Another extremely hot day at the Observatory reaching over 30 degrees. It was a quiet day for birds, with a good number (c100+) of Black-headed Gull hawking over the grazing marsh. However, the most notable thing today was the mass arrival of White Butterflies (both Large and Small), with thousands coming in off the sea and flooding onto the reserve and surrounding areas. It was an amazing sight to see. There were also a clear increase in Red Admiral too. Other butterflies seen today included Small Heath, Common Blue, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Comma, Skipper sp and Peacock.

The moth traps were quieter than expected with 1 Ermine agg., 1 Rush Veneer, 1 Pine Hawk, 2 Heart and Club, 1 Small Elephant, 4 Mottled Rustic, 1 Flame, 1 Large Yellow Underwing, 1 Scarce Footman, 4 Garden Grass Moth, 6 Uncertain/Rustic agg., 1 Browntail, 1 Wormwood Pug, 1 Elephant Hawk, 1 Agapeta hemana, 1 Shore Wainscot, 2 Common Footman, 1 Willow Beauty, 1 Poplar Hawk and 1 Ruby Tiger.

Ruby Tiger close up!

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT

Norfolk Yellow-legged Gull juv Cley NWT at 11.30am c52.9579,1.0544. Park at c52.9544,1.0567

Norfolk Yellow-legged Gull juv Cromer on beach c52.9339,1.3014

Norfolk Quail male singing north of Wells flew over Pinewoods Caravan Park at 2am c52.9699,0.8473

Norfolk Night Heron ad Cley NWT still in North Foreland Wood viewed from East Bank at 7.20am tho elusive c52.9547,1.0637. Viewed from c52.9559,1.0649

Norfolk Green-winged Teal drk y’day Welney WWT still from Main Observatory at 4.15pm (+ad.Bewick’s Swan) 52.5278,0.2775