Skip to main content

Full text of "Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society"

See other formats 


RD  & W 2004 


^fb 


Norfolk 


Bird  & Mammal 


Report 


1975 


’ublished  by  The  Norfolk  Naturalists  Trust 
ind  The  Norfolk  & Norwich  Naturalists  Society 


Vol.  24  Part  1 


Norfolk  Bird  Report  - 1975 


V 


* 8 

4/l 


Editor:  Michael  J.  Seago 

County  Recorder:  D.  A.  Dorling 

Editorial  Assistants:  P.  R.  Allard,  A.  D.  Boote,  J.  F.  W.  Bruhn,  G.  E.  Dunmore 
and  Dr.  M.  P.  Taylor 


Editorial 

2 - 5 

Classified  Notes 

6 - 24 

Ringing  Report 

25  - 29 

Contributors 

30 

Norfolk  Mammal  Report  - 1975 


Editor : Rex  Hancey 


Editorial 

31 

Classified  Notes 

32  - 35 

Control  of  Coypus 

36  - 38 

Contributors 

39 

Published  by 

THE  NORFOLK  NATURALISTS’  TRUST,  72  The  Close,  Norwich  NR1  4DF 
(Telephone:  25540) 
and 

THE  NORFOLK  & NORWICH  NATURALISTS’  SOCIETY,  Castle  Museum, 
Norwich  ( Transactions  Volume  24  Part  1) 


NORFOLK 

BIRD 

REPORT 

1975 

Editorial 


The  Council  of  the  Norfolk  Naturalists  Trust,  in  co-operation  with  the  Norfolk 
and  Norwich  Naturalists’  Society,  is  pleased  to  present  the  annual  report  on  the  birds 
of  Norfolk.  It  is  also  the  Trust’s  Jubilee  edition. 

Weather  . . . Review  of  the  Year  . . . Road  Casualties  . . . B.T.O.  Rookery  Survey 
Acknowledgments  . . . Recording 

The  Weather:  1975  will  long  be  remembered  for  the  mild  winter.  Spring,  in 
contrast,  was  cold  and  wet,  but  these  conditions  ended  abruptly  in  early  June  to  give 
the  warmest  and  driest  summer  for  many  years.  Jan.  was  the  mildest  for  14  years,  but 
unsettled  weather  for  the  second  half  brought  precipitation  on  every  day  after  the  1 6th. 
Feb.  was  much  drier  and  sunnier  than  normal ; March  was  the  wettest  and  cloudiest 
for  1 1 years  and  ground  frost  of  — 8.6C.  on  the  last  day  of  the  month  was  the  lowest 
of  the  winter. 

April  was  wetter  than  normal  and  the  dullest  for  9 years.  May  was  the  coldest  for 
20  years  and  sunshine  was  below  normal.  June  was  much  sunnier  than  normal  and 
July  the  warmest  since  1969. 

Aug.  was  the  warmest  since  records  began  at  Sprowston  in  1925,  equalling  the 
mean  temperature  of  Aug.  1942.  It  was  also  the  sunniest  and  driest  since  1947.  The 
month  was  influenced  mainly  by  anti-cyclonic  conditions.  Sept,  was  wetter  than  nor- 
mal and  Oct.  the  driest  since  1969,  again  with  anti-cyclonic  conditions;  fogs  and 
mists  were  frequent.  Nov.  was  largely  unsettled,  but  high  pressure  influenced  the 
weather  for  much  of  Dec.  C Eastern  Daily  Press). 

Review  of  the  Year:  1975  will  long  be  remembered  for  the  unprecedented  number  of 
rare  birds  which  appeared  in  Norfolk,  including  five  additions  to  the  County  list. 
Normally  few  unusual  birds  appear  in  the  early  months  of  the  year  and  hence  the 
appearance  of  a wanderer  from  more  northerly  latitudes  at  Sandringham  in  February, 
a Two-barred  Crossbill,  was  surprising  especially  in  view  of  the  mild  weather. 

Whilst  a few  summer  visitors  arrived  in  the  first  half  of  March,  adverse  weather 
conditions  delayed  the  main  arrival  of  many  migrants  until  well  into  the  following 
month.  On  April  19th  an  abrupt  change  to  warmer  southerly  winds  resulted  in  a 
spectacular  fall  of  migrants  on  the  north  coast  with  Chiffchaffs,  Willow  Warblers  and 
Wheatears  in  abundance. 


2 


During  the  spring  many  observers  look  forward  to  anticyclonic  weather 
conditions  associated  with  warm  south-easterly  winds  in  the  hope  that  a sprinkling 
of  Mediterranean  species  will  occur  having  “overshot”  their  normal  breeding  range. 
These  ideal  conditions  did  not  generally  occur  in  1975  although  a Black-eared 
Wheatear  appeared  at  Cley  on  May  13th  together  with  a second  bird  (presumably 
lost) ! for  20  days  at  Holme  in  June.  Other  notable  records  during  this  period  included 
two  Purple  Herons,  Golden  Oriole  and  unprecedented  numbers  of  Rough-legged 
Buzzards  on  their  return  journey  to  Scandinavia  and  North  Russia. 

A variety  of  unusual  waders  also  occurred.  Two  Dotterel  were  seen  by  many 
observers  near  Salthouse  Heath  for  two  days  in  late  May.  A Terek  Sandpiper  appeared 
at  Breydon  on  June  1st,  followed  by  the  arrival  of  a Wilson’s  Phalarope  (a  vagrant 
from  America)  at  Wisbech  S.F.  six  days  later.  Somewhat  amazingly  a second  Terek 
Sandpiper  was  seen  at  Cley  for  three  days  in  early  July,  and  one  can  only  speculate, 
in  view  of  the  date,  whether  it  was  on  its  journey  to,  or  from,  its  breeding  ground  in 
Finland  or  further  east. 

Normally  July  produces  few  Scandinavian  passerine  migrants  so  the  records  of 
an  immature  Arctic  Warbler  at  Holme  on  5th  and  a Barred  Warbler  at  Sheringham 
on  29th  are  both  surprising.  A Rose-coloured  Starling  (an  erratic  wanderer  from  Asia) 
was  seen  at  Winterton  on  the  last  day  of  the  month.  In  contrast  Pectoral  Sandpipers 
were  detected  at  Wisbech  S.F.  in  July  and  at  Cley  in  August. 

Several  small  “falls”  of  passerine  migrants  were  recorded  on  the  coast  between 
August  10th  and  September  14th.  Such  falls  are  normally  associated  with  winds 
between  north  and  east,  with  overcast  conditions;  on  August  30th,  however,  a signi- 
ficant arrival  of  birds  occurred  on  the  north  coast,  especially  at  Blakeney  Point, 
with  a west-north-west  wind  (the  winds  being  easterly  further  north  over  the  North 
Sea)  and  it  was  interesting  that  there  was  a virtual  lack  of  migrants  on  the  north-east 
and  east  coasts.  These  arrivals  included  on  various  dates  such  species  as  Wryneck, 
Bluethroat,  Icterine  and  Barred  Warbler,  Red-breasted  Flycatcher  and  Ortolan, 
but  rather  surprisingly  no  large  numbers  of  the  more  common  migrants  such  as 
Pied  Flycatchers  were  recorded. 

Rare  birds  in  the  early  autumn  included  a Scarlet  Rosefinch  at  Holkham 
August  29th  and  an  Aquatic  Warbler  on  Blakeney  Point  September  5/6th.  This 
latter  bird  was  virtually  the  only  migrant  on  the  Point  and  it  can  only  be  assumed  that 
it  had  arrived  but  remained  “hidden”  since  the  previous  weekend.  Pride  of  place 
must  go  to  the  Greater  Yellowlegs  which  attracted  and  delighted  so  many  observers 
from  September  8th  to  13th.  A Buff-breasted  Sandpiper  also  appeared  at  Cley  during 
the  month.  Sea  watchers  were  not  disappointed;  large  movements  of  seabirds  were 
noted  close  inshore  along  the  north  coast  on  August  31st  during  a strong  northerly 
wind  and  on  September  14th  in  a north-easterly  gale. 

South-westerly  winds  prevailed  from  mid-September  to  early  October  resulting 
in  a noticeable  lack  of  visual  migration. 

A Blue-winged  Teal,  however,  was  unfortunately  shot  at  Hickling  during  this 
period. 

On  9th  October  the  wind  veered  north-easterly  as  an  anticyclone  established 
itself  over  the  Baltic.  This  weather  system  remained  for  most  of  the  month  and  the 
associated  easterly  airstream  across  the  whole  of  central  Europe  resulted  in  the  arrival 
of  an  incredible  number  of  Asiatic  vagrants.  This  period  will  be  long  remembered  in 
the  annals  of  Norfolk  ornithology! 

Goldcrests  appeared  in  large  numbers  on  10th  October  on  the  north  and  east 
coasts.  Yarmouth  produced  single  Yellow-browed  Warblers  and  Red-breasted 
Flycatchers  with  two  of  the  latter  at  Wells,  where  an  Olive-backed  Pipit  was  found. 


3 


The  next  day  a Pallas’s  Warbler  was  discovered  in  silver  birches  at  the  western  end 
of  Holkham  pines.  On  12th  there  was  a total  of  at  least  15  Yellow-browed  Warblers 
at  Wells/Holkham,  together  with  a pale  shrike,  one  of  the  eastern  Asiatic  races  of  the 
Red-backed  Shrike.  A Dusky  Warbler  was  discovered  close  to  Wells  [boating  lake 
on  14th  and  the  next  day  two  Pallas’s  Warblers  were  seen  together  at  Holkham. 

On  17th  further  Pallas’s  Warblers  were  recorded  at  Scolt  Head  and  Happisburgh 
and  a Radde’s  Warbler  at  Brancaster.  A second  Radde’s  Warbler  was  seen  at  Holkham 
the  next  day,  together  with  another  Dusky  Warbler  on  Blakeney  Point  (the  only  warb- 
ler present !).  A group  of  observers  walking  out  along  the  Point  to  see  this  bird  also 
found  a Rustic  Bunting;  another  of  this  species  was  subsequently  at  Cley  on  22nd. 
A Far  Eastern  vagrant,  a Yellow-browed  Bunting,  at  Wells  on  19th  will  be  the  first 
British  record  if  accepted  by  the  B.O.U.  Records  Committee.  A Black-throated 
Thrush  enthralled  visitors  to  Holkham  from  22nd  to  25th  and  on  the  latter  date  the 
third  Radde’s  Warbler  of  the  autumn  was  found  at  the  same  locality.  On  25th  an 
adult  Lesser  Grey  Shrike  was  at  Holme,  which  was  very  surprising  in  view  of  its  more 
southerly  range  compared  with  the  majority  of  species  which  occurred  at  the  time. 
The  next  day  a distinctive  eastern  race  of  the  Redstart  was  identified  at  Heacham  and 
on  27th  another  rarity  was  discovered  at  Holme — a Short-toed  Lark. 

During  the  period  considerable  numbers  of  winter  visitors  were  arriving, 
including  thrushes,  finches  and  sea  ducks  together  with  abnormal  numbers  of  Long- 
eared Owls.  Migration  continued  well  into  November,  including  several  small  flocks 
of  Little  Auks. 

Road  Casualties:  Along  a five-mile  stretch  of  the  A47  between  Yarmouth  and 
“Stracey  Arms”  totalled  117  birds  as  follows:  40  Moorhens,  36  Black-headed  Gulls, 
7 Barn  Owls,  24  House  Sparrows,  2 Blackbirds,  3 Lapwing,  2 Redwing  and  single 
Mallard,  Rook  and  Mute  Swan  (RHH). 

B.T.O.  Rookery  Survey:  During  1975  coverage  of  the  county  as  a whole  was  patchy 
with  80  % of  west  Norfolk  completed,  but,  with  rather  more  disappointments  JGG 
reports  that  he  had  much  more  work  to  complete,  rounding  up  uncovered  squares 
than  were  left  over  in  west  Norfolk. 

Of  the  30  squares  in  west  Norfolk,  1 was  ‘lost’  to  Suffolk  and  4 were  not  covered, 
but  these  were  completed  by  late  April  1976  so  that  the  total  number  of  Rooks  in  the 
West  can  be  assessed.  In  the  west  all  recorders  report  a decline  and  this  was  borne 
out  by  the  fact  that,  at  the  time  of  the  B.T.O.  Atlas  project,  every  10km.  square  had 
Rooks  breeding  in  them,  whereas  at  the  present  time,  5 widely  scattered  squares  are 
apparently  Rookless.  In  the  Fens,  a former  large  rookery  near  Outwell  was  reduced 
to  three  birds  attending  a single  nest. 

The  largest  number  of  nests  in  a 10km.  square  was  just  over  700  in  both  halves 
of  the  county  (in  the  Dickleburgh  and  Leziate  squares).  In  the  west,  the  adjacent 
Downham  Market  square  had  638  nests  and  the  adjacent  Narborough  and  Beecham- 
well  squares  had  220  and  274  respectively.  Further  east,  Cranworth  square  had  522, 
Dereham  389  and  Ryburgh  440.  Of  the  remaining  22  squares,  only  4 topped  the 
hundred  mark. 

The  following  points  emerge : Rooks  are  scarcer  in  areas  where  there  are  large 
estates.  Thus  the  five  squares  which  each  cover  the  Royal  estate  in  part  have  only  301 
nests  between  them.  TF82  had  9 rookeries  all  of  them  small  and  all  adjacent  to  the 
western  boundary  of  the  square  the  remainder  of  which  covers  3 large  estates  in  part. 

Rooks  are  scarce  in  the  coastal  fringe,  in  the  Fens  they  have  greatly  declined  and 
in  the  deep  Brecks,  where  there  have  never  been  many,  there  are  now  two  adjacent 
squares  with  none:  Thetford  and  East  Harling.  The  Lexiate  square  held  710  nests  in 


4 


33  rookeries  (an  average  of  21.5  nests  per  rookery)  including  a large  one  of  175 
nests.  The  Beechamwell  square  with  only  5 rookeries  contained  274  nests  (revealing 
the  high  average  of  55  nests  per  rookery). 

A few  years  ago,  I counted  the  rookeries  within  a mile  radius  of  Letton  Hall 
(TF90)  reaching  a total  of  10  rookeries  with  530  nests.  Now  the  number  has  dwindled 
to  6 rookeries  with  scarcely  300  nests,  the  largest  being  105  instead  of  209. 

The  grand  total  for  West  Norfolk  amounted  to  4507  nests  in  194  rookeries  (an 
average  of  23.2  nests  per  rookery).  (ALB). 

Acknowledgements:  Thanks  are  due  to  G.M.S.  Easy  for  the  Marsh  Harrier  cover 
drawing  and  for  text  illustrations ; also  to  P.  R.  Clarke,  J.  H.  Marchant,  P..  Po wley  and 
Dr.  R.  Vaughan  for  photographs  and  vignettes ; to  Holme  Bird  Observatory/N.O  A 
for  access  to  their  records ; to  the  Norfolk  Naturalists  Trust  Wardens ; to  the  National 
Trust  (Blakeney  Point);  to  the  Nature  Conservancy  (Scolt  Head,  Holkham,  Bure 
Marshes  (Woodbastwick)  and  Hoveton  Great  Broad);  to  the  Cambridge  Bird  Club* 
to  the  Gt.  Yarmouth  Naturalists  Society;  to  D.  A.  Dorling  and  P.  R.  Allard  for  com- 
piling the  armual  record  cards;  to  Mrs.  M.  Dorling,  J.  T.  Fenton,  P.  D.  Kirby, 
Mrs.  P.  A.  Rix,  Mrs.  S.  F.  Seago  and  Miss  I.  Wymer  for  valuable  assistance  and  to 
all  other  contributors. 

Recording:  Records  for  the  1976  Report  should  be  sent  by  the  end  of  January  to 
Michael  J.  Seago,  33  Acacia  Road,  Thorpe  St.  Andrew,  Norwich  NR7  0PP.  Contri- 
butors are  requested  to  submit  notes  in  the  order  followed  in  B.T.O.  Guide  13 
(A  species  List  of  British  and  Irish  Birds).  In  order  to  minimise  the  work  involved 
records  will  not  normally  be  acknowledged.  The  names  of  all  contributors  will  be 
included  in  the  Report.  Following  boundary  adjustments  in  April  1974,  this  Report 
includes  records  from  localities  formerly  appearing  in  the  Suffolk  Bird  Report. 

In  order  to  obtain  a uniformity  of  approach  in  common  with  the  majority  of 
county  Bird  Reports,  it  has  been  decided  that  no  records  of  species  on  the  list  consi- 
dered by  the  British  Birds  Rarities  Committee  will  be  included  unless  accepted  by  that 
committee.  At  the  time  this  Report  has  gone  to  press  several  such  records  are  being 
considered  by  the  above  Committee  and  are  accordingly  excluded.  It  is  anticipated 
that  the  majority  of  these  records  will  be  accepted  and  they  will  be  included  in  the 
1976  Report.  In  order  to  avoid  such  situations  arising  in  the  future  all  observers  are 
requested  to  submit  such  records  to  the  Editor  as  soon  as  possible  after  the  actual 
observation(s)  and  in  any  event  before  the  end  of  the  year  of  sighting. 

In  addition  a County  Records  Committee  has  been  established  (P.  R.  Allard 
G.  E.  Dunmore,  D.  Holman,  S.  C.  Joyner  and  Dr.  M.  P.  Taylor)  to  adjudicate  on 
submitted  records  of  semi-rarities  and  any  records  of  more  common  species  out  of 
normal  season  or  range.  Accordingly  for  records  for  1976  and  subsequent  years  all 
observers  are  asked  to  submit  written  descriptions  for  records  of  the  following 
species  unless  the  bird  or  birds  were  seen  by  three  or  more  observers  as  a general  rule 
(m  which  case  names  of  other  observers  where  known  should  be  noted) : 

Black-throated  and  Great  Northern  Divers;  Red-necked,  Slavonian  and  Black- 
necked Grebes;  Great  and  Sooty  Shearwaters;  Storm  and  Leach’s  Petrels 
Red-crested  Pochard,  Ferruginous  Duck;  Buzzard  and  Rough-legged  Buzzard’ 
Goshawk,  Red  Kite,  Honey  Buzzard,  Montagu’s  Harrier,  Hobby,  Peregrine’ 
Spotted  Crake,  Corncrake,  Kentish  Plover,  Dotterel,  Temminck’s  Stint’ 
Pectoral  Sandpiper,  Grey  and  Red-necked  Phalaropes,  Pomarine  Skua’ 
Iceland,  Mediterranean  and  Sabine’s  Gulls,  Roseate  Tern,  Little  Auk,  Black 
Guillemot,  Hoopoe,  Golden  Oriole,  Raven,  Bluethroat,  Icterine,  Barred  and 
Yellow-browed  Warblers,  Red-breasted  Flycatcher  and  Ortolan  Bunting. 


5 


Classified  notes 


These  notes  are  based  on  Birds  of  Norfolk  (1967)  where  fuller  details  regard- 
ing status,  distribution,  migration  and  ringing  recoveries  may  be  found.  Important 
records  for  Wisbech  Sewage  Farm  (part  of  which  is  on  the  Lincolnshire  side  of  the 
county  boundary)  have  been  selected  from  the  files  of  Cambridge  Bird  Club.  Fuller 
details  of  Fens  records  may  be  found  in  the  Cambridge  Bird  Club  Report  for  1975, 

The  order  used  is  that  of  the  B.T.O.  guide  A Species  List  of  British  and  Irish 
Birds  (1971)  and  English  names  follow  current  practice.  Observations  refer  to  1975, 
unless  otherwise  stated.  To  save  space,  all  but  the  most  essential  initials  have  been 
omitted.  Records  are  of  single  birds  unless  otherwise  stated. 

Great  Northern  Diver  :North/Wash:  up  to  4 till  March  24th  and  from  Sept.  14th. 
Titchwell  June  4th.  East : Breydon  Dec.  28th. 

Red  Throated  Diver:  East:  20  at  Horsey  Gap  Jan.  1 is  unusual.  (GED). 

Great  Crested  Grebe:  A B.T.O.  survey  revealed  a county  total  of  559  adults,  as 
follows : 

Broads:  Rollesby  13  adults,  Filby  4,  Ormesby  18,  Lady  2,  Hickling  6,  Heigham 
Sounds  10,  Horsey  Mere  6,  Rockland  8,  Surlingham  4,  Strumpshaw  2,  Mautby 
Decoy  2,  Martham  6,  Barton  33,  South  Walsham  6,  Salhouse  3,  Hoveton  Great  39, 
Black  Horse  21,  Wroxham  19,  Hardley  Flood  6,  Hardley  Dyke  2,  Burnt  Fen  4, 
Ranworth  Inner  11,  Upton  2,  Woodbastwick  Decoy  6,  Woodbastwick  Old  Hall  2, 
Malthouse  6,  Sutton  4,  Lound  6,  Fritton  4,  Cromes  2 (total  of  257  adults).  Negative 
returns  from  several  broads  holding  adults  in  1973  including  Belaugh  and  Alderfen. 
River  Yare:  between  Thorpe  Reach  and  Berney  Arms  (total  of  71  adults).  Thorpe 


6 


Reach — Coldham  Hall  22;  Coldham  Hall — Buckenham  Ferry  12;  Buckenham 
Ferry — Reedham  23 ; Reedham  — Breydon  Water  (Berney  End) — 14. 

River  Chet:  2 adults. 

River  Bure:  between  Yarmouth  and  Coltishall  (total  of  25  adults).  Yarmouth — 
Acle  Bridge  0;  Acle  Bridge — Thurne  Mouth  0;  Thurne  Mouth — Ranworth  Dyke  6; 
Ranworth  Dyke— Salhouse  Broad  10;  Salhouse  Broad — Wroxham  Broad  3; 
Wroxham  Broad — Wroxham  Bridge  2;  Wroxham  Bridge — Coltishall  4. 

River  Ant:  Ant  Mouth — Irstead — Stalham  Dyke  5 adults. 

River  Waveney:  St.  Olaves  2 adults. 

Lakes  and  Gravel  Pits:  Sparham  Pool  4,  Lenwade  G.P.  9,  Fusty  Weed  G.P.  6, 
Lyng  G.P.  4,  Lyng  Easthaugh  G.P.  4,  Shropham  G.P.  4,  Swanton  Morley  G.P.  8, 
Seamere  8,  Snetterton  G.P.  6,  Taverham  Mill  2,  Costessey  G.P.  6,  Haveringland 
Lake  4,  Blickling  9,  Cawston  Lakes  2,  Gunton  2,  Holkham  4,  Earsham  G.P.  2, 
Gunthorpe  Lake  2,  Melton  Constable  Lake  4,  Pentney  G.P.  4,  East  Winch/ 
Foster’s  End/Blackborough  End/Middleton  G.P.  2,  Bawburgh/Colney  G.P.  4, 
Worthing  G.P.  2,  Broome  Heath  G.P.  2,  Barningham  Lake  1,  Pentney  Abbey  G.P. 
4,  Quidenham  2,  All  other  returns  negative.  Total  of  1 1 1 adults. 

Brecks:  Stradsett  Park  1,  Narborough  G.P.  5,  Narford  Lake  3,  Thompson  Water  1, 
Shadwell  Park  1,  Sahan  Toney  Mere  2,  Scoulton  Mere  2,  Hill  Mere  1,  Rush  Mere  2, 
Wretham  West  Mere  2.  All  other  returns  negative.  Total  of  20  adults. 

Fens:  total  of  66  adults. 

R.  Great  Ouse  Denver — Brandon  Ship  16;  Relief  Channel  Denver — Lynn  12; 
R.  Wissey  (Wissey  Pits) — 2;  Old/New  Bedford  Levels  & Delph  10;  Cut-Off  Chan- 
nell — Denver — Hilgay  2;  Writton  2,  Stoke  Ferry  5,  Black  Dyke  3,  Hockwold  4; 
River  Little  Ouse  6;  Wissington  Pits  2;  King’s  Lynn  Pits  2. 

In  addition,  10  on  the  Wash  at  Ouse  Mouth/Bulldog’s  Sands  Area,  June  11th. 
(this  figure  excluded  from  county  total). 

Very  early  breeding  at  Narborough  G.P.,  with  a bird  sitting  March  11th  and 
3 young  riding  on  parents’  backs  April  8th.  (Summary  by  AMH). 

Red  Necked  Grebe:  North:  Hunstanton  Dec.  7th;  Sheringham  Aug.  31st;  Blakeney 
Harbour  Aug.  30th  in  breeding  plumage;  Overy  Staithe  Dec.  29th;  Salthouse 
Nov.  7th;  Cley  Aug.  31st,  Sept.  2nd,  1 1th,  12th,  Oct.  1 1th  and  19th  and  Nov.  13th. 
East:  Yarmouth  Nov.  8th/ 18th. 

Slavonian  Grebe:  North:  Hunstanton  4 Nov.  17th,  2 Dec.  6th  and  singles  on  23rd 
and  29th.  Holme  Oct.  12th.  Scolt  Head  Oct.  14th.  Brancaster  2 Nov.  24th.  East-: 
Breydon  Nov.  8th.  Fens:  Downham  Market  flood  relief  channel  Jan.  1st  - 5th. 

Black  Necked  Grebe:  North:  Brancaster  for  most  of  Jan.  Titchwell  Dec.  24th. 
Sheringham  Oct.  9th.  Weybourne  Nov.  1st.  Hunstanton  3 Oct.  11th.  Broads: 
Barton  Nov.  16th. 

Little  Grebe:  Wash:  maximum  of  64  at  Snettisham  G.P.  in  Nov.  Broads:  Hickling 
32  Oct.  20th.  Breydon:  estimate  of  15  breeding  pairs  in  adjacent  dykes  including 
one  which  bred  successfully  in  partially  polluted  area  next  to  refuse  tip. 

Fulmar:  North:  total  of  48  young  counted  on  cliff  ledges  between  Weybourne  and 
Cromer  as  follows  (JCM) : Weybourne — Sheringham24;  Sheringham — West  Runton 
7;  West  Runton — East  Runton  4;  East  Runton — Cromer  13. 

Total  of  60  adults  during  breeding  season  on  Cromer  West  Cliff  and  44  between 
Sheringham  and  West  Runton.  6 returned  Nov.  8th.  2,200  off  Sheringham  in 
northerly  gale  Sept.  14th,  when  thousands  off  Cley /Salthouse.  Dying  blue  phase 
bird  washed  ashore  at  Sheringham  May  24th. 


7 


Wash:  Hunstanton  100  Feb.  20th  and  14  young  in  June.  First  birds  returned  Nov. 
29th.  East:  Winterton/Horsey  2 - 3 over  sandhills  May/June.  Gorleston  Cliffs 
1-3  between  May  and  August. 

Manx  Shearwater:  North:  Cley/Salthouse  2 April  20th,  15  May  3rd,  July  9th  and 
2 on  15th,  30  - 40  Aug.  31st,  Sept.  1st,  6th,  13th,  49  on  14th  during  northerly  gales, 
26th,  27th  and  28th.  Blakeney  26  Aug.  31st  and  Sept.  15th.  Weybourne  Sept.  14th 
and  3 of  the  Balearic  race  the  same  day.  Sheringham  9 May  7th,  3 on  30th,  14  June 
3rd,  19  Aug.  31st,  30  Sept.  14th  and  1 on  21st,  2 Nov.  7th.  Titchwell  May  11th, 
Hunstanton  April  3rd.  Holme  10  May  7th,  3 Aug.  30th  and  1 1 of  the  Balearic  race 
on  31st,  3 Sept.  15th.  East:  Winterton  2 Sept.  15th. 

Souty  Shearwater:  North:  Cley/Salthouse  Aug.  30th,  7 on  31st  and  12  Sept.  14th, 
Blakeney  2 Aug.  31st.  Weybourne/Sheringham  7 Aug.  31st,  12  Sept.  14th  and  1 
Nov.  18th.  Hunstanton  Sept.  14th.  Holme  2 Sept.  15th.  East:  Winterton  Sept.  15th. 

Storm  Petrel:  North:  Holme  Nov.  17th.  Sheringham  Sept.  14th  and  Nov.  8th. 

Leach’s  Petrel:  North:  Cley/Salthouse  at  least  11  Sept.  14th  with  3 on  15th.  Cley 
one  over  Eye  field  Nov.  16th  and  one  offshore  on  17th.  Blakeney  Sept.  15th. 
East:  Winterton  Sept.  15th. 

Gannet:  North:  impressive  totals  off  Sheringham  Aug.  31st  when  420  east  and  again 
on  Sept.  14th  when  800  east.  Blakeney  Point  200  east  in  two  hours  on  Aug.  31st. 

Cormorant:  East:  maximum  of  101  at  Breydon  March  23rd  and  126  departing  from 
Ranworth  roost  towards  Breydon  soon  after  sunrise  Dec.  14th.  Broads:  Filby 
96  Dec.  14th,  in  addition  to  Breydon  birds  and  115  on  26th.  Wash:  Ouse,  maximum 
of  44  entering  river  Jan.  20th.  Fens:  Welney  12  Jan.  5th. 

Shag:  Coastal  records  between  Hunstanton  and  Gorleston  with  maximum  of  8 at 
Hunstanton  March  7th.  Broads:  Barton  7 Feb.  3rd.  Inland:  6 on  Yare  between 
Buckenham  Ferry  and  Hardley  Cross  in  early  April.  Colney  G.P.  4 Jan.  26th. 

Grey  Heron:  The  following  heronries  were  counted:  Borders  of  Wash:  Snettisham 
18  nests;  Fens:  Hilgay  34,  Islington  42,  Denver  Sluice  4.  Brecks:  Didlington  10, 
Shadwell  8,  Narford  0 (all  birds  shot).  Mid-Norfolk:  Colney  Hall  2 - 4.  Broads: 
Strumpshaw  1,  Barton  10,  Heckingham  1,  Heigham  Sounds  7,  Herringfleet  5, 
Thurlton  1,  Belaugh  8,  Upton  7.  South:  Earsham  (America  Wood  and  Holy  Grove) 
12. 

Purple  Heron:  Broads:  Hickling  immature  April  26th  (PH  & RL).  Rockland 
June  20th  (RMcI).  Halvergate  Aug.  17th  - 30th  (DT). 

Cattle  Egret:  Broads:  Hickling  April  22nd  - 26th  and  for  several  days  previous 
(PRA  GED,  et  al ). 

Bittern:  Broads:  Barton  3 breeding  pairs.  Horsey  4 breeding  pairs.  Stokesby  Ferry 
pair  bred.  Martham  single  young  in  Starch  Grass.  Strumpshaw  one  booming. 
Upton  Mill  one  booming. 

Spoonbill:  North/East  Coasts  Broads:  ones,  twos  and  threes  at  Cley,  Holme, 
Salthouse,  Breydon,  Winterton,  Barton,  Hickling  and  Horsey  between  April  29th 
and  Sept.  21st. 

Teal:  Fens:  Welney,  record  peak  of  3,300  Jan.  - Feb. 

Garganey:  Spring  arrival  from  April  6th  at  Cley  and  subsequently  at  Hickling, 
Holme,  Breydon,  Postwick,  Wisbech  S.F.  and  Winterton.  Only  breeding  record 
from  Cley  where  brood  of  7 noted  Aug.  7th. 


8 


Sea-buckthorn  berries  provide  ample  food  supplies  for  autumn  Fieldfares  arriving  on 
the  coast  at  Holme  Photo  by  P.  R.  Clarke 


This  Black  Guillemot  remained  in  Wells  Harbour  for  several  weeks  at  the  beginning 
of  the  year.  Others  were  identified  off  Sheringham  and  Cley.  Photo  by  J.  H.  Marchant 


Blue  Winged  Teal:  Broads:  Hickling,  duck  shot  Sept.  27th  and  set-up  by  a local 
taxidermist  (per  MJS).  Record  being  considered  by  British  Birds  Rarity  Committee. 

Gadwall:  Brecks:  largest  counts  Stanford  60  June  12th,  Didlington  50  Dec.  5th, 
Shadwell  54  Nov.  16th  and  Micklemere  36  Nov.  9th.  East:  11  Haddiscoe  Dec.  6th. 
Fens  (Welney):  50  young  in  July. 

Wigeon:  North:  Cley  1,500  - 2,000  Jan.  7th.  East:  Buckenham  1,500  Feb.  2nd. 
Horsey  1,000  end  of  Jan.  Fens:  Welney  20,000  in  Jan.  - Feb.  and  15,000  in  late 
Dec. 

Pintail:  Fens:  Welney  2,000  end  of  Jan.  Brecks:  1 - 5 at  Stanford  and  Mickle  Mere. 
Wash:  maximum  of  47  at  Snettisham  in  Jan.  East:  Breydon  peaks  of  286  on  Jan. 
12th  and  277  Feb.  18th,  with  83  on  Dec.  28th.  Pair  present  June  14th  and  3 on  21st 
considered  ‘birds  of  the  year’.  North:  Cley  120  Jan.  23rd  and  60  Dec.  25th.  Central: 
Colney  G.P.  3 Jan.  12th. 

Shoveler:  Brecks:  counts  include  36  at  Micklemere  Dec.  14th.  Fens:  Welney  80 
June  1st,  with  a record  count  of  1,500  in  late  Jan.  Tottenhill  G.P.  33  Sept.  7th. 
Broads:  Filby  88  Dec.  18th. 

Scaup:  East:  Breydon  maximum  of  14  Nov.  16th,  with  late  drake  May  8th.  Wash: 
Snettisham  maximum  of  13  in  Jan. 

Tufted  Duck:  Breeding  records:  27  pairs  bred  in  Brecks  at  10  sites;  elsewhere  a 
minimum  of  22  pairs  at  10  sites.  In  addition  100  young  in  Fens  at  Welney. 

Pochard:  Breeding  records:  8 pairs  bred  in  Brecks  at  5 sites;  elsewhere  17  pairs 
bred  at  9 sites.  In  addition  nested  for  first  time  at  Welney  but  young  lost. 

Goldeneye:  North-Brancaster  maximum  of  58  in  Nov.  Wash:  late  birds  at  Wissing- 
ton  (May  19th)  and  Kings  Lynn — Saddlebow,  where  singles  May  31st  and  July  16th. 

Long  Tailed  Duck:  Wash:  Hunstanton  monthly  maxima  as  follows:  Jan.  20, 
Feb.  10,  March  25,  April  9,  Oct.  3,  Nov.  14  and  Dec.  11.  North : Occasional  records 
of  up  to  12  until  April  22nd  and  from  Oct.  9th.  East:  Breydon  Dec.  7th. 

Velvet  Scoter:  Wash/North  coasts:  Recorded  in  Feb.  Sept.  Nov.  and  Dec.  No  party 
exceeded  20  apart  from  63  off  Sheringham  Nov.  9th.  East:  Yarmouth  4,  Nov.  8th 
and  one  Dec.  7th.  Gorleston,  2 Nov.  9th. 

Common  Scoter:  Wash:  Hunstanton  maxima  1,000+  in  Jan.  and  700  in  Feb.  with 
500  in  Dec.  North:  Maximum  recorded  off  Sheringham  750  Nov.  9th. 

Eider:  Coastal  records  most  months  and  the  largest  flocks  for  main  localities  are 
given  below.  East:  Gorleston,  50  Nov.  North:  Sheringham  24  Nov.  Wash:  Hun- 
stanton 24,  Jan. 

Red-breasted  Merganser:  No  numbers  reported  apart  from  51  at  Hunstanton  in 
March,  29  at  Snettisham  and  35  at  Sheringham,  both  in  Nov.  East:  Breydon  10 
Nov.  9th. 

Goosander:  Winter  observations  from  12  localities  including  11  at  Gunton  Park, 
7 at  Narborough  Lake,  6 at  Stanford  Water  and  8 off  Cley. 

Smew:  Winter  singles  at  Brancaster,  Barton  Broad,  Bawburgh  G.P.  and  Snettisham. 

Shelduck:  Wash:  Snettisham  maxima  806  in  Feb.  Total  of  159  young,  Vinegar 
Middle,  July  26th,  with  182  on  Aug.  11th  and  140  young  off  Ongar  Hill  July  12th. 
East:  Breydon,  record  winter  peak  of  953  Jan.  26th  with  833  on  Nov.  16th.  Cantley, 
exceptional  total  of  200  young  June  30th. 


9 


Egyptian  Goose:  Reported  at  Stradsett,  Lyng,  Lenwade,  Narford,  Bawdeswell, 
Fustyweed,  Docking,  Cley,  Hempstead  Mill,  Sparham,  Bayfield,  Blickling,  Barton, 
Breydon,  How  Hill  and  Winterton. 

White-fronted  Goose:  East:  None  reported  in  Breydon  Area.  Elsewhere  in  Yare 
Valley,  single  from  Jan.  21st  to  Feb.  2nd  with  3 Dec.  14th.  Horsey,  6 Feb.  9th  and 
5 on  16th.  West  Caister,  6 on  Feb.  9th.  North:  Cley,  14  in  Feb.  and  early  March. 
Holkham,  34  on  Jan.  12th,  increasing  to  50  by  Feb.  18th  and  80  by  late  Dec. 
Brancaster,  46  Feb.  12th.  Blakeney,  10  Feb.  8th. 

Bean  Goose:  East:  Up  to  102  in  usual  area  till  Feb.  16th;  9 returned  Nov.  8th, 
with  65  from  22nd  and  79  at  end  of  year.  North:  Holme,  9 Nov.  6th  and  5 mid  Dec. 
Fens:  Welney,  7 Jan.  1st  until  early  March. 

Pink-footed  Goose:  East:  Tunstall  Marshes,  20,  Dec.  20th.  Wash:  Snettisham  area, 
peak  of  2,731  (a  new  record)  in  Nov.  and  over  2,000  in  Jan.  feeding  on  sugar-beet 
tops.  North:  Titchwell,  350  Feb.  12th.  Hunstanton,  100  south-west  Nov.  29th. 

Brent  Goose:  Maximum  numbers  at  regular  localities:  Breydon  120,  Wells 500, 
Brancaster  1,500,  Blakeney  1,500,  Salthouse  250,  Hunstanton  - Holme  600  and 
Snettisham  516.  Yarmouth,  exceptional  numbers  offshore  Nov.  8th  when  554  in 
5 hours,  and  again  Nov.  9th  when  441  in  3 hours  during  gales. 

Barnacle  Goose:  East:  West  Caister  25,  Feb.  5th  to  9th,  with  2 on  Feb.  11th. 
Horsey,  4 on  Feb.  9th  with  10  on  16th.  Breydon,  single  Feb.  7th.  North:  Cley, 
49  Feb.  13th  to  17th  with  2 March  17th  and  single  April  1st.  Holkham,  1 with  Canada 
Geese  Feb.  20th.  Wash:  Snettisham  area,  one  with  Pink-Feet,  Dec.  17th. 

Whooper  Swan:  Recorded  up  to  April  1st  and  from  Oct.  15th  at  8 localities  with 
largest  herds  at  Welney,  where  42  in  Jan.  and  48  by  end  of  year. 

Bewick’s  Swan:  Recorded  up  to  March  29th  and  from  Sept.  20th.  Largest  concen- 
tration at  Welney  Washes  where  900  by  end  of  Jan.  and  1,200  present  at  end  of  year. 
Elsewhere  most  impressive  assemblies  at  Runham/Mautby  (100  Dec.  20th),  Muck 
Fleet/Fleggburgh/Lower  Bure  (96  Dec.  26th),  Halvergate  (68  in  Feb.)  and  Clippesby 
(51  Dec.  27th).  In  Brecks,  maximum  of  8 at  Stanford  Dec.  14th. 

Buzzard:  North:  Holme  March  31st,  April  13th  and  18th.  Titchwell  April  13th. 
Wells/Holkham  area,  2 April  18th  to  28th,  and  one  at  Holkham  April  6th.  Salthouse 
Heath  April  22nd,  Cley  April  10th  and  one  in  from  sea  Oct.  19th.  East:  Buckenham 
Jan.  26th,  Winterton  April  13th. 

Rough-legged  Buzzard:  An  exceptional  spring  movement  following  large  Autumn 
arrival  in  1974  with  unprecedented  numbers  in  April/May.  Recorded  in  every 
month  except  July.  Surprisingly  few  autumn  arrivals.  The  records  are  given  in  detail : 
East:  Winterton/Horsey  Gap,  singles  in  Jan.  and  Feb.  apart  from  4 Jan.  30th., 
2 in  March  and  first  half  of  April  increasing  to  5,  April  13th.  On  April  19th,  10  in 
air  together  at  times  drifting  at  a height  away  to  N.E.,  but  always  returning;  9 
present  next  day.  Further  counts  here:  7,  April  22nd,  8 on  26th  and  5 on  27th. 
Twelve  in  area  May  1st,  including  a pair  displaying  and  calling  low  over  observers’ 
heads  and  repeated  again  on  4th  when  additional  aerial  displays  over  woods.  This 
pair  remained  till  May  15th  when  most  unfortunately  a mechanical  bird-scarer 
arrived.  Other  May  counts  include  7 on  4th.  One  remained  in  the  area  most  of  June 
and  was  last  seen  at  Martham  Holmes  on  22nd.  Another,  or  same  bird,  August  3rd. 
Exceptional  numbers  of  rabbits  were  the  great  attraction. 


10 


Hickling  Oct.  29th,  Breydon  March  8th,  Martham  Broad  Jan.  1st,  Ingham- 
Happisburgh  April  1st,  Wheatacre  Fen  Nov.  8th.  North:  Holme,  1 - 3 on  six 
dates  Feb.  21st  - April  21st  with  6 March  4th.  Total  of  15  April  28th  arrived  from 
N.E.  in  space  of  15  minutes  and  soared  away  to  S.W.;  another  May  4th,  Wells- 
Holkham,  singles  on  four  dates  Jan.  6th  to  Feb.  16th,  5-6  April  21st,  and  another 
Dec.  5th.  Cley  on  eight  dates  Jan.  1st  to  May  14th  with  2 April  29th.  Arrival  here 
Oct.  19th  and  Nov.  9th.  Titchwell  3,  Feb.  19th  and  9 singles  between  Feb.  21st  and 
April  29th.  Wiveton  April  4th,  Blakeney  Feb.  15th,  Salthouse  Heath  unusual  date 
of  Aug.  8th,  Brancaster  2,  April  21st  and  singles  on  29th  and  Sept.  1 1th,  Scolt  Head 
2,  March  31st,  Letheringsett  May  2nd,  Stiffkey  Dec.  18th.  Wash:  Wolferton  Feb. 
21st,  5 March  6th,  April  21st.  Breck:  Wee  ting  Heath  March  20th.  Elsewhere: 
Castleacre  March  3rd  (dead).  Docking  Dec.  25th  where  2 for  some  time,  Massing- 
ham  Heath  2,  Jan./Feb.  and  one  March  15th.  Banningham  Sept.  21st,  Narford 
Feb.  10th  and  3 between  Sedgeford  and  Ringstead  Jan.  6th. 

Sparrow  Hawk:  Recorded  from  40  localities.  No  known  breeding  recorded  in  the 
county.  Migrants  at  Winterton  March  16th  to  May  8th  with  6 in  the  air  together 
April  19th  and  4 next  day. 

Goshawk:  North:  Aylmerton  Sept.  11th.  East:  Winterton  April  19th.  Brecks:  Pair 
summered  at  one  site,  the  female  carried  a falconer’s  bell. 

Red  Kite:  Wash:  Wolferton  July  22nd  and  23rd  (GBB).  East:  Herringfleet  Nov.  3rd 
and  presumably  same  bird  at  Thurlton/Reedham  marshes  Nov.  19th  (DK). 

Honey  Buzzard:  North:  Pair  present  at  one  site  from  May  11th  until  at  least  July 
30th,  but  no  evidence  of  breeding.  Third  bird  present  June  1st.  Wells/Holkham 
Sept.  15th  (HE). 

Marsh  Harrier:  Broads : (Hickling  - Horsey  - Martham  area)  a pair  bred  successfully 
rearing  4 young.  AJso  a minimum  of  3 additional  birds  for  most  of  summer.  Halver- 
gate/Lower  Bure  levels — 2 for  several  weeks  during  summer.  Ranworth,  pair  sum- 
mered. Strumpshaw,  female  June  - August.  Cantley  Reservoir  March  1st  - 2nd 
and  July  13th.  Hardley  Flood  May  23rd.  Rockland  Broad  April  20th  and  Breydon 
April  7th,  May  23rd  and  June  1st.  East:  Winterton/Horsey  Gap  wintering  male  till 
May  25th.  2-4  regularly  May  15th  - June  15th  (when  one  departed  out  to  sea) 
and  1-2  irregularly  to  Oct.  6th.  Caister,  3 south  April  29th.  North:  Cley,  singles  on 
seven  dates  April  19th  - June  5th,  also  August  11th  to  14th.  Titchwell,  1 - 2 on  eight 
dates  in  spring  and  on  five  days  in  autumn.  Wash:  Snettisham  April  29th  :-  Sept. 
21st  with  peak  of  5 roosting  here  Sept.  10th.  Ongar  Hill,  Sept.  21st. 

Hen  Harrier:  Recorded  up  to  May  4th  (Winterton)  and  21st  (Holme)  and  from 
Sept.  17th  (Cley).  Apparently  increasing  as  a winter  visitor  in  coastal  localities, 
with  4 at  Winterton  April  19th  and  similar  number  at  Roydon  Common  and  Castle 
Acre.  More  adult  males  than  usual. 

Montagu’s  Harrier:  North:  Female  at  1972  nesting  site  from  April  29th  (same  date 
as  1974)  till  July  17th.  No  male  appeared.  Additional  passage  birds  (4)  in  mid-May. 
North:  Holme,  July  26th  to  August  1st  and  East  Ruston  Common  May  18th. 
East:  Winterton  June  1st.  Broads:  Horsey,  Sept.  5th,  Strumpshaw,  June  4th, 
Hickling  Aug.  23rd.  Wash:  Snettisham,  six  occasions  in  July. 

Osprey:  Recorded  between  April  1st  and  August  12th  at  Hickling,  Breydon,  Bucken- 
ham/Hassingham/Strumpshaw,  Barton,  How  Hill,  Cley,  Wells,  Felbrigg,  Bran- 
caster,  Holme  and  Old  Hunstanton. 


11 


Hobby:  North:  Recorded  on  eleven  dates  between  April  26th  and  June  16th  at 
Cley,  Salthouse  Heath,  Blakeney  Point,  Wells,  Gunton,  Sheringham  and  Felbrigg. 
East:  Winterton  May  18th,  Breydon  Sept.  10th,  Sea  Palling  July  19th.  Wash: 
Sandringham  June  23rd. 

Peregrine:  North:  Cley,  recorded  on  six  dates.  Blakeney  Point  Oct.  14th.  East: 
Winterton,  Nov.  12th  and  Yarmouth  (with  falconers’  jesses)  Feb.  2nd. 

Merlin:  Singles  at  Cley,  Stiff  key,  Brancaster,  Wells,  Winterton,  Yarmouth,  Hickling, 
Roydon  Common,  Snettisham,  King’s  Lynn  and  Wolferton  up  to  April  18th  and 
from  Oct.  18th. 

Quail:  Heard  calling  during  summer  at  Holme,  Warham,  between  Brancaster  and 
Burnham  Market  (2)  and  Babingley.  Interesting  record  of  5 near  Bawsey  July  31st. 

Golden  Pheasant:  Recorded  from  Wolferton,  Santon  Downham,  Sandringham, 
Dersingham,  Swaffham  Heath  and  St.  Helen’s  Well. 

Lady  Amherst’s  Pheasant:  Central,  Elsing,  Oct.  21st  (GJG). 

Spotted  Crake:  North:  Cley,  Aug.  27th  and  2 next  day  till  Sept.  4th,  one  remaining 
till  9th. 

Coot:  Broads,  Interesting  count  of  246  Filby  Broad,  Dec.  15th. 

Oystercatcher : Breeding  records  of  pairs  include : East : Breydon  area  7 and  Stokesby 
1.  Broads:  Horsey  3.  North:  Blakeney  Point  180,  Stiff  key  Binks  22.  Wells  15, 
Scolt  Head  160-  170  and  Brancaster  Golf  Course  5.  Fens:  Wisbech  SF  1.  Maximum 
count  of  12,300  at  Snettisham  in  Dec. 

Ringed  Plover:  Breeding  records  of  pairs  include:  East:  Caister  1,  Winterton — 
Horsey  Gap  8.  North:  Blakeney  Point  122,  Wells  14  and  Scolt  Head  120-130 
(400  chicks  fledged).  Wash:  Snettisham  17.  Breck:  Gooderstone  2,  Bodney  2 and 
Foulden  1.  Fens:  Kings  Lynn  B.F.  5-6,  Wissington  1 and  Welney  1.  West:  Total  of 
9 pairs  at  4 gravel  pit  sites ; 3 sites  shared  with  Little  Ringed  Plovers. 

Little  Ringed  Plover:  Breeding  : Total  of  at  least  26  pairs  at  15  sites;  minimum  of 
5 1 young  reared.  First  seen  in  Spring  at  Titchwell  April  2nd  and  at  Colney  on  6th. 
In  West,  3 gravel  pit  sites  shared  successfully  with  Ringed  Plover.  Away  from 
breeding  localities,  passage  birds  recorded  at  Wisbech  SF  (8),  Hickling,  Cley, 
Holme  and  Breydon.  Latest  record  at  Stoke  Ferry  BF  Oct.  5th. 

Kentish  Plover:  North:  Cley /Salthouse,  a male  and  female  on  numerous  dates 
April  19th  - June  6th  and  again  June  21st;  in  Autumn  Sept.  3rd  and  10th.  Blakeney 
Harbour  Aug.  31st  with  female  and  immature,  Sept.  7th  - 8th.  Titchwell  male 
May  19th.  East:  Breydon  male  June  1st  - 4th  (in  song  display  on  2nd).  Broads: 
Hickling  May  16th. 

Grey  Plover:  Wash:  maximum  count  of  450  at  Snettisham  in  Sept.  East:  Breydon 
73  Oct.  23rd. 

Golden  Plover:  largest  concentration  reported  was  2,000  at  Horsey,  Jan.  8th. 

Dotterel.  During  spring  one  at  Blakeney  Point  ternery  May  10th  and  two  on  field 
adjoining  Salthouse  Heath  May  25th/26th.  In  Autumn  one  over  Wells  Aug.  12th 
and  two  at  Winterton  on  29th  which  were  joined  by  a third  bird  Sept.  3rd  - 12th; 
one  subsequently  found  dead  on  13th. 

Jack  Snipe:  Latest  spring  record  Wissington  BF  April  20th.  First  recorded  in  autumn 
at  Hickling  Sept.  11th. 

Curlew:  Recorded  at  six  localities  in  Brecks  in  breeding  season  with  three  pairs  at 
Roydon  Common.  Maximum  count  of  2,300  at  Snettisham  in  Sept. 


12 


Whimbrel:  3 at  Wells  on  the  early  date  of  April  4th.  Spring  passage  appeared  to  be 
in  below-average  numbers  and  few  records  received.  Early  commencement  to 
autumn  passage  at  Breydon  from  June  21st  with  9 by  June  30th.  Late  birds  Nov 
2nd  at  both  Thornham/Holme  and  Hickling. 

Black-tailed  Godwit:  In  Fens  at  Welney  peak  number  of  97  April  10th;  at  least 
7 pairs  reared  young.  (55  pairs  along  total  length  of  Ouse  Washes).  Elsewhere  pas- 
sage birds  March  1st  - Oct.  18th  with  maximum  of  28  at  Snettisham  July  13th 
One  winter  record  Salthouse  Dec.  30th. 

Bar-tailed  Godwit:  East:  Breydon  spring  peak  101  April  27th;  autumn  maximum 
63  Sept.  23rd.  Wash:  Snettisham  maximum  1840  in  Sept.  Inland:  Sparham  Pools 
4 April  17th;  Wisbech  SF  2 April  25th  and  1 July  8th. 

Green  Sandpiper:  Maximum  numbers:  10  Wissington  BF  and  12  Hickling  end  July 
and  15  Cley  early  Aug. 

Wood  Sandpiper:  Passage  birds  May  6th— June  3rd  and  again  July  9th  - Sept  15th 
with  maximum  of  6 at  Cley  June  1st  and  Aug.  10th. 

Common  Sandpiper : Winter  records  at  Yarmouth  Jan.  29th  and  Caistor  St.  Edmunds 
Dec.  16th.  Largest  numbers  on  passage  seen  at  Wisbech  SF  where  33  Aug  2nd 
and  Holme  where  24  Aug.  9th. 

Redshank:  East:  Breydon  noticeable  increase  both  in  winter  and  on  passage* 
peaks  of  1000  Feb.  18th  and  March  31st  with  547  Aug.  9th. 

Spotted  Redshank:  Passage  birds  March  31st  - Nov.  9th  with  maximum  of  20 
at  Cley  May  5th,  17  Wisbech  SF  June  21st,  12  Breydon  July  26th,  19  Snettisham 
Sept.  1st  and  9 Hickling  April  26th.  One  winter  record  Cley  Dec  25th  - 30th 
Inland:  Cantley  BF  Sept.  6th. 

Greater  Yellowlegs:  East  Breydon  Sept.  8th  - 13th  (PRA  et  al).  First  county  record. 
Greenshank:  Largest  numbers  seen  on  autumn  passage  with  peaks  of  17  Breydon 
Aug.  13th,  30  Holme  Aug.  29th,  14  Cley  Aug.  30th,  26  Snettisham  Oct.  2nd  and 
22  Brancaster  Oct.  7th. 

Terek  Sandpiper:  Singles  at  Breydon  June  1st  (PRA  et  al)  and  Cley  July  2nd  - 4th 
(WFB,  EMcE,  PJM  et  al)  First  county  records. 


Knot:  maximum  count  of  27,000  at  Snettisham  in  Jan. 

Purple  Sandpiper:  Regularly  recorded  in  winter  months  at  Sheringham  (up  to  3) 
Hunstanton  (up  to  4)  and  Heacham  (up  to  4).  Elsewhere  recorded  as  follows* 
Gorleston  Jan.  25th,  Yarmouth  Jan.  1st  and  11th,  Scroby  Sands  on  the  unusual 
dates  of  July  llth/12th,  Caister-on-Sea  2 Oct.  10th,  Winterton  3 Oct.  9th,  Bacton 
3 in  Jan.  and  Aug.  30th,  Salthouse  Nov.  16th,  Cley  4 Aug.  30th  and  singles  several 
dates  Sept.  - Nov.,  Scolt  Nov.  20th  and  Titchwell  Aug.  26th  and  Sept.  14th. 

^le  Stints  SPrin§  Passage  noted  at  Wisbech  SF,  where  one  April  16th  and  up  to 

3 l8!h " June  1 lth’  and  Cley>  where  UP  to  7 June  7th  - 14th  with  one  June  22nd 
and  2 July  2nd/3rd.  At  Stoke  Ferry  BF  2 also  June  22nd.  More  widespread  in 
autumn  with  records  July  26th  - Nov.  6th  with  maxima  of  16  Holme  Aug.  31st 
Hickling  Aug.  31st  and  Sept.  6th,  18  Wisbech  SF  Sept.  5th  and  25  Cley  Sept.  10th! 
Temmmek’s  Stint:  North:  Cley  1/2  numerous  dates  April  29th  - May  29th  2 July 
19th/2°th  July  26th,  Aug.  12th  and  Sept.  3rd  - 11th,  Holme  July  27th.  Broads: 
Hickling  June  2nd,  Aug.  11th  and  2 Sept.  6th.  Fens:  Welney  2 May  20th;  Wisbech 
July  15th  - 19th  and  Sept.  5th  - 8th  and  Tottenhill  G.P.  May  31st  Inland* 
Sparham  G.P.  May  18th.  ' 


13 


Pectoral  Sandpiper:  North:  Cley  Aug.  8th  - 12th.  Fens:  Wisbech  SF  July  15th  - 21st. 

Dunlin:  Maximum  numbers  for  specific  localities  as  follows:  Breydon  4,500  Nov. 
5th,  Snettisham  11,000  in  Jan.  and  Wisbech  SF  500  Mar.  25th. 

Curlew  Sandpiper:  Spring  records  only  from  Cley,  where  singles  May  8th  and  13th 
and  June  14th  with  2 May  26th,  and  Wisbech  SF  June  7th.  Widespread  autumn 
passage  July  21st  - Oct.  9th  with  maxima  of  71  Cley  Sept.  3rd,  15  Hickling  on  5th, 
80  Holme  on  8th,  64  Breydon  on  13th  and  24  Wisbech  SF.  on  16th. 

Sanderlfng:  Wash:  Snettisham,  largest  numbers  seen  in  Aug.  when  up  to  600  present. 
Fens:  Wisbech  SF  2 April  30th  and  also  May  23rd. 

Buff-breasted  Sandpiper:  North:  Cley  Sept.  15th  - 20th  (WFB  FC  et  al ). 

Ruff:  Breeding:  Welney  2 pairs  successfully  reared  young.  Winter  records  from  Cley, 
Hickling  and  Wisbech  SF.  Maximum  numbers  recorded  at  Wisbech  SF  where  up 
to  100  in  July,  60  in  Aug.,  10  in  Sept,  and  6 in  Oct. 

Avocet:  East:  Breydon  Jan.  18th,  11  March  23rd,  2 March  24th,  April  6th,  April 
1 lth/12th,  April  19th,  2 June  2nd,  June  19th  and  2 Aug.  27th;  Winterton  April  6th. 
Broads:  Hickling  July  6th.  North:  Cley  March  6th,  2 April  10th  - 16th,  5 June  7th  - 
11th,  4 July  9th  and  July  13th;  Holme  May  11th,  June  10th  and  July  26th.  Wash: 
Snettisham  2 May  10th  and  1/2  early  Sept.  Fens:  Welney  May  20th;  Wisbech  SF 
May  21st  - 24th. 

Grey  Phalarope:  North:  Cley  May  7th  - 10th  (still  in  winter  plumage)  and  Oct.  19th, 
Blakeney  Point  Sept.  14th.  Broads:  Hickling  female  (summer  plumage)  May  29th. 
East:  Yarmouth  Nov.  18th  in  harbour  entrance. 

Red-necked  Phalarope : North:  Cley  May  31st  and  June  1st.  Inland:  Freethorpe 
Sept.  4th  on  village  pond. 

Wilson’s  Phalarope:  Fens:  Wisbech  SF  male  June  7th  - 11th  (HM-G,  JAWM,  BW 
et  al). 

Stone  Curlew:  Status  details  will  appear  in  the  next  report. 

Great  Skua:  East:  Yarmouth  Sept.  29th.  North  coast:  Noted  between  Aug.  31st 
and  Nov.  20th  with  the  majority  of  records  on  Aug.  3 1st  when  5 1 east  at  Sheringham 
and  Sept.  14th  when  at  least  56  east  at  Cley  and  149  east  at  Sheringham  during  on- 
shore gales.  Wash:  Hunstanton/Snettisham  7 south  Sept.  14th. 

Pomarine  Skua:  East:  Winterton  Nov.  7th.  North:  Sheringham  17  east  Aug.  31st, 
4 Sept.  13th,  3 Sept.  14th,  Sept.  21st,  2 Oct.  7th  and  10  Nov.  18th;  Weybourne  7 east 
Nov.  16th;  Salthouse  Sept.  15th  and  2 Oct.  10th;  Cley  Aug.  23rd,  Sept.  13th  and 
20th,  2 Sept.  27th  and  Nov.  16th;  Blakeney  Point  4 Aug.  31st;  Holkham  Nov.  1st. 
Wash:  Snettisham  an  exhausted  immature  on  beach  Nov.  21st  - 23rd. 

Arctic  Skua:  East:  Winterton  6 south  Aug.  24th  and  16  south  Aug.  31st;  Bacton 
maximum  4 daily  Aug.  30th  - Sept.  1st.  North:  Recorded  July  8th  - Nov.  7th  with 
largest  gale  movements  on  Aug.  31st,  when  125  east  at  Sheringham  and  74  east  at 
Cley  and  Sept.  14th  when  168  at  Sheringham  with  77  east  at  Salthouse.  Broads: 
Hickling  Aug.  2nd.  Fens:  an  injured  bird  near  Stoke  Ferry  Sept.  29th. 

Long-tailed  Skua:  North:  an  immature  east  at  Cley  Aug.  31st  (JBK)  and  an  adult 
east  at  Sheringham  Sept.  14th  (FF,  JCM,  DHS,  MPT). 

Great  Black-backed  Gull:  An  interesting  gathering  of  286  in  Yare  Valley  Dec.  14th. 

Herring  Gull:  North:  Blakeney  Point  a pair  successfully  reared  one  young.  Yellow- 
legged birds  at  Hickling  Aug.  23rd  and  Yarmouth  Dec.  21st. 

Common  Gull:  North:  Blakeney  Point  a pair  successfully  reared  two  young. 


14 


Glaucous  Gull:  North:  records  of  1 - 2 birds  up  to  May  12th  and  from  Aug.  6th. 
Elsewhere  one  inland  at  Rockland  Broad  April  20th  and  one  at  Ouse  Mouth  and 
two  at  Gorleston,  both  records  Nov.  17th. 

Iceland  Gull:  North:  A first-year  bird  west  at  Cley  March  15th  (PJO). 

Mediterranean  Gull:  A second  year  bird  at  Breydon  July  10th  (PRA)  and  adults 
at  Cley  Sept.  13th  (DBS,  RTS),  and  Nov.  22nd  (DJB,  GC),  Salthouse  Oct.  26th 
(JMB,  CMJ)  and  Gorleston/Yarmouth  Nov.  17th/18th  (PRA,  JCE). 

Little  Gull:  Numerous  observations  received  but  as  in  1974  not  recorded  in  Feb., 
March  or  Dec.  Two  immatures  summered  at  Wisbech  SF  (June  - July).  Largest 
numbers:  12  frequented  a ploughed  field  at  Holme  Oct.  17th  following  NW  gales 
and  during  a NE  gale  Nov.  7th  at  least  15  east  at  Salthouse,  16  south  at  Winterton 
and  10  headed  out  from  Ouse  Mouth. 

Black-headed  Gull:  East:  Unsuccessful  breeding  at  Cantley  BF  due  to  predation  by 
foxes  which  destroyed  all  nests.  Few  other  nesting  localities  reported. 

Sabine’s  Gull:  North:  an  immature  east  Blakeney  Point  Sept.  7th  (MHR);  during 
northerly  gale  Sept.  14th  two  adults  off  Cley  (SCJ)  and  Salthouse  (BWJ)  and  an 
adult  west  Weybourne  (PJO);  an  adult  west  Sheringham  Oct.  10th  (JCM). 

Kittiwake:  Wash:  Ouse  Mouth  6,000  Nov.  17th  many  going  inland.  East:  Scroby 
Sands,  over  1,000  July  12th. 

Black  Tern:  Only  recorded  in  small  numbers,  with  maximum  of  7,  April  29th  - Sept. 
12th  with  several  records  of  singles  throughout  June.  Late  birds  at  Cley  Oct.  5th  and 
Hickling  on  15th.  Breeding:  a pair  reared  one  young  in  Fens  at  Welney,  the  first  time 
since  1969. 

White-winged  Black  Tern:  East:  Winterton  Aug.  10th  (RL,  RMcI). 

Common  Tern:  Pairs  at  breeding  sites  (number  of  fledged  young  where  known  in 
brackets)  include:  Wash:  Snettisham  52  (79).  North:  Titchwell  11,  Brancaster  5, 
Scolt  Head  420  (110  - high  predation  by  Kestrel  and  Short-eared  Owl).  Wells  12, 
Stiffkey  Binks  130,  and  Blakeney  Point  1500-  (300  nests  lost  by  high  tides,  also  high 
predation  by  owls.)  East:  Scroby  Sands  50 +.  Broads:  Ranworth  27  (47),  Ormsby  4, 
How  Hill  1,  Hardley  Flood  10  (16),  Martham  1 (3),  Barton  3 (2),  Hickling  6 and 
Hoveton  Great  Broad  5.  Inland:  noted  in  breeding  season  at  Costessey,  Taverham 
Mill,  Sparham,  Lyng,  Fustyweed  GP,  Swanton  Morley,  Worthing  and  Lenwade. 

Arctic  Tern:  North:  Breeding  pairs  Scolt  1 and  Blakeney  Point  2.  Elsewhere  up  to  2 
at  Cley  July  20th  - Sept.  28th  with  a late  bird  Oct.  19th. 

Roseate  Tern:  North:  Up  to  3 at  Scolt  Head  during  breeding  season.  At  Cley  3 May 
9th  and  singles  on  four  dates  June  6th  :-  July  20th.  Holme  one  May  11th.  East: 
Happisburgh  4 north-west  May  5th. 

Little  Tern:  Breeding  records  of  pairs  (number  of  fledged  young  in  brackets  where 
known)  include:  North:  Thornham  20,  Titchwell  27  (12),  Brancaster  18  (2/3),  Scolt 
Head  70  (1 1 - predation  by  Oystercatchers  and  Kestrels),  Overy  Staithe  5/6,  Wells  11, 
Stiffkey  Binks  30  - 40  and  Blakeney  Point  208.  East : Winterton/Horsey  66  (122)  and 
Caister-on-Sea  one  unsuccessful  (first  attempt  since  1962).  Broads:  Hickling  2 
Fens:  Unusual  inland  record  of  18  at  Wisbech  SF  July  19th.  Latest  2 Cley  Oct.  5th. 

Sandwich  Tern:  Breeding:  North:  Scolt  Head  3,200  pairs  with  a minimum  estimate 
of  2,800  flying  young.  Stiffkey  Binks  and  Blakeney  Point  none  nested.  East : Scroby 
Sands  minimum  of  60  pairs.  Extreme  dates  Cley  Mar.  27th  and  Nov.  2nd. 


15 


Razorbill:  North:  Sheringham,  maximum  counts  of  153  Nov.  8th,  and  exceptional 
total  of  567  on  30th. 

Little  Auk:  North:  Cley,  Nov.  2nd,  10  west  on  7th  and  one  on  8th.  One  also  on  Nov. 
19th  and  one  dead  Feb.  2nd.  Sheringham,  Nov.  7th,  8th,  19th  and  20th.  Hunstanton, 
Feb.  21st,  and  Hunstanton/Holme  Nov.  8th.  Holkham  dead  March  14th  and  Bran- 
caster  one  flew  into  netting  and  died  Nov.  29th.  East:  Winterton,  18  north  Nov.  7th. 
Yarmouth,  2 north  and  2 inland  with  starlings  on  same  date,  14  north  on  8th  and  one 
on  9th. 

Black  Guillemot:  North:  Sheringham  Oct.  11th,  Cley  Aug.  10th,  Sept.  13th,  Wells 
Harbour  Jan.  3rd  to  Feb.  22nd  and  again  April  5th. 

Puffin:  North:  Sheringham  Aug.  31st,  Nov.  7th  - 22nd  with  9 on  9th  and  5 Dec.  13th, 
Blakeney  Point  3,  Aug.  31st  and  one  Sept.  15th,  Cley  5 Sept.  28th  and  Nov.  9th, 
Titchwell  Sept.  22nd. 

Turtle  Dove:  Late  bird  at  Banningham  Oct.  22nd.  Notable  passage  records  include 
Winterton  569  north  in  three  hours  (0600  - 0900)  June  1st  and  again  on  15th  when 
58  north.  Holme,  up  to  100  per  hour  passing  west  till  1 100  hrs.  May  12th.  Colney/ 
Bawburgh  G.P.  90,  May  26th. 

Collared  Dove:  Inland,  large  gathering  of  250  at  Downham  Market  May  31st. 

Barn  Owl:  Noted  at  108  localities.  North:  Cley,  one  of  the  dark-breasted  form  Feb. 
14th  (RAR). 

Little  Owl:  Recorded  at  28  localities. 

Long-eared  Owl:  Bred  successfully  at  East  Wretham  and  near  Brandon.  Breeding 
season  records  from  Strumpshaw,  Wells,  Sheringham,  Holkham  and  Brancaster 
Staithe.  Very  unusual  numbers  (approx.  60  birds)  arrived  on  the  coast  following 
easterly  winds  in  October  and  northerly  winds  in  early  November. 

North:  Blakeney  Point,  Oct.  11th,  19th  (2)  and  21st.  Blakeney  Oct.  11th  and  19th. 
Cley/Salthouse  Oct.  11th,  12th  (in  from  sea  and  settled  on  East  Bank),  19th,  21st, 
at  least  4 Nov.  8th,  and  one  dead  Nov.  22nd.  Salthouse  Heath  Feb.  22nd,  Sheringham 
April  21st,  May  15th  - 27th,  Sept.  28th,  Oct.  20th  and  Nov.  9th  (2  in  from  sea), 
Brancaster  Staithe  approx.  10  in  autumn  and  winter,  Brancaster  Common  Jan.  6th- 
12th  (2)  and  April  25th,  May  1st  - 7th.  Hunstanton  Oct.  13th,  Wells  March  3rd,  May 
20th,  Oct.  20th  (2),  Holme  singles  on  four  dates  Oct.  5th  - 19th. 


16 


East:  Yarmouth  Nov.  8th,  Caister  Nov.  8th,  Winterton  April  20th  and  Oct.  19th 
(2),  Stokesby  Dec.  13th,  Waxham  April  20th,  Happisburgh  Oct.  19th  and  one  caught 
on  24th  carried  a Dutch  ring,  Oct.  25th  and  27th  with  2 on  26th. 

Elsewhere:  Display  flight  at  South  Runcton  April  4th  and  another  Dec.  27th. 
Docking  (dead)  April  3rd,  East  Wretham  Jan.  26th,  Ringstead  Common  (2)  Jan. 
26th,  minimum  roost  of  4 Massingham  Heath  in  Dec.,  Strumpshaw  dead  Oct.  14th 
and  on  22nd.  Snettisham  Oct.  11th. 

Interesting  offshore  observations  include  singles  at  Inner  Dowsing  Lighthouse  Nov. 
8th,  10th  and  13th,  and  4 “owls”  (2  certainly  of  this  species)  on  gas  production  plat- 
forms 40  miles  N.E.  of  Yarmouth  in  late  Oct.  Additional  1973  nesting  record  at 
Bradeston  (in  crow’s  nest). 

Short-eared  Owl:  Breeding  season  records  from  Horsey  (June  10th)  and  Syderstone 
(June  11th  carrying  food).  Also  juveniles  at  Warham  saltmarsh  Aug.  17th.  Small 
immigration  in  October. 

East:  Breydon/Halvergate/Wickhampton,  10  Jan.  1st  and  migrants  in  spring  to 
May  16th,  6 Dec.  26th.  Haddiscoe  area  7,  Dec.  6th.  Winterton  singles  up  to  May 
15th.  Happisburgh,  1 in  from  sea  Oct.  20th.  Bacton  Oct.  16th,  Paston  Oct.  19th. 
North : Cley  maximum  7 Feb.  6th,  and  3 April  21st.  Singles  in  from  sea  Oct.  11th  and 
Nov.  10th  with  2 Oct.  19th.  Cromer  in  from  sea  Oct.  19th. 

Wash:  Ongar  Hill  9 Feb.  2nd. 

West:  Roydon  Common,  pair  March  7th  - April  19th  performing  display  flights 
at  dusk. 

Kingfisher:  Bred  at  Bawburgh  Mill,  Colney,  Cranworth,  Crostwight,  Downham 
Market  (3  pairs),  Easton,  How  Hill,  Keswick  Mill,  Lakenliam,  Snettisham,  Sparham 
G.P.  (3  pairs)  & Strumpshaw.  At  Crostwight  the  nest  was  built  between  the  exposed 
roots  of  a fallen  tree  in  the  middle  of  a small  wood. 

Hoopoe:  In  Spring  reported  from  Eaton  G.C.,  March  14th,  Caister  April  4th  - 11th, 
Cley  19th  - 22nd,  Winterton  on  24th,  and  Holme  and  Hunstanton  May  20th.  In 
Autumn  at  Herringfleet  Marshes  and  Ashby  Oct.  12th,  Thornham  on  13th,  Eding- 
thorpe  on  23rd  and  Holkham  Nov.  23rd. 

Wryneck:  Four  spring  records:  Cley  April  19th/20th,  Winterton  May  1st  and  4th, 
Hunstanton  G.C.  between  8th  - 10th  and  Fleggburgh  Common  on  13th.  Far  fewer 
in  autumn  than  in  recent  years : Cley/Blakeney  Point  1 - 2 on  seven  dates  Aug.  13th- 
Sept.  14th  and  1 on  Oct.  21st;  Holme  1 - 2 Aug.  28th  - Sept.  16th;  Sheringham  Sept. 
14th  & 28th  (2);  Snettisham  Sept.  20th;  Waxham  Sept.  5th  and  Winterton  Sept. 
3rd/4th. 

Short-Toed  Lark:  North:  Holme  one  present  Oct.  27th  - Nov.  16th  (DJB,  PRC,  GW 
et  al).  The  third  county  record. 

Woodlark:  In  Brecks  9 Breeding  pairs  were  located.  Elsewhere  recorded  at  Holme 
Jan.  13th  and  Oct.  28th  - Nov.  1st  (2) ; Felthorpe  March  14th  and  Hickling  Oct.  24th. 

Shorelark:  North:  Cley/Salthouse  present  up  to  April  19th  and  from  Oct.  21st,  with 
a maximum  of  30  on  Jan.  6th.  Weybourne  1 April  12th;  Scolt  Head  1 Oct.  21st, 
Titchwell  1 - 2 in  autumn,  Holme  singles  Jan.  1st,  Oct.  11th  and  30th,  with  6 on  18th. 

Swallow : One  at  Twyford  Oct.  4th  was  pale  cream  in  colour  apart  from  a black  cap. 
Late  migrants  included  singles  at  Horstead  Nov.  5th,  Wells  on  25th/26th  and 
Thornham  Dec.  24th. 


17 


House  Martin:  Early  birds  at  California  on  March  10th  and  at  Swanton  Morley  on 
23rd.  November  birds  at  Hunstanton  and  Holkham  (6)  on  1st,  Sheringham  on  5th 
and  Brancaster  (2)  on  6th.  Again  a large  breeding  colony  along  Relief  Channel  near 
King’s  Lynn  with  141  nests  on  Saddlebow  Bridge. 


Sand  Martin:  Late  migrants  at  Crostwight  (3)  and  Sea  Palling  on  Oct.  26th. 

Golden  Oriole:  East : Winterton  male  in  song  June  1st  (PRA).  No  evidence  of  nesting 
in  the  county. 

Carrion  Crow:  West:  Roydon  Common,  the  winter  roost  contained  up  to  200  birds 
in  January  and  300  in  December. 

Hooded  Crow:  West:  highest  count  35  at  Snettisham  Oct.  26th  and  Sandringham 
Common  Dec.  23rd.  North:  Holkham  21  on  Nov.  1st.  East:  Breydon  10  Jan.  18th; 
Winterton  27  Feb.  1 6th  and  45  Oct.  26th.  East  Ruston  30  during  Nov.  West : Roydon 
Common  up  to  20  in  March,  April  and  Oct.  Singles  summered  at  Sheringham  and 
Winterton. 


Jay:  The  following  Oct.  records  could  well  refer  to  birds  of  the  Continental  race, 
glandarius:  North:  Sheringham  3 flying  south-east  on  4th;  Titchwell  14  on  11th. 
East:  Winterton  4 apparently  in  off  the  sea  on  12th.  Wash:  Snettisham  2 on  21st. 


Long  Tailed  Tit:  East:  Winterton  3 white-headed  birds  April  20th  were  considered 
to  be  of  the  Northern  race,  caudatus.  Happisburgh,  noticeable  passage  of  small 
flocks  in  October  and  total  of  77  ringed.  Trimingham,  6 ringed  on  Oct.  11th  were 
controlled  at  Sheringham  the  following  day. 


Black-Bellied  Dipper:  As  in  1974/75  winter  reported  from  several  localities : Banning- 
ham  Nov.  8th  - 12th;  Briggate  Mill  Feb.  18th;  Hempstead  Mill  Dec.  2nd -31st; 
Honingham  Feb.  1st  - April  11th  & Dec.  1st  - 14th;  Hunworth  March  26th; 
Marlingford  Mill  Dec.  20th;  Taverham  Mill  Feb.  13th  & Dec.  16th  - 31st;  Thetford 


18 


Mill  Dec.  1 1th.  Two  were  caught  and  colour-ringed  in  the  winter  of  1975/76  and  may 
well  return  to  the  same  areas  in  subsequent  winters. 

Bearded  Tit:  Broads:  Bred  at  Barton,  Hickling,  Whiteslea,  Heigham  Sounds,  Mar- 
tham,  Horsey  and  How  Hill.  North:  Bred  at  Titchwell,  Cley  and  Salthouse.  East- 
Bred  at  Cantley  BF.  A count  in  mid-Dec.  (Titchwell  to  Salthouse)  produced  a total 
of  120  birds. 

Mistle  Thrush:  East  Tuddenham  a cream-coloured  bird  on  Sept.  6th. 

Fieldfare:  Late  spring  bird  at  Holkham  May  18th,  with  2 at  Kelling  June  1st.  A pair 
summered  in  East  Norfolk,  but  no  evidence  of  nesting.  First  autumn  birdCorpusty 
Aug.  10th.  One  at  Lower  East  Carlton  Jan.  27th  was  albino  apart  from  a black  tail 
bar. 

Redwing:  Extreme  dates  Winterton  May  18th  and  Felmingham  Aug.  23rd. 

Black-Throated  Thrush:  North:  Holkham  immature  Oct.  21st  - 24th  (WVF.  DGW 
et  al ).  The  first  county  record  of  this  vagrant  from  Asia. 

Ring  Ouzel:  Spring:  recorded  April  12th  - May  15th  from  the  majority  of  the  coastal 
parishes  between  Hunstanton  and  Sheringham  in  the  North;  from  Waxham, 
Horsey,  Winterton  and  Breydon  in  the  East  and  inland  at  Cantley  and  Hickling. 
Maximum  Hunstanton  G.C.  (9)  April  21st  and  Holme  (8)  April  26th.  Autumn: 
1-3  recorded  Sept.  30th  - Nov.  5th.  In  North  at  Holme  and  Holkham;  in  East  at 
Hickling,  Winterton,  Scratby  and  Yarmouth. 

Wheatear:  Late  autumn  date:  Cley  Oct.  31st.  Marked  passage  on  April  19th  when 
70  between  Salthouse  and  Weybourne.  An  unusual  record  was  of  one  in  the  centre  of 
Norwich  Oct.  14th  - 17th. 

Black-Eared  Wheatear:  North:  Cley  May  13th  (PT).  Holme  June  2nd  - 21st  (PRC, 
DJH,  MR  et  al).  The  second  and  third  county  records. 

Stonechat:  Breeding  pairs  noted  at  Weybourne  (1),  Winterton /Horsey  (10)  and 
Breydon  (1).  During  the  winter  recorded  at  many  coastal  and  sixteen  inland  localities, 
the  majority  of  the  latter  in  East.  Maxima  at  Holme  (6)  Feb.  22nd  and  at  Caister  (5) 
Oct.  26th. 

Whinchat:  Extreme  dates  Brandon  April  2nd  and  very  late  bird  at  Holme  Nov.  24th. 
During  breeding  season  noted  only  at  Sturston  Warren,  where  2 immatures  July  12th. 
A sandy-coloured  bird  at  Hickling  Aug.  31st. 

Redstart:  Extreme  dates  April  29th  (Yarmouth)  and  Oct.  27th  (Hellesdon).  Breeding 
season  records  from  Santon  Downham  (male  singing),  Castle  Rising  (2  males  singing), 
Tottington  (pair  with  young)  and  Sheringham  (pair  with  young).  Wash:  Heacham, 
adult  male  Oct.  26th  showed  the  characteristics  of  the  white-winged  Eastern  subspe- 
cies, known  as  Ehrenberg’s  Redstart,  in  summer  plumage. 

Black  Redstart:  Breeding:  Yarmouth  8 singing  males,  with  breeding  proved  at  2 
sites  and  an  exceptionally  early  singing  male  Feb.  1st.  Gorleston  1 pair.  Norwich  3 
males  singing,  but  no  proof  of  breeding.  Migrants : Many  coastal  records  in  spring 
and  autumn,  with  inland  reports  from  King’s  Lynn,  North  Walsham,  Reepham  and 
Sparham.  Winter:  Noted  in  mid-winter  at  Norwich  (Jan.  29th)  Sheringham  (all 
Jan.)  and  Heacham  (Jan.  to  March). 

Nightingale:  Passage  birds  at  Holme  May  lst/2nd  and  Winterton  Aug.  27th.  A full 
breeding  summary  will  be  published  in  the  1976  Report. 


19 


Bluethroat : Spring : Sheringham  May  7th  - 9th,  Blakeney  Point  and  Titchwell  on  26th. 
Autumn : Blakeney  Point  Sept.  14th  - 17th  (2).  For  the  second  consecutive  year  more 
records  in  spring  than  autumn. 

Cetti’s  Warbler:  Broads:  Yare  valley,  a total  of  12  singing  males  at  four  localities, 
and  two  nests  found.  A further  male  in  song  at  another  Broadland  site.  Song  heard 
from  Feb.  1st. 

Aquatic  Warbler  :North : Blakeney  Point  Sept.  5th/6th  (DJH)  et  al. 

Icterine  Warbler:  North:  Wells  1 in  song  May  18th,  the  first  spring  record  for  eleven 
years  (JHM).  Blakeney  Point  Aug.  10th  (2).  Holme  Aug.  12th,  13th,  30th,  31st, 
Sept.  3rd  and  5th.  East:  Eccles  Aug.  16th.  Winterton  Sept.  4th. 

Blackcap:  Winter  records : North  Pickenham  Jan.  8th  (pair);  Castle  Rising  Feb.  6th; 
Cley  Feb.  22nd ; Brancaster  Staithe  Feb.  22nd  (remaining  until  mid-April) ; Gaywood 
Dec.  8th;  Sheringham  Dec.  10th  and  16th;  Thorpe  St.  Andrew  Dec.  28th. 

Barred  Warbler:  North:  Sheringham  July  29th  (the  earliest  date  for  the  county), 
Aug.  30th  - Sept.  5th  (ringed  and  retrapped),  Sept.  6th  (on  G.C.,  probably  same  bird) ; 
Blakeney  Point  Aug.  12th,  Sept.  1st,  7th,  14th/15th  (2),  16th;  Holme  Aug.  30th, 
Sept.  2nd,  4th  (2),  7th  (2)  16th;  East:  Winterton  Sept.  21st. 

Garden  Warbler:  Extreme  dates  April  20th  (Winterton)  and  Oct.  24th  (Holkham). 

ChifTchaff:  Spring  arrival  from  March  9th  (Chedgrave).  A bird  showing  the  charac- 
teristics of  the  Northern  race,  tristis,  at  Yarmouth  Nov.  10th,  while  one  at  East  Ruston 
Common  Nov.  22nd  was  probably  one  of  the  Northern  race.  Winter  records  from 
Stoke  Ferry  Jan.  18th  (singing)  and  Gorleston  Dec.  23rd. 

Wood  Warbler:  Kelling  2 pairs  throughout  breeding  season.  Noted  in  May  at  East 
Wretham  Heath,  Mundford,  Santon  Downham  and  Wells,  while  one  was  at  Shering- 
ham July  8th. 

Arctic  Warbler:  North:  Titchwell  immature  trapped  July  5th  (JR).  A highly  unusual 
date. 

Yellow-Browed  Warbler:  North:  Wells/Holkham  Oct.  10th  - 23rd,  present  almost 
daily,  with  a peak  of  15  on  12th,  although  only  4 on  1 1th  and  1 3th.  East:  Waxham 
Oct.  12th.  Yarmouth  Oct.  1 0th/  11th  and  19th. 

Pallas’s  Warbler:  North:  Holkham  Oct.  1 1th  - 15th,  with  2 on  the  latter  date  (FKC, 
JCE,  SCJ) ; Scolt  Head  Oct.  1 7th  (JB).  East : Happisburgh  trapped  Oct.  1 7th  (BMEU). 

Dusky  Warbler:  North:  Wells  Oct.  14th  - 16th  (GBB,  SCJ,  NW  et  al);  Blakeney 
Point  Oct.  18th  (GED  et  al).  The  fourth  and  fifth  county  records. 

Radde’s  Warbler:  North:  Brancaster  GC,  by  clubhouse,  Oct.  17th  (FKC).  Holkham 
Oct.  18th  - 20th  (DMN  & RBHS)  and  a different  bird  on  25th/26th  (PD,  GJJ  & 
ETW).  The  third  fourth  and  fifth  county  records. 

Goldcrest:  Unprecedented  numbers  occurred  along  the  coast  in  mid-Oct.,  following 
north-easterly  gales  including:  North:  Holme,  200  on  Oct.  10th  and  250  on  12th; 
Holkham  200  on  Oct.  12th.  East:  Happisburgh,  at  least  1000  passed  through  area 
Oct.  9th  - 15th,  with  500  on  10th;  Yarmouth,  200  on  Oct.  11th,  1000-j-  on  13th  and 
100  on  23rd. 

Firecrest : Spring : Total  of  25  at  Blakeney  Point,  Brancaster,  Caister,  Cley,  Crostwight, 
Dersingham,  Fowl  Mere,  Holme,  Kelling  Heath,  North  Walsham,  Sheringham, 
Stiff  key,  Titchwell,  Waxham,  Wells/Holkham,  Winterton  and  Witton  Wood  between 


20 


Four  Pallas’s  Warblers  (upper)  and 
over  18  Yellow  - Browed  Warblers 
(lower)  were  identified  in  October. 


March  29th  and  May  30th.  At  five  of  the  localities  two  birds  were  present  together 
and  several  males  were  heard  in  song.  Autumn:  Total  of  at  least  8 at  Holme, 
Salthouse  Heath,  irimingham,  Wells/Holkham  and  Yarmouth  between  Oct  11th 
and  Nov.  15th. 

Pied  Flycatcher:  Total  of  10  in  May,  the  majority  on  coast  but  1 at  Wroxham  May 
12th,  and  more  surprising  male  in  song  Cranworth  May  22nd  - June  5th.  Another 
at  Hickling  June  14th.  Late  autumn  birds  at  Yarmouth  Oct.  10th  and  14th  (2)  and  at 
Holme  on  12th. 


Red-Breast  Flycatcher:  North:  Blakeney  Point  Aug.  29th,  30th  and  Sept.  14th  (3V 
Wells/Holkham  Sept.  29th,  Oct.  lOth/llth  and  12th  (2);  Hunstanton  Aug.  30th, : 
Kelling  Heath  Sept.  18th.  East:  Yarmouth  Oct.  10th;  Trimingham  Oct.  12th. 

Olive-backed  Pipit:  North:  Wells  Oct.  10th  (SCJ  & NW).  The  first  county  record  of 
this  vagrant  from  Asia. 


Pied  Wagtail:  A roost  on  East  Ruston  Common  contained  80  birds  in  Nov. 

White  Wagtail:  More  reports  in  spring  than  usual  with  12  at  Snettisham  April  19th 
and  15  at  Cley  on  21st.  At  Great  Moulton  a male  White  Wagtail  bred  with  a female 
pied  rearing  three  young  in  an  open-fronted  nestbox. 


Grey  Wagtail:  Bred  at  a record  total  of  19  localities.  The 
due  to  better  coverage.  Details  as  follows: 


increase,  at  least  in  part, 


r -r  *°rti : R'  G'aven— Bayfield  Hall.  Central : R.  Yare— Barnham  Broom,  Cringle- 
lord,  Eariham,  Keswick,  Lakenham  and  Marlingford.  R.  Bure— Horstead  R Tudd 
—Easton  and  Honingham.  R.  Wensum-Lenwade,  Lyng,  Norwich  (2  sites)  and 
Taverham  South:  R.  Waveney— Ellingham,  Mendham  and  Needham.  Brecks: 
K.  Thet — Brettenham  Bridge. 


21 


Yellow  Wagtail:  Extreme  dates  April  1st  (Cley)  and  Oct.  24th  (Holkham).  Marked 
spring  passage  noted  at  Snettisham  April  19th  (70)  and  Cley  April  20th  (150). 

Blue-Headed  Wagtail:  Breydon  April  19th;  Snettisham  April  22nd;  Cley  1 - 4 April 
19th  - May  5th;  East  Ruston  Common  May  31st;  Downham  Market  male  summered 
but  no  evidence  of  breeding. 

Grey-Headed  Wagtail:  Hickling  May  16th;  Cley  May  21st  - June  1st;  Kelling  May 
25th. 

Waxwing : Recorded  up  to  April  20th  (Norwich)  and  from  Oct.  19th  (Wells).  Monthly 
totals : January  21  (maximum  1 3 in  Norwich) ; February  10  (maximum  6 in  Norwich) ; 
March  6 ; April  5 ; October  25  (maximum  12  at  Hunstanton) ; November  52  (maximum 
16  at  Brancaster);  December  12  (maximum  6 at  Downham  Market).  The  majority 
were  recorded  on  the  coast  and  in  and  around  Norwich. 

Great  Grey  Shrike:  Recorded  up  to  April  19th  (Beeston  Common  and  Holkham) 
and  from  Oct.  1st  (Holkham),  whilst  one  with  an  injured  wing  was  present  at  Cran- 
worth  May  1st  and  22nd.  During  the  winter  months  single  birds  were  recorded  from 
20  coastal  and  25  inland  localities,  with  2 on  Salthouse  Heath. 

Lesser  Grey  Shrike : North : Holme/Thornham  Oct.  25th  - Nov.  4th  (PRC,  et  al).  The 
first  autumn  record  for  the  county  for  over  fifty  years. 

Red-Backed  Shrike:  Breeding  season:  A total  of  13  breeding  pairs  in  the  county 
compared  with  a revised  total  of  14  pairs  in  1974.  Spring  migrant  at  Holkham  May 
20th.  Autumn  migrants  noted  at  Blakeney  Point,  Hickling,  Holkham  and  Winterton 
between  July  24th  and  Oct.  20th.  One  showing  the  characteristics  of  one  of  the  eastern 
races  of  Red-tailed  shrike  at  Holkham  Oct.  12th/l  3th  (GBB,  SCJ  & RPM). 

Rose-Coloured  Starling:  East:  Winterton  July  31st  (ADB). 

Hawfinch : Recorded  in  breeding  season  at  Weeting  (2),  Felthorpe  (4  - 5)  and  Santon 
Downham.  At  East  Wretham  in  late  Jan  and  in  early  Feb.  unprecedented  total  of 
up  to  183  roosting  in  hornbeams  and  silver  birches,  the  number  falling  to  25  by  the 


22 


end  of  March.  The  remaining  records  concern  2 at  Attlebridge  April  2nd  and  Sher- 
ingham  July  31st,  singles  at  Shadwell  Nov.  16th  and  Salthouse  Heath  on  22nd,  and  7 
at  Cranwich  Nov.  16th. 

Greenfinch:  East:  Winterton  a flock  of  2000  feeding  in  fields  Feb.  23rd,  with  1500 
still  present  March  9th. 

Siskin:  Brecks:  Grimes  Graves,  a pair  present  throughout  May.  Santon  Downham, 
a pair  June  19th  and  female  July  5th  (singing  frequently  heard  in  this  area  April  to 
June  1974).  Largest  winter  flocks  Holkham  Oct.  24th  (20),  Chedgrave  Common 
Nov.  and  Dec.  (40)  and  East  Wretham  Dec.  26th  (50).  46  feeding  on  nuts  and  seeds  at 
Banningham  Oct.  22nd  is  exceptional  for  the  county. 

Twite:  Recorded  up  to  April  22nd  (Winterton)  and  from  Sept.  4th  (Blakeney).  North : 
counts  include  4 - 500  at  Wells  (on  late  date  of  April  21st),  400  at  Titchwell,  and  200 
at  Blakeney  Point  and  at  Holme.  East : maximum  of  120  at  Breydon  Jan.  1st.  Broads : 
35  at  Hickling  Oct.  3rd.  West:  inland  at  Roydon  Common  Jan.  2nd  (few)  and  6th. 
Central : Keswick  Mill  a male  with  redpolls  and  goldfinches  on  the  extraordinary  date 
of  June  17th/18th. 

Scarlet  Rosefinch:  North:  Holkham  female  Aug.  29th  (DMW).  The  fourth  county 
record,  and  the  third  consecutive  year  that  one  has  appeared  in  Norfolk,  the  only 
previous  one  being  in  1892. 

Crossbill:  No  definite  breeding  records,  but  widely  distributed  in  Brecks  and  in 
West.  Numbers,  however,  small  with  maxima  of  only  7 at  Sandringham  (July)  and 
9 at  Wells  (Oct.). 

Two-Barred  Crossbill:  West:  Sandringham  Feb.  16th  (JC  & GP).  The  third  county 
record. 

Brambling:  Late  birds  at  Winterton  May  4th  and  at  Cantley  between  18th  and  26th. 
Concentration  of  1500  in  Fens  at  Wissington  B.F.  end  Dec. 

The  following  summary  by  GED  relates  to  the  Norwich  area. 

During  the  first  days  of  1975,  considerable  numbers  of  finches  were  reported 
feeding  in  the  beech  woods  in  the  grounds  of  County  Hall.  On  5th  January,  despite 
and  almost  continuous  movement  of  birds  in  to  and  out  of  the  woods,  it  was  estimated 
that  at  least  1,250  Bramblings  were  present,  with  somewhat  surprisingly  only  50  - 75 
chaffinches.  Bramblings  continued  to  feed  in  this  area  throughout  Jan.  and  Feb. 
including  up  to  600  at  the  nearby  Colman  works,  where  100  were  ringed.  Elsewhere 
during  the  period,  records  were  received  of  up  to  300  at  Colneyand  Arminghall  and 
up  to  400  at  Twenty  Acre  Wood  at  North  Earlham. 

In  the  middle  of  January  a regular  north/south  movement  of  finches  was  noted 
over  Thorpe  Road  throughout  the  day.  By  following  their  flight  path  with  the  aid  of 
an  Ordnance  Survey  map,  at  least  500  Bramblings  were  found  feeding  in  beeches  at 
Mousehold  Heath  to  the  north  on  the  19th.  These  birds  were  undoubtedly  flying 
southwards  to  the  County  Hall  area.  Later  in  the  month  many  hundreds  were  also 
seen  flying  north  over  Christchurch  Road  early  each  morning,  presumably  feeding 
to  the  north  of  the  city. 

Again  with  the  use  of  an  O.S.  map  and  by  observing  the  direction  of  departure 
of  birds  leaving  County  Hall  in  late  afternoon,  RFJ  ascertained  that  they  were  roost- 
ing at  Brooke  Wood,  6 miles  to  the  south-south-east.  On  the  afternoon  of  26th  Jan. 
GED  obtained  a reasonably  accurate  count  of  the  finches  by  standing  adjacent  to  the 
road  to  the  north  of  the  wood,  especially  as  the  birds  were  arriving  in  two  well-defined 
corridors  from  the  north  and  flying  low  because  of  the  wind.  Birds  started  arriving  at 
3.30  p.m.  and  continued  until  4.40  p.m.  with  the  largest  numbers  about  4.00  p.m.  As 


23 


many  arrived  singly  or  in  small  flocks,  with  a larger  party  of  200  to  300  birds  only 
every  few  minutes,  it  was  possible  to  identify  most  birds  as  well  as  count  them. 
Whilst  small  numbers  of  Yellow-hammers,  Linnets  and  Tree  Sparrows  were  arriving, 
with  larger  numbers  of  Chaffinches,  out  of  a total  of  7,600  birds  the  majority  were 
Bramblings  i.e.  a total  of  6,500  - 7,000.  It  would  appear  that  such  numbers  are  un- 
precendented  in  the  Norwich  area  but  unfortunately  one  can  only  speculate  how  many 
birds  were  also  arriving  at  Brooke  Wood  from  the  east,  south  and  west! 

During  February  the  flocks  of  Bramblings  tended  to  become  smaller  and  the 
birds  more  widespread.  Small  numbers  were  seen  in  many  parts  of  Norwich  including 
birds  feeding  in  and  on  the  ground  below  isolated  beech  trees  well  within  the  city 
centre.  In  March  birds  were  still  present  in  many  areas  of  beech  especially  in  gardens 
but  the  largest  numbers  tended  to  disperse  away  from  the  city  with  records  of  700 
feeding  on  stubble  near  Bramerton  on  2nd  and  400  near  Horstead  on  24th.  (GED). 

Yellow-Browed  Bunting:  North:  Wells  Oct.  19th  (DJH,  JBK  & MP).  This  record 
has  been  accepted  by  British  Birds  Rarities  Committee  and  is  under  consideration 
by  the  B.O.U.  Records  Committee.  If  accepted  it  will  be  the  first  British  record  of 
this  Asian  vagrant. 

Ortolan:  North:  Blakeney  Point  Aug.  30th  (GBB,  SCJ  et  al). 

Rustic  Bunting:  North:  Blakeney  Point  Oct.  18th  (AJLS)  and  Cley  Oct.  19th  (FKC) 
with  another  at  Cley  on  22nd  (RJ  & DIMW). 

Reed  Bunting:  North:  Blakeney  Point  2 - 300  feeding  in  small  flocks  on  top  of  the 
shingle  on  Oct.  18th  is  unusual. 

Lapland  Bunting:  North:  in  autumn  recorded  from  Aug.  30th  (5  at  Blakeney  Point). 
Maximum  counts  15  at  Cley  in  Oct.,  10  west  at  Holkham  Nov.  5th  and  12  at  Overy 
Staithe  Dec.  29th.  Otherwise  1-2  noted  at  Holme,  Sheringham,  Snettisham  and 
Titchwell.  East:  singles  at  Breydon  Sept.  6th  and  Dec.  28th. 

Snow  Bunting:  North:  May  reports  from  Cley  (19th)  and  Cromer  (male  in  summer 
plumage  29th/30th).  In  autumn  recorded  from  Sept.  7th  (Holme).  Up  to  200  present 
at  Holme  and  Salthouse  in  Dec.,  100  at  Brancaster  in  Nov.  and  80  at  Titchwell  in 
Oct.  East : maxima  at  Yarmouth  of  40  Jan.  1st  and  27  Dec.  6th.  Only  inland  record  at 
Ten  Mile  Bank  Nov.  26th  - Dec.  3rd. 

Ring-Necked  Parakeet:  North:  Sheringham  Sept.  30th.  East:  Waxham  April  13th; 
Yarmouth  April  21st  (2)  and  Dec.  29th;  Caister  April  14th;  Gorleston  July  27th; 
Winterton  Aug.  28th.  Broads:  Surlingham  May  24th. 

Observers  are  requested  to  submit  all  records  of  this  species. 

The  following,  not  mentioned  in  the  Classified  Notes,  were  also  recorded  in  1975 
{breeding  species  in  italics):  Black-throated  Diver,  Mallard , Canada  Goose , Kestrel , 
Red-legged  Partridge,  Partridge,  Pheasant,  Water  Rail,  Moorhen,  Lapwing,  Turnstone, 
Snipe,  Woodcock,  Lesser  Black-backed  Gull,  Guillemot,  Stock  Dove,  Woodpigeon, 
Cuckoo,  Tawny  Owl,  Nightjar,  Swift,  Green  Woodpecker,  Great  Spotted  Woodpecker, 
Lesser  Spotted  Woodpecker,  Skylark,  Rook,  Jackdaw,  Magpie,  Great  Tit,  Blue  Tit, 
Coal  Tit,  Marsh  Tit,  Willow  Tit,  Nuthatch,  Treecreeper,  Wren,  Song  Thrush,  Black- 
bird, Robin,  Grasshopper  Warbler,  Reed  Warbler,  Sedge  Warbler,  Whitethroat, 
Lesser  Whitethroat,  Willow  Warbler,  Spotted  Flycatcher,  Dunnock,  Meadow  Pipit, 
Tree  Pipit . Rock/ Water  Pipit,  Starling,  Goldfinch,  Linnet,  Redpoll,  Bullfinch,  Chaf- 
finch, Corn  Bunting,  Yellowhammer . House  Sparrow  and  Tree  Sparrow. 


24 


Bird  RingingjiSm  Report 


IN  THIS  year’s  report,  the  list  of  recoveries  has  been  shortened,  although  the  amount 
of  material  available  is  ever  on  the  increase.  Some  species  have  been  omitted 
altogether,  including  the  Bearded  Tit  and  most  of  the  waders,  and  these  will  be 
dealt  with  at  greater  length  in  a future  report.  The  extra  space  made  available  this 
way  has  been  devoted  to  a short  article  on  the  movements  of  Black-headed  Gulls. 

Some  species  rarely  appear  in  these  lists;  this  year  both  the  Long-eared  and 
Short-eared  Owls  have  their  turn,  and  there  are  some  interesting  series  of  re- 
coveries for  other  species,  with  some  for  1976  brought  forward  where  appropriate. 

While  checking  through  the  material  sent  in  by  ringers  we  were  most  impressed 
by  the  number  of  ringed  birds  that  were  controlled,  or  in  other  words,  caught  and 
released  with  their  ring  still  on.  The  three  Goldcrest  movements  came  to  light 
his  way  as  did  also  the  warblers  and  most  of  the  finches. 

Shag 

Fame  Is.,  Northumberland  Titchwell  (dead)  1 1 . 1 1 .74 
(pullus)  2.8.74 

Heron 

Nestlings  ringed  at  Broadland  colonies  were  recovered  from  various  parts 
of  eastern  England.  The  following  are  all  from  at  least  250km  distant,  and 
are  among  the  most  northerly  for  the  species  from  this  area. 

Wickhampton  30.5.74  Harrogate,  Yorks,  (dead)  8.4.75 

Wickhampton  30.5.74  Wooler,  Northumberland  (dead)  11.5.76 

Belaugh  10.5.75  Levens  Park,  Kendal,  Westmorland  (shot) 

14.3.76 

Wigeon 

Nine  ringed  at  Snettisham  between  1970  and  1975  were  reported  shot  in 
U.S.S.R.  between  May  and  early  October,  the  latest  of  these  being  on  2nd 
October  on  the  River  Volga,  300  miles  east  of  Moscow.  Two  others  were  in 
Denmark  in  September  and  October. 

Shelduek 

Cantley  (pullus)  16.7.72  Grays,  Essex  (shot)  23.10.75 

Kestrel 

Snettisham  (pullus)  10.6.71  Gressenhall,  Dereham  (dead)  10.2.75 


25 


Coot 


Deeping  St.  Janies,  Lines,  (juv.)  Elmham  (caught  by  dog)  27.4.75 
31.10.73 

Little  Ringed  Plover 

Little  is  yet  known  of  the  movements  of  this  summer  visitor,  but  no  doubt 
the  following  are  typical. 

Gt  Witchingham  (Ad.)  R.  Somme,  N.  France  (killed)  24.3.72 

24.6.71 

Near  King’s  Lynn  (pullus)  Majorca,  Balearic  Is.  (control)  26.8.75 

12.6.75 

Snipe 

Salthouse  19.8.72  Vichuga,  Ivanov,  U.S.S.R.  (shot)  30.8.74 

Black-headed  Gull — see  separate  report  (page  28). 


Long-eared  Owl 

One  of  the  many  found  in  eastern  England  in  late  1975  carried  a German  ring 
Wittmund,  Niedersachsen,  Happisburgh  (control)  24.10.75 

Germany  (pullus)  16.6.74 

Short-eared  Owl 

A bird  reared  in  Yorkshire  and  apparently  wintering  on  the  Wash. 

Goole,  Yorks  (pullus)  11.6.75  Terrington  (shot)  19.10.75 

Swallow 

Bedworth,  Warwicks  (roosting)  Shotesham  (control)  18.5.75 
15.9.74 


House  Martin 

The  bird  from  Lancashire  had  presumably  passed  through  north  Norfolk 


on  passage. 

Happisburgh  18.5.75 
Downham  Market  5.9.74 

Song  Thrush 

Shotesham  (pullus)  26.5.69 
Holme  17.9.73 
Titchwell  11.5.73 


Ince  Blundell,  Lancs,  (control)  31.5.75 
Zarauz,  Spain  29.10.74 


Guines,  Calais,  France  (killed)  20.12.75 
Tortesa,  Tarragona,  Spain  26.1.75 
Mimizan,  France  30.3.75 


26 


Redwing 

The  following  two  recoveries  may  usefully  be  compared  with  those  in  the 
1972  and  1973  Norfolk  B.R’s,  where  recovery  localities  are  further  south  than 
ringing  localities. 

Mintlyn,  King’s  Lynn  30.3.73  Aviz,  Alentejo,  Portugal  (killed)  2.1.75 
Mintlyn  8.3.75  Windesheim,  Overijssel,  Netherlands 

(dead)  September  1975 

Blackbird 

The  first  bird,  an  adult  male  on  ringing,  had  possibly  changed  breeding  areas 
by  1974,  unless  this  is  an  instance  of  very  late  return  migration. 

Eckero,  Aland,  Finland  21.4.70  East  Ruston  (control)  25.5.74 
Fair  Isle,  Shetland  27. 1 1 .74  Holme  (control)  9. 1 1 .75 

Redstart 

Titchwell  16.9.74  Bremerhaven,  Germany  (cat)  5.5.75 

Robin 

Holme  24.4.73  Algamitas,  Sevilla,  Spain  (trapped)  4.2.75 

Titchwell  21.10.74  St.  Nicolaas,  Netherlands  (control) 

10.10.75 

Reed  Warbler 

Two  autumn  movements  to  Sussex,  the  birds  no  doubt  travelling  together, 
a habit  already  seen  in  other  small  passerines  such  as  Bearded  Tit  and  Long- 
tailed Tit. 

Titchwell  29.7.75  Bexhill,  Sussex  (control)  30.8.75 

Titchwell  29.7.75  Bexhill  (control)  1.9.75 

Garden  Warbler 

A reverse  movement  in  autumn. 

Berg,  Limburg,  Belgium  2.8.75  Holme  (control)  6.9.75 
Goldcrest 

The  first  two  examples  below  provide  useful  information  on  the  timing  and 
direction  of  the  autumn  movement. 

Falsterbo,  Sweden  8.10.75  Titchwell  (control)  11.10.75 

Schiermonnikoog,  Netherlands  Gt.  Yarmouth  (caught  and  released) 

11.10.75  18.10.75 

Titchwell  16.10.74  Friesian  Is.,  Netherlands  (control) 

23.4.75 

Starling 

Movement  was  traced  by  ringing  between  Norfolk  and  Belgium,  Netherlands, 
Denmark  (4),  East  Germany,  Baltic  States  (5),  U.S.S.R.  (2)  and  Finland  (2). 
This  number  includes  some  recently  reported  from  previous  years. 

Greenfinch 

Doncaster,  Yorks.  17.8.74  Downham  Market  (control)  28.12.74 

Friesian  Is.,  Netherlands  12.7.74  Walcot  (dead)  17.4.75 

Redpoll 

Considerably  more  recoveries  and  controls  were  reported  in  1975  than  in 
any  single  year  previously.  The  majority  concern  birds  caught  between 
August  and  October  in  the  west  of  the  county  and  recovered  in  Belgium  in 


27 


October  or  November,  or  in  various  parts  of  East  Anglia  during  subsequent 
breeding  seasons.  Three  others  are  given  in  full. 


Salthouse  8.5.72 

Leziate,  King’s  Lynn  11.9.75 

La  Londe,  Seine  M’me, 

France  20.4.74 

Brambling 

Arstad,  Rogaland,  Norway 
19.10.70 

Stola,  Rogaland,  Norway  7. 10.73 
Mintlyn  27.12.73 


Peterborough  (control)  24.6.75 
Dungeness,  Kent  (control)  19.10.75 
Sheringham  (control)  22.4.75 


Mintlyn,  King’s  Lynn  (control)  8.3.75 

Norwich  (dead)  22.3.75 
Lebbeke,  W.  Flanders,  Belgium  (control) 
9.11.75 


Reed  Bunting 

A well  travelled  bird!  But  it  would  be  interesting  to  know  of  its  movements 
between  Nov.  1973  and  Jan.  1976.  See  Norfolk  B.R.  for  1974  page  201. 
Winterton  (adult)  9.9.73  a.  Budleigh  Salterton,  Devon  17.11.73 

b.  Lisburn,  Co.  Antrim,  N.  Ireland  (con- 
trol) 5.1.76 


Tree  Sparrow 

Movements  over  a few  miles  are  unusual,  although  the  species  has  been  shown 
by  ringing  to  cross  the  southern  North  Sea. 

Ongar,  Essex  5.8.75  Gt.  Yarmouth  (dead  on  beach)  15.5.75 


BLACK  HEADED  GULL  RECOVERIES 

Wintering  gulls  have  been  trapped  and  ringed  in  this  and  other  countries  for  many 
years — they  are  comparatively  easy  to  catch  in  gardens  or  on  rubbish  tips  as  they 
come  down  for  food.  Many  thousands  of  others  are  ringed  annually  as  nestlings, 
and  as  these  birds  are  found  again  and  reported  back  to  us,  a picture  of  their  move- 
ments can  be  built  up. 

Many  are  shot,  particularly  in  Denmark  in  autumn  while  they  are  on  their  way 
southwest  for  the  winter.  Others  have  been  found  injured  or  poisoned  or  caught  in 
traps  or  machinery. 

The  map  makes  no  distinction  between  “winter-ringed  in  Britain’’  and  “summer- 
ringed  abroad’’,  but  it  shows  firstly  where  our  gulls  spend  the  summer  months — 
chiefly  in  Sweden,  Finland  and  the  Baltic  area  generally.  Secondly,  eastern  England 
is  only  part  of  a much  wider  wintering  area,  that  extends  eastwards  to  include  Den- 
mark. A third  point  that  is  not  seen  from  the  map,  but  is  nevertheless  very  import- 
ant, is  that  there  is  little,  if  any,  evidence  to  suggest  that  our  wintering  gulls  are 
home-bred.  Young  gulls  from  Norfolk  colonics  appear  to  move  westwards  into  the 
Midlands  and  beyond  after  fledgling. 

It  has  been  established  by  ringing  that  the  starlings  that  come  so  greedily  for 
winter  scraps  are  a mixture  of  residents  and  visitors.  It  is  fairly  clear  that  the  gulls 
that  accompany  them,  and  compete  with  them  for  the  food  supply,  are  mostly  if 
not  all  winter  visitors  from  the  lakes  and  islands  of  the  Baltic  and  other  eastern 
parts. 


28 


fN 


29 


Map  showing  recovery  or  ringing  localities  of  Black-headed  Gulls  present  in  Norfolk  during  the  winter  months 


CONTRIBUTORS  TO  BIRD  REPORT 


P.  Aldous 
P.  R.  Allard 
P.  R.  Ames 
C.  Appleton 
Dr.  R.  K.  Archer 

C.  N.  Arnold 

A.  R.  Artherton 
Dr.  R.  Baker 
N.  E.  Baker 
J.  Barnard 
M.  T.  Barnes 
W.  J.  Barry 
M.  Bean 
R.  A.  Benson 

H.  Birkbeck 
J.  M.  Birtwell 
J.  L.  Bishop 
W.  F.  Bishop 

M.  B.  Blackburn 
A.  D.  Boote 

T.  E.  Boulton 
Mrs.  M.  A.  Brewster 
Mrs.  P.  Britton 

D.  J.  Brooks 
G.  B.  Brown 
J.  Brown 

P.  Brown 

Miss  P.  Brown 

Miss  M.  S.  Buckanan 

D.  J.  Buckler 
A.  Bull 

R.  A.  Butler 
J.  Buxton 
J.  Campton 

F.  Cannings 
Dr.  K.  Carlson 

G.  Catley 

R.  Chestney 
Miss  D.  Cheyne 
P.  R.  Clarke 

F.  K.  Cobb 

H.  C.  Coe 

I.  M.  CORFE 
Dr.  R.  A.  Cox 
Dr.  S.  Cox 

Mrs.  A.  Cracknell 

E.  F.  Crosby 

Mr.  & Mrs.  E.  D.  Darrinder 

D.  A.  Dorling 
Miss  E.  M.  Dorling 

G.  Dormer 
P.  Dukes 
A.  G.  Duff 

G.  E.  Dunmore 

N.  Dymond 

E.  Eales 

Eastern  Daily  Press 

G.  M.  Easy 

J.  C.  Eaton 

H.  Edwards 
Dr.  E.  A.  Ellis 
M.  D.  England 

F.  J.  Farrow 

Sir  William  Fellows 
W.  Flower 
C.  Folkes 
Miss  E.  Forster 
Mrs.  O.  Fowler 
Miss  W.  V.  Fowler 
J.  V.  Gane 
R.  W.  Garner 


F.  T.  Gates 

B.  Gee 

Dr.  J.  D.  Geeson 
Dr.  M.  George 

C.  J.  Gibbins 

D.  J.  Gill 

Mr.  & Mrs.  H.  C.  Gill 
J.  G.  Goldsmith 

C.  Gosling 
P.  J.  Gotham 
N.  Green 

P.  A.  Gregory 

D.  Gregson 
COMMDR.  J.  H.  GRETTON 
R.  Gribble 

E.  F.  Grimes 
J.  P.  Guest 
A.  J.  Hale 

L.  T.  Hall 

Gp.  Capt.  H.  N.  Hampton 
R.  Hancy 

Rev.  A.  M.  Handley 

M.  Hannant 

R.  Hay 

S.  J.  Hayhow 
R.  Hoblyn 
D.  G.  Hoddy 
D.  J.  Holman 

A.  S.  Holmes 
J.  A.  Hopper 
J.  Houghton 

G.  J.  Jamieson 

B.  W.  Jarvis 
G.  Jessup 

C.  L.  Johnson 
G.  J.  Johnson 

R.  F.  Jones 

S.  C.  Joyner 

G.  J.  Kelly 
J.  B.  Kemp 

D.  T.  Kennett 
J.  Kew 

I.  F.  Keymer 

R.  Kimber 

M.  D.  Kingswell 
D.  Kibk 
C.  A.  Kirtland 
P.  G.  Kitchener 
C.  R.  Knights 

J.  E.  Lambert 

A.  J.  Last 
J.  Last 

Dr.  R.  M.  Leaney 
Miss  V.  M.  Leather 
P.  D.  Lee 

S.  E.  Linsell 
W.  N.  Loseby 

R.  Ludford 

S.  Ludford 
Miss  E.  McEwen 
R.  McIntyre 

B.  Madden 
J.  D.  Magee 

I.  G.  Manklow 

J.  H.  Marchant 

T.  Marshall 

J.  C.  Marsham 

K.  Martin  Jones 
R.  P.  Martins 
A.  J.  Mather 

H.  Mayer-Gross 

30 


D.  J.  L.  Max 
R.  M.  Mellor 
J.  H.  Mil  ls 
D.  R.  Moore 
N.  H.  Moore 
J.  A.  W.  Moyes 
Nature  Conservancy 
D.  M.  Norman 
P.  J.  Oliver 
D.  L.  Ovenden 

P.  OXENHAM 

D.  Page 
G.  Parker 
W.  H.  Payn 
Mrs.  I.  Phelps 

B.  Pleasance 
R.  Powley 

J.  Pridham 
R.  R.  Prosser 

C.  D.  Raby 
B.  Rackham 

J.  L.  Raincock 
M.  H.  Rains 

M.  Ramsey 

A.  P.  Randall 

N.  J.  Redman 

B.  Redwood 

D.  I.  Richmond 
A.  B.  Roe 

R.  H.  Rogers 
R.S.P.B. 

D.  H.  Sadler 
M.  J.  Saunders 

M.  J.  Seago 
P.  E.  Shaw 
W.  G.  Shaw 

K . B.  Shephard 

N.  Sills 

R.  Skelton 
A.  J.  Smith 
R.  B.  Smith 
R.  Standing 
R.  Stocking 
W.  Sutherland 
G.  Suter 
Miss  R.  Talbot 
T.  Talbot 

D.  H.  Talks 
P.  Tate 

Dr.  M.  P.  Taylor 
R.  S.  Towler 
J.  S.  Trimingham 
Mrs.  M.  B.  Unsworth 

A.  E.  Vine 

B.  Walker 

F.  A.  Wardman 
R.  Washbourn 

C.  H.  Watson 
B.  C.  Wegg 

E.  T.  Welland 
R.  Wells 

J.  P.  WlDGERY 
R.  White 
J.  R.  Whitelegg 
P.  Whittington 
Wildfowl  Trust 

M.  A.  Wilkins 

D.  M.  Williams 

N.  Williams 
D.  G.  Wright 


NORFOLK 

MAMMA 

REPORT 


1975 


Editorial 


The  Editor  is  pleased  to  present  the  20th  Norfolk  Mammal  Report. 

This  bleak  version  of  our  customary  gracious  opening  exemplifies  the  severe 
pruning  necessary  to  present  the  essence  of  three  years  observations  within  the  page 
limitations  imposed  by  financial  stringency.  The  continuance  of  the  policy  of  includ- 
ing informative  articles  on  topics  of  current  importance  demanded  space  be  given 
to  a specialist  contributor.  We  are  grateful  to  Morris  Gosling  for  his  account  of  the 
research  behind  recently  improved  coypu  control  and  the  narrowly  averted  crisis 
situation  with  this  introduction. 

Our  gratitude  must  be  expressed  to  the  contributors  who  have  faithfully 
sent  in  records  in  spite  of  the  gap  in  publication.  The  Editor  begs  indulgence  for 
errors  or  omissions  in  the  appended  list.  All  notes  submitted  are  filed  and  add  to 
our  knowledge  of  Norfolk  mammals.  The  classified  notes  show  that  many  species, 
including  some  of  the  most  widespread,  need  much  more  routine  observation  to 
help  build  up  accurate  records.  Mammals  are  certainly  more  difficult  to  see  than 
birds,  but  there  are  far  fewer  species  to  identify ! Lack  of  space  forbids  a bibliography, 
but  the  Editor  will  be  pleased  to  send  a list  of  helpful  literature  on  finding  and 
identifying  mammals  or,  just  as  useful,  their  signs,  (s.a.e.  please). 

The  report  published  on  the  Otter  survey  conducted  by  S.  MacDonald  and 
C.  F.  Mason  administered  a jolt  and  must  surely  make  us  face  up  to  the  desperate 
situation  of  this  rapidly  disappearing  carnivore.  Intensive  research  goes  on  with 
other  species.  Red  Squirrel  carcasses  are  still  required  and  members  finding  a dead 
Badger  are  requested  to  cover  it  and  ’phone  as  below.  Collection  will  be  arranged. 

Special  thanks  go  to  Bill  Vaughan,  Rex  Whitta  and  Arthur  Woodhams  for 
their  help  in  gathering  material  and  to  John  Goldsmith  for  acting  as  scientific 
right  hand.  John  has  kindly  agreed  to  continue  as  consultant  and  will  deal  with 
queries  addressed  to  him  c/o  The  Castle  Museum,  Norwich,  NR1  3JU.  Tel  • 
Norwich  22233  ext.  649. 

Contributions  for  the  1976  report  should  be  sent  to  R.  C.  Haney,  124  Fakenham 
Road,  Taverham,  Norwich,  NR8  6QH,  by  the  end  of  January,  1977. 


31 


Classified  notes 

INSECTIVORA 

The  thriving  Hedgehog  ( Erinaceus  europaeus)  has  reached  near  garden-pet  status 
in  some  town-fringe  areas.  Activity  has  been  reported  all  through  the  mild  winters 
with  road  casualties  to  the  end  of  December.  Three  observers  witnessed  the  peculiar 
circling  display,  one  on  8 occasions  in  the  same  garden  between  May  and  August. 
The  massive  totals  of  Moles  ( Talpa  europaea ) on  gibbets  previously  recorded  have 
not  been  noted  but  numbers  seem  high.  On  Holme  reserve  they  have  worked  the 
mobile  dunes  and  even  the  upper  beach.  The  few  records  submitted  of  Common 
Shrew  (Sorex  araneus)  and  Pigmy  Shrew  (Sorex  minutus ) cannot  give  a real  indica- 
tion of  status.  Two  observers  feel  there  have  been  local  decreases.  Water  Shrew 
( Neomys  fodiens ) have  been  found  dead  by  the  Cromer  Lighthouse  Station  and 
observed  at  Cley  and  Ringland  where  5 were  seen  together  in  April  1974. 

CHIROPTERA 

“Maternity  colonies”  of  Pipistrelle  ( Pipistrellus  pipistrellus ) caused  their  usual 
flutters  but  it  is  pleasing  to  record  more  people  taking  a positive  conservation  attitude. 
Mild  winter  days  have  seen  flights  as  late  as  Dec.  23rd  (1974)  and  as  early  as  Jan. 
30th  (1975).  Three  bats  joined  the  list  of  road  casualties.  A Long-eared  bat  (Plec- 
tolus  auritus ) was  found  at  Upper  Kelling,  a Natterer’s  ( Myotis  nattereri ) at  Taver- 
ham  and  a Noctule  (Nyctalus  noctula ) at  Morley  St.  Botolph. 

Since  our  last  report,  bats  have  received  more  favourable  publicity  and  interest 
has  centred  on  the  provision  of  boxes  for  summer  roosting.  The  “British  First” 
from  Ludham  must  give  heart  to  those  of  us  who  have  been  unsuccessful.  When  an 
ash  fell  early  in  1973,  Noctules  lost  their  summer  roost.  A box  was  fixed  at  an  equi- 
valent height  and  after  Starlings  had  raised  a brood,  Noctules  took  up  residence 
during  July.  Numbers  reached  a peak  of  48  on  Sept.  3rd.  Peaks  of  41  were  reached 
in  late  August  in  both  1974  and  1975.  The  large  scale  experiment  being  conducted  in 
Thetford  Forest  has  not  been  running  long  enough  to  produce  very  definite  results 
but  signs  are  cautiously  encouraging. 

LAGOMORPHA 

The  continuing  series  of  mild  winters  and  locally  increasing  resistance  to  myxo- 
matosis have  brought  about  marked,  and  in  some  places  serious,  increases  in 
Rabbit  ( Oryctologus  cuniculus)  numbers.  Myxomatosis  has  reduced  the  peaks  in 
many  areas  but  vigorous  control  has  been  necessary  in  many  others.  There  is  a 
problem  of  balance  at  Holme — how  many  should  be  left  to  check  the  Sea  Buck- 
thorn, a problem  itself?  Black,  melanistic,  rabbits  were  sighted  at  Surlingham  in 
June  1973,  East  Dereham  during  1974  and  at  Shouldham  in  1975.  The  Brown  Hare 
( Lepus  europaeus)  still  appears  to  be  declining  on  the  central  farmlands  but  holding 
its  own  elsewhere.  A “notable  increase”  is  reported  from  the  Breydon  marshes. 

RODENTIA 

Bank  Vole  ( Clethrionomys  glareolus)  reports  have  been  few  and  scattered  and  prove 
little  beyond  the  wisdom  of  checking  the  cat’s  catch.  Owl  pellet  analysis  can  be  a 
useful  guide  to  relative  numbers  and  a series  from  a Barn  Owl  roost  at  Broom 
contained  10.6%  Bank  Voles.  A further  indicator  is  mentioned  in  the  report  from 
Breydon  marshes  where  the  number  of  Short-eared  Owls  during  1974  suggested  a 
plentiful  supply  of  Short-tailed  Field  Voles  ( Microtis  agrestis).  1974  was  a “high” 


32 


1 


The  partly  prehensile  tail  of  the  Harvest  Mouse,  subject  of  a national  survey,  is 
shown  to  advantage  in  this  photograph  by  D.  Avon  and  T.  Tilford 


The  sensitive  snout,  rather  than  the  tiny  eyes,  of  the  Common  Shrew  aid  this  voracious 
insectivore  in  its  search  for  food.  D.  Avon  and  T.  Tilford 


■ 


• '•  * * ' m 

V'  ■ <t  ■»  /■  » flm 

'■?  ' •*  • •VW&f.'Jf#  J'jTil'-tS;  " ‘ : 

I ■ I 

■ I HBMBHMWMi ■■  ■ - 5 ■ ■■  1 

S*«it: TOM-;®* >M,:'  41111ft4  ‘a»i*lS3ffi : ' „ 4 , ^ 


PllliP* 


|||i||;|il||i|Sll|l^ 


■■■  H 


§1 

fill 


m 


* ;;::Sv; 

^ ^T,  A 'ff^  * . ,‘^t  ^ ' « 


1 1 . B 


I HH  Wb  ■■II 

BH . hHmHK  ■ 

IIIhEBHM  WStl*  iHM 


■ 


* 


■ ■ i a 

1: ...lit ... .^ ' ;:  4 


HI 


BIB  - 


*:•■•  ••...*  ■ * • . -v  &.*•,..  ; :a 

. &$&&*•?>  tys,  s ^^HHI  I*.  • ' 

ImllllliifflMBi  iifc^ifii  ■■■■■■ 

HHHHHEBHmSBHHBK-  . j&.-\  ■•  -a.,  jfl  I 

:';Ja--ai|t?^-e3iSSi«r43fi|ii&;^tfi::SiS8L3aia  a; c : 'V*JB  ■ ■■  ■ I ‘ 444 


This  representative  of  the  elusive  Chinese  Water  Deer  came  out  of  its  Broadland 
cover  to  present  this  alert  pose  to  D.  Woolner 


Common  Seals  were  often  in  the  news,  with  numerous  pups  beached  away  from  their 
colonies,  like  this  one  at  Snettisham.  Eastern  Daily  Press 


and  the  term  “plague  proportions”  was  associated  with  the  East  Tudenham  and 
Honingham  area.  In  contrast,  both  Voles  were  down  at  Holkham  in  1975,  the  long, 
dry  summer  being  queried  as  a possibly  explanation. 

The  return  of  the  Water  Vole  ( Arviola  amphibius ) to  Breydon  after  the  sixties 
crash  was  increasingly  noticeable.  They  are  reported  rare  at  Martham,  but  in  1974 
an  adult  was  seen  carrying  a series  of  young  across  the  broad  close  by  fishermen’s 
feet.  While  a 1973  survey  tells  of  only  3 out  of  65  field  ponds  in  the  Morley  St. 
Botolph  area  producing  positive  evidence,  the  Bure  is  said  to  hold  good  numbers. 
12  other  sites  were  reported. 

The  Wood  Mouse  ( Apodemus  sylvaticus ),  another  important  prey  species,  is  generally 
present  and  locally  abundant.  Recent  work  on  the  burrowing  systems  of  Woodmice 
in  woodland  carried  out  in  this  county  revealed  apparent  co-operation  in  building 
a multi-exit  ring-road  system  from  which  a single  tunnel  led  to  the  nest  proper. 
In  this  investigation  each  complex  was  found  under  the  root  system  of  a hazel  tree. 
Temporarily  unused  exits  were  blocked  with  litter  and  stones.  An  associated  food 
store  was  found  with  each  nest.  Hopefully,  the  enthusiasm  engendered  by  the 
national  search  for  the  Harvest  Mouse  (. Micromys  minutus)  will  bring  in  more  reports 
of  this  tiny,  engaging  animal.  They  were  consistently  present  at  Horsey  on  the 
rougher,  uncultivated  ground  and  bred  at  Holme  for  the  first  recorded  time.  One 
observer  raised  an  interesting  point  when  he  noticed  that  the  Harvest  Mice  living  in 
a meal  shed  seemed  unaffected  by  the  bait  put  out  to  control  the  over-abundant 
House  Mouse.  It  may  be  that  control  of  this  latter  (Mus  musculus ) has  been  generally 
effective,  or  has  there  been  a natural  decline  ? Is  this  one  of  the  species  considered 
unworthy  of  mention  in  notes  ? We  did  hear  of  the  7-metre  climb  by  an  individual 
to  the  eaves  of  a red-brick  house  in  Wells. 

The  Brown  Rat  ( Ratius  norvegicus)  is  another  rodent  that  can  reach  spectacular 
heights,  numerically.  Local  infestations  demanding  control  do  not  give  a balanced 
view  and  we  need  more  routine  observation.  The  sets  of  county-wide  road  casualty 
figures  from  one  contributor  remind  us  of  the  value  of  these  observations  and  of 
the  survival  capability  of  this  animal  in  all  types  of  habitat,  multiplying  explosively 
when  conditions  are  favourable. 

The  Coypu  (My  ocas  tor  coy  pus)  is  discussed  in  our  major  article. 

While  the  Red  Squirrel  (Sciurus  vulgaris)  delights  in  many  old  haunts  the 
“inevitable  spread  in  this  county”  of  the  Grey  Squirrel  (Sciurus  carolinensis ),  to 
quote  the  previous  report,  proceeds  steadily.  With  so  many  hands  turned  against  it, 
the  spread  may  have  been  less  dramatic  than  expected,  but  its  double  breeding  season 
and  willingness  to  traverse  stretches  of  open  ground  with  little  cover  make  contain- 
ment difficult.  In  the  Stanford  Training  Area  94  Grey  Squirrels  were  killed  during 
the  season  ending  February  1975  against  31  during  the  previous  comparable  season. 
5 years  before  that  none  had  been  seen.  The  establishment  of  Greys  in  the  area 
coincided  with  the  outbreak  of  “Red  Squirrel  Disease”  and  the  1969/1970  peak  was 
followed  by  a massive  slump  in  Red  Squirrel  numbers.  Reports  from  elsewhere 
are  very  mixed.  Thursford  Woods  had  a decreasing  population  of  Red  Squirrels 
during  1975  when  only  a Grey  was  seen  in  the  old  haunts  of  Reds  at  Cranworth. 
On  the  other  hand,  in  parallel  with  the  increase  in  Greys,  there  was  a definite  upturn 
in  Red  Squirrel  numbers  in  Thetford  Forest.  Reds  were  more  often  seen  at  East 
Wretham  during  1975  after  their  almost  complete  absence  during  1974,  and  the 
Norwich  fringe  still  holds  small  pockets.  The  Norfolk  Young  Naturalists’  survey, 
mainly  during  1974,  found  a red/grey  proportion  of  about  4/1.  An  unusually  dark 
red  squirrel  was  reported  from  Aldeby  in  Sept,  and  a hardy  red  forager  was  about 
with  the  temperature  at  freezing  point  at  Cockley  Cley  on  14th  Dec.,  1975. 


33 


CARNIVORA 

The  gradual  rise  in  the  Fox  ( Vulpes  vulpes ) population  continued.  In  1973  a “marked” 
increase  was  mentioned  from  North  Norfolk  while  in  the  central  area  the  term  used 
was  “slight”.  Another,  later  report  from  mid-county  spoke  of  a “floating  population, 
seldom  left  in  peace  for  long”.  Records  have  been  county-wide,  many  in  daylight, 
especially  from  marshlands.  Further  records  of  the  pure  white  individual  seen  in 
North  Walsham  in  Oct.  1975  would  be  welcomed. 

The  Badger  {Meles  meles)  has  shrunk  further  into  its  enclaves,  the  term  strong- 
holds being  entirely  out  of  place.  Snares  and  road  vehicles  contributed  to  the  further 
decline  of  this  pressured  species.  A sett  reported  in  Ranworth  turned  out  to  be 
large  rabbit  burrows,  one  of  which  had  been  used  by  a fox.  More  positive  encourage- 
ment must  be  given  if  the  Badger  is  to  remain  on  our  list. 

The  number  of  Mink  ( Mustela  vison ) caught  in  coypu  traps  or  sighted  are  too 
few  for  a serious  build-up  to  be  indicated  and  sightings  of  Ferret  ( Putorius furio) 
suggest  a handful  of  escapees. 

The  insubstantial  body  of  evidence  submitted  on  the  Otter  ( Lutra  lutra ) inclu- 
ded, at  worst,  the  adult  road  victim  at  Earlham  in  1973  and,  at  best,  the  cubs  seen 
on  the  middle  Wensum.  The  impression  is  that  the  Otter  has  declined  to  a critical 
level  and  this  was  stated  strongly  and  clearly  in  the  paper  on  the  survey  mentioned 
in  the  editorial.  This  survey  was  conducted  between  Dec.  1974  and  July  1975  and 
found  signs  of  otters  at  only  32  of  the  233  sites  visited.  These  sites  were  chosen  as 
the  most  likely  places  to  find  spraints,  footprints  and  food  remains.  Where  spraints 
were  found,  the  quantity,  which  is  cited  as  being  in  proportion  to  the  density  of 
population,  was  found  to  be  low.  The  total  evidence  suggested  that  the  county  holds 
an  estimated  17  pairs,  well  below  carrying  capacity  and  raises  the  question  of 
minimum  viable  population.  No  single  cause  of  this  collapse  could  be  given,  but 
increased  disturbance  from  many  sources  linked  with  the  extensive  removal  of 
river  and  bank  vegetation  could  be  the  key. 

The  immediate  help  that  appears  essential  could  be  given  by  granting  complete 
protection,  by  sympathetic  river  management  in  areas  where  wood  and  fen  abutt 
the  river  to  reduce  disturbance  in  lying-up  and  breeding  sites  and  by  providing 
maximum  security  refuges  at  intervals  along  the  rivers. 

Stoat  {Mustela  erminea ) and  Weasel  {Mustela  nivalis ) appear  relatively  common 
in  most  areas  and  provide  the  majority  of  strange  tales,  due  no  doubt  to  their  single- 
minded  ferocity  and  the  hypnotic  quality  of  their  movements.  A Stoat  in  full  ermine 
was  seen  at  Saxthorpe  and  part-ermine  at  other  sites.  Two  reports  speak  of  stoats 
running  into  buildings  and  one  describes  an  unusual  nest  in  a roof.  The  first  recorded 
Weasel  on  Blakeney  ternery  was  seen  in  1975. 


34 


Seals  were  again  seen  along  the  Yare,  most  notably  the  two  Common  Seal 
( Phoca  vitulina)  at  Reedham  in  November  1974.  The  small  herd  at  Blakeney  is  most 
often  reported  and  reached  a high  count  of  124  on  September  19th,  1975.  Total 
numbers  are  very  difficult  to  estimate  and  we  are  again  indebted  to  the  Seals  Research 
Division,  until  recently  based  at  Lowestoft,  for  their  help.  Their  methods  are  out- 
lined in  the  Mammal  Report  for  1970.  The  major  herd  of  Common  Seal  is  centred 
in  The  Wash  and  appears  to  be  holding  at  about  5,000,  the  no-cull  situation  of  the 
last  two  years  leading  to  no  apparent  dramatic  increase.  Much  more  research  will 
be  done  before  the  real  controlling  factors  are  thoroughly  understood.  Individuals 
from  this  group  are  almost  certainly  among  those  sighted  along  our  north  coast  and 
contribute  towards  the  peaks  at  Blakeney.  The  two  smaller  colonies,  at  Blakeney 
and  on  the  shifting  sands  of  Scroby,  produce  a small  number  of  pups  each  year  while 
total  numbers  remain  constant.  Grey  Seal  {Halichoerus  grypus ) continue  to  breed 
on  Scroby  and  now  produce  about  25  pups  annually.  The  only  other  group  is  found 
on  the  Dogshead  Sand  in  The  Wash  but  is  non-breeding.  The  rapid  and  wide- 
ranging  movement  of  the  Grey  Seal  is  illustrated  by  the  individual  tagged  on  Scroby 
early  in  January  which  turned  up  at  Egersund,  South  Norway,  just  three  weeks  later. 

ARTIODACTYLA 

Our  herds  of  Red  Deer  ( Cervus  elephas ) have  maintained  numbers  in  their  breeding 
areas  and  wandering  parties  have  been  headlined  from  many  parts  of  the  county. 
Their  elusiveness  makes  it  difficult  to  plot  routes  or  estimate  distances  covered. 
The  small  group  which  caused  over-excitement  in  Thorpe,  Norwich,  in  November 
1975,  were  believed  to  be  connected  with  those  reported  from  Stoke  Holy  Cross 
periodically.  Cranworth,  formerly  considered  out  of  their  usual  range,  now  appears 
to  hold  residents.  Fallow  Deer  ( Dama  damd)  are  still  in  residence  round  Horsford 
but  more  reports  flow  from  the  King’s  Lynn  forests  where  great  colour  variations 
are  noted.  Regular  observers  of  Roe  Deer  ( Capreolus  capreolus)  speak  of  in- 
creasing numbers  in  Breckland  and  sightings  have  been  made  over  a wider  area. 
One  wandered  into  commercial  premises  in  Swaffham  in  May,  1974,  and  one  was 
shot  in  Taverham  during  December  1975.  Muntjac  {Munticus  reevesi ) have  been 
seen  more  frequently  in  Thetford  Forest  and  are  reported  present  at  Hillington  and 
Hockham  Fen. 

After  the  1973  press  appeal  had  brought  in  more  information,  the  elusive  Chinese 
Water  Deer  (Hydropotes  inermis)  faded  into  the  background  of  its  Hoveton,  Stalham, 
Ludham  centre.  Ludham  produces  the  most  consistent  records  of  tracks  and  sight- 
ings. One,  on  several  occasions,  and  later,  two,  were  observed  in  a field  at  Catfield 
during  the  spring  of  1974  feeding  on  inter-crop  weeds.  Two  adult  casualties  were 
found,  one  a road  victim  dumped  in  the  hedge  on  the  South  Walsham  road,  the 
other  drowned  in  a Ludham  ditch,  where  a very  young  one  was  found  dead  on  the 
marsh. 

CETACEA 

Our  few  reports  of  live  cetacea  were  of  Common  Porpoise  ( Phocaena  phocaena ) and 
included  the  sad  tale  of  a young  porpoise  destroyed  on  West  Runton  beach.  Dead 
specimens  on  the  shore  were,  excepting  one  south  of  Waxham,  found  between  Cley 
and  Snettisham.  Our  only  other  cetacean  report  was  of  the  intriguing  skeleton  of  an 
adult  male  White-beaked  Dolphin  (. Lagenorhynchus  albirostris ) dug  from  the  beach 
between  Holme  and  South  Hunstanton.  Detailed  examination  revealed  abnormali- 
ties of  the  spinal  column  probably  caused  by  an  injury  or  mishap  when  the  animal 
was  much  younger.  No  definite  conclusions  could  be  reached,  but  it  seemed  reason- 
able to  suppose  that  the  somewhat  shortened  body  of  this  specimen  and  its  spinal 
deformities  were  causally  related. 


35 


Research  on  the  Control  of 
Coypus  — 1973  to  1976 

L.  M.  GOSLING, 

Coypu  Research  Laboratory 

Ministry  of  Agriculture,  Fisheries  8-  Food 

At  the  time  of  writing  an  earlier  report  in  mid- 1973  (Gosling,  1974),  the  East 
Anglian  Coypu  population  was  at  the  end  of  a period  of  rapid  increase.  The  1,000- 
2,000  animals  that  survived  the  1969/70  winter  had  increased  to  about  10,000  by 
late  1972.  The  reasons  were  complex,  but  most  important  was  that  the  springs, 
summers  and  autumns  of  1971  and  1972  were  extremely  favourable:  coypus  were 
fatter  and  reproduced  more  successfully  than  in  any  year  that  we  have  since  re- 
corded. This  circumstance  conspired  with  2 winters  that  were  slightly  milder  than 
average  to  allow  a phase  of  population  growth  that  outstripped  the  efforts  of  6 trap- 
pers to  contain  it.  With  the  benefit  of  hindsight  we  now  know  that  a force  of  this 
size  could  only  control  a population  of  2,000-5,000  coypus  when  assisted  by  winters 
of  moderate  severity. 

In  response  to  the  increased  population,  the  number  of  trappers  was  increased 
to  15  by  the  autumn  of  1973.  Because  of  financial  constraints  this  number  was  rather 
less  than  we  had  calculated  would  be  necessary  to  substantially  reduce  the  population, 
but  we  hoped  that  it  would  stop  the  increase  which  threatened  to  return  to  the  very 
large  numbers  of  the  late  1950’s.  This  expectation  was  realised  and  the  population 
has  been  contained  at  about  the  10,000  level.  In  reality  this  apparent  stability  con- 
ceals a highly  dynamic  situation:  an  average  of  1 1 % of  the  adult  females  litter  each 
month  and  about  9 % of  the  total  are  killed  each  month.  These  data  give  an  idea  of 
the  rapid  turn-over  within  the  population  so  that  it  is  rather  surprising  that  stability, 
rather  than  an  increase  or  decline,  was  achieved.  In  fact  the  stability  is  only  relative 
and  each  year  there  are  considerable  seasonal  fluctuations  from  a minimum  in  the 
spring  to  a maximum  in  the  winter.  The  later  winter  reduction  is  due  to  effective 
trapping  in  the  winter  when  the  die-off  of  fen  vegetation  reveals  runs  and  other 
evidence  of  coypu  presence,  and  when  littering  and  juvenile  survival  are  at  minimum 
values.  The  gradual  climb  during  the  summer  is  a result  of  more  successful  breeding 
and  slightly  less  effective  trapping. 

Apart  from  some  early  use  of  snares  and  gin  traps,  all  coypu  control  has  been 
by  cage  trapping.  Animals  are  live  trapped  and  shot  when  the  traps  are  inspected 
on  the  following  morning.  This  method  has  the  advantages  of  being  humane  and 
of  avoiding  any  chance  of  harming  non-target  species  such  as  otters.  It  is  also  an 
effective  control  method  as  shown  by  the  decline  of  coypus  from  1965  to  1970.  It 
failed  to  control  coypus  in  1971  and  1972  only  because  we  did  not  know  what  in- 
tensity of  control  to  apply  under  these  conditions.  Accordingly  the  research  effort 
at  the  Coypu  Research  Laboratory  has  been  directed  towards  achieving  a better 
understanding  of  coypu  population  dynamics  and  the  ability  to  predict  change  in 
numbers  and  the  impact  of  different  trapping  intensities.  At  the  same  time  we  have 
started  a programme  of  operational  research  aimed  at  a detailed  understanding  of 
the  effect  of  trapping  in  a 28  km  2 area  of  coypu  habitat. 


