It was generally quiet for bird sightings today, however there was still a good gathering of birds on the falling tide on the beach to look through. I recorded 140 Herring Gull, 70+ Oystercatcher, 40 Black-headed Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 10 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Knot, 77 Sandwich Tern and 8 Common Tern. A Marsh Harrier appeared out of nowhere flying along the sea/tide line causing chaos and all the terns to start mobbing it which was a bit of spectacle!

There was still 1 Dunlin, Shelduck babies, Lapwing, Avocet, 7 Redshank and 1 Spoonbill from the car park hides/on Broadwater.

The moths were quiet today so though surprising with the wind last night! I had 3 Scarce Footman, 1 Garden Pebble, 17 Turnip, 1 Shuttle Shaped Dart, 7 Cloaked Minor, 4 Archer’s Dart, 6 Small Mottled Willow, 1 Uncertain agg., 2 Lesser Borad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 1 Sharp Angled Peacock, 1 Pearl Grass-moth, 1 Drinker, 1 Rolled Grass-moth, 1 Common Masoner, 1 Yellowtail and we had 2 Hummingbird Hawk Moths around the Obs Buddleia.

Yellowtail moth up close, so fluffy!

For butterflies it was mainly Red Admiral, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown on the wing, but it was nice to see Holly Blue again, with the second generation having just emerged.

We were sent in this fantastic photo of one of our Hummingbird Hawks around the Obs – taken by Julian Lucchesi

Shannon

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk Queen of Spain Fritillary butterfly Ringstead along path at Ringstead Downs c52.9403,0.5190

Norfolk Red-backed Shrike Roydon Common NNR along fenceline tho mobile c52.7719,0.4927

Norfolk Common Crane ad Rawhall again at Old Beetley at School Road Flash at 10.20am 52.7312,0.9072

Norfolk Caspian Gull ad y’day Titchwell RSPB in evening roost c52.9683,0.6093 Park at c52.9628,0.6065