The forecast didn’t look great for ringing this morning, so we got up early more in hope than expectation… The nets can generally be quite exposed in a south easterly wind and the forecast was for the wind speed to increase quite quickly after sunrise, however, we managed to get in a good few hours of ringing before the wind got up. We caught 39 birds, most of which were new birds (35 new and 4 retraps!). We retrapped 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Robin and 1 Goldfinch. We ringed 19 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Wren, 7 Robin, 3 Blackcap, 1 Sedge Warbler and 1 Bullfinch. Only 71 Bullfinch have ever been caught in the many years ringing here at the Observatory, the last caught was one in 2023 followed by two in 2020 and two in 2019.

In total we caught 21 different Chiffchaff! A few again had ‘pollen horns’ which are feathers around the front of the head (close to the beak) that have become encrusted with pollen. Previous research has shown this is often Eucalyptus pollen in Phylloscopus warblers from feeding in North Africa, Spain and Portugal.

Chiffchaff with pollen horns

A Green Sandpiper was calling this morning. Five Cattle Egret were with the cattle. One Redwing flew over East Bank. One Brambling was also around and at least two Common Whitethroat were singing today. A Spoonbill was viewable from the car park hide. A Lesser Whitethroat was singing near the NWT pay hut. A Wheatear was at Gore Point. Two Wheatear were also in the dunes west of the NWT visitor centre, and gave great views perching up on a bush together and then foraging on the grass. A Common Redstart was found in scrub in the dunes (also west of the NWT Visitor Centre).

Wheatear in the dunes!

A male Black Redstart was hanging out on the grass beside East Bank (next to the obs) for most of the day and was heard occasionally singing. It was frequently being chased off by an unhappy Stonechat and was accompanied by both White and Pied Wagtails.

White Wagtail

The hot day (21 degrees!) brought out more butterflies with 1 Small Copper, 2 Brimstone, 1 Red Admiral, 4 Peacock, 2 Speckled Wood and 2 Green Hairstreak. The moth traps were pretty quiet today, but it was a very clear night last night – we had 1 Streamer, 1 Common Plume, 1 Hebrew Character, 1 Red Chestnut and 1 Muslin.

                          Green hairstreak                                                              Streamer 

Shannon Clifford, Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT

Norfolk 20+Little Gulls Whitlingham Ctry Park flew east thru Great Broad c52.6228,1.3366

Norfolk Black Redstart fem/1w/.male c1ml SE of Waxham at pipe dump c52.7684,1.6390

Norfolk Garganey drk Buckenham Marshes RSPB still c52.5880,1.4748. Park at 52.5981,1.4698

Norfolk 6.Little Gulls Cantley beet factory. Sign in at security upon arrival +follow footpath SE along River Yare NR13 3SH 52.5692,1.5281

Norfolk Black Redstart fem/1w.male Happisburgh at 19.Doggetts Lane at 11.10am c52.8164,1.5497

Norfolk Ring Ouzel Potter Heigham Marshes along track. Use car park at Lathams (£8.50 per day) NR29 5JE 52.7104,1.5797Norfolk Ring Ouzel male Weybourne still at Weybourne Camp below weather station in 3.pillbox field viewed from beach c52.9517,1.1207

Norfolk Ring Ouzel East Rudham still late morning at cricket pitch c52.8147,0.7027

Norfolk Glossy Ibis Welney WWT still c52.5332,0.2814

Norfolk Black Redstart fem/1w.male Kelling Heath on fence posts north of railway at 10.40am c52.9307,1.1270

Norfolk Black Redstart Holme NOA at bird observatory at 11.08am c52.9733,0.5515

Norfolk 2.Ring Ouzels Muckleburgh Hill at top c52.9471,1.1335

Norfolk 2.Ring Ouzels (both males) Upton Broad in trees by car park at 9.01am then flew west c52.658,1.5439

Norfolk 1+Ring Ouzel Cromer near lighthouse briefly c52.9242,1.3200

Norfolk 5.Little Gulls flew SE thru Hockwold Washes at 9.36am c52.4504,0.5245

Norfolk Ring Ouzel East Rudham still at east end of cricket pitch at 8.32am c52.8147,0.7027

Norfolk c30.Little Gulls flew east thru Hockwold Washes at 9.09am c52.4504,0.5245

Norfolk probable Blyth’s Pipit Dersingham in cereal field mear village then flew towards Ken Hill c52.8459,0.5027

Norfolk Ring Ouzel male Holme Dunes at Gore Point +fem/1w.male Black Redstart c52.9741,0.5401