Another early start focussed on ringing today with similar conditions to yesterday – a strong northerly but sheltered on our side where the nets are due to the protection of the Pines. We ringed 7 new birds including another juvenile Goldfinch, 3 adult Goldfinch, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler and 14 retraps (2 Robin, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Wren, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Reed Warbler).

We also went round our nest boxes and ringed a brood of 7 Blue Tit and 6 Great Tit. We only have 3 occupied boxes this year, though it’s not the kind of site with a lot of Great and Blue Tits. It’s still lovely to ring the chicks we do get and also monitor the nests to contribute to data collected by the BTO for the nest record scheme. The whole process only takes a few minutes and the chicks are very quickly back in their nests cosied up together.

Great Tit nestling, very cute!

Blue Tit Nestlings back in their cosy nest

We had two Great White Egret flying over the grazing marsh/Broad Water, giving really good views and the Common Sandpiper was also back on the Broad Water. The Tawny Owl was causing chaos in the Pines, making the local Tits very unhappy.

Similar moth traps numbers today with 32 individuals of 12 species. The most numerous of course was 12 Cinnabar! Otherwise, we had 1 lovely Angle Shades resting on the shed, 2 Green Carpet, 1 Treble Lines, 1 Large Pale Masoner, 5 White Ermine, 1 Muslin, 2 Small Elephant, 4 Flame Shoulder, 1 Mottled Rustic, 1 Common Wainscot and 1 Heart and Dart. The Heart and Dart is a very common moth in Norfolk and has distinctive heart and dart shapes, hence the helpful name!

Heart & Dart

Butterflies were on the quiet side again with Red Admiral, Peacock, Common Blue and Wall Brown the most active in the cooler conditions.

I had a Garden Chafer land on me whilst I was at a net. They’re like a mini Cockchafer but much smaller with a green head and thorax. The larvae feed on grass roots.

Garden Chafer

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT

Norfolk unconfirmed report of Bee-eater Cley NWT c52.9544,1.0566

Norfolk 5.Temminck’s Stints Cley NWT still 11.40am on Pat’s Pool from Bishop’s Hide (+2.Wood Sands) c52.9578,1.0558. Park at c52.9544,1.0567. Viewed from 52.9560,1.0583

Norfolk 2.Wood Sands Welney WWT from Nelson-Lyle Hide 52.5312,0.2813. 2.Garganey (1.drk) from Lyle Hide. Park at 52.5266,0.2785

Norfolk Wood Sand Buckenham Marshes RSPB still on windpump pool +drk.Garganey still 52.5880,1.4748. Park at c52.5981,1.4698

Norfolk Wood Sand Snettisham Coastal Park still at Ken Hill Marshes c52.8876,0.4625

Norfolk Wood Sand Hickling Broad NWT 1/3ml ESE of visitor centre at Brendan’s Marsh c52.7393,1.5981. Park at c52.7422,1.5949

Norfolk 3.Wood Sands Cley NWT still on North Scrape at 9.50am c52.9609,1.0574. Park at 52.9649,1.0501. Viewed from 52.9628,1.0565

Norfolk 5.Temminck’s Stints Cley NWT still on Pat’s Pool from Bishop’s Hide at 8.45am c52.9578,1.0558. Park at c52.9544,1.0567. Viewed from 52.9560,1.0583

Norfolk Bee-eater Burnham Norton flew west over track NE of car park at 8.20am c52.9645,0.7227. Park at 52.9634,0.7209

Norfolk Wood Sand y’day Buckenham Marshes RSPB still on windpump pool +drk.Garganey still 52.5880,1.4748. Park at c52.5981,1.4698

Norfolk Glossy Ibis y’day Burgh Castle still c52.5983,1.6738