Set bird walk route

Group/Individual: Pauline Walton
Location: Briston

Pauline Walton lives in Briston and has a keen interest in birds. She has recently helped Norfolk Wildlife Trust, as part of its Natural Connections Project, to map the birdlife found within her parish by regularly walking a route along local footpaths and quiet roads. During 2008 Pauline recorded over 80 species including Mediterranean gull, green sandpiper and the now nationally scarce spotted flycatcher. Thirty of these species were recorded as breeding and several are included on the Norfolk Biodiversity Action Plan list.

The culmination of Pauline’s efforts was to mount a display to the local community as part of an overall celebration of the results of the project. The display included a map of the route, photographs of the habitats and her notes on the sightings made.

“Being involved with the survey and meeting people with different interests has added another dimension to my walks. When birding is quiet I am more aware of the flowers, butterflies, dragonflies, insects and trees.

“Walking a regular route throughout the changing seasons and from year to year may seem predictable with an inland area, but as far as birds are concerned every year throws up surprises, such as the first little egret for Briston in December 2007, and in 2008 a Mediterranean gull in our garden in June and three wheatears in a field in September.”