Great Livermere
Watching passage Little Gulls at Livermere the other evening reminded me that, the place has pulled me back time and time again. Whilst a visit to Livermere can be one of the most exposed, bleak and mind-numbingly awful bird watching experiences going - it remains one of the best local passage sites and can be a celebration of; waders, terns, gulls and singing warblers. I find myself cycling or driving that way with frequency; as well as cycle-by checks of the water and surrounds I have even done four dedicated visits (complete lists on Bird Track) this year. Notable as I manifestly avoid the place during the shooting season which blocks out the whole of January, the resulting debris in February is off-putting too, by March I'd consider a visit - but it is now and into May that is Liveremere’s time to shine!
When I first moved to East Anglia, back in 2006, I met another birder who said they would show me some good sites nearby – they basically circled parts of Thetford Forest and Livermere on a map. When they circled Livermere they said ‘Black Tern’ I did not hear the rest of what was said I just scribbled BLACK TERN on the map and started getting the bus down there. As it happens I saw my first Black Tern at Lackford Lakes but I have seen a lot of Black Tern at Livermere since, as well as a White-winged Black Tern. So it was sound advice.
As Livermere is within cycling distance and dog friendly it become a regular haunt of mine, haunt is a good word cos the rumour is it is haunted – up to the hilt. I have done a little digging and managed to unearth a little on the ghosts, history and most importantly the birds of Livermere, including compiling a pretty definitive bird list. You will find all below…
When I first moved to East Anglia, back in 2006, I met another birder who said they would show me some good sites nearby – they basically circled parts of Thetford Forest and Livermere on a map. When they circled Livermere they said ‘Black Tern’ I did not hear the rest of what was said I just scribbled BLACK TERN on the map and started getting the bus down there. As it happens I saw my first Black Tern at Lackford Lakes but I have seen a lot of Black Tern at Livermere since, as well as a White-winged Black Tern. So it was sound advice.
As Livermere is within cycling distance and dog friendly it become a regular haunt of mine, haunt is a good word cos the rumour is it is haunted – up to the hilt. I have done a little digging and managed to unearth a little on the ghosts, history and most importantly the birds of Livermere, including compiling a pretty definitive bird list. You will find all below…
Ghosts
Now I’ve mentioned ghosts that’s what everyone is going to want to know, right? So I’ve put it first.
The main one is a ‘Lady in Red’ which haunts the Great Livermere to Thetford Road, it apparently steps in the path of oncoming traffic only to vanish just before impact.
Another is a phantom cyclist is also said to haunt the roads in the village, though reports vary to the type of bicycle he rides. I don’t think people could mistake me for a ghost? I ride a Boardman Team Mountain Bike if that helps eliminate me from investigations.
Some of the supernatural stories may originate from fiction as there is a memorial plaque to author M R James in St Peter’s Church. Apparently some consider M R James to be the scariest writer of supernatural fiction that England has ever produced. They would be wrong because that is James Herbert – but that’s an aside.
M R James spent his boyhood in the Rectory at Livermere and many of his ghost stories were set around the area, perhaps this has blurred the lines between fact and fiction, but I can imagine the place is haunted.
The main one is a ‘Lady in Red’ which haunts the Great Livermere to Thetford Road, it apparently steps in the path of oncoming traffic only to vanish just before impact.
Another is a phantom cyclist is also said to haunt the roads in the village, though reports vary to the type of bicycle he rides. I don’t think people could mistake me for a ghost? I ride a Boardman Team Mountain Bike if that helps eliminate me from investigations.
Some of the supernatural stories may originate from fiction as there is a memorial plaque to author M R James in St Peter’s Church. Apparently some consider M R James to be the scariest writer of supernatural fiction that England has ever produced. They would be wrong because that is James Herbert – but that’s an aside.
M R James spent his boyhood in the Rectory at Livermere and many of his ghost stories were set around the area, perhaps this has blurred the lines between fact and fiction, but I can imagine the place is haunted.
History - courtesy of Mr John Walshe
A bit about the history of the lake; many may think it's just a glorified duck pond, which maybe all it is since being joined to Ampton Water and the Culford Stream by Long Water during the formation of Livermere Park.
But in fact it is an ancient wetland known as a sinkhole mere. These were formed after the last glaciation when melt water formed underground streams in the chalk causing areas to collapse. Where chalk is near the surface this made shallow depressions which fill with water seasonally in a rather strange pattern, caused by the interaction of differing percolation through chalk, gravel and sand substrates. This creates a kind of delayed artisan pressure where winter rains rise to the surface at the driest times of year in spring and summer, then drain away to become dry again at the wettest time of year in autumn and winter.
