Another absolutely mega day for ringing and birding at the obs today!! We were kept busy most of the day catching 128 birds. We caught 109 new birds of 15 species including 4 Long-tailed Tit, 10 Goldcrest, 2 Wren, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler (colour ringed * Right leg: white over metal. Left leg: green over white), 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Linnet, 1 Chaffinch, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Goldfinch, 5 Greenfinch, 10 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush and a whopping 66 Blackbird!! For retraps we had 19 individuals of 9 species including 3 Goldcrest, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Blackbird, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 7 Blue Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 Long-tailed Tit and 1 Reed Bunting.

It was all about the thrushes today and driving in first thing this morning, Holme village and Broadwater Road/NWT entrance track were carpeted with Blackbird. We estimated there was at least 1000 Blackbird, 25 Song Thrush and 500 Redwing recorded in the recording area today. Upon leaving at 4pm, the dunes/paddocks and gardens were still absolutely full of Blackbird trying to feed. Sadly, at least one Blackbird didn’t make it, as we drove out we saw one getting taken away by a Buzzard.

Otherwise in the recording area, there was an unringed Pallas’s Warbler near the Coal Barn at Thornham. A Short Eared Owl was hunting over the grazing marsh in the afternoon showing brilliantly. Two Woodcock arrived in off around the pines. There were 2 Great Northern Diver on the sea. A flock of 29 Snipe flew over. There was a flock of 8 Great White Egret towards Redwell. Two late Blackcap were also around the Obs.

In the moth traps we had 5 Large Wainscot, 2 Vine’s Rustic, 1 Turnip, 6 Rusty Dot Pearl, 2 Narrow-winged Grey, 1 November Moth agg. and 1 Scarce Umber.

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk Water Pipit Blakeney Freshmarsh c52.96,1.0327

Norfolk Slav Grebe Titchwell RSPB still on sea c52.9738,0.6055. Park at c52.9629,0.6063

Norfolk American Golden Plover juv Titchwell RSPB still 2.20pm on Freshmarsh from Parrinder Hide 52.9697,0.606. Viewed from 52.9693,0.607. Park at c52.9629,0.6063

Norfolk 2.Glossy Ibises Salthouse52.954,1.0783. Viewed from 52.9533,1.0778

Norfolk Water Pipit Cley NWT still on Pat’s Pool from Bishop’s Hide c52.9566,1.0576. Viewed from 52.9561,1.0582. Park at 52.9544,1.0567

Norfolk Pallas’s Warbler Thornham Harbour at car park NNW of Coal Barn this morning c52.9679,0.5709

Norfolk 8.Hawfinches Lynford Arboretum still in paddock c52.5103,0.6805

Norfolk Pallas’s Warbler Blakeney Point in Plantation this morning 52.9752,0.9757

Norfolk American Golden Plover Titchwell RSPB still midday on Freshmarsh from Parrinder Hide 52.9697,0.606. Viewed from 52.9693,0.607. Park at c52.9629,0.6063

Norfolk Velvet Scoter Cley NWT off beach car park +Water Pipit c52.9651,1.0483

Norfolk PALLID SWIFT Horsey over Horsey Gap c52.7587,1.6501

Norfolk 2.Siberian Chiffchaffs 1ml ESE of Waxham in sallows 150yds north of old pipe dump c52.7703,1.6337

Norfolk no sign of Pallas’s Warbler Salthouse at Gramborough Hill c52.9546,1.1042

Norfolk DUSKY WARBLER Blakeney Point at The Hood then flew south to saltmarsh c52.9747,1.0016

Norfolk American Golden Plover Titchwell RSPB still on Freshmarsh from Parrinder Hide 52.9697,0.606. Viewed from 52.9693,0.607. Park at c52.9629,0.6063

Norfolk Curlew Sand Titchwell RSPB still on Freshmarsh from Parrinder Hide c52.9692,0.6068. Park at c52.9629,0.6063

Norfolk Ruddy Shelduck fem Salthouse east of Beach Road c52.9544,1.0966

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr 1ml east of Cley still south of A149 at Walsey Hills NOA in willows at south end 52.9531,1.0677. Park at c52.9546,1.0667

Norfolk Ruddy Shelduck on Wednesday Welney WWT still from Main Observatory 52.5278,0.2775. Park at 52.5268,0.2786

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Titchwell RSPB still c52.9629,0.6063

Norfolk Water Pipit y’day Buckenham Marshes RSPB still c52.5941,1.4653

Norfolk Garganey y’day Buckenham Marshes RSPB still on pool by hide 52.5941,1.4653. Park at 52.5981,1.4698