Conservation Conversations: April 2026 on the Holkham National Nature Reserve

April 29, 2026 | Nature news | 4 minute read

April was a very exciting month at Holkham. We launched our new live webcam ‘HolkCAM’ to the world ! Viewers are now able, 24 hours a day, to watch all the goings on in Decoy Wood, the Holkham heronry. It has grown over the years to be one of the most important waterbird colonies in all of Britain, but its secrets have remained intact…until now. The camera is positioned so that nesting Spoonbills, Grey Herons, Little Egrets, Cattle Egrets and Cormorants can be seen. It is a community that holds so much life and drama and now we can share it. Already we have filmed courtship, nest building, Spoonbills laying eggs (a filming first in Britain), hatching, the dramas of young Grey Herons and Spoonbills tackling their early life, some successfully, others not. As the next two months unfold, we should see chicks grow and fledge, so keep watching here !

Glossy ibis at Holkham c. Andrew Bloomfield

One species we are hoping will join our list of nesting birds in the future is the Glossy Ibis, another successful southern species that is seen increasingly further north due to global warming. This month we had two birds frequenting the marshes. Early days yet, but it is just how we saw all the other species colonise. With over 12,000 pairs nesting last year in one extensive Spanish wetland, it is obviously a bird that is doing well. Could we be next?

White stork at Holkham c. Andrew Bloomfield

Another southern species that appeared briefly on the 25th was a White Stork. It had been watched moving along the coast from Cley and paused briefly at Holkham, encircling the Monument and Church before being seen off by the resident Red Kites.

With the marshes holding onto their water in a very dry spring, we saw good numbers of Lapwings nesting at Burnham Norton and Avocets starting to prospect. On the beach Ringed Plovers were already in their territories with nesting imminent. Next month we will be seeing Oystercatchers and Little Terns joining them. The beach and foreshore are very important habitats for our rare nesting birds. Please help us to protect them by adhering to our season dog restrictions whilst walking the beach.

Breckland dandelion at Holkham c. Baz Scampion

Birds aside another exciting discovery was made on the reserve within the Dell at Wells, a dandelion called Taraxacum isophyllum, the Breckland Dandelion, only recorded twice before in Britain! Dandelions have undergone a taxonomic shake up in recent years with more species being recognised and recorded. Holkham is lucky as it has an expert, Baz Scampion, who lives on the estate and is doing lots of local fieldwork. Hopefully there will be more to come.

Cowpat gem at Holkham c. Andrew Bloomfield

An interesting named fungi called ‘Cowpat Gem’ was found on the reserve for the first time at Burnham Overy and Holkham. It is small, bright orange and shines out like a gem from its habitat of choice – you guessed it – cowpats !

What to look out for in May

Watch out next month for Little Terns, the first orchids, the first young Spoonbills out on the pools and maybe some unexpected surprises. May can be that sort of month.

Spoonbill at Holkham c. Andrew Bloomfield