Another early start for seawatching from 07:00 until 10:55 and another productive but cold few hours! Our totals in the end were 3 Brent Goose, 4 Eider, 1 Long-tailed Duck, 39 Common Scoter, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Red-throated Diver, 28 Great Crested Grebe, 59 Gannet, 106 Cormorant, 22 Common Gull, 1 Med Gull, 23 Great Black-backed Gull, 5 Herring Gull, 1 Guillemot, 3 Razorbill, 8 Shelduck and the highlight of the seawatch was 10 Little Gulls (a mixture of adults and juveniles), and a nice bit of Kittiwake movement with 167 individuals, with very few juveniles.

Otherwise the highlight of the day was two stunning Firecrest showing amazingly well in the tamarisk in front of the Obs together. We watched them metres away actively hunting for insects. Elsewhere there was a single Purple Sandpiper and a hunting Merlin around Thornham channel, 2 Blackcap in the dell, 3 Pintail on the Broad Water and 17 Crossbill in the pines; with a single bird showing really well in the Sycamore on its own for a while in the afternoon.

We briefly ringed in the afternoon after the wind dropped and caught a Wren and a few Blue Tit, which usually just means lots of sore fingers (they are very bitey). However, just occasionally, the sore fingers are worth it when an interesting one pops up, like this bird below. At the old age of 5 years and 2 months (it was ringed as a juvenile in 2020) this bird is doing rather well given the average life expectancy of a Blue Tit is 3 years old.

Quiet again in the moth traps with 3 Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Rusty Dot Pearl, 2 Turnip and 2 Large Wainscot.

Shannon Clifford

Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk 6.Little Auks Sheringham flew west past shelter 8am-1.30pm (+Sooty S’water flew past) c52.9469,1.2070. Park at 52.9450,1.2067. Viewed from 52.9459,1.2069

Norfolk Glossy Ibis Thornham Harbour flew over Thornham Marsh at 12.35pm c52.9665,0.5719

Norfolk Little Auk flew east past Salthouse at 11.05am c52.9544,1.0966

Norfolk 2.Little Auks Sheringham flew west past shelter at 12.25pm c52.9469,1.2070. Park at 52.9450,1.2067. Viewed from 52.9459,1.2069

Norfolk Ruddy Shelduck fem Cley NWT still at Bull Marsh viewed from West Bank 52.9608,1.0489. Viewed from 52.9606,1.0473

Norfolk 3.Velvet Scoters flew north past Horsey Gap at 11.45am c52.7587,1.6501

Norfolk Waxwing Titchwell RSPB in ash in car park c52.9738,0.6055. Park at c52.9629,0.6063

Norfolk Glaucous Gull juv Weybourne still off beach car park at 11am c52.9495,1.1403

Norfolk 5.Velvet Scoters Hunstanton still off south end of cliffs at 9.50am c52.9498,0.4933

Norfolk 2.Glossy Ibises Stiffkey from path at 9.05am 52.9575,0.922: Viewed from 52.9569,0.9222

Norfolk Glossy Ibis Stiffkey still on saltmarsh at 7.45am c52.9591,0.9231