A gentle westerly to start the day, and a bit milder and sunnier than yesterday.  A Marsh Harrier flew over the car park hide pools this morning when I drove in and flushed 20 Avocet. There was a Wheatear on the grassy slope next to the Observatory on East Bank before flying towards Thornham. There was a great count of 28 Whimbrel in the first field at Thornham Harbour in the morning.

There were still good numbers of Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Sedge Warbler singing today, and also a single Willow Warbler in the dunes. There was a report of a Common Redstart in the dunes to the west of the NWT Visitor Centre, but the bird couldn’t be tracked down again after the initial report. There was a good number of Sand Martin and Swallow going west through the dunes in the early afternoon. Otherwise in the dunes, it was lovely to see so many Linnet around, the males are looking fantastic at this time of year.

Whilst sitting typing up the blog for the day the Tawny Owl randomly started calling from the Pines and then went silent for the rest of the afternoon, it’s getting into the habit of announcing its presence every day at the moment!

Slight increase in diversity in the moth traps today with 12 individuals of 9 species! We had 1 V-Pug, 2 Flame Shoulder, 2 Muslin, 2 Cinnabar, 1 Small Waved Umber, 1 Powdered Quaker, 1 Common Quaker, 1 Hebrew Character and 1 Water Carpet.

V-Pug (so small!)

A lovely Small Waved Umber

There were more butterflies today too, though still being recorded in low numbers, with 3 Green Hairstreak, 1 Green-veined White, 2 Peacock, 1 Large White, 2 Brimstone, 2 Speckled Wood and our first Wall Brown of the year! We also had our first Large Red Damselfly today. So, the insects are finally starting to wake up, fingers crossed for some warmer weather!

A Muslin moth up close. Look at that fluff & those antennae!

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT

Norfolk Hooded Crow flew south over Winterton c52.7172,1.6976

Norfolk American Wigeon drk Salthouse still on pools east of Iron Road 52.9566,1.0831. Park at c52.9530,1.0842

Norfolk Turtle Dove Kelling Heath still c52.9319,1.1216

Norfolk 4+Ring Ouzels Grimston Warren still from tower c52.7656,0.4880

Norfolk 4.Ring Ouzels Cawston Heath still 10.30am c52.7692,1.1980

Norfolk 2.Garganey (1.drk) Hockwold Washes still c52.4504,0.5245

Norfolk 2+Garganey (both 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