36 


Our  approach  to  predicting  numbers  has  been  through  the  construction  of  a 
computerized  simulation  of  the  coypu  population.  Simulations  are  a variety  of 
population  model  that  attempt  to  incorporate  as  much  detail  as  possible  about  the 
dynamics  of  the  population  and  which  function  in  a similar  way  to  a living  popula- 
tion; that  is,  with  continual  births  and  deaths  that  vary  in  quantity  with  season  and 
other  environmental  changes.  The  data  that  we  need  for  the  model  are  obtained 
from  detailed  dissections  of  about  90  adult  coypus  each  month.  From  these  we 
obtain  estimates  of  such  variables  as  the  proportion  of  adult  females  that  litter 
each  month  and  the  mean  litter  size  at  birth. 

These  results  frequently  conform  to  the  average  picture  that  we  have  measured 
over  the  past  6 years,  but  sometimes  unprecedented  events  occur.  An  example  was 
the  major  spring  breeding  peak  that  occurred  in  1974  and  1975.  A few  births  nor- 
normally  occur  at  such  times,  but  few  females,  except  the  minority  that  are  over 
18  months  old,  manage  to  maintain  their  preganancies  after  winter  conceptions  that 
follow  the  usual  late  autumn  birth  peak.  However,  the  extra-ordinarily  mild  winters 
of  1973/74  and  1974/75  allowed  many  females  to  do  this  and  large  numbers  of  young 
were  born  in  the  following  springs.  Fortunately  for  the  control  operation,  the  re- 
maining summer  months  provided  less  optimum  breeding  conditions  than  the  classic 
summers  of  1971  and  1972,  so  that  in  the  end  there  was  only  average  production  of 
young.  The  cold  spells  in  the  winter  of  1975/76  resulted  in  the  abortion  of  most 
pregnancies  and  as  a consequence  we  do  not  expect  large  numbers  of  young  to  be 
born  until  June  and  July. 

Measured  data,  such  as  those  described  on  breeding  and  the  numbers  killed 
each  month  are  entered  into  the  simulation  and  the  output  of  the  model,  the  monthly 
change  in  the  size  of  the  live  population,  is  checked  against  a period  of  known  popu- 
ation  changes.  We  can  then  enter  average,  maximum  and  minimum  values  and 
use  the  model  predictively  to  see  what  the  result  of  current  trends  would  be  and  also 
examine  the  effect  of  increasing  or  decreasing  future  mortality  rates  through 
change  in  the  size  of  the  trapper  force. 

The  simulation  is  still  being  modified  as  we  appreciate  the  need  to  incorporate 
additional  factors.  At  present  the  main  problem  is  to  estimate  the  number  of  non- 
trapping deaths;  natural  predation  undoubtedly  accounts  for  a number  of  young 
and  we  now  know  that  the  dogs  owned  by  reed  cutters  kill  significant  numbers. 
However  interim  corrections  for  these  deaths  have  allowed  us  to  use  the  simulation 
for  recommendations  about  future  control  intensity.  If  the  present  trapping  force 
is  maintained  it  seems  likely  that  coypus  will  be  reduced  to  about  3,000  animals 
by  the  spring  of  1977. 

In  conjunction  with  these  efforts  to  determine  the  future  trapping  intensity, 
there  has  been  an  attempt  to  deploy  the  trapping  force  in  a fashion  that  furthers 
the  primary  aim  of  reducing  the  total  population  size,  rather  than  attempting  to 
clear  small  sites  of  minor  infestations.  These  two  objectives  are  of  course  related, 
but  an  overall  strategy  should  attempt  to  reduce  the  occurrence  of  minor  outbreaks 
through  a total  reduction  rather  than  through  the  opposite  course  of  action.  In 
terms  of  coypu  population  dynamics  the  objective  thus  becomes  to  kill  the  maximum 
number  of  animals  in  the  shortest  time  possible.  To  achieve  this  aim  we  use  10km 
Ordnance  Survey  grid  squares  and  for  each,  calculate  an  infestation  index  from  the 
relationship  between  the  number  of  coypus  killed  and  man-weeks  worked  over  the 
preceding  year.  The  magnitude  of  the  index  is  then  used  to  simply  calculate  the 
i amount  of  effort  that  should  be  applied  in  each  square  over  the  coming  next  three 


37 


months.  This  procedure  forms  the  basis  of  the  broad  strategy  although  it  s require- 
ments are  intended  to  be  modified  by  common  sense  field  evidence.  This  approach 
has  been  in  operation  since  late  1975  and  there  are  clear  indications  that  it  has 
resulted  in  a higher  kill  per  unit  effort  than  in  the  past. 

Parallel  with  these  developments,  the  Coypu  Laboratory  has  assumed  control 
of  the  River  Yare  from  Norwich  to  Reedham  since  June  1975.  At  the  time  of  writing 
in  May  1976,  the  3 trappers  working  from  the  Laboratory  have  completed  two 
rounds  of  the  area  and  have  accounted  for  about  1,600  coypus  This  kill  rate  reflects 
a higher  trapping  intensity  than  was  possible  in  the  past  and  our  results  suggest 
that  a significant  reduction  in  numbers  has  been  achieved.  The  aim  of  this  work  is 
to  monitor  in  detail  the  effect  of  high  intensity  control  and  to  examine  the  effect  of 
treatments  at  known  intervals.  A large  proportion  of  the  animals  killed  is  brought 
to  the  Laboratory  for  dissection  and  the  results  obtained  are  used  to  assess  the  pro- 
gress of  the  work.  Records  of  the  habitat  in  which  each  animal  is  caught  also  allows 
us  to  measure  the  impact  of  control  in  relation  to  the  strikingly  different  habitats 
in  which  coypus  live:  to  date  these  results  confirm  the  general  impression  that  coy- 
pus are  more  easily  kept  at  low  levels  on  grazing  marsh  than  in  areas  of  fen  and 
reed  swamp;  more  detailed  analyses  are  in  progress. 

REFERENCE 

Gosling  L M (1972).  The  Coypu  in  East  Anglia.  Trans.  Norf.  and  Nor.  Nat.  boc.,ii 
(1):  49-59 


CONTRIBUTORS  TO  MAMMAL  REPORT 


P.  R.  Allard 
K.  Anderson 
The  late  H.  F.  Ashton 
K.  Ashford 

D.  A.  Avon 

The  late  R.  P.  Bagnall-Oakley 
R.  E.  Baker 
P.  R.  Banham 
Mrs.  E.  M.  Barnett 
W.  F.  Bishop 

G.  Bloomfield 

P.  D.  S.  Boardman 
W.  N.  Bonner 
A.  Booth 

Mrs.  A.  Brewster 
F.  Britton 
J.  Buckley 
A.  L.  Bull 
R.  Burn 
J.  J.  Buxton 

E.  J.  Cambell 

Mrs.  M.  H.  Clement 
P.  Crook 

D.  Curzon 

G .T.  Cushing 

C.  Cuthbert 
Miss  P.  D’Aeth 

E.  T.  Daniels 
Masters  G.  & A.  Denny 
M.  T.  Denny 

P.  J.  Dolton 
R.  J.  Driscoll 
Eastern  Counties 

Newspapers  Limited 

H.  Edwards 
W.  E.  R.  Eles 
Dr.  E.  A.  Ellis 
P.  J.  Emerson 
M.  D.  England 

F.  Farrow 

Mrs.  A.  Finucane 
Miss  U.  Fookes 
R.  Foster 
Mrs.  D.  B.  Fowler 
Mrs.  O.  B.  Fowler 
Mrs.  B.  Foulger 
Mrs.  J.  E.  Gaffney 
Miss  J.  H.  Garnier 
P.J.  Garson 

D.  J.  Gill 


Dr.  J.  Geeson 

C.  R.  Goate 

J.  G.  Goldsmith 

L.  M.  Gosling 
Miss  E.  B.  Green 
R.  Gribble 

R.  C.  Hancy 

D.  J.  Harcombe 
S .Harris 

R.  H.  Harrison 
Mrs.  J.  Hayward 
Mrs.  D.  Hedges 

M.  H.  Helliwell 
T.  Henderson 

G.  P.  Hoot  on 
J.  A.  Hopper 
Dr.  R.  J.  Hornby 
Mrs.  Howe 

A.  W.  Humphrey 

H.  Insley 

J.  ISMAY 

B.  W.  Jarvis 
R T.  Jarvis 
Dr.  D.  Jeffries 

K.  Jelly 

T.  J.  Jennings 
Mrs.  L.  F.  Kellow 

C.  Kemp 

Mrs.  J.  Keymer 
Dr.  I.  F.  Keymer 
Dr.  J.  E.  A.  Lambert 
Dr.  R.  Leaney 
P.  W.  Lambley 

L.  M.  Last 
P.  D.  Lee 

S.  E.  Linsell 

R.  B.  Longe 

S.  Macdonald 

M.  Maples 
P.  Marriot 
R.  P.  Martins 

C.  F.  Mason 
Miss  A.  H.  May 
G.  S.  Meadows 
W.  F.  Milligan 

E.  Milne-Redhead 

D.  Moore 

Miss  A.  S.  Mottram 
Miss  L.  Platten-Jarvis 
D.  L.  OVENDEN 


Mr.  & Mrs.  F.  Pigg 

A.  Platten 
R.  G.  POWLEY 

C.  D.  Raby 

D.  Radley 

J . Raincock 
C.  J.  Reading 

E.  B.  Ridgewell 

C.  Robinson 

B.  A.  Sayer 

D.  J.  W.  Sayer 
M.  Sayer 

R.  R.  Scott 

A.  Scowen 
M.  J.  Seago 

Seals  Researchi  Divsion 

IMER 

P.  J.  and  D.  H.  Sheringham 

C.  Shingles 

P.  A.  Singleton 

C.  Slater 

B.  Smithson 

H.  Somers-Smith 
R.  E.  Stebbings 
P.  M.  C.  Stevens 

E.  L.  Swann 

D.  H.  Talks 

A.  K.  G.  Tilford 
Mrs.  R.  Tillbrook 
P.  G.  Trett 

L.  C.  Tromalis 
R.  Trout 

Dr.  F.  R.  Tubbs 
University  Federation  of 
Animal  Welfare 
R.  Voisey 
A.  E.  Vine 
J.  Wakefield 
R.  Ward 
J.  J.  Warlling 
G.  P.  Watson 

G.  A.  Welham 
Dr.  J.  W.  Wells 

H.  West 
R.  Whitta 

I.  H.  Whitworth 

M.  J.  Wigginton 
M.  WOOLNER 

W.  J.  WOOLSTON 
T.  J.  WORMALD 


39 


Norfolk  Naturalists’  Trust  Properties 


Date 

Acquired 


Acreage 


Status* 


On  the  Coast 

1926  Cley  Marshes 

1937  Duchess’s  Pightle,  Burnham  Overy 
1937  Great  and  Little  Eye,  Salthouse 
1945  East  End  of  Scolt  Island 
1955  The  Eye,  Salthouse 
1965  Holme  Dunes 

1971  Salthouse  Marshes 


Broadland 

1928  Starch  Grass  (Martham) 
and  1974 

1930  Alderfen  Broad 

1945  Hickling  Broad 

and  1969 

1945  „ „ 

1945  Barton  Broad 

1952  „ „ 

1948  Surlingham  Broad 

1949  Ranworth  Broad 
1949  Cockshoot  Broad 

1964  Firs  Marsh,  Burgh  St.  Peter  . . 

1971  Martham  Broad 

1972  Hardley  Flood 

1972  Chedgrave  Common 

1974  Barton  Marshes 

Breckland 

1938  East  Wretham  Heath 
1942  Weeting  Heath 
1949  Thetford  Heath 

Other  Areas 

1957  Thursford  Woods 

1960  Hethel  Old  Thom 

1961  Seaming  Fen 

1962  Hockham  Fen  (Cranberry  Rough) 

1963  Roydon  Common 
1966  Stoke  Ferry  Fen 
1968  Lenwade  Water 
1968  Dickleburgh  Pightle 

1972  Smallburgh  Fen 

1972  Ringstead  Downs 


435  Gift  S.S.S.I.t 

1 Gift  

10  Purchased  S.S.S.I. 

76  Purchased  N.N.R. 

21  Purchased  S.S.S.I. 

400  Purchased,  Gift  S.S.S.I. 

& Agreement 

200  Agreement  S.S.S.I. 


. . 43i  Purchased  & Gift  S.S.S.I. 

72  Purchased  S.S.S.I. 

. . 861  Purchased  N.N.R. 

. . 500  Leased  N.N.R. 

..  355  Half  Gift  & S.S.S.I. 

Half  Purchased  S.S.S.I. 

. . 253  Purchased  S.S.S.I. 

..  124  Gift  N.N.R. 

12  Gift  N.N.R. 

2i  Leased  

. . 103  Leased  S.S.S.I. 

90  Leased  

10  Leased  

..  10J  Gift  


362  Purchased  & Gift  S.S.S.I. 


. . 343  Gift  N.N.R. 

..  250  Gift  N.N.R. 


25  Gift  

i Gift  

10i  Gift  S.S.S.I. 

20  Purchased  S.S.S.I. 

140  Purchased  S.S.S.I. 

25  Agreement  S.S.S.I. 

37  Agreement  - — 

1 Agreement  

19  Leased  S.S.S.I. 

26  Agreement  S.S.S.I. 


40 


S.S.S.I. 


1973  East  Winch  Common  . . 

1974  Sparham  Pools 

1974  Buxton  Heath 

1975  Pope’s  Drift 
1975  Wayland  Wood 


80  Gift 

30  Agreement 

1 59  Agreement  S.S.S.I. 

8 Agreement  — — 

80  Purchase  S.S.S.I. 


In  addition,  the  Trust  shares  with  the  National  Trust  in  the  management  of 
the  coastal  reserve  at  Blakeney  Point  (1,335  acres),  and  it  manages  Arnold’s  Marsh, 
Cley  (29  acres)  on  behalf  of  the  National  Trust. 


By  arrangement  with  the  Nature  Conservancy  Council,  Scolt  Head  Island, 
Ranworth  Broad,  Hickling  Broad  and  the  Breckiand  Heaths  now  form  part  of  the 
National  Nature  Reserves. 


♦Status:  N.N.R.  denotes  National  Nature  Reserve 

S.S.S.I.  „ Site  of  Special  Scientific  Interest 

fin  1966  Cley  Reserve  was  established  as  a Bird  Sanctuary  under  the 
Protection  of  Birds  Act,  1954. 


THE  NORFOLK 
NATURALISTS  TRUST 

BIRD  WATCHING 

Excellent  bird  watching  facilities  are  available  from 
1st  April  to  31st  October  at  Hickling  Broad  National 
Nature  Reserve,  Cley  Marshes  Bird  Sanctuary  (coastal) 
and  Holme  Nature  Reserve  (coastal). 

Reduced  rates  for  parties  and  extended  periods. 

For  full  particulars  kindly  forward  stamped  addressed 
envelope  to  The  Secretary.  N.N.T.,  72  The  Close, 
Norwich,  Norfolk  NR1  4DF 


Printed  by  H.  G.  Stone  & Co  (Printer*)  Ud„  Wymondham,  Norfolk 


TRANSACTIONS 

OF 

THE  NORFOLK  & NORWICH 
NATURALISTS’  SOCIETY 


Vol.  24 


PART  2 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY,  1975-76 


President:  Dr.  M.  George 
Nature  Conservancy,  Bracondale,  Norwich 

President-Elect:  Ms  D.  M.  Maxey 
‘Greenfields’,  Swanton  Road,  Dereham 

Vice-Presidents:  P.  R.  Banham,  A.  Bull,  E.  T.  Daniels,  K.  C.  Durrant, 
Dr.  E.  A.  Ellis,  R.  Jones,  M.  J.  Seago,  Professor  J.  A.  Steers,  E.  L.  Swann, 

F.  J.  Taylor-Page 

General  Secretary:  R.  E.  Baker 
15  Southern  Reach,  Mulbarton,  NR14  8BU 
Telephone:  Mulbarton  609 

Assistant  Secretary:  (Membership  and  Publications): 

Ms  J.  Wakefield 

Post  Office  Lane,  Saxthorpe,  NR11  7BL 

Assistant  Secretary:  (Minutes) : P.  W.  Lambley 
Castle  Museum,  Norwich 

Excursion  Secretary:  Mrs.  J.  Robinson 
5 Southern  Reach,  Mulbarton  NR  14  8BU 
Telephone:  Mulbarton  576 

Treasurer:  D.  A.  Dorling 
St.  Edmundsbury,  6 New  Road,  Hethersett 
Telephone:  Norwich  810318 

Assistant  Treasurer:  J.  E.  Timbers 
The  Nook,  Barford,  Norwich 

Editor:  Dr.  E.  A.  Ellis 
Wheatfen  Broad,  Surlingham,  Norwich 

Auditor:  E.  L.  Swann 
282  Wootton  Road,  King’s  Lynn,  Norfolk 

Committee: 

Miss  R.  Carpenter,  Dr.  S.  Cole,  M.  J.  Baker,  Dr.  A.  Davy  (University 
Representative),  J.  G.  Goldsmith,  C.  Gosling,  G.  Hart,  P.  Lambley,  Miss 
F.  Musters,  J.  Secker,  P.  M.  C.  Stevens 

ORGANISERS  OF  PRINCIPAL  SPECIALIST  GROUPS 

Birds  (. Editor  of  the  Report): 

M.  J.  Seago,  33  Acacia  Road,  Thorpe,  Norwich 

Mammals  {Editor  of  the  Report ) 

R.  Hancy,  124  Fakenham  Road,  Taverham  NR8  6QH 

Plants:  E.  A.  Ellis  and  E.  L.  Swann 
Insects:  K.  C.  Durrant,  18  The  Avenue,  Sheringham 
Amphibia  I Reptiles:  J.  Buckley,  22  Aurania  Avenue,  Norwich 
Mollusca:  R.  E.  Baker 
Editor:  Dr.  E.  A.  Ellis 


TRANSACTIONS  OF  THE  NORFOLK  & NORWICH  NATURALISTS’ 

SOCIETY 


Volume  24,  Part  2 (April  1977) 

Editor:  Dr.  E.  A.  Ellis 
CONTENTS 

Page 

The  Decline  in  Broadland’s  Aquatic  Fauna  and  Flora:  A Review 
of  the  present  position,  read  by  the  President , Dr  M George  to  the 
members  of  the  Norfolk  and  Norwich  Naturalists ’ Society  at  a meeting 
held  in  the  Central  Library  Lecture  Theatre , Norwich , 3rd  December , 

1976  41 

The  spatial  arrangements  of  individual  plants  and  species,  and  the 
relationships  between  species  making  up  a pattern  in  an  area  of 
Breckland,  by  George  Garrod  . . . . . . . . . . 54 

The  Ctenophora,  Scyphozoa  and  Anthozoa  of  Norfolk,  with 
Additional  notes  on  the  Hydrozoa,  by  R Hamond  and  R B Williams  . . 58 

Atriplex  Longipes  Drej : A New  Norfolk  Species  by  Richard P Libbey  75 

Three  years’  moth  trapping  at  Wells  by  P R Banham  . . . . 78 

A note  on  Ray’s  Bream,  Norfolk  by  R B Williams  . . . . 81 

A note  on  Holkham  Lake,  Norfolk  by  R B Williams  and  C J Beale  83 

Additional  notes  on  the  food  of  the  Otter  in  the  Blakeney  area 
by  Vincent  Weir  and  K E Banister  . . . . . . . . 85 

Weather  1975/1976  by  T B Norgate  . . . . . . . . 89 


THE  DECLINE  IN  BROADLAND’S  AQUATIC  FAUNA  AND 
FLORA:  A REVIEW  OF  THE  PRESENT  POSITION 

Read  by  the  President,  Dr.  M.  George  to  the  members  of  the  Norfolk  and 
Norwich  Naturalists’  Society  at  a meeting  held  in  the  Central  Library  Lecture 
Theatre,  Norwich,  3 December  1976 


Introduction 

During  the  past  few  years  naturalists  and  lovers  of  Broadland  have  been  dis- 
mayed by  the  widespread  losses  of  aquatic  plant  and  animal  life,  the  outbreaks 
of  avian  botulism,  the  periodic  fish  kills  and  other  signs  that  all  is  not  well  in  the 
region.  Some  of  these  ecological  changes  have  already  been  described,  for  example 
by  Morgan  (1972)  and  by  Mason  and  Bryant  (1965),  but  their  interrelationships 
both  with  one  another,  and  with  contemporaneous  changes  in  Broadland’s 
physical  environment  are  only  now  beginning  to  emerge.  Figure  1 represents  an 
attempt  to  portray  diagrammatically  some  of  the  complicated  “cause  and  effect” 
inter-reactions  which  are  believed  to  be  occurring. 

Although  we  are  not  yet  in  a position  to  produce  a comprehensive  synoptic 
account  of  the  way  in  which  the  ecology  of  the  region  is  being  affected  by 
natural  processes,  by  the  increasing  recreational  pressure  on  the  waterways,  and 
other  alterations  in  the  pattern  of  land  use,  I thought  it  might  be  useful  if  I gave 
an  interim  review  of  the  scope,  probable  causes  and  effects  on  wildlife  of  the 
principal  changes  taking  place.  I also  propose  to  refer  to  some  of  the  research 
which  is  being  carried  out  to  improve  our  understanding,  both  of  the  processes 
concerned,  and  the  ways  in  which  matters  could  be  put  right. 

Ecological  Monitoring 

Attempts  to  assess  and  monitor  the  ecological  changes  taking  place  in  an  area 
are  all  too  often  frustrated  by  the  absence  of  reliable  information  about  what  it 
was  like  in  the  past.  In  general,  Broadland  is  well  documented  and  Dr.  Ann 
O’Riordan,  who  examined  the  literature  about  the  region  for  the  Nature  Con- 
servancy Council  (NCC)  in  1975/76  has  produced  over  500  abstracts.  These 
are  proving  of  great  value  to  those  working  on  the  ecology  and  geography  of 
the  region.  Nevertheless,  there  is  a dearth  of  quantitative  as  distinct  from  quali- 
tative date  about  the  fauna  and  flora  of  the  region. 

Very  little  is  known,  for  example,  about  the  relative  abundance  of  the 
different  macrophytes  which  grew  in  the  various  broads,  although  the  species 
present  were  often  carefully  recorded  by  earliei  workers. 

Despite  the  paucity  of  detailed  ecological  information  it  is  known  that  many 
of  the  changes  which  have  taken  place  have  not  done  so  uniformly.  Aerial 


41 


photographs  show,  for  example,  that  Cockshoot  Broad  lost  almost  all  its  margi- 
nal reedswamp  between  1956  and  1962  (see  plates  1 and  2),  whilst  that  in 
the  Ormesby,  Rollesby,  Filby  group  of  broads  does  not  appear  to  have  re- 
gressed at  all  during  the  past  twenty-five  years  (Clarke  in  litt).  Similarly,  both 
Morgan  (1972)  and  Mason  & Bryant  (1975)  have  pointed  out  that  macrophytes 
ceased  to  grow  in  some  broads  much  earlier  than  in  others. 

In  order  to  find  out  more  about  the  rate  at  which  such  changes  have  been 
taking  place,  and  if  possible  relate  this  information  to  physical  factors  such  as 
the  increasing  number  of  boats  in  use  on  the  waterways,  bank  erosion,  dre  dging 
and  piling,  the  NCC  has  recently  awarded  a short  term  contract  to  Michael 
Jackson,  a graduate  from  the  University  of  East  Anglia.  He  is  studying  not  only 
the  literature,  but  unpublished  information  contained  in,  for  example,  the  diaries 
kept  by  the  late  Robert  Gurney  between  1921  and  1929,  and  the  records  kept  by 
the  NCC,  the  Anglian  Water  Authority  (and  its  predecessor  the  East  Suffolk 
and  Norfolk  River  Authority)  and  the  River  Commissioners. 

Another  short  term  contract  has  recently  been  awarded  by  the  NCC  to 
Robert  Driscoll  to  investigate,  inter  alia , the  status  of  the  brackish  water  fauna 
of  the  lower  reaches  of  the  Broadland  rivers;  this  was  described  by  Robert 
Gurney  in  a series  of  papers  published  in  the  Transactions  between  1900  and 
1930,  but  has  not  been  studied  in  any  detail  since  then.  The  information  collected 
by  Driscoll  will  confirm  whether  this  fauna  has,  as  we  suspect,  been  adversely 
affected  by  eutrophication,  intensive  recreational  use  and  other  factors;  it  will 
also  be  of  value  in  connection  with  the  Yare  Basin  Flood  Control  Study  now 
being  carried  out  by  Consultants  for  the  Anglian  Water  Authority’s  Norfolk  and 
Suffolk  Land  Drainage  Committee. 


Open  Water  Habitats  in  Broadland 

Numerous  writers,  for  example,  Jennings  and  Lambert  (1949)  and  Ellis  (1965) 
have  referred  to  the  reduction  in  the  amount  of  open  water  which  has  occurred 
in  the  region  as  a result  of  the  overgrowth  of  the  broads  by  marginal  reedswamp. 
The  rate  at  which  this  has  occurred  has  varied  from  site  to  site.  For  example, 
according  to  figures  given  in  the  Report  on  Broadland  (1965)  Ranworth  Broad 
shrank  in  size  from  57  ha.  in  1840  to  20  ha.  in  1946,  a 65%  reduction,  whilst 
during  the  same  period,  Barton  Broad  decreased  in  size  from  115  ha.  to  66  ha 

Although  the  total  amount  of  water  in  Broadland  declined  from  1,200  ha. 
in  the  1880’s  to  700  ha.  in  the  1940’s,  the  amount  increased  somewhat  during 
the  1950’s  as  a result  of  the  grazing  pressure  exerted  on  marginal  reedswamp 
vegetation  by  numerous  coypus  (Ellis  1965).  Ranworth  Broad,  for  example, 
increased  in  size  by  about  4 ha.  between  1946  and  1962.  With  the  substantial 
reduction  in  the  numbers  of  coypus  during  the  hard  winter  of  1962/63,  and  the 
subsequent  control  exercised  on  the  population  by  trapping,  these  animals  are 
probably  not  sufficiently  numerous  significantly  to  affect  the  total  amount  of 
open  water  in  Broadland.  Nevertheless  some  indication  of  the  biotic  effect  of 
these  animals  can  be  gauged  from  the  fact  that  the  annual  production  of  the 
reedswamp  at  Alderfen  Broad  was  reduced  as  a result  of  coypu  grazing  from 
12.3  tonnes  dry  weight  in  1972  to  6.3  tonnes  dry  weight  in  1973  (Mason  1976). 


42 


>.2 

|S 

w 

(0 

< UJ 

2 

X 

35: 
« £ 

— 

tt  u 

o 5 

sg 

o 

< « 

| 3 
2 “ 
to  < 

1 

p 

S o 

z S 

5 

>■ 

X 

CL 

d 

HH 


43 


SUSPECTED 


Many  of  the  broads  are  now  much  shallower  than  they  used  to  be.  This  is 
inevitable  given  their  artificial  origin  and  that  fact  that  they  lie  in  close  proximity 
to  rivers  carrying  heavy  sediment  loads.  Nevertheless,  there  is  some  evidence 
that  the  rate  of  mud  deposition  is  accelerating.  At  Barton  Broad,  Osborne  and 
Moss  (1977)  have  shown  that  this  varied  from  1.2mm  to  3.1mm  a year  between 
1720  and  1950,  but  that  thereafter  the  rate  of  deposition  rose  to  about  5mm. 
a year  during  the  1950’s,  c.lOmm  during  the  1960’s  and  c.l2mm  a year  during 
the  1970’s.  Osborne  and  Moss  point  out  that  the  rate  of  deposition  is  now  so 
large  that  it  cannot  be  ascribed  to  the  increased  rate  of  phytoplankton  production 
in  the  Broad.  Furthermore  although  phosphate-rich  sediments  discharged  from 
sewage  treatment  works  into  the  river  Ant  upstream  of  the  Broad  are  probably 
being  deposited  in  the  latter,  these  too  can  only  be  providing  a relatively  small 
contribution.  In  the  ciicumstances,  Osborne  and  Moss  believe  that  much  of  the 
sediment  is  derived,  firstly  from  the  breakdown  of  the  reedswamp  around  the 
Broad,  and  secondly  from  material  eroded  from  the  banks  of  the  river  Ant 
upstream  of  the  Broad;  this  is  caused  by  the  wash  produced  by  large  numbers 
of  motorcraft,  and  by  vessels  moored  alongside  the  banks.  Whatever  the  sources 
of  the  sediment,  Oxborne  and  Moss’  results  suggest  that  Barton  Broad  will 
by  2025  have  ceased  to  exist  as  we  know  it  today  unless  remedial  measures  are 
put  in  hand. 

To  a limited  extent  such  measures  are  already  being  taken  by  the  Rivers 
Yare,  Bure  and  Waveney  Commissioners.  The  navigable  channels  across  Barton 
Broad  are  currently  being  di  edged  by  this  Authority,  whilst  several  other  broads 
open  to  public  navigation  have  been  dredged  in  the  past.  According  to  figures 
kindly  made  available  to  me  by  Mr.  C.  Groves,  the  Commissioners’  Rivers 
Manager,  these  include  Malthouse  Broad,  where  118,220  tons  were  removed 
between  1961  and  1967,  South  Walsham  Broad  and  Fleet  Dyke  (172,820  tons 
between  1960  and  1965)  and  Horsey  Mere  (123,800  tons  between  1966  and  1970). 

The  environmental  effects  of  mechanical  dredging  are  not  well  understood, 
but  research  carried  out  in  Lake  Herman,  South  Dakota,  USA,  suggests  that  the 
rate  of  nutrient  release  increases,  at  least  temporarily,  as  a result  of  the  distur- 
bance caused  and  the  exposure  of  deposits  below  the  mud  surface  Dunst  et  al 
(1974).  Where  it  is  necessary  to  minimize  nutrient  release,  for  example,  in  broads 
of  particular  ecological  importance,  it  will  almost  certainly  be  desirable  to  use 
suction  dredgers.  Such  machines  have  been  extensively  employed  in  Sweden  and 
elsewhere  but  have  not  been  widely  used  in  Broadland  mainly  because  they  are 
slightly  more  expensive  to  use  than  mechanical  dredgers  (Groves  pers.comm). 
One  was  used  experimentally  by  the  East  Suffolk  and  Norfolk  River  Board  at 
Rockland  Broad  between  September  1959  and  April  1960,  but  did  not  give 
satisfactory  results.  However  in  1975  a “Mud  Cat”  was  successfully  employed 
by  Mr.  Colin  Chapman  to  renovate  a small  broad  and  other  water  bodies  at 
Brundall.  The  site  is  now  being  monitored  as  part  of  the  NCC’s  commissioned 
research  programme  on  eutrophication. 

Conscious  of  the  need  to  safeguard  as  much  open  water  habitat  as  possible 
the  NCC  has  given  much  attention  to  the  maintenance  of  the  dyke  system  in 
the  Woodbastwick  section  of  the  Bure  Marshes  National  Nature  Reserve.  As  a 
result  of  past  neglect  this  was  in  a near  derelict  condition  when  this  site  was 


44 


established  as  a reserve  in  1958  and  very  little  aquatic  plant  and  animal  life  re- 
mained. During  the  past  seven  years  a substantial  number  of  dykes  have  been 
restored  by  means  of  a Sykes  5in.  Univac  pump  mounted  on  a pontoon  and 
many  of  the  cleaned  out  dykes  have  developed  a luxuriant  stand  of  macrophytes 
together  with  a good  benthic  invertebrate  fauna. 

Peat  was  still  being  dug  from  shallow  (c.  1 ^m.  deep)  excavations  in  the  fens 
until  the  end  of  the  19th  century,  and  the  flooded  workings,  known  as  turf 
ponds,  were  colonised  by  macrophytes  befoie  being  occluded  by  reedswamp 
peat  (Lambert  and  Jennings  1951).  Being  of  substantial  size  (for  example  27% 
of  the  area  known  as  Woodbastwick  Fen  consisted  of  open  water  in  1845 
(George  1976a))  these  turf  ponds  would  undoubtedly  have  supported  a wealth 
of  aquatic  plant  and  animal  life.  Apart  from  examples  at  Ranworth  Flood, 
Reedham  Marsh  (opposite  How  Hill)  and  near  Catfield  Hall,  very  few  of  these 
water  bodies  now  survive  in  Broadland  and  those  that  do  have  largely  lost 
their  macrophytes  and  benthic  invertebrates.  In  an  attempt  to  provide  conditions 
suitable  for  the  re-establishment  of  this  flora  and  fauna  a small  relict  turf  pond 
on  the  Bure  Marshes  National  Nature  Reserve  has  recently  been  mud  pumped. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  shallowing  of  the  broads,  the  near  derelict  con- 
dition of  the  majority  of  the  dykes  cut  in  the  adjoining  fens,  and  the  occlusion 
by  peat  of  all  but  a few  relict  turf  ponds,  has  been  accompanied  by  a substantial 
impoverishment  of  Broadland’s  aquatic  plant  and  animal  life.  However  it  is 
often  difficult  to  decide  whether  the  decline  in  the  status  of  a species  can  be 
attributed  to  the  natural  processes  associated  with  the  senescence  of  the  broads 
and  man  made  waterways,  or  whether  other  factors,  such  as  lack  of  management 
or  eutrophication,  are  at  least  partly  responsible.  In  many  cases  losses  can  be 
attributed  to  a combination  of  circumstances.  The  endemic  damselfly — Coena- 
grion  armatum  for  example,  which  used  to  occur  near  Sutton  Broad,  and  at  one 
or  two  other  sites,  and  which  was  looked  foi  in  vain  by  a team  of  entomologists 
in  1974  and  1975,  is  believed  to  have  become  extinct,  because  the  lelict  turf 
ponds  and  dykes  once  frequented  by  its  nymphs,  have,  as  a result  of  natural 
processes  and  lack  of  management,  become  infilled  by  peat  and  mud  respectively; 
they  have  also  probably  been  adversely  affected  by  eutrophication. 

Outbreaks  of  avian  botulism  have  been  recorded  from  many  parts  of  the 
world  and  are  characteristically  associated  with  prolonged  spells  of  warm  sunny 
weather,  and  the  piesence  of  extensive  areas  of  shallow,  stagnant  water  in  which 
oxygen  levels  have  been  depleted  by  accumulations  of  rotting  vegetation  or 
other  organic  mateiial  (Smith  1976).  During  the  past  ten  to  fifteen  years  habitat 
conditions  in  Broadland  have  become  increasingly  well  suited  to  the  causative 
bacterium  ( Clostridium  botulinum ) and  it  comes  as  no  surprise  that  the  organism 
has  now  been  recorded  from  a large  number  of  different  sites  in  Broadland 
(Borland  et  al  1977).  Conditions  suitable  for  the  multiplication  of  the  bacterium, 
and  the  subsequent  release  of  its  toxin,  have  occurred  every  year  since  1969, 
with  the  exception  of  1972,  and  were  responsible  for  the  deaths  of  over  a thousand 
waterfowl  in  both  1975  and  1976  (Lloyds  et  al  1976).  Unfortunately,  the  only 
known  methods  of  controlling  further  outbreaks  of  avian  botulism,  namely 
the  removal  of  mud  from  all  the  infected  broads,  and  the  raising  of  water  levels 
woulo  respectively  be  prohibitively  expensive  or  impracticable.  However  re- 


45 


search  being  carried  out  by  Dr.  G.  R.  Smith  of  the  Nuffield  Institute  may  lead 
to  the  development  of  more  practicable  methods  of  control.  In  the  meantime 
steps  have  been  taken  to  set  up  a number  of  centres  where  birds  affected  by  the 
disease  can  be  iehabilitated  (NCC  1976). 

As  a result  of  the  investigations  carried  out  for  the  NCC  between  1972  and 
1976  by  Robert  Driscoll,  we  now  know  that  the  most  important  remaining  refuge 
for  aquatic  plants  and  invertebrates  left  in  Broadland  is  the  extensive  system  of 
dykes  associated  with  the  20,250  ha.  of  reclaimed  marshland.  Parts  of  this  sys- 
tem have  been  adversely  affected  by  eutrophication,  by  saline  water  infiltration 
and  by  unsympathetic  forms  of  management,  but  other  areas  still  possess  a 
remarkably  rich  diversity  of  aquatic  species  including  national  rarities  such  as 
Sharp-leaved  Pond  weed  ( Potamogeton  acutifolius)  and  the  dragonfly  Aeshna 
isocoles.  The  survival  of  this  fauna  and  flora  can  be  attributed  firstly  to  the  fact 
that  unlike  the  fenland  waterways,  aquatic  herbicides  have  not  displaced  mecha- 
nical methods  of  dyke  management,  and  secondly,  that  since  most  of  the  marshes 
are  still  used  for  pasturage,  the  majority  of  the  dykes  are  kept  fairly  full  of  water 
in  order  to  prevent  cattle  straying  from  one  place  to  another. 

Agricultural  improvement,  involving  the  conversion  of  the  marshland  to 
arable,  and  the  subsequent  cropping  of  the  land  for  cereals,  root  crops  or  grass 
for  sileage,  usually  involves  the  lowering  of  the  water  levels  in  the  dykes.  Driscoll 
(1977)  has  shown  that  this  is  soon  followed  by  the  impoverishment  of  their 
aquatic  fauna  and  flora ; this  is  caused  partly  by  the  more  frequent  cleaning  out 
of  the  dykes,  and  partly  by  the  fact  that  the  remaining  water  in  the  latter  receives 
relatively  larger  quantities  of  fertilizers  and/or  herbicides  leached  from  the 
adjoining  land.  Salinities  in  some  dykes  also  tend  to  rise  as  a result  of  the  leakage 
of  brackish  water  through  the  flood  banks  of  the  rivers. 

Studies  carried  out  by  Rendel,  Palmer  and  Tritton  (1977)  in  connection  with 
the  Yare  Basin  Flood  Control  Study  show  that  of  the  c.  16,000  ha.  of  marshland 
which  have  potential  for  agricultural  improvement,  about  3,500  ha.  have  already 
been  reclaimed,  and  that  a further  c.  1 ,200  ha.  are  in  the  process  of  being  improved. 
Of  the  c.l  1,300  ha.  of  unimproved  grassland  which  remains,  a further  1,200  ha. 
are  likely  to  be  improved ; however  the  management  of  the  remainder  will  prob- 
ably remain  unchanged  unless  measures  are  taken  to  remove,  or  at  least  limit, 
the  risk  of  flooding,  particularly  by  saline  water. 


The  Loss  of  Marginal  Reedswamp 

Marginal  reedswamp  was  formerly  of  widespread  occurrence  in  Broadland,  but 
since  the  Second  World  War  it  has  largely  disappeared  from  the  broads  associa- 
ted with  the  rivers  Bure  and  Ant.  This  is  of  considerable  ecological  significance 
as  the  invasion  of  open  water  firstly  by  Lesser  Reed  Mace  ( Typha  angustifolia ) 
and  Bulrush  ( Schoenoplectus  lacustris ),  and  later  by  Reed  ( Phragmites  australis) 
in  the  manner  described  by  Lambert  and  Jennings  (1951)  no  longer  occurs. 
As  a result  the  open  water  of  these  broads  is  now  characteristically  bordered 
by  tussock  fen  communities  rather  than  by  Phragmites — dominated  reedswamp. 
Although  marginal  reedswamp  has  not  regressed  to  the  same  extent  in  the  river 
Thurne  broads  as  in  those  associated  with  the  rivers  Ant  and  Bure,  many  of  the 


46 


Plate  1.  Cockshoot  Broad  — (Bure  Marshes  NNR)  — Oblique  air  photograph  taken  in  May  1956. 
Note  good  development  of  marginal  reedswamp,  particularly  on  north  western  (unshaded)  side  of  broad. 


Plate  2.  Cockshoot  Broad  — (Bure  Marshes  NNR)  — Oblique  air  photograph  taken  in  June  1962. 
Note  that  virtually  all  the  marginal  reedswamp  has  disappeared  as  a result  of  dieback  . 

Photographs  reproduced  with  the  permission  of  Professor  J.  K.  St.  Joseph,  Di.ector  in  Aerial  Photography,  Cambridge  University. 


reedbeds  around  the  margin  of  Hickling  Broad  which  were  formerly  harvested 
regularly,  are  no  longer  worth  cutting  because  of  their  invasion  by  Bent  Grass 
( Agrostis  stolonifera ) and  the  depauperate  growth  of  the  reed  plants  during  the 
past  three  or  four  years  (Beales,  pers.  comm). 

Lambert  (1946)  has  pointed  out  that  in  the  Yare  broads,  where  the  marginal 
vegetation  is  dominated  by  Glyceria  maxima , Phragmites  tends  to  occur  only 
in  land-locked  pools  and  as  a narrow  fringe  to  the  outer,  tidally-scoured,  edges 
of  the  floating  rafts  formed  by  Glyceria.  In  these  habitats,  however,  the  stands 
of  reed  underwent  a marked  regression  during  the  early  1950’s  (Ellis  pers.  comm) 

The  factors  affecting  the  performance  of  Phragmites  have  been  extensively 
studied  and  a voluminous  literature  exists  on  the  subject ; this  is  listed  by  Haslam 
(1972a).  In  addition  to  edaphic  factors  like  water  regime,  temperature  and  light, 
this  species  is  affected  by  numerous  biotic  influences  such  as  grazing  both  by 
coypus  and  by  swans,  geese  and  other  waterfowl,  trampling,  and  by  the  mecha- 
nical damage  caused  by  boats  being  driven  into,  or  moored  alongside  the  margi- 
nal vegetation.  Observations  have  shown  that  all  these  factors  are  having  an 
adverse  effect  on  reedswamp  in  Broadland;  so  also  has  shading,  which  has 
increased  as  a result  of  the  growth  of  trees  beside  the  waterways,  particularly 
where  these  traverse  areas  of  unreclaimed  fen.  The  relative  importance  of  these 
factors  varies  from  site  to  site.  Furthermore  in  many  places  the  marginal  reed- 
swamp becomes  impoverished,  or  even  disappeais  altogether  for  no  apparent 
reason.  Whilst  it  is  convenient  to  use  the  phrase  “dieback”  to  describe  this 
phenomenon,  it  is  by  no  means  clear  what  combination  of  factors  is  responsible 
for  it. 

Although  it  has  been  claimed  by  some  continental  workers  that  eutrophica- 
tion can  adversely  affect  the  performance  of  Phragmites , there  is  as  yet  no  hard 
evidence  for  this  in  Broadland;  indeed  Haslam  (1972b)  points  out  that  reed 
growth  becomes  taller  as  the  nutrient  input  increases.  Dieback  has  not  been 
confined  to  broads  used  for  public  boating ; it  is  for  example  largely  absent,  not 
only  from  Wroxham  and  Malthouse  Broads,  but  from  Hoveton  Great  and  Ran- 
worth  Broads,  both  of  which  are  closed  to  the  general  public.  Although  it  would 
appear  from  this  that  the  two  factors  found  by  Sukopp  (1971)  to  be  responsible 
for  the  loss  of  reedswamp  from  the  Havel  lakes  in  West  Berlin,  namely  excessive 
boating  pressure  and  trampling,  are  of  lesser  importance  in  Broadland,  it  must 
be  borne  in  mind  that  recreational  pressure  on  the  Havel  lakes  is  far  in  excess 
of  anything  encountered  in  Broadland. 

Different  clones  of  reed  seem  to  vary  in  their  susceptivility  to  dieback.  Par- 
ticularly good  examples  of  this  were  noticed  on  the  river  Yare  near  Reedham  in 
September  1976.  In  some  places  the  shoots  were  similar  in  number  and  stature 
to  those  produced  in  1975 ; a few  hundred  metres  away,  however,  the  growth  was 
relatively  depauperate,  the  shoots  being  fewer  in  number  and  up  to  half  a metre 
shorter  than  those  of  the  previous  year. 

Since  reed  will  not  grow  in  Broadland  in  water  whose  depth  exceeds  about 
one  metre,  the  width  of  the  reedswamp  growing  beside  a waterway  is  dependant 
on  the  profile  of  the  latter;  the  gentler  the  gradient  of  the  batter,  the  wider  the 
reedswamp  fringe.  The  River  Commissioners  are  aware  of  this,  and  aim,  when 


47 


dredging  a river  to  provide  a profile  of  the  type  shown  in  Figure  2.  In  practice 
most  rivers  in  Broadland  have  a profile  more  nearly  resembling  that  shown  in 
Figure  3.  In  such  situations  only  a very  limited  area  is  suitable  for  the  growth  of 
reed.  As  a result  the  reedswamp  fringe  is  very  narrow  and  the  aerial  shoots  of 
the  plants  are  liable  to  be  physically  damaged  either  by  wave  action  or  by  passing 
boats.  The  steep  profile  also  makes  the  reedswamp  susceptible  to  undermining 
by  the  wash  generated  by  boat  traffic ; this  ultimately  results  in  blocks  of  reed- 
swamp being  washed  away. 

Marginal  reedswamp  is  of  very  considerable  environmental  importance. 
Not  only  does  it  form  a habitat  for  species  like  Reed  and  Sedge  Warbler, 
Bearded  Tit,  Coot,  Great  Crested  Grebe  and  other  waterfowl,  but  as  Mason 
(1976)  has  pointed  out,  it  may,  by  absorbing  large  quantities  of  nutrients  in  the 
spring,  and  not  releasing  these  until  the  winter,  be  fulfilling  a useful  role  as  a 
nutrient  regulator. 

A broad  band  of  reedswamp  also  helps  to  prevent  bank  erosion,  since  the 
closely  spaced  aerial  shoots  of  the  plants  cushion  the  effects  of  wave  action.  If 
the  reedswamp  is  too  narrow  or  if  it  becomes  impoverished  as  a result  of  dieback, 
bank  erosion  accelerates ; in  places  where  the  waterway  adjoins  reclaimed  marsh- 
land it  may  then  be  necessary  to  provide  piling  to  protect  the  floodbanks  and 
thus  obviate  the  risk  of  flooding.  In  places  wheie  there  is  no  flood  bank,  or 
where  the  river  is  bordered  by  a wide  “rond”,  the  river  gradually  widens  as  a 
result  of  bank  erosion;  this  increases  the  amount  of  sediment  in  the  river,  and 
in  narrow  heavily  used  waterways  where  the  muddy  bottom  deposits  are  con- 
stantly being  stirred  up,  this  adds  to  the  turbidity  of  the  water  (Moss  pers.  comm). 

Because  of  the  heavy  cost,  and  unattractive  “canalised”  appearance  of 
piling,  the  Anglian  Water  Authority  are,  in  conjunction  with  the  NCC,  carrying 
out  some  experiments  on  the  river  Thurne  a short  distance  upstream  from  Thurne 
Mouth  designed  to  find  out  whether  it  is  possible  to  re-establish  marginal  reed- 
swamp. The  work  will  involve  teprofiling  the  river  to  give  a gently  sloping  batter; 
reed  will  grow  on  the  upper  parts  of  this,  and  where  the  water  depth  exceeds 
about  1 Jin  .the  Anglian  Water  Authority  will  be  trying  out  various  mechanical 
methods  of  increasing  the  resistance  of  the  muddy  peat  to  wave  action,  and  thus 
preventing  the  undercutting  of  the  marginal  reedswamp. 

Other  experimentation,  notably  in  relation  to  the  causes  of  reedswamp  die- 
back, is  currently  being  planned  by  the  NCC. 


Eutrophication 

It  has  become  apparent,  largely  as  a result  of  the  research  carried  out  during 
the  past  few  years  by  Dr.  B.  Moss  and  his  team  at  the  University  of  East  Anglia, 
that  the  Broadland  waterways  have,  in  common  with  many  other  water  bodies 
both  in  this  country  and  abroad,  become  affected  by  eutrophication.  The  most 
obvious  symptoms  of  this  phenomenon  is  the  appearance  in  the  water  of  dense 
stands  of  phytoplankton  which  increase  the  turbidity  of  the  water  and  give  it  a 
greenish  or  brownish  tinge.  The  oft  repeated  statement  that  the  germination  and 
growth  of  macrophytes  is  inhibited  because  the  phytoplankton  prevents  sufficient 


48 


49 


FIG.  3 Profile  (CS4)  of  right  bank  of  River  Thurne  about  half  a mile  north. 

of  Thurne  Mouth  - Sept.  1976.  Note  that  in  theory  and  in  practice 
this  is  only  capable  of  supporting  a band  of  reedswamp  c.  % m.  wide. 


light  reaching  these  plants  and  their  propagules  is  probably  an  over-simplifica- 
tion and  Phillips  et  al  (1977)  have  recently  drawn  attention  to  the  role  which 
epiphytic  diatoms  play  in  this  regard.  Another  symptom  of  eutrophidation  is 
the  loss  of  diversity  in  the  invertebrate  fauna;  this  too  has  occurred  in  Broadland, 
tubificid  worms  and  midge  larvae  having  largely  replaced  the  varied  fauna  of 
leeches,  water  snails,  small  crustaceans  and  numerous  other  animals  which  used 
to  occur  in  the  region’s  waterways. 

The  eutrophication  of  the  Broadland  waterways  has  been  caused  by  the  fact 
that  they  are  now  receiving  excessive  quantities  of  nitrates  and  phosphates.  These 
are  derived  partly  from  natural  processes,  partly  from  treated  sewage  effluent 
and  partly  from  leached  agricultural  fertilizers;  there  is  some  evidence  that 
nutrient  rich  slurry  from  piggeries  and  intensive  dairy  units  is  in  some  places 
also  finding  its  way  into  the  waterway  system.  The  relative  proportions  of  the 
nutrients  derived  from  these  sources  vary  from  river  to  river  and  can  only  be 
determined  by  compiling  a nutrient  “budget”.  This  involves  calculating  the  input 
and  outflow  of  nutiients  from  a waterway,  and  assessing  the  amount  being  uti- 
lized by  living  organisms ; in  this  latter  respect  the  standing  crop  of  algae  is  of 
particular  importance. 

The  nutrient  budget  produced  by  Osborne  and  Moss  (1977)  for  Barton 
Broad  suggests  that  73  % of  the  phosphorus  reaching  this  site  emanates  from 
the  North  Walsham  and  Stalham  sewage  treatment  woiks  and  that  a substantial 
improvement  in  the  ecological  condition  of  the  broad  would  be  achieved  if  the 
concentration  of  phosphates  in  these  effluents  could  be  reduced  before  they  were 
discharged.  Osborne  and  Moss  claim  that  a diverse  community  of  macrophytes 
similar  to  that  growing  in  the  broad  at  the  end  of  the  Second  World  War  would 
reappear  if  70%  of  the  phosphates  were  removed  from  the  effluent,  and  that 
some  water  weeds  would  recolonize  the  site  even  if  the  concentration  could  only 
be  reduced  by  25  %. 

Osborne  and  Moss  point  out  that  the  flushing  effect  of  the  river  Ant  as  it 
flows  through  the  broad  results  in  nutrients  being  discharged  with  the  outflow 
from  the  latter  at  a fairly  rapid  rate.  Most  broads,  for  example  Wroxham, 
Hoveton  Great,  Ranworth  and  Rockland,  are  not  flushed  out  to  the  same  extent, 
and  would  therefore  not  respond  so  quickly  as  would  Barton  Broad  once  the 
incoming  phosphorus  load  had  been  reduced. 

Experience  in  Sweden,  for  example  at  Lake  Trummen,  suggests  that  if  such 
broads  are  to  be  restored  to  their  former  condition  it  may  be  necessary  to  remove 
the  accumulations  of  nutrient  rich  mud  with  a suction  dredger.  The  investigations 
being  carried  out  at  Brundall  Broad,  which  are  described  by  George  (1976b) 
should  show  how  quickly  a mud-pumped  broad,  which  has  been  physically  isola- 
ted from  an  adjoining  nutrient  rich  river,  is  recolonized  by  macrophytes  and 
benthic  invertebrates.  Other  water  bodies  at  Brundall  which  have  been  mud 
pumped  but  which  remain  in  communication  with  the  river  Yare  are  serving  as  a 
control  to  these  experiments. 

The  mud  pumping  carried  out  on  the  dyke  system  of  the  Bure  Marshes  NNR 
has  already  yielded  useful  information  about  the  techniques  which  can  be  used 
to  rehabilitate  open  water  sites  affected  by  eutrophication.  Dykes  which  have 


50 


been  mud  pumped  and  which,  because  they  are  blind-ending,  receive  a negligible 
amount  of  nutrient-rich  water  from  the  river  Bure,  have  been  colonized  by  a 
diverse  assemblage  of  macrophytes,  whilst  those  dykes  which  have  been  similarly 
treated,  but  which  carry  a flow  of  nutrient-rich  water,  remain  turbid  with 
phytoplankton  and  are  almost  devoid  of  macrophytes.  Dams  aie  now  being 
provided  at  most  of  the  points  where  water  from  the  river  formerly  entered  and 
left  the  dyke  system,  and  it  will  be  interesting  to  see  whether  dykes  affected  by 
eutrophication  are  recolonized  by  macrophytes  and  benthic  invertebrates  once 
the  flow  of  nutrients  into  them  has  been  reduced. 

Unlike  the  broads  associated  with  the  rivers  Yare,  Bure  and  Ant,  the  great 
majority  of  which  have  been  affected  by  eutrophication  since  the  1950’s,  or  even 
earlier,  Hickling  Broad,  Horsey  Mere,  Martham  Broad  and  other  waterways 
associated  with  the  river  Thurne,  remained  in  excellent  condition  until  1969. 
In  that  year,  however,  the  water,  first  in  Horsey  Mere,  and  a few  months  later, 
Hickling  Broad,  lost  its  limpid  clarity  and  became  turbid  with  phytoplankton. 
More  or  less  simeltaneously  a very  serious  fish  kill  took  place;  subsequent 
investigations  by  staff  of  the  East  Suffolk  and  Norfolk  River  Authority  showed 
that  this  was  caused  by  toxin  released  by  Prymnesium  parvum , a common  con- 
stituent of  the  phytoplankton  found  in  these,  and  more  recently  certain  other 
broads. 

Subsequent  events  did  nothing  to  allay  the  anxiety  felt  by  conservationists 
about  the  condition  of  Hickling  Broad  and  Horsey  Mere.  There  were  further 
fish  kills  in  1970,  1973  and  again  in  1975  (Wortley  1976a);  meantime  ecological 
surveys  were  showing  that  macrophytes  had  largely  disappeared  from  both  sites, 
and  that  the  formerly  diverse  benthic  invertebrate  fauna  was  being  replaced  by 
chironomid  larvae  and  tubificid  worms. 

In  May  1974,  the  Norfolk  Naturalists’  Trust  understandably  concerned 
that  such  changes  were  taking  place  in  Broadland,  and  more  especially  at 
Hickling  Broad,  a site  which  it  had  safeguarded  since  1945  and  which  had  been 
formally  declared  as  a National  Nature  Reserve  in  1958,  drew  public  attention 
to  the  problem  in  a Press  Release.  The  Trust  took  the  opportunity  to  urge  that 
the  NCC  and  the  Anglian  Water  Authority  should  mount  a research  programme 
aimed  at  identifying  the  factors  responsible  for  the  changes,  and  formulating 
remedial  measures. 

Both  organisations  responded  to  this  request,  the  NCC’s  and  the  Anglian 
Water  Authority’s  research  having  been  described  by  George  (1976b)  and  by 
Wortley  (1976b)  respectively. 

The  research  commissioned  by  the  NCC  from  the  University  of  East  Anglia 
involves  the  installation  of  two  Lund  tubes — each  20m  in  diameter,  and  other 
experiments  at  Heigham  Corner  in  Hickling  Broad,  the  object  being  to  determine 
the  relative  importance  of  nutrient-loading,  surface  instability  of  the  mud  and 
mechanical  damage  by  boat  propellers  as  factors  likely  to  be  responsible  directly 
or  indirectly,  for  the  ecological  changes  which  have  occurred  at  this  site.  It  is 
hoped  that  the  results  obtained  will  enable  us  to  design  a programme  of  manage 
ment  which  will  lead  to  the  recolonisation  of  this  site  by  the  great  wealth  of 
aquatic  plant  and  animal  life  which  once  occurred  here. 


51 


Although  the  research  programme  did  not  commence  until  May  1976, 
some  useful  preliminary  data  has  already  been  obtained  from  the  intensive 
programme  of  monitoring  being  carried  out  on  the  water  chemistry,  phytop- 
lankton, macrophytes,  and  benthic  invertebrate  fauna,  both  inside  and  outside 
the  Lund  tubes.  It  is  probably  significant  that  seedlings  of  both  Najas  marina 
and  Potamogeton  pectinatus  germinated  over  much  of  the  experimental  area 
in  the  early  summer  but  that  only  those  growing  in  the  tubes  survived  to  the 
end  of  the  season. 


Acknowledgements 

I am  grateful  to  those  who  have  supplied  factual  information  incorporated  in  this  paper. 
My  particular  thanks  are  due  to  Dr.  B.  Moss  and  his  colleagues  of  the  School  of  Envir- 
onmental Sciences  of  the  University  of  East  Anglia,  who  commented  upon  Figure  1, 
prior  to  its  being  redrawn  and  photographed  by  David  Mew  and  Peter  Scott  of  that 
Department. 

The  profiles  reproduced  in  Figures  2 and  3 were  kindly  made  available  by  Mr. 
L.  F.  Fillenham  of  the  Anglian  Water  Authority,  and  by  Mr.  C.  Groves  of  the  Rivers 
Yare,  Bure  and  Waveney  Commissioners  respectively. 


References 

Borland,  E.  D.,  Moryson,  C.  J.  & Smith,  G.R.  (1977).  Avian  botulism  and  the  high 
prevalence  of  Clostridium  botulinum  in  the  Norfolk  Broads.  Vet.  Rec.  100,  pp. 
106-109. 

Driscoll,  R.  (1977).  The  effect  of  management  on  the  aquatic  fauna  and  flora  of  graz- 
ing marsh  dykes  in  Broadland.  In  preparation. 

Dunst,  R.  C.  et  al  (1974).  Survey  of  lake  rehabilitation  techniques  and  experiences. 
Tech.  Bull.  No.  75 : Dept,  of  Nat.  Resources.  Madison,  Wisconsin. 

Ellis,  E.  A.  (ed).  (1965).  The  Broads.  Collins,  London* 

George,  M.  (1976a).  Land  Use  and  Nature  Conservation  in  Broadland.  Geography 
61  Pt.  3.  pp.  137-142. 

George,  M.  (1976b).  The  impoverishment  of  Broadland’s  aquatic  fauna  and  flora: 
a programme  of  research  and  rehabilitation  management.  Annual  Report  of  the 
Norfolk  Naturalists  Trust  40  pp.  44-48. 

Haslam,  S.  M.  (1972a).  Biological  Flora  of  the  British  Isles:  No.  128:  Phragmites 
communis  Trin.  J.  Ecol.  60  pp.  585-610. 

Haslam,  S.  M.  (1972b).  The  Reed  (Second  Edition).  Norfolk  Reedgrowers  Association. 
Macklow  Brown:  Ipswich. 

Jennings,  J.  N.  & Lambert,  J.  M.  (1949).  The  Shrinkage  of  the  Broads.  New  Naturalist 
6 (East  Anglia)  pp.26  - 27.  Collins,  London. 

Lambert,  J.  M.  (1946).  The  distribution  and  status  of  Glyceria  maxima  (Hartm)  Holmb. 
in  the  region  of  Surlingham  and  Rockland  Broads,  Norfolk.  J.  Ecol.  33,  No.2. 
pp.230-267. 


52 


Lambert,  J.  M.  & Jennings,  J.  N.  (1951).  Alluvial  stratigraphy  and  vegetational  suc- 
cession in  the  region  of  the  Bure  valley  broads.  II  Detailed  vegetational — strati- 
graphical  relationships.  J.Ecol.  39  No.  1.  pp. 120-148. 

Lloyd,  C.  S.,  Thomas,  G.  J.,  Macdonald,  J.  W.,  Borland,  E.  D.,  Standring,  K. 
and  Smart,  J.  L.  (1976).  Wild  Bird  Mortality  caused  by  Botulism  in  Britain,  1975. 
Biol.  Cons.  10(2)  pp.119-129. 

Mason,  C.  F.  & Bryant,  R.  J.  (1975).  Changes  in  the  ecology  of  the  Norfolk  Broads. 
Freshwater  Biology  5,  pp.  257-270. 

Mason,  C.  F.  (1976).  “Broadland”  in  Nature  in  Norfolk:  a Heritage  in  Trust,  pp. 
79-89.  Jarrold,  Norwich. 

Morgan,  N.  C.  (1972).  Problems  of  the  conservation  of  freshwater  ecosystems.  In 
Conservation  & Productivity  of  Natural  Waters.  Symp.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  29, 
pp. 135-154. 

Nature  Conservancy  (1965).  Report  on  Broadland.  London. 

Nature  Conservancy  Council  (1976).  Botulism  in  Waterfowl.  NCC  leaflet:  Norwich. 

O’riordan,  A.  M.  (1976).  A Broadland  Bibliography.  Nature  Conservancy  Council, 
Norwich. 

Osborne,  P.  L.  & Moss,  B.  (1977).  Palaeolimnology  and  trends  in  the  phosphorus  and 
iron  budgets  of  an  old  man-made  lake,  Barton  Broad,  Norfolk.  Freshwater  Biol.  7 
(In  Press). 

Phillips,  G.  L.,  Eminson,  D.  & Moss,  B.  (1977).  A mechanism  to  account  for  macro- 
phyte decline  in  progressively  enriched  freshwaters.  In  Press. 

Rendel,  Palmer  & Tritton  (1977).  Report  to  Steering  Group  on  the  Yare  Basin 
Flood  Control  Study.  (February  1977).  Anglian  Water  Authority,  Norwich. 

Smith,  G.  R.  (1976).  Botulism  in  waterfowl.  Wildfowl  27,  pp.  129-1 38. 

Sukopp,  H.  (1971).  Effects  of  man,  especially  recreational  activities,  on  littoral  macro- 
phytes. Hydrobiologica  12  pp.331-340. 

Wortley,  J.  S.  (1976a).  ‘The  River  systems  of  Norfolk”  in  Nature  in  Norfolk;  a heri- 
tage in  Trust.  Jarrold,  Norwich. 

Wortley,  J.  S.  (1976b).  “Biological  Work”  in  papers  compiled  for  a Seminar  on  Broad- 
land. Anglian  Water  Authority,  Norwich. 


53 


THE  SPATIAL  ARRANGEMENTS  OF  INDIVIDUAL  PLANTS 
AND  SPECIES,  AND  THE  RELATIONSHIPS  BETWEEN  SPECIES 
MAKING  UP  A PATTERN  IN  AN  AREA  OF  BRECKLAND 

By  George  Garrod 

Summary 

Associations  of  plants  characteristic  of  acidic  and  calcareous  soils  on  Lakenheath 
Warren,  Suffolk,  have  been  investigated  using  the  technique  of  Association 
Analysis  in  order  to  detect  associations  between  pairs  of  species. 

A lattice  and  a constellation  diagram  have  been  constructed  which  represent 
the  species  which  are  positively  associated  with  each  other. 

Grouping  of  plants  is  clearly  discernible  after  processing  the  data.  Plants 
typical  of  chalk  grassland  form  one  group  and  another  group  is  characteris- 
tic of  sandy  soil  of  low  pH.  This  latter  group  is  less  clearly  defined,  which  may 
reflect  temporal  vegetation  changes  associated  with  cyclic  phenomena  charac- 
teiistic  of  the  ‘pattern  and  process’  described  by  Watt. 

The  grouping  is  discussed  in  relation  to  cyclic  behaviour  of  some  of  the 
species  and  the  edaphic  and  topographic  conditions  which  will  require  investi- 
gation if  causal  factors  are  to  be  established. 

Introduction 

Watt  (1940)  discussed  the  considerable  soil  heterogeneity  in  Breckland  associated 
with  the  parent  chalk  and  aeolian  cover  sands.  Watt  classified  these  grasslands 
according  to  soil  pH  so  that  at  one  extreme  Grassland  A repiesented  calcareous 
grassland  and  at  the  other  end  of  the  edaphic  spectrum  Grassland  G represented 
acidic  grassland.  He  recognised  plant  species  characteristic  of  these  categories; 
for  example  Asperula  cynanchia  was  characteristic  of  Grassland  A,  whereas 
Dicranum  scoparium  was  characteristic  of  Grassland  F or  G.  Vegetational 
heterogeneity  within  an  area,  therefore,  may  be  linked  to  soil  heterogeneity. 

These  studies  of  Watt  were  concerned  primarily  with  a large  scale  of  pattern 
of  soils  and  vegetation,  however,  it  is  possible  to  recognise  similar  relationships 
on  a much  smaller  spatial  scale  such  that  species  characteristic  of  acidic  soils 
grow  in  juxtaposition  to  those  characteristic  of  calcareous  soils.  The  area  chosen 
for  this  study  reflects  such  spatial  variation  in  the  distribution  of  plant  species. 

In  recent  years  statistical  techniques  have  been  developed  to  analyse  rela- 
tionships between  plants  and  environmental  factors.  One  of  these  involves  the 
detection  of  association  between  different  species.  Initially  it  was  postulated 
that  if  there  was  a marked  soil  heterogeneity  within  the  study  site  such  that  acidic 
and  calcareous  soils  were  present  then  it  should  be  possible  to  detect  groups  of 
species  which  are  characteristic  of  their  respective  soil  types  amongst  the  total 
assemblage  of  species  which  grow  in  the  area. 


54 


Hence  the  purpose  of  this  study  was  to  establish  initially  that  within  a small 
area  there  were  groups  of  species  characteristic  of  acidic  soils  growing  in  juxta- 
position to  those  of  calcareous  soils. 

Site 

(a)  The  general  area  in  which  the  site  of  study  is  situated  forms  part  of  Breckland, 
a unique  area  of  heathland  in  Norfolk  and  Suffolk.  Here  a thin  covering  of  sand 
and  gravel  overlies  the  chalk.  Rainfall  is  low  (c.  60mm)  and  the  diurnal  tempera- 
ture range  is  high.  The  barren,  sandy  soil  has  a low  nutritional  status  and  sup- 
ports a so-called  steppe  species  flora,  which  has,  in  the  past  been  much  affected 
by  grazing  animals. 

(b)  The  actual  site  was  selected  because  of  its  typical  Breck  flora,  large 
number  of  species  in  close  proximity,  low  management  stress,  its  structural 
uniformity  in  similar  growth  habits  of  the  component  species  and  confinement 
to  the  herb  layer,  absence  of  a marked  pattern  in  the  vegetation,  and  known  varia- 
tion in  pH  (4.0  - 8.5)  and  topography.  It  consists  of  a small  area  rather  less  than 
400  square  metres  on  Lakenheath  Warren  (TM  751808)  and  typical  of  a larger 
area  around  it.  Here  the  mantle  of  sand  above  the  underlying  chalk  is  very  un- 
even. Sand  mixed  with  chalky  boulder  clay  in  places  and  leached  in  others,  pro- 
duces a mosaic  of  soils  of  different  nutritional  status.  Nearby  is  the  rabbit-proof 
enclosure  used  by  Watt  (1961)  in  his  study  of  the  effects  of  rabbit  grazing. 

The  microtopography  creates  a series  of  gentle  hollows  and  hummocks 
with  variations  of  about  7 cm  between  trough  and  crest. 


Method 

Before  causal  factors  in  plant  associations  are  investigated  it  is  necessary  to 
establish  the  spatial  arrangements  of  individuals  of  a species,  and  the  relation- 
ships between  different  species  which  make  up  the  pattern. 

The  method  chosen  to  investigate  the  latter  was  a test  of  Association  Ana- 
lysis based  on  Kershaw  K.A.  (1964)  Quantitative  and  Dynamic  Ecology. 

Briefly,  an  area  of  about  400  square  metres  was  sampled  and  the  plant 
species  in  400  5cm  x 5cm  square  quadrats  recorded  on  6/7  July,  1974.  Statistical 
analysis  was  then  carried  out  to  establish  positive  or  negative  associations  between 
the  different  pairs  of  species. 

These  are  shown  in  a constellation  diagram  (Fig.  I)  where  species  which  are 
strongly  positively  associated  are  placed  close  together  and  those  with  weak 
associations  further  apart. 


Results  and  Discussion 

Although  the  data  have  been  subject  to  statistical  treatment,  some  subjective 
assessment  has  had  to  be  used,  not  only  in  the  collection  of  data  and  in  the 
preparation  of  the  species  constellation,  but  in  the  interpretation  of  the  ecological 
significance  of  the  data. 


55 


FIG  1 - SPECIES  CONSTELLATION  BASED  ON  X2VALUES 


Sandy  summit*  Chalky  hollows 

Leontodon 


One  clearly  recognisable  group  are  the  plants  usually  regarded  as  species  of 
chalk  grassland  in  Gt.  Britain  (Group  1)  which  includes  Carlina  vulgaris , Clado- 
nia  furcata , Festuca  ovina , Galim  verum,  Koeleria  gracilis , Leontondon  hispidus , 
Linum  catharticum  and  Lotus  corniculatus,  and  nearly  all  of  these  species  have 
two  positive  associations. 

The  other  associations  are  plants  associated  with  sandy  habitats  (again 
based  on  visual  appearance)  and  are  a loose  group  which  can  be  sub-divided 
on  the  basis  of  their  positive  associations  as  follows: 

(a)  Festuca  ovina , Luzula  campestris,  Euphrasia  officinalis. 

(b)  Dicranum  scoparium,  Anthoxanthum  odoratum. 

(c)  Cladonia  foliacea,  Hieracium  pilo sella,  Aira  praecox,  Astragulus 
danicus. 

The  Luzula  - Euphrasia  relationship  may  be  an  example  of  host-parasitic 
relationship,  though  Swann,  E.L.  (personal  communication)  while  not  doubt- 
ing an  association,  has  never  observed  Luzula  as  a host  plant. 

With  regard  to  these  3 divisions  Watt  (1961)  investigated  cyclic  change  where 
the  mosaic  of  patches  in  the  vegetation  each  represented  phases  in  a cycle  where 
each  patch  progresses  eventually  and  repeatedly  through  the  same  cycle  of  events. 
However,  although  small  areas  will  change  over  a period  of  time  the  overall 
structure  and  composition  of  the  community  remains  unchanged,  since  each 
phase  is  represented  by  a mosaic  of  cyclic  units  related  spatially  to  each  other  as 


56 


well  as  representing  a time  sequence.  Watt  uses  the  relationships  between 
Hieracium  and  Festuca  to  show  the  wave-like  advance  of  vegetatively  spreading 
plants,  numerical  increase  and  vigour  being  followed  by  a decline.  Hummocks 
of  sand  build  up  around  Festuca  tussocks  but  fail  to  remain  intact  under  Hiera- 
cium invasion  as  the  latter’s  power  to  bind  the  soil  is  weak — it  has  no  network 
of  fine  roots  like  Festuca  and  on  its  death  the  soil-protecting  leaves  are  removed. 

Wind  and  rain  then  erode  the  hummocks  down  to  the  chalk  allowing  the 
Festuca  to  return  and  i e-initiate  the  hummock.  The  inorganic  environment  and 
the  topography  is  thus  often  in  a state  of  change.  Groups  (a),  (b),  and  (c)  above 
may  represent  a stage  of  transition  in  such  a process. 

In  spite  of  the  present  stage  of  study  it  is  evident  that  in  this  small  area 
there  is  a marked  heterogeneity  between  groups  of  species  which  appears  to  be 
determined  by  edaphic  and  topographic  conditions. 

It  should  be  noted  that  this  is  a dynamic  and  not  a static  association,  being 
sampled  at  a point  in  time.  Plants  come  and  go  with  variation  of  temperature, 
rainfall,  and  grazing.  There  will  be  sporadic  contributors  to  the  pattern  e.g. 
Senecio  jacobaea , which  in  this  season  has  a small  number  of  occurrences. 


Further  Work 

If  the  work  were  to  continue  it  is  suggested  that  the  next  stage  of  investigation 
should  be  to  examine  more  closely  the  patterns  of  these  different  species  in 
relation  to  soil  environmental  patterns. 


References 

Watt,  A.  S.  (1940)  Studies  in  the  ecology  of  Breckland  IV.  The  grass  heath.  J.Ecol 
28  pp.42-70. 

Watt,  A.  S.  (1961).  The  effect  of  excluding  rabbits  from  Grassland  A in  Breckland, 
1936-60.  J.Ecol.  50.  pp.181-198. 

Swann,  E.  L.  (1973)  Norfolk  Euphrasiae.  Watsonia,  9,  Pt.  4. 

Method  based  on  Kershaw,  K.  A.  (1964).  Quantitative  and  Dynamic  Ecology, 


57 


THE  CTENOPHORA,  SCYPHOZOA  AND  ANTHOZOA  OF 
NORFOLK,  WITH  ADDITIONAL  NOTES  ON  THE  HYDROZOA 

R.  Hamond 

Scaldbeck,  Morston,  Holt,  Norfolk 

(Present  Address:  Zoology  Department,  University  of  Melbourne,  Parkville 

3052,  Australia) 
and  R.  B.  Williams 
2 Carrington  Place,  Tring,  Herts. 


Introduction 

The  present  survey  includes  previously  published  records  together  with  the 
results  of  our  own  collecting  and  research  on  the  Norfolk  fauna.  The  records  of 
one  of  us  (RH)  began  in  about  1945,  terminating  in  1975,  whilst  those  of  the  other 
(RBW)  began  in  1965  and  are  still  continuing;  hence  this  survey  represents  some 
32  years  of  continuous  work.  Previous  studies  on  the  marine  and  brackish-water 
Hydrozoa  were  carried  out  by  Hamond  (1957  & 1963a).  Freshwater  Hydrozoa 
of  the  family  Hydridae  lie  outside  the  scope  of  this  survey,  but  the  other  coelen- 
terate  groups,  which  are  mainly  marine,  are  all  dealt  with  here.  The  ctenophores, 
although  not  now  regarded  as  coelenterates  (Hyman,  1940),  are  included  here 
for  convenience.  The  localities  searched  and  the  Norfolk  marine  area  have  been 
defined  by  Hamond  (1961,  1963b  & 1969a)  and  collecting  methods  were  as  in 
Hamond  (1967a)  and  Williams  (1972a).  Local  place  names,  wrecks,  offshore 
stations  and  landmarks  mentioned  in  this  paper  may  be  found  in  Hamond 
(1961,  1963a,  1963b  & 1969a),  Williams  (1972a  & 1976)  or  Ordnance  Survey 
maps  of  Norfolk.  Our  individual  records  and  comments  are  identified  by  initials. 

Ctenophora 

Pleurobrachia  pileus  (O.  F.  Muller).  Schulze  (1875). 

Present  all  the  year  round,  but  least  plentiful  in  spring  and  most  abundant 
from  July  to  November.  An  enormous  swarm  was  washed  ashore  on  Brancaster 
beach  in  June,  1965  and  it  was  common  west  of  Scolt  Head  in  July,  1974  (RBW). 
Seen  to  shed  ova  in  July  and  August  (RH). 

Beroe  gracilis  Kunne.  Schulze  (1875)  as  B.  ovata. 

This  is  the  common  Beroe  off  Norfolk,  occurring  in  small  numbers  all  the 
year  round,  feeding  on  P.  pileus  (Greve,  1970;  RH).  Most  records  are  from  the 
winter  months  (RH).  Greve  (1970)  gives  photographs  by  which  B.  gracilis  may 
be  distinguished  from  B.  cucumis. 

Beroe  cucumis  Fabricius. 

An  invasion  of  numerous  large  specimens  (6  to  8 cm  long)  took  place  in 
July  1965,  along  with  certain  other  planktonic  species  (the  copepods  Calanus 
helgolandicus  Claus  and  Anomalocera  patersoni  Templeton,  the  amphipods 


58 


Parathemisto  gracilipes  Norman  and  Hyperoche  medusarum  (Kroyer),  and 
larvae  of  a euphausiid,  probably  Nyctiphanes  couchi  (Bell),  which  at  that  time  of 
year  indicate  a strong  incursion  of  the  kind  of  water  found  normally  off  York- 
shire and  Northumberland.  When  first  seen  on  a calm  sunny  day  (12  July)  they 
were  cruising  just  below  the  surface  in  groups  of  up  to  six  within  an  area  of 
approximately  20m  square,  adjacent  groups  being  100  or  200m  apart  (RH). 

B.  cucumis  is  of  an  iridescent  mauve  colour,  whereas  B . gracilis  is  usually 
colourless,  or  at  most,  faintly  pink  (RH).  Both  species  are  extremely  delicate  and 
it  has  not  been  possible  to  preserve  them  or  to  keep  them  alive  in  aquaria  (RH). 

Coelenterata 

CLASS  SCYPHOZOA 

Order  Stauromedusae 

Garstang  (1901)  stated  “Sheringham  has  been  reported  as  a good  locality 
for  lucernarians,  but  I have  no  record  of  the  species  found  there.  A minute 
long-stalked  lucernarian  obtained  on  the  Norfolk  coast  by  Mr.  Geldart  appears 
to  be  a young  specimen  of  Depastrum  cyathiforme , but  the  record  needs  con- 
firmation”. Geldart  collected  decapod  crustaceans  from  around  Cromer  (Ham- 
ond,  1971,  pp.  95  and  105),  so  perhaps  his  lucernarian  came  from  there  as  well. 
At  West  Runton  (about  3 km  west  of  Cromer,  on  the  same  stretch  of  rocky 
shore)  Dr.  E.  A.  Ellis  found,  in  about  1935,  what  appeared  to  be  Haliclystus 
auricula  (Rathke),  but  we  have  not  so  far  found  any  lucernarians  there  or  else- 
where in  Norfolk  waters.  Mr.  P.  G.  Corbin  (Marine  Biological  Association, 
1969)  also  failed  to  find  any  between  Berwick-on-Tweed  and  Sheringham  in 
August  and  September  of  1968,  despite  good  conditions  for  observation  during 
the  equinoctial  spring  tides.  It  may  be  that  silting,  pollution,  or  both  have  ex- 
tinguished these  animals  on  the  east  coast  of  England  (Mayer,  1910,  p.537; 
Marine  Biological  Association,  1969;  RH). 

Order  Semaeostomeae 

According  to  Russell  (1970,  p.ll),  the  following  four  species  are  the  only 
ones  likely  to  occur  here  at  all  frequently,  although  Pelagia  enters  Dutch  waters 
from  the  English  Channel  (van  der  Baan,  1967). 

Chrysaora  hysoscella  (L.) 

Occurs  from  June  to  September  almost  every  year,  most  abundantly  in 
July  and  August;  often  in  Blakeney  Harbour  and  other  inshore  waters  (RH). 

Three  specimens,  15  to  22.5  cm  in  diameter,  were  found  stranded  in  creeks 
on  Titchwell  Marsh  on  10  August,  1975  (RBW).  They  were  unmarked  except 
for  the  brown  marginal  lappets,  one  of  eight  major  colour  varieties  found  near 
Dutch  shores  by  Stiasny  (1927).  Hardy  (1956,  pi. 7)  figures  a more  well  marked 
specimen  from  Norfolk.  Sorby  (1903)  also  found  wide  variation  in  the  pigmenta- 
tion of  specimens  (as  C.  isosceles ) from  Essex  waters.  No  parasitic  amphipods 
were  found  in  the  Norfolk  specimens ; although  Chrysaora  sometimes  harbours 
many  Hyperia  in  the  summer  (33  specimens  of  H.  galba  (Montagu)  were  counted 
in  a 12  cm  diameter  specimen  from  Newton  Ferrers,  Devon,  in  August,  1969 
(RBW).  Chrysaora  was  common  at  West  Runton  in  August,  1976  (RBW). 


59 


Cyanea  capillata  (L).  Pantin  el  at.  (I960). 

Large  specimens  of  this  usually  deep  crimson  to  reddish-brown  species 
may  te  from20  to  40  cm  in  diameter.  Usually  more  abundant  than  C.  ,ama'c'c"’ 
with  which  it  often  occurs  (RH).Sorby  (1903)  recorded  the  colours  of  Eessx 
specimens  as  creamy  white  to  orange. 

Cyanea  lamarckii  Peron  and  Lesueur.  Hamond  (1967b.  p.141)  as  Rhuos.oma. 
The  blue  Cyanea,  rarely  exceeding  10  to  15  cm  in 

^ fiju^ 25SZK  thXrfolV coast  Sorby  (1 903)  recorded  the  specif 
from  Essex  as  C.  lamarckii  and  C.  imporcata. 

Aurelia  aurita  (L.)  , , , • * 

Very  small  ones  are  found  as  early  as  May,  the  adults  being  most  common 

in  June  and  July  and  finally  dying  out  in  September  (RH). 

Common  off  Brancaster  beach  on  29  June,  1974,  and  large  numbers 
possibly  the  same  swarm,  were  carried  into  Brancaster  Harbour  during  the 
following  two  days  (RBW).  The  mean  diameter  of  21  specimens  measured 
22  rcmwiTh  arrange  of  15  to  30  cm.  None  of  them ^contained 

HJam<md^967b^USa/I^cff^b^sral^SbeeneIfound0IneTitchwell 

in  August,  1976  (RBW). 

CLASchIfiK™(?875)Aand  Walton’s  (1908)  stations  are  discussed  by  Hamond 
(1969^  P 214  and  fig. ,).  At  the  top  of  p.214  the  phrase  “p.103  to  p.  114  inclusive 
should  read  “P  105  to  P.114  inclusive”,  denoting  the  stations  worked  by  the 
••Porlerania”iee  Schulze,  .875),  mainly  in  the  Norfolk  marine  area;  station 
P.105,  however,  lies  just  outside  it. 


Sub-class  Alcyonaria 
Order  Alcyonacea 
Alcyonium  digitatum  (L.) 


Schulze  (1875). 


Although  the  “Pommerania”  took  it  only  at  P.106  (Schulze  1875),  the  we^ 
.....  . M i Fincers”  is  very  widely  distributed  offshore  on  stones  and 

dead  shells  (the  latter  mostly  of  the  horse-mussel.  Modiolus  modiolus , as  also 

variety  and  the  rest  orange  (RBW). 

Intertidally  Dr.  Ellis  has  seen  A.  digilalum  at  West  Runton  and  it  is  quite 


60 


taken  from  early  1962  to  late  1967  was  cut  into  thin  slices  and  rinsed  with  water 
(RH).  (The  copepod  hoped  for  was  Enalcyonium  rubicundum,  which  was  found 
to  be  common  in  Alcyonium  in  western  Sweden  by  Bresciani  & Lutzen  (1962). 

Order  Pennatulacea 

Virgularia  mirabilis  O.  F.  Muller.  Schulze  (1875). 

Recorded  from  just  outside  the  northern  limit  of  the  Norfolk  marine  area, 
at  P.105  (Schulze,  1875).  The  seabed  and  its  fauna  around  this  station  are  very 
poorly  known,  and  the  animals  from  P.105  are  therefore  included  in  our  Norfolk 
list,  since  they  probably  do,  or  could,  occur  actually  in  the  area,  given  suitable 
conditions. 

Sub-class  Zoantharia 
Order  Actiniaria 

Nematostella  vectensis  Stephenson. 

A redescription  based  on  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  specimens  has  recently  been 
published  (Williams,  1975a).  Nematostella  used  to  be  very  numerous  in  Half- 
Moon  Pond  at  Cley,  but  less  common  in  Abraham’s  Bosom  and  Abraham’s 
Creek  at  Wells  (Williams,  1973a,  1973b  & 1976).  The  species  appears  to  be  rather 
rare  and  aspects  of  its  ecology,  dispersal,  world  distribution  and  conservation  are 
discussed  in  Williams  (1973b  & 1976). 

Nematostella  is  now  known  to  be  dioecious  and  exhibits  both  sexual  repro- 
duction (Williams,  1975a  & 1976;  Frank  & Bleakney,  1976)  and  asexual  repro- 
duction by  transverse  fission  (Williams,  1975a  & 1976;  Lindsay,  1975;  Frank 
and  Bleakney,  1976). 

In  Half-Moon  Pond,  Nematostella  fed  mainly  on  harpacticoid  copepods 
and  midge  larvae  (Williams,  1976).  It  was  also  obseived  to  feed  on  the  amphipod 
Corophium  volutator  (Pallas),  but  would  not  ingest  the  equally  abundant,  equally 
sized  isopod  Idotea  chelipes  (Pallas)  (RH).  Despite  conservation  measures,  this 
anemone  is  probably  now  extinct  in  Norfolk  due  to  the  effects  of  pollution  and 
drought  on  its  habitats.  However,  the  fate  of  10  anemones  saved  from  Half- 
Moon  Pond  and  moved  elsewhere  when  it  dried  up  in  1975  is  not  yet  known 
(Williams,  1976). 

Actinia  equina  (L.). 

The  strawberry  variety  ( fragacea ) does  not  seem  to  occur  in  Norfolk,  but  the 
usual  variety  mesembryanthemum  is  common  on  the  rocky  strip  of  shore  in  north- 
east Norfolk.  At  West  Runton  (Hamond,  1961),  unmarked  specimens  coloured 
maroon,  light  red,  olive  and  dark  brown  occur,  as  well  as  some  with  electric 
blue  or  emerald  green  flecks.  Many  such  individuals  produced  live  young  in 
June,  1971  (RBW).  Similar  colour  varieties  live  on  the  beach  at  Cromer  and  one 
produced  12  young  in  April,  1973  (RBW).  Breeding  occurs  at  least  up  to  October, 
maybe  all  the  year  round  (cf.  Chia  and  Rostron,  1970).  Actinia  has  also  been 
recorded  from  Gorleston  (Collings,  1938)  and  Corton  (Crisp,  1964),  which  al- 
though in  Suffolk,  lies  within  the  Norfolk  marine  area. 

Tealia  felina  (L.). 

Four  varieties,  lofotensis , crassicornis , coriacea  and  tuberculata , have  long 
been  recognised  within  the  Tealia  felina  complex.  Hand  (1955)  raised  these  varie- 


61 


ties  to  specific  rank,  following  a study  of  Pacific  Tealia.  It  has  yet  to  be  estab- 
lished whether  his  findings  also  apply  to  British  Tealia , hence  we  at  present 
retain  the  name  T.  felina.  Only  the  varieties  coriacea  and  lofotensis  occur  in 
Norfolk  waters. 

The  var.  coriacea  was  found  at  Gorleston  (Codings,  1938),  and  inside  the 
“Hjordis”,  on  the  Reef  and  Threshold,  and  on  Hunstanton  Scaup  (RH) ; offshore, 
single  examples  have  been  found  at  station  Q.2,  in  a whelkpot  at  W.17,  and  in  a 
shrimp-trawl  off  Caister  on  23  July  1959  (RH).  The  var.  lofotensis  was  found  at 
Q.l,  and  is  taken  in  whelkpots  and  much  less  often  in  dredgings  (RH),  whilst 
Codings  (1938)  recorded  it  off  Yarmouth.  Large  brightly  coloured  Tealia  similar 
to  var.  lofotensis , with  sparse  verrucae  holding  no  foreign  material,  occur  below 
low  water  level  and  in  pools  at  low  spring  tides  at  West  Runton  (RBW).  They 
are  distinctly  different  from  the  Tealia  with  well-developed  verrucae  holding  large 
amounts  of  attached  material,  like  the  typical  var.  coriacea  found  in  south-west 
England.  Tealia  similar  to  those  found  at  West  Runton  were  washed  ashore  at 
Cley  in  December,  1974  (RBW).  Norfolk  (and  other  British)  Tealia  require 
further  study  for  comparison  with  Hand’s  (1955)  results. 

Garstang’s  statement  (1901)  that  the  “Pommerania”  took  this  species  off 
Happisburgh  (i.e.  at  P.108)  appears  to  be  mistaken,  since  it  is  not  listed  by 
Schulze  (1875). 

Haliplanella  luciae  (Verrill).  Gurney  (1923)  as  Sagartia  luciae;  Stephenson  (1935) 
and  Ellis  (1935)  as  Diadumene  luciae. 

This  species  (first  introduced  into  Britain  at  about  the  turn  of  the  century), 
at  a given  locality  tends  to  flourish  for  a time  and  then  to  die  out  or  become  rare 
(Stephenson,  1935).  It  has  been  recorded  at  Salthouse  and  in  Weds  Harbour  by 
Gurney  (1923);  in  Breydon  Water,  at  Blakeney  and  in  the  Yare  by  Ellis  (1935); 
and  in  Titchwell  Lagoon  (Williams,  1972a).  It  probably  does  not  occur  any 
longer  at  Salthouse  (Williams  1972a  & 1973b)  and  extensive  searches  on  the 
north  Norfolk  coast  in  1971  failed  to  reveal  it  anywhere  besides  Titchwell  (Wil- 
liams 1973b).  It  did  not  appear  to  be  in  Breydon  in  1975  (RBW),  but  despite  the 
drainage  scheme  at  Titchwell  (Williams,  1972a),  it  probably  still  survives  there  in 
small  numbers  (Williams,  1973b).  Anemones  from  Titchwell  were  used  in  studies 
on  nematocyst  discharge  (Williams,  1968),  prey  analysis  (Williams,  1972a)  and 
chemical  control  of  feeding  behaviour  (Williams,  1972b  & 1973c).  Recently 
(August,  1975),  Haliplanella  has  been  rediscovered  in  Weds  Harbour  (RBW) 
(cf.  Gurney,  1923,  and  a single  specimen  probably  of  this  species  in  about  1948 
(RH));  these  three  Weds  Harbour  records  may  constitute  diffeient  introductions 
on  ships.  A specimen  collected  on  1 November  1975  (RBW)  possessed  catch- 
tentacles,  a very  rare  condition  only  reported  once  previously  for  English 
H.  luciae  (Williams,  1975b).  The  present  Weds  population  seems  to  consist 
entirely  of  males,  reproduction  being  by  longitudinal  fission,  as  at  Titchwell 
(Williams,  1972a). 

Metridium  senile  (L.).  Pantin  et  al.  (1960). 

Orange,  brown  or  grey  forms  of  the  variety  dianthus  weie  found  (RBW)  at 
Holme-next-the-Sea  (on  a beached  barge,  June  1971);  on  the  peat  beds  at  Bran- 
caster  beach  (August,  1976);  on  mussels  in  the  Brancaster  Harbour  Channel 


62 


(August,  1976);  on  the  wreck  west  of  Scolt  Head  (July,  1974  and  August,  1975; 
see  also  Pantin  et  al.,  1960);  and  in  the  mussel-holding  pits  at  Brancaster  Staithe 
(July,  1974).  All  were  small  specimens,  few  having  a basal  diameter  of  more 
than  3 cm  However,  after  the  storm  of  December,  1974,  very  large  grey,  orange 
or  pink  specimens  up  to  8 cm  diameter  were  washed  up  on  Cley  beach  (RBW). 
One  grey  individual  had  two  mouths  within  the  same  disc  and  another  had  9 
catch-tentacles — the  first  British  record  of  (M.  senile  from  the  North  Sea  with 
catch- tentacles  (cf.  Williams,  1975b).  Cod  ( Gadus  morhua  L.)  caught  by  angleis 
off  Cley  beach  sometimes  have  their  stomachs  full  of  Metridium  (RBW).  A similar 
diet  has  been  recorded  for  a black  bream  from  Devon  (Mattacola,  1976). 
Codings  (1938)  found  var.  dianthus  on  Gorleston  breakwater  and  it  regularly 
occurs  inside  the  wreck  of  the  “Hjordis”  and  less  often  on  the  lowest  parts  of 
Hunstanton  Scaup  (RH).  Offshore,  small  brown  ones  are  often  found  on  rocks, 
stones  and  shells,  whilst  large,  usually  pink  or  white  specimens  occur  on  wrecks 
(RH).  Three  Holme  specimens  released  ova  in  June,  1971  (RBW).  The  usual 
method  of  reproduction  appears  to  be  by  pedal  laceration. 

Metridium  is  no  longer  commonly  found  under  Wells  Quay  as  reported 
by  Hamond  (1972),  but  a dwarf  form  with  relatively  long  tentacles  occurs  under 
Wells  Rocks  (RBW).  At  least  some  of  these  individuals  can  be  assigned  to  the 
variety  pallidum , but  further  studies  are  required  to  define  this  unusual  popula- 
tion more  closely.  Further  specimens  of  pallidum  or  intermediates  between 
pallidum  and  dianthus  have  been  found  at  Brancaster  Staithe  and  on  the  Scolt 
Head  wreck  (RBW). 

Calliactis  parasitica  (Couch).  Schulze  (1875)  as  Sagartia  parasitica. 

This  is  a southern  species  whose  northern  recorded  limit  to  the  east  of  the 
British  Isles  is  off  Belgium  (Leloup,  1952).  Schulze’s  (1875)  record  of  a specimen 
on  the  shell  of  a live  Buccinum  undatum  at  P.  1 1 5 (just  outside  the  Norfolk  marine 
area)  must  therefore  be  viewed  critically,  since  in  Norfolk  waters  large  whelk 
shells,  containing  living  whelks  or  hermit-crabs,  may  carry  Tealia  or  Metridium 
(see  below  under  Stomphia ).  However,  Dr.  Ellis  saw  an  anemone  in  a beach- 
seine  (draw-net)  on  the  shore  at  Gorleston,  about  1929,  which  he  identified  as 
Calliactis. 

Hormathia  coronata  (Goss e).  Schulze  (1875)  as  Bunodes  coronata. 

In  the  apparent  absence  of  any  other  record  from  the  southern  North  Sea, 
we  are  inclined  to  agree  with  Stephenson  (1935)  that  the  identification  of  the 
specimen  from  P.108  is  doubtful. 

Sagartia  elegans  (Dalyell).  Pantin  et.  al.  (1960);  Walton  (1908)  as  S.  miniata. 

This  species  occurs  in  small  numbers  under  rocks  near  low  water  at  both 
East  and  West  Runton;  very  numerous  in  the  Threshold  and  as  far  up  as  the 
Freshes  Lays,  as  well  as  on  Hunstanton  Scaup  and  under  the  pier  (RH).  The 
column  of  these  intertidal  examples  (var.  miniata ) is  pale  translucent  pink,  often 
tinted  dark  greyish-blue  at  the  distal  end.  The  colour  pattern  of  the  disc  and 
tentacles  is  extremely  variable.  Walton  (1908)  found  this  species  at  several  places 
widely  scattered  in  Norfolk  waters,  but  within  the  BW  area  it  has  only  been  found 
very  close  inshore.  Records  are  of  between  50  and  60  at  D.26;  a few  at  D.24; 
10  at  D.45;  and  two  small  ones  in  the  middle  of  Blakeney  Deeps  (53  °01’N. 


63 


00°58’30”E)  on  13  September  1962.  Offshore  specimens  closely  resemble  those 
of  the  intertidal  region,  although  they  seldom  grow  quite  so  large  as  those  on 
the  shore.  However,  on  about  six  occasions  between  1953  and  1967,  single 
specimens  which  appear  to  be  the  var.  nivea,  were  dredged  on  rough  shelly  ground 
offshore  (RH).  The  disc  and  tentacles  are  milk-white,  sometimes  with  dull  white 
radiating  lines  corresponding  with  the  mesenteries,  while  the  upper  part  of  the 
column  is  strongly  flushed  with  magenta  fading  downwards  into  straw-yellow 
or  orange  near  the  base;  the  limbus  is  greyish  and  there  are  narrow  white 
longitudinal  stripes  on  the  proximal  part  of  the  column.  The  upper  column 
often  has  scattered  pale  spots  (small  areas  lacking  the  magenta  pigment)  which 
do  not  necessarily  coincide  either  with  the  cinclides  or  the  suckers.  One  specimen 
had  the  base  and  column  dull  reddish-brown,  without  any  pale  spots  or  white 
stripes,  but  with  the  disc  and  tentacles  of  the  usual  pure  white. 

The  record  of  Pantin  et  al.  (1960)  on  the  Scolt  Head  wreck  has  not  been 
confirmed,  despite  frequent  searches  (RBW). 

Sagartia  troglodytes  (Price).  Walton  (1908)  as  S.  undata;  Serventy  (1934);  Pantin 
et  al.  (1960). 

The  only  offshore  record  is  one  dredged  by  Walton  (1908)  at  HX  6.  Intertid- 
ally,  both  the  varieties,  decorata  and  ornata , exist  in  Norfolk,  but  decorata  is 
uncommon.  Fine  specimens  of  decorata  occurred  in  June,  1971  in  the  barge  at 
Holme,  where  they  were  attached  to  stones  under  the  sand  and  attained  a column 
length  of  13  cm  and  a tentacle  span  of  7 cm  (RBW).  Much  smaller  specimens 
occur  around  the  breakwaters  on  the  beach  at  Happisburgh  (Williams,  1975b) 
and  in  Wells  Harbour  (RBW).  The  variety  ornata  occurs  in  Titchwell  Lagoon 
(Williams,  1972a)  (and  it  is  probably  this  vaiiety  recorded  by  Pantin  et  al. 
(1960)  on  the  adjacent  Brancaster  beach  peat  beds);  in  Holkham  Salts  Hole 
(Hunt,  1971);  in  Abraham’s  Bosom  (RH,  RBW);  and  under  stones  at  West 
Runton  (Williams,  1975b),  Wells  Harbour  (RBW)  and  Happisburgh  (RBW). 
Small  specimens  also  occui  on  the  Strond  at  Morston  (RH)  and  Cockle  Bight 
on  Scolt  Head  (Serventy,  1934;  Pantin  et  al.,  1960).  The  record  from  Scolt  Head 
wreck  (Pantin  et  al.,  1960)  has  not  been  confirmed  (RBW).  Reproduction  is  by 
viviparity  (as  in  Actinia ) all  the  year  round  (see  Williams,  1972a;  also  observed 
at  West  Runton,  RBW). 

Sagartia  sp.  Walton  (1908,  p.223). 

The  single  specimen  from  HX  5 could  not  be  referred  to  any  known  species 
by  Stephenson  (1935,  p.392);  Walton  himself  thought  it  was  near  to  S.  elegans. 

Cere  us  pedunculatus  (Pennant).  Schulze  (1875)  as  Sagartia  bellis. 

Records  of  this  species  from  the  east  coast  of  England  are  usually  highly 
suspect.  Schulze  (1875)  gave  no  description  of  his  anemone  from  P.108.  C. 
pedunculatus  is  almost  entirely  restricted  to  the  south  and  west  coasts  of  England 
and  Scotland,  usually  between  tidemarks,  and  is  thus  very  unlikely  to  have  occur- 
red in  the  Norfolk  area  at  all,  let  alone  offshore;  although  it  has  been  dredged 
from  slight  depths  elsewhere  (Stephenson,  1935).  There  is,  however,  a genuine 
record  for  the  Blackwater  Estuary  in  Essex  from  near  Bradwell  Power  Station 
(Davis,  1967);  suggestive  of  local  warming  of  the  water  as  the  reason  for  its 
survival  (Barnes  and  Coughlan,  1972).  Nevertheless,  such  a record  proves  that 


64 


Cereus  might  be  introduced  into  the  North  Sea,  although  the  means  of  dispersal 
is  unknown;  hence,  the  Norfolk  record  from  the  breakwater  south  of  Gorleston 
Pier  (Dr.  Ellis  cited  by  Codings,  1938)  needs  to  be  confirmed. 

Sagartiogeton  undatus  (O.  F.  Muller).  Walton  (1908)  as  Sagartia  viduata ; 
Stephenson  (1935)  as  Actinothoe  anguicoma. 

Among  Walton’s  (1908)  numerous  records  are  two  from  the  Norfolk  area 
(two  specimens  at  HX  4 and  several  at  HX  5).  His  other  records  came  from  north 
of  our  area,  or  from  the  eastern  North  Sea  (towards  the  Dutch  coast  and  Hel- 
goland) where  the  species  appears  to  be  common.  It  has  not  been  found  in  the 
BW  area  (but  see  the  next  species). 

Sagartiogeton  laceratus  (Dalyell).  Stephenson  (1935)  as  Actinothoe  lacerata. 

Small  specimens  are  moderately  common  in  dredgings,  on  stones  and  shells 
in  Blakeney  Deeps  and  near  the  Blakeney  Overfalls  Buoy  (RH).  It  has  not  been 
found  here  between  tidemarks.  This  species  and  the  last  are  very  much  alike,  and 
it  is  not  impossible  that  some  of  Walton’s  Sagartia  viduata  really  belonged  to 
the  present  species  (RH). 

Stomphia  coccinea  (O.  F.  Muller).  Walton  (1908). 

Walton’s  (1908)  record  from  HXi  appears  to  be  genuine,  and  is  from  within 
the  Norfolk  area,  so  perhaps  it  occurs  closer  to  our  coast.  However,  all  of  the 
large  anemones  from  offshore  in  the  BW  area  examined  in  the  hope  of  finding 
Stomphia , Hormathia  or  Calliactis  (q.v.),  proved  to  be  Tealia  or  Metridium 
(RH).  A.  H.  Patterson’s  record  of  Stomphia  from  a Yarmouth  shrimptrawl 
on  29  May  1906  noted  by  Codings  (1938)  was  probably  erroneous;  the  coloured 
sketch  in  his  notebook  is  most  likely  of  Tealia  felina  var.  lofotensis  (RH). 

CLASS  HYDROZOA 

One  new  species  is  added  to  the  Norfolk  list,  and  recent  work  elsewhere  has 
frequently  had  a bearing  on  Norfolk  species.  A review  of  the  distribution  of 
certain  medusae  is  given  by  Edwards  (1968);  see  also  the  additional  notes  on 
Hydromedusae  by  Russell  (1970)  and  the  general  paper  by  Thiel  (1970). 

Order  Hydroida 
Sub-order  Anthomedusae 
Protohydra  leukarti  Greef. 

Found  in  Norfolk  for  the  first  time  (23  May,  1975),  attached  to  small  frag- 
ments of  algae  in  a ditch  just  to  the  south  of  the  sea  wall  bounding  the  salt 
marshes  at  Morston  (RH). 

Cordylophora  caspia  (Pallas).  Hamond  (1967b,  p.139);  Hunt  (1971)  as  C.? 
lacustris ; Gurney  (1923)  as  C.  lacustris  (? — see  below). 

Recorded  at  Potter  Heigham  bridge,  at  Ludham,  and  in  the  Waveney  at 
Haddiscoe  on  waterlogged  wood  (RH);  it  is  apparently  abundant  in  the  main 
pipes  of  the  Yarmouth  waterworks.  A similar  hydroid  was  found  by  Hunt 
(1971)  in  Holkham  Salts  Hole.  It  was  stated  by  Hunt  (1971)  that  Gurney  correc- 
ted his  record  of  Cordylophora  from  Salthouse  to  Gonothyraea  loveni  (q.v.) 
However,  examination  of  Gurney’s  publications  reveals  that  he  merely  listed 


65 


Cordylophora  amongst  other  animals  at  Salthouse  in  Gurney  (1923),  and  listed 
G.  loveni,  again  from  Salthouse,  in  Gurney  (1929).  He  made  no  explicit  statement 
regarding  a mis-identification  and  his  two  lists  differ  in  other  ways  besides  in 
the  hydroids.  Hence,  the  possibility  remains  that  he  found  both  hydroids  at 
Salthouse,  although  this  must  remain  doubtful  at  present  (RBW). 

Clava  multicornis  (Forksal).  Hamond  (1957). 

On  a mussel  from  the  Scolt  Head  wreck,  3 July,  1974  (RBW). 

Bougainvillia  sp.  Redeke  and  van  Breemen  (1904). 

Among  medusae  taken  in  Norfolk  waters  by  Redeke  and  van  Breemen 
(1904,  p.127)  were  Aglantha  digitale  (see  Hamond,  1963a)  and  a Bougainvillia 
species.  The  Bougainvillia  was  recorded  as  being  very  rare  on  the  afternoon  of 
6 August  1901,  in  “the  northern  part  of  the  deep-water  channel”  (i.e.  somewhere 
approximately  south-east  of  Smith’s  Knoll,  in  the  south-eastern  corner  of  the 
Norfolk  area) ; the  depth  at  which  the  plankton  net  fished  was  not  stated,  but  the 
water  depth  was  43  m.  The  identity  of  this  medusa  may  be  deduced  (RH)  by 
taking  all  the  species  which  Redeke  and  van  Breemen  would  have  been  likely  to 
refer  to  this  genus,  and  then  to  eliminate  them  progressively  on  the  basis  of 
known  geographical,  ecological  or  seasonal  criteria  (Edwards,  1964a,  1 964b, 
1966;  Hamond,  1957,  1963a;  Kuhl,  1962;  Russell,  1953;  Werner,  1954a,  1954b, 
1958,  1961)  as  follows: — 

(1)  Nemopsis  bachei  is  found  in  the  brackish  parts  of  large  estuaries  (Kuhl,  1962) ; 
Redeke  and  van  Breemen’s  species  was  fully  marine. 

(2)  Bougainvillia  muscoides  ( = Thamnostoma  sp.  Russell  1953,  p.150;  see 
Edwards  1964b,  p.741)  and  B.  principis  do  not  occur  at  all  in  the  southern 
North  Sea. 

(3)  Although  common  in  the  southern  North  Sea,  B.  superciliaris,  B.  maclo- 
viana  and  Rathkea  octopunctata  are  all  springtime  species,  most  unlikely 
to  be  found  as  late  as  August. 

(4)  The  capture  of  Aglantha  in  the  same  area  by  Redeke  and  van  Breemen 
might  indicate  an  unusually  strong  temporary  push  southwards  by  nor- 
thern water  (see  above,  under  Beroe  cucumis ).  This  would  possibly  push 
away  from  Norfolk  the  south-eastern  North  Sea  resident  Margelopsis 
haeckeli,  which  only  just  reaches  Norfolk  waters  (see  Hamond,  1963a), 
and  might  have  the  effect  of  holding  up  water  which  would  otherwise  enter 
from  the  Channel  and  bring  with  it  Lizzia  blondina.  Both  these  species 
might  therefore  be  discounted,  although  the  time  of  year  is  right  for  them. 

(5)  Such  an  incursion  of  northern  North  Sea  water  would  probably  have  little 
effect  either  way  on  Bougainvillia  ramosa  or  B.  britannica , both  of  which 
are  characteristic  summertime  species  in  many  parts  of  the  North  Sea 
other  than  the  Norfolk  area;  and  would  only  marginally  increase  the 
chances  of  finding  the  Atlantic-based  B.  pyramidata , whose  only  certain 
North  Sea  record  is  from  Helgoland  in  September. 

Thus,  the  most  likely  candidates  for  Redeke  and  van  Breemen’s  medusa  are 
B.  ramosa , B.  britannica , or  possibly  Margelopsis  (RH). 


66 


Trichydra  pudica  Wright.  Hamond  (1957). 

Edwards  (1973)  has  now  definitely  shown  that  the  medusa  of  this  hydroid 
is  not  Lizzia  blondina  but  Pochella  polynema , whose  apparent  rarity  may  perhaps 
be  due  to  its  presence  in  the  plankton  mainly  at  the  same  season  (June  and  early 
July)  as  the  gelatinous  flagellate  Phaeocystis  (see  Hamond,  1961)  which  coats 
plankton  nets  with  slime  and  clogs  their  meshes.  The  planktonic  season  for 
Pochella  is  only  slightly  longer  than  this  (Edwards,  1973,  p.90)  and  therefore  it 
may  have  been  missed  in  many  places  where  the  hydroid  occurs.  Edwards  (1973) 
also  shows  that  both  hydroid  and  medusa  should  now  be  known  as  T.  pudica. 
It  is  possible  that  this  hydroid  might  live  foi  several  years  without  producing 
medusae,  especially  if  (as  for  certain  other  species;  Hamond,  1963a,  p.669) 
the  Norfolk  area  is  only  marginally  suitable  (RH). 

Sarsia  eximia  (Allman).  Williams  (1972a). 

Medusae  found  in  Titchwell  Lagoon  on  30  March,  1970  (Williams,  1972a). 
This  record  extends  the  breeding  season  (as  judged  by  the  occurrence  of  medusae 
or  fertile  hydroids)  from  late  March  to  early  September  in  Norfolk  waters  (see 
Hamond,  1957  & 1963a).  An  unusual  record,  since  it  is  so  early  in  the  year  (c.f. 
Hamond,  1963a). 

Tubularia  larynx  Ellis  and  Solander.  Hamond  (1957). 

Abundant  on  the  Scolt  Head  wreck,  3 July,  1974  (RBW),  where  Pantin 
et  al.  (1960)  found  it  in  1959. 

Zanclea  cos  fata  Gegenbaur.  Hamond  (1957)  as  Z.  implexa. 

Russell  (1970,  p.234)  stated,  “Distribution  includes  Noifolk  (Hamond, 
1957)”.  However,  these  specimens  came  from  54  °08’N.00  °40’E.,  just  outside 
the  northern  limit  of  the  Norfolk  area,  and  may  be  more  appropriately  regarded 
as  Yorkshire  specimens  (RH).  Thus,  this  species  appears  not  to  have  been  yet 
recorded  from  the  Norfolk  area. 

Sub-order  Leptomedusae 

Obelia  dichotoma  (L.).  Hamond  (1957)  as  Laomedea  dichotoma. 

Living  on  twigs  in  Titchwell  Lagoon  (Williams,  1972a),  with  Sertularia 
cupressina. 

Gonothyraea  loveni  (Allman).  Gurney  (1929);  Williams  (1972a). 

This  species  occurs  in  Blakeney  Harbour,  especially  in  the  creeks  (Hamond, 
1957).  All  the  Norfolk  records  are  from  rather  sheltered  conditions.  Also  from 
pools  at  Salthouse  (Gurney,  1929);  Titchwell  Lagoon  (Williams,  1972a);  and  a 
pool  on  Cley  Marsh  on  5 July,  1974  (RBW). 

Campanularia  gelatinosa  (Pallas).  Hamond  (1957)  as  Laomedea  gelatinosa. 

For  the  change  in  generic  name  see  Cornelius  (1975).  Previous  notes  on  this 
species  (Hamond,  1957,  p.314)  were  based  on  few  records  and  were  rather  mis- 
leading. From  numerous  later  observations  (RH),  it  appears  that  this  hydroid 
lives  at  the  level  of  low  water  of  neap  tides  and  below ; it  prefers  situations  where 
the  colonies  can  hang  continually  immersed  in  a gentle  current,  and  can  endure 
a limited  lowering  of  salinity  for  just  a few  hours  at  any  one  time.  The  colonies 
start  to  become  apparent  at  the  end  of  December,  and  increase  steadily  in  size 


67 


and  abundance  until  the  end  of  May;  thereafter,  in  Blakeney  Harbour  (in  the 
lowest  reach  of  Morston  Creek,  and  on  the  undersides  of  boats  and  buoys  in  the 
Pit)  they  die  away,  but  large  fertile  colonies  can  be  washed  ashore  as  late  as 
September  (mostly  in  June  and  early  July).  Unfortunately,  the  years  in  which 
these  large  colonies  have  been  recorded  as  being  cast  ashore  have  not  been  the 
same  years  in  which  the  growth  in  Blakeney  Harbour  has  been  followed.  There  is 
thus  no  proof  that  subtidal  colonies  come  to  their  growth  climax  later  than 
Harbour  colonies;  but  on  the  other  hand,  all  Norfolk  colonies  of  this  species 
may  perhaps  reach  their  climax  later  in  some  years  than  in  others.  Taking  the 
Morston  Creek  colonies  alone,  1962  and  1963  were  good  years,  1964  average, 
1965  veiy  poor,  1966  average,  and  1967  was  a marvellous  year  with  thick  luxuriant 
colonies  supporting  a rich  population  of  the  polychaete  worm  Proceraea  cornuta 
(A.  Agassiz).  The  maximum  height  of  the  colonies  was  25  to  30  cm;  that  shown 
in  Fig.  1 by  Hincks  (1868,  pl.26)  is  about  life-size,  whereas  that  in  Fig.l  of  the 
same  plate  is  very  luxuriantly  branched  and  is  more  likely  to  have  been  about 
one-half  or  two-thirds  of  life-size.  Although  Hincks  states  “natural  size”,  this 
would  be  most  unusual  if  strictly  true  (RH). 

Colonies  on  the  bottoms  of  boats  in  the  Pit  are  yellowish-white,  but  Morston 
Creek  colonies  are  brown,  due  to  mud  and  diatoms ; the  boat  colonies  are  usually 
somewhat  larger.  Boat  colonies,  growing  as  they  do  along  the  line  of  the  keel 
(as  far  down  as  possible  below  the  surface)  of  those  boats  so  moored  as  to  be 
permanently  afloat,  could  never  be  collected  until  the  boat  was  beached  for 
tarring.  When  they  were  collected  (after  immersion  and  exposure  by  at  least  two 
successive  tides),  the  colonies  were  still  alive  and  apparently  healthy,  but  con- 
tained not  a single  Proceraea , copepod,  or  any  other  of  the  usual  animals  asso- 
ciated with  the  same  hydroid  about  a hundred  yards  away  in  Morston  Creek 
(and  elsewhere;  Hamond,  1968,  p.176;  Hamond,  1969b,  p.444).  It  was  not 
possible  to  verify  the  supposition  that  the  animals,  having  endured  one  exposure, 
deserted  the  hydroid  en  masse  as  soon  as  the  next  tide  covered  them  (RH). 

Campanularia  flexuosa  Hincks.  Hamond  (1957)  and  Williams  (1972a)  as  Lao- 
medea. 

Titchwell  Lagoon  (Williams,  1972a).  For  the  change  in  generic  name,  see 
Cornelius  (1975). 

Sertularia  cupressina  (L.).  Garstang  (1901);  Hamond  (1957);  Williams  (1972a). 

This  species  was  separated  from  S.  argentea  by  Hincks  (1868),  but  with 
almost  the  sole  exceptions  of  Hancock,  Drinnan  and  Harris  (1956),  twentieth 
century  authors  have  regarded  them  as  conspecific.  In  Norfolk  waters,  S. 
cupressina  is  one  of  the  commonest  offshore  hydroids,  almost  all  specimens  being 
of  the  form  argentea  (RH)  (cf.  Leloup,  1952). 

Kirchenpaueria  pinnata  (L.).  Hamond  (1957). 

Common  on  mussels  on  the  Scolt  Head  wreck,  3 July,  1974  (RBW),  where 
Pantin  et  al.  (1960)  found  it  in  1959. 

Plumularia  setacea  (Ellis  and  Solander).  Hamond  (1957). 

Found  with  the  previous  species  (RBW),  but  not  recorded  there  by  Pantin 
et  al.  (1960). 


68 


Nemertesia  antennina  (L.).  Hamond  (1957). 

Cast  ashore  at  Cley  after  the  storm  of  December,  1974  (RBW). 

Tiaropsis  multicirrata  (M.  Sars).  Hamond  (1957  & 1963a). 

Russell  (1970,  p.254)  quotes  Hamond  (1957)  as  finding  both  hydroid  and 
medusa  here,  but  only  the  medusa  was  from  Norfolk;  the  hydroid  (Hamond, 
1957,  fig.26)  was  from  off  Northumberland. 

Aequorea  vitrina  Gosse.  Hamond  (1957  & 1963a). 

The  luminosity  of  this  species  has  now  been  shown  to  be  due  not  to  ingested 
dinoflagellates,  as  supposed  by  Hamond  (1963a),  but  to  a substance  manufac- 
tured by  the  medusa  itself,  aequoiin  (Hastings  et  al.,  1969). 

Calycella  gracilis  Hartlaub.  Hamond  (1957)  as  Calycellid  g.  & sp.  indet. 

Calder  (1970)  redescribed  fertile  material  seemingly  identical  with  that  of 
Hamond  (1957)  and  Hartlaub,  although  neither  Hamond’s  colonies  nor  Hart- 
laub’s  were  fertile.  The  possibility  that  the  Norfolk  specimens  belong  to  a species 
that  reproduces  by  medusae  instead  of  sporosacs  (as  in  all  known  species  of 
Calycella ) can  almost  certainly  be  discounted.  With  the  work  of  Werner  (1968a, 
1968b)  every  likely  medusa  in  the  North  Sea  has  now  had  its  hydroid  described, 
except  for  Tima  bairdi  (see  Hamond,  1957,  p.322)  whose  hydroid  will  probably 
turn  out  to  resemble  that  of  Eutonina  (see  Werner,  1968b). 

Cuspidella  (?  costata  Hincks).  Hamond  (1957,  p.308). 

From  the  survey  of  the  distribution  of  Laodicea  undulata  (Forbes  and  Good- 
sir)  by  Edwards  (1968),  it  seems  very  unlikely  that  the  Norfolk  Cuspidella 
belonged  to  this  medusa.  Furthermore,  it  was  very  much  like  the  hydroid  of 
Staurophora  mertensi  (Brandt)  illustrated  by  Naumov  (1960,  fig.  191 — English 
translation;  Naumov,  1969).  As  very  young  Staurophora  are  fairly  frequent  in 
the  springtime  plankton  (Hamond,  1963a,  pp.664-665),  the  hydroid  no  doubt 
lives  somewhere  in  the  area;  but  unfortunately  the  supposed  Cuspidella  was 
sterile  (RH). 


Discussion 

Of  the  species  listed  above,  the  lucernarians  and  Nematostella  vectensis  are  now 
probably  extinct  in  our  area,  and  certain  identifications  are  either  probably  wrong 
(Hormathia  coronata  and  Cereus  pedunculatus ) or  require  fresh  specimens  to  be 
found  before  confirmation.  One  species  ( Calycella  gracilis ) is  now  definitely 
recorded  for  the  first  time  in  British  waters  by  name ; the  others  are  all  well- 
known  North  European  forms,  Protohydra  being  new  to  Norfolk. 

Extensive  ecological  studies  carried  out  on  Nematostella  before  the  last 
surviving  natural  population  at  Cley  was  lost  due  to  drought  (Williams,  1976) 
may  have  provided  enough  information  to  facilitate  controlled  re-introduction 
of  the  species  into  suitable  habitats.  The  Haliplanella  population  in  Wells  Har- 
bour should  be  carefully  conserved  and  studies  are  being  carried  out  on  its 
spread  at  this  locality.  Work  is  also  continuing  on  the  identities  of  the  unusual 
population  of  Metridium  at  Wells  and  the  Tealia  form  at  West  Runton. 


69 


It  is  noticeable  that  the  anemones  taken  at  varying  distances  from  the  coast 
by  the  “Pommerania”  (Schulze,  1875)  and  the  “Huxley”  (Walton,  1908)  are 
not  very  different  from  those  found  in  the  BW  area,  so  that  the  species  found 
within  10  km  of  the  coast  are  also  liable  to  be  found  for  at  least  the  next  60  km 
or  more  out  to  sea  (as  in  other  invertebrates;  Hamond,  1969a).  In  the  outer  part 
of  the  Norfolk  marine  area  there  are  only  two  species,  namely  Stomphia  coccinea 
(substrate  unknown)  and  Virgularia  mirabilis  (soft  muddy  bottom),  that  have 
not  so  far  been  found  nearer  the  coast.  In  this  connection,  it  is  noticeable  that 
the  few  patches  of  muddy  ground  which  occur  here  and  there  near  the  coast, 
although  still  very  poorly  known,  are  basically  composed  of  tough  grey  or  black 
clayey  mud,  very  different  from  the  fine  and  rather  soft  deep-water  muds  that 
are  preferred  by  V.  mirabilis  and  certain  other  species  (Hamond,  1963b,  p.21). 
To  judge  from  the  preliminary  results  obtained  with  an  ordinary  dredge  when 
allowed  an  extra  long  warp  so  as  to  dig  in  abnormally  deeply,  further  investi- 
gation of  the  muddy  and  sandy  offshore  grounds  with  a specialised  dredge  that 
digs  in  deeply,  or  with  a grab,  will  increase  the  list  of  burrowing  species,  as 
distinct  from  the  epibenthos  taken  by  the  normal  oyster-dredge.  Coelenterates 
to  be  expected  in  these  samples  would  be  Cerianthus  and  burrowing  anemones 
and,  on  a microscopic  scale  in  sand  or  shell-gravel,  encrusting  or  sessile  forms 
such  as  the  Microhydrulidae  (Bouillon  and  Deroux,  1967)  and  free-living  forms 
such  as  Halammohydra  and  its  relations  (Clausen,  1963,  1967;  Wolff,  Sandee 
and  Stegenga,  1974).  Probably  few  additional  species  of  planktonic  coelenterates 
can  be  expected  to  be  found  here. 

Acknowledgements 

RH  is  deeply  grateful  to  Sir  Frederick  S.  Russell,  F.R.S.,  the  late  Professor  P.  L.  Kramp, 
Dr.  C.  Edwards  and  Dr.  E.  A.  Ellis,  for  their  kind  support  for  many  years;  also  to  the 
numerous  fishermen  of  Wells,  Blakeney  and  elsewhere  who  have  allowed  the  collection 
of  specimens  from  their  nets  and  pots ; and  to  the  Royal  Society  of  London  and  the 
Norfolk  Research  Committee  for  their  generous  grants  to  cover  the  costs  of  offshore 
work.  Since  February  1974,  RBW  has  been  in  receipt  of  a Scientific  Investigations 
Grant-in-aid  (G54/C/1973)  from  the  Royal  Society  of  London.  We  are  grateful  to  Dr. 
P.  F.  S.  Cornelius  for  identifying  some  hydroids  and  for  commenting  on  this  typescript. 


References 

Baan,  S.  M.  van  der,  1967.  “ Pelagia  noetiluca  (Forskal)  collected  off  the  Dutch  coast.” 

Neth.J.Sea  Res.,  3 (4),  pp.601-605. 

Barnes,  R.  S.  K.  & Coughlan,  J.,  1972.  “The  bottom  fauna  of  the  Blackwater  Es- 
tuary: the  macrofauna  of  the  area  adjacent  to  Bradwell  Nuclear  Generating 
Station.”  Essex  Nat.,  33,  pp.  15-31. 

Bouillon,  J.  & Deroux,  G.,  1967.  “Remarques  sur  les  cnidaires  du  type  de  Micro- 
hydrula  pontica  Valkanov  1965,  trouves  a Roscoff.”  C ah. Bio l. mar.,  8,  pp. 253-272. 

Bresciani,  J.  & Lutzen,  J.,  1962.  “Parasitic  copepods  from  the  west  coast  of  Sweden 
including  some  new  or  little-known  species.”  Vidensk.  Meddr  dansk  naturh.  Foren, 
124,  pp. 367-408. 

Calder,  D.  R.,  1970.  “Thecate  hydroids  from  the  shelf  waters  of  northern  Canada.” 
J.  Fish.  Res.  Bd  Can.,  27,  pp.1501-1547. 


70 


Chia,  F.  S.  & Rostron,  M.  A.,  1970.  “Some  aspects  of  the  reproductive  biology  of 
Actinia  equina  (Cnidaria:  Anthozoa).”  J.mar.biol.Ass.U.K.,  50,  pp.253-264. 

Clausen,  C.,  1963.  “The  hydrozoan  Halammohydra  found  in  Norway.”  Sarsia,  11, 
pp.  17-20. 

Clausen,  C.,  1967.  “Morphological  studies  of  Halammohydra  Remane  (Hydrozoa).” 
Sarsia,  29,  pp. 349-370. 

Collings,  D.  W.,  1938.  “The  Actiniaria  of  Suffolk”.  Trans.  Suffolk  Nat.  Soc.,  4,  pp. 
25-28. 

Cornelius,  P.  F.  S.,  1975.  “The  hydroid  species  of  Obelia  (Coelenterata,  Hydrozoa: 
Campanulariidae),  with  notes  on  the  medusa  stage.”  Bull.  Br.  Mus.  nat.  Hist. 
(. Zool ),  28,  pp. 249-293 

Crisp,  D.  J.,  1964.  “The  effects  of  the  severe  winter  of  1962-63  on  marine  life  in  Britain.” 
J.  Anim.  Ecol.,  33,  pp.165-210. 

Davis,  D.  S.,  1967.  “The  marine  fauna  of  the  Blackwater  Estuary  and  adjacent  waters, 
Essex.”  Essex.Nat.,  32,  pp.2-61. 

Edwards,  C.,  1964a.  “The  hydroid  of  the  anthomedusa  Bougainvillia  br  it  arnica  3' 
J.mar.biol.Ass.U.K.,  44,  pp.1-10. 

Edwards,  C.,  1964b.  “On  the  hydroids  and  medusae  Bougainvillia  pyramidata  and 
B.  muscoides .”  J.mar.biol.Ass.U.K.,  44,  pp.725-752. 

Edwards,  C.,  1966.  “The  hydroid  and  the  medusa  Bougainvillia  principis,  and  a review 
of  the  British  species  of  Bougainvillia. ” J,mar.biol.Ass.  U.K.,  46,  pp.129-152. 

Edwards,  C.  1968.  “Water  movements  and  the  distribution  of  Hydromedusae  in 
British  and  adjacent  waters.”  Sarsia,  34,  pp.331-346. 

Edwards,  C.,  1973.  “The  hydroid  Trichydra pudica  and  its  medusa  Pochella polynema .” 
J.mar.biol.Ass.U.K.,  53,  pp.87-92. 

Ellis,  E.  A.,  1935.  “Miscellaneous  observations.”  Trans.Norfolk  Norwich  Nat.  Soc., 
13,  pp. 505-508. 

Frank,  P.  & Bleakney,  J.  S.,  1976.  “Histology  and  sexual  reproduction  of  the  ane- 
mone Nematostella  vectensis  Stephenson  1935.”  J. nat. Hist.,  10,  pp.441-449. 

Garstang,  W.,  1901.  “Marine  zoology”.  In  Victoria  County  History  of  Norfolk. 

Greve,  W.,  1970.  “Cultivation  experiments  on  North  Sea  ctenophores.”  Helgolander 
wiss.  Meeresunters.,  20,  pp.304-317. 

Gurney,  R.,  1923.  “A  sea-anemone  ( Sagartia  luciae  Verrill)  in  brackish  water  in 
Norfolk.”  Trans.  Norfolk  Norwich  Nat.  Soc.,  11,  pp.434-437. 

Gurney,  R.,  1929.  “The  fresh-water  Crustacea  of  Norfolk.”  Trans.  Norfolk  Norwich 
Nat.  Soc.,  12,  pp.550-581. 

Hamond,  R.,  1957.  “Notes  on  the  Hydrozoa  of  the  Norfolk  coast.”  J.Linn.Soc.  {Zool.) 
43,  pp.294-324. 

Hamond,  R.,  1961.  “The  marine  fauna”.  In  Norwich  and  its  Region.  Norwich,  Jarrolds. 

Hamond,  R.,  1963a.  “Further  notes  on  the  Hydrozoa  of  the  Norfolk  coast.”  Ann.Mag. 
nat.Hist.  {13),  6,  pp.659-670. 


71 


Hamond,  R.,  1963b,  “A  preliminary  report  on  the  marine  fauna  of  the  North  Norfolk 
coast.”  Trans.  Norfolk  Norwich  Nat.  Soc.,  20,  pp.2-31. 

Hamond,  R,,  1967a.  “Hunting  for  marine  animals,  part  3.  Shore  collecting.”  Micros- 
copy, 30,  pp.296-306. 

Hamond,  R.,  1967b.  “The  Amphipoda  of  Norfolk.”  Cah. Biol. mar.,  8,  pp.113-152. 

Hamond,  R.,  1968.  “ Pseudonychocamptus  carthyi  nov.sp.  (Harpacticoida)  from  Hun- 
stanton, Norfolk.”  Crustaceana  suppl.  1 {Stud.  Copepoda ),  pp.  172-1 76. 

Hamond,  R.,  1969a.  “On  the  Norfolk  marine  area,  and  the  offshore  stations  worked 
within  it.”  Trans.  Norfolk  Norwich  Nat.  Soc.,  21,  pp. 209-228. 

Hamond,  R.,  1969b.  “On  the  preferred  foods  of  some  autolytoids  (Polychaeta,  Syllidae). 
Cah.Biol.mar.,  10,  pp.439-445. 

Hamond,  R.,  1971.  “The  leptostracan,  euphausiid,  stomatopod  and  decapod  Crustacea 
of  Norfolk.”  Trans.  Norfolk  Norwich  Nat.  Soc.,  22,  pp. 90-1 12. 

Hamond,  R.,  1972.  “Some  marine  and  brackish-water  copepods  from  Wells-next- 
the-Sea,  Norfolk,  England.”  Trans.  Norfolk  Norwich  Nat.  Soc.,  22,  pp.237-243. 

Hancock,  D.  A.,  Drinnan,  R.  E.  & Harris,  W.  N.,  1956.  “Notes  on  the  biology  of 
Sertularia  argentea  L.”  J.mar.biol.Ass.U.K.,  35,  pp.307-325. 

Hand,  C.,  1955.  “The  sea  anemones  of  Central  California.  Part  II.  The  endomyarian 
and  mesomyarian  anemones.”  Wasmann  J.  Biol.,  13,  pp. 37-99. 

Hardy,  A.  C.,  1956.  The  Open  Sea.  Its  Natural  History:  the  World  of  Plankton.  (1st 
edn)  London,  Collins. 

Hastings,  J.  W.,  Mitchell,  G.,  Mattingly,  P.  H.,  Blinks,  J.  R.  & van  Leeuwen,  M., 
1969.  “Response  of  aequorin  bioluminescence  to  rapid  changes  in  calcium  concen- 
tration.” Nature,  Lond.,  222,  pp.  1047-1050. 

Hincks,  T.,  1868.  A History  of  British  Hydroid  Zoophytes.  London,  Van  Voorst. 

Hunt,  O.  D.,  1971 . “Holkham  Salts  Hole,  an  isolated  saltwater  pond  with  relict  features^ 
An  account  based  on  studies  by  the  late  C.  F.  A.  Pantin.”  J.mar.biol.Ass.U.K ! 
51,  pp.717-741. 

Hyman,  L.  H.,  1940.  The  Inver tebrata;  Protozoa  through  Ctenophora.  London,  McGraw- 
Hill. 

Kuhl,  H.,  1962.  “Die  Hydromedusen  der  Elbemundung.”  Abh.  Verb,  naturw.  Ver. 
Hamburg  (. N.F. ),  6,  pp.209-232. 

Leloup,  E.,  1952.  Faune  de  Belgique;  Coelenteres.  Brussels,  Institut  Royal  des 
Sciences  Naturelles  de  Belgique. 

Lindsay,  J.  A.,  1975.  “A  salt  marsh  anemone.”  Mar.Aquarist,  6(8),  pp.43-48. 

Marine  Biological  Association  U.K.,  1969.  “Report  of  the  Council  for  1968-69.” 
J. mar. bio l. Ass.  U.K.,  49,  pp.1093-1128. 

Mattacola,  A.  D.,  1976.  “An  unusual  diet  for  bream.”  J.mar.biol.Ass.U.K.,  56,  p.810 

Mayer,  A.  G.,  1910.  Medusae  of  the  world,  3 Scyphomedusae.  Washington,  Carnegie 
Institute. 


72 


Naumov,  D.  V.,  1960.  “Gidroidy  i gidromeduzy  morskikh,  solonovatovodnykh  i 
presnovodnykh  basseinov  S.S.S.R.”  Fauna  S.S.S.R.,  70,  pp.  1-626. 

Naumov,  D.  V.,  1969.  “Hydroids  and  hydromedusae  of  the  U.S.S.R.”  Fauna  S.S.S.R.' 
70,  pp.  1-660.  Israel  Program  for  Scientific  Translations. 

Pantin,  C.  F.  A.,  Hollick,  F.  S.  J.,  Joysey,  K.  A.  & Bidder,  A.  M.,  1960.  “The 
marine  invertebrate  fauna.”  In  Scolt  Head  Island  (2nd  edn),  J.  A.  Steers  ed.  Cam- 
bridge, W.  Heffer  & Sons. 

Redeke,  H.  C.  & van  Breemen,  P.  J.,  1904.  “Plankton  en  bodemdieren  inde  Noordzee 
verzameld  van  1-6  Augustus  1901  met  de  “Nelly”  YM9.”  Tijdschr.ned.dierk. 
Vereen.{2),  8,  pp.  118-147. 

Roushdy,  H.  M.,  1962.  “Expansion  of  Alcyonium  digitatum  L.  (Octocorallia)  and  its 
significance  for  the  uptake  of  food.”  Vidensk.  Meddr  dansk  naturh.Foren.,  124, 
pp.409-420. 

Russell,  F.  S.,  1953.  The  Medusae  of  the  British  Isles.  Anthomedusae,  Leptomedusae » 
Limnomedusae,  Tr achy  medusae,  and  Narcomedusae.  Cambridge,  University  Press- 

Russell,  F.  S.,  1970  The  medusae  of  the  British  Isles,  II.  Pelagic  Scyphozoa,  with  a 
supplement  to  the  first  volume  on  Hydromedusae.  Cambridge,  University  Press. 

Schulze,  F.  E.,  1875.  “Coelenteraten”.  Jber.Comm.wiss.Untersuch.dt.Meere,  II  & 
III,  pp. 121-142. 

Serventy,  D.  L.,  1934.  “The  marine  invertebrate  fauna.”  In  Scolt  Head  Island  (1st 
edn),  J.  A.  Steers  ed.  Cambridge,  W.  Heffer  & Sons. 

Sorby,  H.  C.,  1903.  “Marine  zoology”.  In  Victoria  County  History  of  Essex. 

Stephenson,  T.  A.,  1935.  The  British  Sea  anemones.  Vol.II.  London,  The  Ray  Society. 

Stiasny,  G.,  1927.  “Ueber  Variation  der  Zeichnung  und  Farbung  bei  Chrysaora 
hysoscella  Eschscholtz.”  Zool.Meded.,  Leiden,  10,  pp.73-86. 

Thiel,  H.,  1970.  “Beobachtungen  an  den  Hydroiden  der  Kieler  Bucht.”  Ber.dt.wiss. 
Kommn  Meeresforsch.,  21,  pp.474-493. 

Walton,  C.  L.,  1908.  “Actiniae  collected  by  the  S.S.  “Huxley”  in  the  North  Sea 
during  the  summer  of  1907.”  J.mar.biol.Ass.U.K.,  8,  pp.215-266. 

Werner,  B.,  1954a.  “On  the  development  and  reproduction  of  the  anthomedusan 
Margelopsis  haeckeli  Hartlaub.”  Trans.N.Y.Acad.Sci.  (2),  16,  pp.143-146. 

Werner,  B.,  1954b.  “Ueber  die  Fortpflanzung  der  Anthomeduse  Margelopsis  haeckeli 
Hartlaub  durch  Subitan-  und  Dauereier,  und  die  Abhangigkeit  ihrer  Bildung  van 
ausseren  Faktoren.”  Zool.AnzfSuppl. ),  18,  pp.124-133. 

Werner,  B.,  1958.  “Die  Verbreitung  und  das  jahreszeitliche  Auftreten  der  Anthomeduse 
Rathkea  octopunctata  (M.  Sars),  sowie  die  Temperaturabhangigkeit  ihrer  Entwick- 
lung  und  Fortpflanzung.”  Helgolander  wiss.  Meeresunters .,  6,  pp.  159-1 77. 

Werner,  B.,  1961.  “Morphologie  und  Lebensgeschichte,  sowie  Temperaturabhangig- 
keit der  Verbreitung  und  des  jahreszeitliche  Auftretens  van  Bougainvillia  super - 
ciliaris  (L.  Agassiz)  (Athecata- Anthomedusae).”  Helgolander  wiss.  Meeresunters ., 
7,  pp. 206-237. 

Werner,  B.,  1968a.  “Polypengeneration  und  Entwicklungsgeschichte  von  Euch - 
eilota  maculata  (Thecata-Leptomedusae).”  Helgolander  wiss.  Meeresunters., 
18,  pp. 136-168. 


73 


Werner,  B.,  1968b.  “Polypengeneration  und  Entwicklung  von  Eutonina  indicans 
(Thecata-Leptomedusae).  Helgolander  w/w.  Meeresunters .,  18,  pp. 384-403. 

Williams,  R.  B.,  1968.  “Control  of  the  discharge  of  cnidae  in  Diadumene  luciae  (Verrill)* 
Nature,  Lond.,  219,  p.959. 

Williams,  R.  B.,  1972a.  “Notes  on  the  history  and  invertebrate  fauna  of  a poikilohaline 
lagoon  in  Norfolk.”  J.mar.biol.Ass.U.K.,  52,  pp.945-963. 

Williams,  R.  B.,  1972b.  “Chemical  control  of  feeding  behaviour  in  the  sea  anemone 
Diadumene  luciae  (Verrill).”  Comp.Biochem.Physiol.,  41  A,  pp. 361-371. 

Williams,  R.  B.,  1973a.  liEuplotes  alatus,  a hypotrichous  ciliate  new  to  Great  Britain.” 
Trans.  Norfolk  Norwich  Nat.Soc .,  22,  pp.383-386. 

Williams,  R.  B.,  1973b.  “The  significance  of  saline  lagoons  as  refuges  for  rare  species.” 
Trans.  Norfolk  Norwich  Nat.Soc.,  22,  pp. 387-392. 

Williams,  R.  B.,  1973c.  “Are  there  physiological  races  of  the  sea  anemone  Diadumene 
luciae ?”  Mar. Biol.,  21,  pp.327-330. 

Williams,  R.  B.,  1975a.  “A  redescription  of  the  brackish-water  sea  anemone  Nema- 
tostella  vectensis  Stephenson,  with  an  appraisal  of  congeneric  species.”  J.nat.Hist., 
9,  pp. 51-64. 

Williams,  R.  B.,  1975b.  “Catch-tentacles  in  sea  anemones:  occurrence  in  Haliplanella 
luciae  (Verrill)  and  a review  of  current  knowledge.”  J.nat.  Hist.,  9,  pp. 241-248 

Williams,  R.  B.,  1976.  “Conservation  of  the  sea  anemone  Nematostella  vectensis 
in  Norfolk,  England  and  its  world  distribution.”  Trans.  Norfolk  Norwich  Nat.Soc. 
23,  pp.257-266. 

Wolff,  W.  J.,  Sandee,  A.  J.  J.  &Stegenga,  H.,  1974.  “Halammo  hydra  vermiformis 
and  H.  coronata  (Hydrozoa),  new  to  the  fauna  of  the  Netherlands.”  Neth.J.Sea 
Res.,  8 (4),  pp. 407-409. 


74 


ATRIPLEX  LONGIPES  DREJ:  A NEW  NORFOLK  SPECIES 


by  Richard  P.  Libbey 


In  a recent  review  of  the  genus  Atriplex  in  Watsonia  E.  M.  Jones  (1975)  referred 
to  plants  resembling  Atriplex  longipes  growing  near  the  coast  at  Heacham  in 
West  Norfolk.  This  is  a species  closely  allied  to  Atriplex  prostrata  (formerly 
known  as  A.  hastata ) the  hastate  Orache,  a plant  common  throughout  Britain. 
Following  this  report  I thoroughly  explored  the  Snettisham  and  Heacham  coastal 
areas  and  in  September  1975  discovered  further  plants  showing  characters  of 
A.  longipes  but  not  fully  matching  up  with  those  of  this  species.  P.  M.  Tas- 
chereau,  a specialist  in  this  genus,  suggested  after  seeing  the  plants  that  it  seemed 
likely  that  A.  longipes  either  is  or  was  growing  in  the  vicinity  and  that  my  speci- 
mens were  probably  introgressive  hybrids  with  A.  prostrata.  In  September  1976 
further  searches  with  P.  M.  Taschereau  were  made  round  the  West  Norfolk 
coastline  and  in  addition  to  more  hybrid  material,  a small  colony  of  Atriplex 
longipes  was  discovered  at  Brancaster.  This  is  only  the  second  confirmed  report 
of  this  species  in  Britain,  the  first  having  been  found  by  Taschereau  in  Kircud- 
bright in  1975. 

This  note  is  therefore  written  with  the  dual  objective  of  describing  the 
characteristic  and  distinguishing  features  of  A.  longipes  so  as  to  assist  recog- 
nition in  the  field,  and  also  hopefully  to  encourage  members  to  re-explore 
potentially  suitable  habitats  along  Norfolk’s  extensive  and  varied  coastline. 
Since  fruiting  material  is  essential  to  be  sure  of  identification  and  this  normally 
takes  place  in  Oraches  during  September  when  other  more  attractive  plants  are 
nearly  over,  it  is  possible  that  more  time  can  be  spared  to  examine  our  coastal 
belt  in  search  of  these  less  spectacular  plants. 

