Very, very hot and humid at the Observatory today and generally quiet for birding. There were still a good number of Redshank (40+) on the car park pools, along with Black-tailed Godwit, Lapwing and Oystercatcher. Over 50 Black-headed Gull hawking over the grazing marsh in the afternoon. The Broad Water is attracting lots of ducks including Mallard, Shelduck and Gadwall, as well as Avocet feeding in the shallow bits with the dry conditions. There was one Little Grebe today too.

A really busy couple moth traps this morning including 1 Oak Eggar, 6 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 7 Ruby Tiger, 1 Rosy Footman, 2 Dingy Footman, 5 Smoky Wainscot, 38 Uncertain/Rustic agg., 2 Ermine agg., 8 Scarce Footman, 2 Dusky Sallow, 2 Small Umber, 1 Agapeta hemana, 3 Platyes alpinella, 2 Brown Line Bright Eye, 5 Chilo phragmitella, 2 Agriphilia straminella, 8 Common Rustic agg., 2 Webb’s Wainscot, 10 Large Yellow Underwing, 1 Diamondback, 1 Euscosma cana, 5 Turnip, 9 Least Yellow Underwing, 1 Bulrush Veneer, 1 Small Fan Footed Wave, 2 Marbled Minor agg., 3 Garden Grass Moth, 1 Woodsage Pearl, 5 Southern Wainscot, 8 Drinker, 4 Shuttle Shaped Dart, 1 Lime Speck Pug, 1 Black-fronted Straw,  2 Lesser Yellow Underwing, 2 Willow Ermine, 3 Common Footman, 1 Rosy Minor, 3 Flame Shoulder, 1 Garden Tiger, 1 Reed Dagger, 1 Poplar Hawk, 1 Clay, 1 Oak Marble, 4 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 2 Dusky Plume, 1 Silky Wainscot, 1 Least Carpet, 1 Crambus pascuella, 1 Mouse Moth, 1 Water Veneer, 1 Twin-spotted Wainscot, 1 Dwarf Cream Wave, 1 Brown Tail and 2 Riband Wave.

Webb’s Wainscot

Lots of butterflies around today, with good numbers of Red Admiral and Peacock on the Buddleja by the Observatory. There are also lots of Gatekeeper still on the wing and a couple of Common Blue today.

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT
Norfolk Caspian Gull Cley NWT c52.9591,1.0553. Park at 52.9544,1.0566
Norfolk 1+Bee-eater Cley NWT at Teal Hide [heard only] 52.9577,1.0545. Park at c52.9544,1.0566