Hingham(Seamere Marsh) 21 June 2024 (1100-1145)

 I had a late morning break so decided to have a quick survey of birds at Seamere Marsh.  A pleasant day with something more akin to summer with long sunny spells and warming temperatures.  

Over the years this location has provided some surprises with my most exciting find being in February 2019 when I found a Corn Bunting in a broken hedgerow by a field of weed seeds.  This bird was certainly a rare bird in this part of Norfolk.

With only limited places to overview this wonderful location and habitat, most records of singing birds are gathered from within earshot, clearly, the habitat here lends itself to good numbers of breeding birds, especially Warblers with most notable genus being Acrocephalus and Locustella species. A broken hedgerow comprising a few scattered trees and close to marshland habitat produced most records today.

3 Buzzard

1 Kestrel

2 Stock Dove (Pair displaying and song heard)

2 Blue Tit

1 Chiffchaff (singing male)

Blackcap (singing male)

Whitethroat (singing male)

1 Lesser Whitethroat (singing male)

1 Reed Warbler (singing male) undoubtedly more present.

2 Dunnock

Blackbird (singing male)

2 Wren

1 Yellowhammer

2 Reed Buntings (singing males)

Overviewing Seamere Marsh 21 June 2024

An interesting short visit to this beautiful location with several species seen or heard in the broken hedgerow in the middle of the above picture.  On the distant marsh a couple of male Reed Buntings held territory with one bird remaining for the whole of my visit on the only patch of willow scrub visible (a typical nesting site).  

The broken hedgerow habitat held singing Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, and a single Reed Warbler which sang only very briefly.  The habitat here clearly will hold more Reed Warblers. Resident species present included singing Wren (3), singing Blackbird, singing Dunnock, and a lovely scoped view of a male Yellowhammer singing on the top of an old Hawthorn. 

The highly visible display flight by a pair of Stock Doves was seen over the marsh, both alighted in a large nearby Oak where the monotonous song was heard.