A brisk north easterly first thing meant ringing wasn’t really an option, so time was spent birding covering 12km of the recording area, with high hopes for a Whinchat today… Unfortunately, we couldn’t turn up a Whinchat, but there was a female Ring Ouzel again in the horse paddock with a Mistle Thrush from Broadwater Road, but it was quickly chased off by an angry Blackbird. There was one Whimbrel in the field west of Thornham Harbour and one Yellow Wagtail was heard flying over. There were a couple of Cuckoo reports today too, both in the dunes. It got pretty warm and sunny in the afternoon, with the wind starting to drop off. Five Whimbrel flew over East Bank late afternoon. We spent the afternoon protecting vegetation in our Heligoland trap, attempting to deter deer and allow the vegetation to regenerate.

Common Whitethroat gave great views today

Stunning summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit (from car park hide)

The theme of quiet moth traps continues again today (some warmer night-time temperatures would be lovely!). We had 4 Hebrew Character, 2 Muslin, 1 Dark Sword Grass and 2 Northern Drab. We had a couple of day flying Cinnabar moths too.

Northern Drab and Dark Sword Grass

Butterflies have been low in number too, with 1 Large White, 1 Peacock, 3 Small Copper and 2 Green Hairstreak. However, we excitingly had our first Brown Argus of the year!! I thought it was a Green Hairstreak at first, as they’re a very similar looking size in flight and when they’re flying I find it difficult to distinguish wing pattern, so I was pleasantly surprised when it settled on the path and turned out to be a Brown Argus! Of course, it was the one time I went out with my camera, but I managed to get a picture with my phone…

Brown Argus

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT

Norfolk Little Gull 1w Burnham Deepdale over central fleet c52.9672,0.6844

Norfolk Long-tailed Duck drk Salthouse again off Beach Road with Common Scoters at 1.19pm c52.9544,1.0966

Norfolk 1+Garganey Welney WWT still 52.5332,0.2814

Norfolk Bar-tailed Godwit Buckenham Marshes RSPB on Hide Pool at 12.06pm c52.5862,1.4776

Norfolk 1+Little Gull Titchwell RSPB on Freshmarsh from main track at 11.08am c52.9679,0.6056 Viewed from c52.9682,0.6045

Norfolk 5.Ring Ouzels Roydon Common flew north from Sandy Lane towards ridge at 9.50am 52.7675,0.4909

Norfolk 2.Ring Ouzels (both males) Cawston Heath still at west end c52.7692,1.1980

Norfolk 4.Spotted Redshanks Burgh Castle +Bar-tailed Godwit c52.5983,1.6738

Norfolk 4.Garganey (2.drks) Hickling Broad NWT still 1/3ml ESE of visitor centre at Brendan’s Marsh 52.7393,1.5981. Park at c52.7422,1.5949

Norfolk 3.Ring Ouzels Cawston Heath still at west end at 7.23am c52.7692,1.1980

Norfolk Caspian Gull 1w y’day Whitlingham Ctry Park again at Great Broad c52.6228,1.3366