Well, after what has been a really tough spring so far in terms of weather for ringing here at the Obs, it was finally a really good morning with very light winds, and also some migrants around!

We caught 40 birds across the day from sunrise until after midday. For new birds we caught 10 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler (first caught of the year!), 8 Blackcap, 1 stunning male Linnet, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Sedge Warbler and 1 Robin. For retraps we had 3 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Chiffchaff (a bird I ringed as a juvenile last year returning to hopefully breed), 1 Great Tit, 1 Wren, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Blue Tit and 2 Reed Warbler – of which one was a control and we’re waiting to hear back from the BTO where it was originally ringed. The second was a returning bird originally ringed here in 2022! I caught it last year in April too at a very similar time of year.

It’s lovely doing net rounds with singing Blackcap, Sedge and Reed Warbler across the Observatory reserve. So, all in all, a great spring morning ringing with Bee for the first time since she started.

Quite a few of the Chiffchaff we ringed had pollen horns which I have spoke about in previous blogs when we were catching a lot of Chiffchaff in spring 2025. ‘Pollen horns’ which are feathers that have become encrusted with pollen. Previous research has shown this is often Eucalyptus pollen in Phylloscopus warblers from feeding in North Africa, Spain and Portugal. One of the Blackcap we caught also had some yellow feathers around its bill from pollen.

Blackcap and Chiffchaff showing encrusted pollen

There were still a few birds around being reported across the day with 2 male Ring Ouzel, 1 Redstart and 5 Wheatear in the dunes. Three Whimbrel were also in a field at Thornham Harbour. Hopefully the start of a larger flock…

It was still quiet in the moth traps with only 4 species, however one of which was new for the year (for me), with 2 Muslin! We also had 1 Streamer on the ringing shed, 2 Hebrew Character and 2 Powdered Quaker.

Shannon & Bee

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk Garganey drk Hickling Broad NWT still 2.04pm at Brendan’s Marsh @52.7397,1.6001: Viewed from 52.7407,1.6006

Norfolk 4.Ring Ouzels Snettisham Coastal Park still at Ken Hill Marshes in Rewilding Area c52.8876,0.4625

Norfolk White-tailed Eagle imm flew north over Welney WWT c52.527,0.2786

Norfolk 2.Ring Ouzels (both males) Holme Dunes NWT still c52.9737,0.5451

Norfolk Common Crane ad Rawhall again at Old Beetley at School Road Flash at 11am 52.731,0.9071: Viewed from 52.7295,0.9063

Norfolk 2.Ring Ouzels (both males) Kelling Water Meadow at from gate by copse at 9.15am only c52.9493,1.1170

Norfolk 6.Ring Ouzels Burnham Overy Dunes at 11.08am c52.9772,0.7587

Norfolk Ring Ouzel between Heacham +Hunstanton from footpath west of golf course c52.9224,0.4932

Norfolk 2.Ring Ouzels Cawston Heath still 11.01am 52.7661,1.2047: Viewed from 52.7657,1.2054. Park at c52.7662,1.2098

Norfolk 5.Ring Ouzels Burnham Overy Dunes c52.9772,0.7587

Norfolk Iceland Gull juv between Waxham +Horsey again on beach by groyne.22 then flew north c52.7663,1.6433 Park at c52.7586,1.6504

Norfolk Garganey drk Hickling Broad NWT from viewpoint at Brendan’s Marsh 52.7391,1.5989

Norfolk 2.Ring Ouzels Waxham still at Waxham Sands Holiday Park at 7.56am c52.7639,1.6422. View only from dunes, do not enter holiday park. Walk north from Horsey Gap

Norfolk Glossy Ibis y’day Blakeney flew west just north of boat park at 2.10pm c52.956,1.0171

Norfolk Hawfinch Thornham at The Orange Tree pub at 6.47am c52.9599,0.5785