A very early start this morning for ringing at the Observatory after some interesting birds were turning up on the east coast yesterday. Nothing unusual in the nets unfortunately but still a nice mix of species caught and more than previous attempts with 21 birds, of which 9 were new birds (1 Wren, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Linnet, 4 Goldfinch, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler) and 12 were retraps (1 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 4 Goldfinch, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Robin). The new Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and Chiffchaff lacked any signs of breeding suggesting they’re new arrivals and there had been some light passage of birds.

The Linnet was a lovely male, and although they’re a really common bird here we don’t catch them that often so nice to appreciate them up close!

Linnet

There were still a couple of Whimbrel around, and two Cuckoo were being very active first thing this morning across the Broad Water and grazing marsh. There was a Cattle Egret with the cattle off the main entrance track last night when I left so worth keeping an eye out for them.

Quite a big change in moths today in the traps with 56 individuals of 22 species including 3 Northern Drab, 5 Common Wainscot, 3 Mottled Rustic, 1 Small Elephant Hawk, 2 Bordered White, 16 Cinnabar, 5 Fern, 1 Knot Grass, 1 White Point, 3 Flame Shoulder, 3 Treble Lines, 1 Black-fronted Straw, 1 Vine’s Rustic, 1 Green Carpet, 1 Shuttle Shaped Dart, 1 Garden Grass Veneer, 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 White Ermine, 2 Muslin, 1 Banded Hedge Grey, 1 Hook-streaked Grass Veneer and 1 Coronet. We have just started catching Setaceous Hebrew which are often confused with Hebrew Character (which fly earlier in the year).

I’ve caught quite a few Coronet now, at the Obs and in my garden this year, but this is the most beautiful individual I’ve seen I think! The green scales are amazing.

Coronet

I found this bizarre caterpillar today which I believe to be the caterpillar of the Yellow Tail moth, a common one at the Observatory and often confused with Brown Tail moths.

Yellow Tail Caterpillar

For butterflies today we had similar species to yesterday with Common Blue, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Small Copper, Wall Brown, Green Hairstreak and Peacock.

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT

Norfolk Bluethroat male Weybourne at beach car park on north side of reedbed at 6am but no sign since c52.9485,1.1398