An early start this morning for ringing as the wind was forecasted to be quite gentle. The easterly wind got up mid-morning but meant I could get a good few hours ringing in. Low numbers of birds caught however, with only 1 retrap Robin, 1 new Lesser Whitethroat and 5 new Goldfinch. We caught a few males which can be separated by females by the extensiveness of the red and the colour of the nasal bristles. In males, generally the red extends well beyond the eye like the male below, and the nasal hairs are pure black. The red is less extensive on a female and the nasal bristles are browner.

Male Goldfinch

We also occasionally catch dragonflies in the nets, which have to be safely extracted and released. I had our first Hairy Dragonfly of the year in one of the nets, which I extracted and released just after taking this photo. It gives a good opportunity to see them up close!

Hairy Dragonfly

The Whimbrel were still around in their usual spot in the field from the coastal footpath past the sluice between Thornham Pools and the Obs. The Wood Sandpiper was still about on Thornham Pools. There was also a Grasshopper Warbler from the coastal footpath between the Obs and Thornham, we have had very few so far this Spring.

There was a big change in numbers in the moth traps today with 45 individuals of 16 species. We had 1 Coronet, 1 Knot Grass, 1 Northern Drab, 18 Cinnabar, 1 Garden Carpet, 1 Small Elephant Hawk, 8 Treble Lines, 1 Blood Vein, 1 Green Carpet, 1 Mottled Rustic, 1 Red Chestnut, 2 Flame Shoulder, 3 Muslin, 2 Vine’s Rustic, 1 Large Pale Masoner and 1 Pine Beauty.

Garden Carpet

The butterflies were favouring the sheltered spots today with the strong easterly and we had Common Blue, Small Heath, Large White, Wall Brown, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Small Copper, Brown Argus and Green Hairstreak.

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT

Norfolk RED-FOOTED FALCON male Hickling Broad NWT again just east of viewpoint at 11.47am 52.74,1.5892

Norfolk Wood Sand between Thornham +Holme still from sea bank on large pool c52.9679,0.5711

Norfolk Grey-headed Wagtail West Runton briefly south of Water Lane with cattle at 8.20am 52.9396,1.2488