NWT Wildlife Spotter Survey

Norfolk is a hot bed for seeing wintering waterfowl. During December, January and February our resident duck numbers are increased by birds choosing to spend the winter here from other parts of the world, making Norfolk a great place to get to grips with identifying many different duck species. Pochard, pintail and wigeon hold a UK conservation status of either red or amber listed. With red listed being globally threatened, having seen a rapid decline in recent years, and amber species being in unfavourable conservation status in Europe.

The answer is definitely yes, if only for the reason that if they are not recorded how do you know they are common? Common species may have interesting distributions or habitat preferences, and in any case they may suddenly become less common. Furthermore, by becoming familiar with common species the less usual become more obvious – and an interest can develop.

Returning from Southern Africa in late March or April, the barn swallow’s twittering song and constant aerial activity is a delight after a long winter. As its name suggests, its preferred nest site is tucked in a high corner of a barn. The nest is a shallow mud and straw cup and is often wedged on or between a beam. However, swallows are very creative and will use stables, bird hides or even an old shed, if constant access is available.

How to identify

The upper parts are a dark, iridescent blue and the belly a creamy white. The forehead and chin are a bright rust-red. The wings are long and sharply angled. The tail is deeply forked, with the outer feathers greatly extended, particularly in the case of the male bird. They can be quite gregarious with several nesting in the same barn. Swallows often gather on wires when their young have fledged, or prior to migration.

Did you know?

Swallows have been known to nest in old mineshafts — one nest in Cornwall was 17 metres underground and was occupied by the same bird for four summers. In autumn, swallows start to gather in large numbers prior to migration, and some reedbed roosts can hold several thousand birds.

Like the swallow, house martins arrive in late March. Large flocks, mixed with sand martins, are often found feeding over lakes and broads during migration.

House martins would have formerly nested on cliffs, and some still do. Now, their mud nests are usually tucked under the eaves of buildings — even in urban areas. The nest is well-made and globular in shape, with a small entrance hole at the upper rim. It must be positioned for easy access to flying insects and wet mud — for nest building and repairs.

How to identify

Compared to the swallow, the house martin is a rather neat, compact bird. The crown and back are a dark iridescent blue, while the wings and tail are blacker. Their chin and belly are pure white, with the most notable feature being a square-shaped white rump. Small groups can be found twisting and turning in aerial pursuit of flying insects.

Did you know?

When house martins were more common, colonies could grow to substantial proportions with nests plastered on top of one another. Although the formerly numerous house sparrow would frequently oust the owners. Often the young of an earlier brood will help feed the second and third brood nestlings.

Swifts are often associated, and sometimes confused, with martins and swallows, but an observer will realise that they are very different once familiar with them. Swifts arrive in the UK from April onwards, later than other summer migrants, then leave in August. Formerly cave and cliff nesters, they find roof cavities in old buildings a suitable alternative. They often stay faithful to a building for decades, with offspring taking over the nest, or more commonly finding a nest site nearby.

How to identify

Other than a little white chin, swifts are uniformly dark brown in plumage, although they appear black against a blue sky. They have rather cigar-like bodies with long sickle-shaped wings. In spring, the newly arrived birds scream through the air, a shrill call uttered as they chase one another in synchronized flight. Swifts will enter roofs via a gap in the tiles or under the eaves, flying into the small entry hole at seemingly breakneck speed. The actual nest is a rudimentary cup of feathers gathered whilst in flight.

Did you know?

Swifts feed, bathe, sleep and even mate on the wing, a young bird leaving the nest for the first time may remain in the air for two or three years. A hobby is the only regular predator of swifts, and often it is only young inexperienced birds that are caught.

We will keep your details secure at all times. We will use your details to process and respond to your submission of information. 

Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) and Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service (NBIS) are working together under a Data Sharing Agreement to process the records from this project and may securely share your details with each other for this purpose only. For more information, you can contact either of us for details of our full Privacy Policy. 

If you wish to receive any further information from Norfolk Wildlife Trust, please opt in by visiting our ‘Update your preferences’ page. We never sell or share your details with any other third party for their own use. 

This is our summarised privacy notice. You can view our full privacy policy below, or contact us for a postal copy.

Read our privacy policy