Atriplex  longipes , although  a maritime  species,  should  not  be  sought 
along  the  drift-line  of  the  foreshore,  whether  this  be  sand,  silt  or  shingle,  where 
other  species  of  Orache,  A.  littoralis  and  A.  prostrata  often  flourish  in  great 
profusion  and  in  bewildering  variety.  Instead,  sites  rather  more  inland  but 
where  the  water  is  still  brackish  should  be  selected,  and  in  particular  those 
colonised  by  tall  vegetation  and  dominated  by  the  Common  Reed,  Phragmites 
australis  {communis).  There  are  numerous  areas — large  and  small — populated 
by  this  grass  which  occur  behind  the  dunes,  in  brackish  conditions,  almost 
throughout  the  length  of  the  Norfolk  coastline.  In  this  situation  plants  of 
A.  longipes  may  grow  up  to  2\  or  3 feet  in  length  but  tend  to  produce  rather  a 
straggly  growth  habit.  In  just  such  habitats,  however,  tall  forms  of  A.  prostrata 
commonly  grow  in  abundance.  These  two  species  look  very  similar  and  frequently 
hybridize;  so  that  plants  showing  intermediate  characters  are  often  more  in 
evidence  than  the  true  A.  longipes ! It  is  this  factor  which  has  no  doubt  led  to 
confusion  and  difficulty  of  identity  in  the  past.  In  Flora  Europaea , Vol.  I (1964) 
this  species  is  quoted  as  ‘recently  found  to  be  widespread  in  the  British  Isles’ 


75 


and  adds  that  the  many  subspecies  and  variants  are  probably  more  correctly 
regarded  as  intermediates  between  A.  longipes  and  other  related  taxa.  Indeed, 
the  limited  experience  on  the  West  Norfolk  coast  testifies  to  the  accuracy  of  this 
last  observation.  We  know  very  little  about  the  distribution  in  Britain  of  the 
species  itself. 


Atriplex  longipes.  Drej.  Two  leaves  from  midway  on  plant  and  one  axillary  bracteole. 


Atriplex  prostrata.  Two  leaves  from  midway  on  plant  and  two  axillary  bracteoles. 


76 


As  mentioned  above,  A.  longipes  is  closely  related  to  A.  prostrata  and  like 
other  species  in  the  group  there  is  considerable  variation  in  leaf  shape,  changing 
noticeably  from  the  base  to  the  apex  of  the  plant.  The  most  reliable  leaves  for 
diagnostic  purposes  are  those  which  are  produced  in  the  midway  region  of  the 
main  stem.  In  A.  longipes  these  leaves  are  narrow  triangular  with  a pair  of  weakly 
developed  out-pointing  basal  lobes  and  a cuneate  base.  The  base  angle  of  these 
leaves  is  less  than  145  ° giving  a leaf  length/breadth  ratio  of  1.3-3. 5.  By  contrast 
the  leaves  of  A.  prostrata  from  a similar  position  on  the  plant  are  triangular 
hastate  in  outline,  with  stronger  out-pointing  lobes,  a truncate  base  with  basal 
angle  of  160  - 230 0 and  leaf  length/breadth  ratio  of  0.9  - 2.0  (Gustafsson,  1975) 
(See  illustrations.)  Unfortunately  by  the  time  the  plant  is  forming  good  fruit  the 
middle  stem  leaves  are  mature  and  tend  to  fall  off,  so  that  care  in  handling  is 
necessary.  There  is  some  evidence  that  A.  longipes  flowers  slightly  earlier  than 
A.  prostrata  and  starts  to  ‘yellow’  while  the  latter  plant  is  still  green. 

The  second  important  factor  which  characterises  A.  longipes  is  to  be  seen 
in  the  axillary  bracteoles.  These  are  elongate  triangular  to  rhombic  in  outline, 
thin,  herbaceous  and  entire  except  for  a small  distinctly  developed  pointed  basal 
lobe  on  each  side.  The  surface  of  the  ripe  bracteole  is  often  strongly  reticulate- 
veined  especially  towards  the  base,  and  the  margins  are  united  only  at  the  base. 
Some  of  the  axillary  bracteoles  have  characteristic  long  stalks  up  to  20  mm.  in 
length.  In  A.  prostrata  the  bracteoles  are  triangular-hastate  to  triangular  ovate 
with  a truncate  to  obtuse  base.  The  basal  lobes  are  rounded  or  sometimes  toothed 
and  are  often  toothed  towards  the  apex.  The  surface  is  smooth  or  tuberculate 
and  lacks  the  prominent  venation  of  A.  longipes.  The  margins  are  united  only 
at  the  base.  (See  illustrations.) 

In  the  preparation  of  this  note  the  writer  is  grateful  to  Pierre  M.  Taschereau 
for  his  help  in  the  field,  with  identification  of  plant  material  and  with  the  detailed 
taxonomic  descriptions  cited. 


References 

Gustafsson,  M.  (1975).  Evolutionary  trends  in  the  Atriplex  prostrata  Group  of  Scan- 
dinavia, 4 Taxonomy  and  morphological  variation.  Lund.  Opera  Botanica,  39. 

Jones,  E.  M.  (1975).  Taxonomic  studies  of  the  genus  Atriplex  (Chenopodiaceae)  in 
Britain.  Watsonia  10:  233-251. 

Taschereau,  P.  M.  (1977)  Atriplex praecox  Hulphers:  a species  new  to  the  British  Isles. 
Watsonia  10;  195-198. 

Tutin,  T.  G.  et  al.  Flora  Europaea  1 : 95-97. 


77 


THREE  YEARS’  MOTH  TRAPPING  AT  WELLS 

by  P.  R.  Banham 


Since  1974  a moth  trap  has  been  in  operation  at  Wells  Field  Study  Centre,  sup- 
plied by  Rothamsted  Experimental  Station  as  part  of  their  national  insect 
survey,  but  manned  by  the  Centre  Staff.  The  light  is  a clear  200W  bulb,  which 
attracts  moths  from  a smaller  radius  than  a mercury  vapour  lamp,  and  the  trap 
is  in  the  Centre  grounds,  beneath  Cedar  and  Holm  Oaks,  with  tarmac  to  the 
South  and  a garden  to  the  North.  Open  country  is,  of  course,  not  very  far  away 
but,  none  the  less,  the  setting  is  urban  rather  than  rural. 

An  important  feature  of  this  scheme  is  that  the  trap  functions  every  night 
of  the  year,  the  catch  being  identified  every  day,  so  it  may  be  assumed  that  all 
light-attracted  species  occurring  in  the  vicinity  are  likely  to  be  encountered.  The 
total  number  of  species  trapped  over  the  three  years  1974,  75  and  76  was  143, 
consisting  of  68  Noctuidae , 61  Geometridae  and  14  of  other  families  (Microlepi- 
doptera  are  not  included).  58  (40.6%)  of  these  143  occurred  in  all  three  years. 
100  (69.9%)  were  trapped  in  1974,  98  (68.5%)  in  1975  and  102  (71.3%)  in  1976. 

A table  of  selected  results  is  given  below,  and  a complete  list  of  species 
trapped  is  appended. 

I should  like  to  record  my  gratitude  to  Mrs.  Joan  Nicklen,  of  Rothamstead 
Experimental  Station,  for  help  with  identification  in  the  first  year. 

TABLE  1. 

1974  1975  1976 

First  Moth  Alsophila  aescularia  21.3  A.  aescularia  27.3  Conistra  ligula  26.1 

Commonest  Noctuid  Luperina  testacea  68  L.  testacea  109  L.  testacea  206 
Commonest  Geometer  Xanthorhoe  fluctuata  97  X . fluctuata  144  Scopula  imitaria  132 
Commonest  of  others  Spilsoma  lutea  28  S.  lutea  18  S.  lutea  34 

Last  Moth  Opheroptera  brumata  O.  brumata  17. 12  O.  brumata  23.12 

14.12 

The  figure  following  each  species  is  either  the  appropriate  date  or  the  total  number  of 
pecimens  caught  in  that  year. 


NOCTUIDAE 


A Agrochola  lychnidis  Beaded  Chest- 
nut 

A Agrotis  exclamationis  Heart  & Dart 
A Agrotis  puta  Shuttle-shaped  Dart 
D Agrotis  segetum  Turnip  Moth 


B Allophyes  oxyacanthae  Green-brin- 
dled Crescent 

A Amathes  c-nigrum  Setaceous  Hebrew 
Character 


78 


A Amathes  triangulum  Double  Square- 
spot 

A Amathes  xanthographa  Square-spot 
Rustic 

F Amphipyra  tragopoginis  Mouse 
F Anchoscelis  litura  Brown-spot  Chest- 
nut 

A Antitype  flavicincta  Large  Ranun- 
culus 

B Apamea  lithoxylea  Light  Arches 
A Apamea  monoglypha  Dark  Arches 
G Apamea  remissa  Dusky  Brocade 
A Apamea  secalis  Common  Rustic 
A Apamea  sordens  Rustic  Shoulder- 
knot 

C Apatele  psi  Dagger 
A Axylia  putris  Flame  Ruxtic 
A Caradrina  alsines  Uncertain 
D Caradrina  blanda  Smooth  Rustic 
A Caradrina  morpheus  Mottled  Rustic 
F Ceramica  pisi  Broom  Brocade 
E Cerapteryx  graminis  Antler 
C Conistra  ligula  Dark  Chestnut 
D Diarsia  brunnea  Purple  Clay 
B Diarsia  mendica  Common  Ingrailed 
Clay 

A Diarsia  rubi  Small  Square-spot 
E Diataraxia  oleracea  Bright-line 
Brown-eye 

E Dicestra  trifolii  Nutmeg 
D Eremobia  ochroleuca  Dusky  Sallow 
A Eumichitis  lichenea  Feathered  Ran- 
unculus 

A Euplexia  lucipara  Small  Angle- 
shades 

A Euschesis  comes  Lesser  Yellow 
Underwing 

D Euschesis  interjecta  Least  Yellow 
Underwing 

B Euschesis  janthina  Lesser  Broad- 
bordered  Yellow  Underwing 
D Gortyna  micacea  Rosy  Rustic 


A Abraxa  grossulariata  Magpie  Moth 
E Acasis  viretata  Yellow-barred 
Brindle 

F Aids  repandata  Mottle  Beauty 
A Alsophila  aescularia  March  Usher 
C Anaitis  plagiata  Treble-bar 
C Apeira  syringaria  Lilac  Beauty 
E Biston  betularia  Peppered  Moth 
(melanic) 


G Hada  nana  Light  Shears 
A Hadena  bicolorata  Broad-barred 
White 

E Hadena  lepida  Tawny  Shears 
F Hadena  rivularis  Campion  Coronet 
E Hadena  thalassina  Pale-shouldered 
Brocade 

A Hypena  proboscidalis  Snout 
A Leucania  impura  Smoky  Wainscot 
G Leucania  lythargyria  Clay  Wainscot 
D Leucania  pallens  Common  Wainscot 
A Luperina  testacea  Flounced  Rustic 
G Luspeyria  flexula  Beautiful  Hook- 
wing 

F Mamestra  brassicae  Cabbage  Moth 
C Noctua  pronuba  Large  Yellow 
Underwing 

B Ochropleura  plecta  Flame  Shoulder 
A Omphaloscelis  lunosa  Lunar  Under- 
wing 

A Orthosia  gothica  Hebrew  Character 
A Orthosia  gracilis  Powdered  Quaker 
B Orthosia  stabilis  Common  Quaker 
D Peridroma  porphyrea  Pearly  Under- 
wing 

A Phlogophora  meticulosa  Angle- 
shades 

G Plusia  chrysitis  Common  Burnished 
Brass 

D Plusia  gamma  Silver  Y 
E Plusia  iota  Golden  Y 
G Procus  fasciuncula  Middle-barred 
Minor 

C Procus  furuncula  Cloaked  Minor 
C Procus  latruncula  Tawny  Minor 
D Procus  literosa  Rosy  Minor 
A Procus  strigilis  Marbled  Minor 
D Rusina  ferruginea  Brown  Rustic 
A Thalpophila  matura  Straw  Under- 
wing 

E Unca  triplasia  Spectacle  Moth 
E Xylocampa  areola  Early  Grey 


D Calothysansis  amata  Large  Blood- 
vein 

A Campaea  margaritata  Light  Emer- 
ald 

B Chiasma  clathrata  Latticed  Heath 
E Chloroclystis  rectangulata  Green  Pug 

E Cidaria  fulvata  Barred  Yellow 
F Cleora  rhomboidaria  Willow  Beauty 


79 


F Colostygia  pectinataria  Spring 
Green  Carpet 

B Colotis  pennaria  Feathered  Thorn 
A Crocallis  elinguaria  Scalloped  Oak 
E Deilinia  pusaria  Common  White 
Wave 

C Deuteronomos  alniaria  Canary- 
shouldered Thorn 

G Deuteronomos  erosaria  September 
Thorn 

A Dysstroma  truncata  Common  Mar- 
bled Carpet 

C Earophila  badiata  Shoulder-stripe 
D Ectropis  crepuscularia  Small  En- 
grailed 

G Ennomos  quercinaria  August  Thorn 
A Epirrhoe  alternata  Common  Carpet 
C Erannis  marginaria  Dotted  Border 
A Euphyia  bilineata  Yellow  Shell 
G Eupithecia  centaureata  Lime-speck 
Pug 

E Eupithecia  linariata  Toadflex  Pug 
E Eupithecia  succenturiata  Bordered 
Pug 

A Eupithecia  vulgata  Common  Pug 
A Gonodontis  bidentata  Scalloped 
Hazel 

B Gymnoscelis  pumilata  Double- 
striped  Pug 

C Hemithea  aestivaria  Common  Em- 
erald 

A Hydriomena  fur  cat  a July  Highflyer 
D Itame  wauaria  V Moth 
A Larentia  clavaria  Mallow  Moth 


E Lomaspilis  marginata  Clouded  Bor- 
der 

E Lycia  hirtaria  Brindled  Beauty 
E Lygris  mellinata  Spinach  Moth 
A Lygris  pyraliata  Barred  Straw 
G Lyncometra  ocellata  Purple-barred 
Carpet 

A Operophtera  brumata  Winter  Moth 
A Opisthograptis  luteolata  Brimstone 
Moth 

A Oporina  dilutata  November  Moth 
D Ortholitha  chenopodiata  Shaded 
Broad-bar 

B Ourapteryx  sambucaria  Swallow- 
tail Moth 

G Perizoma  albulata  Grass  Rivulet 
A Perizoma  alchemillata  Small  Rivulet 
D Perizoma  bifaciata  Barred  Rivulet 
D Perizoma flavofasciata  Sandy  Carpet 
A Scopula  imitaria  Small  Blood-vein 
A Selenia  bi lunar ia  Early  Thorn 
A Sterra  aversata  Riband  Wave 
B Sterra  biselata  Small  Fan-foot 
A Sterra  dimidiata  Single-dotted  Wave 
A Sterra  seriata  Small  Dusty  Wave 
C Thera  obeliscata  Grey  Pine  Carpet 
A Xanthorhoe  ferrugata  Dark-barred 
Twin-spot  Carpet 

A Xanthorhoe fluctuata  Garden  Carpet 
A Xanthorhoe  montanata  Silver- 
ground  Carpet 

A Xanthorhoe  spadicearia  Red  Twin- 
spot  Carpet 


OTHER  FAMILIES 


F Arctia  caja  Garden  Tiger 
E Cycnia  mendica  Muslin  Moth 
G Drepanaria  binaria  Oak  Hook-tip 
A Euproctis  similis  Gold-tail 
A Hepialus  lupulina  Common  Swift 
D Hepialus  sylvina  Orange  Swift 
G Laothoe  populi  Poplar  Hawk 
A Lithosia  lurideola  Common  Foot- 
man ( =Eilema  lurideola ) 


A Lophopteryx  capucina  Coxcomb 
Prominent 

G Phalera  bucephala  Buff-tip 
F Philudoria  potatoria  Drinker 
F Poecilocampa  populi  December 
Moth 

A Spilosoma  lubricipeda  White  Ermine 
A Spilosoma  lutea  Buff  Ermine 


Key  A Trapped  in  1974,  75  & 76 
B Trapped  in  1974  & 75  only 
C Trapped  in  1974  & 76  only 
D Trapped  in  1975  & 76  on.y 
E Trapped  in  1974  only 
F Trapped  in  1975  only 
G Trapped  in  1975  only 


80 


A NOTE  ON  RAY’S  BREAM  IN  NORFOLK 
R.  B.  Williams 

2 Carrington  Place,  Tring,  Herts. 

Recently  there  has  been  increasing  interest  in  records  of  rare  or  unusual 
fishes  from  northern  Europe  with  the  objective  of  amassing  distributional  data. 
A fish  which  has  attracted  much  attention  is  Ray’s  Bream  (. Brama  brama  (Bonna- 
terre)).  During  the  nineteenth  century,  there  were  apparently  only  about  eight 
confirmed  records  from  Norfolk  (references  summarized  by  Mead  and  Haedrich, 
1965).  However,  in  1927  and  1952,  there  were  considerable  invasions  of  the 
North  Sea  (Mead  and  Haediich,  1965),  and  more  recently,  Brama  was  remarkably 
abundant  in  1967  (Wheeler  and  Blacker,  1969),  1969  (Wheeler  and  Blacker, 
1972)  and  1970  (Wheeler,  Blacker  and  Pirie,  1975). 

The  distribution  of  adults  is  virtually  limited  by  the  10  °C  isotherm  and  there 
is  a northerly  migration  beginning  in  April  from  off  Spain  and  Portugal,  around 
Ireland  and  Scotland,  into  the  northern  entrance  of  the  North  Sea,  followed  by  a 
southward  drift  in  September  and  October  as  the  10  °C  isotherm  retreats.  In 
November  and  December,  the  fish  become  trapped  in  the  North  Sea,  and  the 
high  percentage  of  beached  specimens  suggests  that  the  decrease  in  sea  tempera- 
ture leads  to  disorientation  and  stranding,  especially  during  storms  (Mead  and 
Haedrich,  1965;  Wheelei  and  Blacker,  1969).  A fair  propoition  (8-25%)  of 
recorded  North  Sea  specimens  occur  off  Norfolk,  probably  because  the  North 
Sea  gyre  tends  to  throw  them  onto  the  north  coast,  those  that  miss  being  swept 
out  to  sea;  this  would  also  explain  the  rarity  of  Brama  on  the  Suffolk  and  Essex 
coasts.  Table  1 summarizes  data  from  1966  to  1971  (from  Wheeler  and  Blacker, 
1969  and  1972;  and  Wheeler,  Blacker  and  Pirie,  1975).  The  remarkable  increase 
in  numbers  entering  the  North  Sea  during  the  last  decade  might  indicate  some 
dramatic  change  in  hydrographic  conditions,  but  more  data  is  required  to  con- 
firm this.  Recent  reports  indicate  yet  another  above  average  influx  during  the 
winter  of  1976-77. 


TABLE  1 

Records  of  Rays’  Bream  off  Norfolk  1966  - 1971 


Year 

No.  recorded  in 
North  Sea 

No.  and  % 
off  Norfolk 

No.  and  % Norfolk 
specimens  stranded 

1966 

13 

1 (7.7%) 

0 (0%) 

1967 

77 

13(16.9%) 

12  (92.3%) 

1968 

8 

2 (25.0%) 

2 (100.0%) 

1969 

99 

9 (9.1%) 

7 (77.8%) 

1970 

67 

9 (13.4%) 

6 (66.7%) 

1971 

28 

5 (17.9%) 

5 (100.0%) 

81 


Recently  I have  recorded  Ray’s  Bream  in  Norfolk  three  times:  a 45cm 
specimen  on  Cley  beach  on  13  December  1975,  following  a storm;  a 40  cm 
specimen  on  Wells  beach  on  20  November  1976;  and  a 40  cm  specimen  on  the 
marsh  east  of  Brancaster  Staithe  on  21  November  1976.  All  three  specimens 
were  beached  and  had  obviously  died  very  recently. 

I am  grateful  to  Mr.  A.  Wheeler  for  his  helpful  advice  in  preparing  this  paper. 
References 

Mead,  G.  W.  & Haedrich,  R.  L.,  1965.  “The  distribution  of  the  oceanic  fish  Brama 
brama .”  Bull. Mus. comp. Zool.Harv.,  134,  pp.29-67. 

Wheeler,  A.  & Blacker,  R.  W.,  1969.  “Rare  and  little-known  fishes  in  British  seas 
in  1966  and  1967”.  J.Fish  Biol.,  1,  pp.311-331. 

Wheeler,  A.,  Blacker,  R.  W.  & Pirie,  S.  F.,  1975.  “Rare  and  little-known  fishes  in 
British  seas  in  1970  and  1971.”  J.Fish  Biol.,  7,  pp.183-201. 


A NOTE  ON  HOLKHAM  LAKE,  NORFOLK 

R.  B.  Williams 

2 Carrington  Place,  Tring,  Herts. 

& C.  J.  Beale 

“Hopton”,  Grove  Road,  Wells-next-the-Sea,  Norfolk 


Holkham  Lake  (National  Grid  Ref.  TF  883435)  lies  within  Holkham  Park 
and  is  a Site  of  Special  Scientific  Interest  scheduled  under  the  National  Parks 
and  Access  to  the  Countryside  Act,  1949.  It  supports  a large  population  of  wild- 
fowl and  an  interesting  rare  mineral,  vaterite,  has  been  found  there  (Rowlands 
and  Webster,  1971).  Although  now  fresh-water,  Holkham  Lake  was  once  tidal, 
being  connected  to  the  sea  by  a channel  leading  past  Holkham  Staithe.  In  about 
1719  the  Coke  family,  owners  of  the  Holkham  Estate,  had  an  embankment  built 
which  excluded  the  sea  from  the  Staithe  (Purchas,  1965).  This  same  embank- 
ment effected  the  physical  and  biological  isolation  of  Holkham  Salts  Hole,  which 
unlike  Holkham  Lake  has  maintained  a high  salinity  (74-83  % sea  water)  and 
supports  a peculiar  relict  marine  fauna  (Hunt,  1971).  It  was  therefore  of  interest 
to  carry  out  a survey  of  the  Holkham  Lake  invertebrates  in  order  to  ascertain 
whether  any  of  the  original  fauna  had  managed  to  adapt  to  fresh  water  condi- 
tions during  the  transition  period  and  now  survived  as  relict  species. 

The  results  of  this  survey,  carried  out  with  the  kind  permission  of  the  Holk- 
ham Estate,  suggest  that  the  present  fauna  consists  only  of  fresh-water  species 
which  colonised  the  lake  as  the  salinity  fell.  None  of  the  specimens  collected 
showed  any  unusual  morphological  features.  The  specimens  were  as  follows: 
the  leeches  Helobdella  stagnalis  and  Batracobdella  paludosa;  the  water  louse 
Asellus  aquaticus;  the  water  fleas  Daphnia  magna  and  Eurycercus  lamellatus; 
a midge  larva  of  Chironomus  thummi  type ; a phantom  midge  larva  Chaoborus 
sp.;  the  lesser  waterboatman  Cymatia  coleoptrata;  the  alder-fly  larva  Sialis 
lutaria ; the  caddis  larva  Agraylea  multipunctata;  the  water  beetles  Stictotarsus 
duodecimpustulatus,  Potamonectes  depressus , Enochrus  melanocephalus ; the  water 
snails  Valvata  macrostoma , Lymnaea  peregra  and  Gyraulus  ( =Planorbis ) albus; 
the  swan  mussel  Anodonta  cygnea  and  a pea  cockle  Pisidium  sp.  B.  paludosa 
and  V.  macrostoma  are  both  rather  uncommon  in  Great  Britain. 


Identifications  were  by  G.  A.  Boxshall  and  Miss  J.  Ellis  (Crustacea);  E.  G.  Easton 
(Hirudinea) ; C.  H.  Lyal,  P.  C.  Barnard,  M.  J.  D.  Brendell  and  P.  S.  Cranston  (Insecta); 
and  R.  B.  W.  (Mollusca). 


References 

Hunt,  O.  D.,  1971.  “Holkham  Salts  Hole,  an  isolated  salt-water  pond  with  relict  fea- 
tures. An  account  based  on  studies  by  the  late  C.  F.  A.  Pantin.”  J.mar.biol.Ass. 
U.K.,  51,  pp.717-741. 


83 


Purchas,  A.  W„  1965.  Some  History  of  Wells-next-the-Sea  and  District.  Ipswich, 
East  Anglian  Magazine  Ltd. 


Rowlands,  D.  L.  G.  & Webster,  R.  K„  1971.  “Precipitation  of  vaterite  in  lake  water. 
Nature  phys.  Sci 229,  p.158. 


. 


■ 

, ■ 


84 


ADDITIONAL  NOTES  ON  THE  FOOD  OF  THE  OTTER  IN  THE 

BLAKENEY  AREA 


by  Vincent  Weir 
and  K.  E.  Banister 


Introduction  and  Methods 

In  our  previous  paper  “The  Food  of  the  Otter  in  the  Blakeney  Area” — Norfolk 
Bird  & Mammal  Report  1971,  we  gave  the  results  of  a study  carried  out  in  1969 
and  1970  of  the  food  of  the  Otters  inhabiting  the  coastal  strip  between  the  Salt- 
house  Marshes  and  the  Stiffkey  River.  Information  was  gained  by  spraint 
analysis,  by  recording  remains  of  Otter  meals  and  by  observing  the  animals  while 
they  were  feeding.  It  should  be  noted  however  that  although  this  study  covered 
a period  of  two  years  the  majority  of  the  spraint  collections  was  made  during 
1969  with  only  four  collections  made  in  1970,  (January,  February  and  March). 
We  stated  in  that  paper  that  it  was  our  intention  to  continue  this  work  in  the 
same  area  and  to  recoid  water  temperatures  in  an  attempt  to  establish  any  coire- 
lation  between  water  temperature  and  the  absence  of  Eels  in  the  Otters’  diet  in 
winter.  We  therefore  embarked  on  a further  year’s  study  covering  the  period 
from  the  beginning  of  July  1973  until  the  end  of  June  1974.  The  methods  used 
were  similar  to  those  described  in  the  previous  paper.  Spraints  were  collected 
each  weekend  and  the  food  remains  found  therein  were  compared  with  material 
in  the  collection  of  the  British  Museum  (Nat.  Hist.)  by  one  of  us  (K.E.B.).  A 
total  of  1,060  single  spraints  was  collected. 

A maximum/minimum  thermometer  was  placed  in  the  main  drain  on  Salt- 
house  Marsh  about  a quarter  of  a mile  from  the  East  Bank  and  weekly  readings 
taken  (except  for  the  second  week  in  August  1973).  It  was  housed  in  a wire  cage 
and  the  cage  was  sunk  to  the  bottom  of  the  drain.  The  depth  of  water  above  the 
cage  varied  between  3 ins.  - 1ft.  6 ins.  The  day  time  visits  to  the  area  differed 
slightly  from  those  made  in  1969  and  1970.  Special  attention  was  paid  during 
the  study  period  to  the  extent  of  the  home  range  and  population  size  of  the 
Otters  and  this  necessitated  covering  a larger  area  during  the  day  than  in  the  past. 
Otter  access  and  exit  points  at  individual  marshes  had  to  be  checked  regularly 
and  consequently  marshes  such  as  Salthouse  and  Cley  were  not  searched  as 
thoroughly  as  before.  This  could  in  part  account  for  the  small  number  of  instances 
of  Otters’  meal  remains  being  found  during  the  course  of  the  study. 

With  regard  to  sprainting  sites  discussed  in  the  previous  paper,  we  feel  justi- 
fied in  mentioning  two  additional  places  which  seem  exceptional.  One  was  a 
ring  and  shackle  fixed  into  concrete  above  a small  sluice  upon  which  the  animals 
frequently  sprainted.  The  other  began  as  a typical  site  at  the  bottom  of  a sea  wall 
and  had  been  favoured  for  sometime  before  a Mole  raised  a hill  on  the  exact 
spot.  The  Otters  continued  to  spraint  here  but  now  on  top  of  the  Mole  hill. 


85 


Results 


The  winter  of  1973/1974  was  generally  mild  (see  Table  1)  with  no  extremes 
of  temperature.  We  were  therefore  unable  to  gain  any  information  regarding  a 
link  between  water  temperatures  and  the  presence  or  absence  of  Eel  remains 
in  the  spraints.  Unlike  the  1969  results  Eel  bones  were  found  in  all  but  two  of  the 
weekly  collections  during  the  winter  of  1973/1974. 

The  results  in  general  followed  a similar  pattern  to  the  1969/1970  study. 
The  Three-Spined  Stickleback  and  the  Common  Eel  formed  the  bulk  of  the 
Otters’  diet  and  we  estimate,  on  a volume  basis,  that  the  two  species  together 
constituted  about  85  % - 90  % of  the  animals’  food  as  against  80  % in  the  previous 
study.  Eels,  however,  formed  a larger  proportion  of  the  food  than  before,  com- 
prising about  40  % - 45  %,  or  about  half,  of  the  figure  given  for  the  two  species, 
compared  to  a third  in  1969/1970. 

The  remains  of  cyprinid  fishes  were  found  in  ten  of  the  spraint  collections 
and  Roach  was  identified  on  two  occasions  (November  and  December  1973). 
Cyprinids  constituted  only  a very  small  part  of  the  Otters’  diet  compared  to  the 
fairly  regular  appearance  of  these  fish  in  the  collections,  although  only  in  small 
quantities,  during  the  previous  study.  One  explanation  for  this  is  that  during  a 
period  of  gales  and  very  high  tides  in  November  1971,  the  road  drain  through 
Salthouse  and  Cley  Marshes  where  the  Otters  find  some  of  their  cyprinids  was 
flooded  with  salt  water  and  most  of  the  fish,  if  not  all,  were  killed.  It  is  interesting 
to  note  that  the  ten  occurrences  of  these  fish  in  the  spraints  were  from  July 
1973  until  February  1974  and  that  they  were  recorded  in  each  of  these  months 
except  for  January  1974.  In  1969  there  was  a considerable  reduction  in  the  amount 
of  cyprinid  remains  in  the  summer  and  early  autumn.  During  this  period  Cray- 
fish were  frequently  eaten.  However  during  the  recent  study  Crayfish  were  only 
found  twice  in  the  spraints  (September  1973  and  May  1974),  compared  with  nine 
instances  over  the  period  from  the  end  of  June  to  the  middle  of  November  1969. 
We  had  thought  that  this  could  have  indicated  a poor  year  for  Crayfish,  the 
Otters  supplementing  their  main  diet  of  Sticklebacks  and  Eels  with  cyprinids 
in  lieu  of  Crayfish  during  the  summer  and  early  autumn.  However,  Dr.  R.  Ingle 
of  the  British  Museum  (Nat.  Hist.)  who  monitors  Crayfish  population  changes, 
informed  us  that  he  has  no  evidence  of  a decline  in  Crayfish  abundance  during 
this  period.  We  are  therefore  at  a loss  to  explain  the  difference  between  the 
Otters’  diet  for  1969/1970  and  1973/1974. 

Fish  of  other  families  found  in  the  collections  included  Perch,  identified 
on  two  occasions  (December  1973),  Trout  on  four  occasions  (November  and 
December  1973  and  June  1974),  Pike  on  four  occasions  (August  1973,  March, 
April  and  May  1974),  Bass  once  (November  1973)  and  Flounder  once  (March 
1974).  We  are  glad  to  have  identified  Flounder  remains,  for  as  we  stated  in  the 
earlier  paper,  these  fish  are  common  in  the  area  and  there  seemed  no  reason 
why  the  Otters  should  not  eat  them.  Otters  were  also  observed  by  V.W.  on  two 
occasions  eating  fish  which  without  much  doubt  were  Flounders.  Remains  of 
fishes  of  the  family  Cottidae  were  found  in  thirteen  of  the  spraint  collections 
and  in  three  of  these  Miller’s  Thumb  was  identified  (July,  September  and  October 
1973).  The  remains  in  the  other  ten  collections  were  too  broken  up  for  the  species 
to  be  determined.  With  regard  to  Trout,  we  reiterate  our  view  expressed  in  the 


86 


Figure  1 . Eurasian  Otter  (. Lutra  lutra  barang)  (Photo  Philip  Wayre  copyright) 


Figure  2.  Eurasian  Otter  ( Lutra  lutra  barang)  feeding.  (Photo  Philip  Wayre  copyright) 


TABLE  1 


onSooSKo 


87 


previous  paper  that  in  waters  where  both  coarse  and  game  fishes  occur  Otters 
show  a marked  preference  for  the  former.  A noteable  example  of  this  took  place 
on  the  Glaven  River  during  1972.  In  the  spring  of  that  year  many  Trout  escaped 
from  a Trout  farm  on  the  River  and  during  the  summer  these  fish  were  common 
in  the  Glaven,  especially  around  the  sluice  at  Cley.  Spraints  were  collected  in 
May  and  June  and  examined  for  Trout  remains  but  none  was  found. 

The  remains  of  Shore  Crabs  were  found  once  in  the  spraint  collectione 
(September  1973)  and  evidence  that  they  had  been  eaten  was  noted  during  ons 
of  the  day  time  visits  to  the  area. 

Mammal  bones  were  present  in  three  of  the  collections  (October  1973  and 
March  1974)  but  they  were  too  broken  up  for  the  species  to  be  identified. 

Bird  remains  were  found  in  ten  of  the  weekly  spraint  collections  compared 
with  twenty  in  our  previous  study.  As  before  Moorhens  were  the  birds  most 
frequently  eaten  by  the  Otters  and  their  remains  were  present  in  seven  of  the 
samples.  In  the  other  three  samples  the  species  could  not  be  identified.  During 
the  year  only  two  dead  birds,  a Mallard  and  a Redshank,  were  found  which  had 
been  killed  by  Otters.  In  the  case  of  the  Mallard  there  was  evidence  to  show  that 
the  Otter  returned  to  the  kill  the  following  night  and  more  flesh  was  taken  from  it. 

TABLE  2 


1969-1970 

52 

52 

35 

26  3 1 

1 

9 

16 

4 

2 

1973-1974 

47 

46 

42 

10  2 4 4 1 

1 

13  2 

1 7 

3 

3 3 

A comparison  of  the  occurrence  of  certain  species  in  the  diet  of  Otters  in 
1969/1970  and  1973/1974. 


88 


WEATHER  1975/1976 

By  T.  B.  Norgate 


Again  pressure  on  space  necessitated  combining  two  years  into  one  report 
and  to  listing  the  weather  features  statistically. 


Norfolk  Weather  1975  and  1976 


MEAN  TEMPERATURE  NO.  OF  AIR  AND  GD.  FROSTS  SUNSHINE  HOURS 


°C 

°C 

10-yr. 

10-yr. 

10-yr. 

1975 

1976 

Avge. 

1975 

1976 

Avge. 

1975 

1976 

Avge. 

Jan. 

6.2 

5.0 

4.1 

0/11 

2/10 

8.2/15.2 

44.3 

60.9 

40.2 

Feb. 

4.3 

4.1 

3.5 

9/22 

8/17 

10.3/18.6 

84.4 

53.9 

68.1 

March 

4.7 

4.6 

5.3 

6/17 

6/17 

6.7/17.3 

71.9 

116.4 

114.5 

April 

7.8 

7.8 

7.4 

3/11 

3/10 

3.3/12.1 

123.1 

175.5 

152.6 

May 

9.8 

11.8 

11.0 

0/8 

0/4 

.7/5.9 

177.4 

191.6 

184.7 

June 

13.9 

16.7 

14.0 

0/0 

0/2 

0/1.0 

259.5 

276.6 

215.5 

July 

16.7 

18.0 

15.6 

0/0 

0/0 

0/0 

218.4 

316.0 

196.3 

Aug. 

18.3 

16.8 

16.3 

0/0 

0/0 

0/0 

251.1 

268.2 

184.4 

Sept. 

13.5 

13.8 

13.6 

o/i 

0/0 

.1/.6 

167.5 

122.9 

147.1 

Oct. 

9.8 

11.5 

10.6 

0/4 

o/i 

.1/5.6 

116.0 

63.1 

100.2 

Nov. 

6.7 

6.1 

6.5 

8/17 

4/12 

5.8/12.8 

72.0 

62.1 

65.5 

Dec. 

4.0 

1.8 

3.9 

9/18 

16/25 

9.4/17.2 

35.4 

73.9 

46.0 

Year 

9.6 

9.8 

9.3 

35/109 

39/98 

44.6/105.3 

1621.0 

1781.1 

1515.1 

RAINFALL 

DAYS  WITH  HAIL  OR  SNOW  DAYS  WITH  THUNDER 

1975 

1976 

10-yr. 

1975 

1976 

10-yr. 

1975 

1976 

10-yr. 

mm 

mm 

Avge. 

H/S 

H/S 

Avge. 

Avge. 

Jan. 

65.0 

69.0 

53.1 

I/O 

5/3 

2.6/ A 

— 

— 

.1 

Feb. 

14.7 

17.8 

41.1 

— 

1/0 

4. 1/1.0 

— 

— 

.3 

March 

97.2 

15.6 

36.8 

10/5 

4/0 

3.5/.7 

1 

— 

.3 

April 

54.5 

17.7 

43.4 

8/4 

— 

1.5/1. 8 

2 

— 

1.2 

May 

49.1 

24.6 

49.7 

— 

0/2 

-1/.4 

— 

4 

3.4 

June 

37.8 

9.1 

35.3 

1/1 

— 

0/.5 

1 

1 

2.0 

July 

18.4 

35.7 

58.7 

— 

— 

— 

5 

3 

2.7 

Aug. 

1.8 

52.1 

52.1 

— 

— 

— 

2 

4 

2.9 

Sept. 

84.0 

79.4 

48.5 

— 

— 

0/.1 

3 

6 

2.4 

Oct. 

34.4 

111.4 

56.6 

— 

— 

0/.3 

2 

3 

.8 

Nov. 

78.5 

51.7 

84.8 

— 

o/i 

2.2/1. 2 

— 

— 

.7 

Dec. 

37.1 

48.5 

53.1 

2/2 

5/1 

2.7/1.0 

— 

— 

.2 

Year 

572.5 

532.6 

613.2 

22/12 

15/7 

16.7/7.4 

16 

21 

17.0 

89 


For  year  1975 

Max.  temperatures  Highest  ( °C)  Air  8 Aug.  32.0 0 
Max.  temperatures  Lowest  ( °C)  Air  30  Nov/1  Dec.  — .8 
Min.  temperatures.  Lowest  Air  16  Dec.  — 4.2° 

Min.  temperatures  Lowest  Ground  1 Mar.  — 9.6  ° 


1976 

26  June  32.6° 

° 30  Jan.  — 1.4 0 

9 Mar.  —9.4 0 
28  Jan.  —11.1  ° 


1975 

January.  The  mean  temperature  for  Dec.  ’75  together  with  the  following  January, 
jointly,  was  the  highest  for  at  least  300  years.  Rainfall  was  mostly  on  the  high 
side,  especially  in  the  S.E.  corner  of  the  county. 

February.  Despite  high  day-time  figures  many  ground  and  air  frosts  kept  the 
mean  temperature  down,  but  being  dry  and  sunny,  it  wras  a pleasant  month. 

March.  Squally  showers  of  sleet,  hail  or  even  snow  came  in  from  the  North  Sea. 
It  was  the  wettest  March  since  1947,  some  rain  falling  on  almost  every  day. 

April.  Snow  fell  on  8 days  though  amounts  were  small.  N.W.  Norfolk  was  the 
wettest  area  with  heavy  showers  inland. 

May.  It  was  the  coldest  May  since  1955,  the  coldest  night  being  at  the  very  end 
with  3 °C  of  ground  frost,  but  increasing  sunshine  made  some  amends. 

June.  A depression  from  the  Arctic  brought  very  cold  weather,  and  snow  stopped 
play  at  two  county  matches.  More  reports  of  snow  reached  the  Met.  Office 
than  in  any  “summer”  month  during  the  last  87  years.  Scattered  thunderstorms 
prevailed  but  parts  of  the  county  were  very  dry. 

July.  Again  thunderstorms  caused  patchy  rainfall,  amounts  varying  from  under 
12  mm  at  Downham  Market  to  more  than  10  times  as  much  at  Marsham,  much 
of  which  fell  in  90  minutes  on  the  17th. 

August.  The  mean  temperature  was  the  highest  for  50  years  and  the  day’s  max. 
for  the  year,  32  °C  (almost  90  °F.),  was  recorded  on  the  8th.  There  were  1 1 days 
above  26.7  °C  (80  °F.),  a sure  indication  of  hot  weather.  The  heat-wave  ended 
suddenly  in  the  middle  of  the  month,  but  not  the  drought  which  had  just  begun. 

September.  The  month  started  dry  enough  to  complete  a drought  (15  days),  but 
thunderstorms  finally  made  it  the  wettest  month  since  March.  Over  25  mm  fell 
in  many  places  on  the  13th  and  14th. 

October.  Fenland  and  Breckland  escaped  thunderstorms  and  thus  the  rain, 
having  less  than  12  mm,  whereas  other  parts  had  over  40  mm.  Temperatures  were 
reduced  by  fogs  night  and  morning. 

November.  Though  a wet  month,  much  of  it  fell  in  3 - 4 days  in  the  middle  of  the 
month  but  it  was  much  drier  near  the  coast. 

December.  Snow  lay  to  a depth  of  2 cms  (less  than  lin.)  for  a while  in  the  middle 
of  the  month  around  Downham  Market.  There  were  no  air  frosts  after  the  20th 
and  only  slight  ground  frosts,  nor  any  worth-while  amounts  of  sunshine. 


90 


The  Year.  Though  the  year’s  mean  temperature  was  on  a par  with  the  average, 
seasonally  there  were  significant  differences.  Treating  Dec.,  Jan.  and  Feb.  as 
Winter;  March,  April  and  May  as  Spring,  etc.,  the  Winter  of  1975 was  over  2 °C 
on  the  warm  side,  Spring  slightly  cool.  Summer  up  by  1 °C  (thanks  to  August) 
and  Autumn  was  fractionally  below  normal.  Rainfall  was  nearly  60  mm  (over 
2iin.),  about  10  per  cent,  below  average  in  central  Norfolk;  but  thunderstorms 
in  Summer  and  Autumn  gave  wide  variations.  These  ranged  from  over  700  mm 
(28in.)  at  Colkirk  and  Bradfield  to  480  mm  (19in.)  in  the  Fens  and  West  Norfolk. 
Spring  lacked  sunshine  otherwise  the  year  was  sunnier  than  usual. 

1976 

January.  Westerly  weather  dominated  until  the  22nd/23rd  when  it  became  much 
colder.  Air  and  ground  frosts  occurred  each  night  during  the  last  week  and  the 
maxima  did  not  rise  above  freezing  on  either  of  the  last  two  days.  Up  to  12£  cms 
(5in.)  of  snow  fell  during  the  last  10  days,  some  of  which  lasted  until  early  next 
month.  A whole  page  could  be  devoted  to  the  gale  late  on  January  2nd  when  a 
hurricane-force  wind  of  90  knots  (104  mph.)  was  recorded  at  Cromer  and  89 
knots  in  Norwich  where  3000  council  houses  were  damaged. 

February.  Several  days  of  light  rain  and  snow  showers  persisted  during  the  first 
week  and  again  later,  but  the  last  10  days  were  warm. 

March.  A drier  month  though  there  were  several  light  showers  and  some  snow 
during  the  first  week.  The  weather  alternated  between  easterly  and  westerly, 
neither  becoming  well-established. 

April.  A further  dry  month,  the  year’s  rainfall  so  far  being  under  50  per  cent  of 
normal  and  more  than  75  per  cent  of  it  fell  on  the  13th.  The  last  10  days  were 
the  coldest  of  the  month  with  7.8  °C  of  ground  frost  near  the  end. 

May.  Blowing  top-soil  was  reported  during  the  1st  and  3rd  weeks  in  The  Fens. 
Thunderstorms  occurred  during  the  end  of  the  month  but  the  total  rainfall  so 
far  this  year  was  still  75  mm  (3in.)  below  average. 

June.  The  mean  temperature  was  nearly  3 °C  above  normal  and  was  believed  to 
be  the  warmest  June  since  1846  with  a max.  over  31  °C  in  several  places  during 
the  last  week.  It  reached  32.6  °C  (90.7  °F)  at  Morley,  the  highest  ever  recorded 
by  the  Norfolk  Agricultural  Station  in  26  years.  There  were  8 days  with  maxima 
above  26.7  °C  (80  °F).  It  was  also  the  driest  since  1921  and  drought  conditions 
prevailed  for  most  of  the  month. 

July.  Another  month  with  record-breaking  temperatures,  only  one  day  in  the 
fiist  12  failing  to  reach  26.7  °C.  This  figure  gives  an  indication  of  a “good” 
summer.  Thunderstorms  on  the  15th  and  16th,  with  up  to  35  mm  (nearly  l|in.) 
of  rain  at  Salle,  broke  the  drought. 

August.  There  were  more  thunderstorms  at  the  beginning  and  again  at  the  end, 
particularly  during  4 days  in  the  last  week.  Rainfall  was  near  or  above  average 
in  most  of  the  county,  and  R.A.F.  Marham  recorded  almost  125  mm  (nearly 
5in.),  over  47  mm  (nearly  2in.)  falling  on  Bank  Holiday.  Despite  this  there  was  a 
22-day  drought  and  it  was  the  sunniest  August  for  29  years  with  only  one  com- 
pletely sunless  day. 


91 


September.  Intermittent  showers  persisted  throughout  the  month  with  six  thun- 
dery days  in  the  second  half.  The  Fen  District  was  the  driest  with  just  over  50  mm 
and  Houghton,  near  Walsingham,  the  wettest  with  a total  of  over  152  mm. 
(6in.). 

October.  It  was  a wet  month  with  rain  falling  on  23  days,  and  with  thunderstorms 
at  the  beginning.  Amounts  of  rainfall  were  very  uneven,  varying  from  90  mm 
(3|in.)  near  Norwich  to  over  160  mm  (6^in.)  in  the  Northrepps  area.  During  the 
last  week  of  the  month  there  were  5 consecutive  sunless  days,  the  first  time  since 
March. 

November.  This  was  a dreary  month  but  fairly  dry  so  far  as  rain  measurement 
was  concerned.  But  there  was  little  “dry”  in  the  ground  which  restricted  farm 
work.  The  barometer  was  well  below  1013  mb.  (30in.)  for  the  fiist  half  of  the 
month  and  below  980  mb.  (29in.)  at  the  very  end,  dropping  at  the  rate  ot  2mb. 
(.06in.)  per  hour.  Despite  this  there  was  little  wind  and  fogs  were  frequent. 

December.  The  coldest  month  of  the  year  yielded  17  air  frosts  and  26  on  the 
ground.  The  mean  temperature  was  \ °C  cooler  than  the  last  cold  December  of 
1968  and  .1  °C  warmer  than  Dec.  1962.  Slight  snow  showers  in  the  second  half 
of  the  month  did  not  last  long.  The  mean  ground  temperature  was  — .5  °C  for 
the  month,  unusually  low,  and  Morley  recorded  surprisingly  low  mean  earth 
temperatuies  at  various  depths:  lOcms  (4in.)  .4°C;  20  cms  (8in.)  .7°C  and  at 
30  cms  (12in.)  1.8  °C. 


The  Year 

Winter  1975/76.  With  the  same  definitions  for  seasons  as  before,  Winter,  though 
cooler  than  last  year,  was  still  |°C  above  the  recent  average.  Rainfall  was 
almost  identical  with  last  year’s,  i.e.  about  20  per  cent  down,  while  sunshine  was 
rather  lower  than  last  year,  but  still  nearly  10  per  cent  above  normal. 

Spring.  The  mean  temperature  was  only  just  above  average  while  sunshine  was 
about  8 per  cent  above.  Rainfall  was  noticeably  low,  more  than  50  per  cent  down. 

Summer.  Rainfall  being  30  per  cent  below  normal,  the  drought  was  made  more 
serious  as  it  followed  an  even  drier  spring.  A mean  temperature  2°C  above 
average,  coupled  with  outstandingly  high  sunshine  hours  made  it  a memorable 
summer.  Almost  half  the  year’s  sunshine  total  was  recorded  during  the  three 
summer  months  and  was  over  60  per  cent  above  average.  It  is  reckoned  that  the 
sun  shone  for  59  per  cent  of  the  possible  number  of  hours  for  this  latitude. 

Autumn.  This  season  made  some  amends  for  the  lack  of  rainfall,  being  over  50 
per  cent  above  normal,  though  overall  the  year’s  total  was  still  about  1 1 per  cent 
on  the  low  side.  Most  of  the  restrictions  on  water  consumption  were  able  to  be 
lifted.  Temperatures  were  just  about  normal  and  sunshine  was  a mere  5 per  cent 
down. 


92 


1976  Summary.  This  year  has  been  such  an  unusual  one  with  so  many  broken 
records.  Everyone  will  remember  the  summer  drought  and  heat-wave.  Dry 
conditions  began  even  towards  the  end  of  January,  and  by  June  the  hist  three 
official  summer  droughts  was  experienced.  It  has  been  reckoned  that  by  the  end 
of  August  it  was  the  driest  three-month  spell  for  250  years,  or  even  longer.  Dried- 
up  reservoirs  and  a serious  drop  in  the  water-table  were  general. 

Coupled  with  the  drought,  1976  was  the  warmest  and  sunniest  summer  this 
century.  There  were  24  days  with  temperatures  reaching  26.7  °C  (80  °F)  which 
compares  with  14  days  in  1975 — in  itself  considered  to  have  been  a “good” 
summer. 


93 


NOTES  TO  CONTRIBUTORS 


1.  All  manuscipts  submitted  for  publication  should  be 
sent  to  Dr.  E.  A.  Ellis,  Wheatfen  Broad,  Surlingham, 
Norwich. 

2.  Manuscripts  should  be  typed  double  spaced  on  one 
side  of  the  paper.  Latin  names  of  genera  and  species 
should  be  underlined.  Dates  should  be  in  the  form 
1 January  1972.  Text  figures  should  be  referred  to  as 
Fig.  1,  etc. 

3.  All  Latin  names  should  be  followed  by  the  authority 
when  the  name  is  first  mentioned  in  the  text  or  table. 

4.  References  should  be  in  alphabetical  order  at  the  end 
of  the  paper,  in  the  form  of : 

Bloomfield,  E.  N.,  1905.  Fauna  and  flora  of  Norfolk. 
Trans.  Norfolk  & Nor.  Nat.  Soc.,  8.  117-37. 

5.  Tables  should  be  set  on  separate  sheets  and  numbered 
in  arabic  numerals. 

6.  Drawings  should  be  in  jet-black  indian  ink.  Shading 
should  be  in  lines  or  dots  but  not  in  half-tone  washes. 

7.  Page-proofs  only  will  be  sent.  They  should  be  returned 
with  the  least  possible  delay,  and  the  minimum  of  essential 
correction  should  be  made. 

8.  Authors  are  supplied  with  15  offprints  gratis.  Addi- 
tional copies  may  be  ordered  when  the  proofs  are  returned. 


Printed  by  H.  G.  Stone  & Co.  (Printers)  Ltd.,  Wymondham,  Norfolk 


SIORFOLK 

Bird  & Mammal 
Report  1976 


Published  by  The  Norfolk  Naturalists  Trust 
md  The  Norfolk  & Norwich  Naturalists  Society 


Vol.  24  Part  3 


Norfolk  Naturalists’  Trust  Properties 


Date 


Acquired 

Acreage 

Status* 

1926 

On  the  Coast 

Cley  Marshes  . . 

435 

Gift 

S.S.S.I.t 

1937 

Duchess’s  Pightle,  Burnham  Overy 

1 

Gift 

1937 

Great  and  Little  Eye,  Salthouse 

10 

Purchased 

S.S.S.I. 

1945 

East  End  of  Scolt  Island 

, , 

76 

Purchased 

N.N.R. 

1955 

The  Eye,  Salthouse 

21 

Purchased 

S.S.S.I. 

1965 

Holme  Dunes  . . 

. . 

400 

Purchased,  Gift 

S.S.S.I. 

1971 

Salthouse  Marshes 

200 

& Agreement 
Agreement 

S.S.S.I. 

1928 

Broadland 

Starch  Grass  (Martham) 

43i 

Purchased  & Gift 

S.S.S.I. 

and  1974 

1930  Alderfen  Broad 

72 

Purchased 

S.S.S.I. 

1945 

Hickling  Broad  . . 

861 

Purchased 

N.N.R. 

and  1969 

1945  „ „ . . 

500 

Leased 

N.N.R. 

1945 

Barton  Broad  . . 

355 

Half  Gift  & 

S.S.S.I. 

1952 

»»  »» 

Half  Purchased 

S.S.S.I. 

1948 

Surlingham  Broad 

253 

Purchased 

S.S.S.I. 

1949 

Ranworth  Broad 

124 

Gift 

N.N.R. 

1949 

Cockshoot  Broad 

12 

Gift 

N.N.R. 

1964 

Firs  Marsh,  Burgh  St.  Peter 

2i 

Leased 

— 

1971 

Martham  Broad 

103 

Leased 

S.S.S.I. 

1972 

Hardley  Flood 

90 

Leased 

— 

1972 

Chedgrave  Common  . . 

10 

Leased 

— 

1974 

Barton  Marshes. . 

m 

Gift 

— 

1938 

Breckland 

East  Wretham  Heath 

362 

Purchased  & Gift 

S.S.S.I. 

1942 

Weeting  Heath 

, # 

, , 

343 

Gift 

N.N.R. 

1949 

Thetford  Heath 

•• 

250 

Gift 

N.N.R. 

1957 

Other  Areas 
Thursford  Woods 

25 

Gift 

1960 

Hethel  Old  Thom 

£ 

Gift 

— 

1961 

Seaming  Fen 

• • 

10i 

Gift 

S.S.S.I. 

1962 

Hockham  Fen  (Cranberry  Rough) 

20 

Purchased 

S.S.S.I. 

1963 

Roydon  Common 

, , 

140 

Purchased 

S.S.S.I. 

1966 

Stoke  Ferry  Fen 

# . 

25 

Agreement 

S.S.S.I. 

1968 

Lenwade  Water 

, # 

37 

Agreement 



1968 

Dickleburgh  Pightle 

. . 

1 

Agreement 

— 

1972 

Smallburgh  Fen. . 

19 

Leased 

S.S.S.I. 

1972 

Ringstead  Downs 

• . 

26 

Agreement 

S.S.S.I. 

(Continued  on  inside  back  cover) 


Norfolk  Bird  Report  - 1976 

Editor:  Michael  J.  Seago 

County  Recorder:  D.  A.  Dorling 


Editorial  Assistants:  P.  R.  Allard,  A.  D.  Boote,  J.  F.  W.  Bruhn,  G. 
and  Dr.  M.  P.  Taylor 

E.  Dunmore 

Editorial 

96-98 

Black-throated  Thrush,  vagrant  from  the  Taiga  Forest 

99-100 

Ringing  Report 

100-  104 

Classified  Notes 

104-121 

Contributors 

122 

Norfolk  Mammal  Report  - 1976 

Editor:  Rex  Hancy 

Editorial 

123  - 124 

Classified  Notes 

125  - 129 

Otters  in  Norfolk 

130-134 

Contributors 

134 

Published  by 

THE  NORFOLK  NATURALISTS  TRUST,  72  The  Close,  Norwich  NR1  4DF 
(Telephone  25540) 
and 

THE  NORFOLK  & NORWICH  NATURALISTS  SOCIETY,  Castle  Museum, 
Norwich  ( Transactions  Volume  24  Part  3) 


95 


NORFOLK 

BIRD 
REPORT 

1976 

Editorial 

The  Council  of  the  Norfolk  Naturalists  Trust,  in  co-operation  with  the  Norfolk 
and  Norwich  Naturalists’  Society,  is  pleased  to  present  the  annual  report  on  the 
birds  of  Norfolk. 

Review  of  the  Year.  In  the  early  months  of  the  year  short  cold  spells  frequently 
benefit  Norfolk  birdwatchers  (as  opposed  to  prolonged  periods  of  cold  which  the 
County  has  fortunately  not  experienced  for  a number  of  years).  Such  conditions 
often  attract  an  influx  of  birds  from  the  continent  and  also  result  in  maritime 
species  appearing  inland.  This  happened  in  1976  with  a noticeable  increase  in 
species  such  as  Goosander  and  Smew  at  the  beginning  of  February ; Ormesby  and 
Filby  Broads  were  well  visited  during  this  period  with  excellent  views  being  obtained 
of  Great  Northern  Diver  and  Red-necked  Grebe. 

The  highlight  of  the  winter  and  possibly  the  most  surprising  event  of  the  year 
was  the  discovery  of  a male  Black-throated  Thrush  at  Coltishall  on  Feb.  21st 
which  stayed  until  April  3rd.  Bird-watchers  from  all  parts  of  the  country  came  to 
see  the  bird  which  was  remarkably  tame.  Despite  the  cold  spell  earlier  in  the 
month  it  is  more  likely  that  it  had  arrived  the  previous  October  with  other  Asiatic 
vagrants. 

In  recent  years  spring,  as  far  as  the  bird-watching  calender  is  concerned,  has 
been  relatively  late  in  reaching  Norfolk  and  1976  was  no  exception.  There  was  a 
predominence  of  cold  easterly  winds  in  both  March  and  April  and  summer  migrants 
were  slow  to  arrive,  especially  on  the  coast.  However,  in  compensation  winter 
visitors  were  still  in  evidence  up  to  the  end  of  April  including  both  Goshawk  and 
Red  Kite. 

The  main  arrival  of  summer  visitors,  and  passage  migrants,  occurred  in  May. 
As  usual  this  month  produced  an  interesting  selection  of  vagrants  including  Purple 
Heron,  Glossy  Ibis,  Black  Kite,  Red-footed  Falcon,  Great  Snipe  and  Serin.  Most 
rarities  during  May  are  rarely  seen  for  more  than  one  day  but  the  Great  Snipe  at 
Hardley  Flood  for  four  days  was  a noticeable  exception,  giving  many  observers 
very  close  views  from  one  of  the  hides. 

The  most  interesting  record  in  June  was  a Lesser  Golden  Plover  at  Breydon. 
Whereas  most  records  of  this  species  in  this  country  relate  to  individuals  on  grass- 
land this  bird  remained  entirely  on  the  mudflats,  mostly  in  the  company  of  a small 
flock  of  Grey  Plovers. 

The  breeding  success  of  the  County  ‘specialities’  was  somewhat  variable.  The 
most  worrying  tend,  however,  was  the  dramatic  decline  in  the  number  of  ‘booming’ 
Bitterns. 


96 


Apart  from  a Roller  in  the  Brecks,  July  was  a generally  uneventful  month, 
characterised  as  usual  by  the  main  commencement  of  the  autumn  wader  passage. 

The  second  half  of  August  and  September  produced,  compared  with  recent 
years,  an  above-average  number  of  ‘falls’  of  continental  passage  migrants  on  the 
north  and  east  coasts.  Wrynecks  were  much  in  evidence  and  the  variety  of  migrants 
included  4 Aquatic  and  3 Greenish  Warblers.  Other  vagrants  seen  during  this  period 
included  Fan-tailed  Warbler  (the  first  British  record),  Bonelli’s  Warbler,  Radde’s 
Warbler  (a  very  early  date  and  the  first  record  of  this  species  on  the  east  Norfolk 
coast),  Lesser  Grey  Shrike,  Tawny  Pipit  and  Little  Bunting.  Rare  waders  were 
virtually  absent  in  the  autumn  apart  from  Great  Snipe,  with  3 further  records, 
obviously  arriving  in  association  with  other  continental  migrants. 

There  were  several  noticeable  sea-watches  in  the  autumn  for  those  dedicated 
few  observers  brave  enough  to  face  the  onshore  gales.  Several  high  counts  of 
Shearwaters,  Skuas  and  Little  Gulls  were  obtained. 

As  opposed  to  1975,  October  was  generally  disappointing  owing  to  the  lack 
of  easterly  winds.  Nevertheless  a number  of  vagrants  were  seen  including  a Roller, 
single  Savi’s  and  Arctic  Warblers,  and  Richard’s  Pipit.  The  ‘hoped-for’  fall  of 
Asiatic  vagrants  eventually  occurred  at  the  end  of  October  when  3 Pallas’  Warblers, 
an  Olive-backed  Pipit,  and  two  Tawny  Pipits  (of  one  of  the  eastern  races)  were 
seen.  Two  observers  were  also  fortunate  to  see  two  Cranes  land  briefly  at  Holkham 
during  this  period.  The  late  autumn  was  also  noticeable  for  the  lack  of  immigrant 
Redwings  and  Fieldfares,  which  arrived  in  considerably  smaller  numbers  than 
normal,  a situation  which  still  applied  at  the  year’s  end.  In  contrast  the  end  of 
December  saw  the  arrival  of  considerable  numbers  of  Wigeon  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  County,  following  south-easterly  gales. 

Acknowledgements:  Thanks  are  due  to  G.M.S.  Easy  for  the  Black-throated  Thrush 
cover  drawing  and  for  text  illustrations ; also  to  Dr.  A.  Beaumont,  R.  J.  Chandler, 
A.  L.  Howes,  R.  Ludford,  R.  Powley  and  D.  I.  M.  Wallace  for  photographs  and 
vignettes;  to  Holme  Bird  Observatory  N.O.A.  for  access  to  their  records,  to  the 
Norfolk  Naturalists  Trust  Wardens;  to  the  National  Trust  (Blakeney  Point); 
to  the  Nature  Conservancy  (Scolt  Head,  Holkham,  Bure  Marshes  (Woodbastwick) 
and  Hoveton  Great  Broad);  to  the  Cambridge  Bird  Club;  to  the  Gt.  Yarmouth 


An  Olive-backed  Pipit  remained  at  Holkham 
five  days.  It  is  the  second  county  record. 


97 


Naturalists  Society ; to  D.  A.  Dorling  and  P.  R.  Allard  (for  compiling  the  annual 
record  cards);  to  Mrs.  M.  Dorling,  J.  T.  Fenton;  P.  D.  Kirby,  Mrs.  P.  A.  Rix 
and  Mrs.  M.  J.  Seago  for  valuable  assistance  and  to  all  other  contributors. 
Recording.  Records  for  the  1977  Report  (including  field  descriptions  of  rarities) 
should  be  sent  by  the  end  of  January  to  Michael  J.  Seago,  33  Acacia  Road,  Thorpe 
St.  Andrew,  Norwich  NR7  OPP.  Contributors  are  requested  to  submit  notes  in  the 
order  followed  in  B.T.O.  Guide  1 3 (A  Species  List  of  British  and  Irish  Birds).  In  order 
to  minimise  the  work  involved,  records  will  not  normally  be  acknowledged.  The 
names  of  all  contributors  will  be  included  in  the  Report.  Following  boundary  ad- 
justments in  April  1974,  this  Report  includes  records  from  localities  formerly  appear- 
ing in  the  Suffolk  Bird  Report.  Following  the  notification  of  the  establishment  of  a 
County  Records  Committee  in  the  1975  Bird  and  Mammal  Report,  the  Committee 
has  considered  all  submitted  records  of  semi-rare  birds  seen  in  the  County  in  1976. 
The  response  for  descriptions  has  been  most  encouraging  and  where  no  details 
accompanied  submitted  records,  ‘follow-up’  letters  asking  for  such  details  resulted 
in  only  three  negative  replies. 

Nevertheless  the  Committee  would  particularly  request  that  where  records  of 
birds  are  submitted,  and  also  seen  by  other  observers,  that  the  names  of  the  other 
observers  should  also  be  submitted  if  known.  Whilst  many  birdwatchers  visit  the 
County  at  week-ends  and  on  holidays  only  a relatively  small  proportion  submit  any 
records  (a  situation  which  hopefully  will  improve).  In  considering  records  for 
1976  several  instances  occurred  where  a description  was  requested,  only  to  ascertain 
that  the  bird  in  question  was  seen  by  many  other  observers. 

In  view  of  the  ornithological  attraction  of  the  County  and  the  number  of 
observers  who  kindly  submit  records,  the  Committee  has  had,  by  necessity,  to  be 
selective  in  asking  for  written  descriptions.  In  the  1975  report  it  was  stated  that 
such  descriptions  are  required  unless  the  bird  or  birds  were  seen  by  three  or  more 
observers.  Having  had  the  opportunity  of  assessing  1976  records  in  this  context 
it  is  not  proposed  to  alter  this  general  rule.  However,  it  must  be  stressed  that  not 
all  birdwatchers  who  visit  well-watched  localities  such  as  Cley  are  experienced  in 
identifying  certain  problematical  species  and  the  Committee,  in  the  future,  will 
continue  to  ask  for  further  details  in  certain  instances.  This  situation  occurred  in 
a small  number  of  cases  concerning  1976  records  and  in  two  instances  the  Com- 
mittee reluctantly  determined  that  the  written  descriptions  were  not  acceptable. 

Having  regard  to  the  total  number  of  descriptions  submitted  only  a very  small 
proportion  was  rejected.  The  Committee  felt  that  only  in  a few  instances  had  birds 
been  misidentified ; in  most  cases  it  was  concluded  that  the  written  descriptions 
were  inadequate  to  positively  identify  the  particular  species.  For  example,  in  the 
case  of  Black-throated  and  Great  Northern  Divers  and  Pomarine  Skua,  records 
were  rejected  as  the  birds  were  apparently  only  identified  on  the  basis  of  their  size 
in  flight.  With  no  other  species  nearby  for  comparison,  size  can  be  deceptive  and 
can  lead  to  misidentification.  Sooty  Shearwaters,  especially  if  identified  at  long 
range,  can  be  confused  with  dark-phase  or  immature  Artie  Skuas,  especially  if  the 
latter  species  is  seen  in  gale  conditions  when  their  method  of  flight  is  similar  to  a 
Shearwater.  Whilst  most  records  of  birds  of  prey  included  details  of  plumage,  few 
included  any  reference  to  their  method  of  flight,  wing  action  etc. ; these  factors  can 
help  to  positively  identify  one  species  from  another. 

In  relation  to  records  for  1977  and  thereafter  observers  are  requested  to  enclose 
written  descriptions  where  necessary  of  those  species  listed  in  the  1975  report  with 
their  records,  in  order  to  reduce  the  administrative  burden  and  cost  of  postage  in 
requesting  further  details. 


98 


Largest  numbers  of  Greenshank  were  at  Snettisham  where  as  many  as  fifty  assembled  in 

July-  Photo  R.  J.  Chandler 


Little  Stint  autumn  passage  began  in  mid- July  with  a straggler  lingering  at  Breydon  Water 
until  the  year  end.  photo  R.  J.  Chandler 


BLACK  THROATED  THRUSH 


Vagrant  from  the  Taiga  Forest 


The  rarity — be  it  American  or  Siberian — is  always  sought  with  a zeal  and  determi- 
nation peculiar  to  the  avid  birdwatcher.  Rare  warblers  and  pipits  are  encountered 
with  some  regularity,  but  the  vagrant  thrush  or  lark  is  distinctly  rarer.  It  was  not 
therefore  surprising  that  the  rumour  of  a Black-throated  Thrush  seen  in  Holkham 
Wood  on  21st  October,  1975,  heralded  a mini  invasion  of  ‘twitchers’  from  all  parts 
of  the  country.  Many  visitors  were  understandably  disappointed  when  it  left  the 
area  after  only  three  days.  That  was  the  fifth  accepted  record  of  the  species  in  this 
country,  and  only  the  thirteenth  record  of  an  Asiatic  thrush  of  the  genus  ‘Turdus’ 
since  the  first  bird  recorded  was  trapped  in  Sussex  in  1868. 

The  unexpected  however  always  occurs;  especially  in  the  world  of  birds. 
After  a cold  spell  the  following  February  which  drove  thousands  of  starving  red- 
wings south  from  northern  England,  a male  Black-throated  Thrush  was  found  on 
21st  February  in  a meadow  at  Coltishall,  conveniently  just  a few  yards  from  a 
public  footpath.  This  brought  a major  invasion  of  bird  watchers  with  numbers 
estimated  at  over  a thousand  in  the  first  three  days — and  nobody  went  home 
disappointed. 

This  handsome  thrush,  although  superficially  similar  to  the  fieldfare  is  closer 
in  habit  to  the  ring  ouzel,  being  about  the  same  size  as  the  ouzel  with  the  same  mode 
of  stance  and  movement.  Its  plumage  is  uniform  grey-brown  on  the  head,  mantle 
and  back,  with  much  paler  rump.  The  throat  and  upper  breast  are  black  in  summer 
but  in  the  wintering  bird  this  area  is  heavily  streaked  black.  The  belly  is  white  with 
a slight  smoky  wash,  legs  brown,  bill  dark  brown  above  and  orange  below. 

In  their  native  Siberian  breeding  grounds  Black-throated  Thrushes  prefer 
areas  of  coniferous  woodland  with  clearings  and  glades.  They  nest  in  a young 
pine  or  larch,  the  eggs  numbering  five  or  six  and  similar  in  appearance  to  those  of 
the  blackbird.  The  young  leave  the  nest  in  mid-June  migrating  southward  to 
northern  India,  Nepal  and  Iran  in  August.  The  vagrant  to  Britain  usually  arrives 
in  October  onwards,  and  one  can  only  wonder  at  how  much  farther  westward  it 
would  travel,  fearing  that  such  birds  must  perish  in  the  Atlantic.  A small  proportion 
of  the  population  in  the  southern  extremes  of  their  range  are  residents  descending 
from  the  higher  slopes  to  find  refuge  in  the  towns  and  villages.  In  the  winter  they 
search  shallow  streams,  feeding  mainly  on  animal  matter,  but  also  taking  berries 
in  severe  weather.  The  extreme  south-east  of  the  breeding  range  overlaps  with  that 
of  the  red  throated  thrush  and  interbreeding  takes  place. 


This  Black-throated  Thrush  delighted  a great  many  observers  during  its  six-week  stay  at 
Coltishall.  It  is  a vagrant  from  Asia  added  to  the  county  list  as  recently  as  1975. 

Photos  by  Dr.  A.  Beaumont  and  A.  L.  Howes  (inset) 


99 


To  return  to  our  Coltishall  bird — to  my  knowledge  he  fed  exclusively  on  worms 
for  in  all  my  visits  to  the  site  I never  once  saw  him  eat  anything  else.  He  was  excep- 
tionally tame  and  would  allow  observers  to  watch  from  very  close  by — some  fencing 
and  bales  of  straw  providing  an  excellent  observation  point.  Aggressive  in  manner, 
he  could  not  abide  blackbirds,  but  was  more  tolerant  of  the  smaller  thrushes.  At 
times  he  seemed  quite  taken  with  his  growing  fan  club  and  could  be  seen  perched 
on  a nearby  drinking  trough,  puffing  out  his  chest  with  pride  as  he  surveyed  his 
newly  acquired  winter  territory.  Often,  when  roosting  in  nearby  trees  he  would 
sing  to  himself  in  sub-song,  like  a Sylvia  warbler.  He  seemed  to  gain  weight  during 
his  37  day  stay — not  surprising  since  he  took  little  exercise  apart  from  his  aggressive 
assaults  on  invading  blackbirds.  About  half  way  through  his  stay  he  was  ringed, 
and  afterwards  was  noticeably  less  tame — probably  a good  thing  for  he  would 
have  been  easy  prey  for  the  village  cats.  Towards  the  end  of  his  stay  he  was  observed 
to  leave  the  area  for  a few  hours  at  a time  and  at  the  first  warm  spell  he  was  gone. 


THIS  YEAR’S  report  includes  the  first  fruits  of  some  comparatively  new  projects 
in  Norfolk:  the  ringing  of  Canada  Geese  while  flightless  at  Holkham,  and  the  regular 
working  of  the  coastal  sites  at  Happisburgh,  Sheringham  and  Titchwell.  The  Wash 
Wader  Group  on  the  other  hand  was  established  nearly  twenty  years  ago,  and  the 
number  of  birds  ringed  together  with  the  biometric  data  on  them,  is  mounting  fast. 
Recent  movements  to  South  and  West  Africa,  and  to  the  far  north  of  Canada  are 
mentioned  in  the  Report. 

There  are  plenty  of  surprises  in  the  following  list.  Who  could  have  imagined 
that  the  swallow  they  were  ringing,  weighing  and  measuring  would  eventually  be 
found  in  Bulgaria,  or  the  Jackdaw  to  Sweden,  Robin  to  Algeria  or  Firecrest  to 
the  far  north  of  Scotland?  There  are  interesting  controls  of  foreign-ringed  Sand 
Martins,  a Goldcrest  and  a Siskin . . . 

Pullus  means  a nestling,  and  a control  is  a bird  that  is  handled  by  a ringer 
when  it  is  already  carrying  a ring  fitted  elsewhere. 


George  Dormer 


Bird  Ring  in  Report 


Fulmar 


The  first  long-distance  recoveries  of  our  breeding  stock  for  many  years : 
Sheringham  (pullus)  6.8.73  Ardrossan,  Ayr  (dead)  14.4.76 

Sheringham  (pullus)  3.8.76  South  Shields,  Durham  (dead)  5.10.76 


Cormorant 


lies  St.  Marcous,  Manche,  Breydon  Water  (dead)  26.12.76 

France  (pullus)  26.5.73 


100 


Gadwall 

The  first  Czech  Gadwall  to  be  found  in  Britain;  another  was  found  a week 
later  in  Lines. 

Divcice,  Czechoslovakia  (pullus)  Stanford  Water  (shot)  15.12.75 
27.6.75 

Abberton,  Essex  18.8.75  Salthouse  (shot)  1.12.75 

Wigeon 

Late  reports  from  earlier  years  include  these  two  ringed  further  afield : 
Kholmogory,  Archangel,  Snettisham  (shot)  3.1.69 


USSR  (pullus)  8.8.68 
Loch  Moraig,  Scotland 
(ad.  female)  10.7.74 

Burnham  Market  (shot)  24.9.75 

Shelduck 

Salthouse  9.2.72 
Salthouse  4.2.73 

Heringsand,  W.  Germany  27.9.76 
Kroonspolders,  Netherlands  (dead) 
9.12.75 

Canada  Goose 

Of  over  900  caught  at  Holkham  11.7.76,  16  had  previously  been  ringed  at 
Holme  2.7.75,  when  47  were  ringed  in  moult.  Of  the  500  ringed  at  Holkham 
— the  rest  being  released  without  ring — 19  have  since  been  recovered  shot 
or  found  dead,  the  furthest  being  four  in  the  Bury  St.  Edmunds  area  of 
Suffolk  during  the  autumn  or  winter. 

Oystercatcher 

The  following  from  well  north  of  the  Arctic  Circle  were  found  dead  in 
breeding  areas. 


Heacham  (juv.)  14.11.70 

Skavnakk,  Finnmark,  Norway  1.5.75 

Snettisham  (ad.)  19.8.67 

Sorvik,  Troms,  Norway  29.7.75 

Lapwing 

King’s  Lynn  (pullus)  22.6.74 

La  Haye  d’Ectot,  Manche,  France  1.2.76 

Ringed  Plover 

Illustrating  the  complexities  of  wader  migrations : 

King’s  Lynn  (juv.)  12.8.73  St.  Louis,  Senegal  20.3.76 


Bawsey  (pullus)  9.7.75 

Sunderland,  Durham  (injured,  died) 

1.3.77 

Turnstone 

Terrington  28.8.72 

Alert,  Ellesmere  Is.,  Canada  (control) 
3.6.75 

Redshank 

Terrington  20.7.74 

North  Sea  drilling  rig  53°08’N,  3°19'E 
(dead)  8.5.75 

Posthuiswad,  Netherlands  (juv.)  Breydon  Water  (dead)  14.2.76 
25.10.75 


Knot 

North  Wootton  31.7.73 

Langabaan,  Cape,  S.  Africa  (control) 
23.12.73 

Dunlin 

Birds  controlled  at  Terrington  July- August  1975  include  individuals  from 
Mauritania  (Paris  ring)  and  Czechoslovakia.  Both  had  been  ringed  in  autumn 

Sanderling 

Snettisham  (ad.)  31.7.69  Aloen,  Ghana  (killed)  Nov.  1975 


101 


Great  Skua 

From  Britain’s  largest  colony : 

Foula,  Shetland  (pullus)  15.7.76  Haddiscoe  Marshes  (injured)  6.9.76 

Common  Gull 

Illustrating  the  extent  of  breeding  area  represented  amongst  our  autumn/ 
winter  birds : 

Kunnati,  Estonia  (pullus)  7.6.75  Holt  (control)  19.12.76 
Maasvlakte,  Netherlands  Salthouse  (dead)  2.8.76 

(pullus)  5.7.75 

Sheringham  3.2.76  Holm  Lake,  Vasternorrland,  Sweden 

(shot)  24.6.76 

Black-headed  Gull 

Recorded  movements  fell  into  the  pattern  shown  in  the  map  on  page  29 
of  the  Norfolk  Bird  Report  1975.  22  foreign  recoveries  were  reported. 

Common  Tern 

A long-lived  example: 

Coquet  Is.,  Northumberland 
25.6.65 

Sandwich  Tern 

Trischen,  Schleswig-Holstein, 

Germany  (pullus)  26.6.68 

Barn  Owl 

Note  the  age  of  this  bird  also  : 

Salthouse  (pullus)  27.7.67 

Swallow 

Brough,  Yorks  28.9.74 
Sheringham  (on  passage)  8.5.76 
Happisburgh  19.5.76 

House  Martin 

Ritthem,  Zeeland,  Netherlands 
26.5.72 

Sand  Martin 

The  movements  from  Switzerland  are  probably  unprecedented;  other 
movements  involved  parts  of  East  Anglia,  with  single  birds  travelling  to 
Dorset  and  Berks. 

Yverdon,  Vaud,  Switzerland  Watlington  12.7.75 

16.4.75 

Locarno,  Switzerland  10.5.75  Middleton  12.7.75 

De  Dikkenburgh,  Netherlands  Downham  Market  10.7.76 

15.6.75 

Jackdaw 

A totally  unexplained  movement  of  a bird  ringed  in  winter  at  a rubbish  tip ; 
note  also  its  age. 

Salhouse  27.12.66  Skaraborg,  Sweden  (shot)  1.5.76 

Blue  Tit 

Titchwell  25.10.74  Selly  Park,  Birmingham  (control) 

22.12.75 

Coal  Tit 

Titchwell  13.10.75  Gaywood  (cat)  18.6.76 


Holme  (dead)  10.7.76 
Brancaster  (long  dead)  26.8.75 

Matlaske  (dead)  19.12.75 

Happisburgh  (control)  3.5.76 

St.  Osyth,  Essex  (control)  4.8.76 

Pop  Gruevo,  Tolbukhin,  Bulgaria  31.8.76 

Starston  (found  dead)  Oct.  1975 


102 


Long-  tailed  tit 

Six  birds  ringed  at  Trimingham  11.10.75  were  controlled  together  at  Sher- 
ingham  the  following  day. 

Bearded  Tit 

Movement  around  the  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  coastal  area  continues  to  be 
recorded. 

Titchwell  22.8.75  Goole,  Yorks,  (control)  6.11.75 

Song  Thrush 

Juvenile  birds  moving  well  south  again,  one  Norfolk-bred,  the  other  almost 
certainly  on  migration  when  ringed: 

Ridlington  12.6.75  Armacao  de  Pera,  Portugal  (ring  only 

found)  Feb.  1976 

Trimingham  11.10.75  Eymet,  Dordogne,  France  (killed) 

5.12.75 

Redwing 

Holme  21.10.75  St.  Saviour,  Channel  Is.  23.11.75 

Blackbird 

Recoveries  were  reported  from  France  and  other  localities  north  to  Sweden 
and  two  long-distance  movements  within  the  U.K.  were  to  Antrim  and 
Inverness. 

Stonechat 

Happisburgh  16.10.64  Hornsea,  Yorks,  (control)  7.2.76 

Robin 

The  1976  ‘fall’  of  Robins  produced  an  impressive  list  of  recoveries:  from 
Holme,  from  Wicken,  Cambs.,  and  from  Rochester,  Kent,  all  within  the 
month.  Also  the  following: 

Torham,  Sweden  (juv.)  16.10.76  Sheringham  (control)  30.10.76 
Sheringham  2.11.76  Tigzirt,  Algeria  (dead)  14.1.77 

Reed  Warbler 

One  of  the  Reed  Warblers  mentioned  in  the  Norfolk  Bird  Report  1975  as 
controlled  at  Bexhill  was  back  at  Titchwell  July  1976. 

Blackcap 

Note  the  movement  after  landfall  of  an  autumn  immigrant : 

Sheringham  23.10.76  Titchwell  (control)  25.10.76 

Whitethroat 

Happisburgh  21.5.75  Purbeck,  Dorset  (control)  6.9.76 

Goldcrest 

From  the  ringing  station  on  the  S.W.  coast  of  Norway: 

Revtangen,  Norway  19.10.76  Sheringham  (control)  30.10.76 

Firecrest 

No  comment ! 

Holme  13.10.75  Wick,  Caithness  11.2.76 

Meadow  Pipit 

Sheringham  (pullus)  5.7.76  Cauna,  Landes,  France  (dead)  20.10.76 

Starling 

Many  recoveries  from  France,  N.  Europe  and  USSR,  and  one  from  the 
Ekofisk  Field. 

Goldfinch 

Shoreham,  Sussex  5.8.75  Sheringham  (control)  8.5.76 

Siskin 

Bras-Menil,  Belgium  19.10.75  Titchwell  (control)  23.11.75 


103 


Redpoll 

Recoveries  involve  movements  to  Belgium  (3),  Netherlands  and  W.  Germany. 
Others  show  seasonal  movement  in  Eastern  England. 

Mealy  Redpoll 

Hadleigh,  Essex  7.3.76  Sheringham  (control)  30.3.76 

Chaffinch 

Downham  Market  20.12.75  Helgoland,  W.  Germany  (control)  9.4.76 
Terjevann,  Vest  Agder,  Norway  North  Sea  (dead  on  platform)  23.9.76 
(pullus)  1.6.76 

Brambling 

A bird  from  Ipswich,  Dec.  1974,  was  controlled  at  Downham  Market, 
Feb.  1976,  and  two  from  Downham  Market,  ringed  late  in  1975,  were  found 
in  Beds,  and  Derbys.  (ring  in  owl  pellet)  later  the  same  winter. 

Titchwell  24.11.75  Helgoland,  W.Germany  (control)  18.4.76 

Mintlyn  15.2.75  Aunay  sur  Odon,  Calvados,  France 

(dead)^24.3.76 


Classified  notes 

These  notes  are  based  on  Birds  of  Norfolk  (1967)  where  fuller  details  regarding 
status,  distribution,  migration  and  ringing  recoveries  may  be  found.  Important 
records  for  Wisbech  Sewage  Farm  (part  of  which  is  on  the  Lincolnshire  side  of  the 
county  boundary)  have  been  selected  from  the  files  of  Cambridge  Bird  Club. 
Fuller  details  of  Fens  records  may  be  found  in  the  Cambridge  Bird  Club  Report 
for  1976. 

The  order  used  is  that  of  the  B.T.O.  Guide  A Species  List  of  British  and  Irish 
Birds  (1971)  and  English  names  follow  current  practice.  Observations  refer  to  1976, 
unless  otherwise  stated.  To  save  space,  all  but  the  most  essential  initials  have  been 
omitted.  Records  are  of  single  birds  unless  otherwise  stated. 

Black  Throated  Diver:  North/Wash:  Hunstanton  Feb.  8th  and  17th,  March  5th 
and  April  3rd.  Holme  March  20th  and  April  18th.  Snettisham  G.P.  Jan.  18th, 
Wells  March  19th.  Stiff  key  Binks  (dead)  April  22nd.  Sheringham  April  14th, 
1-2  Oct.  17th  to  Nov.  20th,  dead  Dec.  4th.  Cley  Feb.  29th  and  Dec.  24th.  Weyboume 
Oct.  30th/31st.  East:  Winterton  Sept.  21st. 

Great  Northern  Diver:  North/Wash:  Hunstanton,  Jan.  4th,  Feb.  17th,  March  6th, 
Oct.  9th-10th.  Holme,  Sept.  23rd,  Oct.  6th  and  31st.  Snettisham  G.P.  March  9th. 
Blakeney  Nov.  14th.  Cley  Oct.  7th,  9th,  21st  and  24th,  2 on  Nov.  23rd.  Sheringham 
May  26th,  2 Sept.  30th,  Oct.  30th  and  Nov.  21st.  West  Runton,  Oct.  30th.  East: 
Winterton  4-7,  Nov.  14th.  Broads:  Flegg  Broads  Feb.  5th-15th,  Martham  Feb. 
8th,  Lower  Bure  near  Breydon  Nov.  20th. 

Red  Throated  Diver:  North:  Sheringham  63  East  in  1J  hours  Jan.  11th  with  68 
East  in  \\  hours  Jan.  24th.  Broads:  1-2  Flegg  Broads  Feb.  14th-April  4th.  Breydon 
Feb.  14th  and  25th,  East  Somerton  March  28th.  Haddiscoe  New  Cut  Feb.  23rd- 
March  8th. 


104 


Great  Crested  Grebe:  East:  Breydon  high  midsummer  counts  include  18  in  June, 
56  in  July  and  38  in  August. 

Red  Necked  Grebe:  North/Wash:  Holkham  Nov.  13th,  Snettisham  G.P.  March 
14th,  Hunstanton  3,  Feb.  7th,  Sept.  26th/27th.  Wells  Oct.  16th,  Holme  Sept.  26th, 
Sheringham  2 May  29th,  Sept.  30th,  Oct.  5th  and  30th.  Cley  Dec.  24th,  Salthouse 
Sept.  12th.  East:  Winterton  Nov.  14th.  Broads:  Ormesby  Feb.  5th-March  26th. 
Inland:  Swanton  Morley  G.P.  Jan.  28th. 

Slavonian  Grebe:  North:  Hunstanton  up  to  3 in  Feb.,  4 in  March  and  singly  Nov. 
11th  and  17th  and  Dec.  18th.  Cley  Dec.  3rd.  Holkham  5 Nov.  11th.  Holme  Feb. 
29th.  Heacham  March  10th.  Sheringham  March  7th  and  Sept.  30th.  Wash:  Snet- 
tisham G.P.  Feb.  9th.  East:  California  Feb.  11th  and  12th. 

Black  Necked  Grebe:  North:  Hunstanton  March  20th  and  April  16th.  Blakeney 
Harbour  in  breeding  plumage  April  30th.  Cley  Jan.  lOth/llth.  Broads:  Ormesby 
Feb.  12th- 14th  and  March  10th. 

Little  Grebe:  Breck:  50  Fowl  Mere  July  25th  with  17  on  Mickle  Mere  indicate 
good  breeding  success.  Wash:  Maximum  of  48  at  Snettisham  G.P.  in  Dec.  Broads: 
Up  to  12  at  Martham  in  Feb.,  at  least  one  pair  bred  Ormesby  with  1-2  pairs  in 
Muck  Fleet  area.  Breydon.  5 pairs  bred  in  adjacent  dykes. 

Fulmar:  North:  Total  of  48  young  counted  on  cliff  ledges  between  Weybourne  and 
Cromer  as  follows  (JCM):  Weybourne  to  Sheringham  20:  Sheringham  to  West 
Runton  7;  West  Runton-East  Runton  5;  East  Runton-Cromer  16.  First  back  in 
autumn  Oct.  23rd.  One  blue  phase  bird  at  Sheringham  Nov.  20th.  Wash : 50  pairs 
at  Hunstanton  from  Jan.  7 young  in  Aug.  East:  5 pairs  at  Happisburgh  in  June 
but  no  evidence  of  breeding.  1-3  Hopton  cliffs  in  May /June.  Inland:  Felbrigg 
June  20th. 

Manx  Shearwater:  North:  Holme-Sheringham  1-2  April  22nd-25th  and  May  13th. 
79  east  July  28th  followed  by  many  records  of  up  to  14  together  until  mid-Sept.  with 
maxima  of  30  off  Blakeney  Point  and  94  off  Sheringham  Sept.  2nd.  Titchwell 
5 May  16th,  Hunstanton  6 June  19th,  7 Sept.  2nd.  Snettisham  6 Aug.  28th,  3 Oct. 
10th,  Thornham  2 Sept.  15th.  East:  Waxham  Oct.  15th,  Bacton  12  July  31st,  5 
Aug.  1st.  Winterton  4 July  31st. 

Sooty  Shearwater:  Autumn  total  of  over  70.  North:  Cley/Salthouse  8 Aug.  27th, 
5 on  28th,  5 Sept.  2nd.  Blakeney  Point  2 Aug.  28th,  10  Sept.  2nd,  3 on  3rd/4th. 
Sheringham  2 July  31st,  Aug.  27th,  2 on  28th,  17  west  and  4 east  on  Sept.  2nd, 
10  on  3rd  and  1 Oct.  30th.  Cromer  2 Aug.  27th,  Holme  3 Sept.  4th,  4 on  5th,  1 Oct. 
3rd.  East:  Winterton  Aug.  28th. 

Leach’s  Petrel:  North:  Holkham  Sept.  10th  (TD). 

Cormorant:  East:  Oct.  maximum  of  158  at  Breydon  (a  record  for  the  estuary)  with 
14  in  July  and  18  in  August.  Broads:  Filby,  77  Jan.  4th.  Fritton  Lake  roost,  up  to 
22  in  Feb.  and  20  in  March.  Wash:  Ouse  Mouth,  up  to  50  present.  Fens:  Welney, 
32  in  Dec.  roosting  on  wires.  North:  Holkham  Lake  roost  of  36,  March  14th. 

Shag:  Many  coastal  records  with  maximum  of  22  Hunstanton  Nov.  7th.  16  at 
Yarmouth  harbour  entrance  Feb.  4th  and  10  roosting  on  Sheringham  cliffs  during 
Oct.  Broads:  Hickling,  singles  on  May  31st  and  in  Sept./Oct.  Breydon,  Sept.  20th. 
Fens:  1-2  on  Relief  Channel,  Denver  and  on  Ouse  at  Ten  Mile  Bank,  Jan.-Feb. 

Grey  Heron:  The  following  heronries  were  counted:  Borders  of  Wash- Snettisham, 
19  nests.  Fens:  Hilgay  33,  Islington  51,  Denver  Sluice  3.  Brecks:  Didlington  10, 
Shadwell  6,  Hockham  Fen,  1.  Broads:  Belaugh  4,  Upton  7,  Wickhampton  14, 


105 


Strumpshaw  1,  Barton  7,  Fritton  Warren  3,  Hemsby  Common  1,  Reedham  Park 
Carr  5. 

Purple  Heron:  Broads:  Cantley  immature  May  22nd  (PRA).  Additional  1975 
records:  Wells  Nov.  8th  (SCJ  & NW),  Salthouse  Nov.  3rd  (JBK). 

Bittern:  A dramatic  decline,  with  only  9 booming  in  Broadland  and  an  unmated 
male  at  Cley. 

White  Stork:  South:  Waveney  Valley,  bird  present  in  June  1975  stayed  until  March 
20th. 

Spoonbill:  Broads/Fens/Wash/North  Coast:  ones, twos  and  threes  between  April 
3rd  and  September  12th. 

Glossy  Ibis:  Fens:  Wisbech  S.F.  May  16th-19th  (KN,  TT  et  al ).  First  county  record 
since  1952. 

Garganey:  Spring  arrival  from  April  2nd  at  Sparham  and  subsequently  at  Cley, 
Breydon,  Cantley,  Hardley,  Hickling,  Strumpshaw,  Tottenhill  G.P.,  and  Winterton. 
Only  breeding  records  from  Ranworth  and  Breydon. 

Gadwall:  Brecks:  largest  counts  150  Stanford  August  13th  and  65  Fowlmere  Sept. 
18th.  Wash:  Snettisham  area,  42  on  Nov.  21st.  Broads:  Strumpshaw,  45  June  15th. 
Filby  32  Aug.  12th.  Breydon  duck  with  7 ducklings. 

Wigeon:  Fens:  Welney,  16,000  in  Jan.  and  no  less  than  35,000  by  late  Dec.  East: 
Buckenham  4,500  Feb.  8th.  Thurne  Levels  1,500  Feb.  22nd.  Breydon  6,000  Dec. 
31st  after  SE  gales. 

Pintail:  Fens:  Welney  800  at  beginning  of  year  and  1,000  in  late  Dec.  Brecks:  up  to 
6 at  Stanford,  Fowl  Mere  and  Mickle  Mere.  East:  Breydon  peaks  of  171  Feb.  9th 
and  123  Dec.  27th.  North:  Cley  c.250  Feb.  2nd  and  200  Dec.  26th.  Central:  Swanton 
Morley  G.P.  5 Jan.  5th. 

Shoveler:  Breck  counts  include  32  at  Mickle  Mere  Feb.  8th.  Fens:  Welney  800 
in  late  Dec.  Broads:  Filby  95  Jan.  28th,  increasing  to  146  Feb.  8th  and  still  115 
March  19th. 

Scaup:  East:  Breydon  maximum  of  23  Feb.  28th;  Winterton  23  south  Sept  26th. 
Broads : Filby,  Rollesby,  Ormesby  and  Bure  at  Stracey  Arms  ones  and  twos  until 
May  30th  and  from  Nov.  11th.  North:  Wells  8 Feb.  17th. 

Tufted  Duck:  Breeding  records — 21  pairs  at  4 sites  in  Brecks,  elsewhere  a minimum 
of  10  pairs  at  9 sites. 

Pochard:  Few  breeding  records  submitted,  but  surprising  total  of  70  birds  of  the 
year  at  Filby  Aug.  7th. 

Goldeneye:  Maxima  as  follows — North:  65  at  Scolt  Head.  Wash:  55  at  Hunstanton. 
East : Lound  Waterworks  22.  Broads : 39  at  Ormesby,  Rollesby,  Filby  group. 

Longtailed  Duck:  Wash:  Hunstanton  monthly  maxima — Jan.  17,  Feb.  26, 

March  70,  April  20,  Oct.  3,  Nov.  10  and  Dec.  20.  Snettisham  April  12th  and  Oct. 
31st — Dec.  29th.  North  coast:  occasional  records  of  up  to  13  until  April  30th  and 
from  Oct.  30th.  Brecks:  Thompson  Water  2 Nov.  7th.  East:  Winterton  Oct.  31st 
and  Yarmouth  Jan.  3rd.  Broads:  Hickling  Nov.  13th. 

Velvet  Scoter:  Wash  North  coast:  recorded  monthly  except  June/July:  maximum 
20.  East:  Gorleston  5 Feb.  10th  with  3-4  until  April  5th.  Yarmouth  Feb.  13th  and 
Winterton  2,  Oct.  31st. 

Common  Scoter:  Wash:  Hunstanton  maxima  3,000  in  Nov.  and  2,000  in  Dec. 
Broads:  Ranworth  8 May  30th.  Inland:  Lyng  G.P.  April  11th. 


106 


Eider:  Coastal  records  each  month  and  largest  flocks  for  main  localities  given 
below:  East:  Gorleston  22,  Feb.  North:  Scolt  Head  26,  Sheringham  21  in  Sept. 
Wash:  Snettisham-Heacham  228  Feb.  1st  and  Heacham  250  March. 

Red  Breasted  Merganser:  No  numbers  reported  apart  from  the  Wash  where  58  at 
Snettisham  in  Feb.  and  40  at  the  end  of  the  year.  East : Breydon  8 Jan.  4th.  Fens : 
Denver  Sluice/River  Ouse  at  Ten  Mile  Bank  parties  of  5 and  9 in  Feb. 

Goosander:  Winter  observations  from  21  localities  including  11  at  Breydon,  6 at 
Fritton  and  Stanford,  7 at  Sheringham  and  8 at  Didlington. 

Smew:  Winter  records  of  up  to  4 at  14  localities,  with  up  to  9 at  Hickling  Feb.  8th 
when  arrivals  noted  elsewhere. 

Shelduck:  Wash:  Snettisham  maximum  of  2,087  in  Feb.  Total  of  150  young, 
Vinegar  Middle  June  27th.  East:  Breydon,  winter  peak  of  729  Dec.  26th  where 
interesting  easterly  exodus  of  32  June  11th.  Breeding  records  include  2 broods  at 
Hickling,  105  young  at  Cantley  B.F.,  76  young  at  Hardley  Flood,  single  broods  at 
Hoveton  Great  Broad  and  Stanford  Water,  and  several  broods  at  Welney. 
Egyptian  Goose:  Reported  at  Sparham,  Swanton  Morley,  Lenwade,  Bayfield, 
West  Runton,  Holkham,  Wells,  Salthouse,  Gunton  Park,  Filby,  Fritton  and 
Hardley  Flood. 

Grey-lag  Goose:  East:  Breydon,  gaggle  of  14  of  the  pink-billed  Eastern  race  joined 
feral  birds  Jan.  26th-30th. 

White  Fronted  Goose:  East:  Breydon  area,  1-3  in  Jan./Feb.  Maximum  of  146  Dec. 
30th  with  93  next  day.  Elsewhere  in  Yare  Valley  up  to  16  Jan./Feb.  and  7 in  Dec. 
Broads:  Hickling  58  Feb.  22nd  and  26  Dec.  17th.  North:  Cley,  6 in  Jan.  13  in 
March  and  38  in  Dec.  Holkham,  80  in  Jan.  up  to  150  in  Feb.  and  March  and  173 
in  Dec. 

Bean  Goose:  East:  up  to  91  in  usual  area  until  Feb.  21st.  15  returned  Nov.  1st  with 
33  on  4th  and  71  by  Dec.  9th.  Breydon,  up  to  4 between  Feb.  1st  and  March  20th 
and  5 Nov.  27th  onwards.  California,  one  dead  on  beach  Feb.  12th.  North:  Holk- 
ham 2-8  between  Feb.  1st  and  March  5th  and  5 in  Dec.  Holme,  5 Feb.  14th.  Cley 
up  to  3 Jan.  30th-Feb.  17th  and  4 Dec.  24th-29th.  Fens:  Welney,  one  during  Feb. 
Wash:  Snettisham  14  Jan.  10th. 


107 


Pinkfooted  Goose:  East:  Single  with  Beans,  Halvergate  March  15th-20th,  but  none 
wintered.  Wash:  Snettisham  area,  peaks  of  3,500  mid-Dec.  and  2,710  in  Jan., 
leaving  second  week  in  Feh.  Last  flock  of  65  March  1st.  Returned  Oct.  27th  (40) 
and  2,300  by  end  of  Nov.  North:  Holkham,  maximum  of  18  March  5th  and  250 
Dec.  27th.  Cley,  32  west  Nov.  1 1th.  Fens:  Welney,  40  Dec.  6th. 

Brent  Goose:  Maximum  numbers  at  regular  localities  were:  Breydon  121,  Wells 
1,800,  Blakeney  1,350,  Salthouse  250,  Brancaster  1,200,  Hunstanton-Holme  300, 
Snettisham  970  and  Terrington  Marsh  130.  Recorded  every  month  except  June/ 
July.  At  Cley  exceptional  numbers  offshore  Jan.  23rd  when  740  west  in  1£  hours 
off  Sheringham  and  730  west  there  Nov.  14th.  Unusual  Sept,  movement  north  off 
Winterton  where  total  of  162  between  19th  and  26th.  Inland:  Colney  G.P.  6 Jan. 
31st. 

Barnacle  Goose:  East:  Horsey  28  Feb.  29th  with  2 at  Breydon  same  day.  Hardley 
Flood  Dec.  26th  onwards.  North:  Cley,  4 Oct.  30th,  8 Nov.  23rd,  14  Nov.  29th 
12  Dec.  5th-8th,  Salthouse  4 Nov.  1st,  8 Nov.  20th,  Stiffkey,  17  Nov.  17th  and 
West  Runton,  10  Nov.  13th.  Wash:  Snettisham,  4 with  Pinkfeet  Nov.  20th. 

Whooper  Swan:  Recorded  up  to  March  21st  and  from  Oct.  30th  at  10  localities, 
with  largest  herds  at  Welney  (48)  and  Hickling  (46). 

Bewick  Swan:  Recorded  up  to  April  27th  and  from  Oct.  13th.  Largest  concentra- 
tion at  Welney  Washes  where  1,000  in  early  Jan.  and  again  at  end  of  year.  Elsewhere 
most  impressive  assemblies  on  Lower  Bure  marshes  (219  Dec.  26th),  Acle  Bridge 
(117  Feb.  8th),  Halvergate  (118  March  20th),  Heigham  Holmes  (100  March  14th), 
Clippesby  (68  March  14th)  and  Filby  Broad  (51  March  20th).  In  Brecks,  maximum 
of  9 at  Fowl  Mere.  Easterly  March  exodus  noticeable  on  17th  (50+  Sheringham) 
19th  (Cley  31)  23rd  (Cley  18)  24th  (Cley  11)  and  26th  (Breydon  12). 

Buzzard:  North:  Felbrigg  May  11th,  Holt  March  13th,  Sheringham  Feb.  8th-28th, 
Sept.  21st-Nov.  4th.  Holme  Oct.  24th  and  28th/29th.  Cley  Sept.  7th.  Wash:  Snetti- 
sham Sept.  20th.  Fens:  Wisbech  S.F.  Sept.  28th.  East:  Breydon  Nov.  9th,  Fritton 
March  8th,  Ormesby  Feb.  29th,  Hickling  March  21st,  Winterton  April  4th-llth 
with  3 on  17th  and  Nov.  9th,  Haddiscoe  Dec.  26th. 

Rough  Legged  Buzzard:  East:  Halvergate  March  1st,  Hickling  Jan.  14th  and  May 
1st,  Caister-on-Sea  April  29th,  Ebridge  Mill  1-2  April  19th,  Winterton  4 April  17th, 
3 on  24th,  1 on  29th,  May  9th  and  Nov.  7th. 

Sparrow  Hawk:  recorded  from  32  localities  but  only  known  to  have  bred  success- 
fully at  two  sites.  Migrants  at  Winterton  April  4th-May  2nd  with  at  least  ten  on 
first  date. 

Goshawk:  Brecks  1-2  between  March  21st  and  May  28th  with  a juvenile  Sept.  26th. 
East:  Winterton  2 April  24th,  1 May  2nd  and  another  in  from  the  sea  Oct.  31st. 
Additional  1975  record:  Brecks  Dec.  21st. 

Red  Kite:  An  exceptional  year.  East:  Breydon  May  5th  (PRA)  Halvergate  April 
4th  (LR)  Gorleston  March  26th  (CHB)  Hickling  April  11th  (JRW,  SL),  North 
Walsham/Ebridge  April  1st  (KB).  North:  Holme  and  Titchwell  May  15th  (HBO), 
Foulden  June  15th  (AJH).  Doubless  some  of  the  records  relate  to  the  same  birds. 

Black  Kite:  Broads:  Horsey  May  2nd  (BPO,  MDO,  PW,  RW). 

Honey  Buzzard:  North:  pair  present  at  one  site  from  May  22nd,  no  proof  of  nesting 
but  up  to  4 present  in  August.  Wells  Oct.  llth-16th  observed  tearing  out  a wasp’s 
nest  at  close  range.  Holme  Sept.  16th,  2 Oct.  6th.  Holkham  Oct.  12th.  Cley/Blakeney 
Nov.  7th,  Blakeney  Point  Sept.  17th.  East:  Winterton  Sept.  26th. 


108 


Marsh  Harrier:  Five  pairs  nested  at  4 sites,  3 pairs  were  successful  rearing  a total  of 
8 young  to  free-flying  stage.  North:  Titchwell,  6 east  to  west  May  3rd.  Wash:  at 
least  15  roosting  in  one  area  Aug.  31st.  Birds  dispersed  in  early  Sept,  with  last  one 
Oct.  21st. 

Hen  Harrier:  Recorded  up  to  May  6th  (Winterton)  and  15th  (Holme)  and  from  Sept. 
12th  (Winterton).  Many  records  from  coastal  localities,  including  6/7  in  Scolt  Head/ 
Titchwell  area  March  8th.  Other  totals  include  3 at  Winterton/Horsey  and  4 Roydon 
Common. 

Montagu’s  Harrier:  North:  female  at  former  breeding  site  on  3 dates  early/mid 
May.  Cley  May  5th  and  15th/ 16th  when  doubtless  same  individual  at  Sheringham 
and  between  Hunstanton  and  Heacham.  Wash:  Snettisham  May  12th.  East: 
Winterton  May  15th,  Horsey  June  26th  and  Hickling  May  14th  and  Aug.  22nd. 
Osprey:  Recorded  between  April  30th  and  Oct.  15th  at  Catfield,  Cley,  Holme, 
Horsey,  Hunstanton,  Rockland,  Snettisham,  Strumpshaw,  Wells,  Wheatfen  and 
Wisbech  S.F. 

Hobby : North:  Cley  1-2  almost  daily  throughout  summer.  Holkham  May  30th, 
Sheringham  on  12th  and  18th,  Holme  on  24th  and  Aug.  4th  and  Holt  June  24th. 
East:  Hickling  2 Aug.  19th  and  Happisburgh  April  25th.  Central:  Barnham  Broom 
injured  Aug.  27th. 

Peregrine:  North:  Old  Hunstanton  June  5th,  Hunstanton  Oct.  17th  and  Sheringham 
May  15th.  East:  Winterton/Horsey  Feb.  29th,  April  4th,  11th  and  17th  and  May 
12th.  On  two  occasions  bird  carried  falconer’s  jesses. 

Merlin:  Recorded  at  Postwick,  Martham,  Holkham,  Breydon,  Winterton,  Horsey, 
Roydon  Common,  Hickling,  Holme,  Yarmouth,  Wells,  Sheringham,  Titchwell, 
Wisbech  SF,  East  Wretham  and  Snettisham,  up  to  April  13th  and  from  Sept.  18th. 
Mainly  singles  but  3 at  Roydon  Common  and  4 at  Winterton. 

Red  Footed  Falcon:  North:  Holme  May  15th  (HBO)  and  Salthouse  Heath  on  17th 
(DHS). 

Quail:  Calling  during  summer  at  Felthorpe,  Cley,  Alderford,  Morston  and  Titch- 
well. 


A Honey  Buzzard  stayed  at  Wells  six  days,  where  many  observers  watched  it  tearing  out  a 
wasp’s  nest. 


109 


Golden  Pheasant:  Recorded  from  East  Wretham,  Wayland  Wood,  Thompson, 
Great  Cressingham,  Swaffham  Heath,  Brettenham  Heath  (30-40  in  Nov.)  and  St. 
Helen’s  Well. 

Crane:  North:  2 Holkham  Oct.  29th  (GD). 

Spotted  Crake:  Fens:  Wisbech  SF  Aug.  31st,  Oct.  10th  and  23rd. 

Coot:  Broads:  Totals  of  556  Filby  Broad  Feb.  8th  and  381  Aug.  7th. 

Oystercatcher:  Breeding  records  of  pairs  include:  East:  Breydon  area  5 (including 
2 pairs  for  the  first  time  on  the  actual  estuary).  North:  Weybourne  3,  Blakeney 
Point  200,  Stiffkey  Binks  23,  Wells  13,  Burnham  Overy  Channel  5,  Bob  Halls 
Sands  4 and  Scolt  Head  160-165  (only  40  young  reared).  Maximum  count  of 
12,900  at  Snettisham  in  Jan. 

Lapwing:  A large  exodus  March  13th  when  6,000  per  hour  passing  east  at  Shering- 
ham. 

Ringed  Plover:  Breeding  records  of  pairs  include:  East:  Yarmouth  North  Beach  1, 
Hems  by  1,  Winterton-Horsey  Gap  10-12,  Waxham  1 and  Flappisburgh  2.  Broads: 
Hickling  1 (successful).  North:  Blakeney  Point  160,  Stiffkey  Binks  5,  Wells  6, 
Burnham  Overy  Channel  5 and  Scolt  Head  120-130.  Wash:  Snettisham  12  and 
Lynn  Point-Ongar  Hill  2.  West:  Tottenhill  GP  1,  Bawsey  1 and  Mintlyn  2. 


Dotterel  were  recorded  at  Happisburgh,  Hunstanton  and  Blakeney  Point. 


110 


Great  Snipe  (left)  and  Snipe.  Note  on  former  greater  bulk  and  broader  wings,  shorter  bill, 
axillaries  and  under-parts  barred  overall  (lacking  prominent  white  belly  of  Snipe).  Note  also 
on  Great  black  central  wing  panel  with  obvious  white  borders  (but  lacking  very  dark  secon- 
daries with  white  trailing  edge  of  Snipe).  Birds  illustrated  are  immatures  in  autumn.  This 
figure  corrects  that  of  flying  birds  in  British  Birds  (69:  377-383).  Arrowed  lines  indicate 
manner  of  escape  flight,  short  and  ending  in  sudden  fall  in  Great. 


Little  Ringed  Plover:  Breeding:  16  pairs  at  10  sites  rearing  a minimum  of  14  young 
but  undoubtedly  under-recorded.  First  recorded  at  Swanton  Morley  GP  March 
27th  but  apart  from  Hardley  Flood  few  records  of  migrants  in  spring  away  from 
breeding  localities.  More  widespread  in  autumn  with  maxima  of  7 at  Wissington 
BF  and  Cley,  6 at  Hardley  Flood  and  5 at  Hickling  and  Wisbech  SF,  where  latest 
Oct.  9th  (2). 

Kentish  Plover:  East:  Breydon  May  1st.  and  18th/19th  and  June  8th/9th.  Winterton 
female  June  2nd-4th  and  13th.  Broads:  Hickling  May  20th.  North:  Cley  April 
llth-14th,  irregularly  May  2nd-26th,  June  16th  and  July  31st.  Blakeney  Point 
May  9th  and  Aug.  28th,  with  a pair  for  a fortnight  from  June  7th. 

Grey  Plover:  A late  Spring  passage  with  up  to  420  at  Snettisham  in  May.  A notice- 
able exodus  at  Titchwell  May  26th  with  200  flying  north-east.  In  Autumn  peak  of 
560  at  Snettisham  in  Aug.  and  an  unusually  high  number  of  104  at  Breydon  Oct. 
5th. 

Golden  Plover:  Largest  concentration  of  3,100  St.  Benet’s  Level/Upton  Level  Oct. 
9th.  One  of  the  Northern  form  in  summer  plumage  on  Breydon  Saltings  May  16th 
until  the  late  date  of  June  19th. 

Lesser  Golden  Plover:  One  in  full  breeding  plumage  at  Breydon  with  Grey  Plover 
June  8th- 17th  (PRA  et  al).  The  second  county  record. 

Dotterel:  East:  Happisburgh  10  May  12th  decreasing  to  6 the  next  day.  North: 
Hunstanton  golf  course  3 May  24th-27th  and  Blakeney  Point  2,  followed  by  a single 
bird,  all  flying  westwards  Sept.  17th. 


Ill 


Turnstone:  Maximum  count  of  760  at  Snettisham  in  Jan. 

Jack  Snipe:  A late  bird  at  Winterton  May  1st.  First  autumn  records,  Filby  Broad  2 
Sept.  15th  and  Hickling  on  16th. 

Great  Snipe:  An  unprecedented  number  of  records:  Hardley  Flood  May  25th-28th 
(JCE,  DJH,  et  al ),  Blakeney  Point  Aug.  28th  (CRH  et  al ),  an  immature  shot  at 
Salthouse  Sept.  18th  (specimen  in  Norwich  Castle  Museum)  and  Holkham  Sept. 
26th  (GJJ  et  al). 

Whimbrel:  East:  Recorded  at  Breydon  on  most  days  in  June  with  maxima  of  7 
on  the  5th  and  26th. 

Black  Tailed  Godwit:  Fens:  at  least  6 pairs  bred  at  Welney.  Elsewhere  3 pairs  bred. 
Winter  records,  Breydon  Jan.  21st.  Cley  Feb.  15th  and  up  to  5 Snettisham  until 
end  of  year.  Passage  birds  between  Feb.  28th  and  Nov.  13th  with  maximum  of  14 
at  Wells  Sept.  30th. 

Bar-tailed  Godwit:  East:  Breydon  spring  peak  of  121  April  20th  with  autumn 
maximum  of  50  Sept.  20th.  Wash:  Snettisham  maximum  of  2,600  in  Sept. 

Green  Sandpiper:  Largest  autumn  concentrations  recorded  at  Hickling,  where 
maximum  of  32  Aug.  8th  and  Cantley  BF,  where  maximum  of  20  Aug.  22nd. 

Wood  Sandpiper:  Spring  passage  May  4th-June  3rd.  Two  Cley  June  21st.  Few 
autumn  records  received;  maximum  of  8 Hickling  Aug.  15th. 

Common  Sandpiper:  Maximum  of  40  at  Wisbech  SF  Aug.  14th.  Late  birds  at  Brey- 
don Nov.  27th  and  Dec.  27th. 

Redshank:  North:  Breeding  records  include  22  pairs  Blakeney  Point  and  30  pairs 
Scolt  Head.  Largest  numbers  noted  at  Breydon  where  up  to  1,500  in  second  half 
of  March.  A dead  bird  at  Breydon  March  2nd  was  of  the  Icelandic  race. 

Spotted  Redshank:  Earliest  record,  Breydon  March  18th.  Main  passage  commenced 
April  22nd  with,  as  usual,  a considerable  number  of  records  in  June  including  4 
summering  birds  at  Breydon.  Largest  autumn  passage  noted  at  Hickling,  Cley  and 
Snettisham  where  up  to  25  in  early  Sept.  Wintering  birds  in  Dec.  at  Breydon  and 
Cley. 

Greenshank:  Winter  records  from  Holme  and  Titchwell  in  Jan.  and  Thornham  in 
Feb.  Passage  April  18th-Nov.  17th  including  birds  throughout  June.  Largest 
numbers  recorded  in  autumn  at  Holme  and  Snettisham,  where  over  50  in  July, 
up  to  34  in  Aug.  and  25  in  Sept. 

Knot:  Maximum  count  of  20,000  at  Snettisham  in  Oct.  Inland  records  include  7 
at  Hickling  April  19th  and  one  at  Hardley  Flood  July  30th. 

Purple  Sandpiper:  Regularly  recorded  at  the  traditional  wintering  localities  in  the 
Wash  (up  to  6 at  Snettisham  and  Hunstanton  and  up  to  4 at  Heacham)  and  at 
Sheringham  (up  to  2 in  first  winter  period).  Noted  up  to  April  19th  with  isolated 
records  also  from  Yarmouth,  Winterton,  Overstrand  and  Morston.  Apart  from  one 
at  Bacton  on  Aug.  6th  birds  in  second  winter  period  recorded  only  in  Wash  and 
along  North  Coast.  A noticeable  number  of  mainly  single  birds  flying  westwards 
along  North  Coast  in  Aug.  and  Sept. 

Little  Stint:  One  at  Cley  on  Jan.  1st.  Spring  records:  Hickling  3 April  23rd,  14 
June  8th  and  6 June  10th.  Breydon  5 June  17th  with  4 next  day  and  Cley  singles 
May  16th  and  May  30th-June  1st  with  4 June  13th  and  26th.  Autumn  passage 
commenced  July  14th  culminating  in  peak  numbers  at  end  of  Sept,  when  at  least 
100  at  Cley.  One  at  Cley  on  Dec.  11th  with  another  remaining  at  Breydon  until 
Dec.  29th. 


112 


Temminck’s  Stint:  North:  Cley  May  12th- 19th,  May  30th,  July  14th- 18th,  July 
26th  and  Aug.  7th- 11th.  Salthouse  May  15th  and  Holme  May  21st.  Broads:  Hick- 
ling  July  28th  and  Aug.  25th.  Fens:  Wisbech  SF  July  17th/ 18th.  Inland:  Sparham 
GP  May  20th-23rd. 

Pectoral  Sandpiper:  North:  Cley  Sept.  17th-Oct.  10th.  Broads:  Hickling  Sept.  9th- 
26th.  Wash:  Snettisham  juvenile  trapped  Oct.  24th.  Fens:  Wisbech  SF  Sept.  15th- 
25th. 

Dunlin:  East : Breydon  maximum  spring  total  of  2,000  April  30th.  Wash:  Snettisham 
maximum  of  8,000  in  Aug. 

Curlew  Sandpiper:  Only  one  spring  record  received — Breydon  May  28th.  One 
in  summer  plumage  Cley  July  4th.  Main  autumn  passage  of  adults  commenced 
July  25th  with  juveniles  from  Sept.  11th;  numbers  generally  low  with  maxima  of 
10  at  Breydon  and  Wisbech  SF.  A late  bird  at  Breydon  Nov.  19th. 

Sanderling:  Wash : Snettisham,  up  to  360  in  May  and  650  in  July.  East : an  interesting 
series  of  records  of  up  to  64  birds  feeding  regularly  on  grass-covered  Gorleston 
Cliffs  Feb.  9th-March  22nd.  Inland:  one  standing  in  the  road  between  A1076  and 
Weston  Longville  following  severe  gales  Jan.  30th. 

Ruff:  Recorded  at  a variety  of  localities  in  winter  months  including  Yarmouth, 
Caister,  Cley,  Hardley  Flood,  Halvergate  Marshes,  Hickling,  Lower  Bure  Marshes 
and  Welney,  where  up  to  100  early  March.  Breeding:  a few  pairs  may  have  nested 
at  Welney  but  no  proof. 

Avocet:  East:  Breydon  Jan.  16th,  April  19th,  3 May  7th/8th,  May  19th/22nd  and 
Oct.  11th.  Broads:  Hardley  Flood  April  4th  and  7 April  23rd.  Hickling  April  28th 
and  2 June  7th.  North:  Cley  Feb.  28th,  1/2  April  2nd- June  16th,  3 Oct.  9th.  Holme 
Dec.  5th.  Wash:  Snettisham  May  14th,  4 May  15th  and  May  16th- 18th. 

Grey  Phalarope:  East:  Breydon  Jan.  24th  (PRA,  CJG).  North:  off  Blakeney  Point 
Sept.  13th  (MAB),  Cley  Oct.  14th  (GC)  and  Oct.  30th  (BWJ). 

Red-necked  Phalarope:  East:  Winterton  flying  south  Sept.  26th  (PRA,  ADB, 
TEB).  Broads:  Hickling  July  12th  and  31st  (SL). 

Stone  Curlew:  A Nature  Conservancy  survey  revealed  a Breckland  total  of  61  pairs 
including  30  pairs  on  the  Norfolk  Breck. 

Great  Skua:  An  unusual  number  of  winter  records :- Cley  Jan.  4th,  Sheringham  Jan. 
25th,  between  Snettisham  and  Heacham  Feb.  1st  and  Hunstanton  Dec.  19th. 
East:  singles  off  Winterton  Sept.  12th,  19th  and  21st  and  Gorleston  Oct.  18th. 
One  released  at  Yarmouth  Sept.  7th  (ringed  on  Foula)  having  been  injured  the  day 
before  at  Haddiscoe  Marshes  by  striking  power  lines.  North/ Wash:  autumn  records 
Aug.  28th-Nov.  14th  with  large  weather  movements  on  Sept.  2nd  when  231  east 
off  Sheringham  in  10 J hours.  14  over  Ouse  Mouth  flying  westwards  inland  on 
Sept.  10th. 

Pomarine  Skua:  One  winter  record,  2 east  at  Sheringham  Jan.  3rd.  East:  Winterton 
Aug.  28th,  Sept.  5th  and  Oct.  10th.  Yarmouth  Oct.  18th.  North:  West  Runton 
14  Oct.  30th  and  one  Oct.  31st.  Sheringham  Aug.  28th,  two  Sept.  2nd,  Sept.  3rd, 
two  Sept.  10th,  Sept.  12th  and  15th,  5 Oct.  25th,  Oct.  28th,  15  Oct.  30th,  two  Nov. 
13th,  7 Nov.  22nd  and  one  Nov.  23rd.  Weybourne  3 Oct.  25th  and  4 Oct.  30th. 
Salthouse  3 Sept.  2nd.  Cley  two  Aug.  28th,  Aug.  29th,  Sept.  12th  and  15th,  Oct.  10th 
and  25th,  5 Nov.  17th  and  one  Nov.  23rd.  Blakeney  Point  3 Sept.  2nd.  Wells  6 
Oct.  30th.  Holme  Aug.  13th,  Sept.  16th  (flying  inland)  and  Oct.  28th.  Wash:  Hun- 
stanton 2 Sept.  2nd  and  one  Oct.  24th. 

Arctic  Skua:  One  spring  record,  Cley  May  26th.  East/North/Wash  coasts:  main 


113 


autumn  passage  July  25th-Nov.  23rd  with  largest  gale  movements  on  Sept.  2nd 
when  150  east  off  Blakeney  Point  and  165  east  off  Sheringham.  A late  bird  at  Holme 
Dec.  12th.  Brecks:  one  flying  south  over  Foulden-Watton  Road  Sept.  12th. 

Long-tailed  Skua:  Blakeney  Point  Aug.  30th  (RMC),  Sept.  12th  (AJL)  and  13th 
(PNC)  and  Salthouse  Sept.  2nd  (BWJ). 

Lesser  Black-backed  Gull:  An  unusual  concentration  of  91  adults  (mostly  showing 
characteristics  of  the  Scandinavian  race)  and  an  unknown  number  of  immatures 
in  a field  at  Rollesby  Sept.  16th. 

Herring  Gull:  Yellow-legged  birds  at  Sheringham  May  15th  and  Breydon  July  21st. 
Common  Gull:  North:  a pair  nested  at  Blakeney  Point  rearing  one  young. 

Glaucous  Gull:  East:  Yarmouth  Feb.  19th  and  23rd.  North:  The  regular  adult  in 
the  Cley-Sheringham  area  up  to  April  16th  and  from  Aug.  18th;  also  occasional 
records  of  immatures  including  2 at  Cley  Jan.  3rd  and  Scolt  Head  March  28th. 
Wash:  Hunstanton  immature  Jan.  4th  with  an  adult  and  different  immature  Feb. 
4th. 

Iceland  Gull:  A second-year  bird  at  Holme  Feb.  14th  (HBO). 

Mediterranean  Gull:  A total  of  7 records.  A first  year  bird  at  Morston  Jan.  24th 
(DJH,  SCJ),  a second-year  bird  at  Yarmouth  Feb.  18th  (PRA),  a second-year  bird 
west  at  Sheringham  April  3rd.  (JCM,  DHS,  KBS),  a first-year  bird  also  west  at 
Sheringham  June  1st  (SA),  an  adult  in  summer  plumage  at  Cley  July  4th  (JHM) 
and  immatures  at  Winterton  Aug.  8th  (PRA)  and  west  at  Cley  Sept.  12th  (KB). 

Little  Gull:  In  early  part  of  year  only  four  records  received:-  Chedgrave  Jan.  11th, 
Sheringham  Feb.  2nd,  Filby  Broad  April  19th  and  Sheringham  April  23rd.  Passage 
birds  May-Nov.  with  unprecedented  numbers  in  Sept,  and  Oct.  North:  at  Shering- 
ham in  Sept.  21  east  on  22nd,  35  on  23rd,  21  on  24th  and  32  on  26th;  in  Oct.  a 
total  of  238  east  on  30th  in  a north-easterly  gale  with  39  on  31st,  when  42  also  east 
at  West  Runton.  East:  32  north  at  Winterton  Sept.  26th,  23  south  at  Yarmouth 
Oct.  2nd,  21  south-east  at  Cart  Gap  in  one  hour  Oct.  16th,  33  south  at  Yarmouth 
Oct.  18th  and  44  south-east  at  Waxham  in  half  an  hour  Oct.  19th. 

Black-headed  Gull:  Successful  breeding  noted  at  Cantley  BF  where  approximately 
100  pairs  present.  No  information  from  other  sites. 

Sabine’s  Gull:  An  adult  in  summer  plumage  east  at  Sheringham  Aug.  20th  (JMH* 
PP,  KBS). 

Black  Tern:  Spring  passage  May  5th- June  14th  with  only  one  noticeable  movement* 
38  east  at  Breydon  May  24th.  Only  a very  small-scale  autumn  passage  from  Aug. 
18th  (no  flock  exceeded  10  birds)  with  late  records  at  Swanton  Morley  GP  Oct. 
17th  and  Yarmouth  on  19th. 

White-winged  Black  Tern:  North:  Cley  adult  west  June  14th  (JBK). 

Common  Tern:  Pairs  at  breeding  sites  (number  of  fledged  young  in  brackets  where 
known)  include:-  Wash:  Snettisham  75  (only  5).  North:  Scolt  Head  450  (320), 
Bob  Halls  Sand  13,  Stiffkey  Binks  130,  Blakeney  Point  1500-1600,  Cley  NNT 
reserve  9 and  Salthouse  4.  East : Scroby  Sands  50.  Broads : Ranworth  29,  Martham 
3,  Ormesby  5 (5),  Hardley  Flood  11  (27),  Hoveton  Great  Broad  4 (8)  and  Cantley 
BF  1.  Inland:  Swanton  Morley  GP  1 (1).  A late  bird  at  Lenwade  Nov.  6th. 

Arctic  Tern:  Breeding:  Two  pairs  each  at  Scolt  Head  and  Blakeney  Point.  5 north 
at  Sparham  GP  April  25th.  A bird  of  the  ‘Portlandica’  phase  at  Winterton  June  8th. 
An  unusual  number  of  birds  off  Cley  in  Sept,  and  Oct.  (latest  on  26th)  with  maxi- 
mum of  27  Sept.  12th. 


114 


Roseate  Tern:  Only  one  accepted  record,  one  west  at  Cley  Sept.  4th  (NJR). 

Little  Tern:  Breeding  records  (number  of  fledged  young  in  brackets  where  known) 
include:  North:  Thornham  25-30,  Titchwell  32,  Brancaster  14,  Scolt  Head  72  (17), 
Overy  Channel- Wells  40,  Stiff  key  Binks  28,  Blakeney  Point  170-200  and  Salthouse  4. 
East : Scroby  Sands  15  (first  time  since  1963),  Sea  Palling-Waxham  1 1 (15),  Waxham- 
Horsey  Gap  3,  Horsey-Winterton  45  (15),  Winterton  4 (unsuccessful),  Winterton- 
Hemsby  5 (1)  and  Caister-on-Sea  one  (unsuccessful).  Broads:  Hickling  3.  An  inland 
spring  record  at  Downham  Market  May  6th.  A late  bird  at  Holme  Oct.  17th. 
Sandwich  Tern:  Breeding:  North:  4,000  pairs  at  Scolt  Head  (minimum  of  4,000 
flying  young)  and  45-50  pairs  at  Blakeney  Point  (6  flying  young).  East : 200  pairs 
on  Scroby  Sands.  Earliest  record,  Sheringham  March  28th.  Inland:  two  at  Totten- 
hill  GP  June  19th  and  one  at  Lenwade  GP  Sept.  23rd.  Last  recorded  at  Weybourne 
Oct.  27th. 

Razorbill:  North:  Sheringham  196  east  April  23rd. 

Little  Auk:  North:  Cley  Nov.  1st,  Sheringham  Jan.  3rd,  25th  and  Oct  31st. 
Black  Guillemot:  North:  Holme  and  Hunstanton  March  20th,  Wells  Jan.  3rd-29th 
and  Dec.  19th. 

Puffin:  North:  Holme  to  Sheringham  parties  of  up  to  8 recorded  Jan.,  Feb.,  April, 
May  and  Aug.  to  Nov.  East:  Winterton  (dead)  Feb.  21st,  Horsey  (dead)  May  1st 
and  Caister-on-Sea  April  25th. 

Woodpigeon:  North:  Sheringham  1,100  west  May  22nd.  East:  Winterton  72 
headed  out  to  sea  with  jackdaws  April  4th. 

Turtle  Dove:  North:  Holme,  remarkable  total  west  May  15th  with  one  flock  of 
over  500.  Sheringham  221  west  May  16th,  253  west  on  22nd  and  253  west  June  5th. 
Wash:  Snettisham  500  late  Aug./early  Sept.  East:  Yarmouth/Gorleston  1-2  with 
Collared  Doves  Oct.  9th-30th  with  one  till  Dec.  16th. 

Collared  Dove:  North:  largest  gathering  150,  Holkham  in  Feb. 

Barn  Owl:  Recorded  at  74  localities.  East:  Hemsby,  one  with  characteristics  of 
the  dark-breasted  race  April  18th  (PRA). 

Little  Owl:  Recorded  at  31  localities. 

Long  Eared  Owl:  Single  pairs  bred  at  Weeting  Heath,  and  East  Wretham.  Breeding 
season  records  from  Brancaster,  Hardley  Flood,  Brandon,  East  Somerton,  Trowse, 
Felthorpe  and  Haveringland.  Elsewhere  recorded  at  18  localities  including  up  to 
4 roosting  at  Massingham  and  10/11  roosting  at  Brancaster.  One  on  a gas  produc- 
tion platform  40  miles  N.E.  of  Yarmouth  first  week  of  Feb. 

Short  Eared  Owl:  Breeding  season  records  at  Rockland,  Upton  and  Fleggburgh 
Common.  1-2  migrants  in  coastal  localities  until  May  16th,  only  2-3  autumn  sight- 
ings. Maximum  winter  totals  5 at  Wickhampton  and  4 at  Breydon. 

Nightjar:  Singing  males  noted  from  May  21st  as  follows:  Brecks:  Grimes  Graves  3, 
Snakes  Wood  2,  Croxton  Park  2,  Home  Mere  2,  Thorpe  Belt  1,  Devil’s  Punch 
Bowl  1.  West:  Roydon  Common  2,  Leziate  1.  North:  Salthouse  Heath  6.  East: 
Winterton  1,  a new  locality.  Central:  Horsford/Felthorpe  5. 

Swift:  North:  Hunstanton  3-4  pairs  nested  in  the  cliffs.  Autumn  exodus  later  than 
usual,  with  almost  50  October  records  from  well  scattered  localities,  the  majority 
coastal.  The  latest  at  Holkham,  Nov.  2nd. 

Alpine  Swift:  1975  record  not  previously  published,  Salthouse  Heath, June  19th 
(JPG  et  al ). 

Kingfisher:  Breeding  confirmed  at  only  3 localities — Cantley  BF,  Strumpshaw  and 
Wheatfen.  Please  notify  all  definite  breeding  records. 


115 


Roller:  Brecks:  Hilborough  July  20th  (TA).  Broads:  Upton  Oct.  4th  (AJD). 

Hoopoe:  6 records  as  follows:  Yarmouth  April  18th,  Holme  April  20th-26th, 
West  Walton  May  4th,  Horsey  May  6th,  Snettisham  May  8th  and  Belton  July 
2nd-8th. 

Wryneck:  In  Spring  reported  in  May  at  Holme  and  Hunstanton  GC  on  1st;  Wells, 
Weybourne  and  Sheringham  on  2nd;  Narborough  on  6th  and  Happisburgh  on 
18th.  In  Autumn,  two  main  influxes,  the  first  during  the  last  week  of  August 
with  birds  at  Brooke,  Cley/Blakeney  Point  (10),  East  Tuddenham,  Fleggburgh 
Common,  Gorleston,  Hickling,  Holme  (3),  Hunstanton  GC  (3),  Morston,  Sand- 
ringham, Seaming,  Sheringham  (5),  Snettisham,  Titchwell,  Wells  (3),  Winterton  (2), 
Wolferton,  Worlingham  and  Yarmouth  (5).  The  second  influx  mid  to  end  of 
September  with  birds  at  Burnham  Overy,  Cley/Blakeney  Point,  Cringleford, 
Holme  (3),  Holt,  Mulbarton,  Overy  Staithe,  Sheringham  (3),  Swanton  Abbot, 
Thetford,  Wells,  West  Beckham  and  Yarmouth  (2).  A late  bird  at  Blakeney  Point 
Oct.  24th. 

Woodlark:  Recorded  during  breeding  season  in  Brecks  at  Brandon,  Broom  Covert, 
Frog  Hill,  Lynford,  Santon  Downham,  Santon  Warren,  St.  Helen’s  Well  and 
Weeting  (2  sites).  In  North  Brancaster  Jan.  10th  (2),  Wells  March  21st  and  Holme 
Oct.  9th.  In  East,  one  singing  at  Winterton  March  1st. 

Shorelark:  North:  extreme  dates  May  4th  and  Oct.  9th.  Reported  from  following 
localities,  with  maximum  counts  in  brackets — Holme  (5),  Titchwell,  Holkham  (5), 
Stiffkey  (17),  Blakeney/Cley/Salthouse  (35)  and  Sheringham  (7).  East:  extreme 
dates  May  2nd  and  Oct.  31st.  Reported  from  Happisburgh,  Waxham,  Hickling, 
Winterton  and  Breydon  (9). 

House  Martin:  An  albino  at  East  Wretham  Sept.  19th.  November  records  included 
a late  brood  at  East  Tuddenham,  which  left  the  nest  on  1st,  15  at  Sheringham  on 
9th  and  the  last  at  Thetford  on  13th. 

Sand  Martin:  Spring  arrival  from  March  14th  (Salthouse).  A very  pale,  almost 
white,  leucistic  bird,  with  brown  axillaries  at  Cley  Aug.  1st.  Four  October  records 
with  the  last  at  Cley  on  21st  (2). 

Golden  Oriole:  North:  Wells,  male  singing,  May  24th  (IAP). 

Hooded  Crow:  Maximum  winter  counts:  West:  Dersingham  Common  72  Feb.  11th 
and  50  Dec.  5th.  Sandringham  Common  30  Jan.  20th.  North : Weybourne  32  Nov. 
1st.  East:  Winterton  79  April  3rd;  Breydon  26  Nov.  4th.  At  Sheringham  one 
interbred  with  a carrion  crow,  rearing  five  young. 

Jackdaw:  East:  Winterton,  Spring  emigration  as  follows,  with  parties  of  birds 
flying  out  to  sea:  105  March  28th,  73  April  4th  and  11  April  17th. 

Wren:  A complete  albino  at  Acle,  Oct.  19th. 

Bearded  Tit:  North:  Bred  at  Titchwell  (15  pairs),  Overy  Staithe  (2  pairs)  and  Cley. 
Broads:  Bred  at  Cantley  (10  pairs),  Strumpshaw  (1  pair,  a new  site),  Hardley  Flood 
(2  pairs),  Hickling  (perhaps  100  pairs)  and  Horsey. 

Black-Bellied  Dipper:  In  first  three  months  of  year  recorded  as  follows:  North: 
Glaven  at  Hempstead  Mill  Jan.  3rd-Feb.  17th.  Broads:  Ormesby  Jan./Feb.  Central: 
Wensum  at  Taverham  Mill  Jan.  16th-Feb.  27th  and  at  Lyng  Feb.  1st.  Bure  at  Buxton 
Mill  Jan.  14th-24th  and  Feb.  29th,  Horstead  Feb.  15th-23rd,  Crostwick  Bridge 
Feb.  18th  to  March  14th,  Spixworth  Bridge  Feb.  21st.  Tud  at  Honingham  Jan. 
lst-29th  and  Costessey  Feb.  21st-23rd.  In  December  recorded  on  Yare  at  Barnham 
Broom  Dec.  18th  and  Keswick  Mill  Dec.  28th;  on  Tud  at  Honingham  mid-Dec. 


116 


Fieldfare:  East : a pair  summered  in  a coastal  locality,  also  recorded  at  Hickling  May 
29th  and  June  4th.  First  autumn  bird  Cley  Aug.  23rd. 

Redwing:  Extreme  dates  May  8th  (Holme)  and  Sept.  1st  (Wells).  In  addition  a pair 
summered  in  a locality  in  East  Norfolk,  at  which  the  male  was  heard  singing  on  a 
number  of  occasions. 

Black-throated  Thrush:  Central:  Coltishall  male  Feb.  21st-April  3rd  (RML  et  al). 
The  second  county  record  of  this  vagrant  from  Asia,  appearing  only  four  months 
after  the  first. 

Ring  Ouzel:  Spring:  recorded  April  3rd-May  8th,  with  maximum  of  9 at  Wells  and 
Winterton  May  2nd.  A late  male  at  Winterton  May  31st-June  3rd.  Autumn:  re- 
corded Sept.  18th-Nov.  5th,  with  maximum  of  4 at  Cley/Blakeney  Point  Sept. 
25th/26th  and  4 at  Yarmouth  Oct.  30th. 

Wheatear:  Spring  arrival  from  March  6th  (Snettisham).  Bred  at  Weeting  Heath 
(35  pairs)  and  Salthouse  (1-2  pairs).  An  unusual  number  of  late  autumn  sightings, 
with  6 in  November  (Breydon  and  Snettisham  3rd,  Norwich  Airport  5th,  Stoke 
Ferry  6th,  Sheringham  9th  and  Gorleston  13th). 

Stonechat:  Breeding  pairs  at  Weybourne  in  North,  and  from  East  at  Horsey/ 
Hemsby  (10)  and  Breydon  (2).  Maximum  winter  count,  10  Holme  Feb.  29th,  while 
a total  of  24  (7  ringed)  passed  through  Happisburgh  Oct. /Nov. 

Whinchat:  During  breeding  season  a pair  at  Fowl  Mere  May  16th,  but  no  evidence 
of  nesting.  Very  late  birds  recorded  at  Breydon  Nov.  9th- 13th  and  Upton  Nov.  20th. 
Redstart:  Extreme  dates  April  24th  (Winterton)  and  Oct.  31st  (Holkham  and 
Sheringham).  Recorded  during  breeding  season  in  Brecks  at  Cressingham  Arms 
(1  pair),  Two  Mile  Bottom  (2  pairs),  Weeting  (1  pair)  and  Thetford  Forest  (1  pair  in 
nesting  box);  and  in  North  at  Felbrigg  (male  in  song  in  May). 

Black  Redstart:  Breeding:  Yarmouth  10  singing  males  with  proof  of  breeding  at 
2 sites,  autumn  song  Sept.  27th-Oct.  17th.  Norwich  2 singing  males,  but  no  evidence 
of  nesting.  Hunstanton  immature  in  town  garden  July  18th.  Migrants:  maximum 
spring  count  6 Winterton  April  3rd  and  autumn  7 Happisburgh  Oct.  26th. 


117 


Ten  singing  male  Black  Redstarts 
spent  the  summer  at  Yarmouth. 


Nightingale :The  B.T.O.  National  Nightingale  Survey  revealed  the  following  singing 
males  in  the  county:  Brecks:  Brandon/Santon  4,  Didlington  3,  Foulden  Common  7, 
Narborough  5,  Quidenham  1,  St.  Helens  Well  1,  Thetford  2 and  Weeting  1.  Fens: 
Stoke  Ferry  3.  West:  Roydon  Common  2.  North:  Salthouse  Heath  7 and  Wey- 
bourne  1.  Central:  Alderford  Common  1,  Costessey  1,  Lenwade  Common  2 and 
Ringland  Hills  1.  Negative  returns  were  received  from  Braconash,  Attleborough, 
Felbrigg  and  West  Runton. 

Bluethroat:  Spring:  Titchwell  May  15th-17th  (male  red-spotted).  Autumn:  Winter- 
ton  Aug.  22nd,  Blakeney  Point  Aug.  28th  (2)  and  Sept.  16th-20th,  Holme  Sept.  19th, 
Overy  Staithe  Sept.  26th-28th.  Additional  1975  record,  Burnham  Overy  Sept.  13th. 

Robin:  Two  significant  autumn  falls,  each  involving  several  hundred  birds,  at  Sher- 
ingham  Sept.  25th  and  Happisburgh  last  week  of  October. 

Grasshopper  Warbler:  Spring  arrival  from  May  1st  (Caister).  More  breeding  season 
records  notified  than  for  several  years  including  singles  at  East  Tuddenham, 
Massingham  Heath,  St.  Helen’s  Well  and  Thetford  Warren. 

Cetti’s  Warbler:  Broads:  a total  of  22  singing  males  in  the  Yare  valley.  Elsewhere, 
single  males  in  song  at  Hardley  Flood,  Burgh  Castle  and  near  Beccles. 

Savi’s  Warbler:  North:  Holkham  Oct.  13th  (GPC).  Broads:  Hickling  one  singing 
May  9th  (PRA,  ADB).  Martham  one  singing  May  24th  (JC,  JD).  Hardley  one 
singing  May  29th- June  3rd  (GED,  JCE).  Additional  1975  Broads  record  July  31- 
Aug.  1st  (JC). 

Reed  Warbler:  Spring  arrival  from  early  date  of  April  16th  (Welney),  with  last 
autumn  record  Oct.  10th  (Winterton). 

Sedge  Warbler:  Extreme  dates  April  17th  (Martham  Broad)  and  Oct.  3rd  (Winter- 
ton). 

Aquatic  Warbler:  North:  Cley  Aug.  15th-23rd  (DJH  et  al ).  Blakeney  Point  Aug* 
14th  (JK  et  al),  22nd  (ES  et  al),  30th  (SH,  GKR)  and  Sept.  26th  (MSC,  KMM  et  al)- 

Icterine  Warbler:  North:  Blakeney  Point  Aug.  22nd  (2-3)  and  23rd.  Hunstanton 
GC  Aug.  31st.  East:  Yarmouth  Aug.  15th.  Winterton  Aug.  15th  and  29th.  Paston 
Aug.  30th 

Blackcap:  January  record:  Sprowston  3rd.  December  records:  Holme  up  to  4 all 
month,  Sheringham  10th,  Holt  11th  and  29th,  Morston  11th  (2),  Gaywood  14th, 
Holkham  15th  and  Blakeney  23rd.  Wintering  blackcaps  were  recorded  in  some 
numbers  throughout  Britain. 

Barred  Warbler:  North:  Hunstanton  GC  Sept.  5th.  Holme  Aug.  15th- 16th,  24th- 
31st,  Sept.  2nd-8th  (up  to  2),  16th-18th,  19th-24th  (2)  and  Oct.  18th.  Blakeney 
Point  Aug.  28th  with  2 on  29th.  Cley  Aug.  23rd,  Sept.  12th  and  16th.  Sheringham 
Sept.  13th  and  21st.  East:  Trimingham  Sept.  5th.  Waxham  Aug.  24th.  Winterton 
Sept.  4th-7th.  Happisburgh  one  ringed  Nov.  13th,  an  extremely  late  date. 

