A very calm and warm morning was ideal for bird ringing, so I opened the nets at 5am.

I caught the first Goldfinch and Bluetit fledglings which was nice.

In total I caught: 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Bluetit, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Sedge Warbler and I caught 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 5 Sedge Warblers, 1 Dunnock, 1 Wren and 1 Lesser Whitethroat which were already ringed.

Other noteworthy bird records are: 3 Great Egret on Broadwater, Cuckoo and Tawny Owl calling, 9 Crossbill in the pines

The moth trap was busy and it took me nearly two hours to go through it. The highlights were: 1 Silky Wainscot, 1 Willow Beauty, 3 Mottled Rustic, 1 Small Wave Umber, 2 Purple Bear, 1 Water Hermine, 2 Large Pale Masoner, 2 Buff Tip, 1 Lattice Heath, 1 Yellow Bell, 1 Small Elephant Hawk Moth, 1 Marbled Minor, 1 Breckland Plume, 1 Mottled Rustic, 1 White Colon, 1 Grey Pine Carpet.

When I arrived in the morning I put on the pump for the pond and was rewarded with sightings of a male and female Smooth Newt and a Large Red Damselfly.

Bee

Norfolk Bird News from Rare Bird Alert

Norfolk BLACK-WINGED KITE ad east of Lessingham still 3.19pm at Hempstead Marshes north of junction of Hickling Lane +Stalham Road 52.7890,1.5867: Viewed from 52.7847,1.5860

Norfolk PALLID HARRIER fem Docking perched on pig field fencing along Docking Road between Docking +Thornham at 1.30pm then flew south an no sign since (Not Montagu’s Harrier) c52.9475,0.5655

Norfolk Montagu’s Harrier fem Docking perched on pig field fencing along Docking Road between Docking +Thornham at 1.30pm then flew south c52.9475,0.5655

Norfolk probable PALLID HARRIER ringtail Titchwell RSPB towards Holme flew south over A149 52.9665,0.6001

Norfolk probable PALLID HARRIER ringtail Titchwell RSPB towards Holme at 10.50am 52.9665,0.6001

Norfolk 2.Honey Buzzards (1.male) 1.25mls ESE of Fulmodeston again at Swanton Great Wood from Swanton Novers raptor watchpoint by Hindolveston Road at 10.30am c52.8390,0.9878. Viewed from 52.8323,0.9823

Norfolk Black-winged Stilt Welney WWT from main observatory at 10.25am c52.5312,0.2813

Norfolk Garganey drk Cley NWT still from Babcock Hide at 8.38am c52.9552,1.0758

Norfolk BLACK-WINGED KITE ad east of Lessingham still at Hempstead Marshes hunting distantly north of junction of Hickling Lane +Stalham Road at 7.30am52.7890,1.5867: Viewed from 52.7847,1.5860