Norfolk Coastal Nesting Birds project update

Earlier in the year Birds on the Brink joined forces with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust to fund measures aimed at helping nesting Little Terns and breeding waders on the north Norfolk coast. Here’s an update, informed by Beach Warden Theo de Clermont. It details the project’s impact on the avian world, together with news of some welcome collateral conservation floral benefits.

Above: an incubating Oystercatcher settling on its eggs, Photo ©Theo de Clermont

The area in question centres on the coast at Holme-next-the-sea, popular with birdwatchers and naturalists, but also general beach-goers and dog-walkers. Therein lies the problem for nesting birds – the location’s popularity.

Above: an Oystercatcher with its one remaining chick. Photo ©Theo de Clermont

In the past, attempts at nesting by Little Terns, Oystercatchers and Ringed Plovers have often failed due to disturbance and breeding attempts are being increasingly disrupted now that more and more people are visiting this area of coast. Measures used to protect nesting birds this year included, for the first time an area surrounded by electric fencing, alongside the continuing use of roped-off areas of beach and foredune where birds chose to nest. To ensure as high a degree of success as possible the project took place under the watchful eye of Beach Warden Theo.

Above: a Little Tern with a vulnerable chick. Photo ©Theo de Clermont

Above: an additional trick was employed to help nesting Ringed Plovers. In the past Norfolk Wildlife Trust warden Gary Hibberd has deployed nest cages to protect sitting birds. The technique was used again in 2021. Photo ©Theo de Clermont

Here’s a tally of the records from 2021:

Ringed Plover - 4 chicks fledged from 49 chicks that hatched from 24 nest attempts. 45 of the chicks that hatched were from caged nests, showing their importance.

Oystercatcher - 15 chicks hatched and 3 chicks fledged from 13 nest attempts.

Little Tern - 4 chicks hatched and 2 went on to fledge from 2 nest attempts.

Above: a Ringed Plover with its endearing chick. Photo ©Theo de Clermont

As a result of reduced human trampling and general disturbance (thanks to the electric fencing and roped-off areas) embryo dune plants along the beach have had an amazing year. Large clumps of Sea Rocket Cakile maritima have been particularly showy. According to Beach Warden Theo, thanks to the fencing ‘the vegetation benefits have been huge’.

Dr Kevin Walker, Head of Science at the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) visited the site and he too was impressed. He comments: ‘This is what foredunes should look like in the UK: a dense tangle of Sea Rocket, Cakile maritima, Frosted Orache Atriplex laciniata and Prickly Saltwort Salsola kali, protected from human disturbance’. He went on to say ‘I’ve never seen so much of these plants growing in one place in the British Isles!’

Above: impressive foreshore flora at Holme, featuring lush plants of Sea Rocket. Photo ©Theo de Clermont

 At Birds on the Brink, we are all too aware of the human conflicts that affect our natural world. Many people appreciate the beauty of the UK coast and respect its natural heritage for its intrinsic worth. However, for some it is seen merely as ‘open space’, there to be used as a playground regardless of the resulting impact on the ground flora and nesting birds. Aside from the disturbance and trampling associated with dog ownership, there are more far-reaching consequences for the environment. These include the effects on invertebrate life of chemicals such as fipronil (a common component in flea treatments) leaching into water, and the carbon footprint of keeping pets in the first place through the agricultural system and meat industry that feeding them underpins.

Above: the potential impacts of unbridled public access to vulnerable coastal habitats hardly need spelling out. Above we see a fairly typical snapshot in time of life on the coast of Hayling Island, a location for another fencing project aimed at protecting nesting birds, and hopefully ground flora into the bargain. Photo ©Paul Sterry/Nature Photographers Ltd