Download the full 2010 Cley Breeding Report.

2009

Mute Swans bred by road and got on TV.  20 young Marsh Harriers fledged. The Bittern boomed but did not breed and Avocets had an awful year, only 3 young fledged. 
Download the full 2009 Cley Breeding Report

2008

Bitterns bred but the young weren’t seen.  21 young Marsh Harriers fledged.  Only 10 young Avocets fledged.
Download the full 2008 Cley Breeding Report

2007

25 young Avocets fledged.  1 young Oystercatcher fledged.
Download the full 2007 Cley Breeding Report

2006

Pintail bred.  A total of 8 young Ringed Plovers fledged from 2 nests.  4 Common Tern chicks fledged from 2 nests on Arnold’s Marsh.  Only 5 young Avocets fledged.
Download the full 2006 Cley Breeding Report.

2005

Garganey bred and 4 young fledged. Ruddy Ducks bred for the last time. Only 18 young Avocets fledged.
Download the full 2005 Cley Breeding Report.

2004

41 young Avocets fledged.  2004 Cley Breeding Report

Kelling Heath

Breeding birds on Kelling Heath have been reported on by John Wagstaff since 2005. 

2013

No Stonechats this year, but Dartford Warblers, Woodlarks and Turtle Doves bred. 
Download the full 2013 Kelling Heath Breeding Report

2012

Dartford Warblers, Wooodlarks and Stonechats all bred but in small numbers.
Download the full 2012 Kelling Heath Breeding Report

2011 

A reasonably good breeding season with Dartford Warblers, Woodlarks and Stonechats all breeding successfully. Download the full 2011 Kelling Heath Breeding Report

2010

A good year considering the severity of the winter and unsettled weather in the spring.
Download the full 2010 Kelling Heath Breeding Report

2009

An unusual year, disappointing in some ways but interesting and rewarding in others.  There was no positive evidence of breeding Woodlarks, Tree Pipits, Dartford Warblers or Turtle Doves, but Linnets did well.

Download the full 2009 Kelling Heath Breeding Report

2008

A successful year for Stonechats but only 1 pair of Dartfords bred.
Download the full 2008 Kelling Heath Breeding Report

2007

A successful year for Stonechats but poor for Woodlarks.
Download the full 2007 Kelling Heath Breeding Report

2006

Tree Pipits bred for the first time in 3 years
Download the full 2006 Kelling Heath Breeding Report

 2005

This first report found breeding Woodlarks and Turtle Doves probably bred but no young were seen.
Download the full 2005 Kelling Heath Breeding Report.

Weybourne and Kelling Water Meadow Annual Report

2013

Moss Taylor’s annual review of the more interesting bird sightings made in 2013, a year in which a record total of 221 species were recorded at Weybourne Camp and/or Kelling Water Meadow.  The report also includes sightings of mammals, reptiles, butterflies, dragonflies and bees and his Weybourne Camp ringing totals.

Download the full 2013 Annual Report WC & KWM

2012

A review of the more interesting bird sightings made in 2012, a year in which a record total of 213 species was recorded in the area, including the first Arctic Redpolls, Thrush Nightingale, Black-winged Stilt & Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.

Download the full 2012 Annual Report WC & KWM