Livermere Lake no longer exhibits this, but it can still be seen nearby at Barton Mere, Great Barton. Mickle Mere is another ancient sinkhole mere though its water level has been complicated by the building of the A143 bypass and water abstraction and it now appears to be fed by a combination of the river, storm drain run-off and a high water table rather than the ancient sinkhole mere effect. All of this is mentioned in Oliver Rackham's ‘History of the Countryside’ where he cites Livermere, Mickle Mere and Barton Mere as examples of sinkhole meres that occur in groups or chains, others being Sharmford Mere, Baylham Fish Pond and Bosmere in the Gipping Valley, and Ringmere, Langmere and Thompson Water in Breckland (though some of these, may be deeper kettleholes).
So in the ancient past species we now see as the star passage birds such as Black Tern, Little Gull and Black-necked Grebe may well have bred in the fertile seasonal spring & summer flooded mere.
Thanks John.
In more recent times, in August 2010 there was a Tornado! No really. Read about it here.
Sadly, as well as the changed water courses a lot of carp were released in the early 80’s which inevitably degraded the habitat for birds. Another significant issue for habit quality is the release of literally thousands of Mallard, with up to 25,000 reportedly released in one go. It certainly feels like there 25,000 there every time I go!
Despite the above Livereme remains a jewel in the Breckland crown. It has a formidable track record and still pulls in the goodies despite the sheer biomass of released Mallard.
But in fact it is an ancient wetland known as a sinkhole mere. These were formed after the last glaciation when melt water formed underground streams in the chalk causing areas to collapse. Where chalk is near the surface this made shallow depressions which fill with water seasonally in a rather strange pattern, caused by the interaction of differing percolation through chalk, gravel and sand substrates. This creates a kind of delayed artisan pressure where winter rains rise to the surface at the driest times of year in spring and summer, then drain away to become dry again at the wettest time of year in autumn and winter.
Livermere Lake no longer exhibits this, but it can still be seen nearby at Barton Mere, Great Barton. Mickle Mere is another ancient sinkhole mere though its water level has been complicated by the building of the A143 bypass and water abstraction and it now appears to be fed by a combination of the river, storm drain run-off and a high water table rather than the ancient sinkhole mere effect. All of this is mentioned in Oliver Rackham's ‘History of the Countryside’ where he cites Livermere, Mickle Mere and Barton Mere as examples of sinkhole meres that occur in groups or chains, others being Sharmford Mere, Baylham Fish Pond and Bosmere in the Gipping Valley, and Ringmere, Langmere and Thompson Water in Breckland (though some of these, may be deeper kettleholes).
So in the ancient past species we now see as the star passage birds such as Black Tern, Little Gull and Black-necked Grebe may well have bred in the fertile seasonal spring & summer flooded mere.
Thanks John.
In more recent times, in August 2010 there was a Tornado! No really. Read about it here.
Sadly, as well as the changed water courses a lot of carp were released in the early 80’s which inevitably degraded the habitat for birds. Another significant issue for habit quality is the release of literally thousands of Mallard, with up to 25,000 reportedly released in one go. It certainly feels like there 25,000 there every time I go!
Despite the above Livereme remains a jewel in the Breckland crown. It has a formidable track record and still pulls in the goodies despite the sheer biomass of released Mallard.
Birds of Liveremere
Here is the current list of all wild birds recorded at Livermere. I will try to keep this updated and add photos of past rares as I get hold of them. Photo credited where not myself…
Red-throated Diver
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Slavonian Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Red-throated Diver
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Slavonian Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Black-necked Grebe 11th September, 2010
Breeding plumage Black-necked Grebe 18th May, 2012
Fulmar
Storm Petrel
Gannet
Cormorant
Shag
Bittern
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
White Stork
Spoonbill
Mute Swan
Bewick's Swan
Whooper Swan
Storm Petrel
Gannet
Cormorant
Shag
Bittern
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
White Stork
Spoonbill
Mute Swan
Bewick's Swan
Whooper Swan
Whooper Swans 04th January, 2013
Bean Goose
Pink-footed Goose
White-fronted Goose
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Barnacle Goose
Pink-footed Goose
White-fronted Goose
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Barnacle Goose
Barnacle Goose, 16th April 2014
Barnacle Geese, 28th April 2019
Brent Goose
Brent Goose 14th April 2002 by Lee Gregory
Brent Goose 15th November, 2011
Egyptian Goose
Ruddy Shelduck
Shelduck
Mandarin Duck
Ruddy Shelduck
Shelduck
Mandarin Duck
Mandarin Duck 19th March, 2012
Wigeon
Gadwall
Teal
Mallard
Pintail
Gadwall
Teal
Mallard
Pintail
Pintail 14th April, 2014
Garganey
Garganey 22nd April, 2011
Shoveler
Red-crested Pochard
Pochard
Ring-necked Duck
Red-crested Pochard
Pochard
Ring-necked Duck
Ring-necked Duck 23rd May, 2019
Ferruginous Duck
Ferruginous Duck 28th April 2009 by Lee Gregory
Tufted Duck
Scaup
Scaup
Scaup 12th March, 2002 by Lee Gregory
Long-tailed Duck
Common Scoter
Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Common Scoter
Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Bufflehead 14th June, 2002 by Lee Gregory