Lesser  Whitethroat:  North:  Sheringham,  one  of  Siberian  race,  S.c.blythi,  ringed 
Sept.  16th.  Late  bird  at  Wells  Oct.  31st. 

Fan  Tailed  Warbler:  North:  Cley  Aug.  24th  (JND)  and  Holme  Aug.  29th-Sept.  5th 
(JC,  OM,  PRC  et  al).  The  first  British  record  of  this  diminutive  grass  warbler  which 
has  spread  dramatically  across  Europe  since  1970. 

Greenish  Warbler:  North:  Blakeney  Point  Aug.  14th  (GED,  DJH).  Wells  Aug. 
21st-22nd  (TB,  GJH,  ET  et  al).  Holme  Aug.  28th-Sept.  3rd  (SCJ  et  al). 

Chiffchaff:  A wintering  bird  at  Bradwell  Jan.  21st-28th.  North:  Sheringham,  singles 
of  the  two  Northern  races  ringed  Oct.  2nd  ( abietinus ) and  26th/27th  ( tristis ).  East: 


118 


Three  Pallas’s  Warblers  occurred  on 
the  North  coast. 

Yarmouth,  an  influx  of  birds  showing  the  characteristics  of  one  of  the  Northern 
races  Oct.  28th/29th,  with  a maximum  of  6 and  a single  bird  remaining  until  Nov. 
15th.  Winterton,  one  of  Northern  race,  Nov.  7th. 

Wood  Warbler:  A spring  migrant  at  Wells  May  9th.  Breeding  season  records  of 
singing  males  from  Dersingham,  Sandringham  (2),  Foulden  Common,  Kelling  (2), 
Felbrigg  (3)  and  Ringstead.  Autumn  passage  migrants  at  Blakeney  Point  Aug.  15th, 
catching  flies  in  tea-house.  Holkham  Aug.  21st  and  30th.  Wells  Aug.  21st,  22nd 
and  Sept.  26th.  Yarmouth  Aug.  28th  and  Stiffkey  Aug.  29th. 

Bonelli’s  Warbler:  North:  Holkham  Sept.  5th  (KVP,  CM).  The  fourth  county 
record. 

Arctic  Warbler:  North:  Holme  Oct.  14th-19th  (PRC  et  al ).  The  seventh  county 
record. 

Yellow-browed  Warbler:  North:  Holme  Sept.  23rd.  East:  Yarmouth  Sept.  25th- 
27th  (2). 

Pallas’s  Warbler:  North:  Wells  Oct.  29th-31st  (SCJ  et  al).  Cley  Oct.  31st  (many 
observers).  Sheringham  Oct.  31st-Nov.  1st,  trapped  and  ringed  (DHS,  KBS,  MPT). 
Radde’s  Warbler:  East:  Waxham  Sept.  26th  (JW).  The  sixth  county  record  and  the 
first  away  from  the  north  coast. 

Dusky  Warbler:  North:  two  additional  records,  to  those  already  published  in 
NBR,  bringing  the  county  total  to  seven.  1968 — Holme,  a different  bird,  Nov.  10th 
(JAWM  et  al).  1973— Holkham  Oct.  7th  (SMG). 

Firecrest:  Spring:  singles  at  Cley,  East  Tuddenham,  Sheringham  and  Wells,  with 
2 at  Holme  April  2nd.  Autumn:  singles  at  Happisburgh,  Hickling,  Holkham, 
Honingham,  Yarmouth  and  Waxham,  while  one  which  arrived  at  East  Tudden- 
ham Oct.  11th,  remained  in  area  for  3-4  weeks  and  was  joined  by  at  least  2 others 
Oct.  28th. 

Spotted  Flycatcher:  East:  Winterton  Aug.  15th,  a fall  of  100  birds  is  worthy  of 
mention. 

Pied  Flycatcher:  Only  3 reported  in  spring:  Blakeney  Point  May  9th,  Knapton  10th 
and  Holme  29th.  Notable  autumn  influxes  at  Yarmouth  and  Sheringham  in  August. 
Late  bird  at  Yarmouth  Oct.  16th. 

Red-breasted  Flycatcher:  North:  Blakeney  Point  singles  Sept.  12th,  16th,  25th  and 
26th.  Titchwell  Sept.  17th. 

Richard’s  Pipit:  North:  Weybourne  Sept.  29th  (D.  Burkitt)  and  Oct.  2nd  (RL,  SL). 
Tawny  Pipit:  North:  West  Runton  Oct.  26th-31st  (MPL  et  al).  Blakeney  Point 
Aug.  25th  (FKC  et  al)  and  Oct.  30th  (SCJ).  East:  Winterton  Sept.  27th  (MJI). 
The  first  year  ever  in  which  Tawny  observations  have  outnumbered  Richard’s  pipit. 


119 


Olive-backed  Pipit:  North:  Holkham  Oct.  31st-Nov.  4th  (GBB,  CAEK  et  al ).  The 
second  county  record  of  this  vagrant  from  Asia,  following  the  first  in  1975. 

Rock  Pipit:  Very  late  bird  of  British  race,  Breydon  May  24th.  Reported  in  autumn 
from  Sept.  12th  (Holme). 

Water  Pipit:  Reported  from  Hickling  (March,  April,  Oct.  and  Nov.),  Snettisham 
March  llth-22nd)  and  Titchwell  (April  6th). 

Pied  Wagtail:  A nest  constructed  in  Norwich  Union  building,  Westlegate  (Norwich) 
was  70  feet  above  ground  level.  At  Coltishall  a reed-bed  roost  contained  up  to  400 
birds  in  Oct./Dec. 

Grey  Wagtail:  Only  5 breeding  records  received,  all  from  Central  Norfolk,  at 
Honingham,  Horstead,  Lyng,  Marlingford  and  Taverham. 

Blue-headed  Wagtail:  North:  Cley  May  1st  and  7th.  Holkham  May  8th.  Broads: 
Hickling  April  26th,  May  2nd  and  17th.  Ormesby  May  1st. 

Grey-headed  Wagtail:  North:  Wells  May  9th. 

Waxwing:  All  records  are  given.  Snettisham  Jan.  3rd.  Gaywood  Jan.  8th-Feb.  5th 
(up  to  11).  Sheringham  Jan.  31st.  Gorleston  Feb.  4th-March  2nd  (up  to  5)  and 
Dec.  30th  (4).  Not  since  1969  have  so  few  been  reported. 

Great  Grey  Shrike:  Usual  number  of  sightings  up  to  April  24th,  but  noticeably 
fewer  in  autumn  from  Sept.  24th.  Recorded  at  35  localities. 

Lesser  Grey  Shrike:  North:  Cley  Sept.  5th/6th  (JHWR  et  al).  The  second  autumn 
record  in  successive  years. 

Red-backed  Shrike:  Breeding  season:  A total  of  9 pairs  known  to  have  bred  in  the 
county,  but  records  from  Breckland  incomplete.  Spring  migrant(s)  noted  at  Holme 
and  Titchwell  May  11th.  An  unprecedented  autumn  passage,  at  least  for  recent 
years — North:  Hunstanton  Sept.  25th.  Holme  1-2  on  seven  dates  Aug.  14th-Oct. 
19th.  Titchwell  Oct.  24th.  Holkham/Wells  1-2  on  three  dates  Sept.  4th- 18th. 
Blakeney  Point  1-2  on  four  dates  Aug.  21st-Sept.  18th.  Cley  Sept.  8th.  Weybourne 
Sept.  18th.  Sheringham  Aug.  7th  and  Sept.  28th.  East:  Waxham  Sept.  26th/27th. 
Ridlington  Common  Sept.  1 lth-1 5th.  Winterton  Aug.  15th-Sept.  21st,  with  peak 
influx  of  7,  Sept.  5th-8th.  Yarmouth  Aug.  22nd.  Gorleston  Aug.  25th.  Broads: 
Hickling  Aug.  1st,  19th  and  29th. 

Hawfinch:  All  records  are  given.  Brecks : East  Wretham  Jan.  18th  (6),  Feb.  22nd  (20), 
Aug.  19th  (juvenile),  Oct.  13th  (3)  and  27th  (2).  Santon  Downham  April  10th  (10) 
and  June  12th.  St.  Helens  Well  May  7th.  Weeting  Heath  and  Cockley  Cley  June/ 
July  (2).  Cranworth  Nov.  28th  (6).  North:  Wiveton  Sept.  19th.  East:  North  Wal- 
sham  March  28th.  Central:  East  Tuddenham  March  2nd  (2),  Arminghall  24th, 
Keswick  26th  and  Colney  Hall  28th.  Swannington  Common  April  1st  (2).  Norwich 
May  4th.  Felthorpe  Aug.  24th  (juvenile).  Broads:  Salhouse  May  1st  (2). 
Goldfinch:  Impressive  totals  of  birds  on  spring  passage  included  records  in  the 
North  from  Sheringham  of  600  west  May  1st  and  520  west  May  11th;  from  Hap- 
pisburgh  in  the  East  of  750  north  April  30th  and  2000  south  May  10th. 

Siskin:  Only  one  report  suggesting  breeding,  a female  trapped  Aug.  14th  in  the 
late  stages  of  moult,  at  South  Runcton.  Maximum  numbers  during  the  first  part 
of  the  year — Sandringham  up  to  50  in  Jan.,  Norwich  15  Jan.  1st,  Horsford  30  March 
21st,  St.  Helen’s  Well  25  March  21st  and  15  May  18th,  Sheringham  107  ringed 
March — May.  Holkham  6 Oct.  28th,  were  the  only  ones  reported  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  year. 

Linnet:  Impressive  spring  passage  noted  at  two  localities  in  the  East.  Winterton 
northerly  movement  recorded  April  4th-May  1st,  with  peaks  April  18th  (1000), 


120 


19th  (1000)  and  25th  (5000).  Happisburgh  peak  of  northerly  passage  April  30th 

(2000). 

Mealy  Redpoll:  Wash:  Snettisham  15  Jan.  12th.  North:  Holme  6 May  9th.  Wells 
5 Jan.  3rd.  Sheringham  51  ringed  March-May. 

Arctic  Redpoll:  North:  Sheringham  2 trapped  and  ringed  March  21st  (DHS, 
KBS,  MPT).  Additional  1975  record  Blakeney  Point  Oct.  13th. 

Twite:  North:  Maximum  concentrations  Titchwell  500  wintering,  Holme  to  Thorn- 
ham  200  Nov.  7th  and  Cley/Salthouse  100  Oct.  31st  and  Dec.  28th.  East:  maximum 
counts  in  each  winter  Breydon  70  Feb.  17th  and  30  Oct.  10th.  Inland:  Buckenham 
Feb.  21st. 

Serin:  North:  Holme  singles  April  9th  and  May  24th  (PRC).  Additional  1975 
record  Holme  May  15th- 19th  (GBB,  PRC,  DMW). 

Brambling:  In  early  part  of  year  300  in  Jan.  at  Titchwell  and  300  April  26th  in 
Thetford/Santon  Downham  area  (including  100  at  St.  Helen’s  Well).  At  Caister 
refuse  tip  a remarkable  build  up  occurred  with  300  Feb.  4th,  1000  on  5th  and  2000 
on  15th  remaining  until  20th.  During  latter  half  of  year  very  scarce  despite  excellent 
beech-mast  crop,  with  maximum  at  Felbrigg  50  Dec.  11th. 

Corn  Bunting:  Noted  during  breeding  season  at  Breydon,  Cley,  Cockthorpe, 
Happisburgh,  Hemsby,  Horsey,  Horsford,  Martham,  Rackheath,  Overy  Staithe, 
Sant  on  Downham,  Swaffham,  Swafield  and  Waxham.  Jan.  peak  of  44  at  Breydon. 

Ortolan  Bunting:  North:  Blakeney  Point  singles  Aug.  14th,  16th/ 17th,  31st,  Sept. 
12th,  16th  and  19th.  Morston  Sept.  17th. 

Little  Bunting:  North:  Cley  Sept.  27th  (SJR,  MJG). 

Lapland  Bunting:  North:  Cley  14  Jan.  18th-March  13th  and  9 Oct.  5th.  Elsewhere 
up  to  6 at  Blakeney  Point,  Holme,  Kelling,  Morston,  Sheringham,  Stilfkey  and 
Wells,  extreme  dates  April  18th  and  Sept.  12th.  East:  up  to  3 at  Breydon,  2 at 
Bacton  and  singles  at  Winterton. 

Snow  Bunting:  Extreme  dates  May  16th  (Winterton)  and  Sept.  12th  (Cley).  North: 
maximum  counts  Holme  250  Jan.  1st  and  300  Dec.  4th;  Titchwell  200  Nov.  9th; 
Brancaster  100  Jan.  5th;  Cley  150  Feb.  17th  and  300  Nov.  2nd.  East:  Happisburgh 
up  to  30  in  Oct.  and  Winterton  33  Nov.  17th. 

Ring-necked  Parakeet:  A pattern  is  already  emerging  of  a peak  during  the  autumn. 
Brecks:  Downham  Market  Aug.  3rd.  North:  Flolme  Sept.  29th  and  Oct.  1st. 
Salthouse  Heath  Oct.  1st.  Sheringham  singles  flying  west  April  11th,  May  22nd, 
Sept.  29th,  Oct.  4th,  5th  and  10th.  East:  Caister:  Sept.  28th  and  Nov.  9th  (2). 
Fritton  2 Dec.  5th.  Broads:  How  Hill  Aug.  27th  and  Sept.  1st.  Hickling  1-2  on 
several  dates.  Additional  1975  records — Stiffkey  June  3rd,  Holme  Aug.  7th  and 
Yarmouth  Nov.  29th. 

The  following,  not  mentioned  in  the  Classified  Notes,  were  also  recorded  in 
1976  ( breeding  species  in  italics):  Gannet,  Mallard,  Teal,  Canada  Goose,  Mute 
Swan,  Kestrel,  Red-legged  Partridge,  Partridge,  Pheasant,  Water-rail,  Moorhen, 
Snipe,  Curlew,  Great  Black-backed  Gull,  Kittiwake,  Guillemot,  Stock  Dow, 
Cuckoo,  Tawny  Owl,  Green  Woodpecker,  Great  Spotted  Woodpecker,  Lesser  Spotted 
Woodpecker,  Skylark,  Swallow,  Carrion  Crow,  Rook,  Magpie,  Jay,  Great  Tit, 
Blue  Tit,  Coal  Tit,  Marsh  Tit,  Willow  Tit,  Long-tailed  Tit,  Nuthatch,  Treecreeper, 
Mistle  Thrush,  Song  Thrush,  Blackbird,  Garden  Warbler,  Whitethroat,  Willow  War- 
bler, Goldcrest,  Dunnock,  Meadow  Pipit,  Tree  Pipit,  White  Wagtail,  Yellow  Wagtail, 
Starling,  Greenfinch,  Redpoll,  Bullfinch,  Crossbill,  Chaffinch,  Yellowhammer, 
Reed  Bunting,  House  Sparrow  and  Tree  Sparrow. 


121 


CONTRIBUTORS  TO  BIRD  REPORT 


S.  ABBOT 

P.  Aldous 
P.  R.  Allard 

T.  Andrew artha 

C.  N.  Arnold 
K.  Bailey 

M.  Baker 
Dr.  R.  E.  Baker 

S.  Banks 
G.  S.  Baven 

D.  P.  Bell 
R.  A.  Benson 
K.  Bicknell 
J.  L.  Bishop 
W.  F.  Bishop 
Canon  H.  Blackburne 
M.  Blackburn 

B.  Bland 
P.  D.  Boardman 

T.  Boltwood 

A.  D.  Boote 
T.  E.  Boulton 
M.  A.  Brazil 

Mrs.  M.  A.  Brewster 

British  Birds 

Dr.  C.  H.  Brookings 

B.  J.  Brown 

C.  W.  Brown 

D.  Brown 
G.  B.  Brown 
J.  Brown 

P.  Brown 
Miss  P.  E.  Brown 
R.  C.  Buchanan 
Miss  M.  S.  Buchanan 
D.  J.  Buckler 

A.  L.  Bull 

D.  A.  Burkett 
D.  Butcher 
J.  Butcher 
J.  J.  Buxton 
M.  A.  Buxton 
Dr.  J.  Cadbury 
J.  Campton 

G.  P.  Catley 
M.  S.  Chapman 
J.  Charman 

J.  Clarke 
P.  R.  Clarke 

F.  K.  Cobb 

B.  Cobbold 
J.  Codling 
P.  N.  Collin 
J.  C.  Comer 
T.  Corcoran 

M.  J.  Cracknell 

H.  P.  Crawley 
J.  Day 

T.  Dean 

G.  Dixon 

D.  A.  Dorling 

G.  Dormer 

G.  Douglas 
P.  A.  Dukes 
G.  E.  Dunmore 
A.  J.  Dunn 
J.  N.  Dymond 

E.  Eales 

Eastern  Daily  Press 

G.  M.  Easy 
J.  C.  Eaton 

H.  Edwards 
Dr.  E.  A.  Ellis 
M.  D.  England 
R.  J.  Fairbank 
A.  J.  Fairchild 

F.  J.  Farrow 
P.  Feekes 

D.  Foster 
Mrs.  O.  Fowler 
J.  Freeman 


Miss  J.  Fretwell 
M.  P.  Frost 
S.  M.  Gantlett 

R.  W.  Garner 

F.  T.  Gates 

Dr.  J.  D.  Geeson 

C.  J.  Gibbins 

D.  Giles 
D.  J.  Gill 

J.  G.  Goldsmith 
P.  J.  Gotham 
D.  B.  Grant 
J.  H.  Green 
M.  J.  Greenwood 
J.  P.  Guest 

A.  J.  Hale 

A.  G.  Hall 

L.  T.  Hall 

Gp.  Capt.  H.  N.  Hampton 

R.  Hancy 

Rev.  A.  M.  Handley 

M.  H ANN ANT 

S.  Harrap 

R.  H.  Harrison 
M.  Hassell 

R.  Hay 

T.  M.  Head 

C.  D.  R.  Heard 

S.  J.  Hayhow 

D.  J.  Holman 

Holme  Bird  Observatory 

S.  W.  Holmes 
R.  D.  Hooper 
R.  How 

C.  J.  Humpage 

C.  D.  Ingram 
M.  J.  Inskip 

T.  P.  Inskip 

H.  Insley 

B.  W.  Jarvis 

G.  Jessup 
G.  L.  Jobson 
R.  J.  Johns 

R.  F.  Jones 

S.  C.  Joyner 
Z.  Karpowicz 
G.  J.  Kelly 

J.  B.  Kemp 

J.  Kettle 

M.  D.  Kings  well 

D.  Kirk 

C.  A.  Kirtland 
C.  R.  Knights 
A.  J.  Last 

T.  Lawrence 
M.  P.  Lee 

Dr.  R.  M.  Leaney 
S.  E.  Linsell 

C.  J.  Lowe 

R.  Ludford 

S.  C.  Ludford 

D.  S.  McDougall 
Miss  E.  McEwen 
P J.  McCann 

B Madden 
J.  D.  Magee 

I.  G.  Manklow 
R.  C.  Mansfield 

J.  H.  Marchant 
O.  Marks 

T.  Marshall 
M.  Marsh 

J.  C.  Marsham 

J.  P.  Martin 

K.  Martin  Jones 

C.  Mason 
Miss  A.  H.  May 
G.  W.  Maybury 

D.  G.  Mills 

E.  Milne-Redhead 
A.  V.  Moon 


D.  R.  Moore 

I.  Moore 

K.  M.  Morgan 
H.  F.  Murland 

J.  A.  W.  Moyes 

Nar  Valley  Ornithological  Society 
National  Trust 
Nature  Conservancy 
Deaconess  M.  Newton 

K.  Noble 
P.  J.  Oliver 
B.  P.  Ottley 
M.  D.  Ottley 
D.  L.  Ovendon 

Mr.  & Mrs.  E.  R.  Parrinder 

R.  W.  Payne 

D.  J.  Pearson 

Dr.  C.  P.  Petch 

Mrs.  I.  A.  Phelps 

R.  Powley 

P.  Prior 

W.  H.  Priestley 

K.  V.  Pritchard 

B.  A.  Rackham 
J.  L.  Raincock 

M.  Ramsey 

A.  P.  Randell 

N.  J.  Redman 
G.  K.  Richards 

R.  A.  Richardson 
D.  I.  Richmond 

J.  H.  W.  Ridley 
J.  R.  Riley 

S.  J.  Riley 
A.  B.  Roe 

L.  Rogers 
R.S.P.B. 

D.  H.  Sadler 

J.  Sandford 

K.  G.  Saul 

M.  J.  Seago 

K.  B.  Shepherd 
Sheringham  Ringing  Report 

N.  Sills 
R.  Skelton 

E.  J.  Skoyles 

C.  Slater 
M.  E.  Smith 

M.  J.  Snoxell 
R.  Standing 
Mrs.  E.  Stanford 

T.  Talbot 

D.  H.  Talks 

Dr.  M.  P.  Taylor 

E.  Thompson 
W.  Thorne 

J.  R.  Topham-Haynes 
P.  Trett 

J.  S.  Trimingham 

D.  Tutt 

Mrs.  B.  M.  Unsworth 

A.  E.  Vine 

Miss  J.  Wakefield 

A.  J.  Wallis 

P.  G.  Walmsley 

P.  & R.  Watton 

K.  G.  Ward 

F.  A.  Wardman 

R.  J.  Waters 
C.  H.  Watson 

S.  A.  Webb 
R.  Wells 

J.  P.  Widgery 

J.  R.  Whitelegg 
Wildfowl  Trust 

K.  L.  Williams 

N.  Williams 
M.  Woodcock 

E.  R.  Wright 
R.  Wyatt 


122 


NORFOLK 

MAMMAL 

REPORT 

1976 


Editorial 

The  Editor  is  pleased  to  present  the  21st  Norfolk  Mammal  Report.  Even  though 
this  particular  number  has  lost  some  of  its  former  significance  it  is  pleasing  to  note 
that  this  junior  section  of  our  publication  has  come  of  age. 

The  report  owes  its  existence  to  the  observations  and  records  submitted  by 
members  and  friends  and  our  thanks  go  to  all  contributors.  All  information, 
however  small  in  quantity  and  seemingly  trivial  in  content,  is  received  gratefully. 
Indeed,  the  Editor’s  greatest  difficulty  is  eliciting  more  scraps  about  the  common- 
place. The  House  Mouse  is  a good  example  of  a widespread  and  numerous  species 
that  is  under  recorded.  The  official  distribution  map  for  the  whole  country  is 
largely  blank!  The  Wildlife  Youth  Service  of  the  World  Wildlife  Fund  is  running  a 
special  project  during  1977  in  an  attempt  to  make  the  map  more  realistic.  Other 
lines  that  members  may  wish  to  follow  may  be  found  in  the  Classified  Notes. 

Road  casualties  noted  on  a particular  stretch  of  road  that  is  used  regularly  can 
give  interesting  and  useful  figures.  Many  previous  Bird  as  well  as  Mammal  Reports 
have  listed  the  casualties  found  on  the  A47  Yarmouth  to  Stracey  Arms  stretch. 
During  1976  mammal  fatalities  were:  Rat  97,  Rabbit  78,  Hare  28,  Stoat  6,  Coypu  1. 
Regular  checks  in  a garden,  a length  of  hedgerow,  taken  over  a period  of  years,  give 
data  that  may  help  in  assessing  local  trends. 

Our  last  Report  gave  an  ultra-brief  account  of  the  work  of  Chris  Mason  and 
Sheila  MacDonald  on  the  status  of  the  otter  in  Norfolk,  based  on  the  publication  of 
their  findings.  The  Editor  felt  that  our  members  deserved  and  needed  a full,  clear 
statement  by  the  researchers  themselves  detailing  their  methods,  findings  and 
proposals.  Time  did  not  permit  inclusion  last  year  and  since  then  they  have  been 
quoted,  misquoted  and  contradicted  many  times  in  the  public  debate  that  continues. 
We  are  most  grateful  to  them  for  contributing  a special  article  for  this  report  that 
should  ensure  our  members  are  fully  conversant  with  the  evidence  and  able  to 
judge  for  themselves  the  importance  and  urgency  of  the  actions  they  suggest  should 
be  taken. 


123 


Loss  of  habitat  is  having  a marked  effect  on  more  than  one  species  as  can  be 
seen  in  the  Classified  Notes.  On  the  other  hand,  certain  features  of  the  changing 
landscape  of  Norfolk  are  beneficial  to  others.  If  Greater  Norwich  includes  the 
radiating  dormitory  suburbs  with  their  pockets  of  woodland,  parks,  cultivated  and 
neglected  grounds,  together  with  the  hedges  and  shrubs  attendant  upon  the  dwel- 
lings, then  Norwich  is  comparatively  rich  in  species.  Of  course,  a temporary  haven 
can  succumb  rapidly  to  human  pressure  when,  for  instance,  a small  wood  is  taken 
into  corporate  ownership  and  is  opened  to  the  public. 

Mention  must  be  made  of  the  increasing  number  of  young  mammals  that  are 
being  fostered.  The  vastly  increased  and  intelligent  interest  in  wildlife  has  led  to 
many  more  people  being  prepared  to  take  practical  action  when  they  see  distress, 
and  this  is  wholly  admirable.  However,  many  of  these  supposed  waifs  and  strays 
may  well  be  retrieved  by  their  natural  parent  if  left  alone  and  the  human  element 
removed.  The  time  has  to  come  when  the  young  animal  is  released  into  the  wild  and 
the  preparation  for  this  major  event  in  its  life  is  a highly  complex  and  specialist 
task,  with  an  unhappily  low  expectation  of  success.  The  greatest  possible  care  should 
be  taken  to  ensure  that  human  intervention  is  necessary  or  desirable. 

Special  thanks  go  to  Philip  Wayre  for  his  fine  photograph  of  an  otter  that 
enhances  our  major  article  and  to  Morris  Gosling  for  bringing  us  up  to  date  on 
coypu  control.  The  Editor  records  his  personal  thanks  to  Bill  Vaughan,  Seal  Re- 
search Division,  Institute  for  Marine  Environmental  Research,  to  Rex  Whitta, 
Wildlife  Ranger  for  the  Forestry  Commission,  to  Arthur  Woodhams,  Pest  Control 
Officer,  M.A.F.F.,  for  their  invaluable  specialist  contributions  and  finally  to  John 
Goldsmith  for  his  constant  practical  assistance.  John  continues  to  answer  queries 
addressed  to  him  c/o  The  Castle  Museum,  Norwich,  NR1  3JU.  Tel:  Norwich  22233 
ext.  649. 


Contributions  for  the  1977  report  should  be  sent  to  R.  C.  Haney.  124  Fakenham 
Road,  Taverham,  Norwich,  NR8  6QH,  by  the  end  of  January,  1978. 


124 


Classified  notes 

INSECTIVORA 

Whether  or  not  the  drought  had  any  marked  effect  on  the  population  it  does  seem 
probable  that  the  parched  state  of  our  gardens  forced  many  Hedgehogs  to  forage 
where  conditions  were  more  suitable.  Many  of  our  hedgehog  watchers  report 
markedly  fewer  visitors  and  fewer  road  casualties  during  the  whole  of  the  summer. 
Their  fears  were  probably  allayed  during  the  following  spring  but  the  proof  will  be 
seen  when  the  next  annual  records  come  in.  Many  of  our  small  mammals  drink 
little  water  as  such.  If  their  normal  food  plants  or  prey  species  can  be  found  most 
of  their  requirement  is  met  by  its  consumption.  A more  serious  threat  is  highlighted 
by  a contributor  from  central  Norfolk  who  notes  a marked  decline  possibly  due  to 
hedgerow  removal  and  the  reclamation  of  rough  ground  and  field  corners  for 
farming. 

Three  adult  opportunists,  no  doubt  topping  up  their  intake,  were  seen  at  the 
height  of  the  drought  drinking  from  a bird-bath  in  Saxthorpe.  Another  moved  in 
with  a pet  tortoise  in  Norwich  and  produced  three  young. 

After  carefully  selected  garden  plants  had  been  given  measured  rations  of 
bath  water  it  was  frustrating  to  see  them  uprooted  by  Moles.  On  a larger  scale, 
definite  moves  to  lower,  moister  ground  wer e apparent  in  certain  districts. 

The  only  Water  Shrews  reported  were  from  West  Norfolk.  This  is  a fascinating 
mammal  to  watch  hunting  in  the  clear  water  it  favours.  It  is  said  to  be  particularly 
fond  of  water-cress  beds  though  it  is  quite  versatile  and  can  be  found  some  distance 
from  a stream.  Bird  of  prey  pellets  collected  from  possible  habitats  would  be  wel- 
comed for  analysis. 


CHIROPTERA 

Information  on  this  group  is  scarce  in  the  extreme.  Bats  on  the  wing  are  impossible 
to  identify  with  certainty  but  members  can  be  assured  that  non-specific  reports 
are  most  acceptable.  Even  the  most  general  comments  from  defined  areas,  if  repeated 
over  a number  of  years,  are  valuable.  While  hard  facts  are  difficult  to  come  by, 
comments  to  hand  do  indicate  that  a marked  decline  in  overall  numbers  has  been 
continuing  in  many  districts  for  some  time. 

The  Thetford  experiment  with  bat  boxes  continues  promisingly.  At  Ludham 
the  Noctules  again  used  the  box  for  a short  period  before  leaving  for  another  roost 
several  yards  away.  The  highest  evening  count,  adding  those  emerging  from  the  box 
to  those  from  an  adjacent  natural  site,  stood  at  64.  This  has  been  a successful  and 
encouraging  experiment.  Yet  a big  question  remains.  Where  are  the  bats  in  winter? 

A great  deal  of  time  has  been  spent  locating  and  examining  possible  winter 
roosts,  with  very  little  success.  This  is  still  a very  mysterious  group  and  a great  deal 
of  work  has  to  be  done  to  understand  them  enough  to  give  the  help  they  may  well 
need,  but  this  is  another  case  where  our  thirst  for  knowledge  must  be  tempered  with 
discretion.  Temperature  and  humidity  must  be  within  fairly  close  limits  and  can 
easily  upset.  Disturbance  of  habitat  already  under  pressure  is  as  we  know  a major 
contribution  to  the  decline  of  many  species. 

An  interesting  coincidence  featured  in  a report  of  their  years  observations 
submitted  jointly  by  two  friends  living  in  North  Norfolk.  One  reported  a Long- 


125 


eared  bat  caught  by  a cat  in  Holt  during  May  and  the  other  noted  a parallel  incident 
in  Itteringham  during  August. 

LAGOMORPHA 

With  a number  of  strains  of  myxomatosis  in  the  county  and  Rabbit  colonies  devel- 
oping varying  degrees  of  immunity,  the  pattern  is  very  confused.  In  some  areas 
disease  has  almost  eliminated  the  population  but  in  others  is  reported  to  have 
exercised  virtually  no  control,  with  varying  degrees  of  effectiveness  between  these 
two  extremes.  The  most  casual  observer  is  almost  bound  to  see  them  in  the  county 
and  one  small  colony  is  reported  to  be  established  in  gardens  quite  near  the  city 
centre.  A frequent  query  during  1976  linked  the  Hare  with  myxomatosis.  We  have 
no  records  of  this  species  being  affected  but  are  assured  that  one  case  is  on  record 
from  the  early  onslaught  of  the  disease  in  this  country.  The  occurrance  must  be 
extremely  rare  due  to  the  method  of  transmission.  Locally  abundant,  and  increasing 
in  South-West  Norfolk,  there  are  very  large  areas,  particularly  in  Central  Norfolk, 
where  numbers  of  hares  continue  to  fall.  One  corrspondent  suggests  that  the  leverets 
are  very  easy  pickings  for  the  foxes  which  quarter  the  fields  in  the  district  he  reviews. 

RODENTIA 

The  Short-tailed  Field  Vole  is  probably  a frequent  visitor  to  the  ground  below  our 
bird  tables  but  is  infrequently  observed.  A Taverham  contributor  however  has  seen 
them  regularly  and  has  been  impressed  by  their  turn  of  speed.  Another  regular 
contributor  whose  car  is  in  effect  a mobile  hide,  watched  a field  vole  running  aim- 
lessly up  and  down  beside  her  vehicle  and  on  another  occasion  saw  one  attacked 
by  a Jay  as  it  crossed  the  road.  Their  presence  can  be  detected  by  characteristic 
runs  between  the  lowest  stems  of  the  grasses  and  of  course  in  owl  pellet  remains. 

The  status  of  the  Water  Vole  continues  to  improve.  They  have  been  found 
along  the  Tud  and  the  middle  Wensum,  indeed,  sightings  have  been  reported  from 
Norwich  Yacht  Station.  At  Hockham  Fen  a Heron  fed  young  to  its  nestlings. 

The  Editorial  mentions  the  difficulty  of  compiling  accurate  distribution  maps 
for  our  small  mammals.  Many  interesting  questions  remain  unanswered  including 


126 


some  on  the  relationship  between  the  Wood  Mouse  and  the  House  Mouse.  For 
instance,  has  the  former  filled  niches  vacated  by  the  latter?  At  Lyng,  a trapping 
campaign  at  the  end  of  the  year  produced  equal  numbers  of  the  two  species.  At 
nearby  Honingham,  the  Wood  Mouse  proved  a persistent  nuisance  in  the  apple 
store.  Outside  in  the  same  village,  good  numbers  of  Harvest  Mice  were  found  in 
ricks.  A roadside  nest  was  found  at  Aldborough  and  another  on  the  fringe  of  the 
golf  course  at  Norwich.  A real  mystery  mammal,  so  far  as  Norfolk  is  concerned, 
is  the  Yellow-necked  Mouse.  Somewhat  larger  than  the  Wood  Mouse  and  rather 
more  clearly  marked,  its  yellow  collar  is  its  distinctive  feature.  Colonies  often  share 
habitats  with  Wood  Mice.  If  unusually  large  mice  are  noted  or  suspected,  please 
contact  the  Editor  or  the  Castle  Museum. 

The  current  Coypu  situation  is  very  clearly  set  out  in  this  special  note  from 
Dr.  L.  M.  Gosling,  Coypu  Research  Laboratory,  M.A.F.F..  “After  reaching  a peak 
in  late  1975,  the  East  Anglian  coypu  population  is  currently  declining.  The  reduction 
is  due  to  an  increased  trapping  force  (eighteen  men  since  1975)  and  an  improved 
overall  control  strategy.  In  the  six  months  from  October  1975,  when  the  improved 
strategy  commenced,  to  March  1976,  a total  of  8,127  coypus  were  killed.  In  the 
comparable  period  ending  in  March  1977,  a total  of  5,616  were  accounted  for.  The 
decline  of  31%  reflects  a similar  reduction  in  the  live  population.  Numbers  are 
expected  to  fall  again  in  the  coming  winter  leaving  an  adult  population  of  less  than 
3,000  in  the  spring  of  1978.  The  range  of  the  population  expanded  slightly  during 
1975  when  the  population  reached  its  maximum  size  and  small  colonies  have 
recently  been  detected  in  north  Essex  and  west  Suffolk.  These  colonies  are  currently 
being  trapped  and  further  emigration  will  probably  cease  as  the  total  population 
is  reduced.” 

It  is  very  gratifying  to  hear  that  our  native  Red  Squirrel  prospered  during  the 
year  in  at  least  one  part  of  the  county.  Thetford  Forest  contains  so  much  ideal 
habitat  that  it  may  well  be  one  of  the  final  national  strongholds  for  this  species. 
Elsewhere  the  news  is  less  hopeful.  Many  reports  speak  of  fewer  sightings  in  old 
strongholds,  though  the  fink  with  the  presence  of  greys  is  not  necessarily  made.  One 
correspondent  watched,  on  separate  occasions,  one  collect  beech  nuts,  one  collect 
acorns  and  another  sit  down  beside  her  husband  and  eat  a mushroom.  However, 
in  the  year  under  review  the  Grey  Squirrel  really  demonstrated  that  it  is  here  to  stay 
and  its  pest  potential.  Many  would-be  controllers  found  it  to  be  a most  elusive 
quarry  and  any  killed  were  quickly  replaced  by  others  moving  in.  Keswick  Hall  park 
was  until  recently  a red  stronghold  but  the  only  sightings  were  of  greys.  Norwich 
suburbs  provide  more  records  and  their  regular  appearance  at  bird  tables  and 


127 


garden  feeding  stations  can  soon  be  expected.  Their  boldness  and  superficially 
engaging  ways  may  well  make  kind-hearted  folk  overlook  what  they  are  likely  to 
do  to  their  bird  nesting-boxes  in  the  spring. 

CARNIVORA 

Judging  by  the  many  accounts  of  widespread  steady  increases,  the  Red  Fox  is  the 
one  large  land  carnivore  that  can  cope  with  life  in  twentieth  century  Norfolk. 
Their  territories  vary  in  size,  but  they  can,  and  do,  travel  long  distances.  Apparent 
seasonal  increases  in  adults,  however  are  more  often  due  to  greater  pressure  to  take 
prey  where  there  is  more  chance  of  being  detected  and  a decline  in  natural  cover. 
There  are  strange  gaps  in  the  county  distribution  map — the  presence  of  more  rabbits 
does  not  necessarily  lead  to  an  abundance  of  their  obvious  predator.  Attempts  to 
read  signs  could  be  fruitful.  Mention  has  been  made  of  criss-cross  tracks  over  the 
fields  in  one  district.  Runs  through  hedges  and  under  low  barbed  wire  should  be 
examined  for  tell-tale  hair. 

The  reappearance  of  a Badger  in  setts  long  unused  has  given  some  cheer  but 
is  no  cause  for  complacency.  Stocks  are  very  low  and  even  if  everything  were  in 
their  favour  it  would  be  some  time  before  badgers  reached  a level  approaching  the 
county  capacity. 

The  Ctteris  the  subject  of  our  major  article  and  depressing  as  the  situation  it 
portrays  may  seem,  reports  submitted  for  1976  do  nothing  to  relieve  the  gloom. 
Contributions  from  entirely  reliable  observers  from  certain  key  areas  speak  not 
just  of  no  sightings  but  of  no  signs  during  the  year.  The  recent  publicity  given  to 
this  mammal  has  made  almost  everyone  in  the  county  aware  of  the  problem  and  in 
spite  of  the  blinkered  attitude  of  a minority,  created  an  enormous  amount  of  good- 
will. This  benevolence  has  yet  to  be  channelled  into  positive  restraint  by  all  users 
of  our  waterways  and  active  conservation  attitudes  by  the  essential  minimum  pro- 
portion of  those  who  control  them. 

Stoats  had  a good  year,  in  fact  rather  too  good  at  Scolt  Head  Island  where  a 
female  and  five  young  wrought  havoc  among  tern  chicks.  Two  reports  from  central 
Norfolk  say  they  are  more  common  than  for  several  years.  Weasels  too  were  fre- 
quently observed.  One  was  found  eating  a dead  hare  on  a road  near  Thetford  and 
another  was  seen  swimming  the  river  at  Hunworth.  One  found  dead  in  a Saxthorpe 
garden  was  thought  to  have  come  off  second  best  in  an  encounter  with  a cat. 

The  rare  glimpses  of  American  Mink  including  one  with  young,  confirm  that 
this  potential  pest  is  still  with  us,  but  its  true  status  is  difficult  to  assess.  At  least 


128 


there  are  no  indications  that  this  quiet  and  elusive  predator  is  causing  obvious 
damage  at  present. 

Dr.  R.  W.  Vaughan  of  the  Seals  Research  Unit  sums  up  the  East  Anglian  seal 
news  as  “situation  normal”.  Numbers  in  the  Wash  show  no  significant  change.  At 
least  one  Common  Seal  made  an  up-river  excursion  and  was  seen  in  the  Yare  at 
Bemey  Arms  on  December  23rd.  The  Editor  would  be  interested  to  hear  from 
members  with  a literary  or  historic  interest  who  have  found  references  to  seals  in 
rivers  in  parish  documents  or  any  other  unpublished  material. 

The  entire  world  population  of  the  Grey  Seal  is  much  lower  than  that  of  the 
Common  Seal  and  the  British  Isles  provide  its  most  important  breeding  grounds. 
We  are  fortunate  that  our  small  Norfolk  colonies  appear  to  be  well  established. 

ARTIODACTYLA 

The  Red  Deer  that  met  an  unfortunate  end  in  Catton  during  the  summer  was 
probably  one  of  the  group  that  had  been  seen  from  time  to  time  for  several  years 
on  the  eastern  outskirts  of  Norwich.  New  reports  have  come  from  Horsford. 
An  unexpected  confrontation  with  one  of  these  beasts  can  be  equally  alarming 
for  both  parties  but  in  a suburban  area  the  excitement  caused  by  their  presence 
usually  means  trouble  for  the  deer.  The  Thetford  herd  is  in  a very  healthy  state  and, 
generally,  deer  in  Norfolk  are  thriving.  Chinese  Water  Deer  are  well-established  and 
the  Muntjac,  with  its  tiny  footprints  so  difficult  to  trace,  appears  to  be  increasing 
its  range.  Great  interest  was  aroused  in  the  Felthorpe,  Horsford,  Taverham  area 
during  the  autumn  by  the  all  white,  young  Fallow  buck,  presumably  from  the  local 
herd,  which  was  seen  by  many  locals.  As  it  was  just  about  to  pass  into  local  legend 
it  reappeared  during  the  following  spring  and  could  be  seen  running  with  a herd 
of  young  bullocks.  The  experiment  with  colour  coding  Roe  Deer  in  Thetford  Forest 
to  monitor  movements  can  be  followed  by  visiting  the  Forestry  Commission  Office 
at  Santon  Downham.  members  can  help  by  passing  on  their  observations  if  they  are 
fortunate  enough  to  see  any  of  the  animals  concerned. 


129 


OTTERS 

IN  NORFOLK 

C.  F.  Mason  and  S.  M.  Macdonald 
Department  of  Biology,  University  of  Essex,  and 
Department  of  Zoology  and  Comparative  Physiology,  University  of  Birmingham. 


INTRODUCTION 

Norfolk  waterways  should  provide  optimum  habitats  for  otters.  The  rivers  are  slow 
moving,  weedy  and  support  dense  populations  of  coarse  fishes  which  form  the 
preferred  food  of  otters.  The  country  also  has  large  areas  of  fen  and  reedswamp, 
especially  in  Broadland,  which  are  ideal  for  otters,  and  the  extensive  salt-marshes 
on  the  northern  coast  provide  additional  feeding  areas. 

Early  reports  tend  to  confirm  this  suitability  of  Norfolk  for  otters.  Stephens 
(1957)  described  the  species  as  numerous,  though  her  results  were  based  on  hearsay 
rather  than  on  survey,  and  Hewer  (1974)  considered  that  otters  were  holding  their 
own,  based  on  reports  from  the  local  otter  hunt.  However,  the  Norfolk  Mammal 
Report  for  1972  stated  that,  “no-where  in  the  county  do  otters  occur  as  frequently 
as  they  did  even  ten  years  ago”,  though  again  this  is  based  on  casual  observations. 
In  1974,  Dr.  S.  Erlinge,  who  has  studied  otters  in  Sweden  for  a number  of  years, 
visited  England  and,  after  examining  three  areas  of  Norfolk,  concluded  that  the 
population  was  very  sparse.  We  decided,  therefore,  that  a comprehensive  and 
objective  survey  of  the  whole  county  was  urgently  required  and  this  we  undertook 
during  late  1974  and  the  first  half  of  1975. 


THE  NORFOLK  SURVEY 

Otters  are  exceptionally  difficult  animals  to  count,  owing  to  their  extreme  shyness 
and  nocturnal  habits.  However  they  leave  sweet-scented  scats,  or  spraints,  in 
prominent  sites  along  watercourses  and  which  act  as  recognition  and  home-range 
markers  among  otters.  The  banks  of  Norfolk  rivers  are  relatively  free  of  prominent 
sites  and  are  too  deep  for  emergent  stones  etc.  to  act  as  sprainting  sites.  In  contrast, 
the  debris  which  collects  around  bridges  and  the  structure  of  many  bridges  them- 
selves provide  ideal  places  to  deposit  scats.  We  therefore  examined  the  area  around 
and  beneath  every  bridge  along  a water-course.  Each  bridge  was  examined  at  least 
twice  during  the  period,  in  winter  and  spring,  and  watercourses  where  otters  were 
not  recorded,  received  one  or  two  additional  visits.  We  looked  carefully  for  scats, 
foot-prints  and  food-remains.  Dr.  Erlinge  {in  lift.)  considered  that  this  method  gave 
a reliable  estimate  of  the  otter  population  in  Norfolk.  In  addition,  records  received 
at  the  Castle  Museum  during  the  period  were  included  in  the  results,  together  with 
observations  by  people  (reserve  wardens,  etc.)  spending  long  hours  in  the  field. 


130 


Long  distance  travellers,  Turnstones  ringed  on  The  Wash  have  been  recovered  in  Greenland, 
Iceland,  Greece  and  Guinea  Bissau.  Photo  R.  J.  Chandler 

In  addition  to  visiting  coastal  mudflats,  Dunlin  may  be  found  at  beet  factory  settling  ponds, 
sewage  farms  and  Broadland  wader  grounds.  Photo  R.  J.  Chandler 


Such  records  were  especially  valuable  in  Broadland  and  on  the  grazing  levels  where 
surveying  was  difficult.  Some  270  man-hours  were  spent  in  the  field  mainly  at 
week-ends. 

Our  results  (Macdonald  and  Mason,  1976)  confirmed  that  otters  were  indeed 
scarce  in  Norfolk.  Of  233  sites  visited,  equivalent  to  774  km  by  length  of  water- 
course, only  32  (14%)  had  evidence  of  otters  and  even  at  these  sites  the  number  of 
scats  was  always  small,  indicating  a very  low  density.  Eight  additional  records  were 
received.  Most  otters  were  in  central  Norfolk  with  the  rivers  around  the  edges  of 
the  county  being  low  in  numbers  or  devoid  of  otters.  Male  otters  have  a large  home- 
range.  Erlinge  (1967)  observed  a range  of  15  km  in  Sweden,  while  it  is  estimated  that 
there  is  one  male/10  km  in  England  (Stephens,  1957).  Females  and  cubs  have  more 
restricted  movements  within  this  home-range.  We  estimated  from  our  detailed 
distribution  map  that  there  were  17  territories  in  Norfolk.  Assuming  each  territory 
contained  a male  and  a female,  the  carrying  capacity  of  Norfolk  can  be  estimated  as 
52-77  pairs  and  the  upper  end  of  this  range  seems  likely  when  one  considers  the 
large  area  of  potentially  prime  habitat  in  Broadland.  The  population  of  otters  in 
Norfolk  is  thus  seriously  depleted. 

There  seems  little  doubt  that  the  decline  in  Norfolk  has  occurred  fairly  rapidly. 
We  recorded  no  otters  on  some  rivers  where  they  were  known  to  occur  only  a few 
years  before.  The  species  is,  however,  also  very  mobile  and  individuals  are  likely 
to  re-appear  m areas  where  we  were  unable  to  locate  them.  Thus  one,  maybe  two 
otters  were  found  on  the  Waveney  in  1976  (Philip  Wayre,  pers  comm)  where  we 
tound  none  regularly  present  after  an  intensive  search  in  1975. 

Perhaps  not  surprisingly  our  results  have  been  criticized  by  those  who  hunt 
otters  iocally  (see,  for  example,  in  King  et  al  1976,  p.30).  We  have  already  argued 
(Macdonald  and  Mason,  1976)  why  hunting  returns  give  an  unreliable  estimate  of 
abundance. 

Otters  appear  to  have  declined  over  much  of  lowland  England,  though  good 
data  are  lacking.  West  (1975)  reports  a low  density  in  Suffolk  and  King  et  al  (1976) 
review  the  present  situation.  The  species  stronghold  appears  to  be  in  the  uplands 
ot  the  west  and  north,  where  the  population  is  necessarily  low  due  to  the  sparse  food 
supply.  Scotland  is  still  stated  to  hold  many  otters  but  such  reports  are  based  on 
scattered  observations  from  few  people.  Such  a view  was  generally  held  in  Norfolk 
until  a full  survey  proved  the  contrary,  so  complacency  concerning  the  Scottish 
situation  may  be  unfounded. 

REASONS  FOR  DECLINE 

The  decline  of  the  otter  in  England  took  place  almost  un-noticed,  but  a number 
of  reasons  for  it  can  be  advanced.  Several  factors,  operating  together,  seem  likelv 
These  include:— 

1 watercourse  management  and  reclamation 

2 increased  disturbance  through  recreation 

3 pollution 

4 hunting 

5 other  persecution 

6 hard  weather 

7 disease 

Watercourse  management  and  the  reclamation  of  fens  may  seriously  alter  the 
habitat  of  otters.  Weeds  are  mechanically,  and  sometimes  chemically,  cleared  from 
rivers  each  year  and  bankside  vegetation  is  cut  down.  Overhanging  and  rotting 
trees  are  also  felled.  As  well  as  changing  the  ecology  of  the  river  (which  is  often 


131 


largely  dependent  on  material  entering  from  bankside  vegetation)  management 
also  removes  the  otters’  hide-outs  and  breeding  places  and  may  also  make  their 
movements  more  conspicuous. 

Otters  appear  extremely  sensitive  to  disturbance  and  the  recreational  use  of 
rivers  has  increased  drastically  in  recent  years  to  the  detriment  of  the  species.  Boat- 
traffic  in  Broadland  is  inimical  to  the  survival  of  the  otter  over  much  of  the  area 
and  even  such  apparently  harmless  craft  as  canoes  are  quite  dense  on  some  Norfolk 
rivers  e.g.  in  Breckland.  The  number  of  people  fishing  has  also  multiplied  rapidly 
over  the  last  two  decades  and  regularly  spaced  anglers  along  the  length  of  a river 
for  much  of  the  day  and  sometimes  at  night  place  severe  constraints  on  the  activities 
of  otters. 

Now  that  the  otter  is  so  scarce,  inquisitive  naturalists  undoubtedly  add  to  this 
disturbance  and  we  entreat  people  to  refrain  from  searching  for  signs  of  otters  in 
the  county  unless  they  are  involved  in  the  official  Mammal  Society  Survey. 

Pollution  has  also  been  implicated  in  the  decline  of  the  otter.  The  rivers  of 
Norfolk  are  largely  free  of  gross  pollution  and  all  carry  stocks  of  fish  capable  of 
supporting  otters.  More  insidious  forms  of  pollution,  such  as  pesticides  or  heavy 
metals  do  however  occur  and  it  has  been  suggested  that  the  major  decline  of  otters 
coincided  with  a decline  of  avian  predators,  which  has  been  proved  to  have  been 
due  to  toxic  chemicals.  Any  relationship  is  purely  circumstantial  and  tenuous  in 
the  case  of  the  otter.  The  welcome  increase  in  birds  of  prey  that  has  taken  place 
with  the  phasing  out  from  use  of  some  of  the  more  damaging  chemicals  has  not 
been  mirrored  in  the  otter  population. 

It  is  unlikely  that  hunting,  which  has  been  carried  out  for  centuries,  is  alone 
responsible  for  the  decline  of  the  otter  but,  now  that  the  population  is  so  low,  hunt- 
ing is  a pressure  that  the  species  could  well  do  without.  The  loss  of,  say,  half  a 
dozen  otters  per  year  out  of  a population  of  thirty-four  is  serious.  Hunting  also 
causes  much  disturbance  and  pregnant  females  or  females  with  cubs  may  be  parti- 
cularly vulnerable.  Hunting  intensity  is  little  related  to  the  size  of  the  otter  popula- 
tion, such  that  at  low  density  individual  animals  are  likely  to  receive  more  harrass- 
ment  whether  or  not  they  are  eventually  killed. 

Shooting  and  to  a lesser  extent  game  fishing  are  big  business  in  Norfolk.  It  is 
known  that  otters  are  still  killed  on  at  least  one  trout  stream  in  west  Norfolk.  Otters 
feed  primarily  on  course  fish  and  eels  so  that  they  are  likely  to  be  beneficial  to  game 
fishing  interests  by  removing  the  competitors  and  predators  of  trout.  When  shooting 
estates  abut  onto  watercourses  (i.e.  most  of  Norfolk)  it  is  likely  that  many  game- 
keepers  treat  the  otter  in  the  same  manner  as  they  still  do  the  badger  and  the  tawny 
owl.  Such  persecution  is  totally  unwarranted. 

Disease  has  been  suggested  as  a cause  for  the  decline  in  otters  but  there  is  no 
evidence  for  this.  Similarly,  a suggested  decline  during  the  hard  winter  of  1962-63 
is  not  backed  by  reliable  data.  Many  rivers  remained  un-frozen  during  the  period 
and  an  abundance  of  debilitated  prey  should  have  provided  easy  pickings  for  otters. 

It  is  river  management  and  increased  disturbance  which  are  probably  having 
the  most  detrimental  effects  on  otter  populations  at  the  moment  (Chanin,  1976). 

CONSERVATION  MEASURES 

With  such  a low  population  conservation  measures  are  urgently  required  to 
maintain  and  increase  stocks  of  otters  in  Norfolk.  A priority  is  complete  protection. 
The  otter  does  not  normally  conflict  with  man’s  interests  and  persecution  is  unjusti- 
fied. The  species  has  been  afforded  legal  protection  in  most  other  European  countries. 


132 


Conservation  measures  are  difficult  to  implement  because  of  the  otter’s  large 
home  range  and  extensive  movements.  However  the  Dutch  appear  to  have  had 
considerable  success  with  havens  and  Chanin  (1976)  has  described  how  these  may 
operate.  There  could  be  a network  of  small  areas  in  which  the  otter  gets  seclusion 
and  complete  protection,  where  it  is  given  priority  over  management  and  recreation 
interests.  Linked  with  these  would  be  stretches  of  watercourse  which  the  otter  could 
successfully  exploit  provided  it  could  return  to  the  maximum  security  refuge  for 
resting  and  breeding.  In  management  programmes,  vegetation  should  be  cleared 
on  one  bank  only,  or  in  strips  on  alternate  banks,  thus  leaving  the  otter  plenty  of 
cover. 

It  has  been  suggested  that  some  rivers  could  be  designated  protection  areas, 
hunting  being  allowed  over  the  remainder  of  the  county.  The  two  aims  would 


133 


however  be  incompatible.  Breeding  may  occur  freely  in  the  protected  zone  but  a 
single  river  could  never  rarry  a large  enough  population  to  be  viable  in  the  long 
term.  Youngsters  would  disperse  into  adjacent  waterways  where  they  would  be 
under  increased  hunting  pressure,  protected  waters  being  closed  to  the  hunt.  Havens 
would  be  providing  improved  sport  for  the  hunt  rather  than  ensuring  the  long-term 
survival  of  the  otter.  We  really  need  an  otter  population  in  Norfolk  near  to  the 
carrying  capacity  of  the  habitat,  so  that  recolonization  of  adjacent  counties  where 
the  species  is  virtually  extinct  (e.g.  East  Midlands)  can  take  place. 

The  otter  is  a species  peculiarly  vulnerable  to  the  activities  of  modern  man.  If 
we  could  rebuild  and  sustain  a thriving  population  of  otters  in  this  country  despite 
the  dense  human  population,  it  would  be  a fitting  monument  to  the  strength  of  our 
conservation  movement. 

REFERENCES 

Chanin,  P.  (1976).  Otters.  Conservation  Review  No.  13. 

Erlinge,  S.  (1976).  Home  range  of  the  otter  Lutra  lutra  L.  in  southern  Sweden. 
Oikos  18,  186-209. 

Hewer,  H.  R.  (1974).  The  otter  in  Britain — a second  report.  Oryx  12,  429-35. 

King,  A.,  Ottaway,  J.  and  Potter,  A.  (1976).  The  declining  otter,  a guide  to  its 
conservation.  63pp.,  F.O.E.,  Chaffcombe. 

Macdonald,  S.  and  Mason,  C.F.  (1976).  The  status  of  the  otter  ( Lutra  lutra  L.)  in 
Norfolk.  Biol.  Conserv.  9,  119-24. 

Stephens,  M.  N.  (1957).  The  otter  report.  88  pp.,  U.F.A.W.  Potters  Bar. 

West,  R.  B.  (1975).  The  Suffolk  Otter  Survey.  Suffolk  Nat.  Hist.  16,  378-88. 


CONTRIBUTORS  TO  MAMMAL  REPORT 


J.  H.  Appleby 
R.  E.  BAKER 
P.  D.  S.  Boardman 
Mrs.  D.  E.  Bonnyman 
Mrs.  M.  A.  Brewster 
R.  J.  Brigham 
A.  L.  Bull 
J.  J.  Buxton 
R.  Chestney 
J.  Davis 

W.  E.  A.  R.  Eales 
Eastern  Counties 


Dr.  E.  A.  Ellis 
Mrs.  O.  Fowler 


Newspapers  Limited 


Mrs.  J.  E.  Gaffney 
J.  H.  Green 
J.  G.  Goldsmith 
Mrs.  A.  H.  Gurney 
Dr.  I.  Keymer 
Mrs.  J.  Keymer 
R.  C.  Hancy 
R.  H.  Harrison 
P.  W.  Lambley 
R.  C.  Mansfield 
Miss  A.  H.  May 
T.  B.  Norgate 
IX  L.  OVENDEN 
M.  PlNDER 
R.  POWLEY 


J.  Wakefield 
J.  P.  Webster 
R.  Whitta 


A.  Woodhams 


J.  R.  Tillett 
A.  E.  Vine 


R.  SOUTHWOOD 

D.  Talks 

F.  J.  Taylor  Page 


J.  Raincock 
G.  Ruthven 
M.  J.  Seago 
P.  Singleton 


K.  Prince 


134 


S.S.S.I. 


1973  East  Winch  Common  . . 

1974  Sparham  Pools 

1974  Buxton  Heath 

1975  Pope’s  Drift 
1975  Wayland  Wood 


80  Gift 
30  Agreement 
1 59  Agreement  S.S.S.I. 

8 Agreement  

80  Purchase  S.S.S.I. 


In  addition,  the  Trust  shares  with  the  National  Trust  in  the  management  of 
the  coastal  reserve  at  Blakeney  Point  (1,335  acres),  and  it  manages  Arnold’s  Marsh, 
Cley  (29  acres)  on  behalf  of  the  National  Trust. 


By  arrangement  with  the  Nature  Conservancy  Council,  Scolt  Head  Island, 
Ranworth  Broad,  Hickling  Broad  and  the  Breckland  Heaths  now  form  part  of  the 
National  Nature  Reserves. 


♦Status : N.N.R.  denotes  National  Nature  Reserve 

S.S.S.I.  „ Site  of  Special  Scientific  Interest 

fin  1966  Cley  Reserve  was  established  as  a Bird  Sanctuary  under  the 
Protection  of  Birds  Act,  1954. 


THE  NORFOLK 
NATURALISTS  TRUST 

BIRD  WATCHING 

Excellent  bird  watching  facilities  are  available  from 
1st  April  to  31st  October  at  Hickling  Broad  National 
Nature  Reserve,  Cley  Marshes  Bird  Sanctuary  (coastal) 
and  Holme  Nature  Reserve  (coastal). 

Reduced  rates  for  parties  and  extended  periods. 

For  full  particulars  kindly  forward  stamped  addressed 
envelope  to  N.N.T.,  72  The  Close,  Norwich, 
Norfolk  NR1  4DF 


printed  by  H.  G.  Stone  & Co.  (Printers)  Ltd.,  Wymondham,  Norfolk 


c£H£RAl  * 

3 may 


,*,UBRARY  x 
^ L 


TRANSACTIONS 

OF 

THE  NORFOLK  & NORWICH 
NATURALISTS’  SOCIETY 


Vol.  24  PART  4 
APRIL  1978 


ISBN  0375  7226 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY  1977-78 


‘Greenfields’,  Swanton  Road,  Dereham. 
President-Elect : Mr  P.  J.  Trett 


President:  Ms  D.  M.  Maxey 


Victoria  Road,  Great  Yarmouth 

Vice-Presidents:  P.  R.  Banham,  A.  Bull,  K.  B.  Clarke,  E.  T.  Daniels,  K.  C. 
Durrant,  E.  A.  Ellis,  R.  Jones,  M.  J.  Seago,  J.  A.  Steers,  E.  L.  Swann, 


F.  J.  Taylor-Page 
General  Secretary:  R.  E.  Baker 
25  Southern  Reach,  Mulbarton,  NR14  8BU 
Tel.  Mulbarton  70609 

Assistant  Secretary:  (Membership  and  Publications) 
Ms  J.  Wakefield 

Post  Office  Lane,  Saxthorpe,  NR  11  7BL 
Assistant  Secretary:  (Minutes)  P.  W.  Lambley 
Castle  Museum,  Norwich 
Excursion  Secretary:  Ms  J.  Robinson 
5 Southern  Reach,  Mulbarton  NR14  8BU 
Tel.  Mulbarton  70576 
Treasurer:  D.  A.  Dorling 
St.  Edmundsbury,  6 New  Road,  Hethersett 
Tel.  Norwich  810318 
Assistant  Secretary:  J.  E.  Timbers 
The  Nook,  Barford,  Norfolk 
Editor:  E.  A.  Ellis 

Wheatfen  Broad,  Surlingham,  Norwich 
Auditor:  E.  L.  Swann 
282  Wootton  Road,  King’s  Lynn,  Norfolk 


Committee:  M.  J.  Baker,  G.  Dunmore,  Dr  A.  Davy  (University  Representative) 
Dr  S.  Cole,  Ms  C.  Gurney,  G.  Hart,  R.  Hancy,  P.  W.  Lambley  (Museum 
Representative),  J.  Secker,  Ms  J.  Smith,  P.  M.  C.  Stevens  (Norfolk  Naturalists’ 
Trust),  P.  Wright  (Nature  Conservancy  Representative). 


ORGANISERS  OF  PRINCIPAL  SPECIALIST  GROUPS 
Birds  {Editor  of  the  Report ) 

M.  J.  Seago,  33  Accacia  Road,  Thorpe,  Norwich 
Mammals  ( Editor  of  the  Report ) 

R.  Hancy,  124  Fakenham  Road,  Taverham  NR8  6QH 
Plants:  P.  W.  Lambley  and  E.  L.  Swann 
Fungi:  E.  A.  Ellis 
Insects:  K.  C.  Durrant 
18  The  Avenue,  Sheringham  NR26  8DG 
Amphibia- Reptiles : J.  Buckley 
22  Aurania  Avenue,  Norwich 
Mollusca:  R.  E.  Baker 
Marine:  P.  R.  Banham 

Field  Study  Centre,  Poka  Road,  Wells-next-Sea 
Freshwater:  R.  Driscoll 
Nature  Conservancy,  Bracondale,  Norwich 


TRANSACTIONS  OF  THE  NORFOLK  AND  NORWICH  NATURALISTS’ 

SOCIETY 

Volume  24,  Part  4 (April  1978) 

Editor  Dr  E.  A.  Ellis 
CONTENTS 

Page 

Full  of  His  Glory : Presidential  address  read  by  Miss  Dorothy  Maxey 

to  the  members  of  the  Norfolk  and  Norwich  Naturalists'  Society  . . 135 

The  changing  status  of  aquatic  macrophytes  in  the  Norfolk  Broads : 

A survey  of  twenty  broads  in  the  summer  of  1977  and  a review  of 


existing  records  by  M.  J.  Jackson  ..  ..  ..  137 

The  wetland  plant  communities  of  the  River  Ant  valley,  Norfolk 

by  B.  D.  Wheeler  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  153 

Elodea  canadensis  and  Elodea  nuttallii,  by  E.  L.  Swann  . . . . 188 

Weather  1977  by  T.  B.  Norgate  . . . . . . . . 193 

The  River  Wensum  (1)  by  Roy  Baker , Robert  J.  Driscoll  and  Peter 
Lambley  . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 


( 


FULL  OF  HIS  GLORY 


Read  by  the  President,  Miss  Dorothy  Maxey , to  members  of  the  Norfolk  and 
Norwich  Naturalists * Society  at  a meeting  held  in  the  Central  Library  Lecture 
Theatre , Norwich,  on  7th  December , 1977. 

First  of  all  I must  say  that  I am  deeply  conscious  of  the  honour  paid  to  me 
by  this  Society  in  asking  me  to  be  your  President.  I agreed  without  much  thought 
of  the  Presidential  Address  but  as  time  went  on  it  began  to  loom  rather  larger 
and  when  the  Secretary  asked  me  for  a title — very  large  indeed.  Knowing  that 
this  Society  numbers  amongst  its  members  many  learned  and  expert  people,  it 
ruled  out  an  address  with  a strong  scientific  basis.  I realised  too  that  the  Society 
also  contains  many  expert  photographers  and  artists  so  that  made  me  doubtful 
as  to  how  well  I would  stand  up  in  that  company.  Fortunately  I remembered 
that  also  amongst  its  members  are  many  people  who  belong  simply  because  they 
take  a delight  in  our  beautiful  county  and  who  want  to  know  more  about  its 
rich  fauna  and  flora  and  who  wish  to  ensure  that  its  wild  life  continues  to  flourish. 
In  this  company  I felt  much  more  at  home. 

The  title  I chose  made  our  Secretary  blink,  I rather  think  he  thought  you 
were  in  for  a sermon.  In  reality  the  quotation  comes  from  one  of  the  earliest 
nature  poems,  written  over  two  thousand  years  ago,  a passage  in  Ecclesiasticus. 
There  is  a cave  painting  of  a spider  on  its  web  much  older  than  that  and  together 
these  two  things  should  remind  us  that  even  in  the  earliest  days  some  people 
realised  that  there  was  a spiritual  value  in  the  natural  beauty  of  the  plants  and 
creatures  which  cohabit  this  world  with  us.  That  it  was  not  simply  how  much 
food  they  could  get  from  them  or  how  much  these  things  worked  against  the 
interests  of  man.  We  must  beware  of  those  who  denigrate  the  spiritual  value  of 
this  natural  beauty. 

There  is  a moral  issue  too.  Man  is  as  yet,  unable  to  bring  to  life  even  so 
simple  a creature  as  an  amoeba,  what  right  has  he  then  to  cause  to  become  extinct 
such  beautiful  creatures  as  tigers,  or  nearer  home,  otters.  The  acceleration  of 
extinctions,  not  only  of  large  animals  but  also  of  small  animals  and  plants,  is 
frightening  and  causes  me  to  wonder  how  long  some  of  the  things  we  now  regard 
as  common  will  remain  with  us. 

We  live  in  a materialistic  society,  not  necessarily  a happier  one,  however, 
for  all  the  things  it  possesses.  Much  of  the  trouble,  not  all,  can  be  attributed  to 
finance  or  to  put  it  crudely  money  and  this  infects  every  one  of  us.  There  are 
those  who,  in  order  to  gain  a little  more  personal  wealth,  destroy  our  woodlands, 
waterways,  heaths  and  roadside  hedgerows  and  the  life  within  them.  But  what 
about  the  rest  of  us  ? We  know  that  sewage  and  detergents  are  important  con- 
tributory factors  to  the  destruction  of  our  waterways  and  the  Broads  as  we  knew 
them.  Very  few  of  us  would  like  to  be  without  these  conveniences.  We  are  told 
that  processes  are  available  which  would  help  to  clean  up  the  rivers  and  more 
careful  planning  would  avoid  some  of  the  problems  from  the  beginning,  but  how 
are  we  to  foot  the  bill  ? I hope  the  time  will  come  when  the  public  will  be  educated 
to  expect  proper  sewage  disposal  as  a matter  of  course. 

It  seems  inexcusable  to  me  to  destroy  by  disturbance  some  of  our  rarer 
animals  and  plants  for  the  sake  of  a day  or  two’s  pleasure  or  a little  extra  con- 
venience, things  quickly  forgotten,  but  the  living  creatures  are  gone  for  ever. 


135 


Curious  anomalies  also  occur  from  time  to  time  which  show  the  illogical 
thought  or  ignorance  of  some.  No  doubt  many  of  you  read  in  the  “Eastern  Daily 
Press”  about  the  Rabbit  Clearance  Society  which  was  boasting  of  killing  over  a 
hundred  foxes  and  the  letter  to  the  Editor  which  suggested  they  should  be  re- 
named the  Rabbit  Protection  Society.  Not  all  these  foxes  were  rogues  but  all 
suffered  for  the  actions  of  one  or  two.  This  kind  of  attitude  is  far  too  common 
and  I think  is  to  be  deplored. 

The  threats  to  our  wild  life  are  many  and  varied  but  so  many  are  needless. 
Search  for  more  virulent  and  longer  lasting  insecticides  and  herbicides  would 
surely  be  better  channelled  into  search  for  more  selective  ones,  so  that  fewer  of 
our  beneficial  or  innocent  species  are  destroyed.  I am  afraid  to  say  some  natural- 
ists and  photographers  are  guilty  of  excessive  collecting  or  of  so-called  ‘garden- 
ing’ for  photography.  The  Botanical  Society  and  the  Royal  Photographic  Society 
produce  Codes  of  Conduct  which  I hope  all  members  will  read  before  under- 
taking such  activities. 

Many  people  have  interests  in  the  countryside  for  their  livelihoods  and 
leisure  activities  and  their  interests  are  sometimes  conflicting  or  seem  to  be  so. 
It  is  essential  that  there  is  give  and  take  on  all  sides.  Let  us  try  to  get  together 
with  other  societies  and  bodies  and  negotiate  for  the  welfare  of  our  wild  life. 
This  will  take  time,  and  time  seems  to  be  running  out.  In  the  meantime  let  us  do 
all  we  can  to  preserve  what  we  have  until  such  time  as  more  people  realise  what 
is  being  lost. 

We  can  support  as  many  bodies  as  possible  which  are  seeking  to  set  up 
reserves  and  trusts  for  breeding  our  endangered  species  so  that  when  we  have 
caused  things  to  improve  the  stock  is  there  to  re-populate  suitable  habitats. 

A great  deal  can  be  done  to  make  all  our  gardens  wild  life  sanctuaries. 
Perhaps  we  should  be  a little  less  tidy-minded  and  more  tolerant  so  that  there 
would  be  homes  for  the  animals.  What  about  the  dead  tree,  the  rough  corner, 
the  martins  under  the  eaves  etc.  What  about  a garden  pond  for  the  toads  and 
frogs  ? Why  not  grow  some  plants  for  the  butterflies  for  nectar  and  food  plants  ? 
Leave  some  seeds  for  the  birds — antirrhinums  and  forget-me-nots  so  beloved  of 
the  finches.  We  are  so  anxious  to  tidy  everything  away  we  remove  a desirable 
food  supply. 

The  film  which  follows  is  intended  to  show  that  while  the  case  is  not  yet 
desperate,  yet  there  is  cause  for  concern.  It  is  mainly  of  Norfolk  wild  life  and  was 
filmed  in  1976  and  1977  all  in  the  field  (except  the  otters).  It  shows  both  sides  of 
the  coin  namely,  how  rich  the  county  is  in  its  fauna  and  flora  but  also  that  while 
some  species  are  relatively  safe  others  are  threatened,  e.g.  cowslips,  sundews  etc. 
by  loss  of  habitat,  many  interesting  arable  weeds  such  as  shepherd’s  needle 
( Spandix  pecten-veneris)  by  changing  agricultural  practice,  dragonflies  and  otters 
by  pollution.  It  shows  too  the  importance  of  roadside  hedges  and  verges  as 
nature  reserves  for  bird,  plant  and  insect  life,  and  of  the  managed  reserves  of 
the  County  Trusts  and  others.  Gone  are  the  days  when  we  could  take  the  wild 
life  for  granted.  If  posterity  is  to  enjoy  the  engaging  habits  of  the  wild  creatures 
and  the  delicate  beauty  of  the  wild  flowers  we  must  realise  that  their  future  is  our 
responsibility  and  do  all  we  can  to  ensure  their  welfare. 


136 


THE  CHANGING  STATUS  OF  AQUATIC  MACROPHYTES  IN  THE 
NORFOLK  BROADS : 

A survey  of  twenty  broads  in  the  summer  of  1977  and  a review  of  existing  records 

M.  J.  Jackson 

Introduction 

This  survey  was  carried  out  to  assess  the  status  of  aquatic  macrophytes  in  twenty 
of  the  Norfolk  Broads  during  the  summer  of  1977.  The  main  purpose  was  to 
provide  a comparison  with  existing  data,  namely  the  surveys  undertaken  by 
Mason  and  Bryant  (1975)  and  George  (1970),  but  also  with  the  many  other 
records  available  from  past  years.  It  is  hoped  that  the  techniques  incorporated 
in  the  survey  will  provide  a firm  basis  upon  which  future  work  may  be  organised 
and  results  directly  compared. 

Twenty  broads  were  selected  for  sampling  to  include  a variety  of  different 
situations.  Two  of  the  largest  broads,  Barton  and  Hickling,  were  not  sampled, 
partly  on  account  of  their  size  but  partly  because  of  the  intensive  research  already 
in  progress  on  these  sites.  The  broads  of  the  Waveney  valley  were  also  excluded 
from  the  study  in  order  to  permit  more  thorough  coverage  of  the  other  areas. 

Method 

Samples  of  the  submerged  vegetation  were  taken  using  a double-headed 
rake  0.3m  wide  and  covered  with  a layer  of  coarse  wire  mesh.  This  was  tied  to  a 
length  of  rope  and  towed  behind  a small  dinghy.  The  length  of  the  rope  and  the 
speed  of  the  boat  were  regulated  to  ensure  the  rake  was  always  close  to  the  bottom. 

A number  of  straight  transects  were  chosen.  To  simplify  repeating  the 
same  transect  in  future  surveys  these  were  designed  to  run  between  prominent 
features  on  the  edge  of  the  broad.  The  length  of  the  transects  ranged  from  14m 
to  446m  with  a mean  value  of  175m  (N=189).  This  variation  is  accounted  for 
in  the  analysis  of  the  results. 

Along  each  trawl  a number  of  stops  were  made  in  proportion  to  the  length 
of  the  transect.  At  each  stopping  point  the  rake  was  hauled  in  and  the  species 
noted  with  a visual  estimate  of  the  abundance  of  each  plant.  The  latter  was 
determined  subjectively  using  a ‘trace  1,2, 3, 4’  frequency  scale.  All  vascular  plants 
were  identified  and  three  types  of  algae,  namely,  Charophytes,  filamentous 
algae  and  Enteromorpha  sp.  were  recorded.  Distribution  maps  were  drawn  of 
Nymphaea  alba  and  Nuphar  lutea. 

Results 

The  results  of  the  survey  are  presented  in  Table  1.  Species  records  are  given 
as  the  approximate  percentage  area  occupied  by  each  plant  in  the  combined 
transects  at  any  site.  These  values  were  calculated  as  follows : 

1 . Firstly,  a mean  figure  was  derived  from  all  the  ‘visually-estimated’  frequen- 
cies of  a species  (X)  collected  from  all  the  stopping  points  along  a transect. 
This  gives  an  average  frequency  (F)  of  a species  X for  the  complete  transect. 


137 


TABLE  I.  The  distribution  of  aquatic  macrophytes  in  twenty  Norfolk  Broads  during  the  Summer  of  1977.  Estimates  of  the  sampling  efficiency 
at  each  site  and  the  dates  of  site  visits  are  also  shown.  (See  text  for  explanation  of  key). 


sjunjd  jqnosnA 
jo  jsqumu  jnjox 
onSjn 
snojuaumjix 
•ds 

nqdjouiojojug 

*ds 

umiqiqdum 

umuoSXjoj 

nq \v  BaeqduiXfq 

nsjnj  jnqdnfq 
siijsnjed 
niipqoiuuBz 
•ggn  sunSjnA 

nunjnoijjn 

snqisnd 

uojaSoumjoj 

snjnuipsd 

uopSouiejoj 

sndsiio 

uopgomnjoj 

iipjojqojaq 

uopSoumjoj 

nuimui  snfejq 
uinjnjjpiysA 
umii^qdouXjAi 
uin;noids 
umqXqdoijXjq 
+sun3jnA 

sunddiH 

sisuspnuno 

nopoja 

umsjauiap 

um[|Xqdojnj33 

*ds  dtpujiiPO 


(%)  ansaaAvax 

H3XVM  N3dO 


sg 

I— I 

> 


00 


• m • ■ — • • (N  (N  — fS 

_ . ■ (N  <N  • <N 


• Tf  +_»  . ^ . (N  — • 


(N  • • O.  w 


. • • — < <N  . 


ooi-o^|n';tMooriOa\'OnO\h^ir)OOT)-iA) 

\omminh'|nNNm'HmNN(NNTi--<r)fnTt 

dddddoddddddddddddod 

£P  5P  a,  5?  ^ a >*  ^ & o,fta  ^ o.  H.  ^ ri  a.  ri 
5 5 *>3  3 3 g1 13  w *>  « « r$s  w 3 <D  ^ 

<<00<<^->$^^COCOCOCOi^COoOi-A>OcoO 

+«>  4->  +->  -*->  *H  </)  Vh  '♦—»'*—>  4->  '*—»  i—  L P P ■P  +j  Jh 

Ooo^'OfA^rtrtNO\M»inNfAa\coina\M 
co  —I  — I (N  fN  (N  CN  CSfN  <N  (N  (N 


_ 5 

Z hh  w 

egs! 

w<u 

< « « 


H W 

(Sh^ 

z ojffl 

m ZZ™ 

u<  co  O O 5 

H S >h  H H O 

^OU»>>5 

D w d 2 2 2 

138 


X 
£■* 
W oo 

3S 

O < 

H H 


pq  « g 
oo  co 
W W ^ 

ood 


e4 

w 

Q < 

1 CO  CO  c-r 

gss§ 

OOzfc 

oC  p4  co  D 


o . 

U O 
!«  w 

? S^= 
•s~  s 

U flj  <L> 

« C 

o 


o5 
U£S 

8 c3 


c 

cd 

£ 

cfl  o 

Jt2  <n  r-~  — ■ 

I I I I 

In  IT)  O 

O <N  m r- 


>» 

£ 


« (N  n 


</5 

« -a 
o u 

O T3 

£ 

s 8 g 
g ^ ^ 

60  g G 

Vh  ^ O 
4>  Cd  a 
g C/5  o 

5 .2  ^ 

fl  o 


'5  « 
SP  Z 


2.  Assuming  that  F was  proportional  to  the  area  occupied  by  X in  the  area  of  a 
transect,  the  cover  of  each  species  in  a transect  was  calculated.  These  values 
were  then  summed  and  converted  to  a percentage  of  the  combined  transect 
area  for  each  broad. 

3.  In  order  to  simplify  presentation  the  actual  percentages  are  not  given,  but 
instead  the  species  are  grouped  into  the  ‘percentage-limits’  shown  in  the  key. 

The  degree  of  error  in  such  calculations  is,  undoubtedly,  considerable.  This 
procedure,  however,  does  provide  a directly  comparable  methodology  for  future 
work.  As  a comparative  measure  of  sampling  efficiency  the  proportion  of  open 
water  covered  by  the  transects  is  given  for  each  locality.  Dates  of  site  visits  are 
also  shown  in  Table  1. 

Of  the  twenty  broads  surveyed,  only  one  was  found  to  be  completely  devoid 
of  macrophytes,  namely  Malthouse  Broad.  Eleven  sites  had  between  one  and 
three  species  and  a further  six  between  four  and  six  vascular  macrophytes.  The 
two  remaining  localities,  Martham  South  and  Ormesby,  had  much  the  richest 
aquatic  flora  with  nine  and  ten  species  recorded  respectively. 

The  commonest  macrophytes  found  were  the  two  species  of  lily,  Nuphar 
lutea  and  Nymphaea  alba  (recorded  at  twelve  and  ten  sites  respectively)  and 
Ceratophyllum  demersum  which  was  found  in  eight  of  the  broads  visited.  Hippuris 
vulgaris , Myriophyllum  verticillatum  and  Utricularia  vulgaris  agg.  were  found 
only  in  Martham  South  while  Potamogeton  berchtoldii  and  Polygonum  amphibium 
were  found  only  in  Ormesby  Broad.  The  remaining  species  were  recorded  on  a 
number  of  occasions.  Of  the  algal  groups  fiilamentous  algae  were  most  frequently 
encountered,  being  present  at  almost  half  of  the  sites.  Enteromorpha  sp.  was 
found  at  seven  localities  and  Chara  spp.  in  the  same  four  broads  as  Najas  marina. 

In  terms  of  productivity,  the  two  brackish  water  broads,  Martham  South  and 
Blackfleet,  contained  the  greatest  quantities  of  plant  material.  Ormesby,  although 
exhibiting  the  most  diverse  assemblage  of  macrophytes,  had  none  in  any  sub- 
stantial quantity  apart  from  Zannichellia  palustris  which  dominated  the  eastern 
wing  of  the  broad.  The  submerged  species  were  poorly  surveyed  in  Rockland 
Broad  and  Hudson’s  Bay  because  of  extensive  stands  of  water  lilies  which  pre- 
vented the  use  of  the  sampling-rake. 

In  general  terms  the  results  show  that  the  broads  of  the  Ant  and  Bure  valleys 
have  the  poorest  macrophyte  communities  of  the  sites  visited.  Rockland  and  the 
Muckfleet  Broads,  on  the  other  hand,  were  found  to  be  more  diverse  and  the  two 
brackish  waters  of  the  Thurne  catchment  showed  both  high  diversity  and  abun- 
dance of  aquatic  plants. 

Discussion 

For  some  time  now  there  has  been  increasing  anxiety  over  the  rapidly  dimi- 
nishing diversity  of  both  the  flora  and  fauna  of  the  Norfolk  Broads.  In  parti- 
cular, much  concern  has  been  centred  on  the  disappearance  of  aquatic  macro- 
phytes from  many  hitherto  thriving  sites.  The  recent  survey  by  Mason  and  Bryant 
(1975)  and  the  earlier  work  of  George  (1970)  both  sought  to  quantify  this 
problem.  The  ensuing  discussion  is  aimed  at  comparing  and  contrasting  these 
studies  and  other  existing  records  in  the  light  of  this  most  recent  information. 
Each  of  the  river  valleys  and  their  associated  broads  will  be  considered  in  turn. 


139 


The  Ant  Broads 

Nicholson  (1906)  undertook  a comprehensive  study  of  the  aquatic  flora  of 
the  Ant  district,  particularly  of  Sutton  Broad  and  its  surrounds,  between  1902 
and  1905.  He  recorded  over  thirty  different  species  from  this  area,  although  it  is 
difficult  to  distinguish  which  species  were  found  in  the  surrounding  dyke  systems 
and  which  were  found  in  the  actual  broads.  Both  Nicholson  and  Gurney  (1904) 
emphasised  the  luxuriance  of  Charophytes  in  Barton  Broad  at  this  time  includ- 
ing extensive  growths  of  Chara  fragilis,  Chara  aspera  and  Chara  vulgaris.  A few 
years  later  Pallis  (1911)  described  Stratiotes  abides  as  dominant  in  the  Ant  region 
and  listed  nearly  twenty  other  aquatics  most  of  which  were  described  as  com- 
ponents of  an  “open  reedswamp  and  rooted  floating-leaf”  association. 

In  1933,  Ellis  identified  ten  species  of  macrophyte  from  dredgings  of  Barton 
Broad  (In  litt  NCC)  six  of  which  had  been  recorded  by  Pallis.  At  this  site  Tubbs 
(1975)  recalls  that  by  the  late  thirties  “ Stratiotes  and  other  plants  were  becoming 
a memory  and  by  1939  much  open  water  had  been  cut  outside  the  marked  navi- 
gation channels”.  At  the  same  time  Geldhart  recorded  the  presence  of  Stratiotes 
in  Crome’s  Broad  with  Myriophyllum  verticillatum  and  Hottonia  palustris 
(Boardman  1939).  Ellis  (1965)  observed  that  Stratiotes  was  abundant  at  Barton 
after  the  war.  This  species  had,  however,  disappeared  by  1968  (George  1970) 
and  has  not  been  found  at  either  of  these  sites  since. 

Alderfen  Broad  has  a well  documented  recent  history  which  shows  a drama- 
tic change  in  its  aquatic  vegetation  in  the  last  fifteen  to  twenty  years.  An  aerial 
photograph  taken  in  July  1946  shows  considerably  more  vegetation  in  the  open 
water  than  is  present  today  (Plate  1).  Much  of  this  may  well  be  islands  of  hover 
(Gurney  1919)  although  it  is  likely  that  free-floating  species  are  also  a major 
component.  In  the  late  fifties  Jermy  (1959)  found  an  abundance  of  Ceratophyllum 
demersum  in  the  open  water,  together  with  Nitella  sp.,  Lemna  triscula  and  Pota- 
mogeton  pectinatus.  He  also  recorded  Hydrocharis  morsus-ranae , Myriophyllum 
verticillatum  and  Utricularia  vulgaris  agg.  as  common  elements  of  the  primary 
reedswamp.  Again  in  1963  Alderfen  was  so  choked  with  C.  demersum  that  a 
proposal  to  clear  the  weed  mechanically  was  given  serious  consideration  (George 
1970).  However  by  1968  only  a few  depauperate  plants  of  this  species  could  be 
found  and  there  was  no  trace  of  any  of  the  other  species  recorded  by  Jermy. 
Only  small  amounts  of  C.  demersum  have  been  recorded  since,  although  Mason 
& Bryant  (1975)  noted  the  presence  of  viable  seeds  from  1970-73,  and  more 
recently  some  has  been  introduced  for  experimental  purposes  by  workers  at  the 
University  of  East  Anglia  (Phillips  pers.  comm.)  Almost  coinciding  with  this 
disappearance  of  submerged  plants  the  white  water  lily  has  shown  a marked 
decrease  in  abundance.  Jermy  described  this  species  as  predominating  in  the 
deeper  areas  of  the  broad  in  1959  and  it  was  recorded  as  frequent  by  George 
(1970)  in  1968.  By  1971,  however,  Nymphaea  alba  was  reduced  to  one  small 
patch  along  the  eastern  edge  of  the  broad  (Dollman — In  litt  NCC).  In  1977  only 
scattered  patches  were  found.  Similar  declines  in  the  extent  of  both  Nymphaea 
alba  and  the  yellow  water  lily,  Nuphar  lutea , have  been  observed  at  the  other 
three  sites  in  the  Ant  region. 

The  1977  survey  revealed  a similar  situation  at  Alderfen  and  Crome’s  Broad 
to  Mason  and  Bryant’s  survey  in  1972,  although  Ceratophyllum  demersum  was 
found  at  Crome’s  and  no  Nuphar  was  found  in  Alderfen.  Barton  and  Sutton 


140 


Broads  were  not  surveyed  but  it  is  well  known  that,  at  present,  neither  of  these 
sites  contain  macrophytes  in  any  quantity  (Hayes  pers.  comm.,  Wright  pers. 
comm.). 

One  may  conclude  from  these  observations  that  much  of  the  aquatic  vege- 
tation of  these  broads  has  clearly  been  lost  and  that  this  decline  has  occurred 
mainly  in  post-war  times.  The  reduction  in  water  lilies  seems  a somewhat  more 
recent  occurrence,  about  the  late  sixties,  as  does  the  particular  case  of  Cerato- 
phyllum  demersum  at  Alderfen  Broad. 

The  Bure  Broads 

In  the  past  few  of  these  sites  have  been  shown  to  exhibit  extensive  stands  of 
macrophytes.  In  the  early  part  of  the  century  both  Gurney  (1904)  and  Pallis 
(1911)  remarked  on  the  comparative  lack  of  water  plants  in  the  area  and  Pallis 
suggested  this  was  due  to  the  broads  being  either  too  deep  or  too  stagnant. 
Some  years  later  Gurney  (1929)  commented  on  them  being  highly  favourable  to 
a rich  growth  of  phytoplankton.  Thus,  insufficient  light  penetration  may  have 
been  an  important  influence  on  the  exclusion  of  submerged  species  at  this  time. 

For  most  of  the  Bure  Broads  there  is  insufficient  data  to  build  up  a compre- 
hensive account  of  the  changes  that  have  occurred  in  their  aquatic  flora  over 
the  years.  However  two  sites,  namely  Hoveton  Great  and  Upton  Broad,  are  well 
represented  in  this  respect. 

Hoveton  Great  Broad  has  undergone  a remarkable  transformation  in  the 
last  thirty  years.  Aerial  photographs  in  1949  and  1951  show  considerable  en- 
croachment of  marginal  reedswamp  and  many  islets  of  floating  macrophytes  are 
evident.  By  1961  not  only  has  the  marginal  reedswamp  receded  but  there  is  also 
a marked  shrinkage  in  the  distribution  of  the  floating  aquatics.  Now  there  is 
virtually  no  remaining  reedswamp  (Boorman,  Sheail  and  Fuller  1977)  and  only 
a few  patches  of  lilies  on  the  surface. 

The  earliest  photographs  referred  to  above  coincide  with  the  survey  work 
of  Lambert  and  Jennings  (1951)  and  a transect  line  taken  across  the  broad  may 
be  superimposed  on  these  prints.  This  confirms  the  presence  of  substantial  stands 
of  Water  Soldier  and  other  floating  macrophytes.  In  the  transect  Stratiotes  and 
Ceratophyllum  demersum  were  described  as  dominant  with  Nuphur , Nymphaea, 
Lemna  minor , Lemna  trisulca,  Azolla  filiculoids  and  Myriophyllum  verticillatum 
as  associates,  but  mainly  at  the  edge  of  the  open  water  in  the  shelter  of  Typha 
angustifolia. 

Lambert  (1965)  has  since  described  Stratiotes  as  having  been  dominant  in 
1947,  but  completely  absent  in  1953.  There  are  no  further  records  of  Stratiotes 
from  this  site.  In  1968,  however,  George  did  find  an  abundance  of  Ceratophyllum 
demersum  and  Nymphaea.  All  the  records  of  the  water  lilies  show  Nuphar  as 
being  more  abundant  than  Nymphaea  and,  as  in  the  Ant  Valley,  there  has  been  a 
gradual  decrease  in  both  these  species  at  this  site.  In  1977  Potamogeton  pectinatus 
was  found  in  small  quantities  and  Potamogeton  crispus  was  also  recorded  appar- 
ently for  the  first  time  in  this  broad.  Neither  of  these  species  were  found  by  Mason 
and  Bryant  in  1973. 

Thus  there  is  reasonable  evidence  to  suggest  that,  at  Hoveton  Great  Broad, 
concurrent  with  the  loss  of  marginal  reedswamp  there  has  been  a gradual  decrease 
in  both  macrophyte  productivity  and  diversity.  This  has  resulted  in  the  complete 
loss  of  two  formerly  abundant  species,  firstly  Stratiotes  in  the  early  fifties  and 


141 


more  recently  C.  demersum  sometime  during  the  late  sixties.  It  has  also  led  to  the 
disappearance  of  Myriophyllum  verticillatum  and  Lemna  spp.  and  to  a substantial 
reduction  in  the  distribution  of  water  lilies. 

Upton  Broad  is  unique  among  the  Bure  broads,  partly  on  account  of  its 
exceptionally  clear  water,  but  also  because  of  its  unusual  sediments  which  are 
largely  composed  of  invertebrate  faecal  pellets  in  which  algal  cells  are  preserved 
free  from  decay.  Unlike  Hoveton  Great,  Upton  is  completely  cut-off  from  the 
main  river. 

Again  the  loss  of  aquatic  vegetation  is  quite  apparent  from  aerial  photo- 
graphs and,  as  at  Hoveton  Great  Broad,  many  islets  of  vegetation  have  com- 
pletely disappeared  since  the  1940’s  (Plate  000). 

No  records  could  be  found  for  this  site  prior  to  1938  when  Myriophyllum 
veticillatum  and  Ceratophyllum  submersum  were  recorded  (Petch  and  Swann 
1968).  A survey  by  Lambert  and  Jennings  (1951)  in  July  1949  revealed  extensive, 
though  scattered,  patches  of  Myriophyllum  verticillatum  with  Hydro  char  is, 
Utricularia  vulgaris  agg.,  Lemna  minor  and  Lemna  triscula*  all  in  small  quantities 
and  generally  confined  to  the  reedswamp.  Nyphaea  alba  and  Potamogeton 
pectinatus*  were  also  recorded  from  the  open  water.  In  this  same  year  Lambert 
first  noted  the  presence  of  Najas  marina  (In  litt  NCC)  and  by  July  1952  this 
species  is  described  as  abundant  in  both  the  open  water  and  the  reedswamp 
(Barry  and  Jermy  1953).  Other  species  recorded  at  this  time  include  Myriophyllum 
verticillatum  and  Nymphaea  alba  as  abundant  and  very  common  respectively, 
Chara  vulgaris  in  water  over  one  metre  deep  and  occasional  plants  of  floating 
Fontinalis  antipyretica.  Utricularia  sp.  and  Hydrocharis  were  again  recorded 
from  the  reedswamp  and  later  in  the  year  Lemna  triscula , L.  minor , Potamogeton 
pectinatus  and  Potamogeton  obtusifolius  were  also  found  by  Jermy  (In  litt  NCC). 
Hence  between  1949  and  1952  the  only  significant  change  was  the  rapid  increase 
in  abundance  of  Najas  marina. 

In  1968  George  again  found  an  abundance  of  Najas  marina  (as  indicated 
by  all  records  from  this  site  since  1952  although  Phillips  (1976)  noted  a decline 
in  1974)  but  this  time  with  Potamogeton  pectinatus , Zannichellia  palustris , 
Nymphaea , Nuphar  and  Sagittaria  sagittifolia. 

In  the  following  year  Morgan  (1972)  recorded  the  same  species  excepting 
Potamogeton  pectinatus  and  Sagittaria , but  in  addition  he  refound  Utricularia 
sp.  and  Chara  sp.  and  a new  species  for  this  site,  Potamogeton  friesii.  Hence 
since  the  early  fifties  there  appears  to  have  been  a substantial  alteration  of  the 
species  composition  coupled  with  a slight  decrease  of  diversity.  Myriophyllum 
verticillatum , Hydrocharis , Fontinalis , Lemna  spp  and  Potamogeton  obtusifolius 
have  been  lost  and  Zannichellia , Potamogeton  friesii  and  Sagittaria  have  been 
gained. 

Since  1972  Najas  has  remained  dominant  although  the  less  common  species 
appear  to  have  fluctuated  about  a low  level.  These  include  Chara  sp.,  Potamogeton 
pectinatus,  and  Zannichellia  palustris.  In  1974  Mason  (In  litt  NCC)  recorded  the 
apparent  disappearance  of  both  Zannichellia  and  Chara  sp.  although  both  these 

*These  species  are  recorded  only  in  the  original  notes  held  at  the  NCC  and  were  not 
published  in  Lambert  and  Jennings  (1951). 


142 


species  were  recorded  in  1977.  Also  in  1976  Driscoll,  Lambley  and  Moore 
(In  litt  NCC)  noted  the  presence  of  Chara  vulgaris  var.  longidracteata  and 
Potamogeton  pectinatus.  The  latter  was  not  found  in  1977. 

Upton  Broad  has  thus  been  subject  to  a gradual  decrease  in  diversity  between 
the  late  forties  and  the  mid-seventies  which  has  been  accompanied  by  a switch 
in  species  composition  sometime  between  1952  and  1967.  In  the  last  few  years 
although  Najas  marina  has  remained  dominant  the  other  species  which  make  up 
the  macrophyte  community  have  shown  signs  of  instability  through  fluctuations 
in  appearance  from  one  year  to  the  next. 

To  conclude,  the  Bure  Broads,  although  having  been  regarded  as  poor  in 
macrophytes  for  many  years,  do  show  similar  signs  of  regression  to  the  Ant  valley 
Broads  and  this  is  particularly  the  case  with  Hoveton  Great  Broad.  It  is  of  interest 
to  note  the  common  features  of  these  changes,  in  particular  the  loss  of  the  margi- 
nal reedswamp  association  and  gradual  loss  of  diversity  and  productivity. 

The  Muckfleet  Broads 

Over  the  years  there  have  been  surprisingly  few  records  of  aquatic  macro- 
phytes from  these  broads  and  in  general  they  have  been  considered  too  deep  to 
support  any  extensive  aquatic  growth.  Gurney  (1965)  refers  to  the  “comparatively 
weedless”  broads  of  the  Ormesby  Group  and  Lambert  in  the  same  year  states 
that:  “Many  of  the  deep  broads,  such  as  Rollesby  and  Filby,  have  a very  poor 
aquatic  flora  and  such  water  plants  as  are  present  are  limited  to  a few  shallow 
marginal  areas.” 

Nevertheless  there  are  a number  of  early  records  from  Filby  Broad.  These 
include  an  apparent  abundance  of  Nitellopsis  obtusa  between  1880  and  1881 
(Bennett  1910),  Chara  hispida  and  Potamogeton  friesii  in  1902  (Salmon  and 
Bennett  1902)  and  again  an  abundance  of  Nitellopsis  obtusa  in  the  following  year 
(Bennett  and  Salmon  1903). 

The  only  apparent  records  from  Rollesby  Broad  are  of  Chara  contraria  in 
1902  (Salmon  and  Bennett  1902)  and  Hippuris  vulgaris  found  by  Long  a year 
later  (Herbarium,  Norwich  Castle  Museum). 

Apart  from  the  Charophytes  recorded  by  George  (1970)  from  Filby  in  1968 
and  those  from  Ormesby  Broad  in  this  survey  none  of  the  species  mentioned 
above  has  since  been  found.  In  1968  Morgan  (In  litt  NCC)  noted  Nymphaea  alba 
and  Nuphur  lutea  from  Ormesby  Broad  and  the  latter  from  Ormesby  Little 
Broad,  however,  in  1977  the  reverse  situation  was  the  case.  Mason  and  Bryant 
(1975)  found  neither  of  these  species  in  1973  but  recorded  two  new  species  for 
Ormesby  Broad,  namely  Stratiotes  aloides  and  Fontinalis  antipyretica.  Neither 
of  these  species  were  located  in  1977.  Similarly  at  Filby  Broad,  George  (1970) 
recorded  Chara  sp.,  Potamogeton  pectinatus  and  Nuphur  lutea  although  Mason 
and  Bryant  found  no  macrophytes  in  1973.  In  the  latest  survey  Potamogeton 
pusillus  was  recorded  in  small  quantities  over  virtually  the  whole  area  of  this 
broad. 

Assuming  these  records  form  an  accurate  reflection  of  the  situation  it  is 
difficult  to  understand  why  the  1977  survey  revealed  such  a comparatively  rich 
diversity  of  species,  particularly  in  Ormesby  Broad.  At  this  site,  of  the  ten  vas- 
cular macophytes  found  nine  had  not  been  previously  recorded  and  in  addition, 
of  the  five  previous  records  only  one  was  confirmed.  It  did  seem,  however,  that 


143 


Filby,  Ormesby  Little  and  Rollesby  were  too  deep  to  support  highly  productive 
macrophyte  communities  and  in  the  central  areas  of  these  broads  Potamogeton 
pusillus  was  practically  the  only  species  found.  It  should  be  noted  that  Mason 
and  Bryant’s  work  of  1973  was  carried  out  during  the  winter  months  and  this 
may  account  for  the  noticeable  discrepancies  between  the  two  surveys.  It  is 
likely,  therefore,  that  there  has  not  been  such  a sudden  expansion  of  the  aquatic 
flora  as  might  be  inferred  from  the  1977  results.  A more  likely  explanation  is 
that  many  of  the  species  found  in  1977  have  been  overlooked  in  the  past,  either 
through  insufficient  searching  or  through  sampling  at  the  wrong  time  of  the  year. 
This  interpretation  is  supported  by  the  fact  that  aerial  photographs  taken  in  the 
late  1940’s  show  considerable  areas  of  open  reedswamp  around  the  margins  of 
these  Broads.  Comparison  with  other  sites  suggest  that  these  areas  would  have 
been  rich  in  floating  macrophyte  species. 

The  Yare  Broads 

The  Yare  Valley  Broads  are  known  to  have  had  rich  macrophyte  communi- 
ties in  the  early  part  of  the  century.  In  1911  Pallis  identified  Potamogeton  pecti- 
natus  and  Zannichellia  palustris  as  the  dominant  submergents  of  the  area  with 
Myriophyllum  verticillatum.Ceratophyllum  demersum  and  Etiteromorpha  sp.  as 
abundant  components.  Also  among  the  submerged  species  Stratiotes  was  classi- 
fied as  occasional  and  the  various  Characeae  as  rare.  Of  the  ‘free  floating-leaved’ 
association  at  this  time  four  species  of  duckweed  were  dominant  with  associated 
Nuphur  lutea , Hydrocharis  morsus-ranae,  Potamogeton  lucens,  P.  perfoliatus  and 
rare  plants  of  Nymphaea  alba.  By  1929,  however,  Gurney  found  Myriophyllum 
sp.  and  Ceratophyllum  sp.  to  be  the  dominant  species  of  the  Yare  Broads. 

Before  considering  Rockland  and  Wheatfen  Broads,  which  have  the  most 
comprehensive  histories  of  this  region,  there  are  a few  valuable  records  from  the 
other  broads.  At  Buckenham,  for  example,  Ellis  recorded  seven  species  of 
macrophyte  in  1933  (In  litt  NCC)  yet  both  George  (1970)  and  Mason  and  Bryant 
(1975)  found  only  Nymphaea  and  Nuphar  here  in  1968  and  1973  respectively. 
Similarly,  at  Hassingham  Broad  the  owner  recalls  that  Stratiotes  was  abundant 
until  1939  (In  litt  NCC)  and  Lambert  (1965)  comments  on  the  scarcity  of  sub- 
merged aquatics  from  the  main  basin  of  the  broad  despite  their  abundance  in 
the  surrounding  dykes.  Again  George  (1970)  found  only  water  lilies  at  this  site 
in  1968.  At  Strumpshaw,  Ceratophyllum  demersum  was  at  one  time  abundant 
(Lambert  1965)  but  no  species  have  been  recorded  here  since  (George  1970, 
Wright  pers  comm.).  The  Bargate  and  Surlingham  complex  is  also  known  to  have 
supported  large  amounts  of  C.  demersum  between  1939  and  1945  (Morgan  1972) 
and  Lambert  (1946)  illustrated  the  dense  drifting  masses  of  this  plant  here  with  its 
associated  Lemna  spp.  in  1946.  A photograph  in  ‘The  Times’  in  1952  also 
shows  large  mats  of  floating  vegetation  around  the  edges  of  Surlingham  Broad. 
Both  George  (1970)  in  1968  and  Mason  and  Bryant  (1975)  in  1973  found  no 
macrophytes  here  and  only  Nuphar  lutea  was  found  in  1977  (Hayes,  pers  comm.). 

The  past  events  in  Rockland  are  somewhat  more  complicated  than  the  other 
Yare  Broads.  As  early  as  1866  Potamogeton  praelongus  was  recorded  (Morgan 
1972)  and  in  the  following  year  Bennet  (1910)  found  Nitellopsis  obtusa.  Nichol- 
son’s flora  (1914)  notes  Potamogeton  zosterifolius,  P.  pectinatus  and  Lemna 
polyrhiza  from  this  site.  By  1934  Ellis  found  abundant  Stratiotes  in  the  broad 
but  in  1939  describes  Ceratophyllum  demersum  as  the  dominant  plant.  Nearly  ten 


144 


years  later  both  Hurrel  (1942)  and  Rudd  (1943)  referred  to  the  rank  growth  of 
water  soldier  in  Rockland  Broad  although  Ellis  (1955)  claimed  that  the  species 
had  vanished  before  the  1940’s.  As  at  Surlingham,  Lambert  (1965)  refers  to 
the  past  dominance  of  hornwort  but  comments  that  when  it  was  dredged  out  some 
years  previously  “the  water  was  immediately  filled  the  same  season  by  great 
masses  of  Elodea  canadensis  normally  excluded  by  the  dense  floating  hornwort 
matts”.  However  by  1966  C.  demersum  had  regained  its  former  abundance 
and  Lemna  minor , L.  triscula , Elodea  and  Sagittaria  were  noted  as  its  associates 
(Bye  1966).  Two  years  later  Morgan  estimated  Nuphurlutea  to  have  a 30%  cover 
and  once  again  recorded  only  small  amounts  of  C.  demersum  with  Elodea 
canadensis , Potamogeton  spp.  and  Chara  spp..  In  1970  George  (In  litt  NCC) 
found  even  less  C.  demersum  than  in  1968  but  Elodea  canadensis  was  still 
present.  By  1973  Mason  and  Bryant  record  only  an  abundance  of  Nuphar  lutea 
which  was  still  prolific  in  1977.  Small  amounts  of  C.  demersum , E.  canadensis , 
Potamogeton  crispus,  P.  pectinatus  and  Zannichellia  palustris  were  also  identified 
in  1977  although  these  were  mostly  distributed  in  sheltered  areas  of  the  broad, 
away  from  the  main  navigation  channels  and  behind  the  Nuphar  beds. 

The  Wheatfen  channels  have  been  closely  monitored  over  the  years  through 
the  detailed  observations  of  Dr.  E.  A.  Ellis.  In  1934  he  recorded  twenty-three 
aquatics  from  this  area  of  which  Ceratophyllum  submersum  and  the  two  duck- 
weeds, Lemna  minor  and  Lemna polyrhiza , were  classified  as  the  dominant  species. 
Potamogeton  pectinatus , P.  compressus,  Lemna  gibba , and  L.  triscula  were  also 
found  in  abundance.  In  1939  Ellis  added  a number  of  new  species  to  this  list 
including  C.  demersum  which  by  1941  A.  E.  Ellis  records  as  the  dominant  plant 
of  the  submerged  community.  By  1950  substantial  changes  had  begun  to  occur 
and  Ellis  (1958b)  commented  on  the  scarcity  of  C.  demersum  and  the  duckweeds 
which  were  previously  so  abundant  in  the  region.  In  1958  Ellis  (1958a)  listed  a 
number  of  species  that  had  vanished  from  the  Wheatfen  area  since  1933.  These 
include  Nymphaea  alba,  Hippuris  vulgaris,  Hottonia  palustris,  Stratiotes  aloides 
and  Sagittaria  sagittifolia. 

Thus  there  has  been  a severe  decline  in  the  diversity  of  the  aquatic  plants 
at  Wheatfen  similar  to  that  demonstrated  from  all  the  Yare  sites  with  the  possible 
exception  of  Rockland  Broad.  The  latter  site  seems  to  have  retained  a reasonable 
diversity  although  the  majority  of  species  occur  only  at  low  frequencies.  Extreme 
variations  also  occur  in  the  abundance  of  different  species  from  one  year  to  the 
next  and  this  is  particularly  evident  in  the  two  members  of  the  hornwort  family. 
Finally  it  is  worth  mentioning  the  considerable  development  of  the  macrophyte 
flora  of  Brundall  Inner  Broad  since  it  was  mud-pumped  and  sealed  off  from  the 
River  Yare  in  1975.  This  site  has  been  closely  monitored  by  research  workers  at 
the  University  of  East  Anglia.  In  1977  fourteen  species  of  macrophyte  were 
identified  (R.  Leah  pers  comm.)  although  there  were  no  species  present  prior  to 
mud-pumping.  These  included  an  abundance  of  Potamogeton  pectinatus,  Zanni- 
chellia palustris . Lemna  minor,  Lemna  polyrhiza  and  Enteromorpha/Monostroma 
sp.,  Potamogeton  crispus  and  Callitriche  sp.  were  also  recorded  as  common. 

The  Thurne  Broads 

The  Thurne  region  and  in  particular  the  Hickling/Horsey  area  has  been  a 
popular  hunting-ground  of  botanists  for  many  years,  particularly  since  the 
discovery  of  Najas  marina  at  Hickling  in  1883  (Bennett  1883).  In  the  last  seven  or 


145 


eight  years,  however,  there  have  been  signs  of  widespread  reductions  in  both 
diversity  and  biomass  of  macrophytes  in  some  of  the  broads,  namely  Hickling, 
Heigham  Sounds  and  Horsey  Mere.  Much  of  this  area  has  recently  come  under 
the  close  scrutiny  of  researchers  from  the  University  of  East  Anglia  in  an  attempt 
to  discover  the  exact  causes  of  this  serious  deterioration  in  the  aquatic  com- 
munity. Pallis  (1911)  found  the  waters  of  the  Thurne  area  to  be  the  most  produc- 
tive of  the  Norfolk  Broads  and  recorded  a submerged  flora  dominated  almost 
exclusively  by  various  species  of  algae.  These  included  Chara  aspera,  C.  hispida, 
C.  polycantha,  Cladophora  sp.  and  various  filamentous  types.  Potamogeton 
pectinatus  was  the  only  dominant  vascular  plant  found.  The  luxuriance  of  the 
Characeae  in  these  broads  during  the  early  part  of  the  century  is  also  described 
by  Gurney  both  in  1904  and  1929. 

At  Hickling  Broad  Bennett  recorded  a dominance  of  C.  aspera  with  C.  hispida , 
C.  polycantha  and  Nitellopsis  obtusa  in  the  same  year  as  his  discovery  of  Najas 
marina.  Nitellopsis  obtusa  was  still  abundant  in  1903  (Bennett  and  Salmon)  and 
again  in  1906  (Nicholson).  Potamogeton  pectinatus  and  P.  praelongus  were  also 
both  recorded  on  a number  of  occasions  around  the  turn  of  the  century  (Morgan 
1972)  and  P.  lucens  was  recovered  from  Hickling  in  1892  (Herbarium,  Norwich 
Castle  Museum).  In  1934  Ellis  identified  twelve  species  of  vascular  macrophytes 
from  the  weed-cutting  operations  in  the  broad  (In  litt  NCC).  These  were  Myrio- 
phyllum  spicatum,  M.  verticillatum,  Elodea  canadensis , Hippuris  vulgaris , Utri- 
cularia  vulgaris  agg.,  Ranunculus  circinatus,  R.  trichophyllus  and  five  different 
Potamogeton  spp..  After  the  floods  of  1938,  however,  Ellis  made  a detailed  list 
of  the  casualties,  brought  about  by  this  vast  incursion  of  saltwater,  which  includes 
no  less  than  twenty-six  aquatic  macrophytes  which  he  believed  to  have  succum- 
bed to  the  floods  in  the  Hickling  area.  Unfortunately  he  makes  no  distinction, 
however,  between  species  recorded  from  the  dykes  and  species  found  in  the 
broads  themselves.  The  only  aquatics  which  appeared  to  have  survived  the  floods 
were  Cladophora  sp.  and  a little  Enteromorpha  sp.  As  Ellis  suggested  at  the  time, 
however,  many  of  the  Charophytes  that  had  apparently  been  lost  were,  in  fact, 
found  to  have  survived  the  flood.  Thus  in  1954  Lambert  (In  litt  NCC)  recorded 
an  abundance  of  Chara  hispida  and  Cladophora  sp.  with  Fontinalis  antipyretica 
and  Utricularia  vulgaris.  Occasional  specimens  of  Chara  globularis  and  rare 
plants  of  Myriophyllum  spicatum  and  Lemna  minor  were  also  found.  Six  years 
later  Phillips  (1963)  recorded  six  Charophytes  including  Nitellopsis  obtusa , 
Chara  hispida , C.  contraria,  C.  aculeolata,  C.  aspera  and  C.  contraria  x hispida. 

There  are  very  few  records  of  vascular  macrophytes  specifically  from  Hickling 
Broad  between  1954  and  1968,  although  Bye  did  record  Myriophyllum  vertici- 
llatum, Utricularia  spp.,  Ceratophyllum  demersum  and  Callitriche  from  Whiteslea 
Dyke  in  1966.  In  1968,  Morgan  (1972)  found  an  abundance  of  Zannichellia 
palustris  (apparently  a new  species  for  Hickling  Broad),  Utricularia  sp.,  Fontinalis , 
Myriophyllum  sp.,  Cladophora  and  Chara  spp..  Associated  species  at  this  time  were 
Potamogeton  pectinatus , C.  demersum , Najas  marina,  Hottonia  palustris,  Hippuris 
vulgaris  and  Nitella  sp..  George  (1970)  also  found  an  abundance  of  Potamogeton 
friesii  in  1968.  During  1972  two  extensive  searches  were  made  of  this  broad  and  a 
total  of  eight  vascular  species  were  identified  (Mason  and  Bryant  1975,  Hornby — 
In  litt  NCC).  In  both  cases  Potamogeton  pectinatus  was  recorded  as  abundant 
although  Hornby  also  found  an  abundance  of  Myriophyllum  spicatum  which 
Mason  and  Bryant  found  only  in  scattered  patches.  Najas  marina,  Fontinalis 


146 


antipyretica , Zannichellia palustris,  C.  demersum  and  Chara  sp.  were  all  recorded 
only  in  small  quantities  by  Mason  and  Bryant  although  Hornby  found  more 
Fontinalis  and  noted  Hippuris  vulgaris  as  common. 

Phillips  surveyed  both  Hickling  Broad  and  Heigham  Corner  in  1975  and 
1976  (In  prep  -NCC  report).  In  the  main  broad  during  the  first  survey  he  found 
an  abundance  of  Characeae,  Myriophyllum  spicatum  and  Najas  marina.  In  1976, 
although  M.  spicatum  was  equally  abundant,  Potamogeton  pectinatus  dominated 
the  broad  and  very  few  stoneworts  were  recorded.  Najas  marina  was  also  found 
in  lesser  amounts  than  in  1975.  The  only  other  species  recorded  from  the  main 
broad  were  Fontinalis  antipyretica , which  was  recorded  in  small  quantities  only 
in  1975,  and  small  amounts  of  Hippuris  vulgaris  encountered  in  both  years. 
In  Heigham  Corner  Myriophyllum  spicatum  and  Ceratophyllum  demersum  were 
the  most  abundant  aquatic  macrophytes  in  1975,  although  in  the  following  year 
Najas  marina  was  the  dominant  species.  Potamogeton  pectinatus  and  Myrio- 
phyllum spicatum  were  also  common  in  1976  at  this  site.  Neither  Hickling  Broad 
nor  Heigham  Corner  were  visited  in  1977. 

In  Heigham  Sounds,  like  Hickling,  there  is  evidence  to  suggest  an  abundance 
of  Stoneworts  in  the  early  1900’s  (Salmon  and  Bennett  1902)  but  more 
recent  records  show  little  similarity  between  the  two  areas.  For  example,  a sur- 
vey undertaken  by  Lambert  in  1954  found  nine  aquatic  species  but  only  four  of 
these  were  recorded  from  the  main  broad  (In  litt  NCC).  Similarly,  in  1972 
Mason  and  Bryant  found  only  an  abundance  of  Hippuris  vulgaris  and  Clado- 
phora  neither  of  which  were  recorded  by  them  from  Hickling  on  the  same  date. 
Phillips  also  surveyed  this  area  in  1975  and  1976  and  on  both  occasions  recorded 
Myriophyllum  spicatum  as  the  dominant  species  with  Ceratophyllum  demersum , 
Hippuris  vulgaris  and  Potamogeton  spp.  as  the  most  common  associates.  It  is 
of  interest  to  note  that  Nicholson  also  recorded  Myriophyllum  spicatum  as 
abundant  in  Heigham  Sounds  in  1906. 

Horsey  Mere  was  closely  monitored  for  several  years  after  the  1938  floods. 
Ellis  (1938)  recalls  Sagittaria  sagittifolia  as  previously  common  in  the  Mere  with 
Fontinalis  antipyretica.  The  year  after  the  flood,  however,  Potamogeton  pectinatus 
was  dominant  with  an  abundance  of  Cladophora  and  occasional  plants  of 
Myriophyllum  spicatum.  By  1940  P.  pectinatus  appeared  to  have  lost  its  former 
dominance  and  M.  spicatum  and  P.  zosterifolius  had  become  abundant  (Buxton 
1940).  In  1941  there  were  clear  signs  of  recovery  and  Ellis  (Buxton  1941)  identified 
M.  verticillatum , Chara  hispida , C.  aspera , P.  perfoliatus , P.  praelongus  and 
Hydrocharis  morsus-ranae  from  the  Mere.  By  1968  Morgan  (1972)  recorded  a 
wealth  of  aquatic  plant  life,  including  an  abundance  of  P.  pectinatus , Hippuris 
vulgaris , Myriophyllum  spp.  and  Cladophora.  Some  stoneworts  were  also  noted 
on  this  occasion.  Far  fewer  species  were  found,  however,  by  Mason  and  Bryant 
in  1972  and  Myriophyllum  spicatum  and  P.  pectinatus  were  the  only  species  found 
in  any  quantity.  Again  it  must  be  noted,  however,  that  Mason  and  Bryant  visited 
all  the  broads  of  the  Hickling  area  in  the  winter  months.  In  1975  George  (In 
litt  NCC)  found  Myriophyllum  sp.  and  Hippuris  vulgaris  with  a small  amount 
of  Najas  marina.  Horsey  Mere  was  not  surveyed  in  1977  but  Hippuris  vulgaris 
and  Myriophyllum  spicatum  were  noted  on  a casual  visit  to  this  site  in  August. 

Blackfeet  Broad  lies  midway  between  Heigham  Sounds  and  Horsey  Mere  on 
the  south-eastern  side  of  Meadow  Dyke.  A thick  belt  of  reedswamp  effectively 
isolates  this  body  of  water  from  the  main  dyke  thus  it  is  seldom  subject  to  human 


147 


disturbance.  There  are  only  a few  early  records  from  this  site  although  all  suggest 
an  abundance  of  Charophytes  as  demonstrated  from  Hickling,  Heigham  Sounds 
and  Horsey  Mere.  Thus  in  1902,  Salmon  and  Bennett  found  Chara  fragilis , C. 
aspera,  C.  hispida  and  Nitellopsis  obtusa  and  in  the  following  year  Bennett  and 
Salmon  stated  that  Chara  poly  cant  ha  was  to  be  found  “ ...  in  great  beds  many 
yards  across,  and  so  dense  in  places  as  to  prevent  a boat  from  proceeding”. 

George  (1970)  visited  Blackfleet  in  1968  and  found  Myriophyllum,  Cerato- 
phyllum  and  Utricularia  spp..  In  1977  this  site  was  so  choked  with  submerged 
vegetation  that  it  was  difficult  to  use  the  sampling-rake  due  to  the  anchoring 
effect  of  the  weed.  The  major  components  of  this  submerged  flora  were  Najas 
marina  and  Potamogeton  pectinatus.  P.  pusillus,  M.  spicatum,  Chara  spp.  and 
filamentous  algae  were  also  found  in  small  quantities. 

Martham  Broad  is  made  up  of  two  portions  separated  by  the  river  channel 
running  between  Martham  Ferry  and  West  Somerton.  According  to  their  position 
the  two  are  respectively  termed  the  North  and  South  Broad.  There  are  many 
records  from  both  these  sites  during  the  seventies  and  most  indicate  both  a diverse 
and  a productive  macrophyte  community. 

George  (1970)  visited  Martham  North  in  1968  and  found  an  abundance  of 
Utricularia  vulgaris  agg.  with  Myriophyllum  verticillatum,  Ceratophyllum  demer- 
sum,  Potamogeton  pectinatus  and  Chara  sp.  all  occurring  in  reasonable  quantity. 
Najas  marina , Hippuris  vulgaris  and  Cladophora  sauteri  were  also  recorded  but 
only  in  small  amounts.  In  1971  Hornby  (In  litt  NCC)  found  all  the  species  that 
George  identified  in  1968  but  found  no  Charophytes  and  in  addition  recorded 
M.  spicatum.  Unlike  George,  however,  Hornby  found  Cladophora  to  be  the  most 
abundant  species  and  U.  vulgaris  and  H.  vulgaris  were  both  found  in  lesser  am- 
ounts than  in  1968.  In  November  1972  Mason  and  Bryant  (1975)  found  only  an 
abundance  of  Hippuris  vulgaris  and  Cladophora  sp..  Almost  on  the  same  date, 
however,  Hornby  recorded  Utricularia  vulgaris  agg.,  Potamogeton  pectinatus 
and  Chara  sp.  as  common  components  of  the  submerged  flora.  By  1973  Clado- 
phora had  apparently  vanished  and  Utricularia  vulgaris  agg.  and  Hippuris 
vulgaris  had  become  the  most  abundant  species  (Britton  - In  litt  NCC). 

Phillips  made  detailed  surveys  of  Martham  North  in  June  and  September 
1975  and  again  during  the  summers  of  1976  and  1977  (In  prep.  NCC  report). 
On  all  these  occasions  he  found  Utricularia  vulgaris  agg.  to  be  the  most  produc- 
tive species  and  all  the  surveys  revealed  a rich  diversity  of  aquatics.  The  most 
abundant  associates  of  the  bladderwort  were  Myriophyllum  spicatum  in  June 
1975,  Najas  marina  in  September  1975,  Zannichellia  palustris  in  1976  and  Cera- 
tophyllum demersum  in  1977.  There  are  no  signs  of  any  macrophyte  decline  during 
this  period.  Indeed,  there  is  little  evidence  of  any  major  loss  of  aquatic  plants 
from  Martham  North  over  the  past  ten  years. 

The  macrophyte  community  of  the  South  Broad  has  shown  little  simi- 
larity to  Martham  North.  One  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  the  former  site 
is  the  quite  vivid  changes  in  abundance  of  both  Najas  marina  and  the  various 
Charophytes  from  one  year  to  the  next.  In  1971,  for  example,  both  Hornby  and 
Cadbury  (In  litt  NCC)  encountered  only  Najas  marina  and  Utricularia  spp.. 
However,  in  the  following  year,  although  Najas  was  still  abundant,  the  stone 
worts  were  the  dominant  species  (Hornby  - In  litt  NCC).  Cladophora  sauteri  was 
also  found  in  some  quantity  in  1972,  but  it  was  by  no  means  as  prolific  as  in  the 
North  Broad  at  this  time.  In  1973  Britton  found  Chara  hispida  to  be  the  dominant 


148 


Plate  1.  Aerial  views  of  Alderfen  Broad  showing  the  almost  complete  loss  of 
open- water  vegetation  between  July  1946  (above)  and  June  1976  (below). 


Plate  2.  Aerial  views  of  UptonBroad  in  July  1946  (above)  and  May  1977 (below). 
As  at  Alderfen  notice  the  considerable  loss  of  open-water  vegetation. 


species  with  associated  C.  aspera,  U.  vulgaris  agg.,  P.  pectinatus,  Hippuris  vul- 
garis, Cladophora  sp.  and  Najas  marina.  (In  litt  NCC). 

Phillips  visited  the  South  Broad  in  both  1975  and  1976  (In  prep.  NCC  report). 
In  1975  a dominance  of  Char  a hispida  was  still  apparent  and  he  recorded  essen- 
tially the  same  species  as  Britton  in  1973  but,  in  addition,  found  Zannichellia 
palustris.  Ceratophyllum  demersum , Najas  marina  and  Cladophora  sp.  were  not 
recorded  in  1975.  The  following  year,  however,  Najas  was  the  dominant  species 
although  Char  a hispida  was  still  abundant.  In  the  1977  survey,  Najas  was  again 
dominant  and  Potamogeton  pectinatus  was  found  in  almost  equal  amounts  but 
only  a few  Charophytes  were  noted. 

In  the  Martham  area  there  have  thus  been  few  signs  of  any  recent  deteriora- 
tion in  the  aquatic  community  as  demonstrated  from  some  of  the  other  Thurne 
Broads.  There  is  evidence,  however,  to  suggest  wide  fluctuations  in  the  abundance 
of  the  various  macrophytes  from  one  year  to  the  next  and  these  are  particularly 
noticeable  in  the  records  from  the  South  Broad.  It  is  possible,  however,  that 
these  are  partly  seasonal  variations.  For  example,  Najas  marina  is  known  to  be 
a species  which  appears  late  in  the  season  and  this  is  demonstrated  by  the  two 
surveys  undertaken  by  Phillips  of  Martham  North  in  1975. 

The  only  other  site  in  the  Thurne  region  is  Calthorpe  Broad  which  is  the 
most  northerly  of  the  Norfolk  Broads  and  lies  to  the  south-west  of  Sea  Palling. 
This  Broad  has  recently  undergone  two  drastic  changes  in  pH  firstly  in  1970  when 
a value  of  about  3.6  was  recorded  and  again  in  1977  when  the  pH  fell  even  lower 
to  about  3.2  (Dollman  - In  litt  NCC).  As  a result  of  these  highly  acidic  conditions 
many  of  the  submerged  species  which  previously  abounded  in  the  broad  (Jermy 
1956  and  Tutin  1955  - In  litt  NCC)  have  now  disappeared  and  water  lilies  are 
all  that  remain.  The  reasons  for  the  changes  in  pH  at  this  site  are  complex  but 
are  basically  caused  by  the  drying  out  of  the  broad  and  its  adjacent  fens  during 
the  summer  months. 

To  conclude,  in  the  Thurne  region  macrophyte  losses  have  only  occurred  in 
the  last  seven  or  eight  years  and  have  been  confined  to  Hickling  Broad,  Heigham 
Sounds  and  Horsey  Mere.  The  major  losses  have  been  of  the  Charophyte  species 
although  other  plants  such  as  Hydrocharis  morsus-ranae , Myriophyllum  verticil - 
latum  and  Lemna  minor  have  also  disappeared. 

Summary 

It  is  clear  that  in  the  majority  of  the  Norfolk  Broads  there  has  been  a serious, 
decline  in  both  diversity  and  standing  crop  of  aquatic  macrophytes.  Martham 
Blackfleet,  Rockland  and  the  Muckfleet  Broads  are  the  only  possible  exceptions 
to  this  general  trend. 

The  Ant  Broads  have  all  shown  a considerable  deterioration  in  their  aquatic 
vegetation  since  the  war.  There  are  strong  similarities  between  the  broads  of  this 
region  and  the  Bure  valley  sites.  For  example,  the  disappearance  of  Myriophyl- 
lum verticillatum  from  both  Upton  and  Hoveton  Great  coincides  with  its  loss 
from  Crome’s  and  Alderfen  Broads.  The  loss  of  Stratiotes  from  Hoveton  Great 
and  Barton  also  occurred  at  about  the  same  time  and  in  both  cases  was  a com- 
paratively rapid  event.  A particularly  noticeable  loss  from  both  these  areas  is 
that  of  free-floating  species  such  as  Hydrocharis  morsus-ranae , Lemna  spp.  and 
Azolla  filiculoides.  In  the  majority  of  the  Ant  and  Bure  Broads  water  lilies  are 
the  only  aquatic  plants  remaining  in  any  quantity  and  even  these  species  have 


149 


been  progressively  diminishing  in  abundance  in  recent  years.  The  Muckfleet 
Broads  show  few  signs  of  impoverishment  other  than  would  be  expected  on 
account  of  their  greater  depth. 

In  the  Yare  Valley,  the  broads  have  also  lost  many  previously  abundant 
aquatic  species  although  these  losses  have  not  apparently  coincided  with  those 
from  the  Bure  and  the  Ant  Broads.  For  example,  Stratiotes  disappeared  about 
1940  in  both  Strumpshaw  and  Rockland  Broad,  some  ten  years  previous  to  its 
loss  from  Hoveton  Great  and  Barton.  The  Yare  Broads  also  show  considerable 
fluctuations  in  abundance  of  species  from  one  year  to  the  next  and  this  pheno- 
menon is  particularly  attributable  to  both  Ceratophyllum  demersum  and  C. 
submersum. 

The  decline  of  macrophytes  in  the  Thurne  Broads  has  been  a more  recent 
occurrence  than  elsewhere  in  Broadland  and  has  only  been  noticeable  in  Hickling 
Broad,  Horsey  Mere  and  Heigham  Sounds.  The  major  losses  from  the  Hickling 
area  are  of  the  many  Charophyte  species  which  were  once  so  luxuriant  in  this 
region.  Blackfleet  and  the  two  Martham  Broads  have  shown  no  signs  of  any  such 
impoverishment.  In  the  latter  area  there  have  been  considerable  variations  in 
the  abundance  of  the  various  aquatic  species.  This  is  particularly  evident  from 
the  spasmodic  appearances  of  Najas  marina  and  the  Characeae  over  the  last 
few  years,  although  this  may  be  a largely  seasonal  phenomenon.  It  would  indeed 
be  a worthwhile  exercise  to  study  the  seasonal  variation  in  abundance  of  macro- 
phytes in  a number  of  broads  over  a period  of  several  years.  It  is  quite  likely  that 
prevailing  climatic  conditions,  particularly  early  on  in  the  season,  have  consider- 
able bearing  on  the  success  of  different  aquatics  from  one  year  to  the  next.  For 
example,  the  late  springs  experienced  in  the  last  few  years  have  doubtless  had 
an  adverse  effect  on  those  species  that  appear  early  in  the  season. 

A point  of  particular  interest,  revealed  by  the  1977  survey,  is  the  apparent 
increase  in  the  distribution  of  Potamogeton  crispus.  This  species  has,  in  the  past, 
been  recorded  only  on  one  or  two  occasions  in  the  Norfolk  Broads  although  in 
1977  it  was  found  at  six  sites. 

No  attempt  has  been  made  in  this  review  to  account  for  the  loss  of  aquatic 
macrophytes  from  the  different  broads.  The  precise  causes  for  the  decline  of 
macrophytes  in  the  Norfolk  Broads  have  been  closely  investigated  by  a number 
of  research  workers  from  the  University  of  East  Anglia  (Phillips  1976,  Eminson 
& Moss  1977  and  Eminson  & Phillips  1978). 

This  discussion  has  endeavoured  to  highlight  some  of  the  more  important 
changes  in  the  distribution  and  abundance  of  aquatic  macrophytes  in  the  Norfolk 
Broads.  Nevertheless,  it  should  be  emphasised  that  due  to  limited  space  records 
have  been  omitted  and,  doubtless,  there  have  been  many  important  events  that 
have  passed-by  unrecorded.  It  is  hoped  that  this  work  will  enable  a closer  watch 
to  be  kept  on  any  further  changes  in  the  status  of  the  aquatic  communities  in 
the  Norfolk  Broads. 

Acknowledgements 

This  study  forms  part  of  a project  carried  out  under  contract  for  the  Nature  Conser- 
vancy Council.  The  complete  report  is  held  at  the  East  Anglian  Regional  Office,  60 
Bracondale,  Norwich.  I should  particularly  like  to  thank  Mr.  Peter  Wright  for  his 
invaluable  guidance  throughout  this  work  and  Mr.  P.  Lambley  for  helping  to  identify 


150 


some  of  the  survey  material.  I am  grateful  to  Dr.  M.  George,  Dr.  R.  James,  Mr.  R. 
Driscoll  and  Mr.  D.  Harris  for  their  useful  comments  on  the  draft  report  and  also  to 
Miss  D.  Brereton  for  typing  the  manuscript. 

References 

Barry,  D.  H.  and  Jermy,  A.  C.,  1953.  Observations  of  Najas  marina.  Trans. Nor f. Nor. 
Nat.Soc.,  17,  294-297. 

Bennett,  A.,  1883.  On  Najas  marina  L.  as  a British  plant.  J.  Bot.  (1883)  353. 
Bennett,  A.,  1884.  Plants  new  to  Norfolk  with  notes  on  other  species.  Trans.  Norf. 
Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  3,  633-636. 

Bennett,  A.,  1910.  Najas  marina  L.  and  Chara  stelligera , Bauer.  As  Norfolk  plants. 
Trans.  Norf.  Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  9,47-50. 

Bennett,  A.  and  Salmon,  C.  E.,  1903.  Norfolk  Notes.  /.  Bot.  41,  202-204. 

Boardman,  E.  T.,  1939.  The  development  of  a Broadland  estate  at  How  Hill,  Ludham, 
Norfolk.  Trans.  Norf.  Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  15,  5-21. 

Boorman,  L.  A.,  She  ail,  J.  and  Fuller,  R.  M.,  1977.  The  Phragmites  die-back  problem. 
I.T.E.  Project  539.  Unpublished  Report. 

Burrell,  W.  H.,  1913.  Azolla  filiculoides  Lam.  Trans.  Norf.  Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  9,  734-742. 
Buxton,  A.,  1938.  The  Norfolk  Sea  Floods.  February  1938.  General  effects  of  the  flood. 
Trans.  Norf.  Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  14,  349-373. 

Buxton,  A.,  1939.  The  Norfolk  Sea  Floods.  February  1938.  Trans.  Norf.  Nor.  Nat. 
Soc.  15,  22-34. 

Buxton,  A.,  1940.  The  Norfolk  Sea  Floods.  February  1938.  The  general  effects  of  the 
flood  seen  in  1940.  Trans.  Norf.  Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  15,  150-159. 

Buxton,  A.,  1941.  The  Norfolk  Sea  Floods.  February  1938.  The  general  effects  of  the 
flood  seen  in  1941.  Trans.  Norf.  Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  15,  259-267. 

Bye,  V.,  1966.  Chemical  analysis  of  certain  dykes  and  broads  in  the  valleys  of  the  Rivers 
Bure,  Yare  and  Thurne.  Unpublished  Ph.  D.  thesis,  University  of  East  Anglia. 
Ellis,  A.  E.,  1941.  The  Mollusca  of  a Norfolk  Broad.  J.  Conch.  21,  224-243. 

Ellis,  E.  A.,  1934.  Wheatfen  Broad,  Surlingham.  Trans.  Norf.  Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  13,  422- 
451. 

Ellis,  E.  A.,  1938.  The  Norfolk  Sea  Floods.  February  1938.  Detailed  observations. 
Trans.  Norf.  Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  14,  373-390. 

Ellis,  E.  A.,  1939.  The  Natural  History  of  Wheatfen  Broad,  Surlingham.  Trans.  Norf. 
Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  15,  115-128. 

Ellis,  E.  A.,  1950.  Fauna  and  flora  of  Norfolk.  Miscellaneous  observations.  Trans. 
Norf.  Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  17,  136-143. 

Ellis,  E.  A.,  1955.  In  the  Countryside.  Eastern  Daily  Press  5.1.55. 

Ellis,  E.  A.,  1956.  The  Spread  and  Decline  of  a Water  Fern.  Nature’s  Byways,  Eastern 
Daily  Press  21.4.56. 

Ellis,  E.  A.,  1958a.  In  the  Countryside.  Eastern  Daily  Press  20.7.58. 

Ellis,  E.  A.,  1958b.  In  the  Countryside.  Eastern  Daily  Press.  21.7.58. 

Ellis,  E.  A.,  1965.  The  Broads.  Collins,  London. 

Ellis,  M.  B.,  1939.  Detailed  observations  on  the  flora  at  Horsey.  Trans.  Norf.  Nor. 
Nat.  Soc.  15,  34-39. 

Eminson,  D.  F.  and  Phillips,  G.  L.,  1978.  The  effects  of  epiphytes  on  the  growth  of 
aquatic  macrophytes.  20th  Int.  Limnol.  Congress  (In  Press). 

George,  M.,  1970.  The  aquatic  macrophytes  of  the  Broads.  Unpublished  MS  held  at 
Nature  Conservancy  Council,  Norwich. 

George,  M.,  1976.  Impoverishment  of  Broadland’s  Aquatic  Fauna  and  Flora:  a pro- 
gramme of  research  and  rehabilitation  management.  Norf  Nat.  Trust.  49th  Annual 
Report.  44-48. 

George,  M.,  1977.  The  decline  in  Broadland’s  Aquatic  Fauna  and  Flora.  A review 
of  the  present  position.  Trans.  Norf.  Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  24,  41-53. 


151 


Gurney,  R.,  1904.  The  Fresh-and  Brackish- Water  Crustacea  of  East  Norfolk.  Trans. 
Norf.  Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  7,  637-660. 

Gurney,  R.  1919.  Breeding  stations  of  the  Black-headed  gull  in  the  British  Isles.  Trans. 
Norf.  Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  10,  416-447. 

Gurney,  R.,  1929.  The  Fresh-water  Crustacea  of  Norfolk.  Trans.  Norf.  Nor.  Nat. 
Soc.  12,  550-581. 

Gurney,  R.,  1948.  Notes  on  Frog-bit  (Hydrochans)  and  Hairweed  (Potamogeton  pecti- 
natus ) Trans.  Norf.  Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  16,  381-383 
Gurney,  R.,  1965.  Life  in  Fresh  Water.  In:  The  Broads  (E.  A.  Ellis)  151-160.  Collins, 
London. 

Hurrell,  H.  E.,  1942.  Pond  Life.  Trans.  Norf.  Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  15,  319-331. 

Jermy,  A.  C.,  1959.  The  vegetation  and  its  ecological  status  at  Alderfen  Broad,  Norfolk. 

Unpublished  MS  held  at  Nature  Conservancy  Council,  Norwich. 

Lambert,  J.  M.,  1946.  The  distribution  and  status  of  Glyceria  maxima  (Hartm)  Holmb. 

in  the  region  of  Surlingham  and  Rockland  Broads,  Norfolk.  J.  Ecol.  33,  230-267. 
Lambert,  J.  M.,  1965.  The  vegetation  of  Broadland.  In:  The  Broads  (E.  A.  Ellis)  69-92. 
Collins,  London. 

Lambert,  J.  M.  and  Jennings,  J.  A.,  1951.  Alluvial  stratigraphy  and  vegetational 
succession  in  the  region  of  the  Bure  Valley  Broads:  II  detailed  vegetational  strati- 
graphical  relationships.  J.  Ecol.  39,  120-148. 

Mason,  C.  F.  and  Bryant,  R.  J.,  1975.  Changes  in  the  ecology  of  the  Norfolk  Broads. 
Freshwat.  Biol.  5,  527-270. 

Morgan,  N.  C.,  1972.  Problems  of  the  conservation  of  freshwater  ecosystems.  In: 
Conservation  and  Productivity  of  Natural  Waters.  Symp.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  (R.  V. 
Edwards  and  D.  J.  Garrod)  135-154.  Adacemic  Press.  London. 

Moss,  B.,  1977a.  The  State  of  the  Norfolk  Broads.  The  Ecologist  7,  324-326. 

Moss,  B.,  1977b.  Conservation  problems  in  the  Norfolk  Broads  and  rivers  of  East 
Anglia,  England — Phytoplankton,  boats  and  the  causes  of  turbidity.  Bio.  Conserv. 
12,  95-114. 

Nicholson,  W.  A.,  1906.  A preliminary  sketch  of  the  bionomical  botany  of  Sutton  and 
the  Ant  district.  Trans.  Norf.  Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  8,  265-289. 

Nicholson,  W.  A.,  1914.  A flora  of  Norfolk.  West,  Newman  and  Co.,  London. 
0‘Riordan,  A.  M.,  1976.  A Broadland  Bibliography.  Unpublished.  Held  at  Nature 
Conservancy  Council,  Norwich. 

Pallis,  M.,  1911.  The  river  valleys  of  East  Norfolk:  their  aquatic  and  fen  formations. 
In:  Types  of  British  vegetation  (A.  G.  Tansley)  214-245.  Cambridge  University 
Press.  London. 

Petch,  C.  P.  and  Swann,  E.  L.,  1968.  Flora  of  Norfolk.  Jarrold,  Norwich. 

Phillips,  G.  L.,  1976.  An  investigation  of  the  distribution  and  growth  of  aquatic  plants 
in  some  of  the  Norfolk  Broads.  Ph.D.  Thesis,  University  of  East  Anglia. 

Phillips,  S.  P.,  1963.  A note  on  the  Charophytes  of  Hickling  Broad  East  Norfolk. 

Proc.  Bot.  Soc.  Brit.  Isles.  February  1963. 

Phillips,  G.  L.,  Eminson  D.  and  Moss  B.,  1977.  A mechanism  to  account  for  macro- 
phyte decline  in  progressively  enriched  freshwaters.  Aqu.  Bot.  (In  Press). 

Rudd,  A.  J.,  1943.  Norfolk  fishes.  Trans.  Norf.  Nor.  Nat.  Soc.  15,  377-391. 

Salmon,  C.  E.  and  Bennett,  A.,  1902.  Norfolk  Notes.  J.  Bot.  40,  94-101. 

Tubbs,  F.  R.,  1975.  Barton  Broad  Nature  Reserve.  Norf.  Nat.  Trust  49th  Annual  Report. 
33-38. 


152 


THE  WETLAND  PLANT  COMMUNITIES  OF  THE  RIVER  ANT 
VALLEY,  NORFOLK 

by  B.  D.  Wheeler 

Department  of  Botany,  The  University,  Sheffield 


Introduction 

The  area  of  East  Norfolk  generally  known  as  Broadland  has  long  been 
recognised  as  a unique  wetland  complex  of  primary  conservational  importance 
in  Britain  (Ellis,  1965).  Much  of  its  scientific  interest  derives  from  the  vegetation 
cover  which  contains  a range  of  plant  communities  and  species  that  occur  rarely, 
if  at  all,  elsewhere  in  Britain.  This  is  particularly  so  for  one  of  the  smaller  valleys 
of  the  region,  that  of  the  River  Ant.  Vegetationally  this  is,  arguably,  the  most 
interesting,  certainly  the  most  diverse,  of  all  the  Broadland  valleys.  It  supports 
the  greatest  number  of  different  wetland  plant  communities  (and  probably  species 
as  well)  including  some  absent  or  poorly  developed  in  the  other  valleys ; it  pre- 
sents the  richest  and  most  extensive  developments  of  many  of  these;  it  retains 
large  tracts  of  herbaceous  fen  (cf.  the  Bure  valley)  as  considerable  areas  are  still 
regularly  mown  for  reed  and  sedge ; and,  partly  related  to  this,  it  provides  the 
only  known  remaining  sites  for  several  plant  communities  and  species  that  were 
once  more  widespread  in  Broadland. 

