Reaching nearly 29!! degrees at the Observatory today, it wasn’t surprising there wasn’t many people birding, with most visitors on the beach. A Cuckoo was calling over the grazing marsh in the afternoon – they haven’t been that easy to see (or hear!) recently. A seawatch in the afternoon was quiet but 50+ Sandwich Tern were actively going back and forwards with fish. The two Spoonbill were still around on the pools from the car park hides. Still a couple of Avocet chicks surviving too on the car park pool. The first Shelduck chicks of the year were having a paddle on the Broad Water in the afternoon, being watched on by the parents!

Shelduck young on the Broad Water

The moth traps weren’t quite as busy as they’ve been in previous days but still a really nice mix of species and some lovely sand dune/coastal specialities. There was 3 Striped Wainscot, 2 Common Footman, 1 Barred Yellow, 4 Riband Wave, 1 Thistle Ermine, 2 Agapeta hamana, 1 Small Blood Vein, 1 Smoky Wainscot, 1 Cinnabar, 5 Mottled Rustic, 1 Meadow Grass Moth, 1 Large Pale Masoner, 4 Small Elephant Hawk, 1 Twin-barred Knot Horn, 2 Heart and Club, 1 Flame, 1 Eucosma cana, 1 Common Wainscot, 2 Cnephasia agg., 3 Pine Marble, 2 Eudonia angustea, 1 Privet Hawk Moth, 1 Dwarf Cream Wave, 1 Beautiful Hook Tip, 1 Bee Moth, 4 Dark Arches, 2 Uncertain agg., 2 Shore Wainscot, 1 Small Square Spot, 2 Elephant Hawk, Dark/Grey Dagger agg., 1 Large Yellow Underwing, 1 Common Swift, 2 Sand Dart and 1 Garden Grass Veneer.

Shore Wainscot, a scarce coastal sand dune species

There was a massive increase in White butterfly numbers today (mainly Large). Impossible to count but there were hundreds in the general area between the dunes and the Observatory. Whilst I was on the beach, I counted ten coming in off the sea in only a couple minutes, and whilst I was seawatching I seen so many making their way towards land, so likely migrants from mainland Europe. Slightly bizarre seeing so many butterflies flying in off the sea, and nerve-rackingly only just above the water. There was also a notable increase in Comma and Meadow Brown today, and a single Painted Lady. All the butterflies were enjoying the flowering Bramble around the Obs.

Comma, showing of it’s ‘comma’!

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT

Norfolk Green-winged Teal drk Welney WWT still from screen between Nelson-Lyle Hide +Lyle Hide at 11am 52.5342,0.2824: Viewed from 52.5333,0.2817

Norfolk Wood Sand Welney WWT from Nelson-Lyle Hide at 10.21am c52.5312,0.2813

Norfolk Marsh Warbler singing 1ml east of Cley still mid morning 200yds west of Walsey Hills car park +just west of North Foreland Wood north of Skirts Path 52.9549,1.0624: Park at 52.9548,1.0651

Norfolk Marsh Warbler singing 1ml east of Cley still 200yds west of Walsey Hills car park +just west of North Foreland Wood north of Skirts Path at 6.40am 52.9549,1.0624: Park at 52.9548,1.0651