The weather today was very changeable and heavy thundery showers were interspersed with lovely sunshine.

In the dry spells I enjoyed watching the 3 Spoonbill on Broadwater as well as 13 Little Tern, 10 Sand Martin and 6 Swifts foraging. A Dunnock used the puddle that had formed on the track to have a thorough bath.

I haven’t finished identifying some moths, so I will ask the moth enthusiasts who come to the Wednesday moth morning for advice and will update the blog with the moths tomorrow.

The butterflies today were: 5 Small Heath, 1 Speckled Wood, 5 Painted Lady, 1 Admiral and 2 Meadow Brown. Furthermore the Common Green Grasshopper was chirping and there were some more toadlets moving.

And I found some Early Marsh Orchids (Dactylorhizza incarnata subsp. coccinea) in the dunes. The Botanical of Britain and Ireland states: A tuberous perennial herb of machair grassland and especially damp dune-slacks, where it can be abundant.

Bee

Norfolk Bird News from Rare Bird Alert

Norfolk RED-FOOTED FALCON male Strumpshaw Fen RSPB still 1.13pm hunting from Reception Hide then flew towards Fen Hide c52.6065,1.4558

Norfolk Quail Flitcham at Abbey Road at 1pm c52.8070,0.5838

Norfolk BLACK-WINGED KITE ad east of Lessingham still at Hempstead Marshes north of junction of Hickling Lane +Stalham Road at 1.10pm 52.7854,1.5838 Viewed from c52.7845,1.5848

Norfolk RED-FOOTED FALCON male Strumpshaw Fen RSPB still 12.44pm hunting from Reception Hide c52.6065,1.4558

Norfolk Common Crane ad Rawhall again at Old Beetley at School Road Flash at 11.15am 52.7304,0.9091

Norfolk Garganey drk Welney WWT still c52.5338,0.2823

Norfolk RED-FOOTED FALCON male Strumpshaw Fen RSPB still 8.10am between Fen Hide +reception then flew south across the river +lost to view c52.605,1.4487

Norfolk RED-FOOTED FALCON male Strumpshaw Fen RSPB still 7.45am between Fen Hide +reception c52.605,1.4487

Norfolk RED-FOOTED FALCON male Strumpshaw Fen RSPB still 7am between Fen Hide +reception c52.605,1.4487

Norfolk RED-FOOTED FALCON male Strumpshaw Fen RSPB again between Fen Hide +reception at 5.59am c52.605,1.4487