There was a north westerly at the Obs this morning and it was quite overcast to start turning sunny late afternoon. Around the Obs/core recording area there was a single juvenile Dunlin on the car park pools, 2 Spoonbill (one was a juvenile begging its parent for food), 18 Redshank, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Green Woodpecker in the pines, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 4 Raven flew over the Obs cronking.

There were a little gathering of Swallow and Sand Martin feeding over the grazing marsh/Broadwater first thing with 21 Swallow, 6 Sand Martin, and a single Swift.

Spoonbill over the Broadwater in the morning – Shannon Clifford

On a beach count in the morning towards Thornham before high tide I had 148 Sandwich Tern, 13 Common Tern, 2 Little Tern, 28 Sanderling, 120 Herring Gull, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 43 Oystercatcher, 18 Curlew, 13 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Knot, 3 Cormorant, and the highlights of the day, 2 Arctic Skua and a single Kittiwake on the beach! It was really nice to see a bit roost of birds gathering and so many juvenile fledged Sandwich Tern. The Arctic Skua were just loafing about on the sand and occasionally chasing the gulls/terns.

Later at Thornham Harbour 3 Arctic Skua, 1 Whimbrel and a leucistic Bar-tailed Godwit were reported. On a seawatch around high tide 17 Common Scoter, 1 Arctic Skua, 5 Little Tern, 5 Common Tern, 40 Sandwich Tern and 25 Gannet were recorded.

Arctic Skuas on the beach! – Shannon Clifford

We had our usual Wednesday moth morning and it was a really nice morning with some lovely moths including Southern Wainscot, Shore Wainscot, Crescent, Saltmarsh Plume and Small Mottled Willow. The complete list is below:

Crescent – Shannon Clifford

Southern Wainscot showing their distinctive “headband”! – Shannon Clifford

Shannon

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk 2.Caspian Gulls (both.3s) Titchwell RSPB on Freshmarsh c52.9683,0.6093 Park at c52.9628,0.6065

Norfolk 2.Glossy Ibises Kelling Water Meadows still 1.52pm c52.9493,1.1168

Norfolk Red-backed Shrike male Hickling Broad NWT still 11.29am from Stubb Mill viewpoint tho distant 52.7412,1.61: Park at 52.7422,1.5949; Viewed from 52.7413,1.6092

Norfolk 2.Glossy Ibises Kelling Water Meadows still 10.28am at main pool c52.9493,1.1168

Norfolk Red-backed Shrike male Hickling Broad NWT still 9.21am from Stubb Mill viewpoint 52.7412,1.61: Park at 52.7422,1.5949; Viewed from 52.7413,1.6092

Norfolk 2.Glossy Ibises Kelling Water Meadows still at main pool c52.9493,1.1168

Norfolk Red-backed Shrike male Hickling Broad NWT still from Stubb Mill viewpoint at 7.10am 52.7412,1.61: Park at 52.7422,1.5949; Viewed from 52.7413,1.6092