Another early start with a beautiful moody sunrise, and a chilly start again at only 4 degrees! Again the wind was stronger than forecast meaning we had to close the nets mid-morning. We caught 19 birds today including 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler (all new birds), 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Robin and 1 lovely male Bullfinch. On the 12^th April, we caught a female Bullfinch, and I explained on the blog that day that just a little over 70 Bullfinch have ever been caught in the many years ringing here at the Observatory. Usually only 2 birds are caught each year, so with these two in the last couple of weeks we’ve met the annual target (although more of these lovely birds would be very welcome)!

Sunrise over the Observatory and East Bank

First thing we had 2 Tree Pipit flying over East Bank and the Bittern was booming, it’s amazing how close it can sound and more than once I’ve thought it was my phone vibrating! We had a Swift flying distantly west over Holme Church. We had 11 Lesser Whitethroat today which is a peak count from this year so far. When the sun came out there was a light trickle of Hirundines over the Observatory involving 19 Swallow, 10 Sand Martin and a single House Martin. At least 100 Black-headed Gulls were also enjoying the warm, breezy afternoon hawking up high and feasting on the recently emerged St. Mark’s Fly which have appeared in the last few days in huge numbers! A Crane flew west and was seen from the Holme village hides and later seen over Snettisham. Around Thornham pools we had 3 Yellow Wagtail overhead, 1 Ruff, 2 Dunlin and a Snipe on the pools and there was still 45 Whimbrel on their usual field west of Thornham Harbour. One Whimbrel flew in to join the flock whilst we were standing counting and gave great views!

Whimbrel

Another chilly night meant just 12 individuals of 6 species in the moth trap, including 3 Muslin, 2 Powdered Quaker, 1 Cinnabar, 1 Hebrew Character, 4 Northern Drab and a single surprise female Emperor! A much more diverse day for butterflies enjoying the sunny afternoon (it reached 22 degrees in the afternoon) with 4 Brimstone, 3 Orange Tip, 1 Green-veined White, 8 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Green Hairstreak, 1 Small Copper, 1 Large White and 3 Speckled Wood. We also had the first Blue-tailed Damselfly of the year. For a final treat, just as we were trying to lock up, a Common Lizard decided to join us in the obs for a little while; eventually it needed to be herded out so we could head off.

Female Emperor moth – huge!

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT

Norfolk Wood Sand Cantley beet factory +Garganey 52.5692,1.5281. Sign in at security NR13 3SH then follow footpath SE along River Yare. Stay on permitted path, no other access

Norfolk 2.Garganey (both drks) Hockwold Washes c52.4504,0.5245. Park at 52.4481,0.5287

Norfolk American Wigeon 1w.drk Salthouse still mid morning east of Iron Road 52.9548,1.0824. Park at 52.9534,1.0806

Norfolk 1+Wood Sand Buckenham Marshes RSPB still on flood midway between hide +windpump c52.5890,1.4690. Park at 52.5981,1.4698

Norfolk Turtle Dove Kelling Heath still c52.9319,1.1216

Norfolk 5.Garganey (3.drks) Hickling Broad NWT 1/3ml ESE of visitor centre at Brendan’s Marsh c52.7393,1.5981. Park at c52.7422,1.5949

Norfolk 4.Garganey (2.drks) Hickling Broad NWT still 1/3ml ESE of visitor centre at Brendan’s Marsh +Little Gull c52.7393,1.5981. Park at c52.7422,1.5949

Norfolk Long-tailed Duck drk Salthouse still on sea just east of north end of Iron Road +1+Velvet Scoter still 52.9597,1.0891. Park at 52.9534,1.0806

Norfolk Ring Ouzel male Weybourne at Weybourne Camp 52.9500,1.1294

Norfolk Common Crane flew west over Holme c52.9748,0.5542

Norfolk Turtle Dove Snettisham RSPB on bank just before Rotary Hide 52.8538,0.4461. Park at 52.8685,0.4526

Norfolk American Wigeon 1w.drk Salthouse still east of Iron Road 52.9566,1.0831. Park at 52.9534,1.0806

Norfolk Glossy Ibis flew east past West Runton c52.9412,1.2504

Norfolk Long-tailed Duck drk y’day Salthouse still on sea off north end of Iron Road +Velvet Scoter still 52.9597,1.0891. Park at 52.9534,1.0806