After what feels like (and probably is..) weeks, we finally had some proper rain! Once the rain passed over mid-morning, we managed to get some nets open in the afternoon, hoping that the rain might’ve meant some new birds had arrived. It was reasonably quiet, although for middle of the day we caught a decent number across the afternoon, with 22 birds captured and a good proportion of those being new Phylloscs with 8 Chiffchaff and 4 Willow Warbler. The rest of the birds caught were 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Great Tit, 4 Robin and 2 Sedge Warbler.

We had two Wheatear in the dunes, and a Fieldfare flew overhead. There was a Lesser Whitethroat seen in the afternoon and 7 Common Whitethroat, which is more than the previous few days. Two White Wagtails were also around, one was in the public car park and one was next to the Observatory building.

Wheatear

There was a steady stream of Hirundine activity today feeding over the Broadwater, it was lovely to finally see decent numbers of them here. We had 47 Sand Martin, 40 Swallow and 1 House Martin.

The poor Barn Owl didn’t look very impressed with the rain this morning…..

Soggy Barn Owl…

The day was all about moths though, with a very exciting thought to be first for Holme, a beautiful Blossom Underwing!! These are very scarce in Norfolk , and are thought to be immigrants that generally turn up near the coast. In addition to our Blossom Underwing this morning, there was one recorded in Dersingham on Sunday and one in Ingoldisthorpe, also this morning. A lovely little moth!

Blossom Underwing

Otherwise in the moth traps we had 15 individuals of 8 species with 3 Cinnabar, 3 Muslin, 4 Hebrew Character, 1 Small Quaker, 1 Common Quaker, 1 Clouded Drab, 1 Streamer and the fabulous Blossom Underwing. Unsurprisingly, there were no butterflies today with the wet and cooler conditions. One Common Toad was on the path surrounded by many, many, MANY snails enjoying the wet conditions.

Shannon Clifford, Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT

Norfolk 2.Hoopoes Winterton South Dunes at 4.25pm east of lighthouse then 1.flew towards Hermanus c52.7130,1.6968

Norfolk Hoopoe Winterton South Dunes still 4.17pm east of lighthouse c52.7130,1.6968

Norfolk 2.Garganey (1.drk) Cley NWT east of East Bank at south end of The Serpentine at 4.25pm c52.9584,1.0665

Norfolk Caspian Gull 1w Breydon Water c52.6105,1.6975

Norfolk Garganey drk Blakeney Point flew past just south of Halfway House at 3.09pm c52.9728,1.0107

Norfolk Hoopoe Winterton still mid a’noon near Beach Road tho elusive c52.7176,1.6919

Norfolk 2.Ring Ouzels Cawston Heath again flew towards east end c52.7689,1.2094

Norfolk 2.Long-tailed Ducks (both drks) flew west past Sheringham by mid morning 52.9459,1.2069

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

Norfolk 2.Garganey (1.drk) Welney WWT still from Main Observatory 52.5278,0.2775

Norfolk Hoopoe Winterton in trees by The Ark then flew north over North Dunes c52.7176,1.6919

Norfolk Hoopoe Winterton again mid morning flew over village +landed in trees by The Ark c52.7176,1.6919

Norfolk Hoopoe Winterton South Dunes east of lighthouse then flew west c52.7130,1.6968

Norfolk Hoopoe Winterton South Dunes east of lighthouse c52.7130,1.6968