Despite  the  vegetational  interest  of  the  Ant  marshes,  there  has  been  no 
comprehensive  survey  made  of  the  plant  communities.  The  present  contribution 
attempts  to  remedy  this  deficiency.  It  may  be  noted  that  although  attention  is 
primarily  focussed  upon  the  Ant  valley,  many  of  the  community  descriptions 
are  applicable  to  some  of  the  other  Broadland  valleys  as  well. 

Topography  of  the  River  Ant  Valley 

The  River  Ant,  a tributary  of  the  Bure,  originates  from  a number  of  small 
streams  arising  at  around  100  ft.  O.D.  in  the  vicinity  of  Antingham  (from  which 
it  is  named)  and  Southrepps.  It  quickly  loses  height  and  flows  south-eastwards 
past  North  Walsham  to  Honing  where  it  is  joined  by  an  important,  though  short, 
tributary  stream  flowing  southwards  from  just  behind  the  coast  atBactontothe 
neighbourhood  of  East  Ruston. 

Below  Honing  and  East  Ruston  the  broad  valley  floor  is  only  a few  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea.  It  has  a negligible  gradient  and  is  poorly  drained.  The 
sluggish  river  winds  along  for  some  15  km  before  joining  the  Bure  south  of 
Ludham  Bridge.  On  either  side  there  are  extensive  tracts  of  peatland,  stretching 
across  to  the  gently  rising  slopes  of  the  adjoining  upland.  It  is  this  area,  which  for 
the  present  purposes  is  referred  to  as  the  Middle  Ant  valley,  that  contains  the 
bulk  of  the  Ant  wetlands  and  provided  the  main  survey  area.  Its  extent  and  loca- 
tion are  shown  in  Fig.  1.  Attention  has,  however,  also  been  directed  to  the  con- 
tigous  wetlands  of  the  tributary  valley  leading  north  past  East  Ruston.  These  are 
just  north  of  the  map. 


153 


Fig.  1 Dots  indicate  the  main  sampling  points.  Areas  outlined  with  heavy  lines  indicate 
the  main  areas  examined.  Each  has  been  named  and  this  is  represented  by  initials: 
AFB:  Alderfen  Broad;  BB:  Barton  Broad;  BFD:  Broad  Fen,  Dilham;  BH:  Berry  Hall; 
CF:  Catfield  Fens;  HH:  How  Hill;  HM:  Horning  Marshes:  LM:  Ludham  Marshes; 
LS:  Low  Street;  MF:  Marsh  Farm,  Brumstead;  RM;  Reedham  Marshes;  SB:  Sutton 
Broad;  SM:  Sutton  Marshes;  SMF:  Smallburgh  Fen;  WB:  Wayford  Bridge. 


154 


Throughout  its  course,  the  Ant  flows  over  a bedrock  of  Norwich  Crag.  This 
is,  however,  exposed  only  in  certain  areas,  particularly  along  the  lower  slopes  of 
the  valley.  For  the  most  part,  the  catchment  area  of  the  river  is  covered  by  Pleis- 
tocene drifts,  particularly  the  decalcified  clays  of  the  Norwich  brickearth  and, 
especially  in  the  higher  parts,  by  glacial  sands  and  gravels. 

Two  topographic  types  of  mire  can  be  distinguished  within  the  Ant  valley — 
valley  mires  and  flood-plain  mires.  Valley  mires,  which  occupy  the  slopes  as 
well  as  the  floors  of  valley  systems,  have  their  high  water  table  maintained  pri- 
marily by  marginal  springs  and  seepage.  In  contrast,  flood-plain  mires,  which  are 
developed  on  flat,  waterlogged  flood-plains  alongside  rivers,  are  irrigated  pre- 
dominantly by  the  river.  The  distinction  is  not  absolute  in  that  flood-plain  mires 
may  frequently  have  some  degree  of  marginal  seepage.  But  the  relative  contri- 
bution of  water  from  this  source  is  small.  In  the  Ant  valley  the  distinction  is 
essentially  geographic.  The  narrow,  upper  reaches  of  the  valley,  and  particularly 
of  the  tributaries,  have  a high  seepage  component  of  water  input  and  are  essen- 
tially valley  mires.  The  best  examples  are  the  fens  along  the  valleys  near  Small- 
burgh  and  East  Ruston.  In  contrast,  the  lower  reaches  are  maintained  in  a water- 
logged condition  primarily  by  the  influence  of  the  river  and  support  flood-plain 
mires.  Most  of  the  Ant  marshes  are  of  this  type.  This  topographic  distinction  is 
important  in  that  it  has  associated  vegetational  distinctions. 

In  the  lower  reaches  of  the  valley  a considerable  depth  (6-8m)  of  peat  has 
accumulated.  This  is  predominantly  brushwood  peat.  Towards  the  seaward  end 
it  becomes  compressed  beneath  a thickening  deposit  of  estuarine  clay.  The 
detailed  stratigraphy  of  these  valley  deposits  has  been  given  by  Jennings  (1952). 
In  some  parts  of  the  valley,  particularly  in  the  lowest  reaches,  the  marshes  have 
been  extensively  drained  and  converted  into  grazing  levels.  But  for  the  most  part 
they  still  remain  as  vast  tracts  of  undrained,  embanked  wetland.  The  amount  of 
undrained  flood  plain  mire  is  estimated  at  about  900  hectares. 

There  are,  of  course,  two  main  components  of  the  flood-plain  mires — 
the  mires  proper  and  the  broads  and  other  peat  cuts  that  have  been  excavated 
within  them.  The  peat  workings  support  a range  of  hydroserai  communities  and 
are  themselves  in  various  states  of  terrestrialisation.  Their  communities,  which 
are  all  comparatively  recent  in  origin,  are  quite  different  from  those  of  the 
unworked  peat  surfaces  in  ontogeny,  though  not  necessarily  in  floristic  composi- 
tion. 

There  are  five  broad  basins  within  the  Ant  valley.  The  largest  is  Barton  Broad. 
This  is  the  only  one  that  occurs  actually  within  the  main  valley.  The  Ant  actually 
flows  through  the  broad,  but  this  is  the  product  of  a diversion.  Originally  the  river 
followed  a winding  course  through  the  Catfield  fens  east  of  the  broad,  indicated 
now  only  by  the  line  of  the  Barton  Turf — Catfield  parish  boundary  (Jennings, 
1952).  The  other  four  broads  are  all  side- valley  broads — Alderfen  Broad,  Crome’s 
Broad,  Dilham  Broad  and  Sutton  Broad.  Of  these,  only  the  first  two  retain  any 
significant  amount  of  open  water.  The  Dilham  Broad  basin,  located  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  Dilham  Broad  Fen,  has  become  completely  overgrown.  It  origi- 
nally straddled  the  Smallburgh-Dilham  parish  boundary  and  is  marked  as  a 
small  area  of  open  water  on  the  Tithe  maps  for  the  two  parishes.  It  is  not, 
however,  on  any  of  the  subsequent  Ordnance  Survey  editions.  Nowadays  a 
narrow  channel  is  still  maintained  through  the  broad  basin,  but  there  is  no  sur- 


155 


face  evidence  to  indicate  that  it  was  once  an  area  of  open  water.  Likewise,  Sutton 
Broad  is  marked  on  the  1841  Tithe  map  as  occupying  much  of  the  arm  of  the 
Ant  valley  leading  up  to  Sutton  Staithe.  In  fact,  the  original  broad  basin  was 
even  more  extensive  (Lambert  et  al. , 1960).  But  by  1946  the  broad  basin,  initially 
some  6 - 7 ft.  deep,  was  completely  overgrown,  except  for  a central  channel 
which  was  maintained  in  a navigable  condition.  This  is  still  the  case,  though  it 
seems  as  if  the  channel  has  become  wider  in  recent  years  (Ellis,  pers.  comm.). 
Much  of  the  basin  has  been  filled  by  a raft  of  reedswamp  peat  overlying  nekron 
mud  (Lambert  et  al.,  1960)  and  in  places  the  substratum  retains  a pronounced 
swinging  character. 

In  addition  to  the  broad  basins  proper,  shallower,  more  recent  peat  cuts  have 
also  been  made  in  several  parts  of  the  valley.  Most  notable  perhaps  are  the 
extensive  peat  cuts  that  were  made  in  the  Catfield  fens  in  the  mid-nineteenth 
century.  These  have  also  become  largely  overgrown,  with  only  a few  remaining 
vestiges  of  open  water. 

The  extent  and  location  of  the  flood  plain  mires  is,  of  course,  de- 
termined by  the  topography  of  the  valley.  In  places,  particularly  where  there  are 
side  arms  to  the  valley  or  large  embayments  cut  into  the  adjoining  upland,  they 
can  be  very  extensive.  In  some  parts  the  margins  of  the  mires  are  well  over  1 km 
distant  from  the  irrigating  river.  Although,  for  the  most  part,  the  dykes  that 
extend  through  the  marshes  are  in  direct  communication  with  the  Ant,  as  Lam- 
bert (1965)  has  recognised  the  more  distant  areas  are  likely  to  be  subject  to  very 
little  water  circulation  and  hence  nutrient  replenishment.  This  is  a function  not 
only  of  the  distances  involved  but  also  of  the  weakly  tidal  character  of  the  Ant 
and  of  the  degree  of  dereliction  and  overgrowth  of  the  dykes.  Furthermore, 
parts  of  the  Catfield  fen  complex  have  an  internal  dyke  system,  effectively  separa- 
ted from  the  main  river  by  a sluice.  The  more  remote  areas  are  additionally  little 
susceptible  to  periodic  flooding,  unless  as  part  of  a management  regime.  A 
consequence  of  this  is  that,  although  the  water  of  the  Ant  itself  has  a high  pH 
and  a high  nutrient  loading,  some  parts  of  the  adjoining  fens  are  nutrient  poor 
and  in  some  places,  where  the  rheotrophic  influence  is  least,  base  poor  as  well. 
As  a result  there  is  in  some  areas  the  development  of  oligotrophic  nuclei  within 
the  mesotrophic  fens.  It  is  this  feature  which  is  partly  responsible  for  the  vege- 
tational  diversity  of  the  Ant  valley. 

Methods 

The  Ant  valley  fens  were  initially  examined  in  1972-1975  as  part  of  a des- 
criptive survey  of  rich  fen  vegetation  throughout  lowland  England  and  Wales. 
Details  of  the  methods  used  are  given  by  Wheeler  (1975).  Essentially  a subjective 
sampling  procedure  was  adopted  in  which  uniform  and  representative  stands 
were  selected  for  description.  The  area  sampled  in  each  case  was  variable  but  was 
usually  10m2.  With  the  exception  of  samples  from  very  species-poor  stands,  the 
stand  data  were  processed  using  Information  Analysis  (Williams  et  al.,  1966) 
in  conjunction  with  the  so-called  Zurich-Montpellier  table  method  (see  Westhoff 
& Van  der  Maarel,  1973)  to  generate  a classification  based  upon  the  overall 
floristic  composition  of  the  stands. 

Further  attention  was  given  to  the  area  in  1976  and  1977  when  most  of  the 
marshes  were  thoroughly  explored  and  additional  samples  collected.  These 
were  used  to  expand  and,  to  some  small  extent,  modify  the  original  classification. 


156 


Fig.  1 shows  the  main  areas  that  were  examined  and  the  locations  of  the  sampling 
points.  It  must,  however,  be  recognised,  as  anyone  who  has  examined  the  Broad- 
land  marshes  will  appreciate,  that  the  purely  physical  problems  presented  by  the 
tall  and  tangled  vegetation,  by  the  treacherous  swamps  and  unbridged  dykes 
have  meant  that  it  has  not  been  possible  to  examine  every  part  of  the  area. 

The  communities  that  occur  in  the  valley  are  described  below.  For  each  a 
characterising  species,  or  group  of  species,  is  given.  In  the  latter  case  it  is 
important  to  appreciate  that  no  one  species  of  the  group  is  diagnostic  for  the 
community  or  need  occur  in  every  stand.  It  is  only  as  a group  that  they  have 
diagnostic  value.  Communities  which  are  considered  to  be  well  circumscribed 
and  defined  floristically  are  regarded  as  named  Associations  (in  the  sense  of  the 
Zurich-Montpellier  school).  The  concept  of  fidelity  is  not  used  in  their  definition. 
Other  communities  which  have  not  been  well  examined  in  Britain  are  just  left 
as  ad  hoc  communities.  Species-poor  stands,  defined  only  by  their  dominant 
species,  are  generally  regarded  as  sociations. 

The  community-types  recognised  cannot  be  regarded  as  completely  separate 
entities.  Because  of  the  nature  of  variation  within  vegetation,  stands  occur  which 
are  clearly  transitional  between  two  or  more  units.  It  cannot  be  expected  that 
every  stand  of  vegetation  within  the  Ant  marshes  can  be,  or  indeed  should  be, 
neatly  allocated  within  the  classification.  But  it  is  considered  that  this  should  be 
possible  for  most  of  them. 

I.  The  Vegetation  of  the  Flood-Plain  Mires 
Reedswamp  Vegetation 

The  term  swamp  is  used  here  to  refer  to  areas  of  wetland  in  which  the  sum- 
mer water  table  is  constantly  above  the  substratum.  Its  depth  may  range  from  a 
few  centimetres  to  about  1 metre.  The  vegetation  is  composed  primarily  of  tall 
immersive  graminoids  and  as  such  presents  a very  distinct  physiognomy. 

In  general,  marginal  reedswamp  is  not  well  developed  in  the  Ant  valley  at 
present.  This  is  in  contrast  to  its  more  widespread  occurrence  earlier  in  this 
century  when  large  areas  of  the  Broadland  basins  that  are  now  open  water  were 
being  invaded  by  swamp  as  part  of  the  normal  process  of  terrestrialisation.  This 
process  has  been  reversed  in  many  places  by  the  regression  or  “dieback”  of  the 
reedbeds,  although  the  factors  that  have  led  to  this  are  not  fully  understood.  They 
include  grazing  by  coypus  ( Myocastor  coypus ) and  the  mechanical  damage  caused 
by  the  high  intensity  of  boating  traffic  using  the  broadland  waterways. 

This  has  certainly  been  the  case  in  the  Ant  valley.  The  large  areas  of  swamp 
that,  at  the  turn  of  the  century,  occupied  much  of  Barton  broad  are  now  repre- 
sented only  by  a few  marginal  fragments.  The  only  broad  to  retain  an  extensive 
area  which  may  be  designated  as  swamp  is  Sutton.  This  had  become  overgrown 
by  1946  and  the  closed  swamp  vegetation  which  was  established  has  not  regressed. 
It  is,  however,  not  typical  swamp  vegetation. 

In  the  shallower  peat  cuts  of  the  Catfield  fens,  isolated  from  the  Ant,  certain 
areas  of  swamp  still  remain  and  these  represent  the  best  development  of  this  type 
of  vegetation  within  the  valley. 

Several  types  of  swamp  vegetation  can  be  recognised.  Some  of  them  are 
represented  only  as  isolated,  monospecific  stands  characterised  by  the  dominant 
species. 


157 


SCHOENOPLECTUS  LACUSTRIS  SOCIETY 

Open  reedswarap  dominated  by  S.  lacustris.  Rare  and  fragmentary.  BB. 
Typha  angustifolia  society 

Open  reedswamp  dominated  by  T.  angustifolia.  More  widespread  and  less 
fragmented  than  above,  forming  a narrow  marginal  fringe  around  some  areas  of 
open  water.  BB. 

Acorus  calamus  society 

A rare  fragmented  society  represented  only  by  a few  clumps  of  Acorus 
growing  around  the  edge  of  Barton  Broad. 

Phragmites  communis  swamp  sociation 

Closed  reedswamp  dominated  by  Phragmites.  Persists  as  marginal  fragments 
in  Barton  and  Alderfen  broads.  More  extensive  areas  are  found  colonising  pools 
in  the  Catfield  fens,  but  the  stands  are  still  very  species  poor,  characteristically 
monotypic. 

Cicuto-Phragmitetum  ass.  nov.  prov. 

Characterising  species: 

Phragmites  communis  (dominant)  Rumex  hydrolapathum 
Carex  pseudocyperus  Schoenoplectus  lacustris 

Cicuta  virosa  Sium  latifolium 

Ranunculus  lingua  Typha  angustifolia 

In  contrast  to  the  above  communities,  this  swamp  vegetation  is  not  just  a 
dominance-type  but  is  well  defined  floristically  and  this  is  recognised  by  its 
designation  as  an  Association.  It  is,  however,  of  very  restricted  occurrence  being 
largely  confined  to  the  site  of  Sutton  Broad  where  it  occupies  a large  area  on 
either  side  of  the  central  channel  and  constitutes  the  main  swamp  vegetation. 
As  the  section  of  Lambert  and  Jennings  (in  Lambert  et  al.  1960)  has  shown  this 
part  of  the  broad  basin  consists  of  a raft  of  reedswamp  peat  overlying  necron 
mud  and  this  is  well  appreciated  by  the  swinging  character  of  the  substratum. 

Claddetum  marisci  Zobrist  1931  em.  Pfeiffer  1961 
Characterising  species:  Cladium  mariscus  (as  dominant) 

Description 

Although  in  Broadland  Cladium  mariscus  is  often  regarded  as  a species  par 
excellence  of  the  mowing  marshes,  nonetheless  it  is  also  sometimes  found  in 
wetter  swamp  situations.  Here,  around  the  margins  of  certain  broads  and  in  the 
shallow  pools  of  old  peat  workings,  the  plant  grows  very  vigorously,  flowers 
prolifically  and  often  forms  dense  sedge  beds  in  which  the  growth  of  associated 
species  tends  to  be  suppressed.  Indeed,  this  may  represent  the  optimal  habitat 
for  the  sedge. 

Cladium  swamp  is  not  a frequent  community  in  Broadland  and  when  it  does 
occur  it  is  often  only  as  patches  of  limited  extent.  In  the  Ant  valley  several 
examples  are  known,  not  in  association  with  the  margins  of  any  of  the  broads, 
but  in  the  shallow  peat  cuts  of  the  Catfield  fens.  Here  two  rather  different  ex- 
pressions of  the  community  have  been  noted. 

In  one  Cladium  appears  to  be  actively  colonising  open  pools,  forming 
robust  tufts  growing  out  from  the  margins  or  even  occurring  as  isolated  indivi- 
duals within  the  pools.  In  this  situation  the  plant  may  form  a floating  raft, 


158 


rarely  abutting  directly  onto  open  water,  more  often  onto  liquid  muds.  This  raft, 
though  often  firmly  held  together  by  a network  of  interlacing  rhizomes,  may  be 
highly  mobile.  In  the  spaces  amongst  the  Cladium  several  associates  are  typically 
found,  in  particular  Phragmites  communis , Typha  angustifolia,  Berula  erecta , 
Carex  pseudocyperus , Cicuta  virosa , Lythrum  salicaria  and  Potentilla  palustris. 

Only  a few  such  pools  are  known.  They  are  of  additional  interest  in  support- 
ing a quite  rich  growth  of  aquatic  macrophytes.  Several  are  choked  with  a dense 
growth  of  Utricularia  spp.,  mainly  U.  vulgaris.  Nuphar  lutea , Callitriche  spp. 
and  Hydrocharis  morsus-ranae  have  also  been  noted. 

In  the  second  variant  of  the  community  Cladium  forms  a more  closed  cover 
with  fewer  associates — often  only  Phragmites , sometimes  with  some  aquatics — 
Utricularia  minor , U.  vulgaris , Chara  spp.  The  pools  are  usually  small  and  shallow 
with  a firm  substratum  and  typically  they  are  found  as  wet  hollows  within  areas 
of  otherwise  drier  mowing  marsh.  There  is  one  important  exception  to  this  where 
the  community  is  found  growing  over  several  acres  of  shallow  swamp  which, 
despite  the  high  summer  water  table,  is  regularly  mown.  Large  areas  of  this  are 
a Cladium  monoculture. 

Distribution:  Infrequent.  CF. 

In  general  of  restricted  occurrence  in  England  and  Wales  in  wet  topogenous 
hollows. 

Herbaceous  Fen  Vegetation 

This  includes  the  bulk  of  the  vegetation  of  the  flood-plain  mires,  and  a wide 
range  of  communities  have  been  identified.  The  term  fen  is  used  to  refer  to  areas 
where  the  summer  water  table  is  generally  at  or  below  the  surface  of  the  peat. 

Caricetum  paniculatae  Wangerin  1915 
Characterising  species:  Carex  paniculata  (as  dominant) 

This  Association  contains  sedge  swamp  communities  dominated  by  Carex 
paniculata.  The  community  is  found  occasionally  throughout  England  and  Wales 
but  some  of  the  richest  and  most  extensive  examples  occur  in  Broadland.  These 
belong  to  a distinct  subassociation. 

Subassociation : peucedanetosum. 

Characterisation:  by  the  occurrence  of  “Broadland”  species  such  as  Peucedanum 
palustre  and  Thelypteris  palustris. 

Description 

The  community  has  already  been  described  from  Broadland  as  “tussock 
fen”  (Lambert,  1951). 

The  physiognomy  of  the  community  is  completely  determined  by  the  enor- 
mous upstanding  tussocks  of  Carex  paniculata  which  can  attain  heights  in  excess 
of  lm.  These,  according  to  the  observations  of  Lambert,  normally  develop  on  a 
fairly  firm,  but  floating,  raft  of  Phragmites  rhizomes  which,  as  the  tussocks 
increase  in  size,  becomes  depressed  leading  to  the  formation  of  secondary  pools 
between  the  stools.  In  these  intertussock  spaces  the  main  species  are  usually 
Phragmites  communis , Carex  riparia,  Typha  angustifolia  and  Sparganium  erectum , 
together  with  floating  fronds  of  Lemna  minor.  Sometimes,  however,  the  pools 
may  be  devoid  of  plants. 

The  chief  substratum  for  the  associated  species  is  provided  by  the  sedge 
tussocks  themselves.  These  support  a rich  epiphytic  flora  containing  Eupatorium 


159 


cannabinum , Epilobium  hirsutum,  Galium  palustre , Impatiens  capensis , Lysimachia 
vulgaris,  Lythrum  salicaria,  Peucedanum  palustre,  Rorippa  islandica,  Scutellaria 
galericulata.  Solarium  dulcamara.  Thelypteris  palustris  may  form  dense  carpets 
on  some  tussocks.  Mosses  include  Acrocladium  cuspidatum,  Brachythecium 
rutabulum  and  Lophocolea  bidentata. 

There  is  considerable  variation  in  the  composition  of  the  stands  and  in  the 
number  of  species  which  they  contain.  The  richest  examples  are  found  on  the 
west  side  of  Barton  Broad  where  extensive  areas  of  the  community  occur. 
Additional  species  found  here  include  Carex  pseudocyperus,  Calamagrostis 
canescens , Cirsium  palustre,  Calystegia  sepium,  Filipendula  ulmaria,  Juncus 
subnodulosus  (rare),  Ly copus  europaeus.  Ranunculus  lingua  and  Rumex  hydro - 
lapathum. 

An  important  feature  of  the  tussocks  is  that  they  provide  a suitable  substra- 
tum for  the  establishment  of  saplings  of  Alnus  glutinosa  and  Salix  cinerea  and  in 
many  stands  several  stages  in  the  development  of  woody  vegetation  can  be 
observed. 

It  is  evident  that  many  stands  have  a floristic  composition  similar  to  certain 
Peucedano-Phragmitetum  communities. 

Distribution:  Broad  margins.  AFB;  BB. 

Peucedano-Phragmitetum  ass.  nov. 

Characterising  species: 

A range  of  species  form  the  “core”  of  this  Association. 

The  following  are  constant: 

Cladium  mariscus  Lysimachia  vulgaris 

Eupatorium  cannabinum  Mentha  aquatica 

Galium  palustre  Phragmites  communis 

Juncus  subnodulosus  Peucedanum  palustre 

The  following  are  constant  or  frequent  in  many  of  the  developments  of  the 
community-type  : 

Calamagrostis  canescens 
Carex  elata 
Calystegia  sepium 
Filipendula  ulmaria 
Hydrocotyle  vulgaris 
Iris  pseudacorus 
Lycopus  europaeus 

Description 

This  Association  contains  the  major  part  of  the  herbaceous  fen  vegetation 
of  the  flood  plain  mires,  not  only  of  the  Ant  valley  but  also  of  all  of  Broadland. 
For  this  reason  it  will  be  considered  in  some  detail  here. 

The  vegetation  is  of  characteristic  appearance  and  structure.  The  predomi- 
nant components  are  usually  graminoid  monocots  particularly  Phragmites 
and  Cladium  and,  to  a lesser  degree,  Calamagrostis  canescens.  These  grow  in 
varying  densities  to  form  stands  which  often  cover  the  flat  valley  floor  with  large 
tracts  of  a superficially  uniform  vegetation. 

There  is  a whole  range  of  associated  species.  The  most  characteristic  and 
constant  are  given  in  the  list  above;  they  are  all  abundantly  developed  in  the 
Broadland  marshes  and  include  a number  of  species  largely  confined  to  this 


Lythrum  salicaria 
Potentilla  palustris 
Rumex  hydrolapathum 
Scutellaria  galericulata 
Valeriana  officinalis 
Acrocladium  cuspidatum 
Campylium  stellatum 


160 


area  within  Britain.  In  addition  a number  of  other  species  often  occur.  These 
include  species  and  species-groups  that  are  diagnostic  for  the  different  expres- 
sions of  the  Association  as  detailed  below.  They  also  include  a number  of  species 
of  lower  constancy  and  diagnostic  value. 

Structurally,  at  least  eight  components  may  be  recognised. 

(i)  shrubs — typically  Alnus,  Betula  pubescens,  Myrica  gale , Salix  cinera  and, 
less  frequently,  Frangula  alnus.  Shrub  development  is  variable.  It  is  very  limited 
in  regularly  mown  marshes,  except  around  the  edges  of  the  compartments,  but 
with  the  abandonment  of  a periodic  mowing  regime  it  becomes  much  more 
prominent. 

(ii)  tall  graminoid  monocots — principally  Phragmites , Calamagrostis  can - 
escens  and  Cladium  mariscus  and,  in  some  communities,  Typha  spp. 

(iii)  tall  herbaceous  dicots — as  well  as  those  listed  above  Angelica  sylvestris 
and  Cirsium  palustre  occur  sporadically  across  a range  of  community-types. 

(iv)  rushes  and  sedges  of  medium  height  (approx.  60-80  cms) — sometimes 
not  developed  in  the  more  species-poor  stands,  but  Juncus  subnodulosus  and 
Carex  elata  are  characteristic.  In  some  communities  this  component  can  be 
extensively  developed  both  in  terms  of  the  biomass  and  diversity  of  the  plants 
composing  it,  with  species  such  as  Schoenus  nigricans , Carex  diandra. 

(v)  small  herbs — in  some  of  the  least  species-rich  stands  this  component 
is  often  very  poorly  developed.  It  reaches  its  fullest  expression  when  the  growth 
of  taller  species  is  for  some  reason  reduced  as  for  example  in  rather  unproduc- 
tive, regularly  mown  situations,  often  in  some  of  the  wetter  areas.  In  these 
circumstances  a whole  range  of  additional  species  occur,  many  of  them  belong- 
ing to  this  structural  component. 

(vi)  trailing  plants — most  characteristic  is  Galium  palustre;  the  closely 
related  G.  uliginosum  is  rare  in  this  Association  being  more  characteristic  of  fen 
meadow  communities.  Others  found  include  Calystegia  sepium  and,  less  frequ- 
ently, Stellaria  palustris  and  Solanum  dulcamara. 

(vii)  bryophytes — characteristically  poorly  developed.  The  usual  species  are 
Acrocladium  cuspidatum  and  Campy  Hum  stellatum  and  these  are  frequently  only 
in  small  quantity.  Mnium  affine , Mn.  longirostum  and  Campylium  elodes  are 
sometimes  additionally  found  but  a rich  development  of  bryophytes  is  excep- 
tional. 

(viii)  aquatics — only  in  the  wettest  communities. 

Physiognomically  this  vegetation  is  quite  variable  as  different  species  may 
dominate  different  areas,  presenting  a patchwork  of  stands.  This  has  been  well 
reflected  in  some  earlier  dominance-based  classifications  of  this  type  of  vegeta- 
tion— Phragmitetum,  Juncetum  etc.  This  approach  is  at  variance  with  the  present 
one  in  which  stands  with  different  dominants  have  all  been  united  into  the  one 
Association.  The  reasons  for  this  different  approach  is  that  it  is  considered  that, 
whereas  a classification  on  the  basis  of  dominance  may  have  several  merits,  it 
does  not  provide  the  most  meaningful  way  of  expressing  the  full  floristic  varia- 
tion of  the  fens.  There  are  several  reasons  for  this.  First,  as  is  well  known,  the 
pattern  of  dominance  on  the  marshes  has  to  a large  extent  been  artificially  deter- 
mined by  the  management  regime — Cladium  sedge  beds  are  favoured  by  summer 
cutting  every  three  or  so  years,  Phragmites  reed  beds  by  annual  winter  harvesting. 
Second,  there  is  little  evidence  to  suggest  that  the  presence  of  a particular  domi- 


161 


nant,  or  management  regime,  exerts  an  over-riding  influence  upon  the  composi- 
tion of  the  stands.  This  has  been  demonstrated  by  the  application  of  Information 
Analysis  to  classify  all  of  the  samples  of  the  Broadland  fens.  This  procedure 
generates  classes  on  the  basis  of  the  overall  similarity  between  stands  based  upon 
their  full  floristic  content,  giving  equal  weighting  to  each  species.  In  this  instance 
it  has  produced  classes  which,  for  the  most  part,  are  well  characterised  floristically 
but  contain  stands  with  different  dominant  species.  This  is  not  to  suggest  that  the 
floristic  complement  of  the  stands  is  completely  independent  of  the  dominant. 
It  is  possible  that  different  dominants  may  well  create  minor,  consistent  differen- 
ces between  stands,  especially  of  a quantitative  kind — this  is  a matter  that  would 
repay  closer  examination.  It  does,  however,  suggest  that,  to  some  extent  at  least, 
the  patchwork  of  dominance  has  been  superimposed  over  the  distributions  of 
the  associated  species  and  that,  in  order  to  extract  more  exact  vegetation  units, 
attention  has  to  be  directed  towards  the  less  obvious  features  of  the  stands, 
namely  the  nature  of  these  associates. 

Distribution 

The  Peucedano-Phragmitetum  is  largely  confined  to  Broadland,  where  it  is 
abundant.  Elsewhere  it  has  been  recorded  only  from  Wicken  Fen  and  Wood- 
walton  Fen  in  East  Anglia  and  from  Catcott  Heath  on  the  Somerset  peat  moors. 

Subassociation:  typicum 

Characterisation:  Negative  only,  by  the  absence  of  species  differential  for  other 
groups. 

Description 

Composed  of  generally  rather  species-poor  vegetation  of  mowing  marshes 
and  primary  fen.  The  species  complement  consists  of  the  basic  core  of  Peucedano- 
Phragmitetum  species  (as  outlined  above)  together  with  a few  other  species  of 
sporadic  occurrence.  The  degree  to  which  the  core  is  expressed  is,  in  fact,  rather 
variable.  Some  stands  contain  all  of  the  species,  in  others  several  may  be  absent 
although,  with  the  present  data,  no  consistent  pattern  of  absences  can  be  detec- 
ted— i.e.  it  is  not  possible  to  recognise  sub-communities  on  the  basis  of  the  absence 
of  groups  of  core  species.  It  is  evident  that,  as  a result,  this  subassociation  con- 
tains both  species-rich  and  species-poor  stands.  As  it  is  unlikely  that  this  is  just 
due  to  random  floristic  variation  it  has  to  be  recognised  that,  floristically,  and 
probably  ecologically  also,  this  subassociation  is  not  as  uniform  as  the  others. 
In  addition  to  this  other  consistent  trends  of  floristic  variation  due  to  additional 
species  permit  the  distinction  of  several  varieties  (below). 

The  dominant  species  are  Phragmites , Cladium  or  Calamgrostis  canescens. 
Calamgrostis  is  only  normally  dominant  in  rather  dry  areas  and  is  often  found 
as  a band  along  the  better-drained  edges  of  fen  compartments.  Elsewhere  in  the 
mowing  marshes  it  occurs  in  smaller  quantity  and  is  often  quite  absent  from 
the  wetter  areas. 

Although  comparatively  species-poor,  many  of  the  stands  are  not  without 
some  additional  botanical  interest.  Species  occurring  occasionally  include 
Carex  appropinquata , Menyanthes  trifoliata , Schoenus  nigricans , Stellaria 
palustris , Valeriana  dioica  and,  on  drier  sites,  Molinia  caerulea.  Another  plant  of 
interesting  occurrence  in  this  subassociation — as  indeed  in  others — is  Thelyp- 
teris  palustris.  On  the  one  hand  there  are  many  stands  from  which  it  is  completely 
absent ; on  the  other  when  it  does  occur  it  is  often  with  considerable  abundance, 


162 


forming  a dense  underlayer  to  the  vegetation.  It  is  not  intuitively  evident  why  this 
should  be  the  case  and  it  would  be  of  interest  to  examine  the  matter  further.  It 
may,  however,  be  noted  that  the  plant  is  most  characteristic  of  stands  also  sup- 
porting shrubs — Betula  pubescens,  and  Salix  cinerea  mainly. 

Variants . Several  variants  have  been  recognised : 

(i)  typical  var.  No  differentials.  Generally  species-poor  vegetation  expressed 
as  Phragmites , Cladium  or  Calamagrostis  facies,  depending  upon  the  dominant. 
Distribution:  Widespread:  HM,  LM,  RM,  HH,  CF,  BB,  BH,  SM,  SB,  LS,  WB, 
BFD,  East  Ruston. 

(ii)  Carex  paniculata  var.  Wet  fen  communities  characterised  by  Carex 
paniculata , and  Epiblobium  hirsutum  and,  to  a lesser  degree,  Carex  acutiformis, 
and  Solanum  dulcamara.  Berula  erecta  is  also  quite  frequent.  In  the  Ant  valley, 
Phragmites  is  the  usual  dominant.  Usually  only  small  in  extent,  occupying  wet 
depressions  within  mowing  marsh,  and  around  broad  margins. 

Distribution:  Uncommon:  LM,  AFB,  RM,  BB. 

(iii)  Phalaris  var.  Similar  to  the  Carex  paniculata  var.,  containing  most  of 
its  characterising  species  but  additionally  with  Phalaris  arundinacea  and  Urtica 
dioica. 

Distribution:  Broad  margins,  rare:  BB. 

Subassociation:  myricetosum. 

Characterisation:  Myrica  gale,  Thelypteris  palustris  together  with  a general 
prominence  of  shrubs. 

Description:  A species-poor  and  rather  badly  defined  vegetation  unit.  Myrica 
is  abundant,  usually  with  Thelypteris  palustris , Betula  pubescens , Salix  cinerea 
and  S.  repens  and,  to  a lesser  degree,  Aims  glutinosa.  It  is  usually  expressed  as 
Cladium  or  Calamagrostis  canescens  dominated  facies.  Phragmites  is  rarely  domi- 
nant. 

Distribution:  Frequent:  HM,  CF,  BB,  BH,  SM. 

A community,  often  of  small  extent,  alongside  dykes  and  in  isolated  corners 
of  mowing  marshes.  Larger  stands  on  derelict  mowing  marshes  sometimes  occur. 

Subassociation:  cicutetosum. 

Characterising  species:  Cicuta  virosa , Carex  pseudocyperus , Berula  erecta , 
Ranunculus  lingua , Sium  latifolium , Typha  angustifolia. 

Description: 

A well  defined,  though  variable,  subassociation  containing  stands  usually 
dominated  by  Phragmites  communis.  Cladium  is  generally  infrequent  and  is 
absent  from  many  stands.  Nonetheless  at  some  sites  it  is  sufficiently  plentiful 
to  form  quite  thick  sedge  beds. 

Most  of  the  core  species  of  the  Association  occur  in  the  cicutetosum  but 
there  is  a tendency  for  some  of  the  species  of  drier  fen  to  be  absent,  notably 
Calamagrostis  canescens,  Filip endula  ulmaria  and  Valeriana  officinalis.  This, 
together  with  the  list  of  characterising  species,  all  of  which  have  their  optimal 
development  in  swamp  situations,  points  towards  one  of  the  most  evident  fea- 
tures of  this  subassociation — that  it  is  developed  in  rather  wetter  situations  than 
most  other  Peucedano-Phragmitetum  communities.  The  substratum  is  an  oozing 
peat  with  the  summer  water  table  at,  or  just  below,  the  surface.  The  community 
is  typical  of  hollows  within  the  fens,  occupying  depressions  often,  though  not 


163 


always,  of  small  extent.  In  some  cases  the  substratum  has  a markedly  swinging 
character  suggesting  that  the  community  is  developed  as  a semi-floating,  though 
firm,  raft.  In  the  few  examples  that  have  been  investigated  peat  cores  have  con- 
firmed this,  revealing  a fen  mat  usually  at  least  50  cms  thick  developed  over  a 
semi-fluid  suspension  of  muds  and  peats.  These  would  apparently  represent 
closed-over  peat  cuts  and  in  such  situations  the  community  is  again  usually  only 
of  small  extent. 

Distribution:  CF,  BB,  SB. 

The  subassociation  has  been  found  in  both  the  Ant  and  Bure  valleys  and 
also  at  Burgh  Common.  It  appears  to  be  by  far  the  most  widespread  in  the  Ant 
marshes. 

Variants 

Two  clear,  though  intergrading,  variants  may  be  recognised. 

(i)  typical  var. 

Dominated  usually  by  Phragmites , sometimes  Cladium.  Calamagrostis 
occassionally  present,  but  never  in  large  quantity.  Some  stands  are  species  rich 
and  support  small  herbs  such  as  Cardamine  pratensis , Epilobium  palustre,  Lychnis 
flos-cuculi , Lycopus  europaeus,  Myosotis  caespitosa  and  Oenanthe  fistulosa. 
Stellaria  palustris  is  often  found  in  this  type  of  vegetation. 

(ii)  Carex  lasiocarpa  var. 

Characterising  species: 

Carex  lasiocarpa , C.  diandra,  Equisetum  fluviatile,  Pedicularis  palustris , 
Carex  appropinquata,  Aero  cladium  giganteum. 

Description 

A very  distinct  community-type.  Phragmites  is  usually  the  most  conspicuous 
species  together  with  Typha  angustifolia.  Tall  umbellifers  are  also  important. 
Sedges  are  prominent,  especially  Carex  lasiocarpa , often  forming  a dense  under- 
layer. In  some  stands  where  the  Phragmites  cover  is  reduced  it  is  this  sedge, 
together  with  others  of  similar  stature,  such  as  C.  diandra , which,  in  conjunction 
with  Juncus  subnodulosus , comprise  the  bulk  of  the  vegetation  cover.  Beneath 
this  layer  there  is  often  a rich  development  of  smaller  herbaceous  species. 
Menyanthes  trifoliata  is  often  abundant  and  can  sometimes  form  a closed  carpet 
over  quite  large  areas.  Potentilla  palustris  also  sometimes  forms  local  societies. 
A range  of  other  herbs  occur,  including  those  of  the  typical  var.  together  with 
Pedicularis  palustris  and,  occasionally,  orchids  such  as  Dactylorhiza  praetermissa 
and  Epipactis  palustris.  The  moss  layer  is  relatively  well  developed  with  Acroc - 
ladium  giganteum , Riccardia  pinguis  and  sometimes  Scorpidium  scorpioides  in 
addition  to  the  more  usual  species  and  on  the  oozing  peat  hydrophytes  such  as 
Alisma plantago-aquatica,  Baldellia  ranunculoides  and  Nymphaea  alba  occasionally 
occur. 

This  community  is  of  considerable  interest  in  supporting  large  populations 
of  Carex  lasiocarpa  and  C.  diandra  both  of  which  are  presently  rather  infrequent 
in  Broadland  as  in  East  Anglia  generally.  It  also  provides  the  site  for  Carex 
rostrata  which,  frequent  enough  in  much  of  N.W.  Britain  and  indeed  even  in 
parts  of  East  Anglia,  is  decidedly  uncommon  in  the  wetland  complexes  of  Broad- 
land. Further,  an  early  record  from  Sutton  Broad  of  the  nationally  rare  species 
Carex  limosa  was  also  apparently  from  this  community.  However,  despite  con- 
siderable searching,  this  sedge  was  not  re-found  at  this  site  during  the  present 
survey,  and  consequently  this  cannot  be  confirmed. 


164 


Subassociation:  schoenetosum 

Characterisation:  Presence  of  Schoenus  nigricans , Carex  panicea , Oenanthe 
lachenalii  (rare)  together  with  the  absence  of  differentials  for  the  caricetosum 
subass. 

Description 

Mowing  marsh  communities  dominated  mainly  by  Cladium  but  sometimes 
by  Phragmites.  Sometimes  extensive  but  often  not  very  rich  in  species  (c.20 
spp./10m2).  Calamagrostis  canescens,  Filipendula  and  Valeriana  officinalis  are 
frequently  absent.  Slightly  wetter  areas  support  Ranunculus  flammula  and  Berula 
erecta.  Other  species  occasionally  found  include  Osmunda  regalis , Molinia 
caerulea,  Samolus  valerandi  and  Salix  repens.  Scorpidium  scorpioides  is  also 
known. 

In  a number  of  sites  slightly  richer  developments  may  occur.  These  are 
usually  small  in  extent  and  occur  as  islands  of  lower  growth  within  the  more 
typical  community.  They  may  support  occasional  specimens  of  Carex  lepidocarpa , 
Pedicularis  palustris  and  Valeriana  dioica  and  even  isolated  populations  of 
Epipactis  palustris.  These  are  clearly  very  closely  related  to  certain  caricetosum 
communities. 

Distribution:  CF,  LS,  BFD,  HM,  LM,  Mown  Fen,  (East  Ruston). 

A rather  similar  community,  but  with  Oenanthe  lachenalii  more  prominent 
is  widespread  in  the  Thurne  valley  fens. 

Subassociation:  caricetosum 

Characterising  species:  Carex  diandra,  C.  lasiocarpa,  C.  appropinquata , Caltha 
palustris,  Cirsium  dissectum,  Epipactis  palustris,  Pedicularis  palustris,  Valeriana 
dioica,  Acrocladium  giganteum,  Bryum  pseudotriquetrum,  Riccardia  pinguis. 

The  differentials  of  the  cicutetosum  are  present  in  some  variants,  but  they 
are  not  as  frequently  or  as  abundantly  developed  as  in  that  subassociation. 
Description 

Into  this  subassociation  are  placed  a number  of  stands,  all  characteristically 
rather  species  rich.  Indeed  this  community  is  the  richest  of  all  of  the  Peucedano- 
Phragmitetum  communities  and  is  of  particular  importance  in  providing  the 
sociological  location  for  some  of  the  rarest  species  of  British  rich  fen. 

Phragmites  and  Cladium  both  occur  in  variably  quantity,  usually  the  latter 
being  the  most  prominent,  the  stands  often  being  managed  sedge  beds.  However, 
neither  species  is  really  well  developed.  The  plants  tend  to  be  shorter  (often  not 
much  in  excess  of  lm  high)  and  more  sparsely  distributed  than  in  most  Peucedano- 
Phragmitetum  communities  and  concomitantly  there  is  a strong  development  of 
plants  of  lower  growth.  As  is  the  case  with  the  cicutetosum  Carex  lasiocarpa  var. 
(to  which,  incidentally,  the  present  subassociation  is  very  closely  related)  much 
of  the  vegetation  cover  is  created  by  sedges  and  rushes  of  medium  height, 
notably  Juncus  subnodulosus,  Carex  elata,  C.  diandra,  C.  appropinquata,  C. 
lasiocarpa  and  Schoenus  nigricans. 

Although  this  subassociation  represents  a fairly  well  defined  floristic  unit  it 
must  be  emphasised  that  it  is  a variable  one  and  that  it  is  difficult  to  find  a 
single  species  that  characterises  it  well.  None  of  the  characterising  species  listed 
above  occur  in  every  stand;  it  is  only  as  a group  that  they  have  diagnostic  value. 
However,  one  of  the  features  of  the  vegetation  is  the  prominence  of  cyperaceous 


165 


species.  In  addition  to  the  species  already  mentioned  smaller  plants  such  as 
Carex  lepidocarpa , C.  nigra,  C.  panicea  and,  more  rarely,  Eriophorum  angusti- 
folium  are  found.  Hence  the  general  designation  caricetosum. 

Small  herbs  are  often  richly  represented;  the  moss  layer  is  relatively  well 
developed,  and  in  some  communities  so  are  aquatics.  However,  the  species 
involved  vary  and  details  are  best  given  in  consideration  of  the  several  variants 
that  have  been  recognised. 

Menyanthes  var. 

Characterising  species:  Menyanthes  trifioliata,  Eriophorum  angusti folium, 
Equisetum  fluviatile,  Dactylorhiza  incarnata , D.  praetermissa,  Liparis  loeselii 

The  samples  brought  together  by  this  set  of  species  are  rather  variable  and 
it  is  possible  to  recognise  two  sub-variants : 

(i)  Ranunculus  lingua  sub-var. 

Characterising  species:  Ranunculus  lingua , Acrocladium  cor  difolium.  With  lower 
frequency  Cicuta  virosa , Carex  pseudocyperus. 

Description 

This  sub-variety  represents  the  wettest  expression  of  the  subassociation. 
Found  at  only  two  sites,  at  both  it  has  clear  spatial  and  floristic  connections  to 
the  cicutetosum  subassociation  Carex  lasiocarpa  var. 

At  one  of  the  sites  the  community  occurs  as  part  of  a well-defined  zone 
located  at  the  very  edge  of  the  fen  system  flanking  a band  of  alder  carr  which 
backs  onto  the  adjoining  upland. 

Here  the  community  has  a species  complement  more  or  less  as  described, 
except  for  the  rarity  of  Schoenus  nigricans.  Otherwise  all  of  the  diagnostic  species 
are  present.  The  bryophyte  cover  is  well  developed  with  Acrocadium  cuspidatum, 
A.  cor  difolium,  A.  giganteum,  Campy  lium  stellatum , Fissidens  adianthoides, 
Pellia  endiviifolia , Riccardia  pinguis.  Of  special  note  is  a small  population 
of  Liparis  loeselii.  The  stands  are  species-rich:  c50  spp/10m2. 

At  the  second  site  the  community  is  more  extensive  and  more  interesting, 
developed  over  2-3  acres  of  wet  mowing  marsh.  Here  Cladium  mariscus  is  more 
strongly  dominant  than  in  the  first,  though  the  other  sedge  species  still  remain  as 
important  components,  including  a large  amount  of  Schoenus  nigricans  and  also 
some  Carex  rostrata  and  C.  pseudocyperus.  The  typical  taller  Peucedano- 
Phragmitetum  species  are  present  as  in  addition  are  scattered  plants  of  Osmunda 
regalis.  Cicuta  virosa  is  frequent  and  Sium  latifolium  also  occurs.  These  two 
species  together  with  Carex  pseudocyperus  and  Ranunculus  lingua  again  point 
towards  the  similarity  with  the  cicuteosum  Carex  lasiocarps  var.  which  in  fact 
can  be  found  occupying  wetter  depressions  within  this  community. 

However,  as  is  generally  true  with  the  caricetosum  communities,  particular 
interest  attaches  to  the  species  of  the  lower  layers  of  the  vegetation  and  in  this 
case  this  is  due  to  the  occurrence  of  a number  of  plants  found  in  few  other  sites 
in  Broadland.  There  are  scattered  plants  of  Parnassia  palustris  and  Pyrola 
rotundifolia  together  with  large  quantities  of  the  fen  orchid,  Liparis  loeselii. 
Also  some  Dactylorhiza  traunsteineri  and  Drosera  anglica.  Mosses  are  abundant 
and,  in  addition  to  those  mentioned  above,  are  Campylium  elodes , Drepanoc- 
ladus  revolvens  var.  intermedius,  D.  vernicosus,  Mnium  pseudopunctatum,  Mn. 
seligeri , Scorpidium  scorpioides  and  Cinclidium  stygium.  With  them  are  the  trail- 
ing shoots  of  Anagallis  tenella  and  a few  patches  of  Hypericum  elodes.  Small  fen 


166 


pools  contain  Baldellia  ranunculoides,  Hottonia  palustris,  Potamogeton  coloratus, 
XJtricularia  vulgaris , U.  cf.  intermedia  and  U.  minor  with  various  Charophytes  of 
which  Chara  vulgaris  and  C.  hispida  have  been  positively  identified,  though  there 
may  also  be  others.  Also  in  association  with  these  wetter  depressions  is  a small 
amount  of  the  mud  sedge,  Carex  limosa.  The  resultant  stands  are  very  rich  in 
species  with  up  to  60/ 10m2. 

Distribution:  SB,  CF.  Rare,  but  locally  estensive.  Known  from  nowhere  else  in 
Britain,  though  some  communities  of  topogenous  calcereous  fens  in  the  N and  W 
of  Britain  are  closely  related.  These,  however,  belong  to  a different  Association, 
the  Acroladio-Caricetum  diandrae  (see  Wheeler  1975;  and  in  press). 

(ii)  Molinia  sub-var. 

Differential  spp.  to  Ranunculus  sub-var.:  Molinia  caerulea , Cirsium  dissectum , 
Succisa  pratensis,  Potentilla  erecta. 

Description 

A drier  version  of  the  Menyanthes  var.  demonstrated  by  two  small  stands 
of  sedge  fen,  both  in  the  same  general  area.  Phragmites  and  Cladium  are  both 
relatively  sparse  and  the  sedges  of  the  lower  layers  contribute  most  to  the 
vegetation  cover.  The  wet  fen  species  of  the  Ranunculus  sub-var.  are  absent  and 
in  the  drier  conditions  Molinia  caerulea  becomes  more  important  with  Cirsium 
dissectum , Succisa9 pratensis  and  a small  amount  of  Potentilla  erecta.  Nonethe- 
less, the  herbs  are  still  well  developed  and  an  important  feature  is  the  occurrence 
of  a small  amount  of  Platanthera  bifolia  and  a large  population  of  Liparis  loeselii. 
Fen  pools  are  not  generally  well  developed,  but  Utricularia  minor  occurs  in  one 
place. 

When  this  community  was  visited  in  1972,  the  substratum  was  dry  and  the 
bryophytes  desiccated — though  the  bryophyte  mat  was  still  quite  rich  with 
Campy  Hum  elodes  and  Scorpidium  scorpioides.  In  the  summer  of  1977  it  was 
much  wetter.  Nonetheless,  the  species  complement  points  to  the  generally  dry 
character  of  this  site,  a view  re-inforced  by  the  increasingly  dense  development  of 
young  plants  of  Betula  pubescens. 

Distribution:  SB.  Rare.  Known  from  nowhere  else  in  Britain. 

Typical  var. 

Characterisation:  Absence  of  differential  species. 

Description 

A relatively  species-poor  variant  of  the  caricetosum  with  often  only  30-40 
spp./10m2.  The  characterising  species  of  the  subassociation  are  more  sporadically 
developed  and  often  only  a few  of  them  can  be  found.  In  consequence  some  stands 
appear  to  be  transitional  between  the  caricetosum  and  schoenteosum  communities. 
However,  it  is  usually  evident  which  community  a particular  stand  belongs  to. 

Cladium  and/or  Phragmites  are  often  quite  prominent  and  there  is  then  a 
corresponding  reduction  in  the  importance  of  the  middle  sedge  layer.  This  usually 
contains  Schoenus  nigricans  but  of  the  three  characterising  sedges  Carex  appro - 
pinquata , C.  diandra  and  C.  lasiocarpa,  often  only  one  occurs  and  then  in  rather 
small  quantity.  Nonetheless,  within  this  variety  there  are  stands  in  which  these 
sedges  are  prominent  and  which  have  the  characteristic  physiognomy. 

A few  other  herbs  may  occur  in  addition  to  the  characterising  species. 
Carex  lepidocarpa , Anagallis  tenella , Cardamine  pratensis , Dactylorhiza  trauns- 


167 


teineri,  Lychnis  flos-cuculi  have  been  recorded,  Bryophytes  are  fairly  well  develop- 
ed including  Bryum  pseudotriquetrum,  Fissidens  adianthoides,  Mniums  eligeri 
and  Riccardia  pinguis.  Acrocladium  giganteum  is  known  only  from  a few  stands. 

One  expression  of  this  community,  possibly  a sub-varietal  form,  is  distin- 
guished by  the  occurrence  of  Lotus  uliginosus,  Agrostis  stolonifera , Stellaria 
palustris  and,  to  a lesser  extent,  Vida  cracca.  This  has  been  recorded  only  from 
Broad  Fen,  Dilham  and  one  example  of  it  is  particularly  notable.  This  is  an  area 
mown  annually  during  the  summer  which  consequently  supports  little  Cladium 
or  Phragmites.  Instead  the  dominant  is  Carex  appropinquata  with  a lot  of  Juncus 
subnodulosus.  The  stand  is  species-rich — with  a lot  of  Epipactis  palustris , for 
example — and  floristically  clearly  belongs  to  the  present  community  rather  than 
to  some  putative  “Caricetum  appropinquatae”. 

Distribution:  CF,  SB,  BFD,  Mown  Fen,  East  Ruston.  Infrequent.  Also  in  the 
Bure  valley  in  small  amount. 

SPECIES-POOR  PHRAGMITES  COMMUNITIES 

In  contrast  to  the  relatively  species-rich  character  of  many  of  the  mowing 
marshes,  areas  of  much  more  impoverished  herbaceous  fen  vegetation  also  exist. 
These  include  small  belts  and  patches  where  tall  vegetation  has  grown  up  along- 
side dykes  or  in  the  corners  of  fen  compartments.  They  also  include  much  larger 
areas,  actively  managed  reedbeds  in  which  Phragmites  is  very  much  the  predo- 
minant plant,  often  forming  a near-monoculture.  Completely  pure  stands  are, 
however,  of  limited  extent — usually  there  is  at  least  a scattering  of  associates. 
Indeed,  if  a sufficiently  large  area  of  the  reed  beds  is  examined,  individuals  of 
most  of  the  characteristic  Peucedano-Phragmitetum  species  can  usually  eventually 
be  found.  But  in  a sample  of  10m2  only  a few  occur.  In  some  sites  the  floristic 
monotony  is  somewhat  relieved  by  slightly  elevated  strips  crossing  the  compart- 
ments— these  often  support  a much  richer  flora. 

The  floristic  composition  of  these  communities  is  variable — in  terms  of 
both  the  nature  and  number  of  associates.  Some  consists  of  little  more  than  a 
Phragmites  monoculture;  others  may  support  a variety  of  associates.  The  follow- 
ing communities  have  been  tentatively  recognised. 

Phragmites — Sium  latifolium  Community 

Characterising  species:  Phragmites  (as  dominant),  Typha  angustifolia , Sium 
latifolium. 

Some  stands  have  no  more  species  than  the  three  above.  Others  may  have 
in  addition  Potentilla  palustris  or  Cicuta  virosa.  This  community  occurs  in  wetter 
areas — a few  sites  have  standing  water  in  the  summer.  Equally,  however,  others 
have  a dry  substratum.  A feature  of  such  areas  is  often  a fairly  dense  growth  of 
Agrostis  stolonifera. 

Distribution:  HM,  LM,  RM,  HH,  CF,  BB,  BH. 

Phragmites — Agrostis  stolonifera  Community 

Characterising  species:  Phragmites  (as  dominant),  Agrostis  stolonifera.  Absence 
of  Sium  and  Typha  angustifolia. 

This  represents  a generally  drier  type  of  vegetation.  A characteristic  feature 
is  the  development  of  a thick  carpet  of  Agrostis  stolonifera.  In  both  this  and  the 
above  community,  the  growth  of  the  reed  sometimes  appears  to  be  lacking  vigour 
— the  shoots  are  only  about  lm  tall  and  not  growing  densely.  In  some  places 
(e.g.  Little  Fen,  Catfield)  the  reed  beds  appear  to  be  in  a degenerate  condition 


168 


with  patches  dominated  by  Agrostis  in  which  Phragmites  is  developed  very 
feebly.  In  the  comparatively  open  conditions  ruderals  such  as  Chenopodium 
rubrum  and  Sonchus  arvensis  are  sometimes  to  be  found,  in  places  with  Carex 
disticha,  Cirsium  arvense  and  Urtica  dioica. 

Distribution:  LM,  RM,  HH,  CF,  BB. 

Although  both  of  the  above  communities  are  generally  species-poor  they  are 
not  without  botanical  interest.  A feature  of  some  of  the  most  southern  marshes 
of  the  valley  is  the  occasional  occurrence  of  Lathyrus  palustris  in  these  commu- 
nities. In  such  sites  the  plant  is  most  abundant  in  the  more  species  rich  areas  even 
on  narrow  ridges  that  subdivided  the  compartments — but  nonetheless  it  still 
occurs  in  these  more  impoverished  fens. 

Phragmites— Thelypteris  Community 

Characterising  species:  Phragmites  communis  and  Thelypteris  palustris  (as  domi- 
nants). 

Phragmites  forms  dense  stands  with  few  associates  except  for  Thelypteris 
palustris  which  forms  a thick  carpet.  Other  associates  are  typical  Peucedano- 
Phragmitetum  species — Peucedanum , Galium  palustre,  Potentilla  palustris , 
Calamagrostis  canescens  etc. 

Distribution:  Rare  and  usually  of  small  extent.  BH,  LS. 

Phragmites  Sociation 

Characterising  species:  Phragmites  communis  (as  dominant). 

A heterogenous  syntaxon  containing  stands  dominated  by  Phragmites  with 
very  few  associates.  These  are  variable,  but  may  include  various  Peucedano- 
Phragmitetum  species — Peucedanum , Lysimachia  vulgaris , Juncus  subnodulosus 
etc. 

Distribution:  Frequent  but  usually  of  small  extent.  Often  particularly  charac- 
teristic of  wetter  areas  alongside  dykes  etc.  HM,  LM,  AFB,  RM,  HH,  CF,  BB, 
SM,  BH,  LS,  MF,  MF,  BFD,  SMF,  East  Ruston. 

SPECIES-POOR  CLADIUM  COMMUNITIES 

As  with  Phragmites , certain  areas  of  tall,  dense  Cladium  fen  are  also  charac- 
teristically species-poor,  including  some  quite  extensive,  thick  sedge  beds  of 
mowing  marshes. 

Cladium — Carex  elata  Community 

Characterising  species:  Cladium  mariscus  (as  dominant),  Carex  elata. 

A community  of  mowing  marshes  consisting  basically  of  Cladium  together 
with  a good  representation  of  C.  elata.  Sometimes  no  other  species  are  found,  but 
there  are  usually  a few  such  as  Peucedanum  palustre  and  Lysimachia  vulgaris. 
Distribution:  Infrequent,  but  can  form  quite  large  stands.  BH,  SM. 

Cladium — Thelypteris  Community 

Characterising  species:  Cladium  mariscus  (as  dominant),  Thelypteris  palustris. 

As  the  Phragmites — Thelypteris  community,  but  with  Cladium  dominance. 
At  least  a few  plants  of  Phragmites  usually  occur. 

Distribution:  Rare.  CF,  BH,  SM. 


169 


Cladium — Myrica  Community 

Characterising  species:  Cladium  mariscus  (dominant),  Myrica  gale. 

Tall  stands  of  Cladium  and  Myrica  in  scrubbing  up  fen  corners  etc.  Usually 
several  associates — Peucedanum , Filipendula,  Phragmites,  Lysimachia  vulgaris. 
Thelypteris  may  be  abundant. 

Distribution:  Occasional.  HM,  CF,  BH,  SM. 

Cladium  mariscus  Sociation 

Characterising  species:  Cladium  mariscus  (as  dominant). 

A heterogenous  syntaxon  of  stands  dominated  by  Cladium.  A variable  range 
of  associates  may  occur.  Phragmites  is  often  present. 

Distribution:  Occasional.  CF,  SM. 

Scrub  and  Carr  Vegetation 

myricetum  gale  (Gadeceau  1909)  Jonas  1935  peucedanetosum  Fischer  1967. 
Characterising  species:  Myrica  gale  (as  dominant). 

Description 

The  predominant  plant  of  this  community  is  Myrica  gale  which  forms  a 
dense  stand  of  straggling  bushes  which  may  be  as  much  as  2m  tall.  Associates 
are  generally  few  and  variable.  Phragmites  is  usually  found  in  some  quantity, 
growing  up  amongst  the  bushes,  and  Cladium  mariscus  also  frequently  occurs. 
Various  herbs  may  be  present,  all  of  them,  with  the  exception  of  Thelypteris 
palustris  which  sometimes  forms  a sparse  understorey  to  the  vegetation,  normally 
being  tall  fen  species,  characteristically  Calamagrostis  canescens,  Eupatorium 
cannabinum , Lysimachia  vulgaris  and  Peucedanim  palustre.  Other  shrubs  include 
Salix  cinerea,  Betula  pubescens  and  Alnus  glutinosa.  Mosses  tend  to  be  absent. 

This  Association  is  related  to  the  Myrica- rich  stands  of  the  Peucedano- 
Phragmitetum,  especially  to  the  myricetosum  subassociation  from  which  it  may 
have  developed  in  some  places.  Pockets  of  more  species  rich,  more  herbaceous 
vegetation  often  persist  within  the  Myrica  stands  as  relicts  of  the  earlier  commu- 
nities. The  presence  of  small  plants  of  Alms  and  Betula  suggest  that  mire  forest 
dominated  by  these  species  will  ultimately  develop  if  the  stands  are  left  unman- 
aged. 

Distribution:  CF,  SM,  BB,  BH. 

A serai  community  that  is  locally  widespread.  In  actively  managed  areas  it 
is  restricted  to  the  edges  and  corners  of  the  fen  compartments  where  the  vege- 
tation has  been  allowed  to  grow  up,  but  in  abandoned  mowing  marshes  it  can  be 
much  more  extensive,  covering  large  areas  with  a scrub  difficult  of  penetration. 

The  Association  has  been  noted  also  in  the  Bure  valley  and  may  well  occur 
in  the  others.  Myrica  stands  are  also  known  elsewhere  in  Britain,  especially  acido- 
philic communities  of  the  Myricetum  gale  ericetosum  Fischer  1967,  but  the 
peucedanetosum  subassociation  is  confined  to  Broadland. 

BETULO-DRYOPTERIDETUM  CRIST ATAE.  Wheeler  1975. 

Characterising  species-group:  Dryopteris  cristata , D.  carthusiana , Betula  pubes- 
cens, Sphagnum  fimbriatum , S.  palustre , S.  plumulosum,  S.  recurvum,  S.  rubellum, 


170 


S.  squarrosum.  Together  with  a range  of  herbs  of  open  fen. 

Description 

A scrub  community  associated  with  areas  of  fen  that  are  able  to  sustain  an 
acidophilic  vegetation. 

Typically  it  consists  of  an  immature  birch  scrub.  In  the  younger,  more  open 
forms,  the  bushes  are  often  only  about  1 - 1.5m  tall  and  rather  sparsely  distri- 
buted. In  the  more  mature  forms  the  tree  canopy  may  be  in  excess  of  4m  and 
much  more  closed.  Growing  up  with  the  birch  there  is  usually  a range  of  other 
shrubs,  mainly  Myricagale,  Salix  aurita , S.  cinera  and  S.  repens . Aims  glutinosa , 
Frangula  aims  and  oak  saplings  are  occasional. 

Bryophytes  are  well  developed  and  the  floor  of  the  community  characteris- 
tically supports  large,  inflated  plosters  of  Sphagna , in  some  places  forming  an 
extensive  and  continuous  cover.  The  species  are  those  listed  above.  Other  bryo- 
phytes include  Calypogeia  muellerana , Campylopus  pyriformis,  Dicranella 
heteromalla,  Mnium  hornum , Leucobryum  glaucum , Plagiothecium  undulatum 
and  Polytrichum  commune. 

Herbs  are  sparse  to  abundant.  They  include  a range  of  open  fen  species — 
Phragmites,  Calamagrostis  canescens , Carex  appropinquata , C.  elata,  Eupatorium , 
Juncus  subnodulosus , Lysimachia  vulgaris,  Ly  thrum  salicaria,  Peucedanum  palustre , 
Potentilla  palustris  and  Cladium  mariscus.  However,  a particularly  noticeable 
feature  of  this  community  is  the  range  of  ferns  that  occur — Athyrium  filix - 
femina,  Dryopteris  cristata,  D.  carthusiana,  D.  dilatata,  D.  filix-mas,  D.  x 
uliginosa,  Ophioglossum  vulgatum  (rare),  Osmunda  regalis  and  Thelypteris 
palustris.  Dryopteris  cristata  is  the  most  notable  of  these.  It  is  a regular  com- 
ponent of  this  community : only  a few  stands  are  known  where  it  has  not  been 
located.  Often  only  a few  fronds  may  be  found,  especially  in  the  more  closed 
communities,  but  careful  searching  will  usually  reveal  it.  As  well  as  the  crested 
buckler  fern,  other  species  of  particular  interest  that  are  sometimes  present  are 
Pyrola  rotundifolia  and  Drosera  rotundifolia.  Less  notable  are  Dactylorhiza 
praetermissa,  Eriophorum  angustifolium  and  Viola  palustris. 

The  Betulo- Dry  opteride  turn  cristatae  is  found  in  several  situations.  Perhaps 
most  characteristically  it  is  found  in  association  with  small  “islands”  of  birch 
scrub.  These  islands — which  may  be  very  small,  sometimes  only  l-2m  across — 
are  dotted  sporadically  around  the  Ant  marshes  and  are  found  within  stands  of 
herbaceous  fen,  often  in  fact  within  wet  tall  fen  communities  with  Phragmites 
and  Typha  angustifolia.  The  origin  of  these  areas  is  not  at  all  clear  and  would 
repay  further  study.  They  are  not  always  just  composed  of  birch.  In  a few  in- 
stances part  of  the  island  is  dominated  by  alder,  supporting  a fairly  typical 
Osmundo-Alnetum  flora.  But  in  such  cases  the  Betulo- Dry opteridetum  is  found 
only  on  the  parts  with  birch.  With  the  smaller  “islands”  and  with  the  less  mature 
stands  the  whole  area  effectively  belongs  to  the  present  Association.  But  with  the 
larger,  more  mature  “islands”  the  community  is  only  found  in  the  more  open, 
boundary  situations,  around  the  periphery  or  around  the  margins  of  glades. 
The  drier,  more  shaded  internal  areas  usually  belong  to  a Betula-Myrica  com- 
munity (below). 

Dryopteris  cristata  appears  to  be  very  much  a plant  of  boundary  situations, 
occupying  the  transition  between  the  birch  communities  and  more  open  fen. 
Sometimes  the  bright  green  fronds  effectively  serve  to  pick  out  the  edge  of  glades 
etc.  It  only  occasionally  occurs  in  the  more  mature  communities  and  very  rarely 


171 


in  open  fen.  It  is  known  from  a few  open  fen  communities  where  it  seems  in- 
variably to  be  associated  with  Sphagnum.  The  community  is  otherwise  a rather 
impoverished  Peucedano-Phragmitetum  type,  i.e.  rather  similar  to  the  present 
Association  but  without  the  woody  species.  In  one  case  at  least  it  appears  very 
likely  that  such  a stand  of  D.  cristata  occupies  the  site  of  a cleared  birch  copse. 

The  most  extensive  stands  of  the  Betulo-Dryopteridetum  are  found  in 
association  with  a sparse  birch  cover.  Again  it  is  not  at  all  clear  just  how  these 
stands  have  developed.  Preliminary  observations  and  peat  cores  have  indicated 
that  in  one  place  such  a community  is  developed  on  a slightly  elevated  area  of 
peat,  which  is  probably  situated  above  the  main  influence  of  the  minerotrophic 
ground  water.  In  other  examples  it  has  developed  on  a firm  but  floating  peat  raft. 
Good  examples  of  this  are  found  on  the  island  at  the  north  end  of  Barton  Broad. 
Here  there  is  a fen  raft,  composed  mainly  of  Phragmites  rhizomes  underlain  at 
least  in  places  by  Typha,  floating  over  fluid  muds.  This  is  about  50cms  thick  and 
supports  an  extensive  development  of  the  Betulo-Dryopteridetum.  The  community 
forms  a mosaic  with  treacherous  areas  of  wetter  fen,  often  tussock  fen  dominated 
by  Carex  paniculata , and  with  more  consolidated  areas  supporting  mature 
copses  of  birch.  It  thus  appears  that  the  Betula-Dryopteridetum  has  developed 
from  a floating  Phragmites  fen  community.  The  reason  why  this  sere  should  have 
occurred,  as  opposed  to  the  Carex  paniculata  sere  (Lambert,  1951)  which  is 
more  typical  of  the  margins  of  Barton  Broad,  is  not  entirely  clear.  It  is  possibly 
related  to  the  floating  character  of  the  substratum  which  may  prevent  regular 
flooding  of  the  mire  surface  by  nutrient  rich  water.  In  any  case,  the  interior  of 
the  island  where  the  communities  occur  may  be  comparatively  stagnant  and  not 
much  influenced  by  the  water  of  the  broad.  This  remains  to  be  clarified.  It  may 
be  noted  that,  at  this  site,  tussocks  of  C.  paniculata  forming  the  Carietum  pani- 
culatae  also  often  support  D.  cristata. 

Distribution.  See  Fig.2.  HM,  LF,  RM,  BB,  CF,  SM,  SB. 

Widespread  in  the  Ant  valley,  but  rarely  extensive,  usually  occurring  as  small 
islands  within  mowing  marsh.  Fig.2  indicates  the  known  distribution  of  sites 
noted  in  this  survey,  but  it  is  likely  that  there  are  more,  particularly  in  the 
Reedham  Marshes. 

Similar  communities  occur  in  the  Hickling  Broad  area — again  usually  as 
islands.  They  have  not  been  observed  outside  of  Broadland. 

BETULA-MYRICA  COMMUNITY 

Characterising  species:  Be  tula  pubescens,  Myrica  gale , Rubus  idaeus , Dryopteris 
carthusiana,  Lonicera  periclymenum. 

Description 

Usually  occurs  as  dense  thickets  of  Betula  pubescens  accompanied  by  much 
Myrica  gale  and,  less  frequently,  Frangula  alnus,  Salix  aurita,  S.  cinerea  and  S. 
repens.  There  is  often  much  Rubus  idaeus  and  R.  fruticosus , typically  with  oak 
saplings.  Three  varietal  forms  have  been  distinguished : 

(i)  Typical  var. : Immature  stands  in  particular  may  contain  a range  of  open 
fen  species — Cladium,  Phragmites , Lysimachia  vulgaris , Peucedanum  palustre. 


172 


173 


Ferns  may  be  quite  prominent  and  typically  include  Athyrium  filix-femina, 
Dryopteris  carthusiana,  D.  dilatata , Osmunda  and  Thelypteris  palustris.  Older, 
drier  stands  typically  have  a sparse  field  layer,  including  relict  populations  of 
herbaceous  fen  species.  Dryopteris  filix-mas  and  (rarely)  D.  borreri  may  occur. 

The  bryophyte  layer  may  be  poor  or  well  developed,  containing  woodland 
species  such  as  Amblystegium  serpens , Eurhynchium  praelongum , Hypnum 
cupressiforme , Lophocolea  bidentata,  Mnium  hornum  and  Mn.  undulatum. 

(ii)  Sphagnum  var. : As  the  typical  var.  but  with  species  of  Sphagnum  being 
important,  often  in  addition  to  the  typical  bryophytes.  Cushions — even  carpets — 
of  Sphagna  occur — S.  fimbriatum , S.  palustre,  S.  squarrosum — which  in  summer 
are  frequently  dry  and  bleached.  Leucobryum  glaucum  and  Calluna  vulgaris  are 
rare  components  of  this  vegetation. 

(iii)  Pteridium  var. : Composed  of  older,  more  mature  birch  trees  with  an 
open  canopy.  The  field  layer  is  typically  dominated  by  Rubus  fruticosus  and 
Pteridium  aquilinum.  Open  fen  species  are  sparse  though  a few  can  normally 
be  found. 

This  community  is  not  extensively  developed.  It  often  forms  the  vegetation 
occupying  the  central  core  of  birch  “islands”  that  support  a peripheral  Betulo- 
Dryopteridetum  cristatae  community.  It  also  locally  forms  more  extensive  stands 
in  areas  of  scrubbing-up  fen. 

Distribution:  BB,  CF,  SM. 

BETULA— QUERCUS  COMMUNITY 

Characteristic  species:  Be  tula  pubescens , Quercus  robur  (as  dominants). 
Description 

Closely  related  to  the  Betula-Myrica  community,  growing  on  fairly  dry  peat. 
Betula  pubescens  is  the  dominant  with  Quercus  robur  making  an  important 
contribution.  Other  shrubs  include  Frangula  alnus , Myrica,  Salix  cinerea  and 
S.  repens  and  Rubus  idaeus  and  R.  fruticosus. 

The  field  layer  contains  a variety  of  open  fen  species.  In  some  stands  the 
canopy  is  quite  open  and  Phragmites  communis  and  Calamagrostis  canescens 
are  well  developed. 

Distribution:  Rare  in  areas  of  scrubbing-up  fen.  BB.  Similar  communities, 
though  without  the  Broadland  species,  are  found  on  fairly  dry,  acidic  peat  in 
mire  basins  elsewhere  in  Britain,  though  usually  with  much  Molinia  in  the  field 
vegetation. 

SALIX  CINEREA  CARR 

Characterising  species:  Salix  cinerea  (as  dominant) 

Description 

In  general,  willow  carr  is  a rather  variable  and  poorly  developed  community 
in  the  Ant  fens  and  it  has  not  been  examined  in  detail  in  this  survey.  It  develops 
consequent  upon  the  cessation  of  active  marsh  management  by  the  rapid  growth 
and  coalescence  of  Salix  cinerea  bushes.  The  community  may  thus  appear  in 
several  forms,  from  young  willow  bushes  growing  together  intermixed  with 
patches  of  species-poor  herbaceous  fen,  to  more  uniform  stands  with  a more 
continuous  canopy.  Only  a few  such  uniform  stands  have  been  located,  at  least 
of  any  extent. 


174 


Salix  cinerea  is  the  predominant  shrub,  sometimes  with  Alnus  glutinosa. 
Salix  repens  and  Myrica  gale  are  sometimes  also  found,  but  usually  at  the  extend- 
ing margins  of  the  carr  rather  than  in  the  interior. 

The  stands  are  typically  some  2-4m  high,  often  rather  difficult  of  penetra- 
tion. The  ground  vegetation  is  quite  variable.  Under  small  Salix  bushes  at  the 
scrub  margin  there  is  a very  poor  associated  flora — though  species  such  as 
Phragmites  may  be  growing  up  between  the  bushes.  Under  the  taller,  more  open, 
canopy  of  older  carr  a number  of  species  may  be  found,  mainly  herbaceous  fen 
species  in  a sterile  condition.  Typical  species  are: 

Cardamine  amara  (rare)  Mentha  aquatica 

C.  pratensis  Menyanthes  trifoliata  (occ) 

Carex  appropinquata  (occ)  Myosotis  caespitosa 

C.  acutiformis  Poa  trivialis 

C.  elata  Potentilla  palustris 

Cladium  mariscus  Peucedanum  palustre 

Dactylhoriza  praetermissa  (occ)  Phragmites  communis 
Equisetum  palustre  Thelypteris  palustris 

Filipendula  ulmaria  Valeriana  dioica 

Impatiens  capensis  V.  officinalis 

Iris  pseudacorus 

Ly  copus  europaeus  Aero  cladium  cuspidatum 

Lysimachia  vulgaris  Brachythecium  rutabulum 

Lythrum  salicaria  Mnium  punctatum 

Pyrola  rotundifolia  has  been  found  in  this  community  at  one  site.  The  precise 
species  composition  is  variable  and  may  well  be  related  to  the  composition  of 
the  herbaceous  fen  from  which  the  carr  developed.  This  requires  further  investi- 
gation. 

Distribution:  Narrow  strips  of  willow  carr  are  frequent  around  the  edges  of  fen 
compartments,  alongise  dykes  etc.  In  the  Catfield  fens,  much  of  the  course  of 
the  Catfield-Barton  Turf  parish  boundary  (the  old  course  of  the  R.  Ant)  is 
traced  by  a narrow  band  of  willow  carr.  More  extensive  areas,  developed  over 
old  mowing  marshes,  are  much  less  frequent  and  have  been  noted  mainly  in  CF, 
BH  and  SM. 

ALNUS  GLUTINOSA-CAREX  PANICULATA  COMMUNITY 

Characterisation:  Alnus  glutinosa  and/or  Salix  cinerea  as  dominants.  Carex 
paniculata. 

Description 

This  community  is  well  defined  physiognomically,  but  poorly  so  floristically. 
It  is  essentially  immature  alder  carr  and  it  is  closely  related  to  Osmundo-Alnetum 
communities,  from  which  it  may  be  distinguished  (often  with  difficulty)  by  the 
absence  of  the  species  of  more  mature  alder  woodland — shrubs  such  as  Frangula, 
Ilex , Prunus  padus,  Ribes  etc. 

The  community  consists  of  large  tussocks  of  Carex  paniculata  supporting  a 
low  woody  canopy  composed  mainly  of  Alnus  glutinosa,  but  sometimes  with  large 
amounts  of  Salix  cinerea.  Herbaceous  associates,  like  the  trees,  are  largely  con- 
fined to  the  tussock  tops,  and  are  essentially  the  species  of  the  Caricetum  pani- 
culatae  tussock  fen,  usually  somewhat  reduced  in  abundance. 


175 


This  community  is  a serai  stage  in  the  development  of  swamp  carr  from  open 
tussock  fen  and  it  has  strong  floristic  affiliations  with  both  of  these  vegetations. 
However,  its  physiognomic  distinction  make  it  appropriate  to  recognise  it  as  an 
independent  community. 

Distribution:  BB.  Similar  communities  are  known  from  elsewhere  in  Britain. 


OSMUNDO-ALNETUM  Klotzli  1970 
Characterisation:  Alnus  glutinosa  (as  dominant) 


A range  of  species  from  the  “core”  of  this  Association.  The  following  are 
fairly  constant: 

Alnus  glutinosa  (usually  dominant) 

Salix  atrocinerea 
Carex  acutiformis 
C.  paniculata 
Cirsium  palustre 
Dryopteris  dilatata 
Eupatorium  cannabinum 
Filipendula  ulmaria 


Galium  palustre 
Iris  pseudacorus 
Solanum  dulcamara 
Valeriana  officinalis 


Acrocladium  cuspidatum 
Brachythecium  rutabulum 
Eurhynchium  praelongum 


The  following  are  also  characteristic,  but  with  lower  constancy : 


Angelica  sylvestris 
Cardamine  pratensis 
Caltha  palustris 
Equisetum  palustre 


Phragmites  communis 
Poa  trivialis 
Mentha  aquatica 
Urtica  dioica 
Mnium  undulatum 


The  Osmundo-Alnetum  contains  relatively  mature  alderwood  vegetation 
developed  on  nutrient  rich  peats  throughout  Britain,  and  the  above  characteri- 
sation is  a general  one  for  the  communities  as  they  are  developed  throughout  the 
country.  This  Association  was  first  described  by  Klotzli  (1970)  in  a brief  survey 
of  British  alderwoods  and  the  work  of  Wheeler  (1975)  has  largely  confirmed  its 
value  as  a syntaxonomic  unit.  Klotzli  regarded  the  Association  as  a vicariant 
of  the  closely  related  continental  Caricetum  elongatae-Alnetum.  The  use  of  the 
name  Osmundo-Alnetum  does  not  imply  that  Osmunda  regalis  is  a frequent  and 
characteristic  component  of  British  alderwood,  because  it  is  not.  Its  occasional 
occurrence  does,  however,  serve  to  distinguish  nutrient-rich  British  alderwoods 
from  the  continental  counterparts  in  which  Osmunda  is  not  found.  On  the  conti- 
nent, Osmunda  is  much  more  restricted  to  acidophilous,  nutrient-poor  communi- 
ties. 


A number  of  subassociations  have  been  recognised.  The  Broadland  carrs 
are  all  contained  within  one  of  these,  the  lycopetosum  subassociation. 


Subassociation  lycopetosum  Klotzli  1970. 

Characterising  species:  Ly copus  europaeus , Carex  elata,  C.  remota,  Lysimachia 
vulgaris , Ly  thrum  salicaria , Peucedanum  palustre , Thelypteris  palustris. 
Description 

The  exact  character  of  these  woods  depends  upon  their  state  of  maturity- 
However  it  must  be  noted  that  very  young,  developing  alder  forest  with  a rather 
different  species-composition  to  that  listed  above  is  not  included  within  this 
Association. 


176 


The  dominant  tree  is  Aims  and  in  well  developed  stands  this  can  form  a 
canopy  reaching  over  40ft.  Growing  up  with  it  there  may  be  Betula  pubescens 
and,  generally  in  drier  situations,  Fraxinus  excelsior  and  occasionally  Quercus 
robur.  The  willow  Salix  cinerea  is  a constant  component  of  the  vegetation.  In 
mature  alder  forest  it  may  be  only  in  small  amounts,  forming  a layer  beneath  the 
Aims  canopy.  But  often  it  is  more  important,  even  codominant. 

Smaller  trees  also  occur — including  Crataegus  monogyna,  Frangula  alms , 
Ilex  aquifolium,  Prunus  padus,  Rhamnus  catharticus  and  Viburnum  opulus.  In  the 
Ant  valley  Frangula  is  quite  frequent  (as  for  example  at  Alderfen  Broad)  whilst 
Rhamnus  catharticus  has  been  noted  only  occasionally.  Low-growing  shrubs 
include  Rubus  caesius , R.  fruticosus , Rosa  canina,  Ribes  nigrum  and  R.  sylvestre. 

The  extent  to  which  these  various  woody  species  are  developed  is  variable- 
Some  stands  may  contain  just  Aims  and  Salix  cinerea,  though  in  fact  Betula 
pubescens  is  also  a common  tree  of  the  Ant  carrs.  Others  may  have  some  or  all 
of  them.  The  best  example  of  alder  wood  is  Heron’s  Carr  at  the  south  end  of 
Barton  Broad  where  the  more  mature  areas,  which  are  close  to  the  land  margin 
of  the  fen,  contain  all  of  the  above  species.  Superficial  impressions  suggest  that 
the  richness  of  trees  and  shrubs  may  be  at  least  partly  related  to  the  size  and 
maturity  of  the  stands.  Certainly  as  a general  rule,  recent  alder  carr  often  contains 
little  other  than  Aims  and  Salix. 

Scrambling  species  occur  to  some  degree.  Solanum  dulcamara  is  characteris- 
tic of  most  stands  where  it  can  be  abundant,  forming  a tangled  undergrowth. 
But  additional  species — Bryonia  dioica , Humulus  lupulina  and  Lonicera  peri - 
clymenum  can  also  occur,  especially  in  the  more  mature  stands. 

The  field  layer  is  typically  tall  and  luxuriant.  Phragmites  is  sometimes  found, 
particularly  beneath  clearings,  but  normally  its  cover  is  rather  limited.  Phalaris 
arundinacea,  which  can  be  important  in  some  alderwood  communities,  is  not 
generally  so  in  the  Ant  fens.  Calamagrostis  canescens  and  Cladium  occur  occa- 
sionally but  not  in  quantity.  Instead  the  dominants  are  usually  Carex  acutiformis 
and  C.  paniculata  and  sometimes  C.  elata.  Other  herbs  include  those  listed  as 
characterising  species.  Most  of  these  are  tall  growing  species  typical  of  herba- 
ceous fen.  Some  of  them,  such  as  Filipendula  ulmaria  and  Iris  pseudacorus , flower 
rarely  in  the  shaded  conditions  of  carr.  One  of  them — Urtica  dioica — is  not  at 
all  common  in  some  of  the  Ant  carrs. 

The  floor  of  a typical  carr  often  presents  a mosaic  of  habitats.  Elevated  areas 
are  associated  with  the  bases  of  trees  and  may  support  typical  woodland  plants — 
Stachys  sylvatica  and  Circaea  lutetiana.  Between  the  trees  are  areas  of  peat,  in 
some  cases  with  a well-developed  vegetation  cover  which  serves  to  consolidate 
them,  in  others,  often  associated  with  dense  shading,  with  an  open,  treacherous 
surface.  Such  areas  seem  to  be  largely  associated  with  degeneration  of  the  vege- 
tation cover  in  response  to  deep  shade.  There  may  also  be  pools,  though  not 
containing  aquatics  other  than  occasional  fronds  of  Lemna  minor.  In  general 
the  wetter  places  contain  species  such  as  Carex  pseudocyperus , Sparganium 
erectum  and  Potentilla  palustris.  Carex  rostrata  and  Menyanthes  are  much  less 
common. 

Other  herbs  frequently  found  include  Cardamine  amara,  C.  flexuosa , 
Myosotis  caespitosa  and  Valeriana  dioica. 


177 


Ferns  are  also  well  represented — especially  Thelypteris  palustris  which 
sometimes  carpets  the  ground,  but  also  Dryopteris  dilatata,  sometimes  with 
D.  filix-mas  and  Athyrium  filix-femina.  But  perhaps  the  most  notable  species 
is  the  royal  fern,  Osmunda  regalis.  This  is  widespread  in  the  Ant  carrs  and  can  be 
abundant.  In  one  place,  near  to  Sutton  High  Fen,  it  forms  the  dominant  compo- 
nent of  the  field  layer,  covering  much  of  the  ground  with  its  huge  fronds. 

The  most  common  bryophytes  are  Acrocladium  cuspidatum,  Brachythecium 
rutabulum,  Eurhynchium  praelongum  and  Mnium  hornum,  but  Amblystegium 
serpens , Hypnum  cupressiforme  and  Mnium  undulatum  are  also  frequent.  In  some 
places  Sphagna  occur. 

A structural  variant  of  this  community  is  swamp  carr  (see  Lambert,  1951) 
which  originates  through  the  colonisation  of  the  semi-floating  Caricetum  pani- 
culatae  (q.v.)  by  Alnus  and  Salix  cinerea.  Very  young  stands  of  this  belong  to  the 
Alnus-Carex  paniculata  community,  but  more  mature  stands  are  referable  to  the 
present  Association. 

Variants 

Several  variants  may  be  recognised : 

(i)  typical  var.  as  described  above. 

(ii)  Sphagnum  var.  Characterised  by  the  occurrence  of  Sphagnum  cushions, 
usually  not  very  extensive.  Species  are  typically  S.  fimbriatum,  S.  palustre , 
S.  recurvum  and  S.  squarrosum.  Viola  palustris  is  often  found  in  these  more  acidic 
situations. 

(iii)  Rubus  fruticosus  var.  Characterised  by  greater  amounts  of  Rubus 
fruticosus  and  a reduction  in  the  number  of  more  typically  wetland  species. 
This  is  a variant  of  drier  situations,  often  developed  close  to  the  fen  margins 
and  often  supports  Fraxinus  and  sometimes  Quercus  robur.  Well  developed  ex- 
amples of  this  on  dry  peat  are  very  distinct  and  have  a large  amount  of  Rubus 
in  the  field  layer  and  sometimes  much  Urtica.  Others  are  harder  to  distinguish 
from  the  typical  var.  but  in  general  there  is  a reduction  or  absence  of  fen  species — 
such  as  Potentilla  palustris  and  Carex  pseudocyperus — and  an  increase  in  the 
importance  of  more  general  woodland  species  such  as  Lonicera  periclymenum 
and  Geranium  robertianum  and  others  such  as  Holcus  lanatus.  Dryopteris  filix-mas 
and  D.  borreri  occur. 

Distribution:  Frequent.  HM,  AFB,  HH,  RM,  BB,  CF,  BH,  SF,  SB,  WB,  LS,  MF, 
DBF,  SF,  East  Ruston. 

II.  Marginal  Vegetation  of  the  Flood  Plain  Mires 

Contributing  to  the  vegetational  diversity  of  the  Ant  valley  are  the  com- 
munities developed  along  the  edge  of  the  fens  where  they  back  onto  the  valley 
slopes  of  the  adjoining  upland.  Sometimes  the  mire/slope  transition  is  very  clearly 
defined  by  a boundary  dike,  in  which  case  the  wetland  communities  extend  up 
to  the  edge  of  the  peat  and  there  is  an  abrupt  transition  to  drier  vegetation.  In 
other  situations,  however,  the  wet-dry  gradient  is  uninterrupted  and  a distinct 
zone  of  marginal  vegetation  occurs.  Frequently  this  consists  of  a narrow  strip  of 
woodland,  alder  carr  in  the  wetter  places,  gradually  grading  into  a drier  wood- 
land upslope.  This  woodland  often  has  oak  as  an  important  component  (e.g. 
Heron’s  Carr,  Berry  Hall)  and  although  probably  in  no  way  natural,  it  has 
considerably  more  similarity  to  the  presumed  natural  vegetation  of  the  lower 


178 


crag  slopes  than  do  the  woodlands  planted  with  exotics  which  occupy  the  same 
transition  in  some  other  parts  of  the  valley. 

In  a number  of  places,  however,  the  edge  of  the  marshes  is  marked  by  her- 
baceous vegetation,  grading  up  from  the  Peucedano-Phragmitetum  communities 
of  the  fens  into  a type  of  dry  grassland.  In  this  situation,  developed  towards  the 
base  of  the  usually  gentle  valley  slopes  and  irrigated  by  some  degree  of  water 
seepage  from  the  adjoining  upland,  there  is  often  a wetland  community  of  very 
different  character  from  that  of  the  marshes  proper. 

cmsio-MOLiNiETUM  Sissingh  et  De  Vries  1942. 

Characterising  species:  Cirsium  dissectum,  Molinia  caerulea , Potentilla  erect  a, 
Succisa  pratensis , Viola  palustris,  Juncus  conglomerate,  Luzula  multiflora. 
Description 

Essentially  a wet  grassland  community  with  Molinia  often,  but  not  neces- 
sarily dominant.  The  other  characterising  species  are  also  constant.  Other  species 
found,  though  with  lower  constancy,  are  Carex  nigra  (sometimes  dominant), 
Eriophorum  angustifolium,  Juncus  acutiflorus  and  J.  articulatus.  More  rare  are 
Carex  echinata , C.  lasiocarpa , C.  panicea  and  C.  pulicaris.  Calluna  vulgaris  and 
Erica  tetralix  sometimes  also  occur. 

In  addition  there  are  typical  species  of  wet  grassland — Anthoxanthum 
odoratum , Holcus  lanatus , Lotus  uliginosus , Leontodon  autumnalis , Rhinanthus 
minor  and  Rumex  acetosa.  There  are  also  various  taller  Peucedano-Phragmitetum 
species,  usually  only  sparsely  developed  and  decreasing  in  abundance  away  from 
the  edge  of  the  valley  bottom  mires.  Typical  examples  include  Calamagrostis 
canescens , Juncus  subnodulosus,  Lysimachia  vulgaris , Peucedanum  palustre , 
Phragmites  communis  and  Valeriana  officinalis. 

In  general  shrubs  are  not  frequent  in  this  community.  Small  bushes  of  Alnus, 
Betula  pubescens,  Frangula  alnus , Myrica,  Salix  cinerea  and  Ulex  europeaus 
can  sometimes  be  found.  Bryophytes  include  Acrocladium  cuspidatum,  Brachy- 
thecium  rutabulum,  Campylium  stellatum , Hypnum  cupressiforme , Pseudosclero- 
podium  purum  and  Sphagnum  plumulosum. 

There  is  some  floristic  variation  between  the  stands.  The  small  number  ac- 
tually found  and  examined  (6)  demands  that  any  floristic  subdivision  is  neces- 
sarily tentative.  The  following,  however,  is  suggested : 

(i)  PEUCEDANETOSUMS 

Characterisation:  presence  of  Peucedano-Phragmitetum  species:  Phragmites 
communis , Calamagrostis  canescens  (sometimes  dominant)  Juncus  subnodulosus , 
Lysimachia  vulgaris , Peucedanum  palustre , Valeriana  officinalis. 

(ii)  NARDETOSUM 

Characterisation:  Nardus  strict  a,  Seiglingia  decumbens , Festuca  ovina.  Meso- 
trophic  fen  species  much  less  well  developed. 

This  community  is  usually  found  further  up  slope.  Both  Nardus  and  Sieg- 
lingia  are  uncommon  species  in  Broadland. 

It  is  thus  evident  that  these  Cirsio-Molinietum  communities  contain  an 
interesting  mixture  of  species,  including  those  typical  of  moist,  nutrient-poor 
grassland,  wet  heath  and  mesotrophic  fen.  The  stands  can  be  rich  in  species 
(45spp/10m2)and  provide  the  sites  for  a number  of  plants  that  are  otherwise 
rare  in  Broadland. 


179 


At  their  lower  end,  the  Cirsio-Molinietum  communities  usually  grade  into 
one  of  the  Peucedano-Phragmitetum  stands.  The  upper  limit  may  be  determined 
by  a boundary  hedge  of  agricultural  land  or,  in  some  instances,  a rather  narrow 
band  of  rather  dry  Quercus  robur  woodland.  At  one  site,  the  community  leads 
up  into  a small  area  of  heath  (see  below). 

Distribution:  Rare.  HH,  CF,  BH. 


CALLUNA-MOLINIA  COMMUNITY 

Characterisation:  Predominance  of  Calluna , Ulex  europaeus,  Molinia,  Erica 
tetralix. 

Description 

A small  area  of  fairly  dry  heath.  It  has  fairly  strong  floristic  similarities  with 
the  Cirsio-Molinietum.  The  following  species  list  was  made : 


Betula  pubescens 
Calluna  vulgaris 
Ulex  europaeus 
Molinia  caerulea 
Erica  tetralix 
Agrostis  canina 
Anthoxanthum  odoratum 
Carex  pilulifera 
Calamagrostis  canescens 
Distribution:  One  known  site.  BH. 


Cirsium  dissectum 
Juncus  articulatus 
J.  conglomeratus 
Luzula  multiflora 
Nardus  stricta 
Phrag mites  communis 

Sphagnum  plumulosum 


OAK  WOODLAND 

The  dry  strips  of  oak  forest  at  the  fen  margins  have  not  been  examined  in 
detail.  As  well  as  oak,  some  birch  trees  may  also  occur.  The  woodland  floor 
supports  species  such  as : 

Agrostis  stolonifera 
Crataegus  monogyna 
Epilobium  angustifolium 
Holcus  mollis 
Lonicera  periclymenum 

III.  The  Vegetation  of  the  Valley  Mires 

Two  main  valley  mire  systems  occur  in  the  survey  area — at  Smallburgh 
and  East  Ruston.  These  are  of  rather  different  character.  Some  of  the  vegetation 
of  both  sites  (e.g.  alder  carr)  may  be  referred  to  flood-plain  mire  communities, 
and  will  not  be  discussed  again.  Other  communities,  however,  are  quite  different. 

schoeno-juncetum  subnodulosi  Allorge  1922. 

Characterising  species: 

Schoenus  nigricans , Juncus  subnodulosus,  Anagallis  tenella , Carex  flacca , 
C.  hostiana,  C.  lepidocarpa , Dactylorhiza  praetermissa , Epipactis  palustris , 
Eriophorum  latifolium , Parnassia  palustris , Pedicularis  palustris , Pinguicula 
vulgaris , Bryum  pseudotriquetrum , Drepanocladus  revolvens,  Fissidens  adian - 
thoides,  Riccardia  pinguis  etc. 

Description 

Stands  of  herbaceous  vegetation  in  which  relatively  low-growing  graminoid 
monocots  are  the  predominant  components — especially  sedges  ( Schoenus 


Molinia  caerulea 
Potentilla  erecta 
Pteridium  aquilinum 
Rubus  fruticosus 
R.  idaeus 


180 


nigricans  and  smaller  carices),  rushes  ( Juncus  subnodulosus ) and  grasses  ( Molinia 
caerulea).  Phragmites  and  Cladium  may  form  a sparse  upper  layer  to  the  vege- 
tation and  bushes  of  Alnus , Be  tula  pubescens  and  Salix  cinerea  may  also  occur, 
but  these  are  of  small  cover  compared  with  the  lower-growing  plants.  Physio- 
gnomically  this  Association  is  distinct  from  most  flood-plain  mire  communities, 
though  there  are  strong  resemblances  to  some  of  the  Peucedano-Phragmitetum 
caricetosum  stands.  Characteristic  of  this  Association,  and  this  certainly  applies 
to  the  examples  in  the  Ant  valley,  is  a high  diversity  of  herbs  and  a well  developed 
bryophyte  layer,  composed  in  the  main  of  hypnoid  mosses. 

This  Association  is  typically  one  of  valley  mires,  occuring  in  moist  to  wet 
habitats  which  are  irrigated  by  highly  calcareous  water,  with  a pH  often  in  excess 
of  7.5 

It  occurs  at  one  site  in  the  middle  Ant  valley,  Smallburgh  Fen.  This  is  a 
most  important  site  as  it  represents  one  of  the  richest  examples  of  Schoeno- 
Juncetum  vegetation  in  Britain.  This  was  recognised  by  Goode  (1977)  in  award- 
ing the  site  Grade  1 status  in  his  evaluation  of  British  peatlands. 

The  richest  areas  contain  the  following  species : 


Anagallis  tenella 

Epipactis  palustris 

Angelica  sylvestris 

Equisetum  fluviatile 

Berula  erecta 

E.  palustre 

Caltha  palustris 

Eriophorum  angustifolium 

Cardamine  pratensis 

E.  latifolium 

Carex  diandra 

Eupatorium  cannabinum 

C.  dioica 

Galium  palustre 

C.  elata 

G.  uliginosum 

C.  lepidocarpa 

Hydrocotyle  vulgaris 

C.  nigra 

Juncus  articulatus 

C.  panicea 

J.  subnodulosus 

C.  pulicaris 

Lychnis  flos-cuculi 

C.  rostrata 

Mentha  aquatica 

Cirsium  palustre 

Menyanthes  trifoliata 

Dactylorhiza  fuchsii 

Parnassia  palustris 

D.  praetermissa 

Pedicularis  palustris 

D.  traunsteineri 

Phragmites  communis 

Drosera  anglica 

Ranunculus  flammula 

Eleocharis  quinqueflora 

Salix  repens 

Epilobium  palustre 

Schoenus  nigricans 
Valeriana  dioica 

Acrocladium  cuspidatum 

Lophocolea  bidentata 

A.  giganteum 

Mnium  pseudopunctatum 

Aulacomnium  palustre 

Mnium  punctatum 

Bryum  pseudotriquetrum 

Mn.  seligeri 

Campylium  stellatum 

Pellia  endiviifolia 

C.  elodes 

Philonotis  calcarea 

Cratoneuron  commutatum 

Riccardia  pinguis 

C.  filicinum 

Scorpidium  scorpioides 

Drepanocladus  revolvens 

Sphagnum  palustre 

Fissidens  adianthoides 

S.  plumulosum 
S.  squarrosum 

181 


The  above  community,  of  rather  wet  species-rich  Schoenus  fen  belongs  to 
the  caricetosum  rostratae  subassociation.  Much  of  the  vegetation  at  Small  burgh 
is  not  as  species-rich,  however.  Much  of  the  fen  is  covered  by  a taller  sward  of 
J uncus  subnodulosus , and  many  of  the  smaller  associates  are  excluded  from  this, 
largely  on  account  of  the  thick  “mattresses”  of  Juncus  litter.  In  this  community 
Schoenus  is  also  rare.  It  does,  however,  contain  Thelypteris  palustris  which  is 
absent  from  the  more  diverse  communities. 

Although  outside  of  the  middle  Ant  valley,  mention  may  also  be  made  of 
Southrepps  Common,  located  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  tributaries  that  feed  the 
Ant.  This  again  is  a calcareous  valley  fen,  much  of  which  is  covered  by  dense  beds 
of  Phragmites.  However,  in  a central  sump  area  there  is  some  development  of  a 
Schoeno-Juncetum.  Much  of  the  area  is  dominated  by  Juncus  subnodulosus. 
Particularly  notable  is  the  presence  of  large  populations  of  Epipactis  palustris 
and,  to  a lesser  extent,  Gymnadenia  densiflora.  The  presence  of  this  latter  species, 
together  with  Centaurea  nigra , Festuca  ovina , Luzula  multiflora  and  Leon- 
todon  place  much  of  the  site  into  the  leontedonetosum  subassociation.  In  the 
very  centre  of  the  site  there  are  wet  flushes  with  Anagallis  tenella , Carex  lepi- 
docarpa , Eleocharis  quinqueflora , Pedicularis  palustris , Euphrasia  nemorosa  and 
Menyanthes  trifoliata.  These  also  support  a greater  range  of  bryophytes  includ- 
ing Drepanocladus  revolvens,  Bryum  pseudotriquetrum  and  Philonotis  calcarea. 
There  is  also  a very  small  amount  of  Carex  dioica. 

CAREX  CURTA — CAREX  ROSTRATA  COMMUNITY 

Characterising  species:  Carex  curta,  C.  rostrata,  C.  nigra,  Potentilla  palustris, 
Menyanthes  trifoliata. 

A poor  fen  community  developed  at  East  Ruston  Common  where  a tribu- 
tary of  the  Ant  has  cut  back  into  nutrient  poor,  decalcified  Norwich  brickearth. 
It  is  found  below  a seepage  zone  at  the  valley  margin. 

The  vegetation  is  quite  different  from  any  other  in  the  Ant  valley.  The  domi- 
nant sedge  is  Carex  rostrata  with  smaller  amounts  of  Carex  curta  and  C.  nigra. 
The  species  complement  includes : 

Agrostis  canina 
Betula  pubescens 
Carex  lasiocarpa 
Eriophorum  angustifolium 
Equisetum  fluviatile 
Holcus  lanatus 
Juncus  articulatus 
J.  effusus 

The  above  list  was  made  in  1972.  Currently  the  vegetation  appears  to  have 
been  subject  to  some  degree  of  desiccation  and,  particularly,  burning.  However, 
the  basic  community  seems  to  have  been  retained. 

Distribution:  Rare:  East  Ruston  Common.  A similar  community  occurs  in  a 
valley  fen  leading  down  to  Hickling  Broad.  Carex  curta  has  also  been  recorded 
from  the  margin  of  Sutton  Broad,  but  it  has  not  been  seen  there  in  this  survey. 

;:A 

Discussion 

It  is  unfortunate  that  there  is  but  little  documentation  of  the  former  char- 
acter of  the  Ant  valley  fens.  The  main  sources  from  which  information  can  be 


Menyanthes  trifoliata 
Molinia  caerulea 
Potentilla  palustris 
Salix  cinerea 
Aulacomnium  palustre 
Polytrichum  commune 
Sphagnum  squarrosum 


182 


obtained  are  Pallis  (1911)  who,  in  addition  to  her  general  account  of  the  swamp 
and  fen  vegetation  of  Broadland,  has  also  provided  a detailed  transect  across  part 
of  Barton  Broad,  and  from  Nicholson  (1909)  who  gave  some  account  of  the  Ant 
valley  in  the  Sutton  Broad  area.  Some  comments  concerning  the  East  Ruston 
area  are  made  by  Bird  (1909). 

It  is  evident  from  these  accounts  that,  during  the  present  century,  some 
changes  have  occurred  in  the  character  of  the  vegetation,  at  least  in  some  areas. 
Generalising,  these  have  been: 

(i)  reed  die-back  and  the  loss  of  reedswamp,  especially  open  reedswamp. 

(ii)  overgrowth  of  the  mowing  marshes  resulting  from  the  reduction  of 
active  management  and  from  changes  in  the  character  of  the  management — 
such  as  virtual  cessation  of  annual  summer  mowing  for  litter.  This  has  led  to  the 
disappearance  of  a number  of  the  lower-growing  herbs  from  their  former  sites. 

(iii)  the  on-going  terrestrialisation  of  old  peat  workings.  This  has  been 
important,  not  only  in  the  broads  that  have  closed  over,  but  also  in  smaller 
diggings.  It  has  resulted  in  considerable  changes  in  the  character  of  the  substra- 
tum. For  example,  Clarke  (1915)  writes  that  “ . . . parts  of  East  Ruston  . . . con- 
sist of  a mass  of  vegetation  floating  on  an  unknown  depth  of  water  and  mud.  The 
floating  carpet  yields  at  every  step  ...”  No  parts  of  the  fens  at  East  Ruston  ap- 
pear to  have  this  character  now.  Nor  do  they  continue  to  support  their  former 
populations  of  Liparis  loeselii. 

The  Broadland  plants  that  are  of  particular  interest  fall  into  two  basic 
categories.  First,  those  which  are  abundant  in  this  region  but  absent  or  rare 
elsewhere  in  Britain.  Examples  are  Calamagrostis  canescens,  Peucedanum 
palustre  and  Thelypteris  palustris.  Second,  those  which  are  rare  within  Broadland. 
These  are  not  necessarily  generally  rare  within  Britain.  It  is  this  latter  category 
of  rarities  which  have  tended  to  become  increasingly  less  common  in  Broadland 
during  the  last  fifty  or  so  years.  They  include: 

Anagallis  tenella  Hypericum  elodes 

Carex  limosa  Lathyrus  palustris 

Dactylorhiza  traunsteineri  Liparis  loeselii 

Drosera  anglica  Parnassia  palustris 

D.  rotundifolia  Pyrola  rotundifolia 

Dryopteris  cristata  ssp.  rotundifolia 

Many  of  these  have  their  main  remaining  localities  within  the  Ant  valley. 
An  important  exception  is  Lathyrus  palustris  which  is  largely  absent,  growing 
only  in  a few  areas  towards  the  southern  end.  Its  Broadland  distribution  is  curious. 
The  main  strongholds  are  several  sites  in  the  Yare  valley  and  Upton  Broad.  It  is 
not  restricted  to,  or  characteristic  of,  any  one  community  and  is  absent  from  large 
areas  of  vegetation  that  superficially  appear  suitable. 

A feature  of  the  other  species  in  the  list  is  that  they  tend  to  be  specific  to  a 
particular  community.  On  the  (unsupported)  assumption  that  they  previously 
occupied  the  same  sort  of  community  as  they  do  now,  it  is  reasonable  to  suggest 
that  changes  in  their  abundance  may  reflect  changes  in  the  character  of  the 
vegetation. 

The  species  fall  into  two  basic  groups — those  typical  of  the  Betulo-Dryop- 
teridetum  cristatae  and  those  of  the  Peucedano-Phragmitetum  caricetosum. 


183 


Species  of  the  Betulo-Dryopteridetum  are  Dryopteris  cristata,  Drosera 
rotundifolia  and  Pyrola  rotundifolia.  D.  cristata  is  of  particular  interest.  Pre- 
viously more  widespread  (Bennett,  1904)  it  is  now  mainly  restricted  to  Norfolk 
where  it  is  given  as  “rare  and  decreasing”  by  Petch  & Swann  (1968).  In  fact,  the 
present  survey  has  shown  it  to  be  tolerably  abundant  in  the  Ant  fens.  It  lends  no 
support  to  the  suggestion  that  it  is  disappearing  through  hybridisation  with 
D.  carthusiana.  Notwithstanding  the  sterility  of  the  spores  of  D.  x uliginosa, 
hybrid  plants  have  also  been  found  much  less  frequently  than  pure  D.  cristata. 
Unfortunately,  it  is  difficult  to  know  to  what  extent  the  new  records  for  the  plant 
in  the  Ant  valley  represent  genuinely  new  sites  and  to  what  extent  they  are  unre- 
ported old  localities.  It  is  possible  that  the  plant  is  expanding  its  range  within 
the  valley. 

Pyrola  rotundifolia  ssp  rotundifolia  is  known  from  several  scattered  localities, 
where  it  is  characteristic  of  the  immature  edge  of  birch  or  willow  carr.  Although 
not  specific  to  the  Betulo-Dryopteridetum , it  is  found  most  often  in  this  com- 
munity. Elsewhere  it  also  tends  to  be  associated  with  Sphagnum  suggesting  a 
preference  for  more  acidic  conditions.  Sutton  is  the  only  Ant  locality  given  for 
the  plant  by  Petch  & Swann  (1968).  It  is  currently  known  also  from  other  areas, 
again  suggesting  that  there  may  have  been  little,  if  any,  contraction  of  its  range. 

Drosera  rotundifolia  has  long  been  known  as  an  acidophilic  species  of  the 
Ant  marshes.  Nicholson  (1909)  cites  it  as  a characteristic  though  not  abundant 
plant;  Pallis  (1911)  shows  it  as  an  inhabitant  of  a mossy  “island”  near  Barton 
Broad;  Ellis  (1965)  reports  an  early  observation  of  F.  W.  Oliver  of  large  numbers 
of  white  butterflies  captured  by  the  plant.  All  of  these  records  seem  to  have 
referred  to  the  Barton  Broad  area,  where  currently  at  least  4 populations  are 
known,  all  in  Betulo-Dryopteridetum  communities.  This  apparent  fidelity  is 
probably  because  nearly  all  of  the  Sphagnum  areas  on  which  the  plant  grows 
support  the  Betulo-Dryopteridetum.  This  has  probably  not  always  been  the  case. 
The  plant  at  present  is  able  to  persist  in  immature  carr,  but  it  is  best  developed  in 
more  open  areas.  The  largest  population,  where  it  grows  with  many  young  fronds 
of  D.  cristata , is  on  a regularly  mown  path. 

Another  species  which  could  conceivably  occur  within  the  Betulo-Dryop- 
teridetum is  Vaccinium  oxycoccos,  which  has  an  early  record  from  Horning 
(referring  to  the  Ant  valley  ?),  but  careful  searching  has  failed  to  locate  it. 

Much  more  needs  to  be  known  about  the  Betulo-Dryopteridetum , parti- 
cularly with  reference  to  its  ontogenesis.  It  is  at  least  possible  that  it  represents 
an  expanding  community  within  the  Ant  valley. 

In  contrast,  the  most  species-rich  form  of  herbaceous  fen  of  the  valley,  the 
Peucedano-Phragmitetum  caricetosum , is  almost  certainly  a community  declining 
in  extent.  The  other  rare  species  listed  are  almost  exclusively  restricted  to  this 
community  and  all  show  diminishing  distributions. 

The  most  notable  is  Liparis  loeselii.  This  still  occurs  in  some  abundance 
in  parts  of  the  Ant  valley,  possibly  the  only  remaining  populations  of  the  fenland 
form  of  the  orchid  within  Britain.  At  least  6 populations  are  known,  some  ex- 
tensive, though  apparently  subject  to  considerable  flux.  In  1973,  one  site  suppor- 
ted at  least  150  plants.  In  subsequent  years  it  appears  to  have  been  much  reduced. 
The  orchid  grows  on  mossy  cushions  and  slightly  elevated  areas  which  are  free 
from  summer  flooding.  In  sites  which  are  regularly  mown,  the  plants  are  subject 
to  trampling  damage  although  the  populations  continue  to  thrive. 


184 


The  plant  was  formerly  more  widespread  in  the  Ant  valley,  as  indeed  in 
Broadland  generally.  An  early  record  is  from  East  Ruston  (Bird,  1909)  and  a 
more  recent  one  from  Dilham  Broad  Fen,  where  apparently  it  was  present  in 
some  quantity.  Obviously,  it  is  not  possible,  in  the  absence  of  records,  to  know 
the  precise  character  of  the  communities  in  which  it  occurred.  However,  at 
Dilham,  the  main  area  in  which  it  grew  is  now  occupied  by  a Peucedano-Phrag- 
mitetum  caricetosum  typical  var.  community — a more  species-poor,  more 
overgrown  and  (possibly)  drier  version  of  the  closely  related  Menyanthes  var. 
from  which  all  the  current  records  of  Liparis  have  been  made.  It  is  at  least  possible 
that  the  Menyanthes  var.  once  occupied  the  marginal  band  of  the  fen,  having 
been  subsequently  lost  upon  overgrowth  of  the  vegetation  and  drying  out  of 
the  substratum.  Similarly  another  former  Liparis  site  in  Sutton  High  Fen,  which 
from  records  of  Ellis  (unpublished)  almost  certainly  belonged  to  the  caricetosum 
Menyanthes  var.,  has  become  overgrown  and  impoverished. 

Of  the  other  species  Anagallis  tenella , Drosera  anglica  and  Parnassia 
palustris  are  all  less  abundant  than  formerly  (Ellis,  1965,  Nicholson  1909  and 
flora  records).  Hypericum  elodes  was  given  by  Pallis  (1911)  as  an  occasional 
component  of  the  fen  association  in  all  the  Broadland  river  valleys.  It  is  certainly 
not  so  now.  In  the  present  survey  it  has  been  found  in  two  places  in  Broadland, 
one  of  them  (near  Barton  Broad)  in  the  Peucedano-Phragmitetum  caricetosum. 
(The  other  is  from  an  acidic  valley  fen  in  the  Thurne  valley).  No  comment  can 
be  made  on  Dactylorhiza  traunsteineri  as  this  species  was  only  recognised  in  1953. 

Carex  limosa,  phytogeographically  a northern  species,  has  never  been 
abundant  in  Broadland  (at  least  in  recent  times).  It  is  characteristically  a species 
of  wet  “mud-bottom”  communities  and  this  is  applicable  to  the  two  current  sites. 
Interestingly,  in  one  of  these  it  is  associated  with  the  northern  moss  Cinclidium 
stygium. 

As  yet  there  is  little  information  available  concerning  the  factors  that  are 
instrumental  in  determining  the  species  composition  and  richness  of  the  Peuce- 
dano-Phragmitetum caricetosum  stands.  Preliminary  investigations  suggest  that 
it  is  partly  related  to  the  absence  of  a strong  dominant  species  and  the  develop- 
ment of  a lower-growing,  more  mixed  fen  vegetation.  This  appears  to  be  a result 
of  the  relatively  low  nutrient  status  of  the  substratum  and  its  inability  to  sustain 
a vigorously  growing  fen  community,  reinforced  by  the  periodic  removal  of 
biomass  by  the  management  regime.  Evidence  for  this  is  provided  by  the  location 
of  the  community.  In  most  of  its  sites — with  one  important  exception — the 
caricetosum  is  situated  as  a narrow  band  along  the  fen  margins,  near  to  the  up- 
land and  well  away  from  the  irrigating  river,  from  which  it  is  separated  by  more 
vigorous,  less  species-rich  communities.  It  is  thus  situated  where  the  influence  of 
the  nutrient  rich  river  water  is  least,  possibly  to  some  extent  protected  from  it  by 
the  “screen”  of  separating  vegetation.  Evidence  supporting  this  suggestion  has 
been  provided  by  productivity  and  nutrient  availability  studies  which  have 
demonstrated  a declining  gradient  of  productivity  and  nutrients  (mainly  N and  P) 
across  the  fen  towards  the  landward  margin.  This  work  is  only  in  its  initial  stages 
and  the  results  will  be  published  elsewhere  later. 

Related  to  this  is  the  extent  to  which  an  increase  in  the  nutrient  status  of  the 
River  Ant,  which  has  probably  been  an  important  factor  in  the  decline  of  the 
macrophytes  of  the  waterways  (Mason  & Bryant,  1975),  has  affected  the  compo- 
sition of  the  fen  vegetation.  It  is  likely  that  the  areas  of  rather  species-poor,  tall 


185 


and  vigorous  fen  which  are  found  near  to  the  Ant  in  places  may  have  developed 
in  response  to  higher  nutrient  loadings  associated  with  the  proximity  of  the  river. 
But  as  yet  there  is  little  reason  to  suggest  that  eutrophication  per  se  has  had  a 
significant  affect  upon  the  composition  of  large  areas  of  fen  vegetation. 

Indeed,  there  is  some  evidence  to  suggest  that  the  opposite  process  of  oligo- 
trophication  may  operate  in  some  areas,  notably  the  Catfield  complex.  This  is 
a large  fen  area  (approximately  130  hectares)  and  the  central  areas  in  particular 
are  well  removed  from  the  R.  Ant  and  from  any  marginal  input  of  agricultural 
runoff.  Although  there  are  dykes,  in  some  parts  at  least  these  are  separated  from 
the  Ant  by  a sluice.  As  much  of  the  area  is  mowing  marsh,  it  seems  possible  that 
nutrient  depletion  could  occur.  Such  a hypothesis  could  provide  an  explanation 
for  some  of  the  areas  of  impoverished  fen  in  which  Phragmites  is  only  feebly 
developed  on  the  basis  that  the  nutrient  loadings  (especially  N and  P)  are  insuffi- 
cient to  sustain  a regularly  mown  reed  bed.  Nutrient  deficiency  might  also 
account,  in  part  at  least,  for  the  small  amount  of  macrophytic  vegetation  found 
in  some  of  the  internal  pools  and  dykes  of  the  system.  Preliminary  measurements 
indicate  that  these  have  low  N and  P loadings. 

Related  to  this  is  the  possibility  that  some  of  this  area  is  subject  to  the  process 
of  ombrotrophication  (i.e.  the  development  of  acid  bog  peat  on  top  of  fen  peat). 
This  seems  to  represent  the  natural  ontogenesis  of  mires  (Weber,  1908) — at  least 
in  suitable  climatic  regions  (Bellamy,  1972),  but  the  extent  to  which  it  is  likely  to 
occur  in  the  Broadland  fens  is  uncertain.  The  hydroserai  scheme  of  Tansley  (1939) 
for  sub-oceanic  climates,  which  has  been  widely  accepted,  was  towards  the 
development  of  alder  forest  and  then,  possibly,  the  establishment  of  mixed  deci- 
duous woodland.  Yet  it  is  known  (Godwin  & Clifford,  1938)  that  ombrotrophic 
mires  formed  in  the  nearby  area  of  the  Fens  and  there  seems  little  reason  to 
suppose  that  the  same  would  not  be  possible  in  those  areas  of  the  Broadland 
valleys  not  subject  to  periodic  inundation.  Certainly,  ombrotrophic  nuclei  of 
Sphagna  occur.  The  question  is  whether  these  are  localised  features  of  particular 
habitat  situations  or  the  basis  for  more  extensive  acidophilic  mire  development. 
Certainly,  the  acidophilic  nuclei  in  the  Catfield  fens,  the  areas  dominated  by 
Sphagnum  and  Betula  peripheral  to  the  rich  fen,  have  every  suggestion  of  inci- 
pient ombrotrophic  mire,  possibly  raised  bog  or,  at  the  very  least,  acidophilous 
Sphagnum-birch  forest.  Indeed  it  is  not  impossible  that  certain  of  the  areas  (those 
on  slightly  raised  peat)  could  represent  vestiges  of  a former,  more  extensive  cover 
of  acidic  peat  which  was  largely  removed  by  the  peat  digging  of  the  nineteenth 
century  (or  earlier). 

In  conclusion,  it  is  evident  that  much  more  information  is  required  concern- 
ing the  factors  and  processes  determining  the  composition  of  the  vegetation 
within  the  middle  Ant  valley,  certainly  from  the  viewpoint  of  devising  appro- 
priate management  strategies  for  the  wetland  communities  of  primary  conserva- 
tional  interest.  It  is  hoped  that  the  classification  presented  here  provides  some 
basis  upon  which  this  can  be  done,  as  well  as  emphasising  its  importance. 

References 

Bellamy,  D.  J.  1972.  Templates  of  peat  formation.  Proc.  4th  Int.  Peat  Cong.,  Helsinki. 

7-18 

Bennett,  A.  1904.  On  Car  ex  paradoxa  and  Lastrea  cristata  in  Britain.  Trans.  Norf. 

Nor.  N.  Soc.  7,  695-700. 


186 


Bird,  M.  C.  H.  1909.  The  rural  economy,  sport  and  natural  history  of  East  Ruston 
Common.  Trans.  Norf.  Nor.  N.  Soc.  8 , 631-666. 

Clarke,  W.  G.  1915.  The  natural  history  of  Norfolk  Commons.  Trans.  Norf.  Nor. 
N.  Soc.  10,  194-318. 

Ellis,  E.  A.  1965.  The  Broads.  Collins,  London. 

Godwin,  H.  & M.  H.  Clifford,  1938.  Studies  of  the  post-glacial  history  of  British 
vegetation.  I.  Origin  and  stratigraphy  of  fenland  deposits  near  Woodwalton,  Hunts. 
II.  Origin  and  stratigraphy  of  deposits  in  southern  Fenland.  Phil.  Trans,  roy.  Soc., 
Lond.  229,  323-406. 

Goode,  D.,  1977.  Peatlands.  In  A Nature  Conservation  Review.  Ed.  D.  A.  Ratcliffe. 
Cambridge  University  Press,  London. 

Jennings,  J.  N.,  1952.  The  Origin  of  the  Broads.  Roy.  Geog.  Soc.  Lond.  Res.  Mem.  2. 
Klotzli,  G.,  1970.  Eichen,  Edellaub,  und  Bruch walden  der  Britischen  Inseln.  Schweiz 
Zeitschr.  Forstwesen  121,  329-366. 

Lambert,  J.  M.,  1951.  Alluvial  stratigraphy  and  vegetational  succession  in  the  region  of 
the  Bure  valley  broads.  III.  Classification,  status  and  distribution  of  communities. 
J.  Ecol.  39,  149-170. 

Lambert,  J.  M.,  1965.  The  vegetation  of  Broadland.  In  Ellis  (1965)  The  Broads. 
Lambert,  J.  M.,  J.  N.  Jennings,  C.  T.  Smith,  C.  Green  & J.  N.  Hutchinson,  1960.  The 
making  of  the  broads.  Roy.  Geog.  Soc.  Lond.  Res.  Mem.  3. 

Mason,  C.  F.  & R.  J.  Bryant,  1975.  Changes  in  the  ecology  of  the  Norfolk  Broads. 
Freshwat.  Biol.  4,  257-270. 

Nicholson,  W.  A.,  1909.  A preliminary  scketch  of  the  bionomical  botany  of  Sutton 
and  the  Ant  district.  Trans.  Norf.  Nor.  N.  Soc.  8,  265-289. 

Pallis,  M.  A.,  1911.  The  river  valleys  of  east  Norfolk:  their  aquatic  and  fen  formations. 
In  Types  of  British  Vegetation.  Ed.  A.  G.  Tansley.  Cambridge  University  Press, 
Cambridge. 

Petch,  C.  P.  & E.  L.  Swann,  1968.  Flora  of  Norfolk.  Jarrold,  Norwich. 

Tansley,  A.  G.,  1939.  The  British  Islands  and  their  vegetation.  Cambridge  University 
Press,  Cambridge. 

Weber,  C.  A.,  1908.  Aufbau  und  Vegetation  der  Moore  Norddeutschlands.  Englers 
Bot.  Jahrb.  90. 

Westhoff,  V.  & E.  Van  der  Maarel,  1973.  The  Braun-Blanquet  approach.  In  Handbook 
of  vegetation  science.  Part  V.  Ordination  and  Classification  of  communities.  Ed. 
R.  H.  Whittaker.  Junk,  Den  Haag. 

Wheeler,  B.  D.,  1975.  Phytosociological  studies  on  rich  fen  systems  in  England  and  Wales. 
Ph.D.  thesis,  University  of  Durham. 

Williams,  W.  T.,  J.M.  Lambert  & G.  N.  Lance,  1966.  Multivariate  methods  in  plan 
ecology.  V.  Similarity  analysis  and  Information  analysis.  J.  Ecol.  54,  427-445. 

Acknowledgements 

Thanks  are  extended  to  all  who  assisted  in  this  project.  Particular  thanks  go  to  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  E.  A.  Ellis  for  continued  help  and  hospitality;  to  the  many  landowners  who  gave 
free  access  to  their  marshes;  to  K.  Giller  and  S.  Wilson  who  assisted  in  some  of  the  field 
survey;  and  to  Miss  D.  Wright  for  drawing  the  text  figures.  Part  of  the  survey  was 
performed  during  the  tenure  of  a Durham  University  Research  Studentship  and  the 
supervision  of  Dr.  D.  J.  Bellamy  is  gratefully  acknowledged. 


187 


ELODEA  CANADENSIS  AND  ELODEA  NUTTALLII 


By  E.  L.  Swann 

Introduction 

Search  of  the  literature  has  shown  innumerable  examples  of  the  influx  of 
aliens  into  the  British  flora  but  references  to  aquatic  macrophytes  are  relatively 
few  in  number.  The  present  paper  traces  the  history  and  distribution  of  Elodea 
canadensis  Michx.,  Canadian  Pondweed,  and  E.  nuttallii  (Planch.)  St.  John, 
an  American  Pondweed.  Evidence  is  given  that  E.  canadensis , at  one  time  both 
widespread  and  abundant,  is  diminishing  in  both  frequency  and  vigour  and,  on 
a long-term  view,  is  likely  to  be  superseded  by  the  closely-allied  E.  nuttallii. 
Some  biological  and  ecological  data  are  given  and  certain  taxonomic  misconcep- 
tions receive  comment. 

Elodea  canadensis  Michx. 

The  history  of  this  species  in  Britain  is  well-documented  and  records  go 
back  for  one  hundred  and  forty  years.  In  her  pioneer  work  Ann  Arbor  (1920) 
writes  “Exactly  when  and  how  it  was  introduced  from  America  remains  a mys- 
tery. Its  first  appearance  is  in  Ireland  in  1836”.  This  provides  a clue  as  we  now 
know  that  birds  fly  across  from  America  and  Canada  and  their  first  landfall 
would  be  in  Ireland.  In  America  this  species  is  fertile  and  in  an  account  of  their 
work  V.  W.  Proctor  and  V.  L.  De  Vlaming  (1967)  found  that  “viable  seeds  of 
many  aquatic  plants  are  carried  in  the  digestive  tracts  of  killdeer  (quail)  and  mal- 
lard ducks  for  up  to  48  hours,  and  in  a few  cases  after  more  than  100  hours”. 
L.  van  der  Pijl  (1972)  quotes  the  work  of  Fredikson  who  found  that  snow  bunt- 
ings “of  the  non-Icelandic  race  were  caught  on  the  new  volcanic  island  of  Sturtsey 
off  Iceland.  Their  gizzards  contained  viable  seeds  picked  up  in  the  British  Islands.” 
There  would  therefore  appear  to  be  exceptions  to  the  long-held  view  of  ornitho- 
logists that  migrating  birds  empty  the  digestive  tract  before  departing. 

Norfolk  provides  further  evidence  of  bird-carriage  in  Alisma  gramineum 
subsp.  gramineum , the  Grass-leaved  Water-plaintain,  found  by  R.  P.  Libbey 
in  Langmere  in  1972.  It  is  considered  that  migrating  wild  fowl  from  Denmark 
and  the  Baltic  States  where  this  taxon  is  native  carry  the  seeds  in  their  digestive 
tracts  and  the  hard-coated  pericarps  resist  digestive  action  thereby  ensuring 
their  ultimate  germination  despite  the  long  flight  of  some  600/700  miles. 

It  is  more  puzzling  to  explain  why  this  species,  fertile  in  America,  should 
only  have  female  flowers  in  Britain  apart  from  a very  rare  record  of  male  flowers 
near  Edinburgh  in  1879.  Since  British  plants  are  unable  to  set  seed  they  must  all 
have  reproduced  vegetatively  from  the  earliest  introductions ; like  other  aquatic 
macrophytes  Elodea  exhibits  excessive  vegetative  activity  which  may  act  as  a 
deterrent  to  sexual  reproduction. 

Biology  and  Ecology 

Because  its  leaves  are  only  two  cells  thick  it  is  a very  brittle  plant  and  any 
piece  broken  off  quickly  roots.  It  is  this  adaptability  and  the  small  serratures 


188 


along  the  leaf  margins  providing  further  adherence  which  account  for  its  wide 
distribution  when  carried  by  wild  fowl  about  their  bodies.  Clement  Reid  (1894) 
studied  the  flora  of  isolated  ponds  and  found  Elodea  in  three  dewponds  on  the 
Sussex  Downs  concluding  that  “it  has  probably  been  transported  twisted  round 
the  leg  of  a bird”.  In  winter  it  produces  cauline  branches  which  have  crowded 
leaves,  fresh  green  in  colour,  and  incipient  roots  which  break  off  and  ensure 
further  reproduction. 

This  species  occurs  in  the  fresh  water  of  lakes,  ponds,  shallow  rivers,  and 
dykes,  favouring  habitats  poor  in  nutritive  salts.  This  is  possibly  the  reason  for 
its  decline  since  many  of  its  habitats  have  become  highly  eutrophic  and  polluted 
because  of  seepage  and  drainage  from  arable  land  heavily  fertilised  with  chemi- 
cals, but  although  this  has  most  likely  accelerated  its  decline  it  was  becoming  less 
frequent  before  the  widespread  use  of  chemical  fertilisers.  It  is  tempting  to 
suggest  that  in  the  course  of  its  one  hundred  and  forty  years  it  has  passed  through 
the  natural  sequence  of  being  a pioneer,  building  up  to  maturity  and  so  to  senes- 
cence but  there  is  no  evidence  for  this. 

Vegetative  reproductions  by  ramets  and  winter  buds  ensure  plants  that  are 
genetically  identical  with  one  another  so  that  little  variation  can  be  expected. 
However,  during  the  long  hot  summer  of  1976  plants  in  a static  water  tank  in 
Reffley  Wood,  near  King’s  Lynn,  were  kept  under  observation.  This  outdoors 
laboratory  enabled  comparisons  to  be  made  between  the  rooting  and  submerged 
plants  with  those  free-floating  on  the  surface.  In  the  short  space  of  50  days  the 
length  of  the  rooted  plants  reached  48cm.,  as  against  12cm.  of  the  floating  ones; 
leaf  lengths  also  showed  a remarkable  increase  of  25  % over  the  normal  so  that 
the  whole  plant  with  leaves  as  long  as  12.5mm.  the  resemblance  to  E.  nuttallii 
was  striking;  the  leaves  of  the  floating  plant  did  not  exceed  7.5mm.  With  con- 
sistently high  temperatures  by  night  and  day  ranging  from  22.2  °C  to  30  °C  the 
heat  together  with  the  excess  of  carbon  dioxide  account  for  the  abnormal 
growth. 

Distribution 


The  Atlas  of  the  British  Flora  (1962)  shows  it  to  be  widespread  throughout 
the  British  Isles  but  thinning  out  northwards.  All  evidence  points  to  it  being 
abundant  towards  the  end  of  last  century  when  it  reached  its  climax  and  became 
a considerable  nuisance  to  “navigation,  drainage,  boating,  swimmers  and  angl- 
ers” (Marshall,  1852).  There  is  now  no  doubt  that  is  is  declining  and  a survey  of 
regional  Floras  bears  testimony  thus : 


Flora  of  Bristol  First  record  1856  Diminished  1912 


Flora  of  Cambridgeshire 
Flora  of  Gloucestershire 
Flora  of  Surrey 
Flora  of  Norfolk 


1847 

99 

1964 

1836 

99 

1948 

1852 

99 

1976 

1866 

99 

1976 

Elodea  nuttallii  (Planch.)  St.  John 


The  first  British  record  appears  to  be  in  1972  when  specimens  were  sent 
from  Oxford;  in  1974  J.  H.  Chandler  carried  out  intensive  work  in  Huntingdon- 
shire, the  Soke  of  Peterborough,  S.  Lincolnshire  and  Cambridgeshire.  Recently 
it  has  taken  on  an  explosive  increase  both  in  north-west  Europe  and  has  been 
recorded  in  other  English  counties  but  so  far  has  not  been  found  in  Norfolk. 


189 


Mr.  Chandler  finds  it  occurring  in  shallow  water  on  muddy  bottoms  in  slow- 
flowing  drains.  This  suggests  that,  unlike  the  commoner  species,  it  favours  or 
can  tolerate  eutrophic  conditions  and  is,  therefore,  likely  to  take  the  place  of 

E.  canadensis  in  the  long  run.  Already  in  Belgium  it  is  tending  to  supplant 
E.  canadensis . It  has  been  suggested  that  it  owes  its  introduction  to  aquarists 
throwing  out  superfluous  plants.  Like  E.  canadensis  it  is  equally  well  adapted  for 
bird-carriage,  probably  better  as  the  uppermost  leaves  adhere  together  when 
taken  from  the  water;  it  may  also  be  spread  by  man  when  machines  are  used  for 
dredging  by  water  authorities. 


Taxonomy 

There  have  been  some  misconceptions  in  the  reference  books  creating 
difficulties  in  naming  and  recording.  Tutin  (1952)  states  “Flowers  not  recorded 
in  Britain”  but  flowering  plants  have  been  seen  in  Cambridgeshire,  Oxfordshire 
and  Sussex.  Although  leaf-length  is  given  as  “about  10mm.”  (l.c.)  it  may  reach 
as  long  as  17mm.  It  should  not  be  equated  with  Hydrilla  spp.,  and  this  is  repeated 
in  Stella  Ross-Craig  (1971)  where  plate  2 is  given  as  E.  nuttallii  and  called  the 
Esthwaite  Water  Pondweed.  In  his  monograph  St.  John  (1962)  placed  E.  nuttallii 
as  the  only  member  of  the  Section  Natator  with  “Staminate  flowers  sessile,  at 
anthesis  liberated,  floating  to  and  expanding  on  the  surface  of  the  water”.  So 
far  male  flowers  have  not  been  seen  in  Britain  but  the  peculiar  habit  of  breaking 
loose  at  maturity  may  well  have  escaped  notice. 

To  help  clarify  the  confusion  the  following  key  gives  the  salient  characters 
based  mainly  on  field-work : 

Leaves  more  or  less  rigid,  usually  3 in  a whorl,  5-12  (-15)mm.  long,  1.5  - 2.5 
(-3.2)mm  wide,  generally  obtuse  at  the  apex,  margins  serrulate  for  about  two- 
thirds  from  apex;  flowers  (female)  floating  on  long  axes,  5mm.  diam . . . E. 
canadensis. 

Leaves  flaccid,  loosely  divergent,  uppermost  clustered  together  when  taken 
from  the  water,  3-4  in  a whorl,  8-1 7mm.  long,  1.0  - 2.5mm.  wide,  linear-lanceolate 
or  acuminate,  margins  similarly  serrulate;  flowers  (female)  floating  on  long  axes, 
c.  3.0mm.  diam. . . . E.  nuttallii. 

Material  used 

E.  canadensis. 

A.  Reffley  Wood,  King’s  Lynn,  static  water  tank,  12.7.1976. 

Grid  53/657.221. 

B.  Same  station.  31.8.1976. 

C.  Wormegay  Fen.  Deep  water  form.  25.8.1977.  Grid  53/674.116. 

D.  Black  Drain,  Shouldham  Warren.  20.7.1976.  Grid  53/673114. 

E.  Pentney  Drove,  Pentney.  Shallow  Dyke.  3.11.1976.  Grid  53/692.113. 

F.  Forty  Foot  Drain,  Manea,  Cambs.  Shallow  counter  drain.  10.8.1976. 

E.  nuttallii 

G.  Thorney,  River  Thomey,  Cambs.  31.7.1976.  53/275.997. 

H.  Same  locality.  31.7.1976.  53/275.995. 

J.  As  above.  31.7.1976.  53/275.995. 

K.  Peakirk,  Northants.  Sent  by  Mr.  Chandler.  53/173066. 


190 


LEAF  LENGTH 

LEAF  WIDTH 

Mean 

A. 

5.0  - 7.5mm 

2.0  - 2.5mm 

6.4  x 2.2mm 

B. 

7.0  - 12.5 

2.0  - 2.3 

10.5x2.1 

C. 

11.0-  15.0 

2.0  - 3.0 

13.0x2.7 

D. 

6.0-  7.5 

1.5  - 2.0 

6.8  x 1.7 

E. 

7.5-  9.0 

2.3  - 2.8 

8.4  x 2.5 

F. 

5.5  - 10.0 

2.0  - 3.2 

8.3  x 2.6 

G. 

10.0  - 14.0 

2.0  - 2.5 

11.7x2.21 

H. 

8.0-  13.0 

1.5  - 2.0 

11.0  x 1.71 

J. 

9.0  - 17.0 

1.5  - 2.0 

12.1  x 1.75 

K. 

10.0  - 13.0 

1.2  - 2.6 

11.2  x 1.45 

Biometrial  analyses 

LEAF  LENGTH 

LEAF  WIDTH 

E.  canadensis 

E.  nuttallii 

E.  canadensis 

E.  nuttallii 

1 at 

5.0mm 

— 

— at 

1.2mm 

1 at 

1.2mm 

2 

5.5 

— 

— 

1.2 

2 

1.3 

1 

5.7 

— 

2 

1.5 

12 

1.5 

4 

6.0 

— 

3 

1.6 

4 

1.6 

5 

6.5 

— 

1 

1.7 

3 

1.9 

6 

7.0 

— 

2 

1.8 

3 

1.8 

7 

7.5 

— 

— 

1.9 

4 

1.9 

1 

7.8 

— 

12 

2.0 

4 

2.0 

1 

7.9 

— 

7 

2.2 

2 

2.2 

2 

8.0 

2 at 

8.0mm 

3 

2.3 

— 

1 

8.3 

— 

5 

2.4 

4 

2.4 

2 

8.5 

— 

8 

2.5 

— 

1 

8.3 

— 

2 

2.7 

— 

2 

8.5 

— 

4 

2.8 

— 

7 

9.0 

3 

9.0 

3 

2.9 

1 

2.9 

4 

10.0 

8 

10.0 

5 

3.0 

1 

11.0 

2 

11.0 

1 

3.2 

1 

11.5 

1 

11.5 

6 

12.0 

14 

12.0 

2 

12.5 

— 

3 

13.0 

8 

13.0 

1 

14.0 

— 

2 

15.0 

1 

15.0 

— 

17.0 

1 

17.0 

This  shows  there  is  considerable  overlap  in  both  length  and  width. 


The  present  work  shows  a range 
According  to  Gray  (1950) 
According  to  St.  John  (1965) 
According  to  Tutin  (1952) 


E.  canadensis  E.  nuttallii 

5- 15  x 1.2-3. 5mm  8-17  x 1.5-3. 2mm 

6- 13  x 1-5  7-17x0.3-1.5 

7- 17  x 1-4  6-13  x 0.3-1. 5 

c.  10  x 3-4  c.  10  x 2 


191 


Acknowledgement 

The  author  is  much  indebted  to  Mr.  J.  H.  Chandler  of  Stamford  for  his 
assistance  in  the  field. 

References 

Arbor,  Agnes,  1920.  Water  Plants;  A Study  of  Aquatic  Angiosperms.  Cambridge. 
Fernald,  M.  L.,  1950.  Gray’s  Manual  of  Botany,  8th  ed.  New  York. 

Marshall,  W.,  1852.  Excessive  and  Noxious  Increase  of  Udora  Canadensis  ( Anacharis 
Alsinastrum).  Phytologist,  iv,  705-715. 

Pijl,  L van  der,  1972.  Principles  of  Dispersal  in  Higher  Plants.  2nd  ed.  Berlin. 

Proctor,  V.  M.,  1968.  Long-distance  Dispersal  of  Seeds  by  Retention  in  Digestive 
Tract  of  Birds.  Science,  160,  321-322. 

Reid,  Clement,  1894.  On  the  Natural  History  of  Isolated  Ponds.  (Nfk.  & Nch.  Nats. 
Soc.,  Trans.)  v.3,  272-286. 

Ross-Craig,  Stella,  1971.  Drawings  of  British  Plants,  XXVIII.  London. 

St.  John,  H.,  1962.  Monograph  of  the  Genus  Elodea  Part  1,  Research  Studies,  Washing- 
ton, 30,  2. 

St.  John,  H.,  1963.  Revision  of  South  American  species  of  Elodea.  Darwiniana,  12, 
639-652. 

St.  John  H.,  1965.  Monograph  of  the  Genus  Elodea,  pt.  4,  Rhodora,  67,  769. 

Tutin,  T.  G.,  1952,  1958.  Hydrocharitaceae  in  Flora  of  the  British  Isles  (1st  and  2nd  eds.) 


192 


WEATHER  1976/77 
By  T.  B.  Norgate 


1977 

January.  The  only  redeeming  feature  was  that  sunshine  was  nearly  25  % above 
normal — Mean  Temperature  was  marginally  the  lowest  for  January  in  Norfolk, 
since  1964.  North  America  had  its  coldest  January  with  the  most  snow  this 
century.  Rainfall  was  excessive  in  Norfolk,  especially  north  of  the  county  where 
over  125mm  was  recorded. 


February.  This  month  was  even  wetter  here  with  some  rain  to  measure  in  many 
parts  of  the  county  on  23  days — (double  the  average)  and  a total  over  150mm  at 
Rougham.  Though  it  was  the  dullest  February  for  9 years,  the  mean  temperature 
has  only  been  exceeded  once  in  the  last  10  years  (1974).  The  reduction  in  frosts 
was  contributed  by  the  additional  cloud  cover. 

March.  Though  rainfall  was  slightly  above  average,  it  was  the  driest  month  since 
last  July  when  the  drought  was  ending.  While  on  the  warm  side,  the  month  had 
almost  its  share  of  frosts.  It  turned  cold  during  the  last  10  days  with  a change 
of  wind  to  N.E.  bringing  showers  of  sleet  and  snow.  Until  them  there  had  been 
only  one  sunless  day. 