Smew
Red-breasted Merganser
Goosaner
White-headed Duck
Ruddy Duck
Honey-Buzzard
Red Kite
Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Goshawk
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Osprey
Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Red-breasted Merganser
Goosaner
White-headed Duck
Ruddy Duck
Honey-Buzzard
Red Kite
Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Goshawk
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Osprey
Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Red-footed Falcon May, 1994 by Alan Tate
Merlin
Hobby
Peregrine
Red-legged Partridge
Grey Partridge
Quail
Pheasant
Water Rail
Moorhen
Coot
Crane
Oystercatcher
Black-winged Stilt
Hobby
Peregrine
Red-legged Partridge
Grey Partridge
Quail
Pheasant
Water Rail
Moorhen
Coot
Crane
Oystercatcher
Black-winged Stilt
Black-winged Stilt 03rd August, 2014
Avocet
Stone-Curlew
Black-winged Pratincole
Stone-Curlew
Black-winged Pratincole
Black-winged Pratincole September, 1993 by Lee Gregory
Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
Dotterel
Golden Plover
Grey Plover
Lapwing
Knot
Sanderling
Little Stint
Temminck’s Stint
Pectoral Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Dunlin
Ruff
Jack Snipe
Snipe
Woodcock
Black-tailed Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit
Long-billed Dowitcher
Ringed Plover
Dotterel
Golden Plover
Grey Plover
Lapwing
Knot
Sanderling
Little Stint
Temminck’s Stint
Pectoral Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Dunlin
Ruff
Jack Snipe
Snipe
Woodcock
Black-tailed Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit
Long-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher 05th May, 2012 by Brian Small
Whimbrel
Curlew
Spotted Redshank
Redshank
Marsh Sandpiper
Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Turnstone
Red-necked Phalarope
Curlew
Spotted Redshank
Redshank
Marsh Sandpiper
Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Turnstone
Red-necked Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope field sketches 30th May, 2011 by Richard Thewlis
Grey Phalarope
Grey Phalarope 02nd December, 2012
Great Skua
Arctic Skua
Mediterranean Gull
Little Gull
Arctic Skua
Mediterranean Gull
Little Gull
Little Gull 09th April, 2017
Sabine’s Gull
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Caspian Gull
Herring Gull
Iceland Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Kittiwake
Caspian Tern
Sandwich Tern
Common Tern
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Caspian Gull
Herring Gull
Iceland Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Kittiwake
Caspian Tern
Sandwich Tern
Common Tern
Common Tern 27th April, 2014
Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern 23rd April, 2006 by Lee Gregory
Little Tern
Black Tern
White-winged Black Tern
Black Tern
White-winged Black Tern
White-winged Black Tern 16th May 2009 by Steven Rutt
Feral Pigeon
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Turtle Dove
Ring-necked Parakeet
Cuckoo
Barn Owl
Little Owl
Tawny Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Swift
Kingfisher
Wryneck
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Woodlark
Skylark
Sand Martin
Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
House Martin
Tree Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit
Water Pipit
Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Waxwing
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Nightingale
Black Redstart
Redstart
Whinchat
Stonechat
Wheatear
White's Thrush
Ring Ouzel
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Song Thrush
Redwing
Mistle Thrush
Grasshopper Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Marsh Warbler
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Turtle Dove
Ring-necked Parakeet
Cuckoo
Barn Owl
Little Owl
Tawny Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Swift
Kingfisher
Wryneck
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Woodlark
Skylark
Sand Martin
Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
House Martin
Tree Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit
Water Pipit
Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Waxwing
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Nightingale
Black Redstart
Redstart
Whinchat
Stonechat
Wheatear
White's Thrush
Ring Ouzel
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Song Thrush
Redwing
Mistle Thrush
Grasshopper Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Marsh Warbler
Marsh Warbler 28th May, 2012
Reed Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Whitethroat
Garden Warbler
Blackcap
Wood Warbler
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Goldcrest
Firecrest
Spotted Flycatcher
Pied Flycatcher
Bearded Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Marsh Tit
Willow Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Nuthatch
Lesser Whitethroat
Whitethroat
Garden Warbler
Blackcap
Wood Warbler
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Goldcrest
Firecrest
Spotted Flycatcher
Pied Flycatcher
Bearded Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Marsh Tit
Willow Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Nuthatch
Nuthatch 09th April, 2017
Treecreeper
Jay
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Jay
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Tree Sparrow 14th April, 2019
Chaffinch
Brambling
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Linnet
Mealy (Common) Redpoll
Lesser Redpoll
Common Crossbill
Bullfinch
Hawfinch
Yellowhammer
Reed Bunting
Corn Bunting
Brambling
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Linnet
Mealy (Common) Redpoll
Lesser Redpoll
Common Crossbill
Bullfinch
Hawfinch
Yellowhammer
Reed Bunting
Corn Bunting
