24th of March: Spring arrivals on Blakeney Point

Spring migrants have started to arrive on Blakeney Point. The first Chiffchaff appeared in the Plantation on the 9^th of March, and the first Wheatears were seen on the 21^st.

The breeding bird season is beginning. Over the past couple of weeks several hundred Black-headed Gulls have moved onto their usual breeding place on Far Point.

Black-headed Gulls on Far Point this weekend

Despite the Suadea bushes being partly buried by shingle, they are still settling in the usual location. Amongst them are over a dozen Mediterranean Gulls. They stand out from the Black-headed Gulls with their blacker heads, redder bills, white wing tips and distinctive call.

Mediterranean Gull on Blakeney Point

(seen here amongst Sandwich Terns in May 2011)
 

Yesterday (Sunday 23^rd) saw the arrival of this year’s first Sandwich Terns, spotted by Skippy from Aylmerton Field Studies Centre whilst out on a seal trip. We are excited about watching numbers build up over the next few weeks. I was fortunate to see Sandwich Terns on their wintering grounds in West Africa last month, it was fascinating to see them in a different setting, amongst Caspian Terns, a rarity in the UK.

Caspian Tern in The Gambia

Sandwich Tern at Blakeney

Repair work on the Lifeboat House is nearly finished. The public toilets will be opening on the 31st of March (as per the National Trust handbook), however the visitor centre will not be opening until the 7th of April as renovation work to the floor is taking a little longer than predicted.

Young 'black' Grey Seal on the Point

We will keep the blog updated with migrant and breeding bird news throughout the spring. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date.

- Ajay (Coastal Ranger)

Morston scaffold bridge in place

The temporary scaffold bridge structure is open and there is now access beyond beyond 'bridge 2' for the first time since the tidal surge. There are some safety considerations so please read the signs on the entrance to the bridge.

The green temporary fencing has been required to protect the saltmarsh (please stick to the path) and you may notice some bushes have been netted to prevent birds from breeding within the access and disturbance area. The on-site works to replace the wooden bridges will start on the 31st of March. The temporary bridge will be in place until the new wooden bridge is completed.

Footpath Update between Blakeney & Cley

As a result of the tidal surge in December there was significant damage to the flood defence at Blakeney Freshes and the public footpath between Blakeney Quay and Cley village.  Due to safety issues the footpath has remained closed since December.  Whilst the long-term future of flood defence measures for this area remains uncertain, the Environment Agency, Norfolk County Council, Natural England and the National Trust recognise the significance of this route for the local community and the economy of this area and are actively working on practical temporary measures to re-open this route as soon as possible.  Work is expected to commence on site in mid-March and the Environment Agency have issued the following information sheet.