It was another quiet day at the Observatory and no ringing was attempted as the site is quite exposed in an easterly wind, which was due to pick up rapidly at sunrise. It was a lovely warm day if you were out of the pretty strong ESE wind.

Towards Thornham we had some nice summer plumaged Grey Plover, 23 Whimbrel in the rough grassland on the side of the coastal footpath between the Obs and Thornham Pools and a nice flyover Yellow Wagtail. The dunes were quiet for migrants, but still a good number of singing Common Whitethroat. There was some Cuckoo drama with two individuals chasing each other which riled up the local Meadow Pipits and resulted in them going their separate ways with unhappy Meadow Pipits in hot pursuit.

Cuckoo

We had 20 moths of 12 species in the moth traps today with 1 Fern, 1 Small Elephant Hawk, 1 Buff Tip, 1 Small Waved Umbar, 1 Brindled Beauty, 3 Muslin, 1 Knot Grass, 1 Angle Shades, 1 Green Carpet, 5 Treble Lines, 1 Flame Shoulder and 3 Vine’s Rustic.

Fern like calcareous soil and are locally distributed in Norfolk though we get quite a few records of them here, but they are always a lovely moth to see.

Fern

Angle Shades was a first for this year, they fold their forewings at rest to give the appearance of a crumpled leaf!

Angle Shades

We had Small Copper, Common Blue, Green Hairstreak, Brown Argus, Red Admiral, Peacock and Small Heath on the wing around the Observatory. The Tamarisk is well worth checking for butterflies just now as it’s attracting lots of insect. The Lime tree next to the pond is also a good spot to check for Green Hairstreak. We had several Large Red Damselflies on the vegetation around the pond.

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT

Norfolk 2.Wood Sands Holkham Freshmarsh on west side of Lady Anne’s Drive c52.9671,0.8141

Norfolk Wood Sand Hockwold Washes still +2.drk.Garganey c52.4504,0.5245. Park at 52.4481,0.5287

Norfolk Wood Sand 1ml east of Cley at Walsey Hills NOA c52.9546,1.0667

Norfolk no further sign of Booted Eagle West Somerton /Horsey by 12.30pm (but ringtail.Hen Harrier flew east at 12.25pm) c52.7236,1.6478

Norfolk BOOTED EAGLE juv pale morph West Somerton again 10.05am over West Somerton Drainage Mill then lost to view c52.7236,1.6478

MEGA Norfolk BOOTED EAGLE juv pale morph Horsey flew north just SW of Horsey Mill mid morning c52.7333,1.6441 NR29 4EE

Norfolk RED-FOOTED FALCON fem Hickling Broad NWT still 1/3ml ESE of visitor centre at Brendan’s Marsh from mound mid morning c52.7393,1.5981. Viewed from c52.7388,1.5972. Park at c52.7422,1.5949

Norfolk White Stork Hickling Broad NWT still 9.35am 1/3ml ESE of visitor centre over Brendan’s Marsh c52.7393,1.5981. Viewed from c52.7388,1.5972. Park at c52.7422,1.5949

Norfolk White Stork Hickling in flight mid morning c52.7391,1.5787

Norfolk Garganey drk Hickling Broad NWT still 1/3ml ESE of visitor centre at Brendan’s Marsh from mound c52.7393,1.5981. Viewed from c52.7388,1.5972. Park at c52.7422,1.5949

Norfolk Black Redstart Cromer near lighthouse c52.9246,1.3165

Norfolk Bewick’s Swan Welney WWT still from Main Observatory 52.5279,0.2776

Norfolk 2.Garganey (1.drk) y’day Titchwell RSPB still on Reedbed Pool c52.9662,0.6082. Park at c52.9629,0.6064

Norfolk 2.Wood Sands y’day Snettisham Coastal Park still at Ken Hill Marshes north of Shepherd’s Port +Turtle Dove c52.8876,0.4625

Norfolk Garganey drk Hockwold Washes still c52.4504,0.5245. Park at 52.4481,0.5287