An early start this morning to focus on ringing today at the Observatory with the light NW winds. It turned out to be a pretty good day with 44 captures of 12 species, 40 were new birds and only 4 recaptures.

For new birds I had 2 juvenile Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff, 5 Wren, 7 Blue Tit, 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Robin, 4 Reed Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Goldfinch and 7 Great Tit. Then for recaptures I had 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Blue Tit and 1 Robin. As is to be expected at this time of year the majority of birds today were juveniles which is lovely to see!

A wee Wren

Otherwise around the reserve, there was a juvenile Cuckoo this morning and a good count of 40 Black-tailed Godwit on the car park pools. There were small numbers (10+) of Sand Martin over the Pines first thing this morning.

Another good day for the moths today with 5 Common Wainscot, 3 Common Masoner, 7 Turnip, 1 Straw Dot, 1 Single Dotted Wave, 2 Rosy Footman, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Character, 4 Drinker, 2 Sharp Angled Peacock, 2 Flame Shoulder, 1 Shuttle Shaped Dart, 1 Fen Wainscot, 3 Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Ermine agg., 1 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 3 Buff Footman, 2 Smoky Wainscot, 2 Common Rustic agg, 2 Uncertain / Rustic agg, 5 Scarce Footman, 1 Rosy Minor, 1 Straw Underwing, 1 Least Yellow Underwing, 1 Garden Tiger, 1 Archers Dart, 1 Cochylis atricapitana, 1 Platytes alpinella, 1 Celypha rosaceana and 2 Cloaked Minor.

Sometimes the moths don’t always end up inside the trap…. A lovely Garden Tiger

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT

Curlew Sandpiper Titchwell RSPB this afternoon c52.9692,0.6068. Park at 52.9629,0.6064,

Wood Sandpiper Cley NWT from Babcock Hide c52.9554,1.0769.