The RSPB has reported that a Bee-eater nest in a north Norfolk quarry has failed, possibly due to predation by stoats.

Bee-eaters bred at the site at Trimingham near Cromer in north-east Norfolk last summer, the first record of the species breeding in county. Then, this summer, in early June birds returned to the same site and one pair established a nest.

This was the first time Bee-eaters had returned to the same breeding site in the UK in consecutive years.

Like in 2022 the birds have been attracting large numbers of visitors to an RSPB watchpoint overlooking the quarry.

Announcing the news of this year’s nest failure the RSPB said: “Sad news from Bee-eater HQ, it looks like the nesting attempt has failed, not sure why but stoats were seen close by recently. Good news – they haven’t left and are courtship feeding again, so another attempt looks likely, just about enough time.”

Bee-eater, copyright Glyn Sellors, from the surfbirds galleries