April.  Mean  temperature  was  only  marginally  warmer  than  March  but  more 
ground  frosts,  down  to  — 9°C  (10th).  Rainfall  was  mostly  a bit  below  average, 
especially  towards  the  south  of  the  county.  This  included  snow  showers  early  on 
which  lay  for  3-4  days,  but  did  not  delay  arrival  dates  of  cuckoos  and  swallows. 


May.  Despite  being  slightly  on  the  cool  side  it  was  the  sunniest  month  of  the 
year — only  2 days  having  none  to  measure,  and  best  May  since  1971.  A drought 
was  experienced  in  the  last  half  of  the  month,  but  the  total  was  nearly  up  to 
average  and  included  a little  snow  locally. 


June.  Thundery  showers  caused  a very  uneven  pattern  of  rainfall,  from  over  83mm 
at  Sandringham  down  to  10mm  at  Starston.  The  month  began  with  the  coldest 
day  since  April  19th,  down  to  2.5  °C  in  the  air  and  — .9°C  on  the  ground  and 
had  only  one  day  (13th)  reaching  24  °C  (75  °F)  compared  with  15  such  days  in 
June  1976.  Sunshine  was  only  70  % or  normal  though  there  were  only  5 completely 
sunless  days. 

July.  The  mean  temperature  was  not  far  short  of  the  average,  but  there  were  only 
6 days  above  24  °C,  almost  all  in  the  first  week  (21  days  in  1976).  Occasional 
thunderstorms  in  the  north  of  the  county  boosted  totals  to  nearly  24mm  rainfall 
— otherwise  it  would  have  been  the  driest  July  in  Norfolk  since  1955. 


193 


August.  Beccles  was  the  wettest  place  in  the  county  with  over  150mm.,  thunder- 
storms affecting  both  north  and  south  of  the  county  (8th  and  18th).  Mean  tem- 
peratures were  below  normal  for  the  fifth  consecutive  month  and  ended  with  a 
mean  below  15°C — though  there  were  only  4 sunless  days,  total  sunshine  was 
about  80%  of  average. 

September.  Rainfall  was  down  to  25  or  30  % of  normal,  nowhere  recording  more 
than  26.4mm — in  fact  the  average  for  119  places  in  the  county  was  only  19mm. 
The  month’s  total  was  the  lowest  for  the  year  in  central  Norfolk.  Sunshine  was 
only  70  % of  the  usual  amount,  but  with  only  5 sunless  days. 

October.  Despite  4 ground  frosts,  slightly  fewer  than  usual,  the  month  was  on 
the  warm  side  and  sunshine  hours  were  more  than  last  month  nearly  40%  up 
on  average.  There  were  several  early-morning  fogs  but  only  one  day  without  some 
sunshine. 

November.  This  is  normally  our  wettest  month  but  this  year  it  was  February, 
followed  by  Jan.,  Aug.  and  Dec.  in  that  order.  Sunshine  was  again  nearly  as 
high,  relatively,  as  October.  The  first  air  frosts  were  recorded  for  the  autumn  but 
none  were  severe,  the  mean  temperature  being  almost  exactly  normal. 

December.  Sunshine  was  on  the  high  side  for  the  third  month  in  succession,  a 
33  % excess  over  this  period.  The  mean  temperature  was  also  noticeably  high, 
particularly  around  Christmas.  Kew  Gardens  recorded  the  warmest  day  for 
over  100  years  on  Dec.  23rd. 


THE  YEAR  1977 

Treating  the  period  on  a seasonal  basis  (as  previously),  winter  and  summer 
were  both  cooler  than  average,  3.0  °C  and  3.8  ° and  14.5 0 and  15.4°  respectively, 
whereas  the  autumn  was  slightly  warmer,  10.7°  and  10.4°.  The  winter  figures 
do  not  strictly  tally  with  those  shown  for  the  full  year,  since  the  winter  season 
includes  the  cold  Dec.  of  1976  but  excludes  the  warm  Dec.  1977. 

Both  air  and  ground  frosts  were  20%  more  frequent  than  usual  in  winter 
and  about  30%  fewer  than  average  in  the  autumn. 

So  far  as  rainfall  is  concerned  winter  was  wetter  than  normal  by  50%  and 
the  wettest  since  1966  in  central  Norfolk.  Spring  was  about  average,  and  both 
summer  and  autumn  were  distinctly  on  the  dry  side,  about  33  % below  normal 
in  summer  and  50%  in  autumn  which  was  the  driest  since  1947.  It  is  not  surpris- 
ing, therefore,  that  the  water-table  in  most  parts  of  the  county  was  low  at  the 
end  of  the  year.  Rainfall  has  been  deceptive  since  there  were  more  “rain-days” 
that  usual,  but  amounts  were  mostly  on  the  small  side. 

1977  will  be  remembered  as  having  had  a poor  summer,  especially  compared 
with  1976.  We  had  hardly  any  hot  spells,  only  10  days  reaching  24  °C  (75  °F). 
6 of  which  were  in  July.  In  1976  the  figure  was  51  such  days,  the  average  since 
1968  being  17  days  that  can  be  called  a warm  summer’s  day. 


194 


NO.  OF  AIR  AND 

MEAN  TEMPERATURE  GROUND  FROSTS  SUNSHINE  HOUR 

°c  °c 


1977 

lOyr.  Avg. 

1977 

lOyr.  Avg. 

1977 

lOyr.  Avg. 

Jan. 

2.3 

4.0 

12/22 

8.1/15.3 

48.9 

40.2 

Feb. 

4.8 

3.5 

5/14 

10.0/18.7 

44.6 

64.7 

March 

6.7 

5.2 

5/13 

7.0/17.4 

108.1 

108.5 

April 

6.8 

7.4 

4/18 

3.2/12.9 

163.2 

154.6 

May 

10.2 

11.0 

0/6 

.5/5.3 

224.0 

189.2 

June 

12.3 

14.0 

1/1 

.1/.8 

147.4 

213.7 

July 

15.5 

16.0 

— 

— 

185.8 

193.8 

Aug. 

15.6 

16.2 

— 

— 

148.7 

182.5 

Sept. 

13.7 

13.6 

— 

0 1.6 

130.2 

147.5 

Oct. 

11.8 

10.7 

0/4 

.1/5.6 

137.3 

100.0 

Nov. 

6.7 

6.8 

4/9 

5.8/12.2 

87.1 

68.1 

Dec. 

6.0 

4.1 

0/9 

6.3/15.2 

62.5 

47.0 

Year 

9.4 

9.4 

31/96 

43.0/105.3 

1489.2 

1508.1 

195 


RAINFALL  MM’S 

DAYS  WITH  HAIL/SNOW 

DAYS  WITH  THUNDER 

1977 

lOyr.Avg. 

1977 

lOyr.Avg. 

1977 

lOyr.Avg. 

Jan. 

90.0 

58.7 

2/11 

.6/3.3 

— 

.1 

Feb. 

93.9 

45.0 

1/1 

.9/4.3 

— 

.2 

March 

43.6 

39.6 

5/2 

1. 2/3.7 

1 

.3 

April 

43.4 

40.1 

5/3 

2.2/1. 9 

2 

1.3 

May 

39.4 

45,5 

— 

.3/.0 

1 

2.7 

June 

14.9 

34.5 

— 

•4/.1 

1 

2.4 

July 

14.2 

56.9 

— 

— 

— 

2.6 

Aug. 

69.1 

54.1 

— 

— 

2 

2.8 

Sept. 

12.6 

56.6 

.2/0 

— 

2.2 

Oct. 

24.4 

51.6 

1/0 

1.5/0 

1 

.8 

Nov. 

50.7 

80.8 

3/2 

4.2/3. 7 

— 

.6 

Dec. 

63.7 

51.8 

0/1 

3. 3/4.4 

— 

.1 

Year 

559.9 

615.4 

17/20 

27.6/23.9 

8 

16.1 

196 


THE  RIVER  WENSUM  (1) 

By  Roy  Baker,  Robert  J.  Driscoll,  Peter  Lambley 

It  is  surprising  to  discover  that  Norfolk,  a county  renowned  for  its  many 
distinguished  naturalists  both  past  and  present,  lacks  detailed  surveys  of  most  of 
its  river  systems.  The  present  study  was  undertaken  to  follow  the  River  Wensum 
from  its  source  to  its  confluence  with  the  River  Yare  at  Norwich  and  to  survey 
both  the  flora  and  fauna  of  the  waterways  and  river  valley.  This  paper  describes 
the  river  from  above  Fakenham  downstream  as  far  as  Lyng  and  it  is  hoped  to 
complete  the  survey  of  the  lower  reaches  to  Norwich  in  1978.  In  addition  to  the 
study  of  the  natural  history  of  the  river  the  paper  attempts  to  examine  both  past 
and  present  management  and  to  identify  any  habitats  of  high  conservation  value. 

Previous  work  on  the  Wensum  and  its  tributaries  includes  the  entomological 
studies  of  E.  T.  Daniels  (1958)  and  K.  C.  Durrant  (1958).  The  Anglian  Water 
Authority  has  monitored  water  chemistry  at  selected  sites  for  several  years  and 
has  recently  started  to  sample  the  aquatic  invertebrate  fauna.  The  A.W.A.  data 
are  not  included  in  this  paper. 

Name 

The  Wensum  derives  its  name  from  the  Old  English  adjective  ‘Waendum’ 
meaning  wending  or  winding.  The  form  of  the  word  has  undergone  many 
changes  over  the  centuries  from  Wensom  (1096),  Wensun  (1250),  Wenson 
(1461),  Wensome  (1556),  Wantsume  (1557),  Wentsum  (1586),  Windser  (1793) 
to  Wensum  of  present  day  usage.  Rudd  (1943)  in  his  Presidential  address  to  the 
Norfolk  and  Norwich  Naturalists’  Society  argued  that  above  Norwich  the  larger 
Wensum  should  not  be  considered  as  a tributary  of  the  smaller  Yare,  and  that 
the  whole  river  should  be  renamed  as  far  as  Breydon.  In  support  of  this  Rudd 
quoted  from  a Charter  of  Edward  IV  of  1461  as  naming  the  river  from  Norwich 
as  the  ‘Wenson’. 

Origin 

The  location  of  the  source  of  any  river  is  invariably  a contentious  problem 
and  the  Wensum  is  no  exception.  The  earliest  maps  of  Norfolk  by  Saxton  (1574), 
Speed  (1611),  Jansson  (1630)  and  Blaeu  (1645)  all  show  a single  river  rising  from 
land  to  the  east  of  Tattersett  and  it  is  not  until  Bowen  (1720)  published  his  map 
that  all  three  head-streams  were  included.  The  l-inch  O.S.  map  of  1824  fails  to 
name  any  of  these  head-streams,  but  the  map  produced  by  Bryant  (1826)  clearly 
indicates  the  source  of  the  Wensum  as  Wick  End  Pond  in  the  Coxford  Heath- 
Syderstone  Common  complex.  White  (1836)  in  his  History,  Gaietter  and 
Directory  of  Norfolk  describes  a small  brook  running  through  West  Rudham  as 
the  source  and  Tatterford  as  a hamlet  in  the  valley  of  the  Wensum  near  its 
source  and  confluence  with  two  smaller  streams.  The  1838  1-inch  O.S.  map 
shows  the  source  as  a number  of  springs  in  land  adjoining  Hall  Farm,  West 
Rudham  and  later  O.S.  maps  record  the  source  as  a pond  in  the  corner  of  a small 
meadow  in  the  same  village.  Water  from  these  springs  flows  through  a series  of 


197 


ditches  and  land  drainage  pipes  before  it  joins  the  other  stream  from  Syderstone 
Common.  This  latter  stream  is  named  the  Tat,  a name  derived  from  a 16th  C. 
backformation  from  Tattersett,  and  it  is  by  far  the  larger  of  the  two  head-streams. 
The  combined  streams  flow  through  Tatterford  Common  and  it  is  questionable 
why  they  should  be  shown  as  the  Wensum  on  the  1-inch  and  2^-inch  O.S.  maps 
when  the  Tat  would  seem  to  be  the  more  logical  name  to  use  in  conjunction 
with  Tatterford  Common. 

The  more  probable  source  of  the  Wensum  is  to  be  found  at  an  altitude  of 
75m  above  sea  level  on  land  known  as  Colkirk  Heath  (Nat. Grid  Ref.  TF  942  246). 
An  arable  field,  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  Dereham-Fakenham  road  (B1 146) 
and  on  the  south  by  a cart  track  known  as  Goss  Drift,  contains  an  active  spring 
which  feeds  water  into  a series  of  ditches  passing  through  the  northern  parts  of 
Horningtoft  and  Whissonsett.  Twenty  years  ago  this  spring  was  known  to  bubble 
continuously  even  in  times  of  drought,  but  to  improve  farming  it  has  since  been 
piped  by  land  drains  into  a ditch  on  the  other  side  of  the  road.  This  spring  is 
accepted  locally  as  the  source  of  the  Wensum.  In  1884  H.  B.  Woodward,  of  the 
Geological  Survey,  wrote  that,  ‘The  Wensum  originates  from  streams  rising  in 
the  parishes  of  Colkirk  and  Horningtoft’  but  even  though  requests  for  correct- 
ions to  the  O.S.  maps  were  made,  it  is  only  on  the  recently  published  1 : 50,000 
(1974)  edition  that  the  Wensum  is  shown  as  originating  from  this  area. 

There  are  numerous  other  springs  on  Colkirk  Heath  and  those  on  the  eastern 
side  drain  through  another  ditch  system  in  an  E.N.E.  direction  to  join  the  Wen- 
sum near  Sennowe  Park. 

In  order  to  avoid  confusion  about  names  the  Internal  Drainage  Board  staff 
refer  to  the  Colkirk  Heath  branch  of  the  head-streams  as  the  Raynham  Brook. 
The  head-stream  originating  from  Colkirk  Heath  should,  from  a geographical 
viewpoint,  be  named  the  Wensum  and  the  other  head-streams  named  the  Tat. 

Geology 

The  solid  geology  of  the  whole  area  drained  by  the  Wensum  included  in  this 
survey  is  Senonian  (Upper)  Chalk.  This,  however,  only  occasionally  outcrops  in 
the  river  or  valley  sides  as  it  is  generally  covered  with  boulder  clay  or  plateau  and 
river  gravels.  Exposures  of  chalk  are  found  on  the  river  bed  at  South  Mill  Farm, 
Dunton  and  south  of  Bintree  Mill  and  they  probably  occur  elsewhere.  Most  of 
the  springs  that  feed  the  Wensum  rise  from  chalk,  although  in  some  cases  the 
water,  which  is  under  pressure  in  most  of  the  area,  has  to  force  its  way  through 
capping  gravels  and  boulder  clay.  The  regional  geological  sheet  memoir  mentions 
iron  stained  waters  issuing  from  springs,  e.g.  N.E.  of  Guist  Bridge,  but  these 
were  not  observed  during  the  present  survey.  There  may  also  be  local  sources 
issuing  from  gravels  and  not  connected  to  the  chalk,  but  these  are  likely  to  be 
more  seasonal  in  nature.  In  some  places  the  Wensum  has  cut  into  the  water 
table  of  the  chalk  and  where  this  occurs  springs  are  especially  active.  Such  an 
area  is  found  north  of  Dereham  on  the  Whitewater. 

A feature  of  the  Wensum  valley  is  the  thick  deposits  of  gravels  which  in  some 
cases  are  deposited  6-7m  above  the  present  level  of  the  river.  These  gravels  have 
been  extracted  in  the  past  on  a small  scale  but  during  the  last  thirty  or  so  years 
there  has  been  a marked  increase  in  their  commercial  exploitation.  The  main 
areas  of  extraction  are  east  of  Fakenham,  Swanton  Morley,  Beetley  and  Lyng. 
During  these  excavations  interglacial  deposits  of  Ipswichian  age  have  been  found 


198 


199 


at  Beetley  and  Swanton  Morley  and  these  have  yielded  vertebrate  remains  of 
Hippopotamus  amphibius  L.,  Bos  primigenius  Boj.,  and  the  elephant  Palaeoloxo- 
don  antiquus  (Falc.  & Caut.).  The  site  at  Swanton  Morley  yielded  the  fruit  of  the 
southern  maple,  Acer  monspessulanum  L..  Interesting  records  from  Beetley 
include  needles  of  Picea  abies  (L.)  and  seeds  of  an  extinct  taxon  Erica  scoparia 
var.  macrospermum  L..  At  Lyng  the  gravels  have  included  late-glacial  remains  of 
mammoth,  reindeer  and  aurochs. 

Land  Use 

The  present  major  land  use  in  the  river  valley  is  as  pasture  or  meadow  cut 
as  hay  and  this  shows  little  change  since  the  Land  Utilization  Surveys  of  Great 
Britain  in  1931-32  and  1960-61,  although  since  the  latter  date  some  conversion 
to  arable  use  has  taken  place  near  the  upper  reaches  of  the  river  near  Pear  Tree 
Corner.  Gravel  workings  have  radically  altered  some  of  the  river  valley  and 
these  represent  a major  change  in  land  use.  Small  areas  of  natural  vegetation 
occur  at  Sculthorpe  Moor,  Sculthorpe  Fen,  Ryburgh  Common  and  Guist  Com- 
mon and  these  are  probably  maintained  for  shooting. 

Management 

The  present  form  of  the  river  is  largely  the  result  of  the  activities  of  man. 
Several  water  mills  were  built  along  the  river  in  the  past  and  these  mills  with 
their  associated  weirs  and  mill  ponds  superimpose  a series  of  steps  on  the 
natural  gradient.  Immediately  downstream  from  the  weirs  the  river  is  relatively 
narrow,  shallower  and  fast  flowing,  whereas  upstream  from  the  mills,  where  the 
weirs  hold  back  the  water,  the  river  is  wider,  deeper  and  slow  flowing.  These 
physical  differences  above  and  below  the  weirs  give  rise  to  differences  in  the 
aquatic  vegetation  and  to  a lesser  extent  the  aquatic  fauna. 

The  river  and  its  tributaries  are  managed  by  the  Anglian  Water  Authority. 
The  present  management  involves  little  more  than  periodic  weed  cutting.  This 
causes  an  immediate  reduction  in  the  amount  of  macrophytes  (higher  plants) 
and  an  increase  in  the  amount  of  filamentous  algae.  The  changes  are  usually 
temporary  and  do  not  result  in  any  obviously  lasting  change  in  the  species 
composition  of  the  flora.  Indeed  as  all,  or  at  least  most,  of  the  river  is  subjected 
to  weed  cutting  the  present  flora  should  perhaps  be  considered  to  be  the  result 
of  the  management  regime  rather  than  as  persisting  in  spite  of  it.  The  current 
management  scheme  seems,  on  the  basis  of  the  present  survey,  to  have  a bene- 
ficial affect  on  both  the  aquatic  flora  and  fauna  by  maintaining  optimal  condi- 
tions for  a wide  range  of  species. 

Survey  Methods 

The  River  Wensum  was  surveyed  for  a distance  of  43km  upstream  from 
Lyng  Bridge  during  the  summers  of  1976  and  1977.  Some  of  the  major  tributaries 
and  dykes  associated  with  the  river  were  also  surveyed.  A total  of  49  sites  were 
examined:  River  Wensum  32  sites,  River  Tat  3 sites,  River  Blackwater  2 sites. 
River  Whitewater  4 sites,  Penny  Spot  Beck  2 sites,  drainage  dykes  6 sites.  The 
location  of  sampling  sites  was  determined  partly  by  ease  of  road  access  and 
partly  by  the  need  to  achieve  an  even  coverage  of  the  river  system. 

Although  sampling  was  usually  carried  out  from  the  river  bank  a rowing 
boat  was  used  to  survey  a 3.4km  stretch  of  river  between  Swanton  Morley  and 


200 


Elsing.  In  general  sampling  involved  the  examination  and  recording  of  the  aqua- 
tic, marginal  and  bank  floras.  The  submerged  vegetation  was  collected  using  hand 
nets  and  weed  grapples.  The  aquatic  fauna  was  sampled  by  sweeping  with  hand 
nets  and  by  hand  collecting  from  the  submerged  parts  of  plants.  Due  to  lack  of 
time  it  was  not  possible  to  record  the  aquatic  fauna  and  the  bank  flora  fully  from 
all  the  sites. 

Species  lists  were  compiled  for  each  site,  using  a subjective  scale  of  assess- 
ment of  abundance  for  each  species.  These  species  lists  were  also  used  to  prepare 
distribution  maps  for  each  species  recorded  in  the  survey.  Figure  2 includes  a 
selection  of  these  distribution  maps.  Appendix  1 contains  a complete  list  of  the 
animals  and  plants  recorded  during  the  present  survey. 

Copies  of  the  field  notes,  species  lists,  distribution  maps  and  a map  showing 
the  location  of  the  sample  sites  have  been  deposited  in  the  Norfolk  Biological 
Data  Bank  at  the  Castle  Museum,  Norwich,  where  they  are  available  for  inspec- 
tion. 

Survey  Data 
River  Wensum 

The  waters  from  the  springs  at  Colkirk  Heath  flow  into  a series  of  shallow 
farm  ditches  which  become  steeply  banked  west  of  Horningtoft.  These  ditches 
have  summer  water  levels  in  the  5- 10cm  range  and  a minimal  water  flow,  except 
during  and  following  heavy  rainfall.  A number  of  springs  have  been  noted  in  the 
stream  bed  near  Pear  Tree  Corner.  Management  of  these  ditches  is  largely  under- 
taken by  the  adjacent  farms  and  in  consequence  the  vegetation  may  vary 
dramatically  from  season  to  season  dependent  upon  the  dates  of  clearance. 
Watercress  ( Rorippa  nasturtium-aquaticum  agg.),  starworts  ( Callitriche  spp.)  and 
pink  water  speedwell  {Veronica  catenata  Pennell)  often  form  dense  closed  patches 
of  vegetation  in  the  running  waters.  The  marginal  species  include  brooklime 
{Veronica  beccabunga  L.),  fool’s  watercress  {Apium  nodiflorum  (L.)  Lag.)  and 
water  forget-me-not  {Myosotis  scorpioides  L.).  A feature  of  this  section  of  the 
river  is  the  number  of  Dytiscid  beetles  present,  particularly  llybius  ater  (Degeer) 
and  Agabus  bipustulatus  (L.).  The  latter  species  is  widely  distributed,  although 
rather  uncommon,  in  Broadland  dykes,  whether  freshwater  or  brackish 
(Driscoll  1976). 

There  is  a marked  change  in  the  river  from  its  entry  into  Norman’s  Burrow 
Wood  and  its  emergence  at  South  Raynham  Bridge.  The  flow  is  greatly  increased 
by  run-off,  springs  and  drainage  ditches  to  give  a fairly  fast  flowing  reach  over 
beds  of  stones,  gravel  and  sand.  The  dense  tree  canopy  of  alder,  poplar,  beech 
and  ash  combined  with  the  increased  current  favours  few  aquatic  plants.  Star- 
wort  forms  occasional  patches,  but  this  section  is  characterised  by  the  growth  of 
willow  moss  {Fontinalis  antipyretica  Hedw.)  and  the  liverwort  Pellia  endiviifolia 
Dicks,  on  many  of  the  larger  stones.  These  stones  also  provide  micro-habitats  for 
a number  of  animals.  The  river  sponge  Ephydatia  fluviatilis  (L.)  colonizes  many 
stones  as  a yellow  encrusting  layer.  Simuliidae  larvae  and  pupae  are  abundant, 
as  are  the  larvae  of  the  mayflies  Baetis  rhodani  (Pictet)  and  Ephemerella  ignita 
(Poda).  The  riffle  beetle  Elmis  aenea  (Muller,  P.  W.  J.)  lives  under  the  stones  and 
amongst  the  submerged  mosses.  Stone  loach  {Noemacheilus  barbatulus  (L).)  are 
occasional  in  this  stretch  of  the  river. 


201 


The  straightened  river  between  Norman’s  Burrow  Wood  and  Raynham  Park 
is  an  intensely  managed  section  where  the  flow  is  slow,  the  depth  greater  than 
20cm  and  the  bed  formed  of  a hard  sandy  layer.  There  are  few  plants  in  this  part 
of  the  river  other  than  the  occasional  patches  of  common  reed  ( Phragmites 
australis  Cav.  Trin.  ex  Steud.,  which  was  formerly  known  as  Phragmites  com- 
munis Trin.).  The  extremely  poor  vegetation  cover  provides  a habitat  that  is 
favourable  for  only  a few  animal  species.  Chironomid  larvae  are  abundant,  but 
only  occasional  freshwater  shrimps  ( Gammarus  pulex  (L.))  and  alderfly  larvae 
{Sialis  lutaria  (L.))  are  to  be  found.  The  management  of  this  section  is  probably 
the  major  cause  of  the  low  species  abundance  since  the  ditches  draining  directly 
into  the  river  from  West  Raynham  are  biologically  rich.  In  one  ditch  dominated 
by  starwort,  pink  water  speedwell  and  water  forget-me-not,  the  lesser  water 
boatman  Sigara  distincta  (Fieb.)  and  the  water  snails  Anisus  vortex  (L.),  Bathyom- 
phalus  contortus  (L.)  and  Lymnaea  peregra  (Mull.)  are  abundant.  Sigara  distincta 
is  a rare  species  in  Norfolk  and  it  was  collected  on  only  a few  occasions  by  one 
of  the  authors  (R.J.D.)  in  a Broadland  dyke  survey. 

The  river  leaving  Raynham  Park  flows  through  grazed  pastures  at  Helhough- 
ton  and  Tatterford  Commons.  The  depth  remains  in  the  20-30cm  range  but  there 
is  a widening  of  the  river  to  between  seven  and  eight  metres.  The  flow  is  fast  and 
exposes  a hard  chalk  bed  with  flints  and  some  sand  banks.  The  vegetation  cover 
varies  from  30  to  40  per  cent  with  starwort,  horned  pondweed  ( Zannichellia 
palustris  L.)  and  blanket  alga  ( Cladophora  sp.  Kutz.)  being  frequent.  The  semi- 
floating Lemna  triscula  L.  and  the  submerged  spiked  water  milfoil  ( Myriophyllum 
spicatum  L.)  occur  along  this  section  of  the  Wensum.  The  marginal  vegetation 
is  dominated  by  reed-grass  ( Glyceria  maxima  (Hartm.)  Holmberg).  There  is  a 
marked  increase  both  in  the  numbers  and  species  diversity  of  mollusca  and  this 
section  must  be  considered  to  be  very  favourable  to  the  group.  The  white 
ramshorn  ( Gyraulus  albus  (Mull.)),  the  whirlpool  ramshorn  {Anisus  vortex ). 
the  keeled  ramshorn  {Planorbis  carinatus  Mull.),  the  ramshorn  {Planorbis planorbis 
(L.)),  the  nautilus  ramshorn  ( Armiger  crista  (L.)),  Jenkin’s  spire  shell  ( [Potamo - 
pyrgus  jenkinsi  (Smith)),  the  valve  shell  ( Valvata  piscinalis  (Mull.),  the  wandering 
snail  {Lymnaea  peregra ),  the  river  limpet  {Ancylus  fluviatilis  (Mull.))  and  the 
bivalves  Sphaerium  corneum  (L.)  and  Pisidium  nitidum  Jenyns  are  all  common  in 
this  section.  Jenkin’s  spire  shells  recorded  from  the  Wensum  and  its  tributaries 
during  this  survey  are  all  of  the  form  ‘A’  described  by  Warwick  (1969).  This  is 
the  form  usually  found  in  inland  waterways. 

The  River  Tat  joins  the  Wensum  at  the  eastern  corner  of  Tatterford  Com- 
mon. The  Tat  is  a small,  slow  flowing  stream  with  a sandy,  gravelly  bed  which  is 
joined  south  of  the  village  of  Coxford  by  the  stream  from  West  Rudham.  At 
Tatterford  Common  the  vegetation  forms  a fairly  closed  community  consisting 
mainly  of  starwort  (possibly  Callitriche  platycarpa  Kutz.),  Veronica  catenata , 
Veronica  beccabunga  and  Zannichellia  palustris.  Trout  {Salmo  sp.)  and  miller’s 
thumb  {Cottus  gobio  L.)  are  found  along  this  reach,  as  is  the  fish  leech  Piscicola 
geometra  (L.).  This  is  also  one  of  only  two  sites,  the  other  being  at  Hempton, 
where  the  water  beetle  Haliplus  wehnckei  Gerhardt  was  recorded  during  the 
present  survey.  The  only  other  known  recent  records  for  this  species  in  Norfolk 
are  from  drainage  dykes  in  Broadland  where  it  is  widely  distributed,  although 
uncommon  (Driscoll  1976). 


202 


At  Doughton  Bridge  near  Shereford  Common  there  is  an  increase  in  the 
depth  of  the  river  to  lm  and  a change  in  the  bed  to  a silty-mud.  Starworts  (pro- 
bably Callitriche  stagnalis  Scop.),  and  fennel  pondweed  ( Potamogeton  pecti- 
natus  L.)  are  dominant,  but  there  are  occasional  stands  of  the  broad-leaved 
pondweed  ( Potamogeton  natans  L.)  and  the  curled  pondweed  ( Potamogeton 
crispus  L.).  This  is  the  only  record  of  P. natans  from  the  present  survey.  Also  of 
interest  is  a small  growth  of  the  opposite-leaved  pondweed  ( Groenlandia  densa 
(L.)  Fourr.)  which  is  recorded  from  the  Wensum  only  upstream  from  Fakenham. 
The  unbranched  bur-reed  ( Sparganium  emersum  Rehm.)  is  first  noted  at  Dough- 
ton  Bridge  and  it  forms  a major  part  of  the  submerged  vegetation  at  some  of  the 
sample  sites  further  downstream.  Over  short  distances  the  river  near  Shereford 
varies  from  a silty  bed  to  one  of  chalk  and  flints.  Many  of  these  changes  may  be 
associated  with  the  first  major  man-made  barrier  across  the  river  in  the  form  of  a 
disused  working  mill  and  weir  at  Sculthorpe. 

The  influence  of  man  upon  the  river  is  seen  as  it  approaches  the  outskirts  of 
Fakenham.  At  Hempton  a straightening  programme  has  been  combined  with 
a rigorous  cutting  of  the  weeds  to  produce  a sparce  flora,  the  muddy  bottom 
being  virtually  covered  with  algae  ( Cladophora  sp.  and  Enteromorpha  sp.  Link 
in  Nees).  Other  aquatics  include  Canadian  pondweed  ( Elodea  canadensis  Michx.), 
fool’s  watercress  ( Apium  nodiflorum ),  Zannichellia  palustris  and  Groenlandia 
densa , but  these  show  an  uneven  distribution.  The  marginal  vegetation  provides 
an  important  habitat  for  the  Dytiscid  beetle  Ilybius  fuliginosus  (Fab.)  and  the 
Haliplid  beetles  Haliplus  fluviatilis  Aube,  Haliplus  wehnckei  and  Haliplus  laminatus 
(Schaller).  The  water-measurer  Hydrometra  stagnorum  (L.)  and  the  riffle  beetle 
Oulimnius  tuberculatus  (Muller,  P.  W.  J.)  are  found  in  small  numbers  in  the  same 
sheltered  habitat.  The  riffle  beetle  normally  prefers  large  rivers  with  unstable 
stony  beds  so  its  presence  in  this  slow  flowing  and  muddy  reach  of  the  Wensum 
is  surprising.  The  flour  mill  at  Fakenham  affords  a barrier  which  controls  both 
water  levels  and  flow  in  the  immediate  vicinity.  Above  the  mill  the  depth  in- 
creases to  1.5  to  2.0m  and  the  water  flow  is  effectively  slowed  down.  The  macro- 
phytes include  the  yellow  water  lily  ( Nuphar  lutea  (L.))  which  is  a characteristic 
plant  of  the  deeper  waters  of  the  Wensum,  especially  near  the  mills  and  weirs. 

The  section  of  the  river  from  Fakenham  to  Great  Ryburgh  is  bounded  for 
most  of  its  length  by  railway  embankments  and  common  land.  The  river  valley 
is  fed  by  numerous  springs  and  ditches  to  form,  especially  near  Fakenham  and 
Great  Ryburgh,  a highly  managed  system  of  water  meadows  and  land  drains, 
some  of  which  are  at  a lower  level  than  the  river  itself.  A similar  situation  is 
found  in  Broadland,  where  pumps  are  used  to  raise  water  from  the  dykes 
draining  the  low-lying  marshes  before  emptying  it  into  the  higher  level  river 
system.  In  the  Wensum  valley,  however,  pumps  are  not  used.  Instead  water  from 
the  smaller  field  drains  is  fed  into  a system  of  larger  dykes,  the  main  drains,  which 
run  sub-parallel  to  the  river  and  follow  its  course  downstream  until  a weir  is 
reached.  The  main  drains  enter  the  river  downstream  of  the  weirs  where  the  river 
is  at  a lower  level  than  the  water  in  the  dykes.  In  this  way  gravity  flow  can  be 
used  to  drain  the  land  without  the  use  of  pumps  and  sluices.  At  Great  Ryburgh 
a main  drain  carrying  effluents  from  a mailings  on  the  west  side  of  the  Wensum 
flows  under  the  river  to  join  the  main  drain  on  the  east  side  at  Little  Ryburgh. 
The  organically  enriched  water  from  the  makings  supports  a significantly  lower 
diversity  of  flora  than  that  found  in  adjacent  dykes. 


203 


The  Wensum,  except  near  the  mill  at  Great  Ryburgh,  is  comparatively 
shallow  (less  than  lm),  moderately  fast  flowing  and  with  a mixed  bed  of  sand, 
gravel,  stones,  silt  and  mud.  The  flora  is  generally  rich  and  varied,  although  it  is 
limited  in  the  muddier  places  where  Cladophora  sp.,  Enteromorpha  sp.  and 
Potamogeton  pectinatus  are  often  co-dominants.  The  rooted  aquatics  include 
Potamogeton  crispus,  Veronica  catenata , Elodea  canadensis , Potamogeton  per- 
foliatus  L.,  Potamogeton  pusillus  L.,  Sparganium  emersum,  Myriophyllum 
spicatum  and  Callitriche  sp.  Floating  aquatics  at  the  more  sheltered  margins 
include  the  duckweeds  Lemna  minor  L.  and  Lemna  polyrhiza  L.  The  swifter 
flowing  reaches  near  the  railway  bridge  crossings  often  have  small  colonies  of 
the  frog’s  spawn  alga  Batrachospermum  boryanum  (Ag.  ?)  Sirodot  attached  to  the 
stones  and  rubble.  Pike,  dace,  roach,  trout,  eels  and  minnows  are  found  in  the 
river.  Examination  of  gut  contents  of  trout  caught  by  fishermen  in  this  stretch  of 
the  Wensum  in  1975  revealed  the  remains  of  mayfly  larvae,  alderfly  larvae,  the 
crustaceans  Asellus  aquaticus  (L.),  Asellus  meridianus  Racovitza  and  Gammarus 
pulex.  Occasional  leeches  ( Erpobdella  octoculata  (L.))  in  the  trout  guts  suggest 
that  the  encysted  stage  of  a fluke  noted  in  the  leech  may  use  the  fish  as  a second 
host.  Other  common  leeches  noted  at  Great  Ryburgh  include  the  waterfowl 
leech  Theromyzon  tessulatum  (Mull.)  and  the  freshwater  molluscan  leech  Glossi- 
phonia  complanata  (L.).  The  latter  species  is  a major  predator  of  freshwater 
snails,  especially  Physa  fontinalis  (L.)  which  is  a common  snail  in  the  Wensum. 
Of  special  interest  is  the  observation  of  the  cnidarian  Hydra  oligactis  (Pallas) 
with  the  commensal  rotifer  Pleurotrocha  petromyzon  Ehrenberg  on  its  surface. 

The  river  adjacent  to  Sennowe  Park  is  fairly  fast  flowing  over  sand,  though 
occasional  chalky  stones  occur.  It  is  fringed  on  the  north  by  alder-willow  carr 
and  on  the  south  by  water  meadows  or  mixed  Filipendula  ulmaria  (L.)  Maxim, 
and  Epilobium  hirsutum  L.  fen.  The  vegetation  cover  within  the  river  is  over  50 
per  cent  with  Potamogeton  pectinatus  the  most  abundant  species  and  Sparga- 
nium emersum  and  Elodea  canadensis  locally  abundant.  The  presence  of  the 
introduced  species  Elodea  nuttallii  (Planch)  was  noted  neither  in  the  Wensum 
nor  its  tributaries  during  the  present  survey,  although  the  related  species  Elodea 
canadensis  is  common  everywhere.  Swann  (1978)  considers  that  in  time  the  latter 
species  will  be  superseded  by  the  closely  related  E.  nuttallii.  The  bank  vegetation 
is  largely  dominated  by  nettles  ( Urtica  dioica  L.)  and  the  marginals  Iris  pseuda- 
corus  L.  and  Myosotis  scorpioides.  Bivalve  molluscs  are  frequent  in  this  stretch 
of  the  river  and  include  Sphaerium  corneum , Pisidium  nitidum  and  Pisidium 
milium  Hedw..  Pisidium  milium  is  generally  distributed  throughout  the  British 
Isles  and  occurs  in  similar  habitats  to  Pisidium  nitidum. 

The  river  by  Guist  Bridge  is  similar  to  that  at  Sennowe  Park,  although  on  its 
northern  bank  it  is  fringed  by  an  extensive  area  of  Glyceria  maxima  at  Guist 
Common.  To  the  south-east  of  the  bridge  there  is  a specimen  of  black  poplar 
(. Populus  nigra  L.)  which  proved  to  be  the  only  one  noted  in  this  survey. 

The  importance  of  mills  and  their  associated  weirs  in  affecting  the  character 
of  the  river  is  well  illustrated  at  Bintree  Mill.  Above  the  mill  the  waters  are  com- 
paratively still  and  deep.  The  river  bed  is  sandy  with  mud.  The  vegetation 
includes  Elodea  canadensis , Nuphar  lutea,  Potamogeton  crispus , Potamogeton 
perfoliatus , Zannichellia  palustris  and  Sparganium  emersum.  Patches  of  the  green 
alga  Enteromorpha  sp.  occur  and  in  the  sheltered  parts  there  are  surface  mats  of 
Spirogyra  sp.  Link  and  the  blue-green  alga  Oscillatoria  sp.  Vauch..  The  giant 


204 


River  Tat  at  Tatterford  Common 


Fakenham  Mill,  River  Wensum 


Swanton  Morley,  River  Wensum 


pond  snail  ( Lymnaea  stagnalis  (L.))  and  Lister’s  river  snail  ( Viviparus  contectus 
Millet)  are  frequent  in  these  deeper  waters.  Below  the  mill  race  the  river  cuts 
a deep  valley  into  the  chalk  where  it  exposes  a bed  of  chalky  stones  and  flints. 
The  rapid  flow  is  favourable  only  to  the  blanket  alga  which  forms  dense  mats 
on  the  stones  and  flints.  About  100m  below  the  mill  the  flow  slackens  and  the 
river  meanders  across  water  meadows.  The  bed  changes  to  a sandy,  chalky  form 
and  the  blanket  alga  is  progressively  replaced  by  aquatic  macrophytes,  mainly 
Potamogeton  perfoliatus , Potamogeton  crispus,  Callitriche  sp.  and  Myriophyllum 
spicatum.  At  North  Elmham  the  river  is  still  fairly  fast  flowing  over  a sandy-silty 
bottom.  The  water  meadows  on  either  side  of  the  river  become  narrower  in  this 
section.  Those  on  the  Elmham  side  give  good  quality  grazing  grass  but  those  on 
the  opposing  bank  are  rough  with  thistles  and  ragwort.  The  dominant  aquatic 
plant  is  Potamogeton  perfoliatus , although  blanket  alga  is  abundant  over  this 
section,  as  it  is  elsewhere  in  the  system.  The  marginal  Glycerietum  is  important 
in  forming  microhabitats  for  invertebrates.  The  pond  skater  Gerris  lacustris  (L.) 
and  the  whirligig  beetle  Gyrinus  aeratus  Stephens  are  favoured  by  the  sheltered 
waters  in  the  marginal  vegetation.  Crangonyx  pseudogracilis  Bousfield,  an  am- 
phipod  introduced  from  North  America  and  first  recorded  from  Great  Britain 
in  the  1930’s  (Crawford  1937),  was  not  recorded  from  any  of  the  samples  up- 
stream from  North  Elmham,  although  it  is  widely  distributed  in  the  river 
between  North  Elmham  and  Lyng.  In  contrast  Gammarus  pulex , the  native 
species  of  amphipod  typical  of  freshwater,  is  ubiquitous  in  the  upper  Wensum 
and  its  tributaries.  Elsewhere  in  Great  Britain  C.  pseudogracilis  is  still  spreading 
and  in  time  it  may  colonize  the  upper  reaches  of  the  Wensum. 

The  influence  of  mills  on  lowland  river  systems  is  again  evident  as  the  river 
broadens  and  deepens  in  its  approach  to  Grint  Mill.  Yellow  water  lilies  are 
favoured  by  the  deeper  waters  and  slower  currents  and  they  in  turn  act  to  slow 
the  currents  down  even  further  to  allow  many  of  the  smaller  invertebrates  to 
flourish.  At  Grint  Mill  the  cladocerans  Eurycercus  lamellatus  (Mull.)  and 
Simocephalus  vetulus  (Mull.)  are  locally  abundant,  whilst  the  copepods  Cyclops 
agilis  (Koch,  Sars)  and  Cyclops  distinctus  (Richard)  are  frequent.  The  water- 
measurer  Hydrometra  stagnorum  is  also  common  in  these  quieter  waters  above 
the  mill. 

The  Wensum  at  its  confluence  with  the  Whitewater  is  fast  flowing  over  a 
gravel  bottom.  A feature  of  this  section  is  the  presence  of  low  islands  which  are 
liable  to  flooding.  Both  Ancylus  fluviatilis  and  Ephemerella  ignita  are  abundant 
within  this  section  and  stone  loach  are  common  amongst  the  weeds  and  stones. 
Of  particular  interest  is  the  presence  here  of  the  calcicole  bivalve  Pisidium 
moitessierianum  Paladilhe  which  was  first  recorded  from  West  Norfolk  (V.C.28) 
by  Kerney  at  Gressenhall  in  1970.  This  bivalve  is  known  only  from  three  other 
sites  in  Norfolk;  Whitlingham  marshes,  Belaugh  on  the  Bure  and  the  Great  Ouse 
(Kerney  pers.comm.).  Between  Billingford  and  Waterfall  Farm,  Swanton  Morley 
the  Wensum  flows  alongside  the  road  at  Burgh  Common  where  it  is  over  2m 
deep  and  8m  wide,  fast  flowing  and  silty.  East  of  Burgh  Common  there  are 
gravel  workings  which  are  important  sites  for  Canada  geese  and  other  water 
fowl.  In  the  river  the  major  macrophytes  are  Potamogeton  perfoliatus , P.pectina- 
tus , Sparganium  emersum  and  Myriophyllum  spicatum.  Blanket  alga  is  abundant 
everywhere  along  this  section.  Above  the  mill  at  Waterfall  Farm  summer  cutting 
of  the  weeds  exposed  Zannichellia  palustris,  Sagittaria  sagittifolia  L.  and  the  free 


205 


floating  horn-wort  ( Ceratophyllum  demersum  L.).  An  interesting  plant  of  the 
bank  vegetation  at  this  site  is  nodding  bur-marigold  (Bidens  cernua  var.  radiata 
D.C.)  which  forms  an  attractive  addition  to  the  community.  In  the  river  a number 
of  lesser  waterboatmen  ( Sigara  dorsalis  (Leach))  carried  parasitic  watermite 
larvae,  probably  Hydrachna  globosa  globosa  (Geer),  which  in  some  seasons  in  the 
River  Yare  show  very  heavy  infestations  on  the  water  bugs.  Several  damsel  and 
dragonflies  quarter  this  stretch  of  the  river.  An  adult  Ischnura  elegans  (van  der 
Linden)  and  an  adult  Aeshna  grandis  (L.)  were  noted  over  the  river  in  September 
1977,  whilst  two  specimens  of  Sympetrum  striolatum  (Charpentier)  were  observed 
mating  over  a nearby  dyke.  The  caddis  fly  larva  Molanna  angustata  Curtis 
occurs  in  the  sandy  gravels  of  the  shallower  areas  near  the  mill.  This  species  is 
reported  by  Daniels  (1958)  to  be  quite  common  on  the  Wensum  Bridges  from 
May  to  September. 

At  Waterfall  Farm  there  is  a mill  bypass  stream  and  some  dykes  which  are 
of  considerable  biological  interest. 

The  river  between  Castle  Farm  and  Elsing  Mill  was  examined  in  some 
detail  by  boat.  For  most  of  its  length  this  section  is  similar  in  form,  except  that  as 
Elsing  Mill  is  approached  the  flow  slackens  and  the  water  deepens.  The  dominant 
macrophytes  are  Potamogeton  perfoliatus,  P.pectinatus , Sagittaria  sagittifolia 
and  blanket  alga.  The  only  stand  of  mare’s  tail  ( Hippuris  vulgaris  L.)  noted  in 
this  survey  occurs  at  Castle  Farm.  The  influence  of  the  mill  may  be  seen  as  the 
dominance  of  the  pondweeds  gives  way  to  Sparganium  emersum , Sagittaria 
sagittifolia , Enteromorpha  sp.  and  Nuphar  lutea  as  the  weir  is  approached  and  the 
water  deepens.  The  yellow  water  lily  is  present  mainly  in  the  submerged  form 
in  depths  over  2m.  Besides  the  common  mayfly  larvae  Ephemerella  ignita , Cloeon 
dipterum  (L.)  and  Baetis  rhodani.  Castle  Farm  is  of  considerable  interest  for  the 
presence  of  larvae  of  Caenis  robusta  Eaton,  which  has  been  noted  previously  in 
Norfolk  from  Wheatfen  Broad  and  Scoulton  Mere.  Both  these  sites  lack  any 
appreciable  water  movement  but  the  larvae  have  been  collected  from  slowly 
flowing  water  in  the  River  Ijssel  (Kimmins  1972).  Another  interesting  species 
noted  at  Castle  Farm  is  the  leech  Glossiphonia  heteroclita  (L.)  which  was  not 
recorded  elsewhere  during  the  present  survey. 

From  Elsing  Mill  to  Lyng  Mill  the  sequence  of  conditions  is  repeated  with  a 
fairly  fast  flowing  section  below  Elsing  becoming  slow  flowing  and  deeper  near 
Lyng  with  subsequent  silting  of  the  bed.  The  macrophytes  associated  with  this 
part  of  the  river  are  similar  to  those  above  Elsing  Mill.  Near  the  bridge  Fontinalis 
antipyretica  and  Ceratophyllum  demersum  are  more  frequent  and  more  widely 
distributed.  An  interesting  find  above  Lyng  was  Leach’s  Bythinia  (. Bythinia 
leachii  (Sheppard))  which,  although  known  to  be  widely  distributed  both  in 
Norfolk  and  England,  was  not  found  elsewhere  during  this  survey.  The  Wensum 
between  Elsing  and  Lyng  flows  through  grazing  meadows  and  extensive  old 
gravel  workings  now  used  as  trout  fisheries.  The  bypass  at  Lyng  flows  over  a 
sluice  into  a small  millpool  before  forming  a fairly  fast  flowing  stream  which 
discharges  back  into  the  river  in  the  main  pool  below  the  mill.  The  brickwork 
of  the  sluice  is  colonized  by  the  aquatic  moss  Fissidens  crassipes  Wils.,  which  was 
first  recorded  from  East  Norfolk  by  the  British  Bryological  Society  in  1967  at 
Lyng,  and  the  liverwort  Conocephalum  conicum  (L.)  Underw..  On  a shingle  bank 
by  the  pool  an  open  community  contained  seventeen  species  of  flowering  plants 
which  included  the  only  record  of  Policeman’s  helmet  ( Impatiens  glandulifera 


206 


Royle).  This  balsam  was  more  frequent  in  the  bank  community  at  this  same  site. 

The  Whitewater 

The  Whitewater  forms  a major  tributary  which  enters  the  Wensum  below 
Billingford  Bridge.  For  much  of  its  course  it  is  fast  flowing  over  a gravelly-stony 
bottom,  although  in  some  reaches  mud  and  silt  predominate.  Botanically  the 
river  offers  a wide  variety  of  interesting  species,  including  river  water-dropwort 
(i Oenanthe  fluviatilis  (Bab.)  Colem.)  and  Ranunculus  peltatus  Schrank.  The  latter 
species  was  identified  from  its  flowers  but  at  other  sites  only  non-flowering  mat- 
erial was  available  which  could  not  be  identified  with  certainty.  Algae  present 
include  Enteromorpha  intestinalis  (L.)  Link  and  Cladophora  glomerata  (L.) 
Kutz,  although  the  shallow  waters  and  the  speed  of  flow  restricts  the  latter  species 
to  small  threads  attached  to  the  stones.  Vaucheria  sessilis  (Vauch.)  DC.  was  iden- 
tified by  Mr.  K.  B.  Clarke  from  sexually  active  filaments  and  the  red  alga 
Bangia  atropurpurea  (Roth)  C.  Ag.  was  provisionally  identified.  Mr.  Clarke  notes, 
‘I  know  this  alga  from  the  River  Bure  at  Horning  where  it  is  fairly  extensive.  This 
is  an  estuarine  species  but  as  it  has  been  reported  from  Lake  Balaton  I see  no 
reason  why  it  should  not  occur  occasionally  in  the  Wensum  valley’. 

The  fauna  is  rich  both  in  numbers  and  species  diversity.  Crayfish  ( Austro - 
potamobius  pallipes  (Lereboullet))  are  very  common  and  may  readily  be  collected 
by  running  a net  through  the  semi-aquatic  marginal  vegetation.  Mayfly  larvae 
include  the  rare  Caenis  robusta,  Baetis  rhodani,  Ephemerella  ignita  and  Ephemera 
danica  Mull..  The  latter  species  favours  rather  fast  flowing  streams  with  alkaline 
waters  and  in  the  present  survey  it  was  recorded  elsewhere  only  from  Penny 
Spot  Beck.  Widely  distributed  along  the  Whitewater  are  three  species  of  riffle 
beetles,  Elmis  aenea , Oulimius  tuberculatus  and  Liminius  volckmari  (Panzer), 
although  nowhere  are  they  common.  The  only  Norfolk  record  for  the  pond 
skater  G err  is  rufoscutellatus  (Latr.)  was  made  by  Mr.  K.  C.  Durrant  in  March 
1948  in  a pit  bordering  the  river  at  Hoe  Common.  Over  a two  week  period  a total 
of  seven  fully  winged  individuals  were  noted.  Unfortunately  the  pit  has  now  been 
infilled  by  the  local  authority  as  a rubbish  dump. 

The  Blackwater 

The  source  of  the  Blackwater  may  be  found  in  a series  of  ditches  to  the  east 
of  the  village  of  Mileham.  The  high  land  on  which  this  village  is  built  provides 
the  source  of  the  River  Nar  in  the  west.  The  Blackwater  derives  its  name  from  a 
corruption  of  the  Old  English  ‘Blaec’  meaning  shining.  It  is  a name  often  given  to 
dark  muddy  waters  or  those  produced  from  a dark  river  bed.  The  name  is 
sometimes  used  in  contradiction  to  a sister  stream,  the  Whitewater.  Callitriche 
sp.,  Sparganium  emersum,  Zannichellia  palustris,  Myosotis  scorpioides  and  Vero- 
nica catenata  form  small  patches  of  vegetation  but  rarely  are  closed  communities 
formed.  Lampreys  are  generally  found  in  this  river  and  they  were  especially 
common  in  1972  (K.  C.  Durrant  pers.  comm.).  Other  common  fish  include  the 
three  spined  stickleback  ( Gasterosteus  aculeatus  L.)  and  the  miller’s  thumb.  The 
three  spined  stickleback  is  everywhere  more  common  than  the  nine-spined 
stickleback  {Pungitius  pungitius  (L.))  and  it  prefers  the  fast  flowing  stretches  of 
water  with  high  oxygen  content.  In  contrast  the  nine-spined  stickleback  is  more 
tolerant  of  lower  oxygen  levels  in  the  water  (Lewis  et  al  1972).  Brychius  elevatus 
(Panzer)  was  first  recorded  in  the  Blackwater  by  R.  W.  Turner  in  1954  at  Beetley 


207 


and  in  the  present  survey  it  showed  a local  distribution  in  the  river.  A second 
Haliplid  beetle  of  interest  noted  in  the  river  is  Haliplus  lineatocollis  (Marsham) 
which  in  the  slow  moving  waters  is  locally  distributed  and  rare;  this  contrasts 
with  its  wide  distribution  and  frequency  in  Broadland  ditches  (Driscoll  1976). 
The  pond  skater  ( Gerris  lacustris ) and  the  lesser  waterboatman  Hesperocorixa 
linnei  (Fieb.)  occur  near  the  junction  with  the  Whitewater. 

The  marshes  and  marginal  areas  of  the  Blackwater  provide  very  good  habi- 
tats for  insects,  particularly  Sciomyzid  flies.  The  demoiselle  Agrion  virgo  (L.) 
was  first  taken  in  1946  at  the  edge  of  a small  pond  near  the  river  (Durrant  1958). 
The  margins  are  also  regular  sites  for  Agrioti  splendens  (Harr.). 

Penny  Spot  Beck 

This  is  a small  fast  flowing  stream  with  a bed  partly  of  pebbles  with  tufa 
deposits.  For  much  of  its  length  it  lacks  macrophytes,  although  Pellia  endiviifolia 
encrusts  many  of  the  stones.  The  marginal  vegetation  includes  narrow-leaved 
water  parsnip  ( Berula  erecta  (Huds.)  Coville)  which  was  not  found  elsewhere 
during  the  survey. 

Dykes 

The  dykes  draining  the  land  adjacent  to  the  Wensum  and  its  tributaries  are 
of  two  types : the  smaller  dykes,  whose  maintenance  is  the  responsibility  of  the 
land  owner  or  tenant  whose  land  they  drain,  and  the  larger  main  drains  which 
are  the  responsibility  of  the  River  Wensum  Internal  Drainage  Board.  Most  of 
the  dykes  sampled  in  this  survey  were  of  the  second  type.  The  dyke  vegetation 
is  similar  to  that  of  the  river,  although  their  reduced  width  and  depth  favours  the 
growth  of  emergent  and  marginal  species,  e.g.  Veronica  spp.,  Myosotis  scorpioidesy 
Rorippa  nasturtium-aquaticum  agg.  and  Glyceria  maxima.  Many  of  the  dykes 
examined  were  virtually  overgrown  with  plant  life. 

A major  difference  between  these  dykes  and  those  found  in  Broadland  is 
the  almost  complete  absence  of  Phragmites  australis  in  this  part  of  the  Wensum 
valley,  where  its  place  is  taken  by  Glyceria  maxima.  In  Broadland  dykes  Phrag- 
mites australis  is  the  commonest  and  most  widely  distributed  species  of  macro- 
phyte, often  forming  pure  stands  in  dykes  draining  arable  land  (Driscoll  1975). 
The  invertebrate  fauna  was  similar  to  that  of  the  river,  although  in  general  the 
density  of  animals  was  higher. 

Dyke  Management 

Dyke  maintenance  involves  the  removal  of  vegetation  and  accumulated  mud 
and  detritus  to  improve  the  flow  of  water  along  the  dyke.  The  equipment  used 
by  the  Internal  Drainage  Board  consists  of  tractor  mounted  scoops  which  are 
dragged  across  the  bottom  of  the  dykes.  Whilst  these  scoops  remove  most  of 
the  vegetation  and  some  of  the  accumulated  mud,  a considerable  amount  of 
rhizomes  and  turions  is  left  behind  and  regeneration  of  the  vegetation  rapidly 
takes  place.  Periodic  clearing  of  this  form  prevents  the  taller  emergent  species 
totally  filling  the  dykes  and  shading  out  the  smaller  species.  The  scoop  and  drag 
method  used  at  present  is  beneficial  in  maintaining  the  diversity  of  the  plant 
communities. 


208 


Fig.  2.  Examples  of  the  distribution  patterns  of  selected  species  throughout  the 
upper  Wensum  valley  river  system  surveyed  in  1976-77.  The  diagrams  are  based 
on  presence  or  absence  data  for  2 km  stretches  of  the  river  upstream  from  Lyng. 
Key:  black-present;  white-absent;  stippled-detached  plants  or  dead  animals; 

crossed-not  sampled. 


Wensum 


p n 

- 

0 

1 ) 

cm 

LLfekl 

l . ,..i i L—i . i . , r — i i — i — i — — i 

: L _J i 

1 

£ * 
M ® 

o £ 

a P 

s s 


Plants 


Potamogeton  natan 

-M 

Groenlandia  dens 

□=y 


Potamogeton  perfoliatus 

Li- 

Potamogeton  crispus 

. P . 

Potamogeton  pectinatus 


209 


Myriophyllum  spicatum 


Zannichellia  palustris 


Sparganium  erectum 
Sagittaria  sagittifolia 


Ceratophyllum  demersum 


Elodea  canadensis 


Callitriche  sp. 


Nuphar  lutea 


p ,il ' 

i 

B 

emersum 

! 1 

210 


Veronica  catenata 


LI 

Veronica  beccabunga 

M: 


JL 


cm 


Oeananthe  fluviatilis 


i • i r 


n n : 

■i — i — i><  bmagaasa — i _iM 

, , , -L.  , J 

i 

Rorippa  nasturtium- aquaticum 

J'  u 

. ,■  j|r  -- 

Myosotis  scorpioides 


Apium  nodiflorum 


Glyceria  maxima 

=LJ 

Phragmites  communis 

rr4U 

Phalaris  arundinacea 


211 


Mayflies 


Caenis  moesta 


Caenis  robusta 


CJoeon  dipterum 


Baetis  rhodani 


Ephemera  danica 


Ephemerella  ignita 


Water  Beetles 


Haliplus  wehnckei 


Haliplus  lineatocollis 


Asellus 


AseJlus 


meridianus 

^-Q 


aquaticus 


213 


Sites  of  Natural  History  Interest 

Sculthorpe  Moor  and  Fen.  An  extremely  interesting  site  west  of  Fakenham 
where  Phragmites-Cladium  reed  swamp  with  sallow-alder  carr  form  extensive 
closed  communities.  The  intermix  of  water-logged  fen  and  drainage  ditches  is 
botanically  rich  and  in  need  of  survey  since  little  is  known  about  either  its 
flora  or  fauna. 

Great  Ryburgh  Common.  An  area  of  sallow-alder  carr  with  Phragmites- 
Glyceria  fen  which  is  bisected  by  a main  drainage  ditch.  Epilobium  angustifolium 
L.  forms  locally  dominant  stands.  The  common  is  fringed  with  pine  and  oak  and 
in  some  sandy  clearings  Succisa  pratensis  Moench,  Potentilla  erecta  (L.)  Rausch, 
and  Rumex  tenuifolis  (Wallr.)  Love  are  common.  The  site  is  extremely  difficult 
to  traverse  and  worthy  of  further  investigation. 

Turf  Common  and  Broom  Common.  An  interesting  complex  of  water 
meadows  with  shallow  dykes  and  alder  copses.  Near  Well  House  there  is  a small 
field  dominated  by  common  reed,  reed-grass,  tussock  sedge  and  the  giant  water 
dock.  The  management  of  the  land  is  not  intensive  and  in  consequence  it  com- 
bines both  scenic  beauty  and  a natural  history  interest. 

White  Mill  Meadow,  Beetley.  This  large  meadow  slopes  down  to  the  River 
Whitewater  and  possesses  a series  of  active  springs  on  the  upper  slopes.  The  habi- 
tats range  from  dry  neutral  grassland  to  bryophyte  rich  mires  along  the  spring 
line.  In  July  the  drier  areas  are  a blaze  of  colour  from  the  meadow  saxifrage 
(Saxifraga  granulata  L.),  whilst  in  the  wetter  sites  bogbean  ( Menyanthes  trifo- 
liata  L.)  and  red-rattle  (. Pedicularis  palustris  L.)  are  common.  Of  particular  in- 
terest is  the  presence  of  green  winged  orchids  ( Orchis  mono  L.)  on  the  eastern 
side. 


Gravel  Pits.  Deposits  of  valley  gravels  have  been  excavated  from  many  of 
the  river  terraces  and  in  time  these  flood  and  become  colonized  by  plants  and 
animals.  They  are  important  habitats  for  bird  life  and  deserve  to  be  made  into 
a study  in  their  own  right.  In  1977  the  vegetation  of  Sparham  Pits,  a Norfolk 
Naturalists’  Trust  Reserve,  was  mapped  by  a team  of  ecologists  as  part  of  the 
Government  sponsored  Job  Creation  Scheme.  Although  the  bottom  was  found 
to  be  very  irregular  the  depth  of  water  rarely  exceeded  2m.  Aquatic  vegetation 
and  invertebrates  were  virtually  restricted  to  a single  shallow  area  at  the  west 
side  of  the  reserve. 

Acknowledgements 

We  would  like  to  thank  the  many  land  owners  and  farmers  who  kindly  allowed  us 
access  to  the  river  valley.  We  are  indebted  to  Messrs  E.  L.  Swann,  K.  C.  Durrant,  K.  B. 
Clarke  and  G.  N.  Foster  for  help  in  identification  and  information  about  the  natural 
history  of  the  Wensum  valley;  M.  P.  Kerney  for  information  about  Pisidium  moites 
sierianum  and  T.  Warwick  for  examining  some  of  the  Potamopyrgus  jenkinsi  material 

References 

Daniels,  E.  T.,  1958.  Some  notes  of  the  caddis  flies  of  the  Norwich  District.  Trans. 
Norfolk  & Nor.  Nat.  Soc.,  XIV,  78-82. 


214 


Driscoll,  R.  J.,  1975.  Distribution  maps  of  aquatic  vertebrates  and  invertebrates 
recorded  in  drainage  dykes  in  Broadland,  1972-74.  Unpublished  manuscript. 
Copy  in  Norfolk  Biological  Data  Bank,  Castle  Museum,  Norwich. 

1976.  Distribution  maps  of  aquatic  macroohytes  and  bryophytes  recorded  in 
drainage  dykes  in  Broadland,  1972-74.  Unpublished  manuscript.  Copy  in  Norfolk 
Biological  Data  Bank,  Castle  Museum,  Norwich. 

Durrant,  K.  C.,  1958.  Rare  dragonflies  in  Norfolk.  Trans.  Norfolk  & Nor.  Nat.  Soc ., 
XIV,  76-77. 

Crawford,  G.  I.,  1937.  An  amphipod.  Eucrangonyx  gracilis  S.  I.  Smith,  new  to  Britain. 
Nature,  Lond.,  136,  685. 

Kimmins,  D.  E.,  1972.  Ephemeroptera.  Freshwater  Biological  Association  Scientific 
Publication  No.  15. 

Lewis,  D.  B.,  Walkley,  M.  and  Dartnall,  H.  J.  G.,  1972.  Some  effects  of  low  oxygen 
tensions  on  the  distribution  of  the  three-spined  stickleback  Gasterosteus  aculeatus  L. 
and  the  nine-spined  stickleback  Pungitius  pungitius  (L.).  J.Fish.Biol.,  4,  103-108 
McWilliams,  B.,  1972.  Mammals  of  the  last  interglacial  in  Norfolk.  Ball.Geol.  Soc. 
Norfolk.  No,,  22. 

Rudd,  A.  J.,  1943.  Norfolk  fishes.  Trans.  Norfolk  & Nor.  Nat.  Soc.,  XV,  377-391. 
Sainty,  J.  E.,  1945.  Head-waters  of  the  Wensum.  Eastern  Daily  Press. 

Swann,  E.  L.,  1978.  Elodea  canadensis  and  Elodea  nuttallii.  Trans.  Norfolk  & Nor. 
Nat.  Soc.,  24,  (5). 

Warwick,  T.,  1969.  Systematics  of  the  genus  Potamopyrgus  (Hydrobiidae)  in  Europe, 
and  the  causation  of  the  keel  in  this  snail.  Malacologia , 9,  301-302. 

White,  W.,  1836.  History,  Gazetteer  and  Directory  of  Norfolk.  Sheffield. 


APPENDIX  1.  List  of  plants  recorded  during  1976-77 
survey. 

SPECIES 

Angiospermae  A 

Aegopodium  podagraria  L. 

Agrostis  stolonifera  L. 

Alisma  plantago-aquatica  L. 

Alliaria  petiolata  (Bieb.)  Cavara  & Grande  . . 

Alnus  glutinosa  (L.)  Gaertn. 

Apium  nodiflorum  (L.)  Lag. 

Atriplex  sp.  L.N 

Berula  erecta  (Huds.)  Coville 

Bidens  cernua  L. 

Bidens  cernua  var.  radiata  DC. 

Brachypodium  sylvaticum  (Huds.)  Beauv. 

Callitriche  platycarpa  Kutz.  ? . . . . * 

Callitriche  stagnalis  Scop.  ? . . . . * 

Callitriche  sp.  L.  . . . . . . * 

Cardamine  amara  L. 

Carex  ripara  Curt. 

Carex  sp.  L. 

Ceratophyllum  demersum  L.  . . . . * 

Chrysosplenium  oppositifolium  L.  . . 

Circaea  lutetiana  L. 

Cirsium  arvense  (L.)  Scop. 

Cirsium  vulgare  (Savi)  Ten. 


in  River  Wensum 

HABITAT 

E B 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* * 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 


* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 


215 


Cirsium  sp.  Mill. 

Crataegus  monogyna  Jacq. 

Dactylis  glomerata  L. 

Elodea  canadensis  Michx. 

Epilobium  angustifolium  L. 

Epilobium  hirsutum  L. 

Epilobium  parviflorum  Schreb. 

Epilobium  sp.  L. 

Eupatorium  cannabinum  L. 

Fagus  sylvatica  L. 

Filipendula  ulmaria  (L.)  Maxim. 

Fraxinus  excelsior  L. 

Geranium  robertianum  L.  . . 

Geum  rivale  L. 

Glyceria  fluitans  (L.)  R.Bt. 

Glyceria  maxima  (Hartm.)  Holmberg 
Groenlandia  densa  (L.)  Fourr. 

Hippuris  vulgaris  L. 

Holcus  lanatus  L. 

Impatiens  glandulifera  Royle 
Iris  pseudacorus  L. 

Juncus  effusus  L. 

Juncus inflexus  L. 

Lamium  album  L. 

Lapsana  communis  L. 

Lemna  minor  L. 

Lemna  polyrhiza  L. 

Lemna  trisculca  L. 

Mentha  aquatica  L. 

Mentha  sp.  L. 

Mercurialis  perennis  L. 

Mimulus  sp.L. 

Myosotis  scorpioides  L. 

Myosoton  aquaticum  (L.)  Moench  . . 
Myriophyllum  spicatum  L. 

Myriophyllum  sp.  L. 

Nuphar  lutea  (L.)  Sm. 

Oenanthe  fluviatilis  (Bab.)  Colem.  . . 
Phalaris  arundinacea  L. 

Phragmites  australis  (Cav.)  Trin.  ex  Steud. 
Poa  annua  L. 

Polygonum  amphibium  L. 

Polygonum  persicaria  L.  . . 

Populus  sp.  L. 

Potamogeton  crispus  L. 

Potamogeton  natans  L. 

Potamogeton  pectinatus  L. 

Potamogeton  perfoliatus  L. 

Potamogeton  pusillus  L.  . . 


* 


* 


* 


* 

* 


* 


* 

* * 

* * 

* 

* * 


* 


* 


* 

* 

* 

* 

* 


* 


* 


* 


* 


* 


* 


* 


* 


* 

* 


* 

* 

* 


* 

* 

* 


* 


* 


* 


* 


* 


* 


* 

* 


* 

* 

* 

* 

* 


216 


Potamogeton  pusillus  L.  ? 

Potentilla  anserina  L. 

Primus  spinosa  L. 

Pulicaria  dysenterica  (L.)  Bernh. 

Ranunculus  aquatilis  L.  ? 

Ranunculus  fluitans  Lam.  ? 

Ranunculus  peltatus  Schrank 
Ranunculus  repens  L. 

Ranunculus  sceleratus  L. 

Ranunculus  sp.  L. 

Rorippa  nasturtium-aquaticum  agg. 

Rosa  canina  L.  . . 

Rubus  fruticosus  agg. 

Rumex  conglomeratus  Murr. 

Rumex  crispus  L. 

Rumex  obtusifolius  L. 

Rumex  sanguineus  L. 

Sagittaria  sagittifolia  L. 

Salix  alba  L. 

Salix  sp.  L. 

Sambucus  nigra  L. 

Scirpus  lacustris  L. 

Scirpus  sp.  L. 

Scrophularia  auriculata  L. 

Senecio  jacobaea  L. 

Solanum  dulcamara  L. 

Sonchus  arvensis  L. 

Sonchus  asper  (L.)  Hill 
Sparganium  emersum  Rehm. 

Sparganium  erectum  L. 

Stachys  palustris  L. 

Torilis  japonica  (Houtt.)  DC.  ? 
Tripleurospermum  maritimum  (L.)  Koch 
Urtica  dioica  L.  . . 

Veronica  beccabunga  L.  . . 

Veronica  catenata  Pennell 
Zannichellia  palustris  L. 

Musci 

Fontinaiis  antipyretica  Hedw. 

Fissidens  crassipes  Wils. 

Unidentified 

Hepaticae 

Pellia  endiviifolia  Dicks. 

Conocephalum  conicum  (L.)  Underw. 

Algae 

Bangia  atropurpurea  (Roth)  C.  Ag.  ? 
Batrachospermum  boryanum  (Ag,  ?)  Sirodot  . . 


217 


Cladophora  glomerata  (L.)  Kutz.  . . 

* 

Cladophora  glomerata  (L.)  Kutz.  ? . . 

* 

Cladophora  sp.  Kutz. 

* 

Enteromorpha  intestinalis  (L.)  Link 

* 

Enteromorpha  sp.  Link  in  Nees 

* 

Oscillatoria  sp.  Vauch. 

* 

Spirogyra  sp.  Link 

* 

Spirogyra  sp.  Link  ? 

* 

Vaucheria  sessilis  (Vauch.)  DC. 

* 

Unidentified 

* 

Number  of  species  of  macrophyte  & bryophyte 

24 

31  + 

56 

Number  of  species  of  alga 

7 

0 

0 

Number  of  species  of  macophyte,  bryophyte  & alga 

31 

37+ 

56 

Total  number  of  species  of  macrophyte  & bryophyte 

99+ 

Total  number  of  species  of  alga 

7 

Total  number  of  species  of  macrophyte,  bryophyte  & alga 

106+ 

A submerged  and  floating  flora 
B emergent  and  marginal  flora 
E bank  flora 
+ excluding  one  variety 

APPENDIX  la.  List  of  animals 
recorded  during  1976-77  in  River 
Wensum  survey. 


Phylum  Porifera 
Ephydatia  fluviatilis  (L.) 

Phylum  Cnidaria , Class  Hydrozoa 
Hydra  oligactis  (Pallas) 

Phylum  Platyhelminthes , Class 
Turbellaria 

Polycelis  nigra  (Mull.) 

Polycelis  sp. 

Dugesia  polychroa  (Schmidt) 
Dendrocoelum  lacteum  (Mull.) 
Phylum  Aschelminthes , Class  Rotifera 
Pleurotrocha  petromyzon  Ehren- 
berg 

Phylum  Mollusca , Class  Gastropoda 
Viviparus  contectus  (Millet) 
Valvata  cristata  Mull. 

Valvata  piscinalis  (Mull.) 
Potamopyrgus  jenkinsi  (Smith) 
Bithynia  tentaculata  (L.) 

Bithynia  leachii  (Sheppard) 

Physa  fontinalis  (L.) 


Lymnaea  peregra  (Mull.) 
Lymnaea  stagnalis  (L.) 

Planorbis  planorbis  (L.) 

Planorbis  carinatus  Mull. 

Anisus  leucostoma  (Millet) 
Aniscus  vortex  (L.) 
Bathyomphalus  contortus  (L.) 
Gyraulus  albus  (Mull.) 

Armiger  crista  (L.) 

Ancylus  fluviatilis  Mull. 

Class  Lamellibranchia 
Anodonta  cygnea  (L.) 

Anodonta  sp. 

Sphaerium  corneum  (L.) 

Pisidium  milium  Held 
Pisidium  nitidum  Jenyns 
Pisidium  moitessierianum 
Paladilhe 
Pisidium  sp. 

Phylum  Annelida , Class  Oligochaeta 
Unidentified 

Phylum  Annelida , Class  Hirudinea 
Piscicola  geometra  (L.) 
Theromyzon  tessulatum  (Mull.) 
Glossiphonia  complanata  (L.) 
Glossiphonia  heteroclita  (L.) 


218 


Helobdella  stagnalis  (L.) 
Erpobdella  octoculata  (L.) 

Phylum  Arthropoda,  Class  Crustacea 
Eurycercus  lamellatus  (Mull.) 
Simocephalus  vetulus  (Mull.) 
Cyclops  agilis  (Koch,  Sars) 
Cyclops  distinctus  (Richard) 
Asellus  aquaticus  (L.) 

Asellus  meridianus  Racovtza 
Crangonyx  pseudogracilis  Bous- 
field 

Gammarus  pulex  (L.) 
Austropotamobius  pallipes  (Lere- 
boullet) 

Class  Insecta 
Baetis  rhodani  (Pictet) 

Cloeon  dipterum  (L.) 

Ephemerella  ignita  (Poda) 
Ephemera  danica  Mull. 

Caenis  rnoesta  Bengtsson 

Caenis  robusta  Eaton 

Caenis  sp.  Stephens 

Ischnura  elegans  (van  der  Linden) 

Coenagrion  sp.  Kirby 

Aeshna  grandis  (L.) 

Sympetrum  striolatum  (Charpen- 
tier) 

Hydrometra  stagnorum  (L.) 

Gerris  lacustris  (L.) 

Nepa  cinerea  L. 

Notonecta  glauca  L. 

Corixa  punctata  (Illinger) 
Hesperocorixa  linnei  (Fieb.) 

Sigara  dorsalis  (Leach) 

Sigara  distincta  (Fieb.) 

Sigara  falleni  (Fieb.) 

Corixidae  (unidentified) 

Sialis  lutaria  (L.) 

Limnephilidae  (unidentified) 
Molanna  angustata  Curtis 
Brychius  elevatus  (Panzer) 
Haliplus  fluviatilis  Aube 
Haliplus  laminatus  (Schaller) 
Haliplus  lineatocollis  (Marsham) 


Haliplus  wehnckei  Gerhardt 
Haliplus  sp.  Latreille 
Laccophilus  hyalinus  (Degeer) 
Potamonectes  depressus  (Fab.) 
Agabus  bipustulatus  (L.) 

Ilybius  ater  (Degeer) 

Ilybius  fuluginosus  (Fab.) 

Gyrinus  aeratus  Stephens 
Gyrinus  natator  (L.) 

Helophorus  sp.  Illiger 
Elmis  aenea  (Muller,  P.  W.  J.) 
Limnius  volckmari  (Panzer) 
Oulimnius  tuberculatus  (Muller, 
P.  W.  J.) 

Dicranota  sp.  Zetterstedt 
Rheotanytarsus  sp.  Bause 
Chironomidae  (unidentified) 
Simulium  aureum  species  group 
Simulium  erythrocephalum  (De 
Geer) 

Simulium  ornatum  Meigen 

Class  Arachnida 
Hydrachna  globosa  globosa  (Geer) 
Sperchon  squamosus  squamosus 
Kramer 

Lebertia  insignis  insignis  Meuman 
Limnesia  maculata  maculata 
(Mull.) 

Hygrobates  fluviatilis  (Strom) 
Hygrobates  longipalpis  (Hermann) 
Phylum  Chordata,  Class  Osteich- 
thyes 

Salmo  trutta  L. 

Salmo  gairdneri  Richardson 
Esox  lucius  L. 

Phoxinus  phoxinus  (L.) 

Rutilus  rutilus  (L.) 

Leuciscus  leuciscus  (L.) 
Noemacheilus  barbatulus  (L.) 
Anguilla  anguilla  (L.) 

Gasterosteus  aculeatus  L. 
Pungitius  pungitius  (L.) 

Cottus  gobio  L. 


219 


i 


NOTES  TO  CONTRIBUTORS 


1.  All  manuscipts  submitted  for  publication  should  be 
sent  to  Dr.  E.  A.  Ellis,  Wheatfen  Broad,  Surlingham, 
Norwich. 

2.  Manuscripts  should  be  typed  double  spaced  on  one 
side  of  the  paper.  Latin  names  of  genera  and  species 
should  be  underlined.  Dates  should  be  in  the  form 
1 January  1972.  Text  figures  should  be  referred  to  as 
Fig.  1,  etc. 

3.  All  Latin  names  should  be  followed  by  the  authority 
when  the  name  is  first  mentioned  in  the  text  or  table. 

4.  References  should  be  in  alphabetical  order  at  the  end 
of  the  paper,  in  the  form  of : 

Bloomfield,  E.  N.,  1905.  Fauna  and  flora  of  Norfolk. 
Trans.  Norfolk  & Nor.  Nat.  Soc.,  8.  117-37. 

5.  Tables  should  be  set  on  separate  sheets  and  numbered 
in  arabic  numerals. 

6.  Drawings  should  be  in  jet-black  indian  ink.  Shading 
should  be  in  lines  or  dots  but  not  in  half-tone  washes. 

7.  Page-proofs  only  will  be  sent.  They  should  be  returned 
with  the  least  possible  delay,  and  the  minimum  of  essential 
correction  should  be  made. 

8.  Authors  are  supplied  with  15  offprints  gratis.  Addi- 
tional copies  may  be  ordered  when  the  proofs  are  returned. 


Printed  by  H.  G.  Stone  & Co.  (Printers)  Ltd.,  Wymondham,  Norfolk 


Norfolk 

Bird  & Mammal 
Report  1977 


Published  by  The  Norfolk  Naturalists  Trust 

and  The  Norfolk  & Norwich  Naturalists  Society  Vol.  24  Part  5 

ISBN  0375-7226 


Norfolk  Naturalists  Trust  Properties 


Date 


Acquired 

Acreage 

Status* 

1926 

On  the  Coast 

Cley  Marshes  . . 

435 

Gift 

S.S.S.I. 

1937 

Duchess’s  Pightle,  Burnham  Overy 

1 

Gift 

— 

1937 

Great  and  Little  Eye,  Salthouse 

10 

Purchased 

S.S.S.I. 

1945 

East  End  of  Scolt  Island 

# , 

76 

Purchased 

N.N.R. 

1955 

The  Eye,  Salthouse 

# , 

21 

Purchased 

S.S.S.I. 

1965 

Holme  Dunes  . . 

400 

Purchased,  Gift 

S.S.S.I. 

1971 

Salthouse  Marshes 

. . 

200 

& Agreement 
Agreement 

S.S.S.I. 

1928 

Broadland 

Starch  Grass  (Martham) 

43i 

Purchased  & Gift 

S.S.S.I. 

and  1974 

1930  Alderfen  Broad 

72 

Purchased 

S.S.S.I. 

1945 

Hickling  Broad  . . 

861 

Purchased 

N.N.R 

and  1969 

1945  „ „ . . 

500 

Leased 

N.N.R 

1945 

Barton  Broad  . . 

355 

Half  Gift  & 

S.S.S.I 

1952 

»>  »» 

Half  Purchased 

S.S.S.I 

1948 

Surlingham  Broad 

253 

Purchased 

S.S.S.I 

1949 

Ranworth  Broad 

124 

Gift 

N.N.R 

1949 

Cockshoot  Broad 

12 

Gift 

N.N.R 

1964 

Firs  Marsh,  Burgh  St.  Peter 

2i 

Leased 

— 

1971 

Martham  Broad 

103 

Leased 

S.S.S.I 

1972 

Hardley  Flood 

90 

Leased 

— 

1972 

Chedgrave  Common  . . 

10 

Leased 



1974 

Barton  Marshes 

ioi 

Gift 

— — 

1938 

Breckland 

East  Wretham  Heath 

362 

Purchased  & Gift 

S.S.S.I 

1942 

Weeting  Heath 

. . 

343 

Gift 

N.N.R 

1949 

Thetford  Heath 

•• 

250 

Gift 

N.N.P 

1957 

Other  Areas 
Thursford  Woods 

25 

Gift 

1960 

Hethel  Old  Thom 

Gift 

— 

1961 

Seaming  Fen 

• • 

10j 

Gift 

S.S.SJ 

1962 

Hockham  Fen  (Cranberry  Rough) 

20 

Purchased 

S.S.S.I 

1963 

Roydon  Common 

, . 

140 

Purchased 

S.S.SJ 

1966 

Stoke  Ferry  Fen 

, , 

25 

Agreement 

S.S.SJ 

1968 

Lenwade  Water 

, , 

37 

Agreement 

— 

1968 

Dickleburgh  Pightle 

• . 

1 

Agreement 

— 

1972 

Smallburgh  Fen. . 

19 

Leased 

S.S.SJ 

1972 

Ringstead  Downs 

. . 

26 

Agreement 

S.S.SJ 

(Continued  on  inside  back  cor 


Norfolk  Bird  Report  - 1977 

Editor:  MICHAEL  J.  SEAGO 

County  Recorders:  D.  A.  DORLING  & P.  R.  ALLARD 


Editorial  Assistants:  P.  R.  ALLARD,  A.  D.  BOOTE,  J.  F.  W. 

G.  E.  DUNMORE  and  DR.  M.  P.  TAYLOR 

BRUHN, 

Editorial 

222  - 224 

Obituary,  Richard  A.  Richardson 

225 

Ringing  Report 

226  - 231 

Avocets  at  Cley,  1977 

231  - 232 

Classified  Notes 

233  - 248 

Contributors 

249 

Norfolk  Mammal  Report  - 1977 

Editor:  REX  HANCY 

Feeding  Wildlife  in  the  Garden 

250  - 252 

Hibernation  Habitats  of  Bats  in  Norfolk 

252  - 254 

Editorial 

255  - 256 

Classified  Notes 

256  - 260 

Contributors 

260 

Published  by 

THE  NORFOLK  NATURALISTS  TRUST, 72  Cathedral  Close,  Norwich  NR1  4DF 
(Telephone  25540). 
and 

THE  NORFOLK  & NORWICH  NATURALISTS  SOCIETY,  Castle  Museum, 
Norwich  ( Transactions  Volume  24  Part  5). 


221 


NORFOLK 
BIRD 
REPORT 

1977 


Editorial 

The  Council  of  the  Norfolk  Naturalists  Trust,  in  co-operation  with  the  Norfolk  & 
Norwich  Naturalists  Society,  is  pleased  to  present  the  annual  report  on  the  birds  of 
Norfolk. 

Review  of  the  Year:  Somewhat  surprisingly,  1977  produced  four  additions  to 
the  county  list:  Ruddy  Duck,  Sociable  Plover,  Thrush  Nightingale  and  Isabelline 
Wheatear.  Whilst  the  first  three  species  were  not  entirely  unexpected,  the  last  one 
breeding  no  closer  than  Greece,  was  undoubtedly  the  surprise  vagrant  of  the  year. 

Mild  weather  in  the  first  half  of  March  resulted  in  an  exceptionally  early  arrival 
of  summer  visitors  with  records  of  ChiffchalT  and  Wheatear  on  6th,  House  Martin 
on  8th  and  Yellow  Wagtail  on  13th.  These  early  arrivals  were  closely  followed  by  a 
Tawny  Pipit  at  Holme  on  19th,  by  far  the  earliest  ever  British  record  of  this  vagrant 
from  southern  Europe. 

April  was  again  disappointing  with  below  average  temperatures  and  no  large 
influxes  of  migrants.  Nevertheless  a Serin  was  found  at  Wells  and  what  was  almost 
certainly  the  same  Crane  observed  at  various  north  coast  localities  in  the  second 
half  of  the  month. 

The  cold  weather  continued  for  the  first  week  of  May,  being  followed  by  a week 
of  wet  westerlies.  On  the  14th  high  pressure  commenced  building  up  and  the  asso- 
ciated north-easterly  winds  produced  a Thrush  Nightingale  at  Holme  on  this  date 
and  a Red-throated  Pipit  at  Cley  on  18th.  Warmer  conditions  at  the  end  of  the 
month,  with  generally  south-easterly  winds,  resulted  in  the  appearance  of  3 White- 
winged Black  Terns,  another  Red-throated  Pipit  (at  the  same  locality  as  one  in  1973) 
and  an  Isabelline  Wheatear  at  Winterton,  only  the  second  British  record  and  the 
first  this  century. 

Whilst  the  vast  majority  of  migrants  have  passed  through  the  county  by  June 
the  first  half  of  the  month  invariably  produces  one  or  more  overshooting  vagrants 
from  southern  or  eastern  Europe  and  1977  proved  to  be  an  above-average  year  in 


222 


this  respect.  Another  White-winged  Black  Tern  was  at  Cley,  together  with  a Red- 
rumped  Swallow.  Breydon  Water  attracted  a Broad-billed  Sandpiper  and  a brief 
visit  from  a Gull-billed  Tern.  A fortunate  inland  observer  also  discovered  a Lesser 
Grey  Shrike  near  Downham  Market.  The  cold  weather  for  most  of  the  month  did 
have  some  compensations:  north-east  winds  and  torrential  rain  on  10th  resulted  in 
unprecedented  numbers  of  Manx  Shearwaters  moving  east  along  the  north  coast, 
together  with  other  seabirds  including  a Cory’s  Shearwater  at  Holme. 

The  highlight  of  the  summer  was  undoubtedly  the  successful  breeding  of  Avo- 
cets  at  Cley,  where  a pair  of  Bitterns  was  also  successful  in  rearing  young.  The 
number  of  Marsh  Harriers  reared  by  the  slender  population  was  well  above  average. 
Despite  the  downward  trend  elsewhere  in  England,  Red-backed  Shrikes  bred  in 
compatible  numbers  compared  with  1976;  the  small  number  of  young  reared  is 
disturbing,  however,  despite  the  discovery  of  two  new  breeding  sites. 

July  is  generally  regarded  as  a ‘wader’  month,  but  it  produced  a number  of 
unusual  records:  a Caspian  Tern  at  Swanton  Morley  GP,  a Woodchat  Shrike  at 
Sheringham  and  a Cory’s  Shearwater  picked-up  alive  on  the  beach  at  Yarmouth. 

In  the  past,  most  large  autumn  ‘falls’  of  passerines  have  occurred  in  September, 
but  in  recent  years  August  has  proved  increasingly  rewarding.  On  6th  August  an 
anti-cyclone  became  established  over  southern  Scandinavia  and  from  7th  until  the 
23rd  a large  number  of  ‘falls’  occurred  on  both  the  north  and  east  coasts  as  a result 
of  a series  of  small  depressions  circling  the  North  Sea,  causing  north-easterly  or 
easterly  winds,  frequently  accompanied  by  rain.  Unprecedented  numbers  of  Icterine 
Warblers  and  Red-backed  Shrikes  were  present  during  this  period  in  association 
with  other  migrants,  including  large  numbers  of  Wrynecks  and  at  least  3 Greenish 
Warblers.  The  place  of  origin  of  the  migrants  was  noticeably  different  in  the  various 
‘falls’  in  view  of  the  wide  variance  in  the  proportions  of  the  actual  species  involved, 
as  evidenced  by  the  lack  of  any  Aquatic  Warblers  which  occurred  in  similar  con- 
ditions in  the  previous  year.  Two  other  rarities  were  recorded  during  August:  a 
White-rumped  Sandpiper  at  Holme  and  a Gull-billed  Tern  at  Cley. 

September  produced  a scattering  of  unusual  migrants  including  a Ferruginous 
Duck  in  the  Brecks,  an  obliging  Sociable  Plover  at  Welney,  another  Broad-billed 
Sandpiper  at  Breydon  and  a Woodchat  Shrike  at  Cley.  Despite  a spell  of  north- 
easterly winds  for  several  days  from  mid-month  onwards,  no  large  ‘falls’  of  migrants 
were  recorded  due  to  unsettled  weather  over  southern  Scandinavia.  Nevertheless 
the  small  trickle  of  migrants  included  several  Yellow-browed  Warblers  and  two 
well-observed  rarities:  an  Arctic  Warbler  at  Wells  from  18th  to  23rd  and  a Little 
Bunting  at  Stiffkey  from  22nd  to  26th.  The  same  winds  also  produced  excellent 
sea-watching  on  17th,  including  several  petrels  and  2 Long-tailed  Skuas.  Most 
large  sea-bird  movements  occur  with  onshore  gales,  but  on  this  occasion  the  wind 
only  averaged  force  6;  the  presence  of  large  numbers  of  birds  in  the  southern  North 
Sea  was  obviously  due  to  continuous  northerly  winds  for  several  days  beforehand. 

October  was  disappointing  with  many  days  of  southerly  winds  and  a lack  of 
easterlies.  The  only  rarity  was  a Great  Spotted  Cuckoo  at  Cley.  However,  many 
observers  were  pleased  to  see  the  large  number  of  Richard’s  Pipits  and  Lapland 
Buntings  which  appeared  at  many  coastal  localities,  in  addition  to  the  exceptional 
number  of  rarer  divers  and  grebes  throughout  the  autumn. 

The  most  exciting  period  of  the  late  autumn  was  in  mid-November  with  several 
large  sea-bird  movements  on  different  dates.  On  16th  the  wind  veered  to  the  north- 
west and  then  to  the  north  the  next  day.  Large  immigrations  of  winter  thrushes  and 
starlings  occurred  at  this  time,  much  later  than  normal,  with  big  movements  of 
geese,  ducks  and  gulls  at  sea.  A Corncrake  at  Holme  was  the  month’s  surprise. 


223 


Acknowledgements:  Thanks  are  due  to  G.  M.  S.  Easy  for  the  cover  drawing  and  for 
text  illustrations;  also  to  Dr.  K.  J.  Carlson,  P.  R.  Clarke,  R.  Powley  and  Dr.  R. 
Vaughan  for  photographs  and  vignettes;  to  Holme  Bird  Observatory/N.O.A.  for 
access  to  records;  to  the  Norfolk  Naturalists  Trust  Wardens;  to  the  National  Trust 
(Blakeney  Point) ; to  the  Nature  Conservancy  Council  (Scolt  Head,  Holkham,  Bure 
Marshes  (Woodbastwick)  and  Hoveton  Great  Broad) ; to  the  Cambridge  Bird  Club; 
to  the  Gt.  Yarmouth  Naturalists  Society;  to  P.  R.  Allard  and  D.  A.  Dorling  (for  i 
compiling  the  annual  record  cards);  to  Mrs.  M.  Dorling,  J.  T.  Fenton,  P.  D.  Kirby, 
Mrs.  P.  Rix  and  Mrs.  M.  J.  Seago  for  valuable  assistance  and  to  all  other  contri-  j 
butors. 


Recording:  Records  for  the  1978  Report  (including  field  descriptions  of  rarities  and 
semi-rarities)  should  be  sent  by  the  end  of  January  to  Michael  J.  Seago,  33  Acacia  | 
Road,  Thorpe  St.  Andrew,  Norwich  NR7  OPP.  Contributors  are  requested  to  sub- 
mit notes  in  the  order  followed  in  Dr.  K.  H.  Voous’  List  of  Recent  Holarctic  Bird 
Species  (1977).  In  order  to  minimise  the  work  involved,  records  will  not  normally 
be  acknowledged.  The  names  of  all  contributors  will  be  included  in  the  Report.  It 
will  be  appreciated  that  delays  in  receiving  observations  create  considerable  prob- 
lems for  the  Recorders,  the  Records  Committee  and  the  printers.  For  several  reasons 
it  is  essential  that  publication  is  achieved  by  early  September. 

The  County  Records  Committee  (P.  R.  Allard,  G.  E.  Dunmore,  D.  Holman, 

S.  C.  Joyner  and  Dr.  M.  P.  Taylor)  considered  an  increased  number  of  written 
descriptions  of  semi-rare  birds  in  1977  compared  with  the  previous  year,  the  majority 
of  records  being  accepted  and  included  in  the  Classified  Notes.  Regretfully,  many  ; 
observers  did  not  include  descriptions,  where  applicable,  of  those  species  listed  in 
the  1975  Report,  necessitating  follow-up  letters  causing  additional  costs  and  delay. 
Only  two  observers  failed  to  reply  and  the  relevent  records  of  species  (which  could 
well  have  been  correctly  identified)  have  not  been  included.  In  a number  of  cases 
the  Committee  considered  that  the  birds  had  been  incorrectly  identified,  eg.  Black- 
necked Grebe  instead  of  Slavonian  Grebe,  but  it  was  resolved  to  include  the  records 
on  the  basis  of  the  Committee’s  amended  identification. 

Due  to  the  large  number  of  accepted  records  received,  details  of  some  of  the 
divers  and  grebes  have  had  to  be  summarised  in  the  Classified  Notes.  Observers  are 
still  requested  to  submit  descriptions  of  such  species  where  required  in  future  years, 
however,  as  they  are  likely  to  revert  to  their  normal  uncommon  status. 

In  1975  it  was  decided  that  no  records  of  species  considered  by  British  Birds 
Rarities  Committee  would  be  included  in  this  Report  unless  accepted  by  that 
Committee.  Unfortunately,  the  Committee  has  been  unable  to  consider  many  1977 
rarities  until  recently  due  to  administrative  problems  so  as  a result  decisions  on 
many  records  are  still  outstanding.  In  view  of  this  situation,  it  has  been  decided — 
for  1977  records  only — that  a number  of  rarities  should  be  included  in  this  Report 
on  the  basis  that  they  were  seen  by  many  observers,  thus  anticipating  future  accep- 
tance by  the  Rarities  Committee.  There  are  still  several  outstanding  records,  how- 
ever, mainly  seen  by  individual  observers  only,  which  have  not  been  included  in  this 
Report.  Such  records,  if  accepted,  will  be  published  in  next  year’s  issue. 

The  new  Secretary  of  the  Rarities  Committee  has  devised  a system  of  improved 
liaison  between  the  Committee  and  County  Editors  and  in  future  all  observers  are 
requested  to  submit  details  of  rare  birds  to  the  Editor  who  will  then  forward  them 
to  the  Secretary. 


224 


OBITUARY 

Mr.  R.  A.  Richardson 


The  untimely  death  of  Richard  Alan  Richardson  on  9th  October,  1977,  at  the  com- 
paratively early  age  of  55  is  a severe  blow  to  Norfolk  ornithology.  A Londoner  by 
birth,  he  spent  the  last  28  years  of  his  life  at  Cley,  living  simply  in  a small  cottage 
where  he  happily  produced  the  drawings  and  paintings  which  gained  him  an  inter- 
national reputation.  His  major  publications  were  the  illustrations  he  did  for  Richard 
Fitter’s  Pocket  Guide  to  British  Birds  and  its  companion  volume  on  their  nests  and 
eggs.  He  also  published  A Checklist  of  the  Birds  of  Cley  and  his  drawings  appeared 
in  this  Report  for  many  years  and  can  be  found  in  many  other  publications  and 
journals— most  recently  in  The  Atlas  of  Breeding  Birds  in  Britain  and  Ireland 
published  late  in  1976. 

Richard  regarded  himself  primarily  as  a field  ornithologist  and  devoted  most 
of  his  time  to  that  end.  He  never  took  a notebook  or  pencil  with  him  in  the  field, 
but  when  an  unusual  bird  appeared  he  would  study  it  closely  with  those  bright 
blue  long-sighted  eyes  that  missed  nothing  and  within  an  hour  or  so  of  returning 
home  would  have  produced  a drawing  and  sometimes  even  a painting  that  omitted 
no  detail  of  plumage  or  attitude  and  was  also  a good  picture. 

He  had  a hard  childhood  and  it  was  perhaps  this  that  made  him  so  kind  and 
thoughtful  to  all  young  people. ' He  was  a superb  teacher  and  the  many  youngsters 
who  came  along  the  East  Bank  could  be  sure  that  Richard  would  help  and  advise 
them  in  every  possible  way.  Many  of  the  young  professional  ornithologists  of  today 
owe  him  a great  debt  for  the  technical  knowledge  and  insight  which  they  acquired 
in  his  company.  He  contributed  greatly  to  organised  ornithology  and  conservation, 
including  the  founding  of  the  Cley  Bird  Observatory  and  its  ringing  station,  work 
for  the  Norfolk  Naturalists  Trust  and  was  President  of  Holme  Bird  Observatory. 

He  was  deeply  devoted  to  Fair  Isle,  which  he  visited  every  spring  and  again  in 
the  autumn.  He  was  a member  of  the  committee  of  the  Observatory  there  and  an 
honorary  member  of  the  Shetland  Bird  Club.  He  also  founded  the  John  Harrison 
memorial  trust — the  object  being  to  help  young  ornithologists  to  visit  and  to  enjoy 
Fair  Isle. 

Richard  was  innocent  of  conventional  schooling  and  had  never  seen  the  inside 
of  an  art  school,  but  despite  these  apparent  drawbacks  he  had  an  enormous  know- 
ledge of  birds.  He  was  modest  and  totally  unassuming  which  allowed  people  of  all 
ages  to  ask  him  questions  with  the  assurance  that  he  would  answer  both  seriously 
and  carefully. 


225 


Bird  Ringing 


Report 


Ringing  activity  in  the  County  is  more  or  less  restricted  to  certain  areas  including 
Norwich,  Sheringham,  Happisburgh  and  East  Runton,  one  or  two  sites  in  Broad- 
and,  the  North  Coast  centred  on  Titchwell  and  Holme,  and  Downham  Market, 
and  in  some  parts  it  tends  to  be  seasonal. 

There  is  also  all-year-round  activity  on  the  Wash,  between  Holme  and  Gibraltar 
Point,  catching  waders.  These  are  aged,  weighed  and  measured  as  part  of  a con- 
tinuing study  by  the  Wash  Wader  Ringing  Group,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for 
permission  to  publish  their  recoveries. 

The  list  of  recoveries  for  Norfolk  includes  Spanish  and  Italian-ringed  passer- 
ines, which  are  of  infrequent  occurrence  in  the  British  Isles;  some  long-distance 
movements  of  various  species  into  USSR  and  to  Africa;  one  or  two  proved  to  live 
an  exceptionally  long  time;  and  others  that  have  been  controlled  a second  or  third 
time. 

A bird  ringed  before  it  reaches  the  free-flying  stage  is  referred  to  as  a pullus, 
and  a control  is  a bird  that  is  handled  by  a ringer  when  it  is  already  carrying  another 
person’s  ring. 


Fulmar 

Sheringham  (pullus)  3.8.76  Zandvoort,  N.  Holland,  Netherlands 

(dead)  21.5.77 

Shag 

Fame  Is.,  Northumberland  Old  Hunstanton  (caught  and  released) 
(pullus)  26.7.76  3.12.76 

Heron 

Two  birds  moved  to  Lines,  and  Notts.  The  following  lived  longer,  and  moved 
more  than  250  km. 

Barton  (pullus)  30.5.69  Garstang,  Lancs.,  14.6.77 

Ranworth  (pullus)  26.5.70  Keighley,  Yorks.,  6.11.77 

Teal 

Snettisham  winter-tinged  Teal  were  recovered  between  August  and  October 
in  Denmark  (2),  Netherlands  and  France. 

De  Koog,  Texel,  Netherlands  Salthouse  (shot)  Sept.  1977 
16.9.75 


Wigeon 

Previously  unreported  recoveries 
Snettisham  24.1.74 
Snettisham  28.1.74 
Snettisham  22.1.75 
Snettisham  22.2.72 
Snettisham  28.1.74 

Snettisham  1.2.73 
Snettisham  28.1.74 
Sparrowhawk 

Holme  20.4.76 


of  the  species  include : 

Pitlyar,  Tyumen,  USSR  29.5.75 
Ukhta,  Komi  ASSR  25.6.75 
Zelenogradsk,  Kaliningrad  USSR  30.8.75 
Kondinskoye,  Tyumen,  USSR  15.5.76 
Khatanga,  Krasnoyarsk  (72  °N,  102  °E) 
USSR  9.6.76 

Lappajarvi,  Kuopio,  Finland  18.9.76 
Langerak,  Jylland,  Denmark  9.10.76 

Canterbury,  Kent  (dead  in  barbed  wire) 
29.11.76 


226 


Kestrel 

Thorpe-le-Soken,  Essex  (pullus)  Shouldham  Warren  (dead)  3.8.77 
28.6.77 

Great  Black-backed  Gull 

Gt.  Ainov  Is.,  Murmansk,  USSR  Breydon  (dead)  26.12.76 
(pullus)  27.6.75 

Utsira,  Rogaland,  Norway  Breydon  (recently  dead)  30.6.77 

(pullus)  June  1976 

Kuli,  More  & Romsdal,  Norway  Breydon  (dead)  21.8.77 
(pullus)  11.7.75 

Haram,  More  & Romsdal,  Norway  Breydon  (dead)  30.10  77 
(pullus)  4.7.74 
Common  Gull 

Suur-Harjamaa,  Estonia  Norwich  (control)  19.1.78 

(pullus)  15.6.77 

Black-headed  Gull 

Recoveries  include  a bird  shot  well  north  in  USSR.  Others  were  to  usual 
areas  at  usual  times  of  the  year,  and  involved  birds  up  to  ten  years  old. 
Buxton  4.1.71  Onega,  Arkhangelsk,  USSR  10.7.77 

Common  Tern 

Stiffkey  (pullus)  16.6.67  Seaforth,  Lancs,  (controlled  and  worn 

ring  replaced)  18.9.77 

Little  Tern 

A pleasing  live  recovery,  albeit  from  foreign  breeding  grounds,  of  an  en- 
dangered species. 

Snettisham  (juvenile)  31.7.72  East  Frisian  Is.,  Germany  (controlled, 

breeding)  16.6.77 

Sandwich  Tern 

The  majority  of  Sandwich  Terns  recovered  end  their  days  off  West  Africa, 
particularly  Ghana  and,  as  in  this  case,  Senegal. 

Stiffkey  (pullus)  22.6.67  Thiaroye,  Dakar,  W.  Africa  (caught) 

April  1977. 

Cuckoo 

An  interesting,  though  regrettable,  example  of  reorientation. 

Holme  15.5.77  Finningham,  Suffolk  (dead)  end  May  1977 

Swallow 

Included  are  two  interesting  reports  of  birds  controlled  on  spring  passage. 
St.  Pryve-St.  Mesmin,  Loiret  Weybourne  (control)  20.8.77 
France  (juvenile)  16.9.76 

Zele,  E.  Flanders,  Belgium  Happisburgh,  19.5.77 

(pullus)  12.6.76 

Wainfleet,  Lines.,  18.9.76  Happisburgh,  12.5.77 

Sand  Martin 

Roost  netting  in  France  continues  to  provide  recoveries. 

Coltishall,  3.8.77  Rochford,  Charante  Maritime,  France, 

5.9.77 

Long-tailed  Tit 

Long  distance  movement  of  two  birds,  that  kept  together  no  doubt.  It  would 
be  interesting  to  speculate  when  the  movement  took  place,  and  whether  they 
would  have  remained  resident  in  Essex.  See  N.B.R.  for  1963,  1973. 

Holme  16.10.75  Benfleet,  Essex  (traffic  casualty)  20.1.77 

Holme  16.10.75  Benfleet,  Essex  (control)  8.6.77 


227 


Bearded  Tit 

For  comparable  movements  of  the  species  see  N.B.R.  for  1963/4/6. 
Goole,  Yorks.  18.10.75  Titchwell  8.10.76 


Titchwell  (two)  2.7.76 

Goole  (control)  28.10.76 

Titchwell  21.7.76 
Fieldfare 

Goole  (control)  8.11.76 

Sprowston  30.1.76 

Valkeakoski,  Hame,  Finland  (dead)  1.7.77 

Song  Thrush 

Sheringham  26.10.76 

Estibeaux,  Landes,  France  18.12.77 

Blackbird 

Finland  features  prominently  among  recovery  localities  with  four,  including 
one  near  the  border  with  USSR.  Others  were  from  Sweden  (2),  Denmark, 


Germany  (3)  and  Eire. 
Tunstead  2.1.77 
Titchwell  31.10.74 

Viitaa,  Kuopio,  Finland  (shot)  10.7.77 
Kildare,  Eire  8.2.77 

Reed  Warbler 

Two  useful,  if  unspectacular,  autumn  journies. 

Weybourne  29.7.77  Attleborough  (cat)  24.8.77 


Earlham  8.7.77 

Wheathampstead, Herts,  (control)  21.8.77 

Sedge  Warbler 

Le  Migron,  Loire  Atlantique 
France  7.9.76 

Sheringham  (control)  26.4.77 

Garden  Warbler 

Holme  21.8.77 
Goldcrest 

Helgoland  (control)  21.9.77 

Brasschaat,  Antwerpen, 
Belgium  15.11.76 

Sheringham  (control)  30.3.77 

Spotted  Flycatcher 

Sheringham  17.9.76 

Rabat,  Morocco,  May  1977 

Pied  Flycatcher 

Winterton  4.9.74 

Sando,  Buskerud,  Norway  (dead)  23.5.76 

Tree  Pipit 

This  is  the  first  foreign-ringed  Tree  Pipit  to  be  found  in  Britain.  The  few 
autumn  recoveries  of  individuals  ringed  elsewhere  in  Britain  have  mostly 
been  from  Portugal,  and  none  very  far  from  the  Atlantic  seaboard. 

Varese,  Italy  26.9.76  Sheringham  (killed  by  car)  14.5.77 


Yellow  Wagtail 

Cap  Breton,  Landes,  France 
2.10.76 

Tottenhill  (control)  22.6.77 

Starling 

Foreign  recoveries  include  seven  from  USSR.  There  is  only  one  report  of  a 
British-ringed  Starling  further  east  than  the  following. 

Sheringham  30.1.76  Ukhta,  Komi  ASSR  (53  °433E)  26.5.76 


Tunstead  12.2.76 

Ekofisk  field,  N.  Sea  14.1.77 

Greenfinch 

Holme  30.3.75 
Sandwich,  Kent  20.11.76 

Goldfinch 

Cleethorpes,  Lines.  19.1.77 
Sheringham  (control)  13.3.77 

Happisburgh  6.5.76 
Westmalle,  Antwerpen,  Belgium 
10.10.76 

Walberswick,  Suffolk  (control)  8.5.76 
Sheringham  (control)  18.4.77 

Lezo,  Guipuzcoa,  Spain  18.4.74 

Hellesdon  (caught  by  cat)  15.7.75 

228 


I» 


Two  pairs  of  Avocets  each  reared  three  young  to  the  flying  stage  at  Cley  in  1977 ; the  first 
successful  breeding  in  Norfolk  this  century.  A small  colony  of  five  nesting  pairs  became 
established  in  1978  when  a total  of  16  young  left  the  reserve.  Photos  Dr.  K.  J.  Carlson 


Among  the  year’s  exciting  visitors  at  Holme  were  these  Spoonbills  and  White-rumped  Sand- 
piper. The  latter  stayed  six  days  and  was  seen  by  many  observers 

Photos  P.  R.  Clarke  and  Dr.  R.  Vaughan 


Redpoll 

The  case  for  a spring  movement  from  wintering  grounds  across  the  North 
Sea  onto  the  Norfolk  coast  and  west  and  south  into  eastern  England  finds 
support  from  the  following  two  recoveries.  There  are  other  recoveries  within 
East  Anglia,  and  between  Norfolk  and  Belgium,  but  they  do  not  indicate 
the  precise  period  of  movement  to  the  same  degree. 

Kruisberg,  N.  Holland,  Sheringham  (control)  20.4.77 

Netherland  16.3.77 

Sheringham  9.5.77  Wisbech,  Cambs.,  24.5.77 

Bullfinch 

South  Runcton  14.8.76 
Sheringham  5.11.76 
Sheringham  23.7.77 

Reed  Bunting 

Further  evidence  of  seasonal  movement  in  this  species;  the  timing  remains 
rather  a mystery. 

Jersey,  Channel  Islands  7.1.76  Titchwell  (control)  5.1.77 


Burnham  Overy  (shot)  24.3.77 
Leiston,  Suffolk,  March  1977 
Fakenham  24.10.77 


WADER  RINGING  ON  THE  WASH 

The  Wash  Wader  Ringing  Group  has  now  been  functioning  for  nearly 
nineteen  years,  with  well  over  100,000  individual  birds  ringed,  and  many  more 
controlled  from  Britain  and  overseas.  The  Group’s  activities  extend  to  the 
Lincolnshire  side  of  the  Wash,  and  whereas  recoveries  published  are  only  for 
Norfolk,  statistics  quoted  include  Lincolnshire  birds.  The  following  com- 
ments and  recent  recoveries  are  reproduced  from  the  Report  1975-76. 

Oystercatcher 

183  out  of  253  recoveries  abroad  during  the  past  eighteen  years  have  come 
from  Norway,  revealing  the  main  breeding  area  of  the  Oystercatchers  found 
on  the  Wash.  1975  also  brought  the  first  recovery  from  Iceland.  There  are 
four  earlier  recoveries  from  the  Faeroe  Islands,  and  nine  from  Orkney  and 
Shetland.  Also  given  is  a recovery  of  local  interest. 

Heacham  (ad)  20.2.72  Kjosarsysla,  Iceland  (dead)  26.4.75 

Terrington  12.7.75  Lakenheath,  Suffolk  (taken  by  peregrine) 

25.2.76 

Ringed  Plover 

The  recovery  in  Senegal,  listed  on  page  101  of  the  N.B.R.  1976,  was  only  the 
third  from  Africa.  The  first  from  Norway  came  in  1975. 

Snettisham  (juvenile)  27.9.73  Varangerfjord,  Finnmark,  Norway  (70  N 

Lat.)  23.8.75 

Grey  Plover 

1976  produced  the  second  Moroccan  recovery  of  the  species. 

Terrington  (juvenile)  1.11.75  Ait  Melloul,  Agadir  (taken)  7.1.76 

Turnstone 

It  is  evident  from  recoveries  that  Turnstones  occurring  on  autumn  passage 
on  the  Wash  are  of  Finnish  origins,  and  over-wintering  birds  are  from 
Greenland  and  N.E.  Canada.  The  following  has  been  controlled  twice: 
Terrington  28.8.72  (1)  Alert,  Ellesmere  Is.,  Canada  3.6.75 

(2)  Snettisham  4.1.76 


229 


Woodcock 

This  is  the  second  recovery  of  the  species  from  the  Wash  area.  It  suggests  the 
possible  wintering  area  of  a bird  on  passage  through  the  north  of  the  county. 
Holme  14.10.72  Tamworth,  Staffs.,  (shot)  25.11.72 

Curlew 

Autumn  and  wintering  Curlew  have  been  ringed  in  fair  numbers  over  the 
years,  and  breeding  season  recoveries  have  been  from  as  far  east  as  Finland 
and  USSR. 

Terrington  6.9.75  Ilmajoki,  Vaasa,  Finland  (dead)  16.6.76 

Oulunsalo,  Oulu,  Finland  Brancaster  (shot)  22.11.74 

(pullus)  11.6.66 

Redshank 

Some  interesting  movements  were  noted  during  the  years  under  review ; one 
individual  was  at  least  in  the  nineteenth  year  of  its  life  when  controlled  in 
August  1976,  having  been  ringed  in  the  Group’s  first-ever  catch  on  18.8.59. 
Others  include: 

Terrington  20.7.74  Gulf  Tide  Drilling  Rig  (dead)  8.5.75 

Snettisham  1.1.72  (1)  Reykjavik,  Iceland  (Ring  No.  read 

through  binoculars)  23.6.74 
(2)  Snettisham  (control)  4.1.76 

Spotted  Redshank 

The  Group’s  first  recovery  came  in  1976,  though  an  earlier  one  from  Cantley 
is  listed  in  the  Norfolk  Bird  Report  for  1969. 

Terrington  27.7.75  E.  Jadida,  Morocco  (shot)  25.3.76 

Knot 

Recoveries  for  this  species  from  Greenland  and  N.  Canada  number  64  and  6 
respectively,  and  from  Iceland  on  passage,  123.  By  contrast  the  Knot  men- 
tioned in  the  N.B.R.  for  1973,  page  101,  was  again  caught  in  S.  Africa  in 
January  1976,  having  travelled  a minimum  of  50,000  miles  between  controls. 
Regular  ringing  on  both  sides  of  the  Wash  reveals  that  the  Knot  moves 
rapidly  from  place  to  place,  whereas  the  Dunlin,  for  instance,  will  rarely  be 
controlled  more  than  a few  kilometres  from  where  it  was  originally  ringed. 
Two  individuals  were  at  least  15  years  old  when  handled  in  1975. 

Dunlin 

Dunlin  recovery  areas  extend  from  USSR  (14  recoveries)  to  Eire  (13),  and 
France  (68)  and  from  Greenland  (1)  to  Mauritania  (6).  An  interesting  quick 
double  foreign  control,  over  a distance  of  300  miles  in  four  days. 

Snettisham,  13.4.68  & 4.4.69  (1)  Pori,  Turku  & Pori,  Finland  21.7.75 

(2)  Lake  Vattem,  Sweden  25.7.75 

Curlew  Sandpiper 

The  few  recoveries  have  ranged  from  Leningrad  and  the  Crimea  in  USSR 
to  Tunisia  and  Senegal  in  Africa. 

Wisbech  S.F.  1.9.69  Mikoszewo,  Poland  (control)  21.7.74 

Wisbech  S.F.  13.9.75  Dakar,  Senegal  (dead  on  ship)  October 

1975 

Sanderling 

As  previously  indicated,  the  Sanderling  moves  far  and  wide,  to  and  from 
USSR  (2),  Greenland  (1),  N.  and  W.  Africa  (11)  and  S.  Africa  (1),  and  many 
parts  of  Europe. 

Snettisham  29.7.73  Palmi,  Reggio  Calabria,  Italy  (killed) 

31.3.74 

San  Rossore,  Pisa,  Italy  9.5.75  Snettisham  26.7.75 


230 


Ruff 

The  Ruff  has  produced  some  of  the  most  distant  recoveries  into  Siberia. 
More  humble  are  the  following: 

Wisbech  S.F.  23.8.69  (1)  Shotton,  Flints.,  6.3.71 

(2)  Wei  ey  (dead)  20.1.74 

Wisbech  S.F.  14.8.71  Lago  de  la  Tancada,  Tarragona,  Spain 

16.11.75 


AVOCETS  AT  CLEY  1977 

New  Year  1977  started  promisingly  at  Cley  with  the  occurrence  of  a single  Avocet 
that  heralded  the  long  anticipated  breeding  of  this  species  in  Norfolk.  Thirty  years 
of  expectancy  were  finally  realised,  since  in  1947  this  magnificent,  pied  wader  with 
its  remarkably  aristocratic  upswept  bill  decided  to  make  Suffolk’s  Minsmere  and 
Havergate  its  first  British  nurseries  in  modern  times. 

Plundering  of  a Salthouse  nest  in  1941  may  have  denied  Norfolk  the  hosting 
of  this  attractive  bird  until  this  year,  but  dedicated  bird  lovers  had  willed  the 
breeding,  and  in  1977  breed  it  did.  The  long  wait  was  over  and  the  long  anticipated 
settling  was  at  last  factual.  This  was  due  in  no  small  measure  to  the  work  of  the 
Warden  and  the  dedication  of  many  helpers  who  created  the  unique  habitat  so 
necessary  to  the  well-being  of  the  breeding  Avocet. 

The  story  unfolds  thus : Our  New  Year’s  bird  was  joined  by  a mate  on  5th  Feb. 
A second  pair  made  it  a mini-colony  on  28th  March,  and  early  in  April  nesting 
activity  was  evident.  By  21st  April  a pair  was  settled  on  precious  eggs,  but  like  many 
other  treasures  they  went  to  the  rat  thief. 

All  was  not  lost,  however.  By  the  4th  May  three  pairs  of  Avocets  were  in 
evidence  on  Cley  Marsh,  and  although  the  nest  of  the  first  pair  had  been  destroyed 
by  rats  on  12th  May,  mating  again  took  place  on  the  18th,  and  five  days  later  a new 
clutch  had  been  laid  on  Pat’s  Pool,  whilst  a second  pair  was  on  eggs  on  North  Scrape 
by  26th  May. 

During  early  June  the  build  up  of  nesting  birds  continued  with  four  pairs  on 
the  third.  Pair  number  three  duly  laid,  and  were  noted  sitting  on  eggs  on  10th  June, 
to  be  followed  closely  by  a fourth  pair’s  clutch  on  the  12th,  the  North  Scrape  being 
the  chief  centre  of  all  this  exciting  activity.  Two  more  pairs  joined  the  nesters  bring- 
ing the  total  Avocet  adult  population  to  a good,  highly  viewable,  round  dozen. 
Nesting,  however,  was  to  remain  restricted  to  the  four  pairs  already  established, 
and  from  here  on  expectancy,  anxiety,  excitement  and  tension  followed  each  other 
as  hopes  for  successful  breeding  mounted.  There  were  anxious  moments  when 
rumours  of  egg  collectors  in  the  vicinity  were  whispered.  Watches  were  organised 
at  all  hours  to  protect  the  prized  but  highly  vulnerable  eggs.  Dawn  and  dusk  eyes 
were  strained  into  the  half  light  towards  the  sitting,  patient  silhouettes  of  the  pied 
birds. 

Yet  probing  eyes  are  not  enough  to  counter  rodent  predators  or  assuage  the 
violence  of  the  weather.  For  a second  time,  on  15th  June,  rats  plundered  the  nest 
on  Pat’s  Pool.  On  the  following  day  cold  weather  prevailed  and  forced  the  third  pair 
on  North  Scrape  to  desert.  A quick  decision  was  made  to  remove  the  two  eggs  and 
place  them  under  a broody  bantam.  In  part  this  operation  proved  a success,  for 
both  eggs  hatched  on  the  8th  July.  There  was  no  triumphant  outcome  alas,  the 


231 


heavy-footed  bantam  trod  on,  and  despatched  one  chick  soon  after  hatching,  whilst 
its  brood-mate  only  survived  for  five  days. 

Numbers  of  Avocets  continued  to  be  attracted  to  the  area,  for  on  18th  June 
there  were  thirteen  on  view  on  the  North  Scrape. 

Three  rats  and  a large  male  stoat  were  humanely  removed  to  make  life  easier 
for  the  remaining  two  breeding  pairs,  which  still  sat  through  all  the  tribulations. 
Happiness  and  relief  came  on  22nd  June  when  the  pair  on  North  Scrape  success- 
fully coaxed  three  fluffy  and  very  live  chicks  from  their  encasing  shells.  Watchers 
through  telescopes  on  the  evening  of  the  22nd  had  the  unique  privilege  of  seeing  the 
first  known  Norfolk-born  Avocets  within  living  memory. 

Wader  chicks  are  highly  mobile.  Shortly  after  emergence,  they  negotiated, 
with  the  help  of  their  parents,  the  300  metres  of  intervening  terrain,  and  were  on 
Simmond’s  Scrape  within  48  hours.  From  there  they  moved  on  to  Pat’s  Pool, 
settling  there  to  be  filmed  by  both  B.B.C.  and  I.T.V.  enabling  thousands  of  home 
viewers  to  share  the  intimacies  of  family  life  with  this  most  elegant  of  waders. 

The  remaining  sitting  pair  eventually  hatched  three  eggs  on  2nd  July.  From 
then  on  six  chicks  and  their  parents  had  the  nutritious  Cley  ooze  in  which  to  probe 
and  thrive.  This  they  did  whilst  Warden  and  watchers  relaxed  and  glowed.  Through- 
out July  ‘Avocets  normal’  was  recorded  with  satisfaction  in  the  Warden’s  log. 

The  growing  young  were  watched  daily  from  the  fluffy  stage  onwards.  The  flying 
stage  was  reached  on  28th  July,  just  five  weeks  from  emergence  from  the  eggs.  From 
then  on  the  free-winged  young  were  able  to  move  territory,  to  migrate,  and  perhaps 
to  return  as  adults  to  the  place  of  their  birth,  and  establish  a thriving  colony,  and 
so  give  pleasure  to  the  many  who  flock  to  Cley  to  see  what  flocks  to  Cley. 

There  were  still  three  adults  and  three  young  on  view  on  20th  Aug.  and  Avocets 
continued  to  be  seen  into  September  with  8 on  North  Scrape  on  the  2nd  and  6 on 
the  7th.  Indeed  one  bird  was  regularly  present  from  the  18th  Sept.,  (when  all  the 
others  had  left),  through  the  remainder  of  the  year. 

Cley  was  not  the  only  locality  to  have  nesting  Avocets  in  1977.  A pair  settled 
in  the  Snettisham  area  where  eggs  were  laid,  but  the  attempt  to  raise  young  ended 
when  the  nest  was  trampled  by  the  clumsy  hooves  of  browsing  cattle. 

As  previously  suggested,  nesting  of  this  species  at  Cley  was  not  altogether  unex- 
pected. For  more  than  twenty  years  records  of  Avocets  in  Norfolk  have  been  an 
annual  feature.  1967  was  unusual  with  only  one  bird  noted,  that  at  Breydon  on  24th 
April.  In  most  years  birds  have  been  seen  in  Spring,  especially  at  Cley  and  Breydon 
Water,  whilst  other  favoured  localities  have  been  Snettisham,  Holme,  Brancaster 
and  Morston.  Following  the  singleton,  the  next  year  1968  was  a prolific  contrast 
when  26  birds  were  at  Breydon  and  10  at  Cley,  where  mating  took  place,  and  hopes 
were  raised.  In  this  memorable  year  Avocets  were  also  noted  at  Morston,  Holme, 
Heacham,  Scolt  and  Wisbech  S.F.  1974  was  also  a year  of  numbers  with  27  at  Cley 
on  4th  May  and  9 at  Snettisham  during  the  first  week  of  May.  Breydon  again  had 
eleven  on  23rd  March  1975,  and  in  1976,  7 were  at  Hardley  Flood  on  St.  George’s 
Day  and  4 at  Snettisham  in  mid  May. 

Winter  sightings  have  also  been  more  numerous  over  the  past  decade,  usually 
of  single  birds,  with  the  most  regular  areas  being  Breydon,  Cley  and  Holme. 

H.R.R. 


232 


Classified  notes 


These  notes  are  based  on  Birds  of  Norfolk  (revised  edition  1977)  where  fuller 
details  regarding  status,  distribution,  migration  and  ringing  recoveries  may  be 
found.  Important  records  for  Wisbech  Sewage  Farm  (part  of  which  is  on  the  Lin- 
colnshire side  of  the  county  boundary)  have  been  selected  from  the  files  of  Cambridge 
Bird  Club.  Fuller  details  of  Fens  records  may  be  found  in  the  Cambridge  Bird  Club 
Report  for  1977. 

The  order  used  is  that  of  Professor  K.  H.  Voous  (1977)  List  of  recent  Holarctic 
Bird  Species.  Observations  refer  to  1977,  unless  otherwise  stated.  To  save  space, 
all  but  the  most  essential  initials  have  been  omitted.  Records  are  of  single  birds 
unless  otherwise  stated. 

Red-throated  Diver:  North:  Sheringham,  interesting  movements  include  92  east 
Jan.  1 5th  (in  20  minutes)  and  1 82  east  on  1 6th.  Only  two  inland  records : Strumpshaw 
and  Colney. 

Black-throated  Diver:  North/East:  In  first  winter  period  Cley  Feb  13th  and  May 
4th.  In  autumn  more  records  than  usual  especially  between  Blakeney  and  Cromer 
from  Aug.  28th.  Peak  of  5 at  Cley  Nov.  10th. 

Great  Northern  Diver:  North/East:  Many  more  records  than  usual  from  mid-Sept. 
onwards  including  3 at  Salthouse  Oct.  15th.  Broads:  Hickling  Jan.  2nd. 

Little  Grebe:  Breydon:  At  least  12  breeding  pairs  in  adjacent  dykes.  Wash:  Peak  of 
41  at  Snettisham  in  Nov. 

Great  Crested  Grebe:  Wash:  35  off  Hunstanton  Feb.  13th  and  60  Nov.  13th.  East: 
Breydon  midsummer  peak  of  41  July  28th. 

Red-necked  Grebe:  North:  An  increased  number  of  observations  including  small 
influx  Oct.-Nov.  when  as  many  as  7 off-shore  at  Cley  Nov.  16th.  East:  Winterton 
3 Sept.  25th. 

Slavonian  Grebe:  North:  More  records  than  usual.  Sheringham  one  dead  April 
14th  and  up  to  5 Oct.  30th  to  Nov.  13th;  Weybourne  4 in  late  Oct.;  Wells  peak  of 
12  Nov.  5th;  Cley-Salthouse  2 in  late  Oct.  and  4 in  mid-Nov.  Ones  and  twos 
elsewhere  at  Titchwell,  Holkham,  Hunstanton,  Overy  Staithe  and  Snettisham. 
Broads:  Ranworth  Nov.  30th.  East:  Horsey  2 Oct.  21st. 

Black-necked  Grebe.  Remains  the  rarest  of  the  grebes.  North:  Morston  Jan.  2nd 
to  16th;  Hunstanton  Feb.  13th;  Weybourne  2 Nov.  13th;  Sheringham  2 Nov.  13th 
and  Cley  Sept.  2nd.  West : Tottenhill  G.P.  Aug.  29th  to  Sept.  2nd. 

Albatross  species:  North:  Cley  Oct.  19th  (MK,  CO) 

Fulmar:  North:  Total  of  24  young  counted  on  cliff  ledges  between  Weybourne  and 
Cromer  (JCM)  as  follows : Weybourne-Sheringham  12,  Sheringham-West  Runton  3, 
West  Runton-East  Runton  2,  East  Runton-Cromer  7.  At  Sheringham  present  on 
ledges  until  Sept.  24th  and  from  Nov.  5th.  Wash:  Hunstanton,  over  40  pairs  present 
Jan.  29th,  7 young  still  on  ledges  in  early  Sept,  and  over  50  pairs  back  at  end  of  year. 
East:  Bacton,  nest  with  an  egg  but  later  robbed.  Happisburgh,  5 pairs  on  cliffs 
but  no  evidence  of  breeding  and  Hopton  singles  April  to  Aug.  Wash:  112  passing 
Snettisham  in  two  hours  Sept.  23rd. 

Cory’s  Shearwater:  East:  Yarmouth,  one  of  the  North  Atlantic  race  picked  up  alive 
July  23rd  was  released  on  28th  but  later  died  (PRA).  North:  Holme  June  10th  (PRC) 


233 


Sooty  Shearwater:  North:  Cley  Aug.  18th,  30  on  27th,  2 on  28th,  2 Sept.  9th,  7-8 
on  17th  and  2 Oct.  1st.  Blakeney  Point  15  Sept.  16th.  Sheringham  Aug  17th-18th, 
Sept.  9th,  13  on  17th.  Wash:  Snettisham  2 Sept.  17th  and  Hunstanton  9 Oct. 
2nd.  East:  Winterton  43  in  4 hours  Sept.  17th,  6 on  18th  and  one  on  25th. 

Manx  Shearwater:  Unprecedented  numbers  recorded  June  10th  moving  east  along 
north  coast  in  strong  NNE  winds  and  rain:  Hunstanton  48,  Holme  113,  Brancaster 
30  and  Cley  126.  Also  8 off  Holme  next  day  with  9 on  15th/16th.  Sheringham  8 
June  7th  and  3 on  11th.  Usual  late  July  to  Oct.  records  off  North  coast  and  in  Wash 
including  26  Snettisham  in  2 hours  Sept.  17th  and  19  Sheringham  same  date.  Birds 
of  the  Balearic  race  Snettisham  and  Cley  Sept.  17th.  East:  1-4  Aug.  7th  to  Oct.  2nd 
including  one  Balearic  Sept.  17th. 

Storm  Petrel:  North:  Holme  Sept.  17th  and  Nov.  13th.  Sheringham  Sept.  17th- 
East:  Yarmouth  one  brought  into  port  aboard  an  oil  rig  supply  vessel  first  week  of 
Dec. 

Leach’s  Petrel:  North:  Cley  at  least  3 Sept.  17th,  one  on  18th,  Weybourne  2 Sept. 
18th,  4 Nov.  21st,  Sheringham  Sept.  17th/ 18th,  Cromer  Nov.  15th.  East:  Winterton 
Sept.  18th. 

Gannet:  Impressive  movement  along  coast  Sept.  17th;  240  in  2 hours  Snettisham, 
300  Hunstanton,  282  into  Wash  at  Gore  Point  in  1£  hours,  250  Holme,  230  Cley, 
260  Sheringham  and  150  at  Winterton. 

Cormorant:  East:  Feb.  maximum  of  102  at  Breydon.  Broads:  Ranworth,  250-300 
in  winter  roost.  Fens:  Welney  up  to  41  roosting  in  March.  North:  Wells  harbour 
72  Nov.  13  th. 


234 


Shag:  Coastal  records  between  Wells  and  Gorleston  and  maxima  of  20  at  Shering- 
ham  Nov.  13th  and  12  at  Yarmouth  on  27th.  Breck:  Barnham  March  1st.  Central: 
Costessey  GP  Nov.  27th.  Fens:  Denver  Sluice  Nov.  12th  with  5 Dec.  27th. 
Bittern:  Broads:  7 regular  boomers  compared  with  9 the  previous  year.  North: 
Cley  one  pair  bred  rearing  2 young.  Further  reading:  “Breeding  Bitterns  in  Britain” 
{British  Birds  71:  285-300.) 

Grey  Heron:  The  following  heronries  were  counted:  Borders  of  Wash:  Snettisham 
16.  Fens:  Hilgay  33,  Islington  38  and  Denver  Sluice  2.  Breck:  Didlington  10, 
Shadwell  8,  Hockham  Fen  one  and  Narford  5.  Broads:  Belaugh  7,  Upton  6, 
Fishley  3,  Wickhampton  4,  Reedham  Park  Carr  4,  Fritton  3,  Ranworth  9,  Horning 
Hall  5,  Herringfleet  3,  Mautby  4,  Woodbastwick  Marshes  10,  Barton  8,  Heigham 
Sounds  14,  Hickling  Colls  Plantation  2,  Buckenham  14,  Strumpshaw  one,  Wheat 
fen  5,  and  Surlingham  3.  Central:  Lyng  one  and  Keswick  one. 

Black  Stork:  Central:  East  Tuddenham  Sept  11th  (AB) 

White  Stork:  Central:  Brandon  Parva  Aug.  21st  (JDG  et  al).  Wash:  Hunstanton 
/Snettisham  Oct.  25th  (AGH,  PMH)  and  Dec.  4th-5th  (HRR  et  al). 

Glossy  Ibis:  Central:  Hockering  Aug.  24th  (MDK). 

Spoonbill:  North  Coast:  Singles  and  parties  up  to  4 May  8th  to  Sept.  10th.  East: 
Breydon  9 present  June  15th-19th  with  smaller  numbers  June  7th  to  Sept.  12th. 
Winterton  7 south  June  7th.  Broads:  Hickling  maximum  of  9 present  June  11th  to 
18th  with  others  May  26th  to  July  29th.  Singles  at  Hardley  Flood  & Strumpshaw 
May  14th  and  July  21st. 

Bewick’s  Swan:  Recorded  up  to  May  11th  and  from  Oct.  12th.  Largest  concentra- 
tion at  Welney  where  over  1,000  by  early  Dec.  and  1,777  in  mid-Feb.  Elsewhere 
exceptional  numbers  in  East  Norfolk  during  Jan.-Feb.  with  397  in  3 herds  Jan.  1st 
(including  224  at  Upper  Thurne).  330  still  present  Jan.  29th  in  5 herds,  171  March 
15th,  70  on  19th  and  last  16  on  25th.  The  largest  single  herd  was  268  on  lower  Bure 
levels  Feb.  21st  A yellow-dyed  bird  on  lower  Bure  March  10th-20th  was  one  of 
57  caught  at  Slimbridge  Jan.  11th. 

Breck:  Fowl  Mere  5 Dec.  26th  and  14  Dec.  18th.  North/Wash:  Maxima  of  92  at 
Wolferton-Snettisham  Jan.-Feb.  and  48  at  Burnham  Overy  in  March. 

Whooper  Swan:  Recorded  up  to  April  10th  and  from  Oct.  9th  at  usual  haunts  with 
largest  herds  at  Welney  where  82  at  end  of  Jan.  (a  new  record)  and  over  50  in  Dec. 
Bean  Goose:  East:  Up  to  127  in  usual  area  till  Feb.  26th;  5 returned  Nov.  17th 
with  70  Dec.  10th  and  86  on  26th.  North:  Cley  4 Jan.  3rd-16th.  Holkham  11  Jan. 
8th-12th  with  13  on  29th,  9 Feb.  19th  and  one  Dec.  21st.  Blakeney  4 Jan.  8th.  Wash: 
Snettisham  up  to  15  Jan.  9th-18th  and  one  Feb.  21st. 

Pink-footed  Goose:  East:  Yare  valley  one  with  Bean  Geese  until  Feb.  8th  and  3 on 
15th.  Halvergate  one  with  Bewick’s  Swans  March  15th-19th.  Winterton  24  Oct. 
2nd.  Breydon  11  Oct.  1st.  Wash:  Snettisham  3700  in  Jan.,  68  returned  Oct.  28th 
and  4572  at  end  of  year.  North:  Titchwell  75  Nov.  4th.  Holkham  43  Jan.  2nd  with 
34  on  12th  and  5 on  29th. 

White-fronted  Goose:  East:  Yare  valley  12  Jan.  2nd  increasing  to  23  Feb.  8th; 
7 returned  Dec.  4th  later  increasing  to  10.  Breydon  120  Jan.  7th  with  32  remaining 
on  13th  and  last  8 on  30th;  20  returned  Dec.  10th.  Horsey  21  Dec.  2nd.  North: 
Holkham  232  Jan.  22nd  with  234  Feb.  19th  and  170  still  present  March  15th;  75 
returned  Dec.  4th  and  85  on  17th.  Cley  35  Jan.  1st.  Hunstanton  16  Feb.  13th.  Holme 
17  Dec.  6th.  Wash:  Snettisham  10  Jan.  6th,  25  Feb.  21st  and  7 Dec.  13th. 

Fens:  Welney  7 late  Nov. 

Barnacle  Goose:  East:  Burgh  Castle  March  13th  and  Breydon  3-4  April  21st-30th. 
North:  Cley  Jan.  28th.  Holkham  4 Jan.  22nd-30th.  Wells  4 Oct.  3rd  on  golf  course. 
Burnham  Deepdale  4 Jan.  24th-27th.  Wash:  Snettisham  3 Jan.  9th-18th,  4 Feb.  3rd 
and  one  shot  Nov.  19th.  Fens:  Welney  March  27th. 


235 


Brent  Goose:  Maximum  numbers  at  regular  localities:  Wells  2500,  Blakeney  1200, 
Salthouse  150,  Cley  2000,  Stiff  key  3000,  Scolt  Head  1500,  Hunstanton-Holme  2000, 
Snettisham  1200  and  Terrington  Marsh  650.  Recorded  monthly  except  Aug.  Off 
Sheringham  unusual  numbers  off-shore  Nov.  17th  during  gales  when  700  west  in 

3 hours  and  off  Winterton  on  same  date  when  408  north  in  1^  hours. 

Egyptian  Goose:  Reported  at  Barningham,  Blickling,  Swanton  Morley,  Sparham, 
Shouldham,  West  Rudham,  Flitcham,  West  Newton,  South  Raynham,  Stradsett, 
Narford,  Sandringham,  West  Acre  Gunton  Park,  Hillingdon,  Salthouse,  South 
Acre,  Narborough,  West  Litcham,  Holkham,  Hoveton,  Bemey  Arms  and  Caister 
on  Sea. 

A county  summary  of  recent  observations  is  planned  for  the  next  Report , full  details 
requested. 

Ruddy  Shelduck:  East:  Adult  female  at  Cantley  B.F.  July  30th- Aug.  7th  when  it 
moved  to  Breydon. 

Shelduck:  Wash:  Snettisham  maximum  of  2477  in  Feb.  and  1760  in  March.  Fens: 
50  young  at  Welney,  36  young  at  Wissington  B.F.  and  188  young  at  Wisbech  S.F. 
East:  Breydon  winter  peaks  of  855  Jan.  7th  and  794  Dec.  9th;  remarkable  build-up 
of  adults  in  June  prior  to  departure  to  Continental  moulting  grounds  including  810 
June  23rd.  Breeding  records  elsewhere  include  single  pairs  at  Tottenhill  G.P., 
Barningham  Park,  Blickling  Park,  Winterton,  Pentney  G.P.  and  Stanford  Water 
with  27  young  in  Gunton  Park. 

Mandarin  Duck:  East:  Smallburgh  pair  nested  in  next-box  15  feet  from  ground  in 
an  oak,  but  eggs  failed  to  hatch.  Broads : Hickling  2 Nov.  24th. 

Wigeon:  Fens:  Welney  maximum  of  35,000  at  beginning  of  year  with  15,000  early 
Dec.  East:  Exceptional  numbers  at  opening  of  year  with  23,500  at  3 sites  Jan.  19th 
(Breydon  6,500,  Yare  Valley  5,000  and  Upper  Thurne  12,000).  Numbers  reduced  to 
3,500  by  end  of  month. 

American  Wigeon:  Fens:  Welney  Cct.  23rd  (DJF). 

Gadwall:  Breck:  Largest  counts:  105  Gooderstone  Nov.  25th  and  83  Thompson 
Water  Oct.  23.  Wash:  Snettisham  21  Jan.  9th.  North:  Gunton  Park  219  Sept.  21st, 
469  Oct.  14th  and  308  Nov.  11th.  Broads:  Hickling  76  March  13th.  East:  Breydon 
16  Aug.  12th.  Fens:  Welney  5 broods. 

Teal:  Broads:  Hickling  counts  include  960  Dec.  6th  and  1318  on  8th.  Fens:  Welney 
8 broods. 

Pintail:  Fens:  Welney  maximum  1,000  beginning  and  end  of  year;  2 broods  noted. 
Hockwold  pair  on  flood  May  29th,  but  not  proof  of  nesting.  Wash : Snettisham  434 
Feb.  6th.  North:  Cley  450-500  Jan.  and  50  Oct.  21st.  East:  Breydon  maximum  188 
Jan.  1st  and  108  Dec.  16th. 

Garganey:  Spring  arrival  from  March  6th  (Cley  and  Welney)  and  subsequently  at 
Breydon,  Hickling,  Strumpshaw,  Surlingham,  Hardley  Flood,  Ranworth,  East 
Wretham,  Wisbech  S.F.  and  Cantley.  Only  breeding  record  from  Cantley  (brood 
of  6). 

Shoveler:  Fens:  Welney  Maximum  250.  North:  Cley  60  Feb.  13th  and  Gunton  Park 
44  Oct.  14th 

Pochard:  Breeding  records:  3 pairs  in  Breck  at  2 sites;  elsewhere  11  pairs  bred  at 

4 sites.  Fens : Winter  total  of  500  at  Welney. 

Ferruginous  Duck:  Breck:  Fowl  Mere  Sept.  24th  (JDG). 

Tufted  Duck:  Breeding  records : 40  pairs  at  8 sites  in  Breck;  elsewhere  a minimum  of 
22  pairs  at  8 sites. 

Eider:  Coastal  records  throughout  year  and  largest  flocks  for  main  localities  given 
below:  East:  Yarmouth  44  and  Happisburgh 47.  North : Brancaster  22,  Sheringham 
14,  Holme  30,  Overy  Staithe  60  and  Hunstanton  23. 


236 


Long-tailed  Duck:  Wash:  Hunstanton  monthly  maxima:  Jan.  24,  Feb.  50,  March 
50,  Oct.  1,  Nov.  15  and  Dec.  30.  North:  Occasional  records  of  up  to  25  until  April 
and  from  Sept.  8th.  East:  Winterton  Nov.  13th. 

Common  Scoter:  Wash:  Hunstanton  2000  Jan.  9th-Feb.  6th.  North:  Overy  Staithe 
1200  Dec.  14th.  Broads:  Ranworth  April  1st. 

Velvet  Scoter:  Wash/North:  Recorded  monthly  except  June  to  Aug.;  maximum  42. 
East:  Up  to  8 noted  off  Hopton,  Gorleston,  Yarmouth,  Winterton  and  Bacton  up 
to  May  1st  and  from  Oct.  19th. 

Goldeneye:  Maxima  as  follows:  North:  126  west  off  Sheringham  Nov.  13th- 18th. 
Wash : 50  at  Snettisham.  East : 46  at  Breydon.  Breck : 7 at  Narford. 

Smew:  Ones  and  twos  up  to  March  7th  at  Bawburgh/Colney  G.P.,  Martham  Broad, 
Snettisham  and  Welney. 

Red-breasted  Merganser:  Largest  numbers  include  37  Hunstanton  in  Feb.  and  35 
Brancaster  in  Oct.  Late  bird  at  Snettisham  June  2nd  when  7 at  Thornham.  East: 
Ones  and  twos  at  Breydon,  Winterton  and  Yarmouth. 

Goosander:  Winter  observations  at  8 localities  including  8 at  Welney  and  at  Breydon, 
17  at  Gunton  Park,  10  at  Stanford  and  6 at  Sheringham. 

Ruddy  Duck:  Fens:  Welney  Jan.  10th-18th  (GHS).  The  first  county  record. 

Honey  Buzzard:  North:  Pair  at  one  site  from  June  1st  but  no  proof  of  successful 
nesting. 

