I spent some much needed time catching up with the end of the month data entry today and also out doing the daily census (it was too nice and sunny to spend inside all day..). There were 5 Yellow Wagtail with the cattle off the track this morning. There were 3 Whimbrel offshore and also a small group of 8 birds went past. There was a Green Woodpecker calling this morning. I’ve been hearing the Cuckoo most days recently but always distantly, but this afternoon one came and landed in the tree directly in front of the Obs causing commotion with the Woodpigeons. It sang briefly before darting off towards Thornham.

We often see Barn Owl hunting in the dunes (not today sadly), however I did find this lovely Barn Owl feather! They are really soft which helps to make their flight silent to help with hunting.

A Barn Owl feather

We had some new species in the moth traps this morning after the milder night, with 24 individuals of 9 species including 3 Cinnabar, 13 Muslin, 1 Flame Shoulder, 1 Northern Drab, 1 Iron Prominent, 1 Hebrew Character, 1 Water Carpet, 1 Powdered Quaker and a stunning Coronet. Coronet can be a very variable species, but this one had such beautiful green and purple hues on the wings….

Coronet

A Powdered Quaker

I also had one Common Purple and Gold (Pyrausta purpuralis) moth in the dunes. They are a pretty little moth which are often confused with Mint Moth, and have to admit I also had to get a second opinion on ID as they look very similar to me. To make things even more confusing, they also both use Mints as the caterpillar foodplant!

Common Purple & Gold

It was the hottest day of the year so far at the observatory reaching 23 degrees! Which meant another great day for butterfly spotting with 11 species around the reserve. We had 5 Green Hairstreak, 4 Brown Argus, 3 Small Heath (one was in the NOA car park), 2 Orange Tip, 3 Peacock, 2 Wall Brown, 1 Large White, 1 Green-veined White, 2 Small Copper, 4 Speckled Wood and my first Common Blue of the year! I noticed that the Brown Argus seem very particular about their sunbathing spots and, despite their MUCH smaller size, watched two different individuals chase off both a Wall Brown and Common Blue from their favoured little patches.

Common Blue, Small Heath, Brown Argus, Wall Brown

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT

Norfolk 2+Turtle Doves (both males) singing Kelling Heath late morning c52.9319,1.1216

Norfolk 2.Ring Ouzels flew west over West Runton this morning c52.9412,1.2504

Norfolk Wryneck Cley still 1.40pm in front garden at Thrums. View only from road c52.9559,1.0497

Norfolk Wryneck Cley still 11.35am in front garden at Thrums. View only from road c52.9559,1.0497

Norfolk Wryneck Cley still in front garden at Thrums at 10.15am. View only from road c52.9559,1.0497

Norfolk Turtle Dove Kelling Heath still c52.9319,1.1216

Norfolk Ring Ouzel male y’day Briningham in field south of Bayse’s Lane then flew off c52.8712,1.0156

Norfolk Richard’s Pipit flew north over Winterton North Dunes +appeared to land in outer dunes but no further sign c52.7279,1.6883. Park at 52.7179,1.6982

Norfolk American Wigeon 1w.drk Salthouse still on pool east of Iron Road at 8.40am c52.9548,1.0824. Park at 52.9534,1.0806

Norfolk Long-tailed Duck drk y’day Weybourne still on sea off Weybourne Camp +2.drk.Velvet Scoters still c52.9517,1.1301. Park at 52.9485,1.1398