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[ Sightings ]
A good start to 2008 with several claims of Great White Egret near
the coast in January and a Barn Owl showing characteristics of the
dark-breasted form on St. Benets Levels. At least two each of Lesser
Snow and Ross's Geese of unknown provenance wintered. Of note were
Green-winged Teal on Horsey Mere, up to 16 Purple Sandpipers along
the reefs between Eccles and Horsey, Grey Phalarope at Waxham and
an Iceland Gull at Berney Marshes all in January. A Dartford Warbler
at Horsey was of note in February and other than the geese of unknown
provenance mentioned above, the only other notable sighting was
of a Great White Egret at Sutton Fen in late February. March produced
a White-spotted Bluethroat at Winterton.
Early spring was dominated by the appearance of some escaped Black
Kites from London Zoo and at least 3 were seen in our area, 2 Cape
Verde Kites and a Black-eared type Kite in April. The undoubted
highlight was Norfolk's first Black Lark at Winterton on 20/21 April.
There were also sightings of Red-rumped Swallow, Serin, Subalpine
Warbler, Tawny Pipit and several Red-footed Falcons. The quieter
mid-summer was enlivened by the appearance of a Lesser Grey Shrike
near Hickling between 20-24 June.
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