Red  Kite:  East:  West  Somerton  Dec.  10th  (SJB,  ADB)  and  Belton  Dec.  25th  (MM). 
North:  Titchwell  Dec.  22nd  (NS).  Wash:  Snettisham  Dec.  24th  (PG,  CPP).  South: 
Redenhall  Dec.  8th  and  12th  (BS-D). 

Marsh  Harrier:  Five  breeding  pairs  at  4 sites  reared  19  flying  young.  A female 
present  at  a fifth  site  from  mid  Feb.  to  end  of  year. 

Hen  Harrier:  Recorded  at  12  sites  till  May  7th  (Winterton)  and  from  Sept.  9th 
(Cley).  Up  to  4 at  Roydon  in  Jan.,  March  and  Dec. 

Montagu’s  Harrier:  None  bred,  but  occasional  records  of  singles  in  Broads  April 
20th  to  Sept.  3rd.  North:  Titchwell  May  25th-27th,  Holme  May  15th,  Sept.  1st. 
Wash:  Snettisham  May  28th  and  Terrington  Aug.  6th. 

Goshawk:  East:  Female  dead  Waxham  beach  Nov.  30th  (OF).  North:  Hunstanton 
Park  Feb.  26th  (HI). 

Sparrow  Hawk:  Recorded  at  43  localities,  but  only  a single  breeding  record.  Spring 
passage  Winterton — Horsey  Gap  March  20th-  May  7th  with  6-8  April  16th. 
Buzzard:  North:  Holkham  Park  Feb.  5th,  Holme  May  8th.  East:  Winterton  March 
3rd,  4 on  19th,  April  16th.  North  Walsham  2 May  8th. 

Osprey:  Broads:  Singles  recorded  between  April  24th  and  June  29th  at  Blakeney 
Point,  Cley,  Earsham,  Hickling,  Holme,  Narford,  Pentney,  Thornham  and  Titch- 
well. 

Red-Footed  Falcon:  East:  Winterton  June  4th  (TEB). 

Merlin:  Singles  (and  once  2)  recorded  at  17  localities  till  April  28th  (Sheringham) 
and  from  Sep.  17th  (Winterton). 

Hobby:  North:  Cley  May  5th,  28th,  Sept.  25th-30th,  Salthouse  June  14th,  Holme 
June  25th/26th,  July  22nd,  Sheringham  May  6th  and  13th,  Titchwell  June  6th, 
26th,  Oct.  10th,  Felbrigg  June  12th.  Broads:  Hickling  Sept.  16th,  18th.  East:  Brey- 
don June  6th,  Winterton  May  1st,  19th-27th.  Wash:  Hunstanton  April  30th, 
Terrington  Aug.  6th.  West:  Tottenhill  G.P.  July  7th. 

Peregrine:  North:  Wintered  at  Scolt  Head  until  April  8th;  noted  Holme  Aug.  29th. 
Wash : Snettisham  Dec.  31st.  Fens:  Wisbech  S.F.  July  12th  with  jesses  and  through- 
out autumn  when  jesses  missing. 

Quail:  Calling  during  summer  at  Massingham  Heath,  Salthouse  Heath,  Wey- 
bourne  (4  birds),  Ridlington  (2  birds)  and  5 seen  Aug.  14th,  Sheringham  (2  birds) 


237 


with  5 at  Happisburgh  Aug.  14th.  Additional  1976  record:  An  immature  killed  by 
combine  out  of  a party  of  6 at  Brancaster  Aug.  13th. 

Golden  Pheasant:  Recorded  at  SwafTham  Heath,  Fowl  Mere,  Brandon,  St.  Helen’s 
Well,  Bridgham,  Stanford,  East  Wretham,  Thompson,  Watton,  Wolferton  and 
Weeting. 

Lady  Amherst’s  Pheasant:  Breck:  Hockham  May  20th. 

Spotted  Crake:  North:  Cley  Aug.  28th  and  up  to  3 until  Sept.  19th;  one  Oct.  14th/ 
15th.  Fens:  Wisbech  S.F.  late  Aug.  to  mid-Sept.  East:  Earlham  Oct.  17th. 
Corncrake:  North:  Holme,  Nov.  16th  (PRC.) 

Crane:  North:  Wells  and  Sheringham  April  16th  (KBS),  Cley  on  19th  (BB,  MPL) 
and  Holme  on  30th  (HBO).  East:  Bacton  April  21st  (RC);  doubtless  sams  bird. 
Oystercatcher:  Records  of  breeding  pairs  include:  East:  Breydon  area  7.  North: 
Thomham  10-15,  Brancaster  11,  Scolt  Head  170-175,  Bob  Hall’s  Sands  2,  Overy  4, 
Wells  8,  Stiffkey  Binks  14  and  Blakeney  Point  200.  Broads:  Horsey  2.  Wash: 
Snettisham  6.  Maximum  counts  in  East  at  Breydon  101  March  16th  and  150  Aug. 
21st,  on  Wash  at  Snettisham  8700  in  Jan.  and  11500  in  Dec. 

Avocet:  for  the  first  time  this  century  bred  successfully  in  the  county.  In  addition  a 
further  pair  attempted  to  breed  on  The  Wash.  Breeding:  North:  Cley  one  present 
at  the  start  of  the  year,  was  joined  by  2 more  in  early  March.  By  the  beginning  of 
May  3 pairs  were  present  increasing  to  4 pairs  by  early  June.  Clutches  were  laid  by 
each  pair  and  6 young  were  raised  from  two  broods.  Wash:  one  pair,  eggs  trodden 
on  by  cattle.  Non-breeders:  East:  Breydon  1-3  on  six  dates  Feb.  23rd- July  15th, 
Nov.  26th  and  Dec.  9th- 15th.  Broads:  Hickling  1-2  May  1st,  3rd,  27th/28th  and 
June  1st.  North:  Holme  1-3  irregularly  May  12th-Sept.  18th,  with  5 May  26th. 
Titchwell  5 flying  east  June  10th.  Sheringham  2 flying  west  April  8th  and  Sept.  11th. 
Stone  Curlew:  Extreme  dates  March  3rd  and  Oct.  25th.  Away  from  breeding  areas 
reported  from  Winterton  May  8th  with  3 May  10th  and  Holme  May  2nd. 

Little  Ringed  Plover:  Breeding:  20  pairs  at  12  sites.  Elsewhere  spring  records  from 
March  31st  at  Winterton,  Breydon,  Hardley  Flood,  Cley,  Stanford  and  Thompson 
Water.  Maximum  counts  at  Cley  5 July  25th  and  1 1 on  26th.  In  autumn  reported 
only  from  Hickling  and  Earlham. 

Ringed  Plover:  No  significant  change  in  number  of  breeding  pairs  since  1976, 
with  area  totals  as  follows — East:  17-19.  North:  260-320  and  West:  34.  Of  particular 
interest  were  2 young  reared  on  Yarmouth  beach  and  2 pairs  breeding  on  cliff-top 
fields  at  Cromer/Overstrand. 

Kentish  Plover:  East:  Breydon  April  18th-June  24th  and  July  5th,  intermittent 
records,  with  several  birds  involved.  Winterton  May  28th,  June  5th/6th.  North: 
Cley/Salthouse  1-2  April  llth-June  9th.  Blakeney  Point  2 Aug.  12th  and  14th. 
Dotterel:  East:  Winterton  May  26th-28th.  North:  Mundesley  Oct.  8th.  Cley  May 
10th,  11th  and  18th-22nd.  Wells  8 May  10th.  Wash:  Snettisham  Oct.  8th-10th, 
17th  and  Oct.  20th-Nov.  4th  Fens:  Ouse  Washes  Sept.  8th. 

Golden  Plover:  Largest  concentration  of  2000  at  Cley  Oct.  29th. 

Grey  Plover:  Wash:  Unusually  large  concentrations  at  Snettisham  with  515  Jan.  9th, 
2000  in  early  April  and  660  Sept.  4th. 

Sociable  Plover:  Fens:  Welney  Sept.  3rd-15th  (many  observers).  The  first  county 
record  of  this  vagrant  from  south-east  Russia  and  west-central  Asia. 

Sanderling:  Single  inland  record  at  Hardley  Flood  March  22nd. 

Little  Stint:  East:  Breydon  June  19th,  1-2  July  13th-Oct.  25th.  Broads:  Hickling 
March  10th,  2 May  22nd-26th,  6 June  2nd,  2 Aug.  7th  and  1-9  Sept.]  7th-Nov.  12th. 
North:  Cley  2 in  Jan.,  singles  Feb.  3rd,  March  20th  and  27th,  up  to  5 May  8th-28th, 
2 June  18th,  9 July  30th/31st  and  up  to  4 Aug.  4th-Nov.  6th.  Holme  Oct.  5th-30th. 


238 


Weybourne  1 west  Nov.  12th.  Wash:  Snettisham  Nov.  20th.  Fens:  Wisbech  S.F. 
April  2nd-10th  and  autumn  maximum  of  4 Aug.  20th. 

Temminck’s  Stint:  North:  Cley  May  10th,  3 May  27th/28th,  2 June  25th,  1-2  Aug. 
3rd-Oct.  24th  (one  bird  with  a damaged  right  leg  making  a prolonged  stay  Aug. 
llth-Oct.  16th.).  Edgefield  1 by  village  pond  April  24th/25th.  Titchwell  June  6th, 
Holme  Aug.  28th.  Broads:  Hickling  June  5th/6th,  2 on  12th,  July  27th,  3 Aug.  7th. 
19th,  Sept.  3rd-8th,  18th,  Oct.  17th,  27th  and  Nov.  4th.  Hardley  Flood  May  23rd 
and  a different  individual  May  27th.  Fens:  Wisbech  S.F.  May  6th  and  Aug.  20th. 
White-Rumped  Sandpiper:  North:  Holme  Aug.  28th-Sept.  2nd  (G.  W.  Maybury 
et  al). 

Pectoral  Sandpiper:  East:  Breydon  Sept.  3rd.  Broads:  Hickling  Sept.  4th-20th, 
with  2 on  15th  and  another  Oct.  13th.  North:  Cley  May  19th  and  Oct.  2nd-4th. 
Fens:  Wisbech  S.F.  July  9th  and  Sept.  2nd-10th. 

Curlew  Sandpiper:  East:  Breydon  1-2  May  24th-June  6th;  present  July  25th-Sept, 
23rd  with  maximum  of  12  on  July  30th  and  Sept.  5th.  Broads:  Hickling  May  26th. 
June  16th-19th,  July  27th-Sept.  5th,  with  maximum  of  18  on  latter  date.  North: 
Cley  May  14th-June  6th;  present  July  13th-Sept.  11th,  with  maximum  of  30  on 
Sept.  2nd  and  11th.  Fens:  Wisbech  S.F.  maximum  13  Aug.  27th,  last  recorded  Sept. 
12th 

Purple  Sandpiper:  East:  Winterton  Aug.  28th.  Yarmouth  Sept.  16th  (3)  and  Dec. 
26th.  Breydon  Oct.  16th.  Bacton  Nov.  14th.  North:  during  the  first  winter  period 
recorded  only  at  Sheringham,  up  to  April  22nd.  Unusual  series  of  late  spring/ 
summer  records  with  singles  at  Cley  May  14th  and  18th,  Blakeney  harbour  June 
18th  and  Titchwell  June  18th,  26th,  July  7th  and  13th.  Possibly  only  one  bird  in- 
volved. During  second  winter  period  recorded  from  Aug.  23rd  at  Brancaster,  Holme, 
Blakeney  Point,  Cley,  Kelling,  Weybourne,  Sheringham  and  Cromer.  Usually  1-2 
but  7 Holme  Oct.  2nd  and  5 west  at  Weybourne  Oct.  1st.  Wash:  extreme  dates 
April  10th  and  Oct.  2nd,  with  maximum  of  4 Dec.  18th  at  Hunstanton  and  7 at 
Snettisham  Jan.  9th. 

Dunlin:  East:  Breydon  maximum  4,000  March  10th.  Wash:  Snettisham  maxima 
3650  in  Jan.  and  3500  in  Aug. 

Broad-Billed  Sandpiper:  East:  Breydon  June  5th/6th  (PRA,  ADB),  and  Sept.  21st 
(PRA). 

Ruff:  Breeding  season:  Fens:  Welney  at  least  one  pair  bred.  North:  Cley  up  to  7 
displaying  in  early  May,  but  no  proof  of  breeding.  At  other  seasons  notable  con- 
centrations of  170  Welney  Dec.  11th;  70  Wisbech  S.F.  Aug.  27th;  60  Cley  Aug. 
4th;  40  Hickling  Feb.  23rd  and  32  Sheringham  Aug.  25th.  At  last  locality  a pair 
fed  on  the  lawn  of  a town  garden  with  starlings. 

Jack  Snipe:  Extreme  dates  May  7th  (Weybourne)  and  Sept.  18th  (Hickling). 
Woodcock:  Breck:  Hockham  Fen,  an  early  nest  contained  3 eggs  Feb.  2nd. 
Black-tailed  Godwit:  Breeding  season:  North:  Cley  pair  displaying  in  May  and  up 
to  13  present  in  June  but  no  evidence  of  breeding.  Fens:  Welney  8 pairs  bred  raising 
17  young.  During  winter  recorded  each  month  at  Breydon  except  March  and  1-2 
Snettisham  in  Jan.  and  Feb. 

Bar-tailed  Godwit:  Wash:  Maxima  at  Snettisham  1900  Jan.  9th,  2080  Feb.  6th  and 
3000  Dec.  1st. 

Whimbrel:  Extreme  dates  April  16th  (Winterton)  and  Nov.  27th  (Holkham). 
Unusually  heavy  autumn  passage  with  100  Blakeney  Point  July  16th;  101  Breydon 
July  31st;  50  Wells  Aug.  19th  and  180  west  in  20  minutes  Sheringham  Aug.  19th 
following  heavy  rain. 


239 


Spotted  Redshank:  Unprecedented  numbers  in  Wash  at  Snettisham  with  77  Aug. 
3rd  and  187  Sept.  13th  (PG).  Winter  records  from  Breydon  Jan.  lst-25th  and  2 Dec. 
9 th- 12th. 

Greenshank:  Maxima  in  Wash  at  Snettisham  with  20  Aug.  3rd  and  19  Sept.  13th. 
Recorded  in  winter  at  Titchwell  Dec.  3rd. 

Green  Sandpiper:  Highest  counts  at  Cantley  B.F.  with  24  July  10th,  25  on  31st  and 
44  Aug.  7th,  including  a single  party  of  24.  Recorded  during  winter  months  only  in 
East  at  Breydon  and  Halvergate  marshes. 

Wood  Sandpiper:  Spring  passage  from  April  29th  at  Breydon,  Winterton  and  Holme. 
Autumn  passage  Aug.  2nd-Oct.  27th,  with  peaks  of  25  Wisbech  S.F.  Aug.  20th  and 
17  Hickling  Aug.  21st.  Also  reported  from  Breydon,  Cley,  Cantley  B.F.  and  Totten- 
hill  G.P. 

Common  Sandpiper:  A wintering  bird  at  Breydon  until  Feb.  26th.  A pair  summered 
at  Pentney  G.P.  with  1 at  Breydon  June  18th- 19th. 

Red-necked  Phalarope:  North:  Cley  Aug.  23rd,  24th,  31st  and  Sept.  1st.  Broads: 
Hickling  Sept.  3rd  and  24th. 

Grey  Phalarope:  East:  Yarmouth  Nov.  23rd-25th.  North:  Cley  Sept.  18th/19th 
and  Nov.  17th;  Sheringham  Nov.  23rd;  Holme  Nov.  28th.  Wash:  Snettisham  Nov. 
17th. 

Pomarine  Skua:  Total  of  over  30.  East:  Winterton  Aug.  20th  and  2 Oct.  2nd; 
Yarmouth  Sept.  15th.  North:  Sheringham  June  11th,  2 Sept.  10th,  2 on  16th,  5 on 
17th,  Oct.  1st  and  2 on  2nd;  Weybourne  Oct.  1st;  Cley  Aug.  27th,  Sept.  1st,  17th, 
Oct.  2nd  and  Nov.  12th;  Blakeney  Point  Aug.  27th  and  Oct.  15th;  Holme  Aug. 
15th,  30th,  Oct.  10th,  12th  and  Nov.  13th.  Wash:  Hunstanton  Sept.  17th;  Snetti- 
sham 3 Sept.  17th 

Arctic  Skua:  North  coast/Wash:  In  spring  a sick  bird  at  Sheringham  April  2nd. 
Autumn  passage  until  Nov.  21st  with  peaks  of  60  at  Sheringham  Aug.  8th  and 
Snettisham  Sept.  17th. 

Long-tailed  Skua:  North:  Blakeney  Point  July  16th  (TW,JL)  and  Aug.  11th 
(LFW,SW);  2 Cley  Sept.  17th  (JK  et  al ). 

Great  Skua:  East:  Winterton  Sept.  17th,  25th,  8 Oct.  2nd,  16th,  10  Nov.  13th; 
Walcot  Oct.  1st.  North/Wash:  Passage  Aug.  7th-Nov.  22nd  with  monthly  peaks  of 
22  Sept.  17th  at  Snettisham,  65  Oct.  2nd  Holme-Hunstanton  and  64  Nov.  13th 
entering  Wash  at  Holme  during  3^  hours  observation.  In  addition  one  dead  Old 
Hunstanton  Dec.  18th. 

Mediterranean  Gull:  East:  Yarmouth  adult  July  29th-Sept.  17th.  North:  West 
Runton/Sheringham  adult  March  23rd-26th;  Holme  May  12th- 15th;  Scolt  Head 
first-summer  May  28th;  Snettisham  Sept.  17th;  Stiff  key  Sept.  25th;  Sheringham 
Oct.  20th. 

Franklin’s  Gull:  North:  West  Runton  Oct.  29th  1976  (GRH,  JVH,  DH).  An 
addition  to  the  county  list. 

Little  Gull:  Records  of  singles  in  May  at  Breydon,  Cley  and  Holme.  Recorded  away 
from  coast  at  Hardley  Flood  May  27th,  Denver  Sluice  Aug.  5th/6th,  Hickling  Aug. 
21st  and  Tottenhill  G.P.  Sept.  3rd.  Remarkable  numbers  passing  offshore  Nov. 
12th/13th  with  213  flying  south  in  3£  hours  at  Winterton,  100  at  Cley,  118  at 
Sheringham,  60  at  Holme  and  103  at  Weybourne,  including  12  moving  inland, 
December  records  from  Yarmouth  and  Burgh  Castle  (3rd),  Overy  Staithe  (14th), 
and  Sheringham  (29th). 

Sabine’s  Gull:  East:  Yarmouth  Sept.  15th/ 16th;  Winterton  Sept.  17th.  North: 
Blakeney  Point  3 adults  Aug.  27th;  Cley  Aug.  27th  1-2  Sept.  8th,  17th  and  Oct.  29th. 


240 


Black-headed  Gull:  Breeding  colonies  reported  as  follows:  Cantley  B.F.  130  pairs, 
North  Wootton  Marshes  10  pairs,  Stiffkey  Binks  30  pairs,  Scolt  Head  600  pairs, 
Titchwell  30  pairs  (a  new  colony)  and  Blakeney  Point  300  pairs. 

Common  Gull:  North:  Blakeney  Point  one  pair  bred  rearing  one  chick. 

Lesser  Black-backed  Gull:  Peak  passage  totals  of  54  west  Sheringham  April  2nd  and 
53  Breydon  Aug.  25th. 

Iceland  Gull:  North:  Sheringham  first  winter  March  5th;  Holme  March  26th. 
Glaucous  Gull:  East:  Yarmouth  Oct.  16th,  Nov.  22nd  and  27th.  North:  Cley-Sher- 
ingham  extreme  dates  of  regular  wintering  adult  (recognized  by  damaged  right  foot 
and  leg)  March  6th  and  Sept.  3rd.  In  addition  a second  bird  flew  east  Feb.  27th, 
while  gales  in  November  resulted  in  5-7  flying  west  on  17th  and  6 west  on  21st. 
Elsewhere  noted  at  Holme  Jan.  6th,  Nov.  17th  and  Dec.  8th;  Blakeney  Point  2 
Sept.  27th  and  Wells  Nov.  23rd. 

Kittiwake:  North/Wash:  Hunstanton  several  thousand  passing  west  Nov.  12th/ 13th 
and  Brancaster  5-10,000  on  17th. 

Gull-billed  Tern:  East:  Breydon  June  6th  (PRA).  North:  Cley  Aug.  28th  (RA,  CRI). 
Caspian  Tern:  Central:  Swanton  Morley  GP  July  11th  (JK  et  at). 

Sandwich  Tern:  Earliest  record  Scolt  Head  and  Sheringham  March  18th.  Breeding: 
North : Scolt  Head  3,000  pairs  (1 ,200  flying  young) ; Stiffkey  Binks  9 1 pairs ; Blakeney 
Point  1,700-1,800  pairs  (600  flying  young).  Two  reported  inland  in  Fens  at  Down- 
ham  Market  June  15th  and  20th.  Late  birds  Nov.  13th  at  Sheringham,  Cley  (2) 
and  Hunstanton. 

Common  Tern:  Extreme  dates  March  27th  (Cley)  and  Nov.  2nd  (Cley)  with  reports 
of  ‘comic’  terns  at  Blakeney  Nov.  12th  and  Weybourne  Nov.  21st.  Breeding: 
number  of  pairs  (with  number  of  fledged  young  in  brackets  where  known).  East: 
Breydon  17  (6)  a new  colony  on  a man-made  raft.  Broads : Ormesby  3 (8),  Ranworth 
32  (55),  Hoveton  4,  Martham  3 (6),  and  Hardley  Flood  16  (39).  North:  Thornham 
3,  Titchwell  3 (2),  Overy  Staithe  4-5,  Wells  15,  Stiffkey  Binks  119,  Bob  Hall’s  Sand 
34,  Scolt  Head  300  (175)  and  Blakeney  Point  1200-1400.  Wash:  Snettisham  60  (45). 
Inland  non-breeders  (away  from  Broads):  Swanton  Morley  G.P.  4 from  April  30th 
and  Earlham  Park  G.P.  1-6  July  20th-Aug.  8th. 

Arctic  Tern:  Breeding:  North:  Stiffkey  1 pair,  Scolt  Head  2 pairs  and  Blakeney  Point 
2 pairs.  Broads:  Hickling  4 July  24th.  Last  recorded  at  Sheringham  Oct.  16th. 
Little  Tern:  Extreme  dates  April  21st  (Winterton)  and  Oct.  2nd  (Snettisham). 
Breeding:  (number  of  pairs)  East:  Sea  Palling-Waxham  3,  Waxham-Horsey  9, 
Winterton  8-10,  Winterton-Hemsby  1,  Caister  on  Sea  8,  Yarmouth  5 and  Breydon 
1-2.  Broads:  Hickling  30  (rearing  41  young).  North-Blakeney  Point  180-200,  Bran- 
caster  7 (10-12  young),  Thornham  35  (only  2 young),  Holkham  3,  Wells-Overy 
Staithe  35-40,  Overy  Staithe  Harbour  18-20,  Stiffkey  Binks  20,  Bob  Hall’s  Sand  7, 
Scolt  Head  68  (18  young)  and  Titchwell  24.  Inland  recorded  at  Denver  Sluice  Aug. 
7th. 

Black  Tern:  Spring  passage  May  8th-June  22nd  with  noticeable  peak  May  26th/27th. 
During  this  two-day  period  60  at  Breydon,  34  Winterton,  11  Cley,  3 Titchwell, 
5 Holme,  10  Hardley  Flood,  14  Colney  G.P.,  20  Swanton  Morley  G.P.  and  9 Denver 
Sluice.  Also  3 flying  north-east  East  Wretham  Heath  May  22nd.  October  records  on 
13th  Cley  (2)  and  19th  Hickling. 

White-winged  Black  Tern:  North : Cley  adult  June  2nd-9th  (WFB,  JK  et  al ).  Broads : 
Hardley  Flood  May  26th-28th  (JCE,  DAD,  DJH).  Fens:  Welney  2 May  23rd-25th 
(GHS).  Additional  1976  record:  Cley  July  14th  (RL,  SCL). 

Razorbill:  Largest  numbers:  North:  Sheringham  240  east  in  2 hours  Oct.  11th 
(JCM).  East:  Winterton  174  north  in  80  minutes  Dec.  31st  (PRA). 

Black  Guillemot:  North:  Sheringham  Sept.  26th,  Salthouse  Oct.  31st  and  Wells 
harbour  Jan.  2nd  to  29th. 


241 


Little  Auk:  North-  Cromer  Nov.  16th,  Cley  oiled  bird  April  llth/12th,  10  Oct.  29th 
and  Nov.  17th,  Weyboume  6 Nov.  21st,  Brancaster  dead  Feb.  1st,  Thomham  accom- 
panying Starlings  Oct.  22nd  with  same  or  another  next  day  and  Titchwell  dead  April 
9th.  East:  Happisburgh  dead  on  main  coast  road  Nov.  24th,  Yarmouth  Nov.  16th. 
Puffin:  North:  Fifteen  autumn/winter  records  of  up  to  7.  East:  Winterton  dead 
Dec.  19th. 

Woodpigeon:  North:  Holme  assembly  of  4000  headed  west  April  27th. 

Turtle  Dove:  Breck:  680  at  a duck  farm  Foulden  June  23rd  increasing  to  820  on 
27th;  all  had  dispersed  by  mid-July.  North:  Sheringham  270  west  May  29th,  Cley 
total  of  406  west  June  5th  to  11th  including  243  on  8th.  East:  Late  individual  Yar- 
mouth Nov.  23rd. 

Ring-necked  Parakeet:  Recorded  at  High  Kelling  Nov.  5th,  Cley  Oct.  13th,  Winter- 
ton  July  2nd,  Blakeney  March  8th/10th,  Sheringham  April  28th  and  Holme  Feb.  6th. 
Great  Spotted  Cuckoo:  North:  Cley-Salthouse  Oct.  21st  (CEH,  MSH,  GGW  et  al ). 
Barn  Owl:  Recorded  at  76  localities. 

Little  Owl:  Recorded  at  24  localities. 

Long-eared  Owl:  Single  pairs  bred  at  Fritton,  Kelling  Heath  and  East  Wretham. 
Breeding  season  records  from  Massingham  Heath,  South  Wootton  and  Hickling. 
Wintering  birds  at  Massingham  Heath,  Ringstead,  Strumpshaw  and  Welney  (3). 
Single  migrants  in  off  sea  at  Holme  April  9th  and  23rd. 

Short-eared  Owl:  Bred  at  Sculthorpe.  Breeding  season  records  at  North  Wootton 
and  Tunstall  (carrying  food).  Maximum  winter  numbers:  Halvergate  8,  Scolt  Head 
5 and  Ouse  Mouth  8.  Single  migrants  in  off  sea  at  Cley  Sept.  25th,  at  Winterton 
Oct.  7th,  at  Salthouse  on  9th  and  at  Cley  Nov.  17th  and  28th. 

Nightjar:  North:  Blakeney  Point  migrant  Aug.  21st.  Breeding:  Away  from  Brecks 
singing  males  as  follows:  Salthouse  Heath  6,  Kelling  Heath  4,  Sandringham  3, 
Wolferton  1 and  Winterton  1. 

Swift:  First  record,  Hickling  April  27th.  1000  - j-  moving  eastwards  Sheringham  Aug. 
17th  during  ENE  gale.  Latest  record,  Cley  Oct.  14th. 

Kingfisher:  Breeding  confirmed  at  Brampton,  Cantley  B.F.,  Fritton  area  (3  pairs), 
Hunstanton,  North  Walsham,  Snettisham,  South  Creake  and  Strumpshaw.  At 
Brampton  the  nest  was  in  overturned  tree  roots  and  one  at  Fritton  was  in  the  base 
of  a fallen  oak 

Hoopoe:  In  spring  singles  between  Bircham  and  Houghton  April  30th  and  at 
Surlingham  for  at  least  a fortnight  up  to  May  3rd.  In  autumn  Sheringham  Aug.  18th 
and  Wells/Holkham  Aug.  20th-30th  joined  by  a second  bird  26th-30th. 

Wryneck:  Spring  records  as  follows:  Wells  May  2nd  and  22nd.  South  Wootton 
May  5th  and  West  Runton  May  17th.  In  Autumn  first  recorded  Aug.  13th,  followed 
by  large  daily  falls  of  migrants  Aug.  18th-21st.  on  North  and  East  coasts  with  maxi- 
mum numbers  as  follows:-  14  Blakeney  Point  19th,  10  Wells/Holkham  20th,  11 
Winterton  and  13  Sheringham  21st.  During  this  period  inland  records  at  Reepham 
21st,  Hickling  19th-21st  with  2 on  22nd,  Norwich  23rd  and  Wickhampton  (dead) 
28th.  Most  migrants  had  moved  on  by  end  Aug.  and  surprisingly  only  two  Sept- 
ember records:  Blakeney  Point  3rd  and  Castle  Acre  llth-14th.  Two  late  records  in 
October:  Horsford  5th  and  UEA,  Norwich  13th. 

Woodlark:  Recorded  at  11  localities  in  Brecks  in  breeding  season.  Elsewhere 
Winterton  March  6th,  two  flying  south  at  Eaton,  Norwich  March  16th,  Wey- 
bourne  Nov.  5th  and  Salthouse  Nov.  12th. 

Shore  Lark:  Extreme  dates  May  14th  and  Sept.  25th.  Occasional  records  of  up  to  5 
at  Breydon,  Winterton,  Morston,  Holkham,  Scolt  Head,  Burnham  Overy,  Holme 
and  Snettisham.  Majority  of  records  from  Sheringham-Cley  where  monthly  maxima 
as  follows:  Jan.  30,  Feb.  35,  March  31,  April  30,  May  12,  Oct.  12  and  Nov/Dec.  8 
Also  14  Hickling  Nov.  27th. 


242 


Sand  Martin:  Late  October  migrants  at  Weybourne  on  28th  and  Cley  on  31st. 
Swallow:  Under  a low  railway  bridge  between  Berney  Arms  and  Reedham  a nest 
which  had  accumulated  over  8/10  years  to  a height  of  18  inches  had  eggs  in  topmost 
nest.  An  Albino  between  Little  Melton  and  Hethersett  Oct.  23rd.  A considerable 
number  of  late  birds  on  North  coast  in  November  with  latest  at  Cley  on  17th.  One 
December  record,  Toftwood  on  17th. 

Red-rumped  Swallow:  North:  Cley  June  11th  (RJF,  PN,  NJR).  The  third  county 
record. 

House  Martin:  An  early  migrant  at  Winterton  March  8th.  Many  November  records 
including  82  north  at  Winterton  and  23  west  at  Sheringham  on  the  12th.  Latest 
birds,  Hardley  Flood  (2)  on  20th,  Framingham  Earl  on  21st  and  Norwich  on  28th. 
Richard’s  Pipit:  Largest  numbers  since  1970.  East:  Winterton-Horsey  1-4  almost 
daily  Oct.  lst-23rd  and  one  Dec.  31st,  the  latest  county  record.  North:  Sheringham 
Sept.  28th  and  up  to  4 Oct.  20th-25th,  Weybourne  2 Oct.  27th  and  Nov.  5th-7th, 
Cley  1-2  Oct.  13th-28th;  Blakeney  Point  Oct.  13  th,  Stiff  key  Sept.  22nd  and  25th  and 
Oct.  10th,  Warham  Oct.  lst/2nd,  Wells  Oct.  7th,  3 11th,  2 12th-18th  (one  different 
bird  from  the  11th)  and  23rd,  Holkham  (Gun  Hill)  at  least  2 Oct.  llth-13th  and 
2 Oct.  29th,  Scolt  Oct.  16th-29th  with  2 on  27th,  Burnham  Overy  Oct.  16th  and 
Holme  Oct.  lst/2nd  and  10th-28th. 

Tawny  Pipit:  North:  Sheringham  Sept.  24th  (MF,  KBS,  MPT)  and  Cley  Oct.  21st 
(IRC,  CRL,  GGW).  Holme  March  19th- April  10th.  A very  early  arrival  date  and 
a prolonged  stay. 

Meadow  Pipit:  East:  A pale  buffish  bird  Breydon  Jan.  lst-30th. 

Red-throated  Pipit:  North:  Cley  May  18th  (MFS)  and  Kelling  May  29th-31st 
(many  observers).  The  fifth  and  sixth  county  records. 

Water  Pipit:  Most  regularly  seen  at  Hickling  where  singles  Jan.- April,  first  recorded 
in  Autumn  Oct.  22nd  increasing  to  6 early  Nov.  and  up  to  3 in  Dec.  Elsewhere 
singles  at  Cley  in  April  and  Oct.,  Winterton  in  Oct.  and  Dec.  and  Cantley  B.F.  in 
Jan.  and  Oct.,  where  3-4  end  Nov. 

Yellow  Wagtail:  A very  early  bird  at  Sheringham  March  13th. 

Blue-headed  Wagtail:  East:  Breydon  April  28th-May  27th  with  other  singles  May 
1st  and  6th,  Happisburgh  2 April  26th  and  4 on  28th.  Broads:  Hickling  2 April 


243 


22nd  and  one  30th.  North:  Cley/Salthouse  April  lOth/llth,  up  to  2 20th-23rd,  May 
8th/9th,  2 June  4th  and  singles  July  17th  and  30th,  Titchwell  May  30th. 

Grey-headed  Wagtail:  North:  Salthouse  June  5th. 

Ashy-headed  Wagtail:  North:  Cley  May  7th-9th  (RC,  KB  et  al ).  The  fourth  county 
record  of  this  race. 

Grey  Wagtail:  Breeding  records  from  Taverham,  Lenwade,  Lyng,  Ellingham, 
Gressenhall  and  along  River  Nar  (6  nests). 

Pied  Wagtail:  An  unusual  concentration  of  200  near  Rackheath  Church  Oct.  5th. 
A roost  of  100  birds  in  small  reed  bed  at  East  Tuddenham  early  Nov. 

Waxwing:  Only  a small  number  of  records:  Costessey  Feb.  5th,  Wells  Nov.  17th 
with  2 19th/20th,  Swaffham  Nov.  21st  and  23rd,  Eaton  2 Nov.  26th,  Wiveton  2 
Dec.  1st  and  Hellesdon  Dec.  24th-27th. 

Black-bellied  Dipper:  Singles  recorded  at  the  following  localities:  Old  Costessey 
Jan.  22nd,  Keswick  Mill  Feb.  4th,  Hellesdon  Mill  Feb.  6th,  Gunton  Park  Feb. 
14th-20th,  Honingham  up  to  Feb.  24th  and  Gressenhall  in  Nov./Dec. 

Thrush  Nightingale:  North:  Holme  trapped  May  14th  (PRC).  The  bird  was  not 
seen  in  the  field  before  or  after  capture.  The  first  county  record. 

Nightingale:  Passage  birds  at  Sheringham  April  30th,  Titchwell  May  14th  and 
Blakeney  Point  Aug.  20th. 

Bluethroat:  Two  spring  records:  Holme  May  8th/9th  and  Weybourne  May  21st. 
The  only  two  autumn  records  were  both  unusually  late:  Happisburgh  Oct.  2nd  and 
UEA,  Norwich  Oct.  12th,  the  first  inland  record  for  many  years. 


Cetti’s  Warbler 


244 


Black  Redstart:  Breeding:  Yarmouth  3 pairs,  2 of  which  definitely  bred,  and  Wey- 
bourne  one  pair,  but  no  proof  of  breeding.  Winter  records  from  Sheringham  in 
Jan.  and  Feb.  and  Titchwell  Jan.  9th.  Spring  migrants  March  10th- April  25th 
including  inland  records  at  Mulbarton,  Norwich  and  Reepham.  Isolated  records 
Holme  May  13th  and  Aug.  7th.  Autumn  records  Sept.  18th-Nov.  6th  with  maximum 
of  4 Blakeney  Point  Oct.  15th. 

Redstart:  Breeding  season  records  from  9 Breck  localities.  A very  late  migrant  at 
Holme  Nov.  18th. 

Whinchat:  Present  in  breeding  season  at  Bridgham  Heath,  Frog  Hill,  Stanford, 
Sturston  Warren  and  Weeting.  Late  migrants  at  UEA,  Norwich  Nov.  8th  and  Snetti- 
sham  Nov.  12th. 

Stonechat:  Two  breeding  pairs  at  Weybourne  and  six  pairs  at  Winterton-Horsey. 
A sudden  influx  at  Holme  March  6th  when  24  present  with  6 next  day. 

Isabelline  Wheatear : East : Winterton  May  28th  (PRA,  TEB).  The  first  county  record. 
Wheatear:  Extreme  dates — March  6th  (Holme)  and  Nov.  12th  (Snettisham).  Only 
breeding  locality  reported  away  from  Brecks  was  Kelling  Heath. 

Siberian  Thrush:  East:  Yarmouth  male  Dec.  25th  (P.  J.  Wilkinson).  First  county 
record  of  this  vagrant  from  Asia.  Accepted  by  Rarities  Committee  Sept.  1978. 
Ring  Ouzel:  An  early  record  Burnham  Overy  March  12th.  Main  Spring  migration 
March  26th- May  28th  with  largest  numbers  April  17th-27th  including  13  Salthouse 
Heath  on  21st.  A male  at  Wiveton  Down  on  the  unusual  date  of  June  23rd.  Autumn 
passage  Sept.  24th-Nov.  3rd  with  maximum  of  7 at  Wells/Holkham  Oct.  7th. 
Fieldfare:  Latest  spring  record  Swafield  May  24th.  East:  a pair  summered  for 
third  year  running,  but  again  no  evidence  of  breeding.  First  recorded  in  Autumn 
Aug.  21st  at  Wells  and  Blakeney  Point. 

Redwing:  Late  spring  records  at  Holme  May  19th  (singing)  and  Holkham  May  22nd. 
At  an  East  Norfolk  locality  4 still  present  May  29th  and  a pair  again  summered, 
but  no  evidence  of  breeding. 

Mistle  Thrush:  A large  flock  of  75  at  Gunton  Feb.  21st. 

Cetti’s  Warbler:  Broads:  Total  of  25  singing  males  in  Yare  valley  at  Rockland, 
Wheatfen,  Surlingham  and  Strumpshaw.  Elsewhere,  2 males  in  song  at  Hoveton 
and  at  Hickling  (from  Oct.  11th)  and  another  at  Smallburgh. 

Grasshopper  Warbler:  Two  October  records,  Hickling  on  5th  and  Happisburgh  on 
19th  (trapped). 

Savi’s  Warbler:  Broads:  Hickling  present  from  April  26th  and  3 singing  by  July. 
One  bird  also  seen  carrying  food  (SEL).  Horsey  pair  seen,  male  singing,  in  August 
(JJB). 

Sedge  Warbler:  A pure  albino  at  Wells  on  Aug.  14th  (GED,  SCJ) 

Icterine  Warbler:  A remarkable  series  of  falls  in  the  Autumn,  mainly  on  the  North 
coast.  All  records  are  listed  and  refer  to  August , unless  otherwise  stated: 

East:  Winterton  21st.  Waxham  16th,  18th,  21st,  22nd  and  28th.  Inland:  North 
Walsham  (Crane  Fruehauf  factory)  10th.  North:  Sheringham  15th,  17th,  20th, 
30th  and  Sept.  3rd  (all  trapped).  Blakeney  Point  8 7th,  4 8th,  2 13th,  5 14th/ 15th, 
2-3  16th,  3 17th,  4 18th,  8 19th,  2 20th,  4 21st,  22nd/23rd,  29th  and  Sept.  1st. 
Morston  Sept.  1st.  Wells/Holkham  3 8th,  11th,  14th,  15th,  2 17th,  4 20th,  3-4  21st, 
27th,  28th,  30th  and  31st.  Holme  7th  a new  bird  8th,  4 9th,  13th,  17th,  18th,  3 19th, 
20th,  22nd  and  23rd.  Old  Hunstanton  15th  (retrapped  20th)  and  18th  (also  trapped). 
Barred  Warbler:  East:  Winterton  Aug.  27th/28th.  North:  Beeston  Regis  Aug.  24th 
Sheringham  Aug.  16th  & 20th  (retrapped  24th).  Weybourne  Aug.  16th  and  Oct.  3rd. 
Cley  Aug.  28th  and  Sept.  lst-4th.  Blakeney  Point  2 Aug.  8th,  12th,  13th,  2 18th, 
19th,  2 20th,  22nd,  23rd  and  Sept.  15th-17th.  Wells/Holkham  Aug.  21st,  27th,  2 
28th  and  2 Sept.  5th.  Holme  2 Aug.  23rd  and  Sept.  3rd.  Hunstanton  Aug.  22nd. 
Garden  Warbler:  October  records  at  Wells  until  18th  and  Sheringham  until  22nd. 


245 


Blackcap:  January  records:  3 separate  birds  at  Sheringham  (2  trapped),  Cley  13th/ 
14th,  Acle  23rd  and  up  to  4 at  Holme.  In  February  2 at  Holme,  3 at  Sprowston 
(2  trapped)  and  Hunstanton  23rd. 

Greenish  Warbler:  North:  Blakeney  Point  Aug.  12th  (AMH),  two  13th,  one  remain- 
ing until  15th  (many  observers).  Holkham  Aug.  20th/21st.  (SDH,  SCJ). 

Arctic  Warbler:  North:  Wells  Sept.  18th-23rd  (GED,  S.  Gantlet,  et  al ).  The  eighth 
county  record. 

Yellow-browed  Warbler:  North:  Wells/Holkham  2 Sept.  20th/21st,  Oct.  7th,  3 Oct- 
8th  and  2 Oct.  9th,  Blakeney  Point  Sept.  20th,  Holme  Sept.  21st-24th  and  Wey- 
bourne  Sept.  22nd. 

Dusky  Warbler:  Additional  1976  record:  North:  Wells  Oct.  16th  (JDS,  GGW) 
the  eighth  county  record. 

Bonelli’s  Warbler:  Additional  1976  record  North:  Holkham  Sept.  14th  (HS,  DW). 
Almost  certainly  the  same  bird  as  that  seen  on  Sept.  5th  (1976  NBR). 

Wood  Warbler:  Spring  migrants  at  Thornham  May  20th  and  Wells  May  22nd. 
Singing  males  in  breeding  season  at  Blickling,  Castle  Rising,  Felthorpe,  Great 
Hockham,  Kelling,  Narborough,  Sheringham  and  West  Runton.  Autumn  migrants 
as  follows:  East:  Yarmouth  Aug.  18th  and  23rd.  North:  Sheringham  Sept.  25th 
(trapped),  Blakeney  Point  Aug.  10th,  2 13th/14th  and  15th,  Wells/Holkham  2 Aug. 
17th,  18th  and  3 21st,  Holme  Aug.  7th,  9th,  18th,  21st  and  22nd,  Old  Hunstanton 
Aug.  19th  (trapped). 

Chiffchaff : Early  spring  arrival  from  March  6th  (Beeston  Regis).  Up  to  3 Wells/ 
Holkham  late  Sept.-early  Oct.,  showing  characteristics  of  abietinus.  A late  bird  at 
Salthouse  Nov.  20th  feeding  on  shingle  with  Snow  Buntings.  Winter  records: 
Cantley  B.F.  Feb.  12th  and  birds  of  Northern  race  abietinus  trapped  Sheringham 
Jan.  15th-18th  and  Dec.  4th  (2). 

Firecrest:  Only  a small  number  of  records:  Holme  2 March  20th,  one  21st-24th, 
Wells/Holkham  2 April  11th,  12th,  17th  and  Oct.  28th,  Yarmouth  Sept.  24th, 
Winterton  Sept.  25th  and  Bradwell  Nov.  9th. 

Red-breasted  Flycatcher:  North:  Holme  Sept.  17th,  Blakeney  Point  Sept.  20th  and 
a different  bird  Sept.  22nd/23rd  and  Wells  Oct.  9th. 

Pied  Flycatcher:  A total  of  14  migrants  in  Spring  April  30th-June  1st,  including  in- 
land records  at  Felbrigg,  Kelling  Heath,  Honing  and  Swafield  (2).  Large  Autumn 


246 


falls  of  75  Blakeney  Point  Aug.  15th  and  50  Aug.  19th;  70  Yarmouth  Aug.  18th. 
A late  bird  at  Yarmouth  Oct.  23rd. 

Bearded  Tit:  Breeding  records  include  one  pair  at  Dersingham,  15  pairs  at  Titchwell 
(maximum  count  of  76  Dec.  4th),  at  least  12  pairs  at  Cantley  B.F.  and  10  pairs  at 
Strumpshaw,  where  late  Autumn  maximum  of  up  to  300  birds.  Other  Autumn 
migrants  as  follows:  Mundesley  2 Oct.  8th,  Sheringham  2 Oct.  29th,  Weyboume 
up  to  5 Oct.  14th-Nov.  29th,  Scolt  Head  13  Oct.  20th,  Holme  15  Oct.  8th  and  Snet- 
tisham  where  4 Sept.  27th  and  8 Oct.  14th,  with  2 remaining  until  Nov.  12th. 

Golden  Oriole:  East:  Winterton  May  15th  and  June  11th  (PR A,  ADB).  North: 
males  seen  in  flight  at  Holkham  May  28th  (GED,  SCJ),  Titchwell  June  28th  (RK) 
and  Sheringham  July  5th  (BB). 

Red-backed  Shrike:  Spring  migrants  at  Cley  May  8th,  Holkham  May  24th,  Holme 
May  27th/28th  and  June  1st  and  Gorleston  May  28th  and  31st.  In  breeding  season 
at  least  10  pairs  present  at  6 localities  but  young  only  reared  from  3 nests,  including 
a new  site  in  North-east  Norfolk.  Isolated  records  also  from  6 other  localities 
including  several  former  breeding  areas  and  at  least  one  other  suitable  new  locality. 
A major  Autumn  influx,  on  a larger  scale  even  than  that  which  occurred  in  1976: 
Broads:  Hickling  Aug.  20th-22nd,  and  27th.  East:  Gorleston  up  to  3 Aug.,  18th- 
Sept.  2nd,  Yarmouth  1-3  Aug.  18th-26th,  Winterton  influx  commenced  Aug.  18th, 
peak  of  12  on  21st,  9 still  present  on  27th  (last  record  Oct.  1st),  Waxham  Aug. 
16th,  3 18th  and  21st,  6 22nd,  3 remaining  28th,  Happisburgh  Aug.  14th-22nd  and 
28th.  North:  East  Runton  2 Aug.  30th  and  one  31st,  Beeston  Aug.  13th,  2 20th/21st, 
24th,  27th  and  Sept.  lst-4th,  Sheringham  Aug.  7th,  11th  and  1-4  15th-28th  and  one 
Sept.  25th-28th,  Cley  Aug.  13th,  3 Aug.  14th,  17th,  22nd  and  27th.  Blakeney  Point 
1-4  on  most  days  Aug.  7th-23rd,  Morston  Sept.  1st,  Wells/Holkham  up  to  7 Aug. 
13th-Sept.  2nd,  Scolt  Aug.  20th/21st,  Burnham  Overy  Aug.  21st,  Brancaster  Aug. 
24th  & 29th  and  Sept.  3rd,  Titchwell  2 Aug.  20th  and  Holme  Aug.  13th,  up  to  4 
Aug.  17th-Sept.  4th. 

Lesser  Grey  Shrike:  Fens:  Downham  Market  June  8th  (CO’N). 

Great  Grey  Shrike:  Winter  records  up  to  April  15th  and  from  Oct.  9th.  Recorded 
at  22  localities. 

Woodchat  Shrike:  North:  Sheringham  July  5th-8th  (JCM  et  al ) and  Cley  Sept. 
24th-25th  (BR  et  al) 

Hooded  Crow:  Following  heavy  snowfall  23  arrived  at  Smallburgh  Jan.  16th;  also 
27  Sandringham  Jan.  18th.  Most  records  in  April  when  concentration  of  birds 
during  cold  weather  prior  to  departure,  including  44  at  Sheringham  on  16th,  24 
at  Winterton  on  21st  and  36  at  Bacton  on  22nd. 

Brambling:  Concentrations  of  6-800  at  Heggatt  March  25th  and  1500  at  Marham 
Nov.  26th. 

Serin:  North:  Wells  April  llth/12th  (LE,DF). 

Goldfinch:  East:  Happisburgh  750  moving  north  early  on  May  6th  and  a similar 
movement  of  1,200  on  May  13th. 

Siskin:  Only  flocks  reported  were  in  second  winter  period  including  48  at  Narford 
Oct.  6th  and  at  least  80  Gunton  Park  Dec.  16th. 

Linnet:  North:  Sheringham  peak  westerly  movements  3,000  on  April  16th  and 
2,500  on  26th.  East:  Happisburgh  largest  northerly  movement  2,000  early  morning 
May  1st. 

Twite:  North:  Winter  counts  included  500  at  Titchwell,  300  at  Wells  and  250  at 
Thomham. 

Mealy  Redpoll:  Only  records:  Morston  Sept.  22nd  and  Happisburgh  3 Oct.  28th, 
one  trapped  on  29th. 


247 


Crossbill:  Recorded  at  several  localities  in  Brecks  with  maximum  of  at  least  25 
East  Wretham  March  3rd.  Elsewhere  several  parties  Felthorpe  area  in  June  includ- 
ing immatures,  10  Kelling  Heath  June  5th,  3 Sheringham  third  week  of  July  and 
5 there  Oct.  21st  and  Wells  Sept.  23rd. 

Hawfinch:  Only  regularly  recorded  at  East  Wretham  where  maximum  of  36  Jan. 
22nd  and  April  3rd.  Also  irregularly  seen  at  Santon  Downham  (two  juveniles 
recorded),  Felthorpe  (unsuccessful  breeding)  and  Framingham  Earl.  Elsewhere: 
Tottington  Jan.  3rd,  6 Narford  Jan.  6th,  2 Didlington  Jan.  23rd,  Tommy’s  Belt 
(Stanford  Battle  Area)  April  24th,  Buckenham  Tofts  May  28th,  3 Lower  Kelling 
Sept.  8th  and  Gooderstone  in  Dec. 

Lapland  Bunting:  In  Jan.  and  Feb.  up  to  5 noted  at  Kelling,  Cley  and  Morston. 
A male  at  West  Runton  May  27th-29th.  In  Autumn  recorded  in  much  larger  num- 
bers than  in  recent  years  with  at  least  150  birds  on  the  North  coast  and  Wash  in 
October  at  numerous  localities  with  a maxima  of  38  Cley  22nd/23rd  and  15  at 
Sheringham  and  Holme.  On  East  coast  total  of  46  flying  south  at  Winterton  Sept. 
14th-Oct.  29th  including  14  on  latter  date.  Peak  of  10  at  Breydon  Nov. /Dec.  One 
Gorleston  Oct.  18th-20th.  Two  inland  records:  one  flying  west  Norwich  (Thorpe) 
Oct.  16th  (when  noticeable  arrival  on  north  coast)  and  15  Halvergate  Dec.  26th. 

Snow  Bunting:  In  first  Winter  period  200  at  Holme  and  88  at  Snettisham  in  Jan.  and 
250  at  Kelling  and  100  at  Happisburgh  in  Feb.  Last  noted  at  Cley  April  23rd.  In 
Autumn  recorded  again  from  Sept.  14th  (Winterton)  with  300  at  Cley/Salthouse 
and  100  at  Weyboume  in  Oct.  and  up  to  55  at  Breydon  in  November. 

Ortolan  Bunting:  North:  Blakeney  Point  Aug.  13  th/ 14th  (many  observers),  Stiff  key 
Sept.  23rd  (GED)  and  Salthouse  Sept.  24th  (SCJ). 

Little  Bunting:  North:  Stiff  key  Sept.  22nd-26th  (PM  et  al).  The  ninth  county  record. 


The  following,  not  mentioned  in  the  Classified  Notes,  were  also  recorded  in 
1977  (( breeding  species  in  italics ):  Mute  Swan , Canada  Goose , Mallard , Scaup, 
Kestrel , Red-legged  Partridge , Grey  Partridge , Pheasant , Water  Rail , Moorhen , 
Coot , Lapwing , Knot,  Snipe,  Curlew,  Redshank,  Turnstone,  Herring  Gull,  Great 


248 


Black-backed  Gull,  Guillemot,  Stock  Dove , Collared  Dove , Cuckoo , Tawny  Owl , 
Gree«  Woodpecker , Greatf  Spotted  Woodpecker , Lesser  Spotted  Woodpecker , 
Skylark , Tree  T7p//,  Rock  Pipit,  FPrew,  D unnock,  Robin , Blackbird,  Song  Thrush, 
Reed  Warbler,  Lesser  Whit ethr oat,  Whit ethr oat,  Willow  Warbler,  G older est.  Spotted 
Flycatcher,  Long-tailed  Tit,  Marsh  Tit,  Willow  Tit,  Coal  Tit,  Blue  Tit,  Great  Tit, 
Nuthatch,  Treecreeper,  Jay,  Magpie,  Jackdaw,  Rook,  Carrion  Crow,  Starling,  House 
Sparrow,  Tree  Sparrow,  Chaffinch,  Greenfinch , Bullfinch,  Yellowhammer,  Reed 
Bunting  and  Corn  Bunting. 

CONTRIBUTORS  TO  BIRD  REPORT 


S.  Abbot 

R.  Aberdein 
P.  R.  Allard 
C.  Appleton 

J.  Appleton 

C.  N.  Arnold 

S.  J.  Aspinall 
P.  W.  Atkinson 

K.  Bailey 

M.  F.  B.  Baker 

T.  R.  Barker 

D.  P.  Bell 

R.  A.  Benson 

S.  Betts 

W.  F.  Bishop 
M.  Blackburn 
Rt  Rev.  H.  Blackburne 
B.  Bland 

B.  Blower 

A.  D.  Boote 

T.  E.  Boulton 
Mrs.  M.  Bowyer 
R.  Bradney 
Mrs.  P.  Britton 
J.  F.  W.  Bruhn 
Mrs.  M.  A.  Brewster 

B.  Brown 
D.  Brown 

G.  B.  Brown 

G.  S.  Brown 
J.  Brown 

N Brown 

Miss  M.  S.  Buchanan 

A.  L.  Bull  & Mrs.  A.  Bull 
J.  Butcher 

J.  Buxton 
M.  A.  Buxon 
J.  Cadbury 
Mrs.  C.  Carlson 

F.  Cator 

R.  Chandler 

J.  Charman 

J.  G.  Chipperfield 

I.  R.  Clark 
P.  R.  Clarke 

D.  E.  Clodd 
R.  Cobbold 

B.  Codd 

P.  N.  Collin 
Dr.  S.  Cox 

H.  P.  Crawley 

E.  J.  Cross 
A.  Diebel 
A.  Dobson 

D.  A.  Dorling 

G.  E.  Dunmore 

G.  M.  S.  Easy 

J.  C.  Eaton 

H.  Edwards 

E.  A.  Ellis 

L.  Evans 

R.  J.  Fairbank 
T.  W.  Fairless 

F.  J.  Farrow 
D.  J.  Fisher 

M.  Fiszler 
D.  Foster 
Mrs.  O.  Fowler 
Miss  J.  S.  Fretwell 


Mrs.  J.  E.  Gaffney 

F.  T.  Gages 

R.  W.  H.  Garner 
Dr.  J.  D.  Geeson 
Mrs.  J.  E.  Geeson 

C.  J.  Gibbins 

D.  J.  Gill 

P.  J.  Gotham 
J.  H.  Green 
A.  J.  Hale 
A.  G.  Hall 

L.  T.  Hall 

Rev.  A.  M.  Handley 

M.  Hannant 

G.  R.  & Mrs.  J.  V.  Harrison 
R.  Harrison 

R.  Hay 

S.  J.  Hayhow 
Mrs.  D.  Herlihy 
P.  Hill 

D.  J.  Holman 

Holme  Bird  Observatory 

C.  E.  Hope 

M.  S.  Hope 

J.  Houghton 

S.  D.  Housden 

C.  J.  Humpage 

A.  W.  Humphrey 
P.  A.  Hyde 

H.  Insley 

C.  R.  Ireland 
G.  Jones 

R.  F.  Jones 
3.  C.  Joyner 
G.  I.  Kelly 
J.  Kemp 
Mrs.  S.  Kett 
J.  King 
M.  King 
J.  Kew 

Dr.  I.  F.  Keymer 
R.  Kimber 
J.  King 
M.  H.  King 
M.  D.  Kingswell 
P.  D.  Kirby 

D.  Kirk 

C.  A.  E.  Kirtland 
C.  R.  Knights 

J.  E.  A.  Lambert 
R.  W.  Lambert 

R.  Land 

K.  Laurence 
J.  Lawrence 
M.  P.  Lee 
Dr.  J.  Lines 

C.  R.  Linfoot 

S.  E.  Linsell 

R.  Ludford 

S.  C.  Ludford 

B.  J.  Madden 
J.  D.  Magee 
M.  Mangan 

D.  J.  Manns 

I.  G.  Manklow 
R.  C.  Mansfield 
G.  J.  Mant 

P.  J.  Marsh 

J.  Marsham 


K.  Martin  Jones 

G.  W.  Maybury 
D.  R.  Moore 
N.  H.  Moore 

J.  Moyes 

H.  F.  Murland 

Nar  Valley  Ornithologica 
Society 

National  Trust 

Nature  Conservancy  Council 

P.  Naylor 

Deaconess  M.  Newton 
R.  Newton 
D.  Norman 

G.  Nunn 

C.  Oldershaw 

B.  N.  Oliver 
P.  J.  Oliver 

C.  O’Neil 

Mr.  & Mrs.  E.  R.  Parrinder 

I.  Pearson 
M.  C.  Petch 

I.  Phelps 

F.  H.  Pigg 
R.  Powley 

J.  L.  Raincock 

M.  H.  Rains 

H.  R.  Ramsey 
A.  P.  Randall 

N.  J.  Redman 
P.  Reed 

D.  I.  Richmond 
Dr.  N.  R.  Rogers 
T.  Sayers 

G.  H.  Scott 

M.  J.  Seago 

A.  R.  Seviour 

K.  B.  Shepherd 
P.  Shooter 

H.  Shorrock 

J.  D.  SlGLEY 

N.  Sills 

R.  Skelton 

E.  G.  Skoyles 
J.  E.  Slade 

B.  Steele-Drew 
M.  F.  Stoyle 
Dr.  M.  P.  Taylor 
A.  V.  Thorn 

H.  G.  Tyler 

Mrs.  B.  M.  E.  Unsworth 
A.  E.  Vine 
T.  Walsh 

F.  A.  Wardman 
R.  T.  Waters 

C.  H.  Watson 
R.  Wells 

G.  F.  Whitwell 

J.  P.  WlDGERY 
Wildfowl  Trust 
E.  A.  Williams 
G.  G.  Williams 

R.  J.  WlNTERTON 

L.  F.  & S.  WOOLLARD 

D.  Wright 

E.  R.  Wright 
A.  W.  Wood 

S.  K.  S.  Young 


249 


FEEDING  WILDLIFE  IN  THE  GARDEN 

by  Dr  I F Keymer 


Providing  food  for  wild  creatures  is  a satisfying  pastime  for  many  people.  It  is 
practised  even  by  those  who  have  only  the  slightest  interest  in  or  knowledge  of 
natural  history.  Birds  such  as  house  sparrows,  chaffinches,  blackbirds  and  tits 
are  the  species  most  eager  to  take  advantage  of  the  household  scraps  provided  in 
this  way.  The  enthusiasts,  however,  take  more  trouble  to  provide  a greater  variety 
of  food  and  thereby  attract  a wider  variety  of  birds  and  sometimes  squirrels  and 
hedgehogs.  There  is  little  doubt  that  in  hard  winters  the  lives  of  some  species,  es- 
pecially small  birds,  are  saved  by  such  artificial  feeding.  It  is  important  to  realise, 
however,  that  providing  food  artificially  is  not  always  as  beneficial  or  harmless  as 
it  may  seem. 

The  fact  that  wild  species  have  similar  nutritional  requirements  to  ourselves 
and  to  domestic  animals  is  often  not  realised.  Even  when  some  species  have  evolved 
to  eat  highly  specialised  foods  they  still  need  water  and  a basic  diet  that  contains 
carbohydrates,  fats,  protein,  vitamins  and  minerals,  although  the  proportions  may 
vary  according  to  the  type  of  animal. 

It  is  a common  fallacy  that  animals  instinctively  know  what  is  good  for  them. 
Unfortunately,  like  ourselves,  they  can  develop  cravings  for  foods  which  are  harm- 
ful when  eaten  in  large  quantities.  Foods  which  should  never  be  fed  include  long 
strips  of  bacon  rind,  especially  if  raw,  and  shredded  or  dried  coconut.  This  type  of 
coconut  and  even  dry  bread  can  swell  up  inside  the  crop  or  stomach  and  cause 
impaction  that  can  lead  to  discomfort  or  death.  Only  fresh  coconut  should  be  offered, 
and  bread  should  be  soaked  in  water  or  milk  before  feeding.  Long  strips  of  bacon 
rind  may  choke  birds  and  also  produce  impactions  because  they  take  a long  time 
to  digest.  Most  people  love  salted  peanuts  and  the  same  applies  to  many  birds  and 
squirrels.  For  this  reason  therefore  peanuts  containing  high  concentrations  of  salt 
are  not  recommended  because  an  excessive  amount  of  salt  in  the  diet  can  be  dan- 
gerous, especially  to  young  birds.  Only  fresh  nuts  should  be  fed.  However,  nuts 
contain  a high  proportion  of  phosphorus  and  a substance  called  phytic  acid  which 
interferes  with  the  absorption  of  calcium.  If  nuts,  therefore,  are  eaten  in  quantity 
by  young  growing  animals  over  a long  period  there  is  a danger  that  they  will 
interfere  with  normal  bone  formation  and  help  to  produce  the  disease  known  as 
rickets.  Indeed,  I have  found  evidence  that  feeding  nuts  in  large  quantities  may  have 
caused  a disease  of  this  kind  in  a young  red  squirrel  that  died  of  pneumonia  in 
Norfolk.  * 

Other  foods  which  should  be  presented  in  small  quantities,  or  for  strictly 
limited  periods  of  the  day,  include  lumps  of  fat  and  even  soaked  bread.  Such 
foods  are  of  limited  nutritional  value,  although  they  are  a source  ot  energy  and 
quickly  fill  an  empty  stomach.  This  is  important  for  small  birds  first  thing  in  the 
morning  after  roosting  through  a cold  night  or  late  in  the  afternoon  before  going  to 
roost,  but  if  birds  are  given  this  type  of  food  in  the  middle  of  a winter’s  day  the 
sense  of  well  being  that  is  probably  produced  could  easily  slow  down  normal  feed- 
ing activities.  It  is  quite  possible  that  this  could  result  in  death  later  in  the  night, 


*See  I.  F.  Keymer  and  J.  M.  Hime  (1977)  Nutritional  osteodystrophy  in  a free-living  red 
squirrel  (Sciurus  vulgaris).  Veterinary  Record  100.  31-32. 


250 


because  it  is  important  for  birds,  especially  small  ones,  to  go  to  roost  with  a full 
crop  and  enough  food  inside  them  to  maintain  their  body  temperature  until  dawn. 

In  addition  to  the  disadvantages  already  mentioned  of  feeding  foods  such  as 
nuts,  there  is  also  published  evidence  that  feeding  excessive  quantities  of  white 
bread  to  birds  can  lead  to  vitamin  deficiencies.  This  is  most  likely  to  affect  pigeons 
and  some  other  birds  in  town  parks  where  other  sources  of  food  supply  are  limited. 
It  is  also  on  record  that  when  an  excessive  amount  of  fat  is  fed  by  parent  tits  to 
their  nestlings  this  can  prevent  proper  feather  development  with  the  result  that  the 
young  readily  fall  prey  to  cats. 

The  experiences  that  I have  quoted  clearly  show  that  regular  artificial  feeding 
of  wild  birds,  and  even  of  such  animals  as  squirrels,  may  interfere  with  their  natural 
feeding  habits  and  make  some  species  too  dependent  upon  man,  thus  leading  to 
unfortunate  and  unexpected  results.  Any  regular  concentration  of  birds  around 
feeding  tables  soon  becomes  well  known  to  local  cats,  as  many  bird  watchers  will 
be  aware.  What  is  not  well  known,  however,  is  that  there  is  evidence  that  a build  up 
of  disease  producing  bacteria  known  as  Salmonella  may  sometimes  occur  in  places 
where  small  birds  such  as  house  sparrows  and  greenfinches  regularly  gather.  In 
addition  to  being  lethal  to  wild  birds  many  strains  of  these  organisms  can  also 
infect  domestic  animals,  and  even  man  occasionally  causing  severe  illness.  This, 
therefore,  is  yet  another  consequence  that  should  be  borne  in  mind.  The  obvious 
problem  which  now  arises,  is  how  the  above  disadvantages  can  be  overcome. 
Firstly,  in  my  opinion,  wild  birds  and  other  animals  should  not  be  allowed  to  be- 
come too  dependent  upon  artificial  ieeding.  There  is,  I agree,  a very  good  case  for 
providing  food  and  water  during  severe  weather  conditions  such  as  frost,  snow, 
or  drought,  especially  early  in  the  morning  and  late  in  the  afternoon.  The  food 
should  be  placed  where  it  is  easily  found  by  the  animals  for  which  it  is  intended. 
Wild  animals  spend  most  of  their  waking  hours  searching  for  food,  so  there  is 
little  reason  to  worry  about  the  food  being  overlooked  if  it  is  scattered  about  the 
garden  instead  of  always  being  put  in  the  same  place. 

The  next  thought  which  will  come  to  mind  is  the  type  of  food  which  should  be 
fed.  There  is  surprisingly  little  advice  readily  available  on  this  important  topic, 
although  the  R.S.P.B.t  produces  a leaflet  which  gives  guidance  on  how  to  present 
food  to  garden  birds  and  encourage  them  by  growing  types  of  shrubs  which  bear 
berries.  Briefly,  however,  the  greater  the  variety  of  food  that  is  provided  the  better. 
Not  only  will  this  minimise  the  possibility  of  dietary  deficiencies  occurring,  but  it 
will  also  attract  a greater  variety  of  species.  In  addition  to  halved,  fresh  coconuts 
to  attract  tits  and  household  scraps  comprising  the  usual  crumbs,  pieces  of  meat, 
stale  cakes  or  buns  and  lumps  of  fat,  the  following  are  also  suitable  and  will  attract 
both  seed  eaters  and  fruit  eaters : — cheese  and  rinds,  baked  potatoes,  hard-boiled 
eggs,  corn,  and  bruised  apples  or  other  fruit  including  sultanas  and  currants. 
Proprietary  seed  mixtures  for  cage  birds  such  as  canaries,  budgerigars  and  parrots 
and  the  special  mixtures  prepared  for  so-called  “softbills”  (predominantly  insecti- 
vorous species)  are  very  good,  but  expensive.  Meal  worms  and  maggots  are  also 
appreciated  by  insectivorous  species,  but  are  also  relatively  expensive  to  buy.  Simi- 
larly proprietary  wild  bird  foods  and  even  tinned  cat  and  dog  foods  are  relished 
by  many  birds.  Some  ornithologists  even  make  special  “puddings”  based  chiefly 
on  mixtures  of  mutton  fat,  coarse  oatmeal,  flour  and  water.  In  fact  most  of  the 
foods  I have  recommended  can  be  used  in  the  preparation  of  these  puddings  and,  if 
thought  necessary,  baked  in  an  oven. 


fLeaflet  entitled  "Information  on  Feeding  Birds".  Obtainable  from  the  Royal  Society  for 
the  Protection  of  Birds,  The  Lodge,  Sandy,  Bedfordshire,  SGI 9 2DL. 


251 


Most  people  seem  to  know  that  hedgehogs  relish  bread  and  milk  and  in 
moderation  this  is  a suitable  diet  for  them.  However,  being  carrion  eaters  they  will 
also  eat  meat  scraps  as  well  as  eggs.  In  addition  to  liking  nuts,  squirrels  will  also 
take  currants  and  sultanas,  but  all  these  should  be  fed  in  moderation  and  indeed 
especially  in  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  the  destructive  grey  squirrel  should  not  be  en- 
couraged by  artificial  feeding,  because  our  native  red  squirrel  that  still  occurs  in 
soms  areas  is  slowly  dying  out  and  being  replaced  by  this  species.  You  are  unlikely 
to  want  to  encourage  other  mammals  into  your  garden,  but  don’t  forget  that  foxes 
are  rather  partial  to  poultry! 


Dr  Keymer  has  offered  to  carry  out  post-mortem  examinations  on  wild 
mammals  and  birds,  free  of  charge  to  NNT  members. 

Carcases  should  be  refrigerated  (NOT  deep  frozen)  for  12  hours  before 
dispatch  securely  wrapped  in  airtight  containers.  A complete  history  should 
be  provided  where  possible. 

Address  packages  to  Dr  I.  F.  Keymer,  M.A.F.F.  Veterinary  Investigation 
Centre,  Jupiter  Road,  Norwich  NR6  6ST  and  mark  “Urgent:  pathological 
specimen”. 

This  offer  is  confined  to  wild  animals,  NOT  pets. 


HIBERNATION  HABITATS  OF  BATS 
IN  NORFOLK 

John  Goldsmith 

“Where  do  bats  go  in  winter?”  This  is  a question  often  asked  me.  Do  they  perhaps 
seek  the  same  places  as  the  proverbial  fly,  their  insect  food?  Reading  the  standard 
text  books  on  the  subject  will  supply  only  part  of  the  answer.  Recent  research 
provides  a little  more  and  conjecture  has  to  fill  in  the  rest ! Most  of  my  searching  for 
the  winter  habitats  of  bats  has,  in  fact,  been  confined  to  those  species  in  this  county 
which  “go  underground”,  that  is,  Long-eared,  Natterers,  Daubenton,  Whiskered 
and  Brant’s  bat. 

Hibernation  for  these  species  is  not  usually  the  uninterrupted  sound  slumber  for 
for  six  months  that  may  be  imagined.  They  certainly  fatten  up  during  the  autumn 
then  become  torpid  in  their  chosen  site.  However,  they  will  wake  up  as  frequently 
as  humidity  and  temperature  changes  occur  and  move  to  a site  where  better  condi- 
tions prevail.  This  means,  of  course,  that  even  a single  visit  by  a human  to  a parti- 
cular site  could  upset  this  delicate  balance  and  force  a site  change.  The  humidity 
recorded  at  sites  where  bats  are  hibernating  shows  they  usually  need  over  80% 
relative  humidity.  This  prevents  the  delicate  wing  membranes  drying  out.  The  tem- 
perature must  not  fluctuate  much  and  must  lie  somewhere  between  the  approximate 
figures  of  3 deg.  C and  12  deg  C.  Good  indicators  of  suitable  conditions  are  mos- 
quitoes, Eristalis  flies  and  Herald  Moths.  The  latter,  incidentally  always  face  to- 
wards the  entrance  of  the  cave. 

The  traditional  site  in  which  hibernating  bats  are  found  is  of  course  caves,  but 
Norfolk  has  no  natural  caves,  only  man-made  caves  in  chalk  at  four  sites  which  are 
still  penetrable.  There  are  many  records  of  chalk  workings  details  of  which  have 
been  long  forgotten.  Some  of  these  are  rediscovered  by  accident  during  building 
operations,  such  as  those  at  Thetford  and  Grape’s  Hill  in  Norwich.  Another  cate- 
gory is  exemplified  by  the  “Harford  tunnels”,  south  of  Norwich,  whose  whereabouts 


252 


Brent  Geese  at  Holme  Broadwater.  Brents  lingered  at  Brancaster  until  the  last  days  of  May ; 
the  first  birds  returned  to  Snettisham,  Brancaster  and  Blakeney  by  mid-September. 

Photos  P.  R.  Clarke 


■ 


f pm  l 


The  Yellow-necked  Mouse  surpasses  its  closest  relative,  the  Wood  Mouse  in  size  and  vividness 
of  colouring.  Photo  R.  Haney 


This  attractive  white  Fallow  Deer  buck  was  seen  by  many  observers  at  Taverham  until  it  met 
an  untimely  end  at  the  beginning  of  the  year.  Photo  Eastern  Daily  Press 


is  known  fairly  precisely,  but  the  enthusiasm,  the  will  or  the  money  is  not  forth- 
coming to  re-open  them  for  further  geological  research  and,  of  course,  to  provide 
more  winter  homes  for  bats.  Besides  these,  there  are  the  fictional  ones  which  appear 
in  local  tales  and  ghost  stories,  such  as  those  under  Norwich  Castle.  The  construc- 
tion of  any  tunnel  in  soft  sands  here  would  have  caused  the  collapse  of  the  massive 
keep  many  centuries  ago!  Forgotten  ice-houses,  brick  kilns,  lime  kilns,  cellars, 
water  towers,  tunnelled  watercourses  and  various  military  structures  can  all  look 
like  an  interesting  cave  to  a bat  and  many  of  these  may  provide  the  requisite  con- 
ditions. A card  index  of  most  of  the  known  structures  in  at  least  the  eastern  half  of 
the  county  has  been  compiled.  This  has  been  made  partly  by  scouring  old  6in. 
Ordnance  Survey  maps  and  partly  by  the  exchange  of  information  with  several 
industrial  archaeologists  (to  whom  I extend  my  thanks)  who  have  their  own, 
differently  angled,  interest  in  these  types  of  buildings.  From  the  conservation  point 
of  view,  these  places  are  best  not  being  disturbed  during  the  winter  for  detailed 
measurements,  photographs  or  excavation  if  there  is  any  likelihood  of  bats  being 
present.  They  will  almost  certainly  be  woken  and  will  use  up  valuable  fat  reserves 
trying  to  reach  another  safe  site.  In  return  for  this  consideration,  I on  my  part 
refrain  from  poking  out  pieces  of  loose  mortar  from  between  bricks,  even  though 
most  bats  love  to  squeeze  themselves  into  such  cracks  rather  than  hang  upside  down 
from  the  ceiling,  as  is  popularly  supposed.  They  may  even  be  found  almost  flush 
with  the  brickwork,  having  squeezed  into  what  is  to  our  eyes  the  slightest  of  recesses. 
Several  hundreds  of  bats  are  safely  accommodated  in  this  way  each  winter,  usually 
with  less  than  a dozen  at  a site,  but  many  more  must  find  other  inaccessible  sites 
above  ground  in  which  they  can  winter  such  as  hollow  trees,  barns  and  churches. 
Our  commonest  species,  the  Pipistrelle,  certainly  winters  in  this  way. 

Grimes  Graves  near  Thetford  is  undoubtedly  the  oldest  man-made  chalk  tunnel 
site  in  this  area  with  a discontinuous  record  of  bat  occupation  for  perhaps  four 
and  a half  thousand  years  since  stone-age  man  first  dug  the  tunnels  seeking  the 
prized  black  flint  from  which  he  could  fashion  tools.  Bat  bones  recovered  during 
various  digs  have  recently  been  re-examined  by  Dr.  R.  E.  Stebbings,  who  has  also 
fostered  the  work  on  Eaton  Chalk  Caves.  Dr.  Stebbings  has  shown  that  Bechsteins 
bat,  a high  forest  species  now  confined  to  a few  sites  in  the  Southern  Counties, 
occurred  there  in  some  numbers,  along  with  the  same  species  that  can  occur  in 
Norfolk  tunnels  today.  Some  preliminary  discussions  have  already  taken  place  over 
this  site  with  a view  to  allowing  bats  to  utilise  the  tunnels  unmolested.  It  seems 
especially  possible  now  that  further  mine-shafts  in  the  complex  have  been  re-exca- 


253 


vated.  Long-eared,  Daubenton’s  and  Norfolk’s  first  record  of  Brant’s  bat  come  from 
this  site,  while  earlier  records  of  Whiskered  bats  now  need  confirmation. 

Two  remaining  “open’  sites  of  former  chalk  workings  in  Norwich  are  both 
inaccessible  and  rather  unsuitable  for  bats.  The  one  under  Earlham  Road  is  mainly 
a solid  brick  tunnel,  probably  lined  in  this  way  to  construct  a war-time  explosives 
dump.  It  was  later  used  for  growing  mushrooms.  The  other,  near  the  old  Gas  Works 
still  contains  blocks  of  latrines  dating  from  its  use  during  the  Second  World  War 
as  an  air-raid  shelter. 

The  last  and  most  interesting  place  is  Eaton  Chalk  Caves,  on  the  southern 
outskirts  of  Norwich.  The  origins  of  this  pit  probably  go  back  to  the  early  part  of 
the  19th  century,  but  by  about  the  turn  of  the  century  the  overburden  of  sands  and 
gravels  began  to  be  too  much  to  move  by  hand  and  work  began  on  addits  or  tunnels 
bored  into  the  almost  vertical  chalk  face.  War-time  activities  in  1944  brought  about 
the  filling  over  of  all  the  eight  or  more  addit  entrances.  However,  in  1947  some  of 
the  fill  slipped  and  one  entrance  was  partially  reopened  and  became  known  to  me 
secretly  during  my  school  days  as  a Daubenton’s  winter  roost.  Material  was  again 
bulldozed  over  the  edge  in  March  1969  to  prevent  children  entering  the  dangerous 
hole.  As  the  site  had  been  selected  as  a Nature  Conservancy  Council  Site  of  Special 
Scientific  Interest  a decision  was  taken  to  open  the  tunnels  again,  with  the  land- 
owner’s permission.  As  it  was  not  possible  to  drive  a mechanical  digger  into  the  pit, 
the  entrance  was  dug  out  by  hand.  More  than  250  man-hours  were  expended  be- 
tween October  2nd,  1971  and  August  4th,  1972  by  Norfolk  Young  Naturalists’ 
work  parties  before  the  final  break-through.  The  hole  was  subsequently  enlarged 
and  a 5m.  semi-circular  steel  grille  with  a padlocked  access  door  was  welded  in 
place  on  September  1st,  1972.  This  allows  free  passage  of  air  and  bats,  and  summer 
access  to  geologists.  More  details  of  the  opening  of  this  tunnel  and  its  geological 
significance  are  given  in  Hornby,  Goldsmith  and  Goff,  1973,  Bulletin  of  the  Geology 
Society  of  Norfolk , No.  23  pp.  3-14. 

The  two  “caves”  average  nearly  5m.  in  width  and  up  to  6m.  high.  The  first 
tunnel  is  about  15m.  long,  while  the  second  is  in  the  form  of  a cross,  roughly  25m. 
by  30m.  Obviously  it  is  of  interest  to  bat  conservation  to  know  how  quickly  a safe 
hibernacular  will  be  recolonised  once  reopened. 

At  Eaton  a single  Daubenton  utilised  the  cave  in  its  very  first  winter  and  two 
during  the  second.  It  has  now  been  open  for  six  winters  and  during  the  past  two, 
monthly  visits  have  been  made  to  coincide  with  a check  on  a similar  Suffolk  site 
to  see  if  any  comparisons  can  be  made.  As  well  as  counts  of  bats,  temperature  and 
humidity  readings  have  been  recorded.  The  peak  number  of  bats  found  so  far  was 
on  January  28th,  1977,  with  Dr.  E.  A.  Ellis  present,  when  7 Natterers,  5 Dauben- 
ton’s, 2 Long-eared  and  1 possible  Brant’s  bat  were  counted — a total  of  15  indivi- 
duals. Since  the  policy  over  these  winters  has  been  to  make  as  short  a visit  as  possible 
and  not  to  touch  the  bats  in  any  way  it  has  not  always  been  possible  to  identify  every 
bat  found,  but  for  each  visit,  every  bat  is  plotted  on  a map.  Very  few  will  “stay  put” 
for  more  than  two  visits.  When  they  do,  the  high  humidity  condenses  in  tiny  drop- 
lets on  their  fur  and  they  become  “bedewed”  with  a frosty  appearance.  Natterers 
do  not  become  “bedewed”  as  often  as  Daubentons,  perhaps  because  they  tend  not 
to  arrive  at  the  caves  until  after  Christmas  and  go  again  after  February.  As  they  all 
have  a tendancy  to  disappear  it  is  often  thought  that  twice  as  many  are  actually 
using  the  caves  as  can  be  found  at  any  one  time.  Eaton  therefore  could  already  be 
utilised  by  30,  but  we  are  hoping  that  more  will  arrive  eventually,  once  they  have 
had  a chance  to  find  it. 

We  are  anxious  to  find  or  hear  of  any  new  localities  which  may  be  suitable  for 
bats.  There  are  still  several  species  to  record  in  Norfolk  and  indeed  much  more  for 
us  to  discover  about  bats  generally. 


254 


NORFOLK 

MAMMAL 

REPORT 

1977 


Editorial 

The  Editor  is  pleased  to  present  the  22nd  Norfolk  Mammal  Report. 

This  year  we  publish  two  specialist  articles.  Most  of  us  try  to  help  our  wildlife 
through  the  difficult  winter  months,  though  we  may  not  be  aware  of  what  consti- 
tutes a balanced  diet.  In  the  course  of  his  work.  Dr.  Ian  Keymer  has  studied  many 
animals  suffering  from  nutritional  deficiencies  and  is  well  equipped  to  point  out  some 
of  the  pitfalls.  He  is  familiar  to  our  members  as  a regular  contributor  to  both  the 
Bird  and  the  Mammal  Reports  and  as  the  pathologist  who  has  been  attempting  to 
isolate  the  virus  which  causes  “red  squirrel  disease”.  His  article  could  well  be  in- 
cluded in  the  Bird  Report  and  demonstrates,  as  does  the  single  cover,  that  there  is 
little  between  us  but  a slight  difference  in  classification. 

John  Goldsmith  is  another  local  naturalist  with  wide-ranging  interests.  One 
of  these  is  a unique  knowledge  of  bats  in  Norfolk.  He  has  explored  caves  and  tunnels 
in  chalk,  kilns,  ice-houses  and  other  difficult  and  at  times  potentially  dangerous 
structures  in  his  efforts  to  learn  more  about  the  distribution  and  wintering  habits 
of  this  group.  His  article  describes  species  that  can  be  found  in  our  county. 

We  tend  to  forget  how  many  of  our  mammals  are,  historically  speaking,  recent 
additions  to  our  list.  They  include  invaders  such  as  the  brown  rat,  introductions 
such  as  the  rabbit,  while  escapees  are  represented  by  the  coypu.  Some  other  species 
cause  little  trouble  and  add  interest  to  our  rather  restricted  fauna  but  the  examples 
given  do  remind  us  of  the  potential  havoc  in  unwise  and  unrestricted  importations 
and  inefficient  housing.  This  report  may  not  be  the  proper  place  for  discussion  of 
the  issues  involved  but  we  may  ask  the  question  how  soon  will  such  mammals  as 
porcupine  and  capybara  be  included  in  our  classified  notes  ? Both  of  these  species 
are  included  in  the  card  index  for  1977! 

Another  major  cause  for  concern  is  the  increasing  disturbance  of  habitat  by 
thoughtless  misuse.  Modern  personal  transport  makes  every  once  quiet  corner  of 
Norfolk  easily  accessible.  To  quote  an  example,  unleashed  dogs  running  through 
such  a seemingly  suitable  exercise  ground  as  Thetford  Forest  may  put  up  otherwise 


255 


undetected  deer  or  ground  nesting  birds.  On  some  occasions  no  harm  may  be  done, 
but  on  others  irreparable  damage  may  be  done  beyond  the  observation  or  imagi- 
nation of  the  ignorant  owner. 

Our  thanks  are  extended  to  all  contributors  mentioned  here  and  in  the  follow- 
ing text,  to  such  specialists  as  Arthur  Woodhams,  Pest  Control  Officer,  MAFF, 
Rex  Whitta,  Wildlife  Ranger,  Forestry  Commission  District  Office,  Santon  Down- 
ham,  and  to  the  growing  number  of  friends  from  all  over  the  county,  many  still 
recognised  only  by  their  names  at  the  end  of  increasingly  informative  notes. 

John  Goldsmith,  as  ever,  has  given  invaluable  help  and  encouragement.  He 
will  continue  to  answer  queries  addressed  to  him  c/o  The  Castle  Museum,  Norwich, 
NR1  3JU.  Tel.:  Norwich  22233  ext.  649. 

Contributions  for  the  1978  report  should  be  sent  to  R.  C.  Haney,  124  Faken- 
ham  Road,  Taverham,  Norwich,  NR8  6QH  (Tel:  Norwich  860042)  by  the  end  of 
January,  1979. 


Classified  notes 

INSECTIVORA 

Perhaps  it  is  appropriate  that  the  Hedgehog  Erinaceus  europaeus  should  head 
our  classified  list.  Have  we  a more  easily  identifiable  mammal  ? It  saddens  us  by  the 
corpses  we  see  on  our  roads,  endears  itself  by,  in  human  terms,  its  eccentric  beha- 
viour in  our  gardens.  There  is  no  doubt  that  many  of  our  contributors  come  to  a 
more  detailed  study  of  Norfolk  mammals  by  way  of  an  initial  enthusiasm  for  the 
urchin.  Perhaps  eccentricity  is  transferable.  A Brooke  cat  fostered  an  orphaned 
family.  There  are  areas  in  the  county  where  massive  clearance  and  hedge  removal 
have  reduced  numbers  to  a very  low  level.  Elsewhere,  the  population  appears  to 
be  static  and,  in  some  places,  is  reported  to  have  increased. 

Records  are  not  full  enough  nor  do  they  extend  back  far  enough  to  arrive  at  a 
proper  conclusion  regarding  numbers  of  many  species.  This  is  true  of  the 
Mole  Talpa  europaea.  When  most  villages  had  their  resident  mole-catcher  large 
numbers  were  taken  and  it  is  interesting  to  speculate  on  their  effect  on  the  popula- 
tion and  whether  natural  controls  work  as  effectively.  The  theme  from  1977  reports 
is  “excessively  abundant”,  “considerable  activity”.  One  contributor  offers  one  to  a 
good  home,  with  little  hope  of  takers.  At  Brooke,  a golden  variant  was  caught  by  a 
cat,  rescued,  and  later  released. 

The  smaller  insectivores  do  not  accommodate  themselves  so  readily  to  the 
immediate  presence  of  man.  Pygmy  shrew  Sorex  minutus  reports  exemplify  methods 
used  to  detect  their  presence  and  estimate  trends  in  numbers.  Records  include 
remains  found  in  owl  pellets  and  a skull  found  in  a discarded  drink  can  on  Kelling 
Heath.  Cats  often  toy  with  shrews  but  rarely  eat  them  so  this  portion  of  their  catch 
is  easily  identified.  In  Corpusty,  a Common  shrew  Sorex  araneus  took  over  a dis- 
carded voles  nest  under  a tin  in  the  garden.  Reports  of  Water  shrews  Neomys 
fodiens  were  more  plentiful  and  widespread  this  year.  They  were  boosted  by  the 
analysis  of  owl  pellets  from  Corpusty  and  Morston.  Sightings  came  from  Ranworth, 
Hoveton,  Keswick,  Kirstead,  Seething  and  from  the  East  Bank,  Cley,  where  one 
was  actually  touched  before  it  ran  off.  A strong  contender  for  the  oddest  report  of 


256 


the  year  was  the  water  shrew  caught  in  a mouse-trap  in  a cupboard  under  the  stairs 
at  Mill  House,  Corpusty. 

CHIROPTERA 

It  is  gratifying  to  see  that  more  contributors  are  taking  an  interest  in  our  flying 
mammals.  Most  notes,  of  necessity,  record  impressions  of  numbers  rather  than  hard 
facts  and  are  mainly  of  decreases  in  particular  areas.  The  provision  of  boxes  in 
gardens  has  been  a minimal  hit  and  maximum  miss  affair  but  can  be  most  rewarding. 
The  Noctules  Nyctalus  noctula  at  Ludham  reached  a record  total  of  53  in  the  one 
box  on  June  7th  and  provided  a spectacular  show  as  they  streamed  out  at  dusk. 
Large  scale  experiments  such  as  the  Nationwide  Bat  Box  Scheme  will  eventually 
provide  the  information  that  will  enable  prefabricated  accommodation  to  be  provi- 
ded where  necessary  and  justified.  Thetford  Forest  is  a site  where  the  experiment  is 
going  particularly  well.  Most  bats  using  the  boxes  have  been  Long-eared  Fleet ot us 
auritus  and  Pipistrelles  Pipistrellus  pipistrellus.  One  of  our  problems  is  that  our 
thinking  is  coloured  by  observations  of  birds  using  garden  nesting  boxes,  forgetting 
that  bat  roosting  and  breeding  behaviour  is  entirely  different.  There  can  be  a great 
deal  of  movement  from  site  to  site  even  when  parturition  is  imminent.  Large  mater- 
nity colonies  of  Pipistrelles  that  sometimes  cause  such  unwarranted  alarm  at  mid- 
summer may  move  from  house  to  house  along  a modern  street.  One  Taverham 
colony  was  dogged  by  misfortune.  360  plus  were  roosting  under  hung  tiles.  The 
householder  had  booked  cavity  insulation  and  feared  the  bats  would  be  disturbed 
and  the  young  endangered.  Sadly,  the  colony  moved  from  what  may  have  been  the 
comparative  safety  of  the  hung  tiles  into  the  cavity  itself.  After  small-hour  attempts 
to  prevent  re-entry,  female  and  young  bats  were  subsequently  found  in  the  most 
unikely  places  in  sheds  and  garages.  Bats  on  the  wing  belie  their  true  size  and  can 
roost  in  apparently  impossible  crevices.  One  temporary  roost  was  in  a crack  in  a 
flag-staff! 


LAGOMORPHA 

Brown  Hare  Lepus  capensis  distribution  follows  the  pattern  noted  in  recent  Reports, 
increasing  in  some  areas  but  rare  in  other  districts  in  central  Norfolk.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  continuing  battle  between  the  Rabbit  Oryctolagus  cuniculus  and  the 
myxomatosis  virus  with  its  multiple  strains  of  varying  degrees  of  virulence  in 
different  districts  can  be  pictured  as  an  intriguing  tangle  of  threads  with  many  loose 
ends  and  knotty  problems.  The  Editor  would  be  pleased  to  receive  reports  of  regular 
observations  of  colonies  noting  some  or  all  of  the  following  points:  distances  to 
nearest  other  colonies,  earliest  appearance  of  young,  estimates  of  rates  of  build-up 
of  numbers,  how  does  the  latter  correlate  with  estimates  of  births,  the  form  of  an 
effects,  in  any,  of  disturbance,  date  of  first  signs  of  myxomatosis,  appearance  and 
behaviour  of  possible  survivors,  does  the  colony  appear  to  have  been  deserted,  if  so 
when  do  rabbits  reappear  or  recolonise  the  site,  are  these  rabbits  young  adults  or  old 
adults. 

At  Weeting,  a summer  estimate  of  3,000  over  the  Reserve  was  made.  Amongst 
these  one  adult  melanistic  and  one  albino  were  present. 

RODENTIA 

The  time  is  rapidly  approaching  when  we  will  draw  tight  circles  on  maps  delineating 
the  remaining  colonies  of  Red  Squirrels  Sciurus  vulgaris , giving  up  the  rest  of  the 
county  to  the  Grey  Squirrel  Sciurus  caroli  lensis.  Most  contributors  tell  of  fewer  reds 


257 


and  more  greys,  many  of  the  latter  in  districts  we  once  imagined  would  not  be 
penetrated.  Road  casualties  show  they  are  prepared  to  cross  comparatively  open 
country.  One  was  found  quite  close  to  the  Editor’s  own  doorstep.  A live  grey  was  in 
Surrey  Street,  Norwich,  in  October  and  another  was  reported  from  Trafford  Road. 
Shooting  grey  squirrels  is  generally  recognised  as  inefficient  and  potentially  inhu- 
mane. Where  numbers  need  to  be  controlled,  advice  on  trapping  methods  that  are 
efficient  and  humane  is  readily  available. 

Thetford  Forest  still  contains  our  largest  colonies  of  red  squirrels.  The  numbers 
in  Thorpe  Woods,  Norwich,  where  we  have  a squirrel  enthusiast,  remain  stable.  This 
territory  extends  almost  to  the  Wensum  where  it  skirts  the  Cathedral  but  the  gross 
overuse  of  the  Telegraph  Plantation  for  canine  and  human  exercise  on  the  “Trim- 
track”  have  seriously  reduced  its  wildlife  potential.  Attempts  to  isolate  the  elusive 
virus  responsible  for  “red  squirrel  disease”  continue.  Speed  is  essential  and  if  a sick 
squirrel  is  sighted  please  contact  Dr.  Ian  Keymer  at  the  Vetinary  Investigation 
Centre,  Norwich,  immediately. 

The  group  of  traps  that  accounted  for  the  Corpusty  Water  shrew  also  caught 
three  Bank  voles  Clethrionomys  glareolus  in  November.  They  had  been  baited  with 
cheese  after  tulip  bulbs  had  been  eaten.  Short-tailed  voles  Microtus  agrestis  had  a 
good  year  and  the  Water  vole  Arvicola  terrestris  continues  its  slow  come-back.  It 
was  plentiful  at  Saxthorpe  and  Corpusty  where  a high  proportion  were  black  or 
dark  brown  with  black  backs.  Numbers  continue  to  rise  along  the  middle  reaches  of 
the  Wensum. 

In  many  respects,  the  year  under  review  could  be  called  “The  year  of  the  Mouse.” 
The  Wood  mouse,  Apodemus  sylvaticus  was  plentiful  and  was  described  as  a nuisance 
and  as  a winter  pest,  eating  lettuces  at  East  Tuddenham.  At  Holkham  and  Nar- 
borough  it  provided  ultra-close  daylight  sightings.  Black-headed  gulls  at  Saxthorpe 
were  seen  following  the  plough  and  eating  wood  mice,  while  a mother  and  young 
made  a successful  passage  through  a working  potato  harvester  in  Aldborough 
during  October. 

The  status  of  the  Yellow-necked  mouse  Apodemus  flavicollus  as  a Norfolk 
mammal  has  been  in  doubt  for  some  years,  the  only  record  coming  from  Ellingham, 
in  the  Waveney  Valley,  almost  two  decades  ago.  As  the  site  was  very  close  to  the 
Editor’s  birthplace  he  regarded  the  removal  of  the  question  mark  as  something  of  a 
personal  crusade!  The  owner  of  Ellingham  Hall,  Colonel  H.  Smith,  was  most  helpful 
and  a joint  live  trapping  experiment  was  arranged  with  John  Goldsmith  in  February. 
A total  of  84  trap/nights  over  four  days  was  undertaken.  Out  of  the  60  small 
mammals  found,  two  were  Yellow-necked  mice,  both  during  the  first  inspection  and 
both  at  the  base  of  separate  hollow  trees.  One  has  been  retained  for  observation. 
Later  in  the  year,  a cat  in  the  neighbouring  parish  of  Broome  left  the  remains  of  a 
Yellow-neck  and  later  still  some  were  trapped  in  the  next  parish  along  the  valley, 
Ditchingham,  after  they  had  raided  a bulb  store.  The  end  of  the  year  brought  further 
news  from  Forncett  St.  Peter  where  another  positive  identification  was  made.  This 
last  site  is  coincidentally  on  the  same  degree  of  latitude  as  our  main  area  along  the 
Waveney  Valley.  When  further  specimens  turn  up,  please  communicate  as  soon  as 
possible  preferably  posting  any  dead  examples  in  plastic  bags  to  the  Editor. 

The  accolade  for  oddity  mentioned  earlier  must  surely  go  to  the  House  Mouse 
Mus  musculus.  At  East  Tuddenham  one  found  its  way  into  a shoulder  bag  in  our 
contributor’s  bedroom  where  it  ate  two  extra  strong  mints  and  half  a Menthol  and 
Eucalyptus  sweet.  In  Thorpe,  a pet  female  white  mouse  was  relegated  to  a cage  in 
the  garage.  There  she  was  visited  by  a wild  male  small  enough  to  slip  through  the 
bars.  Transferred  to  the  Norfolk  Room,  Castle  museum,  for  observation,  the 


258 


succeeding  generations  of  her  offspring  would  have  brought  a very  smug  expression 
to  the  face  of  Mendel. 

We  are  once  again  indebted  to  Dr.  L.  M.  Gosling,  Coypu  Research  Laboratory, 
MAFF,  for  his  note  on  the  Coypu  Myocaster  coy  pus.  It  reveals  the  delicate  state  of 
balance  that  exists  in  our  attempts  to  control  this  escapee.  While  we  await  the  report 
of  the  Coypu  Strategy  Group  with  interest,  we  do  wonder  why  the  trapping  campaign 
could  not  be  stepped  up  to  reduce  numbers  to  an  easily  controllable  minimum.  Is 
the  publicised  choice  of  total  extermination  possible  without  serious  danger  to  other 
species?  Has  a modest  number  of  coypu  now  become  part  of  “New  Broadland”? 
There  are  other  invaders  that  pay  for  the  privilege  of  creating  even  greater  dis- 
turbance and  destruction  of  habitat ! 

Dr.  Gosling  reports:  “About  11,874  coypus  were  killed  during  1977  and  the 
majority  of  these  (87%)  were  accounted  for  by  the  15  trappers  employed  by  Coypu 
Control.  The  number  of  adult  coypus  at  large  in  the  spring  of  1978  is  estimated  at 
about  5,000  which  is  somewhat  higher  than  the  3,000  predicted  in  the  1976  Mammal 
Report.  This  discrepancy  is  largely  due  to  our  improved  understanding  of  the  type 
of  cold  weather  that  affects  coypus.  It  now  appears  that  the  cold  fortnight  in  early 
1976  had  a larger  impact  than  we  believed  at  the  time.  This  led  us  to  overestimate 
the  effect  of  trapping  and  thus  to  an  underestimated  prediction  of  the  current  spring 
population.  The  future  depends  on  trapping  intensity  and  weather:  with  the  existing 
trapping  force  and  a run  of  mild  winters  the  population  would  slowly  increase; 
with  winters  of  the  slightly  colder  type  that  we  have  experienced  over  the  last  three 
years  the  population  should  continue  its  present  very  slow  decline.  It  is  of  course 
critically  important  to  maintain  at  least  the  present  number  of  trappers : our  simu- 
lation model  suggests  that  pre  1962  population  levels  would  be  reached  within  three 
years  if  control  were  abandoned.” 


CETACEA 

The  rather  tenuous  position  on  our  Norfolk  list  held  by  this  order  is  maintained  by 
the  few  remains  that  were  washed  up  on  our  shores.  The  Common  Porpoise Pho- 
coena  phocoena  at  West  Runton  in  July  had  lacerations  that  had  possibly  been  caused 
by  a propeller.  The  Lesser  Rorqual  Balaenoptera  acutorostrata  which  finally  beached 
at  Heacham  caused  a great  deal  of  embarrassment  to  the  local  council  before  its 
great  bulk  was  cleared. 


CARNIVORA 

The  Fox  Vulpes  vulpes  is  described  as  “very  much  with  us”  by  observers  in  Central 
Norfolk  and  this  is  the  county-wide  pattern.  An  interesting  point  concerning  the 
gathering  of  information  is  highlighted  by  one  contributor  who  was  told  by  the 
keeper  on  one  estate  that  numbers  were  high,  whilst  his  neighbour  from  an  adjacent 
estate  with  hunting  interests  sought  to  paint  a very  different  picture.  Our  Bird 
Report  Editor  had  a Boxing  Day  bonus  on  Halvergate  Marshes  when  he  saw  a fox 
being  mobbed  by  a Short-eared  owl. 

Stoats  Mustela  erminea  and  Weasels  Mustela  nivalis  have  been  active  and  pro- 
lific, numerically  and  anecdotally.  A stoat  at  Lyng  was  seen  being  kicked  from  the 
back  of  a young  rabbit  by  the  doe  and  conceding  defeat.  Another  at  Corpusty, 
after  careful  observation  of  the  Mandarin  ducks,  sought  less  formidable  prey.  On 
Weeting  Heath,  stoats  had  an  adverse  effect  on  Wheatear  breeding  success  and  may 
have  taken  two  young  Stone  Curlew. 


259 


Reports  of  Badgers  Meles  meles  are  very  confusing  in  that  we  have  received 
reports  of  single  badgers  being  seen  or  tracked  at  a number  of  long  disused  sites 
outside  their  present  enclave.  However,  hopes  of  re-establishment  have  not  been 
realised  and  without  positive  encouragement  there  seems  little  prospect  of  halting 
their  continuing  decline. 

The  Otter  Lutra  lutra  has  far  more  references  in  the  file  than  any  other  species 
but  only  as  the  result  of  the  campaign  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  that  culminated 
in  the  addition  of  the  Otter  to  the  list  of  animals  protected  under  the  Conservation 
of  Wild  Creatures  and  Wild  Plants  Act.  Sadly,  very  few  references  are  of  positive 
identifications  and  we  must  ask  if  we  have  done  too  little,  too  late.  There  is  no 
justification  for  complacency  and,  like  the  Badger,  positive  help  must  be  given  to 
retain  this  carnivore  on  our  list.  Non-disturbance  of  key  habitats  is  vital  and  the 
promises  of  Otter  Hunters  to  seek  coypu  instead  must  be  viewed  in  this  light. 

The  Common  Seal  Phoca  vitulina  colony  breeding  in  the  Wash  appears  to  be 
naturally  regulated.  They  are  at  the  apex  of  one  food-triangle  in  the  North  Sea 
and  will  reflect  a decline  in  its  basic  resources.  An  unusual  number  of  seals  were 
sighted  up-river,  including  the  young  common  seal  held  at  Acle  till  the  turn  of  the 
tide  in  July  and  the  intruder  that  upset  the  fishing  match  at  Potter  Heigham  in 
December.  The  main  event  of  the  year  was  the  loss  of  Scroby  Sand  which  coincided 
with  the  birth  of  the  Grey  Seal  Halichoerus  grypus  pups.  Several  cows  pupped  on 
the  mainland  beaches  but  the  loss  was  total.  Grey  seals  will  desert  after  minimal 
disturbance.  Two  intriguing  questions  are,  firstly,  will  Scroby  reappear  soon  enough 
for  the  present  generation  of  cows  to  re-establish  a breeding  colony  there,  or  sec- 
ondly, will  its  loss  induce  them  to  find  an  alternative  site  further  south  and  thus 
extend  the  east  coast  range? 


Norwich  had  its  now  regular  excitement  this  time  caused  by  a Red  Deer 
Cervus  elephas  stag  crossing  the  Dereham  Road  during  the  rush-hour.  It  was  later 
seen  in  several  localities  to  the  south  and  west  of  the  city.  The  Muntjac  Muntiacus 
reevesi  that  tried  crossing  the  Plumstead  Road  was  less  successful.  It  was  knocked 
to  the  roadside,  though  not  seriously  injured.  The  policemen  who  went  to  its  aid 
found  it  very  difficult  to  handle.  As  well  as  tiny  horns  and  sharp  tusks,  the  hoofs  of 
small  deer  can  be  very  dangerous.  Great  care  must  be  exercised  by  the  inexperienced 
when  attempting  to  help  confused  and  frightened  animals.  Further  examination 
showed  that  this  specimen  had  previously  suffered  a broken  leg  which  had  set  itself. 
It  was  released  in  a suitable  locality  the  next  day.  These  recent  introductions  seem  to 
be  slowly  gaining  ground  while  our  native  species  are  holding  their  own. 


CONTRIBUTORS  TO  MAMMAL  REPORT 


ARTIODACTYLA 


H.  Arnold 
M.  Aylmer 
Dr.  R.  E.  Baker 
P.  D.  S.  Boardman 
Mrs.  M.  A.  Brewster 
R.  J.  Brigham 
Miss  M.  S.  Buchanan 
A.  Bull 
J.  Buxton 
S Dinsdale 
D.  Dorling 
M.  Duckett 

Eastern  Counties  Newspapers  Ltd 
Dr.  E.  A.  Ellis 
H.  Edwards 


Mrs.  O.  Fowler 
Mrs.  J.  E.  Gaffney 
J.  Green 
J.  G.  Goldsmith 
Dr.  L.  M.  Gosling 
A.  Hancy 
C.  Hancy 
R.  C.  Hancy 
J.  Hawkins 
R.  H.  Harrison 
A.  L.  Howes 
Dr.  A.  G.  Irwin 
Dr.  I.  F.  Keymer 
Mrs.  J.  Keymer 
J.  M Last 


Dr.  S.  A.  McDougall 

Nature  Conservancy  Council 

P.  Newton 

T.  B.  Norgate 

J.  L.  Raincock 

M.  J.  Seago 

P.  Singleton 

R.  Smith 

R.  Southwood 

Dr.  R.  E.  Stebbings 

R.  SUTTON-JONES 

M.  Upton 
R.  Whitt  a 
A.  Woodhams 
Dr.  D.  W.  Yalden 


260 


S.S.S.I. 


1973  East  Winch  Common 80  Gift 

1974  Sparham  Pools 30  Agreement 

1974  Buxton  Heath 159  Agreement  S.S.S.I. 

1975  Pope’s  Drift  . . . . 8 Agreement  

1975  Wayland  Wood  . . . . 80  Purchase  S.S.S.I. 


In  addition,  the  Trust  shares  with  the  National  Trust  in  the  management  of 
the  coastal  reserve  at  Blakeney  Point  (1,335  acres),  and  it  manages  Arnold’s  Marsh, 
Cley  (29  acres)  on  behalf  of  the  National  Trust. 


By  arrangement  with  the  Nature  Conservancy  Council,  Scolt  Head  Island, 
Ranworth  Broad,  Hickling  Broad  and  the  Breckland  Heaths  now  form  part  of  the 
National  Nature  Reserves. 


♦Status:  N.N.R.  denotes  National  Nature  Reserve 

S.S.S.I.  „ Site  of  Special  Scientific  Interest 

fin  1966  Cley  Reserve  was  established  as  a Bird  Sanctuary  under  the 
Protection  of  Birds  Act,  1954. 


THE  NORFOLK 
NATURALISTS  TRUST 

BIRD  WATCHING 

Excellent  bird  watching  facilities  are  available  from 
1st  April  to  31st  October  at  Hickling  Broad  National 
Nature  Reserve,  Cley  Marshes  Bird  Sanctuary  (coastal) 
and  Holme  Nature  Reserve  (coastal). 

Reduced  rates  for  parties  and  extended  periods. 

For  full  particulars  kindly  forward  stamped  addressed 
envelope  to  N.N.T.,  72  The  Close,  Norwich, 
Norfolk  NR1  4DF 


TRANSACTIONS 

OF 

THE  NORFOLK  & NORWICH 
NATURALISTS'  SOCIETY 


1#  £ 
Vol.jtf'  Part 


MAY  1979 


ISBN  0375  7226 


TRANSACTIONS  OF  THE  NORFOLK  AND  NORWICH  NATURALISTS' 

SOCIETY 


Volume  25,  Part  1 (May  1979) 

Editor  Dr  E.  A.  Ellis 
CONTENTS 

Page 


Some  effects  of  the  sea  flood  at  Wells-next-the-sea,  1 1th  January, 

1978  by  P.  R.  Banham 263 

The  effects  of  the  storm  of  11th  January  1978  on  Blakeney  Point 
by  D.f.B.  White  267 

Three  rare  species  on  the  North  Norfolk  Coast  by  J.  P.  Skipworth  270 

Birds  of  the  Cromer  Forest  Bed  Series  of  the  East  Anglian  Pleistocene 

byC.  J.  O.  Harrison  2 77 

A study  of  Veronica  triphyllos  L.,  Veronica  praecox  All  and 
Veronica  vema  L.  at  Weeting  Heath  Arable  Reserve,  Norfolk 
by  Anne  Bum 287 

Norwich  bird-seed  mixtures  and  the  casual  plants  of  Harford  Tip 
by  Nicholas  S.  Watts  and  Geoffrey  D.  Watts  300 

1978  Weather  Summary  by  T.  B.  Norgate 310 

Two  New  Norfolk  Roses  by  E.  L.  Swann  315 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY  1978-79 


President:  Mr  P.  J.  Trett 
President  Elect:  Mr  E.  T.  Daniels 
41  Brian  Avenue,  Norwich 

Vice-Presidents:  P.  R.  Banham,  A.  Bull,  K.  B.  Clarke,  K.  C.  Durrant,  E.  A. 
Ellis,  R.  Jones,  M.  J.  Seago,  J.  A.  Steers,  E.  L.  Swann,  F.  J.  Taylor-Page 
General  Secretary:  R.  E.  Baker 

25  Southern  Reach,  Mulbarton,  NR14  8BU.  Tel.  Mulbarton  70609 
Assistant  Secretary:  (Membership  and  Publications) 

Ms  J.  Wakefield 

Post  Office  Lane,  Saxthorpe,  NR11  7BL 
Assistant  Secretary:  (Minutes)  P.  W.  Lambley 
Castle  Museum,  Norwich 
Excursion  Secretary:  Ms  J.  Robinson 
5 Southern  Reach,  Mulbarton,  NR14  8BU.  Tel.  Mulbarton  70576 
Treasurer:  D.  A.  Dorling 
St.  Edmundsbury,  6 New  Road,  Hethersett 
Tel.  Norwich  810318 
Assistant  Treasurer:  J.  E.  Timbers 
Editor:  E.  A.  Ellis 
Auditor:  E.  L.  Swann 

Committee:  M.  J.  Baker,  Ms.  R.  Carpenter,  G.  Dunmore,  Dr.  A.  Davy 
(University  Representative),  Ms.  A.  de  Caux,  R.  Hancy,  P.  W.  Lambley 
(Museum  Representative),  Ms.  F.  Muskers,  J.  Secker,  Ms.  J.  Smith,  P.  M.  C. 
Stevens  (Norfolk  Naturalists'  Trust),  P.  Wright  (Nature  Conservancy 
Representative). 


ORGANISERS  OF  PRINCIPAL  SPECIALIST  GROUPS 
Birds  (Editor  of  the  Report): 

M.  J.  Seago,  33  Acacia  Road,  Thorpe 
Mammals  (Editor  of  the  Report): 

R.  Hancy,  124  Fakenham  Road,  Taverham,  NR8  6QH 
Plants:  P.  W.  Lambley,  and  E.  L.  Swann 
Fungi:  E.  A.  Ellis 
Insects:  K.  C.  Durrant 
18  The  Avenue,  Sheringham  NR26  8DG 
Amphibia-Reptiles:  J.  Buckley 
22  Aurania  Avenue,  Norwich 
Mollusca:  R.  E.  Baker 
Marine:  P.  R.  Banham 

Field  Study  Centre,  Polka  Road,  Wells-next-Sea 
Freshwater:  R.  Driscoll 
Castle  Museum,  Norwich 


PAST  PRESIDENTS 


REV.  JOSEPH  CROMPTON,  M.A.  ... 

...  1869-70 

SIR  HUGH  R.  BEEVOR,  Bart 

1923-24 

REV.  JOSEPH  CROMPTON,  M.A.  ... 

...  1870-71 

DONALD  HUTCHINSON,  M.D 

1924-25 

HENRY  STEVENSON,  F.L.S. 

...  1871-72 

E.  H.  HANKIN,  M.A.,  Sc.D 

1925-26 

MICHAEL  BEVERLEY,  M.D. 

...  1872-73 

E.  H.  HANKIN,  M.A.,  Sc.D 

1926-27 

FREDERIC  KITTON,  Hon.  F.R.M.S. 

...  1873-74 

H.  J.  HOWARD,  F.L.S 

1927-28 

H.  D.  GELDART  

...  1874-75 

H.  F.  WITHERBY,  F.Z.S.,  M.B.O.U. 

1928-29 

JOHN  B.  BRIDGMAN  

...  1875-76 

G.  H.  GURNEY,  F.E.S.,  F.Z.S.,  M.B.O.U. 

1929-30 

T.  G.  BAYFIELD  

...  1876-77 

A M.  GELDART  

1930-31 

F.  W.  HARMER,  F.G.S 

...  1877-78 

E.  J.  SALISBURY,  D.Sc.,  F.L.S 

1931-32 

F.  W.  HARMER,  F.G.S 

...  1878-79 

MAJOR  A.  BUXTON,  D.S.O.,  M.B.O.U.  ... 

1932-33 

THOMAS  SOUTHWELL,  F.Z.S.  . . . 

...  1879-80 

MAJOR  A.  BUXTON,  D.S.O.,  M.B.O.U.  ... 

1933-34 

OCTAVIUS  CORDER  

...  1880-81 

W.  P.  PYCRAFT,  F.L.S.,  F.Z.S 

1934-35 

J.  H.  GURNEY,  Jun.,  F.Z.S 

...  1881-82 

COLIN  McLEAN  

1935-36 

H.  D.  GELDART  

...  1882-83 

G.J.  COOKE 

1936-37 

H.  M.  UPCHER,  F.Z.S 

...  1883-84 

J.  M.  FERRIER,  F.Z.S.,  M.B.O.U 

1937-38 

FRANCIS  SUTTON,  F.C.S 

...  1884-85 

E.  T.  BOARDMAN  

1938-39 

MAJOR  H.W.FIELDEN, 

HUGH  WORMALD,  M.B.O.U 

1939-40 

C.B.,  F.G.S.,  C.M.Z.S 

...  1885-86 

J.  A.  STEERS,  M.A 

1940-41 

SIR  PETER  EADE;M.D.,F.R. C.P.  ... 

...  1886-87 

E.  C.  KEITH  

1941-42 

SIR  EDWARD  NEWTON, 

A.  J.  RUDD,  O.B.E.,  F.Z.S 

1942-43 

K.C.M.G.,  F.L.S. , C.M.Z.S. 

...  1887-88 

C.  E.  GAY  

1943-44 

J.  H.  GURNEY,  F.L.S. , F.Z.S. 

...  1888-89 

SIR  H.  E.  S.  UPCHER 

1944-45 

SHEPHERD  T.  TAYLOR,  M B 

...  1889-90 

H.  W.  BACK  

1945-46 

HENRY  SEEBOHM,  F.L.S.,  F.Z.S.  ... 

...  1890-91 

R.  G.  BUXTON  

1946-47 

F.  D.  WHEELER,  M.A. , LL.D. 

...  1891-92 

THE  EARL  OF  LEICESTER 

1947-48 

HORACE  B.  WOODWARD,  F.G.S. 

...  1892-93 

R.  PEARCE  GOULD 

1948-49 

THOMAS  SOUTHWELL;  F.Z.S.  ... 

...  1893-94 

JAMES  FISHER 

1949-50 

C.  B.  PLOWRIGHT,  M.D 

...  1894-95 

J.  E.  SAINTY,  B.Sc 

1950-51 

H.  D.  GELDART  

...  1895-96 

J.  M.  LAMBERT,  M.A.,  F.L.S 

1951-52 

SIR  F.  C.  M.  BOILEAU,  Bart., 

R.  P.  BAGNALL-OAKELEY 

1952-53 

F.Z.S.,  F.S.A 

...  1896-97 

E.  A.  ELLIS,  F.L.S 

1953-54 

E.  W.  PRESTON,  F.R. Met. Soc. 

...  1897-98 

E.A.  ELLIS,  F.L.S 

1954-55 

J.H.  GURNEY,  F.L.S..,  F.Z.S. 

...  1898-99 

R.  JONES  

1955-56 

JOHNT.  HOTBLACK  

...  1899-1900 

E.  L.  SWANN,  F.L.S 

1956-57 

SIDNEY  F.  HARMER,  Sc.D.,  F.R.S. 

...  1900-01 

E.  DUFFEY,  O.B.E.,  Ph.D 

1957-58 

W.  H.  BIDWELL  

...  1901-02 

F.  J.  TAYLOR-PAGE 

1958-59 

HENRY  WOODWARD, 

L.  C.  JOHNSON  

1959-60 

LL.D.,  F.R.S. , V.P.Z.S.,  F.G.S.  ... 

...  1902-03 

K.  C.  DURRANT,  F.R.E.S.,  J.P 

1960-61 

FREDERICK  LONG;  L.R.C.P. 

...  1903-04 

J.  M.  LAMBERT,  M.A.,  Ph.D.,  F.L.S. 

1961-62 

WALTER  GARSTANG,  M.A. 

...  1904-05 

M.  J.  SEAGO 

1962-63 

EUSTACE  GURNEY,  M.A.,  F.Z.S. ... 

...  1905-06 

JOHN  BUXTON  

1963-64 

C.A.  HAMOND  

...  1906-07 

RUTH  M.  BARNES,  A.M. A.,  F.L.S. 

1964-65 

SYDNEY  H.  LONG,  M.D.,  M.B.O.U. 

...  1907-08 

T.  A.  BENNET-CLARK,  C.B.E.,  F.R.S.  ... 

1965-66 

REV.  M.  C.  H.  BIRD,  M.A.,  M.B.O.U. 

...  1908-09 

B.  FORMAN,  Ph.D 

1966-67 

D.G.  THOMSON,  M.D 

...  1909-10 

R.  P.  BAGNALL-OAKELEY 

1967-68 

W.  M.  CROWFOOT,  F.R.C.S. 

...  1910-11 

E.  A.  ELLIS,  F.L.S 

1968-69 

W.  LINCOLNE  SUTTON,  F.I.C.  ... 

...  1911-12 

ETHEL  M.  BUTTERY,  B.Sc 

1969-70 

ROBERT  GURNEY,  M.A. , F.Z.S.  ... 

...  1912-13 

P.  A.  BANHAM,  B.A 

1970-71 

ALICE  M.  GELDART 

...  1913-14 

J.  A.  KITCHING,  O.B.E.,  F.R.S 

1971-72 

J.H.F.  WALTER,  F.Z.S 

...  1914-15 

K.  B.  CLARKE,  B.Sc.,  F.G.S 

1972-73 

H.  J.  THOULESS  

...  1915-16 

CATHERINE  GURNEY  

1973-74 

CLAUDE  B.  TICEHURST,  M.A.,  M.B.O.U.  1916-17 

A.  BULL 

1974-75 

W.  G.  CLARKE,  F.G.S 

...  1917-18 

EARL  OF  CRANBROOK,  C. B E.,  F.L.S.  ... 

1975-76 

EDWARD  BIDWELL 

...  1918-19 

M.  GEORGE,  Ph.D 

1976-77 

J.  H.  GURNEY,  F.L.S.,  F.Z.S. 

...  1919-20 

D.  M.  MAXEY 

1977-78 

B.  B.  RIVIERE,  F.R.C.S.,  M.B.O.U. 

...  1920-21 

P.  J.  TRETT,  J.P 

1978-79 

E.L.  TURNER,  F.L.S.,  F.Z.S. 

...  1921-22 

E.  T.  DANIELS 

1979- 

RUSSELL  J.  COLM AN  

...  1922-23 

SOME  EFFECTS  OF  THE  SEA  FLOOD  AT  WELLS-NEXT-THE-SEA 

11th  JANUARY  1978 
by  P.  R.  Banham 

Wells  Field  Centre,  Wells-next-the-Sea 


The  damage  caused  by  the  exceptional  high  tide  on  the  East  Coast  on  the 
evening  of  the  11th  January  1978,  though  less  than  that  which  was  experienced 
in  1953,  was  still  considerable,  especially  at  Wells-next-the-Sea.  Between 
noon  on  Tuesday  the  10th  January  and  8 a.m.  on  Wednesday  the  barometric 
pressure  in  Wells  dropped  from  29.8"  to  28.9",  at  which  very  low  level  it 
stayed  until  2 p.m.,  rising  steeply  to  30.4"  by  8 p.m.  on  Thursday.  During 
Wednesday  afternoon  a N.N.E.  gale  sprang  up,  being  of  storm  force  by  early 
evening.  High  tide  was  predicted  for  29  minutes  past  eight  at  Wells  Quay  on 
Wednesday  evening,  with  a height  of  3.2  metres  above  Mean  Sea  Level.  The 
tide  normally  starts  to  flow  at  the  Quay  some  3 Vi  hours  before  high  water, 
but  by  5 p.m.  there  was  already  the  appearance  of  a normal  high  tide  there, 
with  more  than  three  hours  to  go;  obviously  something  exceptional  was  on 
the  way.  In  fact,  the  tide  peaked  about  an  hour  early,  just  touching  an  incred- 
ible 5 metres.  In  practical  terms,  this  meant  that  all  the  low-lying  parts  of  the 
town  East  and  West  of  the  Quay  were  flooded,  as  well  as  the  Quay  itself. 

Some  sections  of  the  main  Sea  Wall  running  North  from  the  Quay  to 
the  Beach  were  only  about  4.6  metres  above  Mean  Sea  Level  (though  most  of 
it  was  5m  or  more),  so  that  parts  of  the  wall  were  over-topped  by  the  sea  for 
nearly  two  hours;  it  must  be  remembered,  too,  that  this  takes  no  account  of 
the  height  of  the  waves  which,  with  a Northerly  wind,  have  a considerable 
fetch  available!  Consequently  we  were  not  surprised,  though  dismayed,  on 
Thursday  morning  to  see  that  the  wall  had  been  breached  in  two  places.  So 
much  is  now,  in  August,  ancient  history;  the  wall  has  been  rebuilt  higher 
and  much  more  substantial  than  before,  the  Beach  Road  is  open  again,  the 
Caravan  Site  is  getting  back  to  normal  and  even  the  Wells  Harbour  Railway 
is  re-established.  The  representatives  of  the  media  and  their  paraphernalia, 
so  thick  on  the  ground  in  January,  have  deserted  us,  but  the  really  interesting 
time  for  naturalists  and  ecologists  is  now,  the  first  growing  season  after  the 
salt  flood. 

When  the  sea  broke  through  the  Sea  Wall  it  flooded  not  only  the  Caravan 
Site  and  adjoining  agricultural  land  (all  former  saltmarsh)  but  also  the  lower 
parts  of  the  pinewoods,  including  much  birch  scrub,  grassland  and  freshmarsh. 
Next  to  the  northern  breach  in  the  wall  a number  of  20-year  old  mainly 
Corsican  pines  were  swept  away,  first  inland  by  the  onrush  of  water  and  later 
(many  of  them)  out  with  the  tide,  to  be  deposited  up  to  two  miles  away  on 
the  outer  bank  of  the  beach  between  Wells  and  Holkham.  Of  the  pines 
generally,  those  nearest  this  breach  are  mainly  dead,  while  others  which  were 


263 


Fig.  1.  The  second  breach  in  the  Sea  Wall,  photographed  on  15th  January.  This  was  the 
breach  nearest  the  "Orchidetum",  and  also  shows  where  a whole  section  of  the 
20  year  old  Pines  was  swept  away. 


Fig.  2.  The  "Orchidetum"  a fortnight  after  flooding  (photographed  on  26th  January). 
The  water  was  unable  to  drain  away  through  any  of  the  established  drainage  dykes. 


264 


inundated  for  a shorter  time  and  which  looked  dead  earlier  in  the  season  are 
in  many  cases  showing  new  growth  at  the  tips  of  the  twigs.  The  Monterey 
pines,  however,  all  of  which  were  planted  as  seed  in  1956  principally  in  the 
area  just  west  of  Abraham's  Bosom,  suffered  badly,  with  only  a few  surviving. 
They  seem  to  have  a lower  salt-tolerance  than  Corsican  or  Scots  pine,  some 
of  which  are  looking  healthy  next  to  Monterey s standing  stark  and  bare. 

Other  trees,  notably  birches  and  sallows,  were  less  affected  than  the  pines, 
though  some  died  and  others  have  dead  branches  amongst  the  living.  This 
may  be  because  most  of  the  salt  would  have  been  leached  away  by  the  time 
their  growing  season  began.  Brambles,  rather  surprisingly,  were  quite  badly 
affected;  perhaps  their  roots  go  deeper  than  other  species,  into  zones  not 
reached  in  time  by  the  leaching  rainwater.  Ground  flora,  be  it  grasses  or  broad- 
leaved plants,  seems  quite  unaffected  in  all  places  where  there  was  nothing 
to  stop  the  eventual  run-off  of  seawater. 

One  area,  however,  will  take  a long  time  to  recover.  This  is  a large 
depressed  stretch  of  marshy  ground  whose  raised  boundaries  were  just  lower 
than  the  level  reached  by  the  flood,  and  from  where  the  seawater  was  unable 
to  escape  except  by  slow  percolation  through  the  silty  substrate.  In  fact,  it 
is  because  of  its  retention  of  water  even  in  drought  conditions  that  this  part 
of  Wells  was  so  interesting,  supporting  a good  selection  of  marsh  and  wet 
meadow  plants.  We  called  it  Wells  ‘‘Orchidetum'',  and  regularly  found  the 
following  orchids  there:  early  purple,  common  spotted,  southern  marsh,  bee, 
pyramidal,  twayblade  and  marsh  helleborine.  In  1977  we  found  adder's  tongue 
fern,  in  a rather  lanky  etiolated  form  among  fairly  long  grasses. 

On  the  26th  January  the  water  was  still  nearly  a metre  deep;  assuming 
at  least  a full  metre's  depth  of  water  at  the  time  of  the  flooding,  a rough 
calculation  shows  that  the  area  had  to  cope  with  at  least  500  tonnes  of  salt. 
For  weeks  the  smell  of  salt-affected  rotting  vegetation  was  pervasive  and,  as 
winter  turned  to  spring,  we  looked,  without  much  hope,  for  signs  of  normal 
plant  growth.  Our  lack  of  hope  was  reinforced  by  the  knowledge  that  the 
salinity  of  standing  water  in  the  Orchidetum  was  still  17°/oo  on  the  4th 
March  (standard  North  Sea  salinity  is  about  35°/oo)  and  10° /oo  on  the  26th 
April.  It  was  not  until  the  9th  May  that  it  had  dropped  to  3°/oo;  by  then, 
213. 5mm  ( = 8 . 5 " ) of  rain  or  snow  had  fallen  since  the  flood . 

By  the  end  of  May  it  was  apparent  that  the  pines  in  the  Orchidetum  were 
all  dead,  while  many  birches  and  sallows  were  showing  signs  of  die-back 
after  producing  leaves  and  flowers.  Brambles  and  hawthorn  were  quite  dead, 
though  there  was  some  life  in  privet  and  dog  rose.  Of  the  ground  flora,  silver- 
weed  was  doing  well,  flowering  even  in  the  lowest  parts  of  the  marsh,  and 
rosebay  willowherb  was  growing  strongly,  as  were  rushes,  grasses  and  sedges. 
Of  orchids  and  adder's  tongue,  not  a single  plant  could  be  found.  In  August 
the  situation  is  still  much  the  same,  except  that  some  sallows  in  this  maxi- 
mum salted  area  are  looking  surprisingly  healthy,  while  a halophytic  plant, 
sea  milkwort,  has  appeared  in  some  quantity  on  otherwise  bare  patches  of 
mud.  This,  like  the  now  common  marsh  arrow  grass,  we  have  not  noticed  in 
previous  years,  though  of  course  we  cannot  guarantee  that  either  of  them 
was  not  there. 


265 


Scientific  names  of  plants  mentioned  in  text 


Corsican  pine 

Pinus  nigra  maiitima  (Ait.)  Melville 

Scots  pine 

Pinus  sylvestris  L. 

Monterey  pine 

Pinus  iadiata  D.Don 

Birches 

Betula  pendula  Roth  & B.  pubescens  Ehrh 

Sallow 

Salix  caprea  L. 

Bramble 

Rubus  fruticosus  agg. 

Early  purple  orchid 

Orchis  mascula  L. 

Common  spotted  orchid 

Dactylorhiza  fuchsii  (Druce)  Soo 

Southern  marsh  orchid 

Dactylorhiza  praetermissa  (Druce)  Soo 

Bee  orchid 

Ophris  apifera  Huds. 

Pyramidal  orchid 

Anacamptis  pyramidalis  (L.)  Rich. 

Twayblade 

Listera  ovata  (L.)  R.Br. 

Marsh  helleborine 

Epipactis palustris  (L.)  Crantz 

Adder's  tongue  fern 

Ophioglossum  vulgatum  L. 

Hawthorn 

Crataegus  monogyna  Jacq. 

Privet 

Ligustrum  vulgare  L. 

Dog  rose 

Rosa  canina  L. 

Silverweed 

Potentilla  anserina  L. 

Rosebay  willowherb 

Chamaenerion  angustifolium  (L.)  Scop. 

Sea  milkwort 

Glaux  mari tima  L . ( L . ) Scop . 

Marsh  arrow  grass 

Triglochin  palustris  L. 

266 


THE  EFFECTS  OF  THE  STORM  OF  11  JANUARY  1978 
ON  BLAKENEY  POINT 
by  D.  J.  B.  White 

Department  of  Botany  and  Microbiology 
University  College  London 


High  water  at  Morston  on  Wednesday  11  January  1978  was  due  at  8.00  p.m. 
but  water  was  up  to  the  Quay  by  about  4.15  p.m.  The  height  finally  reached 
by  the  tide  was  lower  than  in  the  East  Coast  storm-surge  of  1953  (some  two 
feet  lower  judging  by  the  height  of  the  water  reached  in  the  Old  Lifeboat 
House).  But  the  gale  blowing  as  it  did  from  the  North  East  generated  much 
bigger  waves  and  much  of  the  damage  to  the  Point  resulted  from  wave  action. 

The  sea  wall  or  bank  was  breached  at  Cley  (east  of  the  Windmill)  and  the 
bank  on  the  west  side  of  the  beach  road  was  breached  in  two  places. 

The  breaches  were  caused  apparently  by  boats  being  driven  against  the 
bank  by  the  waves.  The  bank  between  Morston  and  Blakeney  held.  The  water 
just  failed  to  reach  the  top  of  the  bank  as  was  shown  by  the  position  of  the 
debris,  seaweed,  etc.,  left  behind  as  the  water  level  fell. 

Morston  Creek  and  Morston  Marshes  on  the  east  side  of  the  Creek  were 
protected  from  the  force  of  the  waves  by  the  Headland  and  although  deeply 
covered  by  water,  there  was  no  violent  action.  The  bridges  over  the  Creeks 
were  undamaged. 

The  main  shingle  bank  felt  the  full  force  of  the  gale  and  the  wave  action. 
Enormous  quantities  of  shingle  were  moved.  Right  along  from  the  Cley  beach 
to  the  bend  at  East  Point,  ("aeroplane  gap"),  large  tongues  of  clean,  fresh 
looking  shingle  project  into  the  marsh.  These  shingle  tongues  are  often  3 ft 
high.  The  bank  appears  to  have  moved  landwards  some  30—40  yards  and  in 
the  region  of  East  Point  rather  more.  It  is  my  impression  that  there  was  as 
much  movement  of  shingle  as  there  was  in  the  1953  East  Coast  Surge.  In 
places,  sand  that  was  carried  over  by  the  water  has  been  deposited  on  the 
marsh  in  front  of  the  shingle  tongues.  In  some  places,  a fair  amount  of  sand 
was  deposited  between  the  tongues. 

At  the  bend  (aeroplane  gap),  much  shingle  and  sand  was  moved  into  the 
low.  The  sand  in  this  region  extended  as  far  as  the  last  telegraph  pole— forming 
a large  wedge  shaped  mass  6 in.  deep  at  the  foot  of  the  shingle,  thinning  out 
regularly  until,  just  beyond  the  telegraph  pole,  there  was  only  a thin  dusting 
of  sand. 

The  plants,  mainly  Armeria  maritima,  in  this  region  of  the  Low  were, 
of  course,  buried. 

The  landward  movement  of  the  main  shingle  bank  has  covered  most  of 
the  plants  of  Suaeda  fruticosa  along  what  was  its  back  edge  and  has  completely 


267 


obliterated  the  footpath  which  had  become  established  there.  Some  idea  of 
the  amount  of  shingle  which  has  been  moved  is  seen  by  the  exposure  of  the 
bases  of  several  telegraph  poles  which  used  to  stand  on  the  crest  of  the  ridge. 
These  poles  were  removed  shortly  after  the  war.  They  were  cut  off  near  to 
ground  level.  The  remains  of  about  four  of  these  poles  now  stand  some  three 
feet  above  the  shingle. 

When  one  stands  on  the  main  bank  the  Watchhouse  seems  very  close. 
Watchhouse  Bank  is  so  much  shorter  because  a further  30  or  so  yards  of  it 
have  been  buried  by  the  landward  movement  of  the  main  bank.  The  marsh 
on  the  west  side  of  Watchhouse  Bank  is  smaller  for  the  same  reason. 

A creek  in  the  marsh  east  of  Watchhouse  has  been  truncated  by  the 
advancing  shingle.  The  channel  towards  Cley  has  received  a lot  of  shingle; 
movement  of  any  more  shingle  in  the  future  would  more  or  less  block  it. 
This  channel  was  cut  in  1921  (?)  after  the  previous  channel  had  become 
blocked  in  the  same  fashion. 

As  might  be  expected  following  such  massive  shingle  movements,  most 
of  the  vegetation  on  the  main  bank  has  disappeared,  and  the  shingle  looks 
bright  and  fresh. 

In  one  or  two  places  a few  underground  stems  of  Rumex  ciispus  and 
some  of  the  underground  parts  of  Silene  maritima  remain,  having  been 
exposed  by  the  moving  shingle.  There  were  no  signs  of  the  plants  of  Ciambe 
maritima  which  were  growing  on  the  main  bank  east  of  the  Hood.  Ciambe 
grows  on  the  seaward  face  of  the  bank,  just  above  high  water  level  - a very 
vulnerable  position  at  the  best  of  times. 

The  dunes  on  the  Hood  do  not  seem  to  have  suffered  very  much.  Fresh 
shingle  has  moved  right  up  to  the  foot  of  the  dunes,  so  obliterating  the 
vegetation  which  occurred  there. 

The  Headland  dunes  have  not  been  badly  affected;  nothing  like  they 
were  in  the  1953  floods.  There  has  been  some  erosion  of  the  dune  face  at 
East  Point.  This  erosion  only  extends  for  a short  distance  along  the  dunes 
and  is  no  greater  than  the  amount  of  erosion  which  occurred  in  this  position 
in  the  winter  of  1976  when  there  were  some  high  tides. 

The  dunes  at  the  end  of  the  Headland  near  the  tea  room  have  been  cut 
back  by  the  sea  for  a few  yards,  but,  fortunately,  the  recent  dune  growth  in 
the  funnel-shaped  area  which  we  have  been  trying  to  repair  was  not  completely 
destroyed.  The  dunes  on  both  sides  of  the  gap  opposite  the  end  of  the  tea  room 
have  been  eroded  and  much  of  the  dune  on  the  marsh  side  (S.W.  side)  has 
been  washed  away.  Some  of  the  small  dunes  between  the  sea  and  the  main 
dune  ridge  have  suffered  some  erosion,  as  sand  was  washed  away  from  around 
them  as  the  water  first  advanced  swirling  around  and  then  later  retreating. 

The  tide  swept  over  the  dunes  on  the  base  of  the  old  Far  Point  and  over 
the  embryo  dunes  on  the  new,  now  the  true,  Far  Point,  but  did  not  completely 
destroy  them.  Providing  there  are  no  more  heavy  seas  in  the  near  future  these 
dunes  should  start  regenerating. 

The  Observation  Hut  on  the  seaward  edge  of  the  dunes  suffered  little 
damage. 


268 


All  the  Lows  were  flooded.  Over  a week  later  water  was  still  standing  in 
Glaux  Low,  Great  Sandy  Low  and,  to  a lesser  extent,  in  Long  Row. 

Water  entered  the  Lows  from  three  main  points: 

1)  Via  the  shingle  low  (which  is  like  a water  course)  which  runs  from  the 
beach  East  of  the  observatory,  through  the  dunes,  into  the  Great  Sandy 
and  Glaux  Lows. 

2)  From  the  landing  area  near  Pinchen's  Creek  and  thence  towards  the 
Lifeboat  Houses. 

3)  Through  the  gap  opposite  the  end  of  the  tea  room. 

4)  Over  the  main  bank  at  the  aeroplane  gap. 

The  depth  reached  by  the  water  in  the  lows  and  elsewhere,  is  shown  by  the 
tide  marks  left  as  the  water  level  fell. 

In  Boathouse  Low,  the  hummocks  of  sand  around  the  bushes  of  Suaeda 
fruticosa  are  smaller  and  much  sand  has  been  distributed  over  the  Low.  The 
comer  of  the  marsh  enclosed  by  the  Britannia  bank  has  received  much  sand, 
largely  washed  over  it  by  the  water  carrying  sand  from  the  dunes  near  the 
tea  room. 

As  a result  of  all  the  water  movement,  the  beach  has  been  cleaned  in  a 
remarkable  fashion.  There  are  hardly  any  polythene  bottles,  light  bulbs  and 
other  debris  of  this  kind  to  be  seen.  Nor  is  there  much  driftwood  on  the 
foreshore.  The  larger  pieces  have  been  carried  up  the  beach  and  left  someway 
up  the  face  of  the  main  dunes.  In  one  place,  much  driftwood  was  washed  over 
small  dunes  and  left  more  or  less  out  of  sight  in  one  of  the  blowouts. 

It  will  be  interesting  to  see  what  happens  to  the  vegetation  in  1979.  One 
might  anticipate  a paucity  of  strand  line  plants  and  that  plants  like  Cakile 
maiitima  and  Salsola  kali  may  be  found  in  unusual  places  where  their  seed 
may  have  been  carried  by  the  tides.  There  will  probably  be  few  plants  on  the 
main  shingle  ridge,  although  there  should  be  a steady  increase  in  vegetation 
as  the  crest  and  back  of  the  ridge  again  become  stabilised. 

My  thanks  are  due  to  the  Warden,  Mr  W.  E.  Eales,  for  his  help  in  com- 
piling this  report. 


269 


THREE  RARE  SPECIES  ON  THE  NORTH  NORFOLK  COAST 
by}.  P.  Skip  worth 

Massey  University,  New  Zealand 


Introduction 

Suaeda  vera,  Fiankenia  laevis  and  Limonium  bellidifolium  are  three 
plant  species  often  found  growing  together  in  the  North  Norfolk  coastal  area. 
Although  locally  quite  common  they  are  rare  in  the  wider  context  of  the 
British  Isles  each  being  rated  A ("rare")  by  Perring  and  Walters  (1976)  the 
last  named  among  them  in  fact  being  A + . The  three  species  have  all  been 
described  as  "obligate  halophytes"  by  Chapman  (1960a)  and  all  belong  to 
families  whose  members  are  strongly  associated  with  saline  environments. 
All  could  be  described  as  Mediterranean  species  which  are  very  near  their 
northern  limit  in  Norfolk  and  each  could  be  said  to  be  a strand  plant.  When 
they  occur  together,  it  is  in  a free  draining  situation  where  salt  marsh  abuts 
on  the  edge  of  sand  dunes  and  here  they  could  be  said  to  comprise  a comm- 
unity, albeit  one  which  is  very  much  part  of  a continuum. 

Limonium  bellidifolium  (Matted  sea  lavender) 

This,  the  rarest  of  the  three,  is  one  of  some  200  species  in  a sub- 
cosmopolitan genus  which  is  in  fact  the  largest  in  the  family  Plumbaginaceae. 
It  is  recorded  by  Perring  and  Walters  (1976)  as  occurring  in  the  British  Isles 
only  on  the  north  coast  of  Norfolk,  South  Lincolnshire  and  the  Channel 
Islands.  However,  although  Gibbons  (1975)  referred  to  it  as  being  recorded 
on  five  occasions  between  1789  and  1952  in  South  Lincolnshire,  she  believed 
that  it  had  not  been  registered  in  the  county  since  1966.  Bennett  (1909)  did 
not  record  the  species  outside  Norfolk,  but  Perring  and  Walters  note  its 
occurrence  to  the  east  and  the  west  of  its  present  range  prior  to  1930  and  this 
presents  the  possibility  that  the  range  has  been  contracting  in  the  last  50  years. 
Both  Butcher  (1961)  and  Clapham,  Tutin  and  Warburg  (1962)  have  referred 
to  the  presence  of  this  species  on  Suffolk  coasts  but  Perring  and  Walters  do 
not  confirm  this. 

It  is  also  recorded  on  north  Mediterranean  coasts  from  Gibraltar  to  the 
Black  sea  (Polunin  1964)  and  it  is  said  there  to  be  "rather  like  L.  vulgaie”. 
This  remark  which  is  substantiated  by  a drawing,  is  of  interest  because  it 
would  be  a most  unlikely  one  to  be  responsibly  offered  with  respect  to  the 
species  in  Norfolk.  Moreover,  Tutin,  et  al.  (1972),  after  describing  the  species 
without  referring  to  its  markedly  procumbent  habit  in  Norfolk,  state  that 

' 'procumbent  plants are  recorded  from  the  coast  of  west  France  and  England 

as  L.  dubyi....)  this  may  represent  a distinct  species".  They  go  on  to  say, 
“L.  danubiale from  south  west  Ukraine  is  a larger  variant  of  (L.  bellidi- 

folium). "There  would  seem  to  be  a possibility  therefore  that  the  Limonium 


270 


bellidifolium  of  Norfolk  might  be  a distinct  species  or  subspecies,  or  that  it 
might  represent  a clinal  end  point.  A taxonomic  investigation  of  the  present 
species  throughout  its  geographic  range  could  be  an  interesting  exercise. 

Limonium  bellidifolium  is  a rather  attractive,  perennial,  herbaceous, 
rosetted  hemicryptophyte  with  a tap  root  extending  straight  into  the  sub- 
stratum for  as  far  as  20cm.  There  are  10-20  leaves  in  each  rosette  and  they 
die  when  the  plant  flowers.  Flowering  stems  up  to  25cm  in  length,  5 - 20  of 
which  are  associated  with  each  rosette,  radiate  from  the  crown  and  are 
appressed  to  the  ground  for  much  of  their  total  length  but  they  do  curve 
upwards  distally.  The  stem  bears  numerous  forked  branches,  the  lower  ones 
among  which  are  peculiarly  and  characteristically  quite  sterile.  The  upper 
branches  bear  large  numbers  of  flowers  whose  gross  dimensions  (3  - 4mm 
across)  and  lilac  colour  are  imparted  by  petals.  Flowering  commences  in  early 
July  and  continues  through  to  late  August.  Clapham,  Tutin  and  Warberg 
(1962)  record  the  species  as  dimorphic  and  self  incompatible  with  a diploid 
chromosome  number  of  18.  It  is  likely  that  pollination  is  effected  by  insects 
although  no  such  vectors  seem  to  have  been  recorded.  Little  seems  known 
about  seed  dispersal  and  germination  although  some  suspicions  based  on  the 
careful  study  of  L.  vulgaie  and  L.  humile  by  Boorman  (1968),  may  be  enter- 
tained. These  would  be  that  dissemination  by  seawater  and  deposition  on  a 
high  tide  mark  is  a probability  although  dispersal  by  wind  may  also  take  place. 
Success  of  germination  may  depend  on  an  intricate  interplay  of  various 
impinging  factors  especially  salt  and  fresh  water.  The  species  has  been  said 
to  be  a perennial  but  anatomical  structure  of  the  shoots  suggests  that  a plant 
living  more  than  5 or  6 years  may  be  unusual. 

Various  authors  have  described  the  habitat  of  Limonium  bellidifolium 
as  "marsh",  "normally  sandy  marsh",  "sandy  places  in  salt  marshes", 
"drier  parts  of  sandy  salt  marshes",  "sandy  margins  of  salt  marsh"  etc.  It 
is  a little  strange  that  the  word  shingle  does  not  appear  in  any  known  descrip- 
tion yet  it  seems  there  is  almost  always  a component  of  shingle  in  the 
substratum  where  the  species  is  growing  and  that  it  is  not  in  fact  common 
to  find  it  on  pure  sand.  The  plant  indeed  seems  to  thrive  best  in  a free  draining 
situation  where  there  is  a thin  layer  (0.5  - 1.0cm)  of  sand  overlying  a mixture 
of  sand  and  shingle,  especially  where  this  is  5 - 10  cm  thick  and  in  turn  overlies 
pure  sand.  It  is  in  this  underlying  sand,  which  is  almost  always  damp,  that 
most  of  the  feeding  roots  are  to  be  found.  An  approximate  evaluation  of 
particle  size  in  the  surface  sand,  (this  presumably  being  of  special  significance 
as  the  layer  in  which  seedlings  must  first  become  established)  has  been  made. 
Based  on  this  it  is  suggested  that  the  species  seems  confined  to  a zone  where 
1.5  - 7.5%  (by  weight)  of  the  particles  are  less  than  0.1mm  in  diameter  and 
50  - 65%  are  more  than  0.25mm  in  diameter. 

The  zone  occupied  by  the  species  has  been  delineated  by  Chapman 
1960b)  as  2.24  - 3.36  ft  above  I.Z.L.,  that  is  a little  more  than  a vertical  foot 
rather  high  in  the  intertidal  region.  Little  reason  is  seen  to  dispute  these  figures 
although  consideration  of  exceptional  plants  would  probably  produce  wider 
limits.  Boorman  (1971)  recorded  transplanting  L.  bellidifolium  to  lower 
than  normal  regions.  Death  followed  and  was  attributed  "probably"  to  the 
effect  of  frequent  submersion  in  sea  water.  Boorman  concluded  that  the 


271 


"lower  limit  may  be  determined  by  the  height  above  mean  tide  level  and  thus 
by  the  number  and  duration  of  tidal  submergences".  Chapman  (1960b)  has 
shown  that  at  its  lowest  limit,  the  species  is  submerged  some  170  times  per 
year  by  tides  and  at  its  upper  limit  85  times.  It  could  also  be  noted  that  the 
spring  tides  of  June/July  and  of  December /January  do  not  reach  the  upper 
part  of  the  zone.  Some  evidence  has  been  collected  which  would  support  the 
implications  inherent  in  these  evaluations.  These  are  that  the  plant  will 
tolerate  considerable  variations  in  salinity  ranging  from  hypersalinity  (as 
evaporation  concentrates  salts  when  tides  recede)  to  'full'  salinity  during 
tidal  immersion  to  very  low  salinity  following  leaching  of  salts  by  rain  at 
times  when  plants  are  not  being  reached  by  tides.  It  is  suggested  therefore 
that  salinity  itself  (and  by  inference  other  chemical  factors  which  would  be 
subjected  to  similar  erratic  concentration  and  flushing)  does  not  strongly 
influence  mature  plants.  This  is  not  to  say  that  an  appropriate  and  perhaps 
precise  juxtaposition  of  chemical  factors  might  not  influence  germination 
and  seedling  survival. 

The  physical  and  chemical  parameters  of  the  soil  which  might  delimit 
the  species  seems  in  fact  to  be  largely  unknown  and  could  only  be  determined 
by  a detailed  investigation.  Drainage,  aeration,  compaction,  and  percentages 
and  decay  rates  of  organic  matter,  could  all  be  important  and  careful  consider- 
ation would  need  to  be  given  to  particle  size  and  nutrient  regimes  both  on  the 
surface  and  at  the  depth  where  feeding  roots  are  found. 

In  the  zone  in  which  Limonium  bellidifolium  exists,  the  community  is 
often  rather  open  and  the  dominant  species  in  normally  Suaeda  veia,  although 
there  is  no  suggestion  of  interdependence  between  the  two.  Limonium 
bellidifolium  in  fact  seems  to  thrive  best  where  Suaeda  is  growing  less  robustly 
and  where  its  cover  value  is  less  than  50%.  In  such  a situation  the  density  of 
Limonium  may  be  60  plants/square  metre  with  virtually  no  other  species 
present.  However,  usually,  Puccinellia  maiitima,  Fiankenia  laevis,  Suaeda 
maritima  and  less  frequently  Halimoine  portulacoides,  occurring  together 
with  Suaeda  veia  are  to  be  found  with,  or  very  near  to  L.  bellidifolium. 

Suaeda  veia  (Shrubby  sea  blite) 

Suaeda  veia  appears  to  be  the  more  correct  name  (Tutin,  et.  al.  1964)  for 
this  member  of  the  Chenopodiaceae  also,  and  perhaps  better  known  as 
S.  fiuticosa.  It  is  a shrub  which  may  be  3 - 4 feet  in  height  and  is  near  its 
northern  limit  on  the  Norfolk  coast.  It  occurs  also  on  south  eastern  coasts 
in  the  British  Isles  and  finds  its  western  limit  in  Dorset.  Plants  were  known 
at  Gibraltar  point  in  1977  but  Gibbons  (1975)  refers  to  the  species  as  having 
come  and  gone  several  times  to  and  from  the  south  Lincolnshire  coast  and 
Chapman  (1947)  associates  its  northern  limit  with  the  61  °F  August  isotherm 
which  runs  virtually  along  the  north  Norfolk  coast.  It  may  have  also  formerly 
occurred  in  Glamorgan,  the  Channel  Islands,  and  possibly  Yorkshire  and 
Ayrshire  (Chapman  1947).  Tansley  (1968)  has  fairly  said  that  it  tends  "to  be 
found  abundantly  where  it  occurs".  Outside  England  it  is  reported  from 
Brittany,  the  Atlantic  coasts  of  France,  Portugal  and  Spain  (where  it  also  occurs 
inland),  and  through  the  Mediterranean.  It  probably  does  not  reach  India, 
Afghanistan  and  central  Asia  as  claimed  (for  S.  fiuticosa ) by  some  authors 


272 


e.g.  Chapman  (1947),  Clapham,  Tutin  and  Warberg  (1962). 

It  is  a virtual  evergreen,  but  Ranwell  (1972)  has  recounted  that  after 
the  cold  winter  of  1962-63,  plants  at  Blakeney  Point  lost  all  their  leaves,  and 
it  is  densely  branched  shrub  with  smallish  cross-sectionally  oval,  dull  green 
leaves.  Flowers  are  inconspicuous  axillary,  greenish  in  colour  and  are  present 
from  July  to  September.  Seeds  are  almost  certainly  water-borne  and  deposited 
on  a strandline  Where  in  appropriate  conditions  they  germinate.  Usually  the 
plants  lowest  in  the  zone  occupied  by  S.  veia  are  smaller  which  suggests  that 
they  do  not  live  as  long  as  those  higher  up.  Anatomical  examination  of  wood 
increment  supports  this.  Where  the  plant  is  most  dense  it  forms  definite 
thickets  in  which  no  other  plant  grows. 

In  an  impressive  piece  of  work  for  its  time,  Oliver  and  Salisbury  (1913) 
accurately  described  the  plant's  morphology  and  its  response  to  accreting 
sand.  This  particular  article  with  its  several  lucid  illustrations  has  clearly 
provided  a baseline  for  subsequent  appraisal  of  the  species  for  example  by 
Chapman  (1947)  and  Tansley  (1965)  and  while  it  is  unnecessary  to  recount 
the  work  again,  it  is  appropriate  to  re-emphasize  the  role  that  the  plant  can 
play  as  a sand  binder.  Shoots  will  stand  burial  in  sand  and  shingle  and  in  fact 
this  action  stimulates  the  production  of  new  branches  which  soon  emerge 
above  the  surface.  Adventitious  roots  will  form  on  the  buried  branches  and 
the  whole  composit  structure  serves  to  restrict  further  movement  of  sand. 
Tansley  (1968)  referred  to  it  as  "a  very  remarkable  plant"  and  was  clearly 
impressed  by  its  ability  to  "climb"  beaches.  That  is,  as  inorganic  material 
continues  to  accumulate  on  a beach,  S.  veia  continues  to  grow  through  it 
until  it  may  reach  the  crest  of  the  dune. 

There  are  some  special  points  which  could  be  made  with  respect  to  the 
species  in  Norfolk.  First,  it  has  frequently  been  described  as  being  associated 
with  shingle.  Shingle  though  is  by  no  means  a prerequisite.  It  grows  well  for 
example  on  the  banks  of  marshy  creeks  near  Wells,  on  compacted  artificial 
stop  banks  at  Burnham  Overy  and  on  semi-protected  sandy  beach  at  Holkham. 
Moreover  there  is  a distinct  impression  that  if  there  is  a strong  shingle 
component  on  the  marsh/dune  interface  where  the  species  is  generally 
common,  it  grows  less  robustly  (and  Limonium  bellidifolium  and  Frankenia 
laevis  rather  better),  than  when  there  is  a higher  proportion  of  sand  and  mud. 
Reference  could  also  be  made  to  the  occasional  tendency  for  it  to  be  "banded" 
in  its  distribution.  That  is  plants  of  several  different  sizes  (and  by  inference 
ages)  form  that  number  of  more  or  less  distinct  bands  along  the  shore.  This 
could  be  attributed  to  the  occurrence  of  occasional  years  when  seeds  are 
deposited  on  a strandline  in  particularly  favourable  circumstances  or  are  of 
exceptional  quality. 

At  the  top  of  the  marsh  and  probably  where  it  occurs  on  the  sea  facing 
dunes  as  well,  Suaeda  veia  grows  over  a rather  wider  zone  than  does  Limonium 
bellidifolium  (0.0  - 4.0  ft  above  I.Z.L.).  This  means  that  at  its  lower  limit 
roots  would  be  submerged  by  tides  on  at  least  half  the  days  of  the  year  and  at 
its  upper  limit  by  few  more  than  equinoctial  tides.  Some  mature  plants 
therefore  grow  in  a situation  virtually  devoid  of  the  influences  of  sea-water 
and  others  in  situations  ranging  from  full  to  hypersalinity.  Just  as  Suaeda  veia 


273 


seems  capable  of  existing  through  a wider  range  of  salinity  than  Limonium 
bellidifolium  so  also  it  seems  to  be  associated  with  a wider  range  of  soil 
particle  size  and  presumably  other  soil  characters  as  well.  Perhaps  this  in 
part  explains  the  wider  distribution  of  Suaeda  veia  in  the  north  Norfolk  area. 

Frankenia  laevis  (Sea  Heath) 

A member  of  the  small  family  Frankeniaceae,  this  species  has  a distribut- 
ion in  the  British  Isles  very  similar  to  Suaeda  veia,  that  is,  somewhat  irregularly 
on  south  and  east  coasts  from  Northern  Norfolk  to  Hampshire.  It  is,  in 
addition  found  on  the  Channel  Islands  (Perring  and  Walters  1976).  Like  the 
previous  two  species  its  existence  on  the  Lincolnshire  coast  is  somewhat 
tenuous  but  it  is  said  by  Gibbons  (1975)  to  have  appeared  there  in  1975.  Like 
the  others  also,  it  occurs  on  Mediterranean  (eastwards  to  Italy)  and  southern 
Atlantic  coasts  of  Europe  and  in  addition  on  certain  islands  to  the  west  of 
North  Africa. 

The  plant  could  fairly  be  classified  as  a Chamaephyte  - a mat  plant  - and 
the  small  dark  green,  reddish  tinged  leaves  and  pink  flowers  do  suggest  the 
heath  family  although  systematically  Frankeniaceae  and  Ericaceae  are  not 
at  all  closely  related.  It  could  also  fairly  be  described  as  a perennial  with  an 
extensive  though  essentially  shallow  root  system.  Usually,  solitary,  sterile, 
axillary  flowers  are  produced  in  July  and  August  and  according  to  Salisbury 
(1952)  production  of  fertile  seed  is  poor  in  Britain.  How  seed  is  dispersed  is 
uncertain. 

It  typically  occurs  with  Limonium  bellidifolium  and  Suaeda  veia  but 
seems  to  occupy  a narrower  zone  than  the  other  two:  roughly  the  upper  half 
of  the  Limonium  zone  and  perhaps  extending  above  it.  It  occurs  especially 
in  small  depressions  and  where  the  proportion  of  shingle  is  high.  At  certain 
particularly  shingly  sites  it  seems  to  be  pioneer  species  with  Suaeda  veia 
secondarily  becoming  established  in  its  mats.  As  a mat  plant  with  its  own 
rather  humid  microenvironment  immediately  beneath,  it  is  well  suited  to 
pioneer  situations.  Free  drainage  seems  to  be  a particular  requirement  and  as 
with  the  other  two  species,  it  must  be  able  to  tolerate  at  least  briefly,  high 
salinity. 

Conservation 

It  should  be  to  the  great  advantage  of  the  three  species  that  they  exist  in 
some  abundance  in  the  almost  continuous  strip  of  coastline  reserves  between 
Holme  and  Weyboume.  Limonium  bellidifolium  in  Britain  is  almost  certainly 
confined  to  these  reserves  although  fortunately  it  is  in  no  real  danger  of 
becoming  extinct.  Even  if  it  were  so  it  may  be  argued  that  it  is  no  Whooping 
Crane  or  Jarvan  rhinoceros.  Yet  it  is  probably  the  only  plant  species  confined 
to  the  north  Norfolk  reserves  and  if  ever  a regional  symbol  were  sought,  this 
attractive,  somewhat  dainty  rather  unusual  little  species  would  be  worthy 
of  consideration.  Nevertheless  without  being  an  alarmist  it  would  have  to  be 
said  that  the  continued  existence  of  this  species  in  Norfolk  is  something 
which  cannot  be  unequivocally  guaranteed.  Various  events  in  the  past  25  years 
emphasize  that  changes,  which  are  so  much  a part  of  this  particular  coast, 
could  sooner  or  later  prove  to  be  a threat  to  the  species.  Chapman  (1960  b)  for 


274 


example  has  asserted  that  “Puccinellia  and  Halimoine  have  increased  in 
dominance  and  L.  bellidifolium  is  being  suppressed  since  the  rabbits  have 
gone"  (a  consequence  of  the  advent  of  myxomatosis).  It  may  well  be  that  this 
statement  is  not  now  as  poignant  as  it  was  18  years  ago  nor  was  it  necessarily 
applicable  to  the  region  as  a whole  but  it  emphasizes  that  any  change  in  an 
ecosystem  can  have  unexpected  consequences.  Here  it  seems  that  the  removal 
of  the  herbivores  was  causing  reduction  in  numbers  of  a particular  herb. 
And  because  in  this  case  the  herb  was  rare  and  confined  to  the  region  it  would 
be  possible  to  argue  that  removal  of  this  herbivore  (which  in  the  event  has 
been  only  partial)  would  not  be  an  altogether  desirable  thing.  A further  thought 
might  exercise  the  minds  of  Norfolk  naturalists  with  respect  to  the  plant 
that  they  might  with  some  justification  regard  as  their  own.  Where  it  occurs, 
it  occupies  as  has  been  mentioned,  a rather  narrow  band  and  people  tend  to 
walk  not  in  the  soft  sand  above  nor  in  the  squelchy  mud  below  but  precisely 
in  this  band.  A subjective  but  conservative  estimate  near  Gun  Hill  would  be 
that  10%  of  the  area  potentially  available  to  Limonium  bellidifolium  is 
hardpacked,  bare,  man-made  track.  What  if  and  when  human  usage  of  this 
area  doubles?  trebles?  increases  tenfold?  Other  changes  over  the  last  25  years 
included  the  1953  storm  surge  which  apparently  removed  two  species  from 
Scolt  Head  Island  (Chapman  1960  b)  and  as  well  resulted  in  the  "loss  of 
peculiar  flora  associated  with  the  pit"  at  Norton  Hills.  The  appearance  of 
Spartina  anglica  has  also  induced  a change  modifying,  again  according  to 
Chapman  "the  whole  pattern  of  the  early  stages  of  marsh  formation".  To 
reiterate,  Limonium  bellidifolium  is  not  a threatened  species  but  its  future 
performance  on  a coast  which  throughout  recorded  history  has  been  subject 
to  marked  changes  (Steers  1960)  might  be  watched  with  interest. 

Even  an  ardent  preservationist  would  find  fewer  reasons  for  focussing 
attention  on  Suaeda  vera  and  Frankenia  laevis.  Unlike  Limonium  bellidi- 
folium there  is  no  suggestion  that  they  might  be  genetically  special  in  Norfolk 
and  they  are  in  any  case  found  elsewhere  in  Britain.  Moreover  in  the  unlikely 
event  of  the  peculiar  marsh/dune  ecotone  ceasing  to  exist,  Suaeda  vera  and 
less  certainly  Frankenia  laevis  would  continue  to  exist  in  the  region. 

As  a plant  community,  the  one  characterised  by  the  three  species  is 
almost  certainly  found  nowhere  else  in  Britain  and  to  this  extent  it  is  pre- 
sumably something  a little  special.  The  degree  of  similarity  to  any  plant 
assemblage  which  involves  these  same  three  species  in  for  example  the 
Mediterranean  is  an  interesting  though  so  far  as  is  known,  currently  un- 
answered question. 

As  a final  thought,  it  has  been  mentioned  that  the  northern  limit  of 
Suaeda  vera  has  been  related  to  a particular  August  isotherm.  It  would  be 
logical  to  apply  the  same  constraint  to  the  other  two  species.  What  would  happen 
to  the  community  if  temperatures  became  colder?  Where  indeed  was  the 
community  in  the  "mini  ice  age"  of  the  early  17th  century  when  there  was 
ice  in  the  north  sea  and  the  Thames  Estuary  was  frozen  in  winter? 

The  performance  of  these  three  species  and  the  community  in  which 
they  occur,  should  as  much  as  any  plants,  provide  naturalists  with  food  for 
thought,  for  interest  and  for  mental  stimulation,  and  that  is  probably  what 
being  a naturalist  is  all  about. 


275 


Acknowledgements 

Thanks  are  extended  to  Dr  D.  S.  Ranwell  and  the  staff 
co-operation  during  the  compilation  of  this  article. 


at  I.T.E.  Colney  for  their 


References 

Bennett,  A.  (1909).  Holosteum  umbellamm.L,  Statics ' ^ 

d nUmori  Wiher  Trans  Norfolk  and  Norwich  Nat.  Soc.  8. 231-238. 

Boo“l.  A.Ti%8).  Some  aspects  of  the  "**“ 

Mill  , and  Limonium  humile  Mill.  Annals  of  Botany,  32.803  82T 
Boorman,  L.  A.  (12971).  Studies  in  salt  marsh  ecology  with  special  referenc 

flora.  Leonard  Hill  Ltd.,  London. 
CHAPM^t  V0}^19d47°  Wdu  fmUcoso  Forsk  in  Biol.  Flora  Brit.  Isles,  f.  Ecology 
Chapman, 3\L  M I960  a).  Salt  marshes  and  salt  deserts  of  the  world.  Leonard  Hill  Ltd., 
CHAPMAN^,  f (1P9P60  b).  The  Plan,  Ecology  of  Scolt Head  Island.  In  Scolt  Head  Island 
cJ^l;  Hora  of  the  British  Isles. 

Gibbons,  E- of  Lincolnshire.  Lincoln  Naturalists  Union,  Lincoln. 
Ouver!fPW.  and  Sal.sbury,  E.  J .<1913).  Vegetation  and  mobile  ground  as  illustrated 

of  the  British  Flora.  E.P. 

Publishing  Ltd.  2nd  Ed.  423pp.  , 

Sal.sLbury°E  T (1952|.  Downs  and  Dunes.  G.  Bell  and  Sons  Londom  328  pp. 

Steers”  I X (1960)  Scolt  Head  Island.  Heffer  and  Sons,  Cambridge  259pp. 

Tansley,  A.  G.  (19651  The  British  Isles  and  their  vegetation.  C.U.P.  Cambridge,  2 
Tansley,PA  G.  (1968).  Britains  Green  Mantle... George  Allen  and  Unwin  Ltd.  London. 

7nd  Ed  IRevised  by  M.  C.  F.  Proctor).  ,,,,  ic 

Tutin  T G et  al  (eds).  (1964-72).  Flora  Europea.  C.U.P.  Cambridge.  3 Vol  . 


BIRDS  OF  THE  CROMER  FOREST  BED  SERIES 
OF  THE  EAST  ANGLIAN  PLEISTOCENE 
by  C. J.  O.  Harrison 

British  Museum,  Tring,  Hertfordshire 


Summary 

Specimens  from  the  Cromer  Forest  Bed  Series  identified  in  the  last 
century  have  been  re-examined  and  additional  material  identified.  The 
Shoveler  Spatula  clypeata  and  Capercaillie  Tetiao  urogallus  are  removed 
from  the  existing  list.  The  list  of  species  now  includes  the  Cormorant 
Phalacrocoiax  caibo  and  fourteen  species  of  waterfowl  including  the  Mandarin 
Duck  Aix  galericulata,  now  found  only  in  eastern  Asia.  There  is  a new  species 
of  eider  duck  Somateria  giavipes.  A buzzard,  possibly  the  Common  Buzzard 
B.  buteo,  is  present,  and  an  extinct  species  of  junglefowl  Gallus  euiopaeus. 
Additional  water  birds  are  the  Moorhen  Galhnula  chloiopus  and  Green  Sand- 
piper Tiinga  ochiopus,  and  the  Guillemot  Una  aalge  and  Razorbill  Alca  toida ; 
while  land  birds  include  the  Eagle  Owl  B.  bubo  (apparently  resembling  the 
smaller  southern  form  B.  b.  ascalaphus)  and  the  Blackbird  Tuidus  memla, 
Starling  Stumus  vulgaris  and  Jay  Gairulus  glandarius  or  the  ancestral  forms 
of  these.  The  strata  from  which  some  specimens  originate  is  uncertain,  but 
most  are  referable  to  the  Pastonian  and  Cromerian  warm  stages,  when  the 
area  had  a temperate  mixed  oak  forest  as  the  dominant  vegetation.  Problems 
in  assigning  some  birds  to  recent  species  arise  from  the  existence  of  apparent 
Late  Pleistocene  speciation  in  these  taxa. 

Introduction 

In  describing  the  vertebrate  fauna  of  the  Cromer  Forest  Bed  Series  of  the 
Pleistocene  deposits  of  East  Anglia,  Newton  (1882)  listed  and  figured  three 
avian  carpometacarpi  which  he  referred  to  — Ansei  sp.,  Anas  l,  and  Genus  L 
In  addition,  with  the  second  specimen  he  also  referred  to  a distal  end  of  a 
coracoid  which  resembled  that  of  the  Mallard  Anas  platyrhynchos  (the  earlier 
name  A.  boschas  being  used).  Later  (Newton  1891)  he  added  to  these  the 
Cormorant  Phalacrocoiax  caibo,  the  Shoveler  Anas  clypeata  (using  the  generic 
name  Spatula),  the  Guillemot  Uria  aalge  (earlier  U.  troile ) and  the  Eagle  Owl 
Bubo  bubo  (earlier  B.  maximus  and  B.  ignavus ).  To  this  Lydekker  (1891) 
added  the  Pochard  Aythya  feiina  (earlier  Fuligula  ferina ) and  the  Capercaillie 
Tetiao  urogallus. 

Most  of  this  material,  together  with  other  unidentified  specimens  from 
these  deposits,  is  in  the  collection  of  the  Department  of  Palaeontology  of  the 
British  Museum  (Natural  History).  The  Cormorant  and  Shoveler  were  in  the 
collection  of  W.  Barker  of  Birmingham  and  their  present  whereabouts  is 
unknown;  but  they  were  figured  by  Newton  and  their  identities  can  be 


277 


checked.  The  Guillemot  specimen  has  not  been  traced,  but  additional  material 
from  the  same  deposits  confirms  the  presence  of  the  specimen.  The  specimen 
and  figures,  together  with  additional  material,  have  been  studied  and  the 
earlier  list  of  species  has  been  revised.  The  additional  material  is  mainly 
from  collections  formed  in  the  last  century  by  A.  C.  Savin  and  the  Rev.  C. 
Green. 

Old  List  New  List 

PHALACROCORACIDAE 

Phalaciocoiax  caibo  Phalacrocorax  caibo 

ANATIDAE 

Cygnus  bewickii 
Anseiansei 
Anas  platyihynchos 
Anas  penelope 
Anas  ciecca 
Netta  rufina 
Aythya  ferina 
Aythya  fuligula 
Aix  ? galericulata 
Somateiia  giavipes  sp.  nov. 

Melanitta  nigra 
Bucephala  clangula 
Mergus  albellus 
Mergus  senator 
Anatidae  ? species 
ACCIPITRIDAE 

Buteo  ? buteo  or  B.buteo/lagopus/ 
rufinus  superspecies. 

PHASIANIDAE 

Tetrao  urogallus  Gallus  europaeus 

RALLIDAE 

— Gallinula  chloropus 

SCOLOPACIDAE 

Genus  ? Tringa  ochropus 

ALCIDAE 

Uria  troile  Uria  aalge 

— Alca  torda 

STRIGIDAE 

Bubo  ignavus  Bubo  bubo 

TURDIDAE 

— Turdus  ? merula  or  T.merula/boulboul 

superspecies 
STURNIDAE 

— Stumus  ? vulgaris  or  S.  vulgaris /unicolor 

superspecies 
CORVIDAE 

— Garrulus  ? glandarius  or  Garrulus 

superspecies 


Anser  sp. 

Anas  boschas 
Anas  sp.  ? 
Fuligula  ferina 


Spatula  clypeata 


In  the  systematic  list  which  follows  the  specimens  have  been  discussed 
where  necessary;  and  in  the  final  section  they  have  been  considered  in  relation 
to  the  stages  of  the  Forest  Bed  Series,  and  the  ecological  implications  briefly 
examined. 


278 


Systematic  List 

Cormorant  Phalaciocoiax  caibo.  Distal  end  of  a coracoid  from  West  Runton, 
Norfolk,  collected  by  W.  Barker;  shaft  of  a right  humerus  from  Overstrand, 
Norfolk,  Savin  no.  715,  BMNH  A651.  The  distal  end  of  a coracoid  was  not 
traced  but  is  figured  by  Newton  (1887,  1891).  It  is  a typical  cormorant  coracoid 
of  a size  referable  to  this  species.  The  humerus  shaft  is  also  similar  in  size  to 
that  of  P.  caibo.  The  nutrient  foramen  is  very  proximally  sited  on  it.  There 
is  some  variation  in  the  site  of  the  foramen  in  specimens  examined  but  none 
is  as  proximal,  and  if  this  is  significant  it  may  indicate  that  the  humerus  was 
proportionally  shorter  than  that  of  the  Recent  bird. 

Bewick  Swan  Cygnus  bewickii.  Distal  end  of  a left  carpometacarpus,  from 
East  Runton,  Norfolk,  Savin  no.  336,  BMNH  A645.  A cervical  vertebra, 
Savin  no.  1986,  BMNH  A3422,  and  two  thoracic  vertebrae,  Savin  no.  1706, 
BMNH  A3415,  all  from  the  Upper  Freshwater  Bed,  West  Runton,  Norfolk. 
The  distal  end  of  carpometacarpus  was  referred  by  Newton  (1882)  to  “Ansei 
sp."  but  is  too  large  for  known  species  of  that  genus  and  more  similar  to  those 
of  Cygnus  species.  In  size  it  very  closely  approximates  to  that  of  some 
specimens  of  C.  oloi  but  is  closer  to  C.  bewickii  which  it  also  resembles  in 
the  relative  shortness  of  the  zone  of  fusion  of  the  metacarpals  at  the  distal 
end.  The  three  fragments  of  vertebrae  are  difficult  to  assign  certainly  but 
closely  resemble  those  of  this  species. 

Grey-Lag  Goose  Ansei  ansei.  Distal  half  of  a right  radius,  and  incomplete 
distal  end  of  a left  coracoid,  both  from  the  Upper  Freshwater  Bed,  West 
Runton,  Norfolk,  Savin  nos.  1611,  1987,  BMNH  A3406,  A3402. 

Mallard  Anas  platyihynchos.  Incomplete  distal  end  of  a left  coracoid,  from 
the  Upper  Freshwater  Bed,  West  Runton,  Norfolk,  Savin  no.  332,  BMNH 
A649.  Fragmentary  left  humerus,  from  East  Runton,  Norfolk,  Savin  Collection, 
BMNH  A656.  Also,  from  the  Upper  Freshwater  Bed,  West  Runton,  Norfolk, 
from  the  Savin  Collection,  part  of  five  humeri,  two  carpometacarpi,  two  radii, 
seven  caracoids,  one  ulna  and  one  tibiotarsus,  BMNH  nos.  A648,  A652  (part), 
A3382-3,  A3388-9,  A3392,  A3395,  A3398-9,  A3410,  A3417,  A3426,  46902. 

Wigeon  Anas  penelope.  Distal  end  of  left  humerus,  from  the  Upper  Fresh- 
water Bed,  West  Runton,  Norfolk,  Savin  no.  1693,  BMNH  A3407.  Distal 
end  of  left  tibiotarsus,  from  the  same  locality,  Savin  no.  971  (part),  BMNH 
A3432  (part). 

Teal  Anus  ciecca.  Left  carpometacarpus  lacking  the  unfused  part  of  metacarpal 
IV,  from  West  Runton,  Norfolk,  Savin  BMNH  A647.  This  is  the  specimen 
referred  to  by  Newton  (1884)  as  “Anasl". 

Red-Crested  Pochard  Netta  mfina.  Proximal  end  of  left  ulna,  from  the 
Forest  bed,  Ostend,  Norfolk,  Green  BMNH  17686  (part).  Two  distal  ends  of 
left  coracoids,  from  the  Upper  Freshwater  Bed,  West  Runton,  Norfolk,  Savin 
Collection  nos.  386  and  1760  (part),  BMNH  A3411  and  A3390  (part). 

Pochard  Aythya  feiina.  Distal  end  of  a right  tibiotarsus,  from  Ostend,  Norfolk, 
Green  Collection,  BMNH  17686.  Proximal  end  of  a right  carpometacarpus, 
from  the  Upper  Freshwater  Bed,  West  Runton,  Norfolk,  Savin  no.  971  (part). 
BMNH  A3432  (part).  The  first  specimen,  together  with  a number  of  other 


279 


elements,  was  referred  by  Lydekker  (1891)  to  this  species  but  the  other  bones 
are  either  from  different  species  or  indeterminate. 

Tufted  Duck  Aythya  fuligula.  Distal  end  of  right  humerus,  Savin  no.  1430, 
BMNH  A3408;  distal  end  of  left  tibiotarsus  Savin  no.  1988,  BMNH  A3418; 
and  of  right  tibiotarsus  Savin  no.  739  (part),  BMNH  A3433;  proximal  end 
of  right  carpometacarpus,  Savin  BMNH  A3432  (part);  and  another,  Savin 
no.  461,  BMNH  A652  (part);  distal  end  of  tarsometatarsus,  lacking  trochleae, 
Savin  no.  114,  BMNH  A5021 . All  from  Upper  Freshwater  Bed,  West  Runton, 
Norfolk. 

Mandarin  Duck  Aix  galericulata.  Distal  end  of  a left  coracoid,  Savin  no. 
1660,  BMNH  A652  (part),  and  another  less  complete  specimen,  Savin  no. 
1760  (part),  BMNH  A3390  (part).  Both  from  the  UpperFreshwater  Bed,  West 
Runton,  Norfolk.  Osteologically  this  species  and  the  related  Wood  Duck  Aix 
sponsa  are  very  similar.  From  the  comparative  material  available  (three 
specimens  of  each)  the  coracoids  appeared  more  likely  to  be  those  of  the 
former,  with  a more  slender  termination  of  the  distal  head. 

Thick-Legged  Eider  Somateria  giavipes  sp.  nov. 

Etymology.  The  specific  name  is  formed  from  the  Latin  giavis  ( = heavy) 
and pes  ( = a foot)  in  reference  to  the  stoutness  of  the  tarsometatarsus. 

Diagnosis.  Tarsometatarus  similar  in  length  to  that  of  the  Common  Eider 
Somateria  mollissima  but  the  shaft  in  all  its  aspects  much  thicker,  with  well 
defined  grooves  for  muscles  and  ligaments. 

Material.  Holotype  a left  tarsometatarsus  lacking  the  trochlea  for  digit  IV, 
A.C.  Savin  no.  1956,  BMNH  A3396.  A left  coracoid,  A.C.  Savin  no.  2020, 
BMNH  A3397,  lacking  the  distal  head  and  the  external  part  of  the  sternal 
end,  is  tentatively  referred  to  this  species.  It  is  similar  to  that  of  S.  mollissima 
but  it  seems  preferable  not  to  assume  the  presence  of  two  species  from  the 
present  scanty  material. 

Occurrence.  Upper  Freshwater  Bed,  Cromerian,  Middle  Pleistocene; 
West  Runton,  Norfolk,  England. 

Description  and  discussion.  The  specimen  is  very  similar  in  size  to  that 
of  S.  mollissima,  and  the  leg  bones  of  other  eider  species  are  similar  in  pro- 
portions to  the  latter.  In  proximal  view  the  tarsometatarsus  of  the  new  species 
is  a little  stouter  on  the  external  side.  In  distal  view  it  is  similar  to  S.  mollissima 
but  the  trochlea  for  digit  III  is  a little  deeper  anteroposteriorly  and  a little 
narrower.  The  main  difference  is  in  the  shaft  which,  from  trochleae  to  hypo- 
tarsus,  is  considerably  stouter,  with  well-defined  edges  to  the  surfaces,  and 
noticeable  grooves  for  muscles  and  ligaments.  It  is  about  one-third  as  wide 
again  as  that  of  S.  mollissima  and  the  flat  proximal  half  of  the  external  surface 
is  about  half  as  wide  again.  In  general  appearance  it  is  more  similar  to  the 
tarsometatarsus  of  the  Australian  Musk  Duck  Biziuia  lobata  than  to  that  of 
any  eider.  This  may  indicate  that  the  species  had  an  even  greater  ability  to 
swim  and  feed  underwater  than  do  the  Recent  eiders. 

Measurements.  The  measurements  of  a tarsometatersus  of  a similar-sized 
5.  mollissima  are  given  in  parentheses.  Length  48.7  (50.3);  anteroposterior 
thickness  of  trochlea  for  digit  two  7.2  (7.2),  for  digit  three  8.0  (7.5);  width 


280 


of  trochlea  for  digit  two  3.6  (3.8),  for  digit  three  5.0  (5.3);  width  and  thickness 
of  shaft  30  mm  from  distal  end  6.1  x 4.6  (4.5  x 3.6);  at  15  mm  from  proximal 
end  6.8x6.1  (5. 5x4. 5);  projection  of  anterior  external  edge  beyond  anterior 
proximal  fossa  3.6  (2.8)  mm. 

Common  Scoter  Melanitta  nigra.  Left  coracoid,  from  the  Forest  Bed,  Mundes- 
ley,  Norfolk,  Savin  BMNH  A650.  Proximal  end  of  a right  femur,  from  the 
Forest  Bed,  Ostend,  Norfolk,  Green  BMNH  17686  (part).  The  second  specimen 
was  a part  of  the  material  originally  referred  by  Lydekker  (1891)  to  Aythya 
ferina. 

Goldeneye  Bucephala  clangula.  Distal  right  tarsometatarsus  lacking  the 
trochlea  for  digit  two,  from  the  Upper  Freshwater  Bed,  West  Runton,  Norfolk, 
Savin  no.  614  (part),  BMNH  3382  (part).  Distal  end  of  left  humerus,  from  the 
same  locality,  Savin  no.  720,  BMNHA3403. 

Smew  Meigus  albellus.  Proximal  end  of  a left  ulna  and  distal  end  of  a right 
radius,  from  the  Upper  Freshwater  Bed,  West  Runton,  Norfolk,  Savin  no.  568, 
BMNH  A3386. 

Red-Breasted  Merganser  Meigus  senator.  Distal  end  of  left  humerus  with 
shaft,  from  the  Upper  Freshwater  Bed,  Runton,  Norfolk,  Savin  no.  1087, 
BMNH  A3391.  Right  carpometacarpus  lacking  the  unfused  portion  of 
matacarpal  IV,  from  the  same  locality,  Savin  no.  77 1,  BMNHA3393. 

Anatidae?  The  left  coracoid  of  a duck,  from  the  Forest  Bed,  West  Runton, 
Norfolk,  originally  in  the  collection  of  W.  Barker,  was  identified  by  Newton 
and  figured  by  him  (1887,  1891)  as  that  of  the  Shoveler  Spatula  ( = Anas) 
clypeata.  The  original  specimen  has  not  been  traced,  but  from  the  figure  it 
appears  to  be  the  coracoid  of  a diving  duck.  In  the  absence  of  the  specimen 
it  cannot  be  satisfactorily  identified. 

Common  Buzzard  Buteo  ? buteo  (or  B.  buteo/lagopus/rufinus  superspecies). 
Hind  claw  (terminal  ungeal  of  digit  one),  from  Bacton,  C.  Green  (no.  6?), 
BMNH  17654.  The  specimen  can  be  identified  by  the  size  and  shape  of  the 
ventral  prominence  and  the  paired  lateral  foramina.  Three  Recent  species 
of  this  genus  occur  in  the  Western  Palaearctic,  ecologically  specialised  and 
with  minor  osteological  differences.  The  present  species  is  the  most  similar 
and  ecologically  the  most  likely,  but  the  period  of  speciation  producing  the 
Recent  forms  is  unknown  and  the  present  bird  might  be  ancestral  to  more 
than  one  Recent  species. 

European  Junglefowl  Gallus  europaeus.  C.J.O.  Harrison  1978.  A left  coracoid 
from  Ostend,  Norfolk,  C.  Green  BMNH  A489.  This  specimen  was  described 
by  Lydekker  (1891)  as  a bone  of  the  Capercaillie  Tetrao  urogallus  and  he 
explained  away  the  small  size  by  describing  it  as  a young  bird,  although  there 
is  no  osteological  evidence  of  immaturity.  It  appears  to  be  evidence  of  an  ex- 
tinct species  of  junglefowl,  similar  in  size  to  the  wild  form  of  Gallus  gallus. 

Moorhen  Gallinula  chloiopus.  A proximal  end  of  a right  carpometacarpus, 
from  the  Upper  Freshwater  Bed,  West  Runton,  Norfolk,  Savin  no.  114  (part), 
BMNH  A5022. 

Green  Sandpiper  Tringa  ochropus.  Left  carpometacarpal,  lacking  the  unfused 
portion  of  metacarpal  IV,  from  West  Runton,  Savin  BMNH  A646.  This 


281 


specimen  was  figured  by  Newton  (1882)  merely  to  show  the  range  of  avian 
material  found  in  the  earlier  studies  of  the  Forest  Bed  Series,  and  no  attempt 
was  made  to  identify  it.  In  size  and  shape  it  agrees  with  that  of  the  above 
species. 

Guillemot  Uiia  aalge.  A shaft  of  a left  humerus,  lacking  ends,  from  Chillesford 
Crag  deposits,  Aldeby,  Norfolk,  collected  by  Crowfoot  and  Dowson.  Proximal 
end  of  a right  radius,  from  Chillesford  Crag  deposits,  Chillesford,  Suffolk, 
presented  by  Dr  Macfadyan,  BMNH  A 1940.  The  original  humerus  has  not 
been  traced.  It  was  figured  by  Newton  (1882)  and,  in  spite  of  minor  discrep- 
ancies in  the  two  views  shown,  appears  to  be  of  this  species. 

Razorbill  Alca  toida.  Distal  end  of  a left  humerus,  from  Bacton,  Norfolk, 
Savin  no.  2363,  BMNH  A655.  In  Newton's  interleaved  copy  of  his  "Verte- 
brates of  the  Forest  Bed  Series"  in  the  Library  of  the  Department  of  Palaeon- 
tology, British  Museum  (Natural  History)  there  is  a sketch  of  this  bone  and 
a note  of  its  identification,-  but  he  did  not  include  it  in  his  later  work. 

Eagle  Owl  (small  race)  Bubo  bubo  (ascalaphus/desertorum).  A right  tarso- 
metatarsus  lacking  the  proximal  end,  from  East  Runton,  Norfolk,  Savin  no. 
508,  BMNH  A644.  The  trochlea  for  the  fourth  digit  has  been  broken  off  and 
replaced  again,  the  break  being  partly  filled  with  plaster  or  wax,  coloured  to 
resemble  the  original.  As  a result  the  trochlea  projects  further  laterally  and 
creates  a large  intertrochlear  notch  and  a more  distally-projecting  posterior 
edge.  This  appears  to  have  occurred  when  the  specimen  was  originally 
collected,  since  it  is  present  in  early  casts  without  the  break  being  indicated. 

The  specimen  is  small  and  the  shaft  is  slender,  resembling  that  of  the 
smaller  North  Africa  — Middle  East  forms.  From  the  distal  end  of  the  tubercle 
for  the  tibialis  anticus  to  the  base  of  the  trochlea  for  the  third  digit  the  bone 
measures  47.2  mm  and  the  width  and  thickness  of  the  shaft  30  mm  from  the 
base  of  the  trochlea  is  84  x 58  mm. 

?Blackbird  Tuidus  l merula  (or  T.  merula/boulboul  superspecies).  Right 
humerus,  from  the  Upper  Freshwater  Bed,  West  Runton,  Norfolk,  collected 
and  presented  by  P.  Andrews,  1976,  BMNH  A4957.  Distal  end  of  a left  coracoid, 
from  same  locality,  Savin  no.  620,  BMNH  A3381  (part).  The  humeri  of  the 
likely  Recent  species  of  Tuidus  can  be  identified  by  their  size  and  this  one 
corresponds  to  those  of  the  species. 

? Starling  Stumus  l vulgaris,  (or  S.  vulgaris /unicolor  superspecies),  im- 
perfect distal  end  of  a left  humerus,  distal  ends  of  right  and  left  tarsometatarsi, 
proximal  end  of  left  carpometacarpus,  from  the  Upper  Freshwater  Bed,  West 
Runton,  Norfolk,  Savin  no.  620,  BMNH  A3381  (part). 

? Jay  Garrulus  l glandarius  (or  Garrulus  superspecies).  Distal  end  of  a left 
tibiotarsus  with  part  of  the  shaft,  Upper  Freshwater  Bed,  West  Runton, 
Norfolk,  Savin  no.  1638,  BMNH  A652.  Distal  end  of  a left  tarsometatarsus 
lacking  trochlea,  from  the  same  stratum,  Savin  no.  620, BMNH  A3381  (part). 
The  first  specimen  lacks  the  internal  condyle  but  agrees  with  the  above  species 
in  all  its  characters. 


282 


Discussion 

For  specimens  collected  in  the  19th  Century  the  data  on  the  strata  from 
which  they  originate  tends  to  be  inadequate.  The  specimens  under  discussion, 
with  the  exception  of  those  from  the  Chillesford  Crag,  are  said  to  be  from  the 
"Forest  Bed"  of  the  locality  of  origin.  Information  on  the  various  main 
collecting  sites  and  their  ages  has  been  assembled  by  Stuart  (1974,  1975)  and 
some  information  on  the  flora  of  the  period  is  available  (Stuart  1975,  West 
1977). 

The  present  specimens  are  mainly  referable  to  two  consecutive  temperate 
stages  within  the  Cromer  Forest  Bed  Series  — the  Pastonian  and  the  Cromer- 
ian.  These  are  separated  by  the  cold  Beestonian  stage.  In  the  following  list 
indicating  periods  of  occurrence  the  localities  have  been  added. 

Stage  uncertain. 

Cormorant  Phalaciocoiax  caibo,  Red-crested  Pochard  Netta  rufina, 
Pochard  Aythya  feiina,  Common  Scoter  Melanitta  nigra,  European 
Junglefowl  Gallus  euiopaeus.  (The  cormorant  is  from  Overstrand, 
Common  Scoter  from  both  Mundesley  and  Ostend,  the  others  from 
Ostend). 

Pastonian. 

Bewick  Swan  Cygnus  bewickii.  Mallard  Anas  platyihynchos,  ? Common 
Buzzard  Buteo  1 buteo,  Guillemot  Uiia  aalge,  Razorbill  Alca  toida, 
Eagle  Owl  Bubo  bubo.  (The  Guillemot  is  from  Chillesford  Crag,  Buzzard 
and  Razorbill  from  B acton,  others  from  East  Runton) . 

Cromerian. 

Cormorant,  Phalaciocoiax  caibo,  Bewick  Swan  Cygnus  bewickii, 
Grey-lag  Goose  Ansei  ansei,  Mallard  Anas  platyihynchos,  Wigeon 
Ansa  penelope,  Teal  Ansa  ciecca,  Red-crested  Pochard,  Netta  rnfina, 
Pochard  Aythya  feiina,  Tufted  Duck  Aythya  fuligula,  Mandarin  Duck 
Aix  galeiiculata.  Thick-legged  Eider  Somateiia  giavipes,  Moorhen 
Gallinula  chloiopus.  Green  Sandpiper  Tiinga  ochiopus,  Goldeneye 
Bucephala  clangula,  Smew  Meigus  albellus,  Red-breasted  Merganser 
Meigus  senatoi,  ?Blackbird  Tuidus  ! meiula,  ?Starling  Stumus  ! 
vulgaiis,  !Jay  Gaiiulus  l glandaiius  (all  Upper  Freshwater  Bed,  West 
Runton,  except  for  Cormorant  and  Green  Sandpiper  which  are  West 
Runton,  with  bed  not  specified). 

Stuart  (1975)  describes  the  vegetation  of  the  Upper  Freshwater  Beds  at 
West  Runton,  which  are  Cromerian  (zone  Cr  II),  as  that  of  a mixed  oak  forest 
flanking  a river  valley,  with  fens  and  areas  of  open  herbaceous  vegetation  on 
the  floodplain.  The  general  picture  during  the  early  Cromerian  as  indicated 
by  pollen  studies  (Duigan  1963)  is  of  pine  Pinus  and  birch  Betula  as  the  early 
dominant  trees,  gradually  giving  way  to  oak  Queicus,  elm  Ulmus,  lime  Tiha, 
hazel  Coiylus  and  alder  Alnus.  The  Pastonian  has  been  less  studied  but  pollen 
evidence  shows  a similar  type  of  vegetation  (West  and  Wilson  1966)  with  the 
addition  of  hornbeam  Caipinus. 

Most  of  the  birds  identified  are  associated  at  the  present  day  with 
temperate  conditions  in  this  region  and  many  with  fresh  water.  The  Grey-lag 


283 


Goose  feeds  by  water  in  open  places,  and  ducks  of  the  genera  Anas,  Netta  and 
Aythya  are  dabbling  and  diving  species  of  fresh  water.  The  Goldeneye,  Smew 
and  Merganser  nest  in  Boreal  forest  regions  and  migrate  to  these  parts  in 
winter,  while  the  Bewick  Swan  is  a migrant  from  the  Siberian  tundra.  Most 
of  these  species  may  occur  at  times  on  brackish  waters  of  estuaries  or  coastal 
lagoons.  The  Moorhen  lives  on  the  borders  of  fresh  waters,  as  does  the  Green 
Sandpiper  which  like  some  of  the  ducks  nests  in  the  boreal  forest  regions 
and  migrates  south  in  winter.  The  Cormorant  is  equally  at  home  on  fresh  or 
salt  water. 

The  Common  Scoter  nests  on  fresh  water  in  the  boreal  regions  but  further 
south  occurs  only  as  a seabird,  and  both  Razorbill  and  Guillemot  are  norm- 
ally confined  to  salt  water.  The  new  species  of  eider  presents  a problem  of 
interpretation.  The  Recent  eider  species  are  all  associated  with  salt  water 
seacoasts.  It  could  be  argued  that  the  development  of  the  leg  shown  in  this 
species  indicated  that  it  had  evolved  as  a strong  swimmer,  with  an  inference 
that  it  might  be  adapted  for  deep  or  rough  seas.  However,  it  has  been  mentioned 
that  there  is  a morphological  analogy  with  the  Australian  Musk  Duck,  a 
species  in  which  similar  stout  tarsometatarsi  are  associated  with  feeding  on 
inland  fresh  waters.  Apart  from  the  eider  all  other  species  listed  for  the 
Cromerian  could  occur  on  fresh  waters. 

There  is  an  unexpected  duck  species;  this  is  the  Mandarin  Duck  which 
at  the  present  day  is  restricted  to  eastern  China  and  Japan  where  it  is  typically 
a bird  of  mixed  oak  forest  near  water.  It  could  have  occurred  across  Eurasia 
when  suitable  forest  conditions  were  present.  The  fragmentation  of  forest 
during  the  glaciations  must  have  adversely  affected  a number  of  forest  species. 
As  D.  Goodwin  [peis . comm.)  suggests,  there  is  a similar  situation  in  the  case 
of  the  Azure-winged  Magpie  Cyanopica  cyanea.  The  latter  occurs  in  China  and 
Japan  at  present,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  isolate  population  in  the  Iberian 
peninsula  it  might  have  been  regarded  as  an  eastern  Asiatic  endemic  rather 
than  the  relics  of  an  earlier  distribution  that  spanned  Eurasia. 

Of  the  three  Recent  species  of  Buteo,  the  Common  Buzzard  B.  buteo  is 
the  only  one  normally  associated  with  forest  and  forest  edge.  The  point  in 
time  at  which  the  three  species  diverge  is  not  known,  and  while  specific 
separation  may  already  have  occurred  by  this  period  in  the  Pleistocene  we  do 
not  have  enough  evidence  to  make  any  decisions  on  this.  Mayhew  (1977) 
detected  evidence  of  erosion  due  to  digestion  by  accipitrine  birds  of  prey  as 
opposed  to  owls  on  the  teeth  of  small  rodents  from  the  Upper  Freshwater  Bed 
at  West  Runton.  He  believed  such  remains  came  from  pellets  cast  by  the  birds 
and  suggested  buzzards  and  kestrals  as  possible  raptors  at  this  period. 

We  know  nothing  of  the  extinct  European  Junglefowl,  but  extrapolating 
from  other,  Recent  Gallus  species  it  was  probably  a bird  of  forest  or  forest  edge. 
At  the  present  day  the  Eagle  Owl  occurs  through  a wide  range  of  habitats  from 
subarctic  to  subtropical  regions.  The  small,  slender  tarsometatarsus  of  the 
present  specimen  is  typical  in  Recent  times  of  the  form  found  in  warmer  and 
more  arid  areas  of  North  Africa  and  the  Middle  East.  This  is  a paler  and  smaller 
bird  which  has  been  separated  in  the  past  as  a species,  Bubo  ascalaphus.  The 
size  of  the  fossil  bird  does  not  appear  to  be  correlated  with  the  apparent 


284 


conditions  during  the  Pastonian  as  indicated  by  the  flora.  The  larger  and  more 
northerly  forms  of  the  species  now  in  existence  may  be  examples  of  Berg- 
mann's  rule  that  within  species  size  increases  in  colder  regions,  but  these 
could  have  evolved  during  later  glaciations.  It  is  possible  that  the  fossil  bird 
is  closer  to  an  ancestral  form. 

The  identification  of  the  Jay  is  tentative,  being  based  on  incomplete 
specimens,  but  it  appears  to  match  Recent  specimens  closely.  At  present  the 
distribution  of  this  species  is  closely  correlated  with  that  of  the  oak,  and  it 
extensively  utilises  acorns  for  food  in  winter.  Assuming  that  its  habits  have 
not  changed  during  the  intervening  period  it  is  a likely  species  to  have 
occurred  in  a mixed  oak  forest.  The  Blackbird  and  Starling  are  widespread 
species  of  temperate  conditions,  the  former  occurring  in  forest  and  forest 
edge,  the  latter  often  nesting  in  trees  but  usually  occurring  only  where  there 
are  open  grassy  areas  nearby. 

Although  the  last  three  birds  have  been  referred  to  Recent  species  there 
is  a taxonomic  problem  involved  with  fossil  birds  of  this  period.  The  three 
genera  concerned  also  contain,  in  addition  to  these  widely  distributed  species, 
osteologically  similar  isolate  species  with  smaller  populations.  The  Lance- 
olated  Jay  G.  lanceolatus  occurs  in  a limited  area  of  the  Western  Himalayas 
and  the  Lidth's  or  Loochoo  Jay  G.  lidthii  in  the  Riu-Kiu  Islands.  The  Grey- 
winged Blackbird  T.  boulboul  occurs  along  the  Himalayas  and  the  Spotless 
Starling  S.  unicoloi  is  confined  to  the  Iberian  Peninsula. 

These  species  differ  from  those  listed  mainly  in  minor  characters  of 
plumage  markings  and  colour,  and  do  not  appear  to  be  separable  osteologically 
from  their  congeners  when  only  a few  bones  are  available.  A similar  problem 
exists  with  the  buzzards,  Buteo  species,  of  Eurasia.  The  close  similarities 
and  the  patterns  of  distribution  suggest  a fairly  recent  speciation,  probably 
during  the  later  Pleistocene  glaciations.  Therefore,  in  referring  birds  from 
the  Cromer  Forest  Bed  Series  to  Recent  species  we  cannot  be  certain  at  present 
that  we  are  not  dealing  with  ancestral  forms  from  which  these  similar  species 
evolved. 

In  such  circumstances  it  can  be  argued  that  a form  which  existed  prior 
to  some  separation  and  speciation  in  one  part  of  its  range  requires  a different 
name  from  the  form  subsequently  present,  even  though  the  two  may  be  osteo- 
logically inseparable  and  apparently  represent  a direct  lineage.  Currently,  in 
ornithological  studies,  groups  of  very  similar  and  often  allopatrically  distri- 
buted species  of  this  type,  which  have  obviously  evolved  from  an  earlier  form 
in  response  to  conditions  of  isolation  and  selection,  are  often  referred  to  as 
superspecies.  The  term  was  created  to  assist  in  the  study  of  the  taxonomy  and 
zoogeography  of  Recent  birds  but  should  indicate  the  existence  of  an  equivalent 
form  during  the  palaeontological  history  of  the  genus. 

The  superspecies  may  have  a wider  connotation  than  the  context  in 
which  I have  used  it  here.  For  example,  the  Blackbird  superspecies  would 
probably  usually  include  the  montane  Ring  Ousel  T.  toiquatus  and  the 
North  American  Robin  T.  migiatohus,  although  both  are  osteologically 
distinct  in  some  characters  from  the  species  at  present  under  consideration. 
However,  in  view  of  uncertainty  about  the  status  of  the  Cromer  Forest  Bed 


285 


Series  forms,  and  the  lack  of  more  certain  views  of  the  probably  period  of 
speciation  in  these  genera,  I prefer  to  use  a modified  superspecies  concept 
rather  than  propose  new  names  for  putative  ancestral  forms. 


Acknowledgements 

I am  very  grateful  to  Mr.  C.  A.  Walker  who  drew  my  attention  to  this  fossil 
material,  and  to  Mr.  A.  P.  Currant,  Mr.  J.  J.  Hooker  and  Dr  A.  J.  Sutcliffe  who  helped 
me  with  information  and  discussion  of  ideas. 

References 

Duigan,  S.  L.  Pollen  analyses  of  the  Cromer  Forest  Bed  Series  in  East  Anglia. 

Phil.  Trans.  R.  Soc.  B 246:  149  - 202. 

Harrison,  C.  J.  O.  1978.  A new  junglefowl  from  the  Pleistocene  of  Europe.  f.  Aicheol. 
Sci  5:  373  - 376. 

Lydekker,  R.  1891.  Catalogue  of  the  fossil  birds  in  the  British  Museum  (Natural 
History).  London:  B.  M.  (N.  H.). 

Mayhew,  D.  F.  1977.  Avian  predators  as  accumulators  of  fossil  mammal  material. 
Boreas  6:25-31. 

Newton,  E.  T.  182.  The  vertebrata  of  the  Forest  Bed  Series  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk. 
Mem.  Geol.  Surv.  U.K. 

Newton,  E.  T.  1887.  Note  on  some  recent  additions  to  the  vertebrate  fauna  of  the 
Norfolk  Pre-glacial  Bed.  Geol.  Mag.  1887:  145-  147. 

Newton,  E.  T.  1891.  The  vertebrata  of  the  Pliocene  deposits  of  Britain. 

Mem.  Geol.  Surv.  U.  K. 

Stuart,  A.  J.  1974.  Pleistocene  history  of  the  British  Vertebrate  fauna. 

Biol.  Rev.  49:  225-266. 

Stuart,  A.  J.  1975.  The  vertebrate  fauna  of  the  type  Cromerian.  Boreas  4:  63-76. 
West,  R.  G.  1977.  Pleistocene  geology  and  biology,  with  especial  reference  to  the 
British  Isles.  2nd  Edn.  London:  Longman. 

West,  R.  G.  & Wilson,  D.  G.  1966.  Cromer  Forest  Bed  Series.  Nature,  Lond.  209: 
497-498. 


286 


A STUDY  OF  VERONICA  TRIPHYLLOS  L.,  VERONICA  PRAECOX 
All.  AND  VERONICA  VERNA  L.  AT  WEETING  HEATH  ARABLE 
RESERVE,  NORFOLK 
by  Anne  Burn 

Malham  Tam  Field  Centre,  Yorkshire 


Introduction 

Weeting  Heath  Arable  Reserve  (National  Grid  Reference  TL/ 762882)  is 
an  area  of  eleven  acres  immediately  to  the  east  of  the  Weeting  Heath  National 
Nature  Reserve.  The  Weeting-Hockwold  road  forms  the  southern  boundary 
of  the  arable  reserve,  which  slopes  gently  upwards  to  the  north,  where  it  is 
bordered  by  Belvedere  Wood,  a mixed  coniferous/deciduous  plantation.  On 
the  west  it  is  bordered  by  the  heathland  of  the  N.N.R.,  and  on  the  east  by 
several  rows  of  recently  planted  Scots  pine  seedlings  and  a narrow  belt  of 
gorse  (Ulex  europaeus),  broom  (Sarothamnus  scoparius)  and  bracken  (Pteridium 
aquilinum)-,  this  belt  separates  it  from  arable  fields  (see  fig.  1).  The  land 
belongs  to  Mr.  Parrott  of  Fengate  Farm,  Weeting;  it  was  by  agreement  with 
him  that  the  reserve  was  set  up  in  1969  with  the  help  of  Mr.  Christopher 
Cadbury  and  the  co-operation  of  the  Norfolk  Naturalists'  Trust  and  the 
Nature  Conservancy. 

History  of  Site 

As  indicated  in  the  paper  on  Weeting  Heath  by  Mrs.  G.  Crompton  (1974), 
the  area  now  occupied  by  the  arable  reserve  was  covered  by  deciduous 
plantations  in  the  nineteenth  century.  The  period  of  woodland  cover  lasted 
for  almost  one  hundred  years;  the  area  must  have  lost  its  tree  cover  by  the  first 
years  of  this  century,  as  on  the  1905  edition  of  the  1/2500  O.S.  map  the 
northern  part  is  shown  as  "furze"  and  the  southern  part  as  "rough  pasture, 
heath  and  moor".  At  this  time  a belt  of  coniferous  woodland  still  existed 
between  the  reserve  and  the  arable  fields  to  the  east,  but  this  had  gone  by 
1963,  as  on  the  Nature  Conservancy  map  of  that  date  it  is  shown  as  "bracken 
and  broom",  as  it  is  now.  Cereal  crops  were  probably  grown  on  the  area  during 
the  First  World  War  and  sporadically  since;  the  last  cultivation  before  the 
setting  up  of  the  arable  reserve  in  1969  was  in  1962,  when  the  area  was  heavily 
limed  and  a good  crop  of  rye  was  grown. 

Reasons  for  establishment  of  Reserve 

The  arable  reserve  was  set  up  firstly  as  a refuge  area  and  study  site  for 
rare  Breckland  plants,  especially  Veronica  triphyllos,  V.  praecox  and  V.  vema. 
Although  these  three  species  were  not  known  from  the  reserve  or  the  adjacent 
area  it  was  thought  that  it  was  a suitable  area  in  which  they  would  survive 
if  introduced  from  elsewhere  in  Breckland.  Veronica  triphyllos  and  V.  praecox 


287 


Fig.  1 : Position  of  permanent  plots  at  Weeting  Heath  Arable  Reserve  in 

1971,  1976  and  1978 


I 


■ 


O 

X 


Key 

Fence 

Original  site  of  plots 
(1971) 

Site  of  plots  in  1976 

Isolated  plants  of  V.  veina, 
V.piaecox  and  V.triphyllos 
(1976). 

Site  of  plots  in  1978 
Isolated  plants  (1978) 


A**-. 

/ 


Belvedere  Wood 


pine  tree 


0 


Arable  reserve 


i 1 


© 


lv( 

I J 

X 


N.C.C.  Nature  Conservancy  Council  j 
BG  Botanic  Garden  plots 


- N.C.C./B.G.  plots 


0 20m 

k h l 


288 


occur  in  arable  fields  and  other  areas  of  disturbed  ground  e.g.  gravel  pits  (often 
old  arable  land).  V vema  is  found  in  arable  fields  but  more  often  now  in  open 
habitats  in  dry  grassland.  It  is  occasionally  found  in  young  open  coniferous 
plantations,  but  this  is  more  common  on  the  Continent  than  in  Britain. 
V.  piaecox  and  V.  vema  are  confined  to  Breckland  in  Britian,  and  V.  triphyllos 
is  almost  confined  to  this  area.  All  three  species,  especially  V.  triphyllos,  are 
becoming  increasingly  rare.  It  is  thought  that  this  decline  has  two  causes 

(i)  loss  of  suitable  sites  because  of  building  and  development  on  arable  land 

(ii)  recent  changes  in  farming  practice.  Until  recently  rye  was  the  traditional 
Breckland  cereal  crop,  the  autumn  sowing  and  subsequent  lack  of  soil  disturb- 
ance providing  suitable  conditions  for  the  survival  of  the  winter  annuals 
V.  triphyllos,  V.praecox  and  V.  vema.  The  plants  flower  in  the  spring  and  set 
seed  by  the  end  of  May,  before  the  rye  produces  too  dense  a shade  and  well 
before  harvest  time,  when  the  fallen  seeds  may  be  dispersed  partly  by  the  soil 
disturbance.  Open  patches  in  crops  growing  badly  on  the  dry  sandy  Breckland 
soils  were  probably  features  of  many  fields  and  provided  suitable  sites  for 
these  species.  Now,  much  spring  barley  is  grown  and  many  overwintering 
Veronica  rosettes  must  be  destroyed  by  the  spring  ploughing.  Modern 
fertilisers  and  varieties  of  cereal  especially  suited  to  the  sandy  soils  and  dry 
Breckland  climate  mean  not  only  that  the  poorest  fields  will  produce  a 
reasonable  crop  but  also  that  their  continuous  cultivation  makes  economic 
sense.  Previously  many  fields  were  only  cultivated  sporadically  and  the  open 
but  undisturbed  conditions  in  these  so-called  "brecks"  in  the  two  or  three 
years  after  ploughing  must  have  been  very  favourable  to  many  weed  species, 
including  the  rare  annual  Breckland  Veronicas.  It  was  thus  decided  to  recreate 
conditions  in  the  arable  reserve  similar  to  those  in  Breckland  thirty  or  forty 
years  ago,  in  the  hope  that  this  would  favour  growth  of  V.  triphyllos,  V.praecox 
and  V.vema.  It  was  decided  to  do  this  by  using  traditional  crops  and  by 
cultivating  only  every  few  years,  when  colonisation  by  weeds  made  a further 
ploughing  necessary  in  order  to  provide  open  areas  of  soil  for  seedling  establish- 
ment. Use  of  herbicides,  another  reason  for  the  decline  of  many  weed  species, 
was  to  be  avoided.  Secondly,  the  reserve  would  provide  habitats  for  insects 
associated  with  the  weed  species  expected  to  colonise  the  area  after  ploughing. 

Experimental  Work  1969—1971 

In  summer  1969  the  new  reserve  consisted  of  a more  or  less  closed  turf 
composed  of  grasslands  B-D  of  Dr.  Watt's  classification  (Watt,  1940).  the 
more  calcareous  grasslands  were  on  the  west  and  south  of  the  area. 

The  whole  eleven  acres  was  ploughed,  with  interruptions  due  to  bad 
weather,  during  the  period  December  1969— February  1970.  It  was  decided 
to  leave  the  northern  part  of  the  reserve  unsown  and  to  observe  the  colonisation 
of  this  by  weed  species.  The  southern  eight  acres  on  slightly  better  soil  was 
sown  with  spring  barley  (Sultan),  as  it  was  then  too  late  to  sow  the  traditional 
Breckland  crop  of  rye  as  originally  intended.  1 cwt  20  lbs— 1 cwt  45  lbs  of 
seed  per  acre  was  sown  in  the  first  week  of  April,  after  rolling  and  harrowing. 
IVi  cwt  per  acre  of  fertiliser  (20  parts  N:  10  parts  P:  10  parts  K)  was  put  on  at 
the  same  time  but  no  lime  was  used  although  on  previous  cultivations  of  the 
field  it  was  considered  necessary.  It  was  thought  that  the  poor  patchy  crop 


289 


which  might  result  would  favour  the  growth  of  the  Veronicas  to  be  sown  in 
permanent  plots  in  the  field,  and  this  did  in  fact  happen  as  the  barley  was 
adversely  affected  by  a long  drought  after  planting  and  was  very  poor  in  places. 
The  barley  was  harvested  in  the  third  week  of  August  and  the  stubble,  together 
with  some  regrowth  which  had  occurred,  left  unploughed. 

At  the  western  edge  of  the  field  a strip  six  metres  wide  was  left  ploughed 
but  unsown.  A pilot  plot  (plot  P in  fig.  1)  of  size  lm  x lm  containing  seeds 
of  V.triphyllos,  V.praecox  and  V.vema  (seed  sources  as  for  other  plots,  given 
below)  was  set  up  on  28.3.78  but  no  germination  was  recorded  in  this  plot. 

Plots  were  also  set  up  in  this  western  strip  by  other  workers;  a fenced- 
in  plot  containing  Artemisia  campestris,  Silene  otites  and  Veronica  spicata 
was  set  up  in  1970  by  Mrs.  G.  Crompton  and  Mr.  P Wright;  to  the  north  of 
this  a demonstration  plot  containing  Veronica  triphyllos,  V.praecox,  V.  vema 
and  Silene  conica  was  set  up  by  the  Nature  Conservancy  Council;  to  the  south 
of  it  two  small  trial  plots  containing  Veronica  triphyllos,  V.praecox  and 
V.vema  were  set  up  by  Mr.  D.  Donald  of  the  Cambridge  University  Botanic 
Garden  in  1977.  These  plots  are  labelled  "N.C.C.  and  Botanic  Garden  plots" 
in  Fig.  1. 

Soil  Survey 

In  Breckland  the  chalk  is  overlain  by  sandy  drift  of  varying  thickness;  in 
many  places  a mosaic  of  deep  acid  sandy  soils  and  shallower  calcareous  soils 
where  the  chalk  is  nearer  the  surface  is  found  (Watt,  1936).  In  places  soil 
stripes  and  polygons  can  be  seen  (Watt,  Perrin  and  West,  1966).  In  1970  and 
1971  striping  became  evident  in  the  pattern  of  weed  colonisation  in  the 
unsown  area  at  the  north  end  of  the  reserve,  Reseda  lutea  dominated  stripes 
alternating  with  Rumex  aceto sella /Holcus  mollis  dominated  stripes.  Con- 
siderable soil  heterogeneity  was  indicated  in  the  reserve  both  by  the  variation 
in  the  vegetation  before  ploughing  and  by  the  appearance  of  the  field  after 
ploughing,  the  soil  varying  from  dark  friable  material  in  which  pieces  of  chalk 
were  visible  to  yellowish-brown  or  reddish  sandy  soil.  Small  dark  humus- 
rich  areas  were  visible  where  the  turves  from  the  1962  ploughing  had  been 
turned  in.  After  the  1969  ploughing  the  turf  was  not  completely  covered  in 
places,  especially  at  the  southern  end  where  the  taller  grassland  C had  been. 

A soil  survey  was  carried  out  in  March  1970  before  siting  the  permanent 
plots.  A sampling  grid  was  set  up  and  seventy -five  lOOg  samples  of  the  top 
20cm  of  soil  were  collected;  samples  were  collected  at  15m  intervals  along 
lines  25m  apart.  The  pH  of  the  fresh  soils  was  determined  on  the  day  of  collect- 
ion, using  a pH  meter.  Values  of  9.0  in  some  of  the  samples  were  probably 
due  to  lumps  of  calcium  carbonate  brought  up  by  ploughing;  it  was  thought 
that  in  the  first  year  much  leaching  might  occur  and  the  survey  was  therefore 
repeated  in  November/December  1971,  using  the  same  sampling  sites.  Both 
sets  of  pH  readings  are  showm  in  Table  1.  A similar  range  of  pH  was  found 
on  both  occasions  (5.8— 9.0  in  1970  and  6.0— 8.9  in  1971),  with  differences 
of  2.0 — 2.4  pH  units  between  some  adjacent  samples.  Some  disturbance  of 
the  soil  had  taken  place  during  harvesting  of  the  barley,  so  direct  comparisons 
of  the  two  readings  for  each  sample  site  are  of  little  value,  but  there  were 
fewer  high  pH  values  in  1971,  indicating  that  leaching  had  occurred. 


290 


The  % organic  content  of  eleven  soil  samples  was  also  determined  by 
measuring  loss  on  ignition,  and  was  found  to  be  very  low,  ranging  from  1.16 
—2.47%. 

Permanent  Plots  for  Veronica  triphyllos,  V.praecox  and  V. verna  (see  Fig.  1) 

It  was  decided  to  site  the  plots  in  areas  of  varying  soil  pH  and  in  both  the 
sown  and  the  unsown  areas  to  find  out  if  any  difference  in  the  performance 
of  the  Veronicas  resulted.  In  fact  the  different  conditions  did  not  produce 
very  great  differences. 

On  28.4.70  six  plots  were  set  up;  plots  A— D were  in  the  barley  crop  and 
plots  E and  V were  in  the  unsown  ploughed  area.  Plots  A and  C were  in 
calcareous  areas,  plot  V was  in  an  acid  area  and  plots  B,  D and  E were  in 
intermediate  to  acid  areas.  Plot  D was  in  a slight  hollow  and  was  damper  and 
later  more  moss-grown  than  the  other  plots.  The  plots  were  sown  as  follows:— 

Plot  A:  200  seeds  of  V.  triphyllos  and  200  seeds  of  v.praecox 

Plots  B— E:  100  seeds  of  V.  triphyllos  and  100  seeds  of  V.praecox 

Plot  V:  100  + seeds  of  V.  verna 

A few  surplus  seeds  of  V.praecox  and  V.  triphyllos  were  sown  to  the  N.E. 
of  plot  E.  Seed  sources  were: 

V.  triphyllos:  collected  from  Green  lane,  Thetford,  Norfolk  in  1969. 

V.praecox:  from  Broom  Road,  Lakenheath,  Suffolk  via  Dr.  Watt's 
garden  in  Cambridge. 

V. verna:  from  Cherry  Hill,  near  Tuddenham,  Suffolk,  via  Dr.  Watt's 
garden. 

It  was  intended  to  make  a comparison  between  the  rare  Breckland  Veronica 
species  and  certain  widespread  species,  so  V.hederifolia  and  V.arvensis  were 
sown  in  plot  E and  V.hederifolia  and  V.persica  in  plots  A— D. 

On  15.9.70  two  further  plots  were  set  up,  plot  F in  the  barley  crop  and 
plot  G in  the  unsown  area;  both  were  in  calcareous  soil.  The  plots  were  sown 
as  follows: 

Plot  F:  100  seeds  of  V.  triphyllos,  V.praecox  and  V.  verna. 

Plot  G:  100  seeds  of  V.  triphyllos  and  V.  verna. 

Seed  sources  were: 

V.  triphyllos:  collected  from  Green  lane,  Thetford,  1968  & 1969. 

V.praecox:  Broom  Road,  Lakenheath,  Suffolk,  via  Dr.  Watt's  garden. 

V.vema:  Cherry  Hill,  near  Tuddenham,  Suffolk,  via  Dr.  Watt's  garden. 
Seeds  of  Veronica  persica  and  V.  arvensis  were  also  sown  in  both  plots,  the 
seeds  of  V.persica,  V.hederifolia  and  V.arvensis  were  in  all  cases  collected 
from  Green  Lane,  Thetford,  Norfolk  in  1968. 

Permanent  Plots  1970— 1978:— 

Time  of  germination  and  flowering  1970— 1971.  No  germination  of 
V.  triphyllos,  V.praecox  and  V.  verna  was  recorded  in  the  spring  and  summer 
following  planting  (1970)  but  all  three  species  germinated  in  the  autumn  of 
that  year  and  there  was  some  further  germination  in  spring  1971 : 


291 


V.pmecox:  some  germination  in  September,  most  October/November  1970; 
some  March/ April  and  the  first  fortnight  in  May  1971.  Flowered  March- 
May  1971. 

V.triphyllos:  2 Plants  germinated  in  August,  some  in  September,  most  in 
October/November  1970  and  some  in  March/April  1971.  Flowered  March- 
May  1971. 

V.vema:  germinated  in  August  in  1970  and  1971  with  some  germination  in 
April,  October  and  November  in  1971.  Flowered  April— May  1971. 

No  V.  vema  seeds  were  sown  in  plot  D but  one  seedling  was  seen  there 
in  March  and  April  1971;  this  probably  came  from  a seed  dropped  during 
sowing  of  other  plots. 

All  three  species  set  ripe  seed.  In  all  three  species  there  was  variation  from 
small  unbranched  plants  2 — 4cm  high  with  only  one  or  two  flowers  per  plant 
to  large  well-branched  plants  up  to  22cm  high;  these  had  up  to  80  flowers 
and  fruits  per  plant  in  V.pmecox  and  up  to  59  in  V.triphyllos.  The  plants  in 
the  autumn  sown  plots  were  almost  all  very  small,  with  one  or  two  flowers 
per  plant,  whereas  where  were  many  more  medium  to  large  plants  in  the 
spring  sown  plots.  In  places  the  larger  more  strongly  growing  plants  were 
growing  up  through  a mat  of  clover  and  grasses  e.g.  Holcus  mollis.  Striking 
variation  in  size  was  also  noticed  in  V.  triphyllos  and  V.pmecox  at  Green  Lane, 
Thetford,  often  in  adjacent  plants. 

The  largest  V.peisica  plant  seen  had  44  flowers  and  fruits;  the  largest 
V .hederifolia  had  67  flowers  and  fruits  plus  developing  buds. 

Surprisingly  the  common  Veronicas  did  not  germinate  in  very  large 
numbers,  especially  V.arvensis.  However  V.peisica  germinated  in  all  months 
of  the  year  and  was  in  flower  from  February  to  July  and  in  September,  October 
and  January.  V.hederifoha  germinated  in  September— November  and  March— 
April,  and  flowered  from  February  to  May  and  in  October.  These  species 
thus  seem  to  germinate  over  a wider  range  of  conditions  than  the  rare  species, 
and  the  time  of  flowering  and  seed  production  is  not  so  limited.  The  numbers 
of  plants  in  each  plot  are  given  in  Table  2. 

Plants  of  all  the  Veronica  species  studied,  except  V.arvensis,  were  nibbled 
by  animals,  probably  rabbits. 

Time  of  germination  and  flowering  1971— 1973:  no  cultivation.  The 
site  was  not  visited  between  Nov.  1971  and  April  1976. 

Time  of  germination  and  flowering  1974— 1976:  rye  was  grown  on  the 
whole  eleven  acres.  Fertiliser,  and  possibly  2,  4 D in  1975,  was  put  on.  In  1976 
the  Veronica  plots  were  remapped  and  the  populations  of  plants  estimated  (see 
Table  2).  It  was  found  that  the  position  of  the  main  groups  of  plants  had 
shifted  slightly  (see  Fig.  1)  because  of  soil  disturbance  following  cultivation 
operations. 

Time  of  germination  and  flowering  1977:  with  the  help  of  Nature 
Conservancy  Council  staff  and  Mr.  D.  Donald  the  field  was  resurveyed  and 
permanent  wooden  marker  posts  were  put  in  at  50  metre  intervals  along  the 
eastern  and  western  margins  of  the  field  in  order  to  facilitate  re-finding  the 
permanent  plots. 


292 


It  was  thought  that  a combination  of  barley  and  sainfoin  would  favour 
the  Breckland  Veronicas,  as  large  populations  of  V.triphyllos  and  V.praecox 
had  been  seen  in  other  legume  crops  such  as  lucerne  on  occasion  (e.g.  at  Maid's 
Cross  Hill,  Suffolk).  Unfortunately  bad  weather  delayed  drilling  until  4th  May, 
and  Veronica  plants  in  the  permanent  plots  were  probably  destroyed.  No 
Veronica  plants,  and  very  few  weeds  of  any  kind,  were  seen  in  the  crop  on  19th 
May,  but  Veronica  vema  plants  were  in  flower  at  the  edge  of  the  field  near 
plot  V and  a few  small  plants  of  V.vema  and  V.praecox  were  seen  in  the 
N.C.C.  and  Botanic  Garden  plots.  The  barley  was  then  about  8cm  tall  and 
the  sainfoin  was  at  the  cotyledon  stage.  At  the  southern  end  of  the  reserve  a 
two-acre  strip  of  sainfoin  and  clover  was  sown.  During  the  summer  there  was 
a severe  drought,  and  the  barley  growth  was  very  poor. 

Time  of  germination  and  flowering  1978:  It  was  decided  to  grow  a 
combination  of  rye  and  kidney  vetch.  The  rye  was  sown  on  28th  October 
1977  and  the  kidney  vetch  on  18th  April  1978.  The  kidney  vetch  was  sown 
1—2  inches  deep  using  an  old-fashioned  drill.  50Kg  of  seed  was  sown  on  eight 
acres  of  the  field;  a strip  on  the  western  edge  of  the  field,  and  the  southern 
two  acres  which  were  carrying  sainfoin  and  clover,  were  not  sown  with 
kidney  vetch.  The  field  had  a top  dressing  of  50  units  of  nitrogen  per  acre  in 
mid-March.  The  numbers  of  Veronica  plants  in  the  permanent  plots  were 
recorded  in  May.  The  rye  was  harvested  in  late  August;  after  the  rye  harvest 
the  kidney  vetch  was  well-established.  There  was  no  flowering  of  the  vetch 
in  1978  but  it  is  hoped  to  crop  it  for  seed  after  flowering  in  1979. 

Conclusions 

Although  the  positions  of  the  permanent  plots  have  shifted  slightly  since 
1971  because  of  soil  disturbance  caused  by  cultivation  operations,  it  can  be 
seen  from  Table  2 that  the  numbers  of  Veronica  triphyllos  and  V.praecox  in 
the  reserve  have  increased.  Although  there  were  no  V.vema  plants  in  plot  V 
in  1978,  it  is  thought  that  this  was  a temporary  set-back;  plants  were  found 
elsewhere  in  the  field.  The  arable  reserve  does  thus  appear  to  be  a suitable  site 
for  Veronica  triphyllos,  V.praecox  and  V.  vema,  and  the  present  management 
policy  of  re-creating  conditions  as  under  old-fashioned  Breckland  farming 
practice  appears  to  be  successful. 

References 

Crompton,  G.  (1974).  Weeting  Heath.  Norfolk  Naturalists'  Trust  Annual  Report 
48,  26-31. 

Watt,  A.  S.  (1936).  Studies  in  the  ecology  of  Breckland.  1.  Climate,  soil  and  vegetation. 
J.  Ecol .24,  117-138. 

Watt,  A.  S.  (1940).  Studies  in  the  ecology  of  Breckland.  IV.  The  grass-heath.  J.  Ecol. 
28,  42— 70. 

Watt,  A.  S.,  Perrin,  R.  M.  S.  fit  West,  R.  G.  (1966).  Patterned  ground  in  Breckland: 
structure  and  composition.  J.  Ecol.  54,  239 — 258. 

Nomenclature  of  plants  is  according  to  Clapham,  A.  R.,  Tutin,  T.  G.  & Warburg,  E.  F. 
(1962),  Flora  of  the  British  Isles. 

I would  like  to  thank  Mr.  N.  Parrott  and  Mr.  R.  Parrott  for  carrying  out  all  the  cultivat- 
ion operations,  and  Dr.  D.  E.  Coombe  and  Mrs.  G.  Crompton  for  much  help  and 
encouragement  during  the  course  of  this  work. 


293 


Table  1:  Weeting  Heath  Arable  Reserve:  Soil  pH  measurements  in  1970  & 1971 


a)  March  1970:  — 


m from  W edge 

15 

30 

45 

60 

75 

90 

105 

120 

m from  S edge 

300 

— 

7.2 

— 

6.5 

— 

— 

— 

— 

275 

— 

7.5 

— 

7.4 

— 

6.0 

— 

— 

250 

— 

7.1 

— 

6.4 

— 

8.9 

— 

— 

225 

— 

7.5 

— 

5.7 

— 

6.1 

— 

— 

200 

— 

6.4 

— 

8.8 

— 

6.1 

— 

— 

175 

— 

9.0 

— 

8.8 

— 

8.4 

— 

7.8 

150 

— 

8.8 

— 

8.9 

— 

8.8 

— 

8.7 

125 

8.7 

7.0 

8.8 

9.0 

8.9 

8.7 

7.3 

6.8 

100 

8.9 

7.0 

8.9 

8.2 

8.9 

6.9 

8.6 

7.3 

75 

8.8 

8.9 

8.9 

7.3 

8.9 

8.3 

8.5 

7.9 

50 

6.9 

8.8 

6.7 

8.8 

8.5 

7.2 

8.2 

5.8 

25 

7.9 

8.7 

7.7 

8.3 

6.5 

8.8 

8.9 

— 

0 

8.6 

8.1 

6.7 

6.4 

7.9 

6.4 

— 

— 

294 


b)  November-December  1971 : — 


m from  W edge 
m fiom  S edge 

15 

30 

45 

60 

75 

90 

105 

120 

300 

275 

— 

8.0 

— 

— 

— 

6.0 

— 

— 

250 

— 

6.7 

— 

6.4 

— 

— 

— 

— 

225 

— 

6.5 

— 

7.7 

— 

6.1 

— 

— 

200 

— 

8.3 

— 

7.7 

- 

8.3 

— 

— 

175 

150 

8.7 

8.3 

7.5 

8.9 

7.3 

7.7 

8.5 

8.6 

125 

100 

8.6 

7.3 

8.8 

8.9 

8.5 

6.9 

8.9 

7.8 

75 

8.9 

8.9 

7.7 

8.4 

8.3 

7.5 

7.9 

6.9 

50 

7.2 

8.8 

7.5 

8.3 

8.5 

7.4 

8.5 

6.6 

25 

6.9 

8.8 

7.5 

6.9 

6.2 

7.0 

8.3 

6.2 

0 

8.2 

6.9 

6.3 

6.4 

6.7 

6.3 

7.9 

— 

295 


Table  2:  Weeting  Heath  Arable  Reserve:  Numbers  of  Veronica  Plants  in  the 
permanent  plots  in  1970—1, 1976  and  1978. 


a)  Spring  1971:  Veronica  praecox,  V.triphyllos  and  V. verna 


Plot 

Veronica  praecox 

Veronica  triphyllos 

Veronica  verna 

A 

40  plants  flowered 

1 plant  flowered 

— 

B 

— 

No  plants  flowered  but 
2 unhealthy  vegetative 
plants  present  Aug.  1970 

C 

40  plants  flowered 

21  plants  flowered  + 

1 vegetative  (51  germin- 
ated). 

— 

D 

33  plants  flowered 

24  plants  flowered 

1 seedling  March — April 

E 

49  plants  flowered 
+ 6 vegetative 

28  plants  flowered 

— 

F 

39  vegetative  plants 
in  April,  some  flowered 
April — May 

5 plants  flowered  + 
10  vegetative  (55 
germinated) 

35  seedlings  present 
Feb.,  some  flowered 
May 

G 

50  seedlings  present 
Jan,  some  flowered  May 

70  plants  flowered 
(90  germinated) 

300  vegetative  plants 
April,  some  flowered  May 

V 

— 

— 

22  plants  flowered 
(50  germinated) 

If  many  seedlings  died,  the  number  of  plants  which  germinated  is  shown  as  well  as  the 
number  which  flowered. 

In  Oct.— Nov.  1971:  V.piaecox  seedlings  were  present  in  plots  B,C,D,E,G. 

V.  triphyllos  seedlings  were  present  in  plots  A,B.C,D,E,F,G. 

V.  veina  seedlings  were  present  in  plots  F,G,  V. 


296 


b)  1970— 1971:  Veronica  persica,  V.hederifolia  and  V.arvensis 


Plot 

Veronica  peisica 

Veronica  hederifolia 

Veronica  arvensis 

A 

No  plants  flowered 
but  4 vegetative 
present  in  April  1971 

No  plants  (4  plants 
flowered  + 1 seedling 
N.  of  plot  in  April  1971) 

— 

B 

No  plants  flowered,;  3 
seedlings  present  in 
November  1970 

— 

— 

C 

20  plants  flowered 
Nov.  1970,  15  in  April 
1971 

8 plants  flowered  + 6 
vegetative  in  April  1971 

— ' 

D 

25  plants  in  fruit  Nov. 
1970,  9 flowered  + 1 
vegetative  Jan.  1971  St 
13  flowered  May  1971 

Several  plants  flowered 
Oct.  1970;  20  vegetative 
Nov.  1970;  4 flowered  + 7 
vegetative  Feb.  1971;  5 
flowered  April  1971 

— j 

E 

2 plants  in  fruit  + 4 
vegetative  Nov.  1970; 

1 plant  flowered  + 9 
vegetative  Feb.  1971;  5 
plants  flowered  May  ' 7 1 

— 

— ; 

F 

2 vegetative  plants 
April  1971 

— 

4 vegetative  plants 
March  1971;  plants  in 
fruit  July  1971 

G 

— 

— 

A few  plants  in  fruit 
July — Sept.  1971  ; 

In  Oct. —Nov.  1971:  V.peisica  seedlings  were  present  in  plots  B,C,D,E. 


297 


c)  7— 8th  April  1976:  Veronica  praecox,  V.triphyllos  and  V. verna 


Plot 

Veronica  praecox 

Veronica  triphyllos 

Veronica  verna 

A 

41  seedling  and 
vegetative  plants 

2 medium-sized  plants,  1 
flowering  and  1 veget- 
ative + 1 ?seedling 

— 

H 

57+  seedling  and 
vegetative  plants 

1 flowering  plant 

— 

B 

37  seedling  and 
vegetative  plants 

52  + medium  sized 
flowering  plants 

— 

C 

192  seedling  and 
vegetative  plants 

18  medium-sized  veget- 
ative and  flowering  plants 

— 

D 

61  seedling  and 
vegetative  plants 

40  vegetative  and 
flowering  plants 

— 

E 

78+  vegetative  plants 

9 small-medium  veget- 
ative and  flowering  plants 

— 

F 

— 

— 

— 

G 

5 vegetative  plants 
(4  small,  1 larger); 
?other  seedlings 

23  very  small  vegetative 
and  flowering  plants 

— 

V 

— 

— 

100—200  small  seed- 
lings, some  nearly 
sand-covered 

A group  of  V.piaecox  and  V.triphyllos  plants  which  did  not  appear  to  correspond  with 
any  of  the  original  permanent  plots  was  found  on  the  western  side  of  the  field  near 
plot  A;  these  are  recorded  in  the  table  as  plot  H. 


298 


d)  18— 19th  May  1978:  Veronica  praecox,  V.triphyllos  and  V. verna 


Plot 

Veronica  praecox 

Veronica  triphyllos 

Veronica  verna 

A & 
H 

709  plants  in  flower 
and  unripe  fruit 

1 plant  in  flower  and 
unripe  fruit 

— 

B 

1 plant  in  flower  and 
unripe  fruit 

1 plant  in  fruit 

— 

C 

359  plants  in  flower 
and  unripe  fruit 

5 plants  in  flower  and 
unripe  fruit 

— 

D 

108  plants  in  flower 
and  unripe  fruit 
Also  1 1 plants  nearby 
in  strip  at  field  edge 

25  plants  in  flower  and 
fruit 

Also  1 plant  nearby  in 
strip  at  field  edge 

15  vegetative  plants 
nearby  in  strip  at 
field  edge 

E 

64  plants  in  flower 
and  unripe  fruit 

3 plants  in  flower  and 
fruit 

— 

F 

1 plant  in  flower  and 
unripe  fruit,  probably 
from  this  plot 

— 

— 

G 

237  plants  in  flower 
and  unripe  fruit 

51  plants  in  flower  and 
unripe  fruit 

2 vegetative  plants 

V 

2 plants  in  flower  and 
unripe  fruit 

— 

— 

2 plants  of  V. praecox  were  also  present  in  the  extreme  S.W.  corner  of  the  field.  The 
number  of  plants  may  have  been  under-estimated,  particularly  in  plot  B,  because  the 
rye  was  already  60 — 90cm  tall  in  places,  although  very  patchy. 

Plots  A and  H of  1976  appear  to  have  amalgamated. 

The  disappearance  of  V.  verna  from  plot  V was  possibly  due  to  cultivation  operations 
just  after  germination  had  occurred.  However  V.  verna  appears  to  have  spread  to  the 
south-eastern  edge  of  the  field  near  plot  D.  This  may  be  because  seeds  were  shifted 
by  cultivation  operations,  although  in  1971  one  V.  verna  seedling  was  found  near  plot 
D;  this  was  thought  to  have  been  dropped  when  the  permanent  plots  were  set  up,  and 
other  seeds  may  have  been  dropped  at  the  same  time  and  lain  dormant  until  this  year. 
Most  of  the  V. praecox  and  V.triphyllos  plants  were  well-branched  medium  to  large 
plants,  with  flowers,  unripe  fruit  or  ripe  fruit.  The  V.vema  plants  were  young  vegetative 
plants. 


299 


NORWICH  BIRD-SEED  MIXTURES  AND  THE  CASUAL  PLANTS 

OF  HARFORD  TIP 

by  Nicholas  S.  Watts  and  Geoffrey  D.  Watts 


Introduction 

Municipal  refuse  tips  provide  many  opportunities  for  colonisation  by 
native  plant  species,  but  typically  they  also  support  a wide  range  of  casual 
plant  species  from  a variety  of  sources.  Some  casuals  are  clearly  ornamental 
plants  derived  from  gardens,  while  others  are  edible  species  transported  with 
refuse  from  the  garden  or  with  garbage,  and  others  originate  in  agricultural, 
commercial  or  industrial  waste.  Petch  and  Swann  (1968)  connect  the  numbers 
and  variety  of  one  group  of  casual  plants  recorded  from  the  chief  tip  for 
Norwich  domestic  rubbish  at  Harford  Bridges  with  the  large  numbers  of  bird 
fanciers  for  which  the  city  of  Norwich  has  long  been  famed.  The  proof  of 
such  a relationship  demands  a tracing  of  the  connecting  chain  and  a testing 
of  each  of  its  links. 


Thus: 


(a)  to  investigate  the  number,  variety  and  relative  sales  of  bird-seed 
mixtures  available  in  Norwich; 

(b)  to  analyse  samples  of  these  mixtures  to  determine  the  species  of 
plants  represented  in  each; 

(c)  to  determine  the  proportions  of  seeds  of  different  species  in  the 
mixtures  by  weight  and  by  number; 

(d)  to  determine  the  germinative  capacities  of  the  components  of  the 
mixtures; 

(e)  to  study  cage-bird  feeding  preferences  to  establish  which  species 
of  seeds  are  more  likely  to  be  neglected; 

(f)  to  consider  the  removal  and  disposal  of  unwanted  bird-seed  by 
cage-bird  owners; 

(g)  to  observe  the  refuse  handling  procedures  from  house  to  the  tipping 
site; 

(h)  to  monitor  the  conditions  for  plant  growth  at  the  tip  surface; 

(i)  to  survey  material  recently  deposited  at  the  tip  to  establish  the 
presence  of  casual  plant  species,- 

(j)  to  relate  the  numbers  of  plants  and  the  variety  of  species  found  to 
the  potential  casual  colonisers  determined  in  (a)  to  (e); 

(k)  to  survey  older  tip  areas  to  establish  that  these  casuals  fail  to  persist 
and  so  need  constant  re-introduction. 


Barnes  (1960,  1967),  Petch  and  Swann  (1968)  and  Swann  (1975)  report 
surveys  of  refuse  tip  vegetation  and,  in  general  terms,  relate  some  of  the 
species  found  to  their  probable  origins  in  bird-seed  mixtures,  thus  testing  links 
(i)  and  (j).  This  paper  sets  out  the  results  of  an  attempt  to  test  links  (a),  (b), 
(c),  (d),  (h),  (j),  (k).  The  remaining  links,  (e),  (f)  and  (g),  have  still  to  be  tested. 


300 


The  Bird-Seed  Mixtures  Available 

In  May,  1969,  visits  were  made  to  six  bird-seed  shops  in  Norwich, 
ranging  from  multiple  stores  to  pet  shops.  A total  of  thirteen  different  bird- 
seed mixtures  were  purchased  — five  intended  for  budgerigars,  four  for 
canaries,  two  for  finches,  one  for  parrots  and  one  for  pigeons.  Shopkeepers 
were  unable  or  unwilling  to  gauge  the  relative  popularity  of  mixtures  in  each 
range,  or  to  indicate  the  volume  of  sales  involved,  although  some  indication 
of  popularity  might  be  drawn  from  the  frequency  with  which  mixtures  were 
encountered  in  different  shops. 


Sampling,  Sorting  and  Analysing 

From  each  bird-seed  mixture  a 10-gram  sample  was  weighed  out  using 
a laboratory  balance.  Each  sample  was  hand-sorted  on  sheets  of  paper  into 
piles  of  distinct  species,  separate  piles  being  transferred  to  individual  envelopes. 
The  contents  of  each  envelope  were  weighed,  counted  and  provisionally 
identified. 

Each  seed  sample  contained  not  only  the  major  components  of  the 
mixture  but  a small  fraction  of  other  material,  notably  'weed'  seeds,  additives 
and  inanimate  material.  The  identification  of  the  'weed'  seeds  was  considered 
to  be  particularly  relevant  to  the  study.  Samples  of  the  seeds  that  could  be 
germinated  were  grown  on  in  1970  and  1971  to  permit  identification,  and 
much  help  was  given  by  the  Official  Seed  Testing  Station  at  Cambridge. 

The  constituents  of  a 10-gram  sample  of  each  of  the  mixtures  were  as 
follows: 


Mixture  A (Budgerigar) 


Phalaris  canariensis  (Canary  Grass) 

4.74  g. 

595  seeds 

Panicum  miliaceum  (White  Millet) 

5.16g. 

789  seeds 

Other: 

0.10  g 

Polygonum  convolvulus  (Black  bindweed) 

2 seeds 

Helianthus  sp.  (Sunflower) 

1 seed 

Solanum  rostratum 

1 seed 

Salvia  sp. 

2 seeds 

Mixture  B (Budgerigar) 

Phalaris  canariensis  (Canary  Grass) 

6.08  g. 

722  seeds 

Panicum  miliaceum  (White  and  Red  Millet) 

3-46  g. 

704  seeds 

Other: 

0.46g 

Lolium  temulentum  (Darnel) 

7 seeds 

Triticum  aestivum  (Wheat) 

2 seeds 

Brassica  sp. 

1 seed 

Bupleurum  lancifolium 

1 seed 

Centaurea  diluta 

1 seed 

Sinapis  arvensis  (Charlock) 

1 seed 

Vaccaria  pyramidata 

1 seed 

Unidentified 

3 seeds 

301 


Mixture  C (Budgerigar) 


Phalaris  canariensis  (Canary  Grass) 

4 80  g. 

588  seeds 

Panicum  miliaceum  (White  and  Red  Millet) 

5.01  g. 

932  seeds 

Other: 

0.19  g. 

Centaurea  diluta 

2 seeds 

Lolium  temulentum  (Darnel) 

2 seeds 

Triticum  aestivum  (Wheat) 

1 seed 

Capnophyllum  dichotomum 

1 seed 

Hibiscus  trionum 

1 seed 

Bupleurum  lancifolium 

1 seed 

Polygonum  convolvulus  (Black  bindweed) 

1 seed 

Mixture  D (Budgerigar) 

Phalaris  canariensis  (Canary  Grass) 

5.04  g. 

594  seeds 

Panicum  miliaceum  (White  and  red  Millet) 

4.31  g. 

877  seeds 

Other: 

0.65  g. 

Lolium  temulentum  (Darnel) 

14  seeds 

Triticum  aestivum  (Wheat) 

4 seeds 

Sorghum  halepense  (Johnson  Grass) 

2 seeds 

Bupleurum  lancifolium 

1 seed 

Centaurea  diluta 

1 seed 

Mixture  E (Budgerigar) 


Phalaris  canariensis  (Canary  Grass) 

6.09  g. 

728  seeds 

Panicum  miliaceum  (White  Millet) 

2.86g. 

498  seeds 

Setaria  viridis  (Green  Bristle-Grass) 

0.95  g. 

303  seeds 

Other: 

0.10g. 

Lolium  temulentum  (Darnel) 

2 seeds 

Medicago  lupulina  (Black  Medick) 

2 seeds 

Bupleurum  lancifolium 

1 seed 

Sorghum  halepense  (Johnson  Grass) 

1 seed 

Ononis  sp. 

1 seed 

Rapistrum  rugosum 

1 seed 

Linum  sp. 

1 seed 

Mixture  F (Canary) 

Phalaris  canariensis  (Canary  Grass) 

5.41  g. 

675  seeds 

Brassica  napus  (Rape) 

1.51  g. 

453  seeds 

Cannabis  sativa  (Hemp) 

1.07  g. 

62  seeds 

Linum  usitatissimum  (Linseed) 

0.95  g. 

163  seeds 

Guizotia  abyssinica  (Niger) 

0.83  g. 

217  seeds 

Other: 

0.23  g. 

Dipsacus  fullonum  (Teasel) 

3 seeds 

Triticum  aestivum  (Wheat) 

1 seed 

Lolium  temulentum  (Darnel) 

1 seed 

Unknown 

3 seeds 

302 


Mixture  G (Canary) 


Phalaris  canariensis  (Canary  Grass) 

6.87  g. 

957  seeds 

Brassica  napus  (Rape) 

1.57  g. 

402  seeds 

Linum  usitatissimum  (Linseed) 

0.74  g. 

122  seeds 

Cannabis  sativa  (Hemp) 

0.29  g. 

14  seeds 

Guizotia  abyssinica  (Niger) 

0.17  g. 

39  seeds 

Other: 

0.36g. 

Setaria  glauca  (Yellow  Bristle-Grass) 

1 seed 

Sorghum  vulgare  (Sorghum) 

1 seed 

Unknown 

2 seeds 

Mixture  H (Canary) 

Phalaris  canariensis  (Canary  Grass) 

6.36g. 

945  seeds 

Brassica  napus  (Rape) 

1.68  g. 

429  seeds 

Linum  usitatissimum  (Linseed) 

0.80  g. 

132  seeds 

Cannabis  sativa  (Hemp) 

0.38  g. 

25  seeds 

Guizotia  abyssinica  (Niger) 

0.14g. 

31  seeds 

Other: 

0.64  g. 

Alopecurus  myosuroides  (Black  Grass) 

1 seed 

Triticum  aestivum  (Wheat) 

1 seed 

Mixture  I (Canary  and  Finch) 

Phalaris  canariensis  (Canary  Grass) 

4.85  g. 

559  seeds 

Papaver  somniferum  (Opium  Poppy) 

1.67  g. 

3065  seeds 

Guizatia  abyssinica  (Niger) 

1.27  g. 

354  seeds 

Linum  usitatissimum  (Linseed) 

1.09  g. 

184  seeds 

Brassica  napus  (Rape) 

0.51  g. 

141  seeds 

Dipsacus  fullonum  (Teasel) 

0.28  g. 

80  seeds 

Other: 

0.33  g. 

Triticum  aestivum  (Wheat) 

1 seed 

Lolium  temulentum  (Darnel) 

2 seeds 

Centaurea  diluta 

1 seed 

Alopecurus  myosuroides  (Black  Grass) 

1 seed 

Mixture  } (British  Finch) 


Brassica  napus  (Rape) 

4.35  g. 

966  seeds 

Phalaris  canariensis  (Canary  Grass) 

2.97  g. 

363  seeds 

Linum  usitatissimum  (Linseed) 

0.95  g. 

155  seeds 

Cannabis  sativa  (Hemp) 

0.78  g. 

41  seeds 

Guizotia  abyssinica  (Niger) 

0.61  g. 

152  seeds 

Other: 

0.34  g. 

Lolium  temulentum  (Darnel) 

2 seeds 

Panicum  miliaceum  (White  millet) 

2 seeds 

Galium  aparine  (Cleavers) 

1 seed 

Unknown 

1 seed 

303 


Mixture  K (Foreign  Finch) 


Panicum  miliaceum  (White  and  Red  Millet) 

4.98  g. 

1062  seeds 

Phalaris  canariensis  (Canary  Grass) 

2.94  g. 

338  seeds 

Setaria  viridis  (Green  Bristle-Grass) 

1.95  g. 

831  seeds 

Other 

0.13  g. 

Lolium  temulentum  (Darnel) 

2 seeds 

Sorghum  halepense  (Johnson  Grass) 

1 seed 

Rapistrum  rugosum 

1 seed 

Setaria  italica  (Foxtail  Millet) 

1 seed 

Bupleurum  lancifolium 

1 seed 

Mixture  L (Parrot) 

Helianthus  annuus  (Sunflower) 

7.82  g. 

90  seeds 

Zea  mays  (Maize) 

0.96g. 

4 seeds 

Arachis  hypogaea  (Groundnut) 

0.89  g. 

2 seeds 

Other: 

0.33  g. 

Capsicum  sp.  (Red  Pepper) 

1 seed 

Galium  aparine  (Cleavers) 

1 seed 

Polygonum  convolvulus 

1 seed 

Sinapis  alba  (White  Mustard) 

1 seed 

Mixture  M (Pigeon) 


Pisum  sativum  var.  arvense  (Maple  Peas) 

3.55  g. 

16  seeds 

Vicia  faba  var.  equina  (Tick  or  Horse  Beans) 

2.65  g. 

9 seeds 

Triticum  aestivum  (Wheat) 

1.83  g. 

44  seeds 

Zea  mays  (Maize) 

1-74  g. 

8 seeds 

Other: 

0.23  g. 

Hordeum  distichon  (Barley) 

1 seed 

Avena  fatua  (Wild  Oat) 

1 seed 

Galium  aparine  (Cleavers) 

1 seed 

Determining  Germinative  Capacity 

A sample  of  50  seeds  of  each  species  in  each  mixture  was  space-sown 
into  fine  sterilised  garden  soil  in  3 Vi"  or  5"  plastic  pots  on  July  13th,  1969. 
The  pots  were  watered,  glass  covered  and  kept  in  a shaded  cool  greenhouse. 
Germination  was  recorded  at  weekly  intervals  for  four  weeks. 


304 


305 


Survey  Areas 

During  February,  1969,  three  survey  areas  were  marked  out  on  the 
surface  of  Harford  tip.  Each  area  was  a triangle  of  side  5 metres.  Area  A was 
sited  to  the  east  of  the  Tip  on  ground  where  no  refuse  had  been  deposited 
for  at  least  ten  years.  Area  B was  sited  to  the  north  of  the  Tip  on  the  surface 
of  refuse  deposited  during  the  previous  year,  1968.  Area  C was  sited  in  the 
centre  of  the  Tip  on  ground  used  for  dumping  several  years  previously  and 
due  for  re-use  in  1969.  During  February  1969  soil  temperatures  were  taken 
at  the  surface,  15  cm.  deep  and  30  cm.  deep  at  the  points  of  the  survey  area 
triangles.  The  areas  were  observed  intermittently  through  the  year  1969, 
and  plant  species  present  in  the  areas  on  October  5th,  1969,  were  recorded. 


Soil  Temperatures  and  Snow  Depth  in  Survey  Areas,  9 February  1969 


Site 

Temperature 
(deg.  C.J 
at  surface 

Temperature 
(deg.  C.) 
at  depth  of 
15  cm. 

Temperature 
(deg.  C.) 
at  depth  of 
30  cm. 

Depth  of 
snow 

A1 

0 

0 

0 

12  cm. 

A2 

0 

2 

2 

7 cm. 

A3 

7 

18 

29 

— 

B1 

0 

0 

0 

4 cm. 

B2 

0 

4 

16 

1 cm. 

B3 

14 

39 

46 

— 

Cl 

0 

1 

1 

10  cm. 

C2 

0 

0 

0 

7 cm. 

C3 

5 

12 

31 

— 

Plant  Species  in  Survey  Area  A (No  refuse  deposited  for  at  least  ten  years) 


Ranunculus  acris  (Meadow  buttercup) 
Epilobium  hirsutum  (Gt.  hairy  willow- 
herb) 

Rumex  obtusifolius  (Broad-leaved  dock) 
Senecio  jacobaea  (Ragwort) 

Cirsium  arvense  (Creeping  thistle) 
Dactylis  glomerata  (Cocksfoot) 
Agrostis  stolonifera  (Creeping  bent) 


Malva  sylvestris  (Common  mallow) 
Polygonum  aviculare  (Knotgrass) 
Plantago  major  (Great  plantain) 
Cirsium  vulgare  (Spear  thistle) 
Agropyron  repens  (Couch  grass) 
Agrostis  gigantea  (Black  bent) 


306 


Plant  Species  in  Survey  Area  B (Refuse  deposited  during  the  previous  year,  1968) 


Capsella  bursa-pastoris  (Shepherd's 
purse) 

Euphorbia  helioscopia  (Sun  spurge) 
Urtica  dioica  (Stinging  nettle) 
Plantago  lanceolata  (Ribwort  plantain) 
Senecio  jacobaea  (Ragwort) 

Sonchus  oleraceus  (Sow-thistle) 

Poa  annua  (Annual  meadow-grass) 
(Horticultural  aliens) 

Lobularia  maritima  (Sweet  Alison) 
(Bird-seed  aliens) 

Panicum  miliaceum  (White  millet) 
117  plants 

Setaria  italica  (Foxtail  millet) 

6 plants 

Setaria  viridis  (Bristle-grass) 

1 plant 


Chenopodium  album  (Fat  hen) 

Rumex  obtusifolius  (Broad-leaved  dock) 
Solanum  nigrum  (Black  nightshade) 
Plantago  major  (Great  plantain) 
Senecio  vulgaris  (Groundsel) 
Agropyron  repens  (Couch  grass) 


Solanum  tuberosum  (Potato) 

Phalaris  canariensis  (Canary  grass) 
78  plants 

Lolium  temulentum  (Darnel) 

3 plants 

Centaurea  diluta  (Desert  knapweed) 
1 plant 


Plant  Species  in  Survey  Area  C (Refuse  deposited  during  the  current  year,  1969) 
(Recorded  5 October  1969) 

Capsella  bursa-pastoris  (Shepherd's 

purse) 

Chenopodium  album  (Fat  hen) 

Anagallis  arvensis  (Scarlet  pimpernel) 

Senecio  vulgaris  (Groundsel) 

Picris  echioides  (Bristly  ox-tongue) 

Plantago  major  (Great  plantain) 

Phalaris  canariensis  (Canary  grass) 

Discussion 

The  series  of  chance  events  that  allows  a component  of  a packet  of 
bird-seed  to  escape  its  many  possible  fates  and  eventually  arrive  within  the 
top  two  or  three  centimetres  of  deposited  refuse  and  in  a benign  situation 
seems  sufficiently  unlikely  to  happen  more  than  rarely.  The  fact  that  bot- 
anical surveys  of  harford  Tip  regularly  include  records  of  species  unlikely 
to  have  been  introduced  in  any  other  way  suggests  otherwise.  All  but  two 
or  three  of  the  species  encountered  in  this  study  have  been  recorded  from 
Harford  Tip  during  the  last  fifteen  years  of  its  use  until  it  was  closed  in  1973, 
and  some  of  them  are  recorded  regularly  and  in  quantity. 

To  judge  by  the  number  and  variety  of  bird-seed  mixtures  on  display  in 
the  shops  visited,  the  authors'  samples  were  roughly  representative  in  kind 
and  frequency  of  mixtures  being  sold.  Not  surprisingly  the  analysis  of  mixtures 
intended  for  particular  kinds  of  bird  by  different  producers  were  very  similar, 
the  same  species  in  similar  proportions  by  weight  and  by  seed  number  occurr- 
ing in  several  related  samples.  Most  of  the  chief  components  of  the  mixtures 
had  good  rates  of  germination. 


Stellaria  media  (Chickweed) 
Trifolium  repens  (White  clover) 
Solanum  nigrum  (Black  nightshade) 
Matricaria  matricarioides  (Pineapple 
weed) 

Sonchus  oleraceus  (Sow-thistle) 

Poa  annua  (Annual  meadow-grass) 


307 


Given  the  slight  information  about  the  relative  sales  of  various  mixtures 
(sales  factor)  and  the  average  number  of  seeds  of  a given  species  in  a 10-gram 
sample  (frequency  factor)  together  with  the  average  percentage  germination 
of  the  species  in  all  samples  (viability  factor)  it  was  possible  to  calculate  a 
product  for  each  species  which  should  bear  some  relationship  to  the  frequency 
with  which  these  species  were  encountered  on  Harford  Tip.  The  results  of 
such  calculations  place  the  chief  species  in  the  following  order:  (1)  Phalaris 
canaiiensis  (2)  Panicum  miliaceum  (3)  Bmssica  napus  (4)  Setaria  italica  (5) 
Linum  usitatissimum  (6)  Guizotia  abyssinica  (7)  Helianthus  annuus  (8) 
Triticum  aestivum  (9)  Dipsacus  fullonum  (10)  Cannabis  sativa.  These  results 
are  in  broad  agreement  with  surveys  of  Harford  Tip  vegetation  recorded  here 
and  elsewhere  showing  that  in  this  class  of  casual  plants  the  millets  and 
canary  grass  are  predominant,  whereas  plants  of  linseed  and  niger  are  un- 
common, and  plants  of  hemp  and  teasel  are  rare.  The  position  of  Biassica 
napus  in  the  list  suggests  that  rape  plants  might  be  expected  to  occur  more 
frequently  than  they  are  reported,  a circumstance  which  may  reflect  cage-bird 
feeding  preferences  or  particular  germination  requirements  among  other 
possible  explanations. 

Without  reference  to  the  producer,  it  is  not  always  possible  to  differentiate 
between  the  intended  and  the  unintended  components  of  a mixture.  Conceiv- 
ably producers  may  incorporate  very  minor  components  into  their  mixtures, 
but  it  seems  more  likely  that  species  occuring  in  minute  frequencies  — one 
or  two  seeds  in  a 10-gram  sample  — are  accidental  inclusions  entering  the 
mixtures  as  seeds  of  weeds  in  the  crops  of  the  main  components.  Some  of 
these  'weed'  seeds  occur  fairly  regularly  in  the  mixtures  and  on  Harford  Tip, 
such  as  the  darnel  (Lolium  temulentum)  and  the  pale  blue  cornflower  or 
desert  knapweed  (Centaurea  diluta).  Others  which  have  occurred  in  our 
samples  have  never  been  recorded  from  Harford  Tip,  and  it  seems  not  unlikely 
that  some  of  the  wide  range  of  casuals  recorded  from  Harford  Tip  have  been 
introduced  as  'weed'  seeds  in  bird-seed  mixtures. 

The  controlled  tipping  at  this  site  involved  the  deposition  of  refuse  in 
a layer  one  to  two  metres  deep  followed  by  capping  with  a layer  of  soil  10  to 
30  cm.  deep,  although  the  movement  of  vehicles  over  the  surface  inevitably 
mixed  the  top  refuse  and  the  covering  soil.  The  first  plant  colonisers  of  this 
surface  are  species  characteristic  of  disturbed  ground  and  waste  places  intro- 
duced with  the  capping  soil.  In  area  C,  surveyed  not  many  weeks  after  tipping, 
the  surface  was  largely  uncolonised  but  carried  a number  of  young  plants, 
all  indigenous  except  for  a few  plants  of  Phalaris  canaiiensis.  In  another  area 
sited  to  the  west  of  the  Tip  and  on  refuse  deposited  about  six  months  prior 
to  the  survey  there  were,  in  an  area  of  the  same  size  as  the  survey  areas,  65 
plants  of  Panicum  miliaceum  (Millet),  7 plants  of  Echinochloa  frumentacea 
(Sanwa  millet),  3 plants  of  Setaria  italica  (Foxtail  millet),  1 plant  of  Echino- 
chloa crus-galli  (Cockspur  grass)  and  1 plant  of  Setaria  viridis  (Green  bristle- 
grass).  In  area  B,  where  refuse  had  been  deposited  between  twelve  and  eighteen 
months  prior  to  survey,  there  was  also  a good  range  of  bird-seed  casuals  as 
well  as  other  introduced  and  indigenous  species.  The  findings  in  these  last 
two  areas  confirm  the  impression  previously  gained  by  the  authors  that 
mature  bird-seed  casuals  recorded  in  late  summer  or  autumn  usually  originate 


308 


in  material  deposited  between  the  spring  of  that  year  and  the  previous 
summer. 

In  area  A where  no  material  had  been  tipped  for  over  ten  years,  no  casuals 
were  found;  the  vegetation  was  closed  and  entirely  indigenous  and  perennial. 
Earlier  studies  have  suggested  that  Phalaris  canariensis  (Canary  grass)  sets 
seed  in  most  seasons  and  will  therefore  persist  for  several  years  after  introduct- 
ion, but  that  almost  all  other  bird-seed  casuals  flower  too  late  (September— 
October)  to  ripen  viable  seed  and  so  cannot  persist  without  constant  re- 
introduction. 

A feature  of  refuse  tips  containing  organic  matter  and  insulated  by  a 
capping  of  soil  is  the  relatively  high  temperature  of  the  interior  generated 
by  putrefaction.  In  some  cases  this  is  sufficient  to  ignite  combustible  refuse 
giving  rise  to  very  persistent  tip  fires.  Local  heating  of  a less  extreme  kind 
may  still  be  enough  to  prevent  the  growth  of  vegitation  for  a period  of  months 
or  years.  The  soil  temperature  at  the  A3  site  was  still  high  enough  to  maintain 
an  area  free  of  both  snow  and  vegetation  more  than  ten  years  after  the  last 
refuse  had  been  deposited.  In  moderation,  however,  the  increased  temperatures 
may  provide  habitats  for  both  plants  and  animals  of  an  exotic  kind.  The 
house  cricket  (Acheta  domestica  = Gryllulus  domesticus),  from  very  dry  parts 
of  south-west  Asia  and  north  Africa,  survives  at  Harford  Tip  in  some  numbers, 
and  it  is  probable  that  soil  temperatures  play  some  part  in  the  germination 
and  limited  persistence  of  casual  plant  introductions. 


Acknowledgements 

We  are  most  grateful  to  Dr.  Christine  Quartley  of  the  Official  Seed  Testing  Station 
at  Cambridge  for  identifying  a number  of  the  'weed'  seeds  in  the  bird-seed  mixtures. 
We  are  also  grateful  to  the  Chief  Public  Health  Inspector  of  Norwich,  Mr.  J.  H.  Smellie, 
for  permission  to  work  on  Harford  Tip. 


References 

Barnes,  R.  M.  (1960)  — "Alien  Plants  from  a Norwich  Rubbish  Tip"  — Trans.  Norf. 
Norw.  Nat.  Soc.  19  :2  pp.  63-64. 

Barnes,  R.  M.  (1967)  — "Alien  Plants  on  the  Corporation  Rubbish  Tip  at  Harford, 
Norwich"  — Tran.  Norf.  Norw.  Nat.  Soc.  21  : 1 p.  90. 

Barnes,  R.  M.  (1970)  — "List  of  plants  recorded  from  the  Corporation  Rubbish  Tip, 
Harford,  Norwich,  between  October,  1958  and  November  1963"—  Trans.  Norf. 
Norw.  Nat.  Soc.  21  : 6 pp.  380-382 

Darlington,  A.  »61969)  — Ecology  of  Refuse  Tips  — London:  Heinemann. 

Libbey,  R.  P.  & Swann,  E.  L.  (1973)  — "Additions  to  the  Norfolk  Flora"—  Trans.  Norf. 
Norw.  Nat.  Soc.  22  : 6 pp.  393-399. 

Petch,  C.  P.  Swann,  E.  L.  (1968)  — Flora  of  Norfolk  — Norwich:  Jarrold  & Sons  Ltd. 
Swann,  E.  L.  (1975)  — Supplement  to  the  Flora  of  Norfolk  — Norwich:  F.  Crowe  fit 
Sons  Ltd. 


309 


1978  WEATHER  SUMMARY 
by  T.  B.  Norgate 

In  order  to  prevent  repetition,  monthly  details  are  restricted  to  salient  weather 
features.  Anomalies  are  given  in  the  tables  at  the  end  of  this  report. 

January.  Sunshine  hours  amounted  to  15%  of  the  maximum  possible  against 
an  average  of  16%.  There  were  13  sunless  days.  It  was  a cold  month  with  22 
ground  frosts,  the  highest  for  a January  since  1964  when  26  were  recorded  in 
central  Norfolk.  On  Jan.  3rd  the  temperature  in  the  Norwich  area  dropped 
6C°  (11F°)  in  under  ten  minutes,  soon  after  9.0  a. m.,  accompanied  by  thunder, 
lightning  and  some  snow. 

There  were  only  8 completely  dry  days,  the  wettest  being  the  23rd  when 
almost  20mm  (over  3A")  of  wet  snow  and  rain  fell. 

Very  high  barometer  readings  were  recorded  early  in  the  month,  30.56" 
(1034.9  mb.)  but  dropping  to  below  29"  at  the  end  (982  mb.)  and  accompany- 
ing N & N.W.  gales  with  hail  and  snow. 

February.  Again  a cold  month,  the  coldest  February  since  1969.  On  the  11th 
the  ground  minimum  reached  18.4°C  ( — 1°F)  with  snow  to  a depth  of  150  mm 
(6").  It  was  probably  the  coldest  night  in  East  Anglia  since  before  World  War  I. 
Snow  remained  on  the  ground  from  the  8th  to  the  22nd  when  the  temperature 
rose  rapidly.  It  touched  a maximum  of  12°C  (53Vi°F),  the  warmest  day  since 
Christmas. 

More  than  half  the  precipitation  was  snow,  total  amounts  varying  from 
34mm  (1V&")  to  double  this  on  the  higher  ground  facing  the  North  Sea. 
Though  there  were  only  7 sunless  days,  mostly  at  the  beginning  of  the  month, 
total  amounts  were  about  normal.  ("Rainfall"  includes  melted  snow). 

March.  The  month  started  cold  and  wet  but  ended  in  a ' 'blaze  of  glory"  with 
almost  as  much  sunshine  in  the  last  week  as  in  the  rest  of  the  month.  Rainfall 
tended  to  be  on  the  high  side  towards  the  Suffolk  border  but  the  pattern 
otherwise  was  irregular.  The  wettest  day  was  the  20th  with  amounts  varying 
from  11V2  to  25  mm  [Vi"  — 1").  Some  of  this  was  snow  which  fell  on  two 
other  days. 

Though  on  the  warm  side,  as  was  March  last  year,  maximum  temperatures 
were  very  variable  from  15.8°C  (60.4°F)  on  the  11th  to  just  below  freezing 
on  the  17th. 

April.  This  month  was  even  colder  than  March  with  more  air  frosts  too,  a 
complete  reversal  of  the  trend  a few  weeks  earlier.  It  was  the  coldest  April  in 
East  Anglia  for  22  years.  Rainfall  was  rather  less  than  usual  and  included  snow 
twice  which  came  after  a dry  week  at  the  beginning  of  the  month. 

It  was  a dull  month  too;  not  since  1965  have  we  had  under  120  hours 
sunshine  in  April.  Despite  this  there  were  over  10  hours  bright  sunshine  on 
four  days  in  the  first  half  of  the  month. 


310 


May.  All  the  rain  was  confined  to  the  first  fortnight,  to  be  followed  by  an 
absolute  drought  of  19  days  into  June.  Amounts  of  rain  were  variable  in  the 
county,  down  to  15  mm  (.60")  in  the  Norwich  area  and  up  to  73  mm  (nearly 
3")  in  West  Norfolk.  The  range  was  thus  under  50%  to  over  100%  of  normal. 

With  only  two  sunless  days,  the  number  of  hours  of  bright  sunshine 
improved  throughout  the  month,  exceeding  14  hours  on  four  days  in  the  last 
week. 

Despite  this  the  month  was  slightly  on  the  cold  side,  clear  skies  being 
responsible  for  three  ground  frosts.  The  shade  temperature  touched  26. 6° C 
(almost  80°F)  on  the  31st  which  turned  out  to  be  the  second  warmest  day  in 
the  Year. 

June.  The  month  began  with  the  hottest  day  of  the  year,  27.5°C  (8 1 °F) . 
But  the  only  real  warm  days,  i.e.  above  24°C  (75°F),  were  the  first  four. 
After  this  the  maxima  dropped  below  121/2°C  (54 Vi  °F)  two  or  three  times 
by  the  middle  of  the  month. 

Cloudy  conditions,  by  preventing  evapouration  and  radiation,  kept  mean 
temperatures  up  to  normal.  But  sunshine  did  not  help  and  the  total  hours 
were  20%  below  normal  and  nearly  as  low  as  1977. 

Rainfall  varied  from  about  25  mm  ( T ' ) above  normal  in  the  centre  of  the 
county  to  nearly  double  in  the  north  west.  Thunder  was  recorded  on  4 days; 
a house  in  New  Costessey  was  struck  by  lightning  on  the  22nd. 

July.  It  was  the  coldest  July  for  13  years  and  only  produced  3 days  above  24  °C 
which  is  less  than  half  the  usual  number. 

Rainfall  was  largely  derived  from  thunderstorms  during  the  last  week-end 
of  the  month  when  a wide  belt  from  Thetford  to  Sculthorpe  recorded  over 
50  mm  (2")  in  one  day.  The  writer  has  yet  to  measure  this  amount  in  24  hours 
in  46  years  recording. 

Despite  only  three  sunless  days  it  was  the  dullest  July  for  10  years  and 
only  80%  of  normal. 

August.  This  was  the  fifth  consecutive  month  on  the  cool  side  but  marginally 
warmer  than  July.  There  was  but  one  day  with  a maximum  above  24 °C  (75°F) 
compared  with  an  average  of  about  six. 

Rainfall  amounts  were  erratic  over  the  county,  thanks  to  two  or  three  local 
thunderstorms.  Most  fell  in  the  first  half  of  the  month,  total  amounts  varying 
from  under  40  mm  (1.6")  to  100  mm  (4")  at  Loddon. 

Despite  only  two  sunless  days  it  was  the  fifth  month  in  succession  on 
the  dull  side  and  the  dullest  August  since  1969,  though  1972  ran  it  close. 

September.  It  was  marginally  warmer  than  August  whereas  it  would  on 
average  be  2°C  cooler.  There  were  two  slight  ground  frosts,  however,  but  9 
with  maxima  over  21°C  (70°F)  and  more  than  August.  Sunshine  hours  were 
on  the  high  side  for  the  first  time  since  March  and  almost  reaching  the  August 
total.  On  average  it  would  expect  to  have  30  or  40  hours  less  than  August. 

The  wind  had  a westerly  component  most  days  but  despite  this,  rainfall 
amounts  were  on  the  low  side.  There  were  at  least  12  days  in  the  middle  of 


311 


the  month,  with  hardly  any  rain  at  all.  Totals  were  almost  half  the  normal 
in  the  middle  of  the  county. 

October.  This  was  the  third  successive  October  to  be  warmer  than  average, 
whereas  sunshine  was  on  the  low  side,  largely  due  to  the  last  week  yielding 
only  3V2  hours.  Surprisingly  the  barometer  was  on  the  high  side  throughout; 
only  once  did  it  drop  below  30"  (1016  mb.),  on  the  17th. 

As  a result  of  anti-cyclonic  conditions  rainfall  totals  were  one  of  the 
lowest  on  record  for  the  county.  Raveningham  measured  only  2.6  mm  (1/10") 
and  at  least  a third  of  the  county  had  under  10  mm  (.40"). 

The  mean  temperature  was  above  normal,  rising  to  a maximum  of 
23°C  (73V4°F)  on  the  11th.  But  there  were  11  days  when  it  failed  to  reach 
13°C  (55°F),  the  lowest  being  10.3°C  (50V'2°F)  in  the  middle  of  the  month. 
The  overall  mean  was  boosted  by  the  absence  of  air  frosts  and  only  two  very 
slight  ground  frosts. 

November.  It  was  appreciably  warmer,  drier  and  sunnier  than  usual  for 
November  which  is  apt  to  be  "the  odd  man  out".  Only  a few  coastal  and 
Broadland  areas  had  over  38  mm  (1  Vi")  and  it  was  the  second  driest  month 
of  the  year.  Much  of  the  county  had  half  their  usual  rainfall  and  it  was  the 
driest  November  for  over  20  years.  Most  of  what  did  fall  came  in  the  second 
half  of  the  month  and  included  three  snowfalls  during  the  last  few  days. 
It  did  not  last  very  long. 

The  mean  temperature  of  8.2°C  (46Vi°F)  has  not  been  reached  in 
November  since  1968  and  not  exceeded  for  over  20  years.  But  the  weather 
turned  much  colder  during  the  last  few  days  with  ground  and  air  frosts  during 
most  of  the  last  week. 

As  in  October  the  barometer  remained  high  throughout  the  month,  only 
once  dropping  below  30"  (1,016  mb.)  on  the  19th.  It  was  altogether  a very 
pleasant  month. 

December.  The  year  ended  with  a dull  wet  month  and  though  the  mean 
temperature  was  just  about  average,  it  had  a "sting  in  its  tail".  The  last  two 
days  had  maxima  below  freezing,  with  snow,  though  earlier  there  were  six 
days  when  it  exceeded  10°C  (50°F). 

It  was  the  wettest  month  of  the  year  with  something  to  measure  on  25 
days.  Many  parts  of  the  county  had  over  100  mm  (4"),  including  snow,  some 
of  which  probably  escaped  measurement  owing  to  drifting  conditions.  Snow 
fell  to  a depth  of  100—125  mm  (4"— 5")  and  remained  on  the  ground  for 
several  days. 

The  Year.  Despite  fluctuations  in  monthly  temperatures  and  in  rainfall  from 
average,  their  annual  means  agreed  very  well.  However,  sunshine  hours  were 
9%  on  the  low  side  and  it  was  the  dullest  year  since  1968.  This  is  further  high- 
lighted by  the  absence  of  hot  days.  There  were  but  7 with  maxima  above  25 °C 
(77°F)  and  compares  with  a 10-year  average  of  almost  12  days.  The  year  1972 
may  be  mentioned  since  it  had  no  such  days  and  1974  only  one.  The  months 
April  to  August  inclusive,  had  a deficiency  of  120  hours  or  about  13%  below 
normal.  Such  a reduction  over  several  successive  months  is  quite  significant. 


312 


Wider  discrepancies  become  apparent  when  the  year's  weather  is  studied 
on  a seasonal  basis.  Winter  is  considered  as  Dec.,  Jan.  & Feb.;  Spring  is  March, 
April  & May,  et  seq. 

Thus,  winter  1977/8  was  only  1/2°C  cooler  than  average  but  there  was  8% 
more  sunshine,  a matter  of  12  hours  extra.  Rainfall  was  a still  more  noticeable 
anomaly  with  an  excess  of  30%,  nearly  50  mm  (2")  in  central  Norfolk. 

Spring  was  much  nearer  normal  in  all  respects,  only  Vi  °C  cooler,  sunshine 
4%  down  and  rainfall  very  slightly  on  the  high  side. 

Summer  was  much  more  divergent  from  normal,  with  a mean  temperature 
a full  1°C  (2°F)  down,  rainfall  just  over  25%  up  and  the  highest  since  1969 
but  sunshine  was  21%  deficient.  It  was  the  lowest  summer  total  since  1965 
which  only  managed  to  record  367.5  hours  compared  to  441.8  in  1978. 

Autumn  made  some  amends  for  the  miserable  summer.  The  mean 
temperature  was  1°C  up  compared  to  the  average,  sunshine  hours  were  8% 
on  the  high  side  but  rainfall  was  40%  below  normal.  It  was  the  lowest  for  an 
autumn  season  since  1947.  These  particular  autumns  were  the  only  two  with 
less  than  75  mm  (3")  in  46  years  of  measurement.  Incidently,  the  average 
for  this  period  is  1 92 . 8 mm  ( over  7 Vi " ) . 


1978  Weather 

NO.  OF  AIR  AND 

MEAN  TEMPERATURE  GROUND  FROSTS  SUNSHINE  HOURS 

°C  °C 


1978 

Avg. 

1978 

Avg. 

1978 

Avg. 

Jan. 

2.4 

3.6 

13/22 

10.4/17.6 

37.7 

41.9 

Feb. 

1.6 

3.6 

18/20 

10.0/18.1 

56.9 

61.2 

March 

6.3 

5.3 

3/14 

6.7/16.9 

112.8 

108.0 

April 

6.1 

7.4 

7/13 

3.0/11.8 

121.1 

143.0 

May 

10.4 

11.2 

0/3 

.5/4.5 

187.3 

189.6 

June 

13.7 

14.0 

— 

.1/1.0 

159.7 

196.7 

July 

14.5 

15.8 

— 

0/.2 

137.2 

183.0 

Aug. 

14.8 

15.9 

— 

0/.1 

144.9 

180.6 

Sept. 

14.0 

13.7 

0/2 

.1/1.0 

166.8 

149.1 

Oct. 

11.5 

10.7 

0/3 

.3/5.8 

93.6 

100.8 

Nov. 

8.2 

6.6 

0/6 

5.6/12.1 

83.5 

67.4 

Dec. 

3.9 

4.0 

11/16 

9.1/17.3 

38.0 

43.3 

Year 

9.0 

9.3 

52/99 

45.8/106.4 

1333.8 

1464.6 

313 


DAYS  WITH  HAIL/SNOW  DAYS  WITH  THUNDER  RAINFALL  MM 'S 


1978 

Avg. 

1978 

Avg. 

1978 

Avg. 

Jan. 

8/2 

2.0/2 .7 

1 

.1 

81.5 

58.4 

Feb. 

9/0 

1. 4/3.0 

— 

.3 

62.1 

45.0 

March 

4/0 

2.3/3. 1 

— 

.5 

50.8 

42.2 

April 

2/0 

2.3/1. 9 

— 

1.3 

44.5 

39.9 

May 

— 

.11.1 

— 

2.6 

31.9 

41.7 

June 

— 

.3/. 3 

4 

2.2 

72.2 

43.2 

July 

— 

— 

2 

2.3 

65.9 

57.9 

Aug. 

— 

— 

2 

2.6 

58.0 

54.6 

Sept. 

— 

.l/.l 

— 

1.8 

34.2 

53.6 

Oct. 

0/1 

1.0/1. 3 

— 

.8 

8.1 

62.2 

Nov. 

3/1 

3. 1/2.9 

— 

.6 

32.1 

70.1 

Dec. 

2/0 

3. 0/3. 2 

— 

2.2 

94.6 

56.7 

Year 

28/4 

24.5/19.1 

9 

15.1 

635.9 

626.1 

Averages  are  for  the  last  15  years  except  Rainfall  which  is  for  46  years. 


T.  B.  Norgate 
Norfolk  Rainfall  Organisation 


314 


TWO  NEW  NORFOLK  ROSES 
by  E.  L.  Swann 


In  December  1975  a letter  was  received  from  M.  J.  Wigginton  reporting  the 
occurrence  of  a large  population  of  a wild  rose  near  the  chalk  pit  in  Donkey 
Lane,  Eaton.  He  took  it  to  be  R.  rubiginosa  agg.,  and  he  sent  material  to  Dr. 
R.  Melville  at  Kew  who  determined  it  as  the  hybrid  R.  agiestis  Savi  x R.  canina 
L.  Later,  in  August  1976,  neither  the  finder  nor  the  Rev.  G.  Graham  was  able 
to  find  anything  that  could  be  R.  agiestis.  A.  H.  Wolley-Dod  does  not  include 
this  hybrid  in  his  British  Roses  (J.  bot.,  1910,  1911)  and  Dr.  Melville  makes 
no  mention  of  it  in  his  account  of  the  roses  in  Hybridization  and  the  Flora 
of  the  British  Isles  (C.  A.  Stace  ed.,  1975).  This  is  not  surprising  as  there  are 
other  hybrids  in  Norfolk  not  appearing  in  the  latter  work  although  it  is  possible 
that  the  hybrid  was  unknown  until  its  discovery  at  Eaton. 

The  puzzle  of  the  missing  parent  remained  unsolved  until  July  1977 
when  E.  T.  Daniels  wrote  "We  have  found  R.  agiestis  on  the  site  where  the 
hybrid  occurs".  Accompanied  by  P.  G.  Lawson  several  bushes  were  examined 
with  obvious  mixed  characters  of  both  R.  canina  and  R.  agiestis  and  "while 
we  were  pursuing  our  separate  searches  I came  across  a small  bush  with  white 
flowers  and  leaves  heavily  glandular  beneath".  Material  was  duly  confirmed 
by  Dr.  Melville  as  R.  agiestis  Savi;  vouching  material  has  been  deposited  at 
Kew;  the  Castle  Museum,  Norwich;  and  in  Hb.  Swann. 

It  is  strange  that  the  Rev.  E.  F.  Linton  who  held  the  living  at  Sprowston 
in  1878  and  during  his  ten  years  in  Norfolk  devoted  considerable  time  to  the 
flora,  specialising  in  Rubus,  Rosa  and  Salix,  did  not  record  either  R.  agiestis 
or  R.  sepium  Thuill.,  under  which  latter  name  our  rose  was  formerly  known. 
This  suggests  it  is  a recent  introduction. 

So  far  as  can  be  ascertained  it  is  a rare  species  but  the  Atlas  of  the  British 
Flora  (1st  ed.,  1962)  is  of  little  help  on  distribution  as  R.  rubiginosa  L., 
R.  miciantha  Borrer,  R.  elhptica  Tauschaand  R.  agiestis  Savi  are  inextricably 
mixed  under  R.  rubiginosa  agg. 

In  view  of  the  confusion  about  this  species  a description  follows  taken 
from  Savi's  original  work,  FI.  Pisana  (1798),  and  quoted  by  Wolley-Dod. 
(l.c.,  1910,  122):  "Rose  with  germen  and  peduncles  glabrous.  Flowers 
subumbeliate.  Leaflets  oval,  dentate-serrate.  Stem  and  petioles  prickly.  The 
stems  rise  to  8 or  10  feet,  and  are  strong  enough  to  support  themselves,  with 
many  diffuse  interlacing  branches,  covered  with  very  strong  curved  prickles. 
Leaflets  3—5  or  7,  oval  or  oval-lanceolate;  dentate,  with  saw-like  teeth, 
hairy  and  deep  green  above,  glandular  and  reddish  beneath.  Petioles  minutely 
prickly  on  the  lower  side.  Flowers  scented,  in  an  umbel,  3 or  4 together,  petals 
white,  slightly  emarginate.  Peduncles  and  germen  glabrous.  The  glands  in 
this  species  are  reddish  and  pedicellate,  giving  a reddish  colour  to  the  under 
surface  of  the  leaflets,  and  emitting  a smell.  These  glands  are  situated  on  the 


315 


serratures  of  the  leaflets,  on  the  bracts,  stipules  and  on  the  edges  of  their 
segments.  Flowers  in  June;  fruit,  which  is  an  inch  long,  and  elongate-oval, 
ripens  in  September". 

The  Eaton  plant  agrees  closely  with  this  description  and  Daniels  remarks 
on  salient  characters,  "the  very  narrow  leaflets  which  are  cuneate-based, 
the  glands  so  thickly  peppered  on  the  undersides  of  the  leaflets  that  from  a 
distance  the  whole  bush  has  a reddish  tinge",  and  the  small  ellipsoid  fruit, 
white  flowers  and  glabrous  styles  are  further  similarities. 

Whereas  Savi's  description  relates  to  a mature  plant  the  Eaton  bush,  by 
reason  of  its  much  smaller  stature,  must  be  a young  plant  and  further  indi- 
cation of  a recent  introduction. 


Miscellaneous  Notes 

Rhagium  bifasciatum  F..  A specimen  of  this  'Longhorn'  beetle  was  found  at 
Aylmerton,  near  Cromer  in  July  1978.  This  beetle  is  rarely  found  in  Norfolk. 
Thouless  records  it  from  Brundall  and  Florsford  at  the  turn  of  the  century. 

K.  C.  Durr  ant 


Whilst  investigating  a piece  of  woodland  at  Hockham  recently  an  infertile 
litchen  was  noted  growing  on  the  leaves  and  stems  of  a large  box  plant.  This 
was  the  pycnidial  form  of  CatiUaiia  bouteillei,  a species  which  normally  grows 
on  box  and  which  is  the  only  British  lichen  regularly  found  on  leaves.  This 
is  the  first  Norfolk  record  for  this  species  which  is  considered  to  be  an  uncommon 
species  of  the  west  and  south  of  Britain. 

P.  W.  Lambley 


In  1978  the  Museum  was  presented  with  a specimen  of  the  rare  fish  burbot 
by  Mrs  E.  C.  Alston.  It  was  caught  by  her  husband,  the  late  Rev.  E.  C.  Alston, 
in  about  1936  in  the  stream  flowing  out  of  Stanford  Water.  This  is  an  additional 
record  to  those  in  the  comprehensive  paper  by  Malborough  (J.  Fish  Biol.,  1970). 
The  last  recorded  sighting  of  burbot  in  Norfolk  was  in  1969  in  the  River 
Waveney. 

P.  W.  Lambley 


316 


NOTES  TO  CONTRIBUTORS 

1.  Ali  manuscripts  submitted  for  publication  should  be 
sent  to  Dr.  E.  A.  Ellis,  Wheatfen  Broad,  Surlingham, 
Norwich. 

2.  Manuscripts  should  be  typed  double  spaced  on  one  side 
of  the  paper.  Latin  names  of  genera  and  species  should  be 
underlined.  Dates  should  be  in  the  form  1 January  1972. 
Text  figures  should  be  referred  to  as  Fig.  1,  etc. 

3.  All  Latin  names  should  be  followed  by  the  authority 
when  the  name  is  first  mentioned  in  the  text  or  table. 

4.  References  should  be  in  alphabetical  order  at  the  end  of 
the  paper,  in  the  form  of: 

Bloomfield,  E.  N.,  1905.  Fauna  and  flora  of  Norfolk. 

Trans.  Norfolk  & Nor.  Nat.  Soc.,  8.  117-37. 

5.  Tables  should  be  set  on  separate  sheets  and  numbered 
in  arabic  numerals. 

6.  Drawings  should  be  in  jet-black  indian  ink.  Shading 
should  be  in  lines  or  dots  but  not  in  half-tone  washes. 

7.  Page-proofs  only  will  be  sent.  They  should  be  returned 
with  the  least  possible  delay,  and  the  minimum  of  essential 
correction  should  be  made. 

8.  Authors  are  supplied  with  15  offprints  gratis.  Additional 
copies  may  be  ordered  when  the  proofs  are  returned. 


Printed  in  England  by  H.  G.  Stone  & Co.  (Printers)  Ltd,  Wymondham,  Norfolk