Having been away for the last couple of weeks, it was lovely to be back at the Obs. I was visiting Skokholm Bird Observatory for a week, to help out with ringing and see how another bird observatory operates. A very useful and fun experience. I ringed my first Green Sandpiper, Manx Shearwater and Spotted Flycatcher. We also caught a Melodious Warbler which was very useful to see after catching our Icterine Warbler at the Obs a few weeks ago. A Montagu’s Harrier was another bonus bird and my first time seeing one in the UK! Time off was wrapped up with a few days in Paris with Ed for my birthday!

First thing at the Obs there was a very strong westerly which meant mist netting wasn’t an option. So instead, we focussed on birding around the Observatory followed by seawatching, and it was nice that pretty much the first bird I seen at the Obs this morning was a Redstart in the pines! Also around the Observatory reserve we recorded 2 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler and 1 Blackcap. On the Broadwater there was a Kingfisher calling, 6 Dunlin, 52 Lapwing and 6 Redshank. There were 2 Wheatear in the NWT dunes.

Seawatching was pretty quiet but we were treated to some special birds. Highlights from seawatching included one Osprey which drifted west along the turbines before heading north west out to sea, 4 Little Tern, 5 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Tern and 1 Bonxie. We also had 4 racing pigeons! Three Manx Shearwater were also recorded on other seawatches by other observers.

View our full data on Trektellen here – https://www.trektellen.org/count/view/6392/20260905

For moths it was starting to feel very autumnal. We recorded 9 Square Spot Rustic, 3 Archer’s Dart, 2 Vine’s Rustic, 1 Lime Speck Pug, 4 Flounced Rustic, 43 Large Yellow Underwing, 2 BBYU, 2 Chevron Grass-moth, 1 White Point, 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character, 9 Beet Moth, 1 Rosy Rustic, 1 Rush Veneer, 1 Brimstone and 1 Scarce Bordered Straw. We also came across a pristine Herald Moth by chance in some vegetation on East Bank.

Scarce Bordered Straw

There was a few butterflies (White sp) moving east on the sea with 8 recorded. Other butterflies included Small Heath, Wall and Green-veined White. Number of Common Darter are starting to build around the Obs with many starting to rest on the railings.

Shannon

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk BLACK-WINGED KITE ad Sea Palling still 2.46pm SW of The Marrams on wires viewed from double metal gates tho distant NR12 0AL 52.7888,1.585. Viewed from 52.7948,1.5892. Park at c52.7892,1.6016

Norfolk Spotted Crake juv Titchwell RSPB still 2.30pm on back bund from Island Hide 52.9684,0.6069: Viewed from 52.9673,0.6048 Park at c52.9629,0.6063

Norfolk Long-tailed Skua Horsey flew SE past Horsey Gap at 2.20pm c52.7597,1.6527

Norfolk Wryneck Kelling Water Meadow till 12.15pm at Meadow Lane/ track junction then flew to field on left before junction c52.9500,1.1152

Norfolk Pec Sand Cley NWT still 2.05pm on Simmonds’s Scrape from Daukes’s Hide c52.9577,1.0553 Viewed from c52.9579,1.0544 Park at c52.9544,1.0567

Norfolk Spotted Crake juv Titchwell RSPB still 12.33pm on back bund from Island Hide 52.9684,0.6069: Viewed from 52.9673,0.6048 Park at c52.9629,0.6063

Norfolk Pec Sand Cley NWT still 12.55pm from Daukes’s Hide c52.9577,1.0553 Viewed from c52.9579,1.0544 Park at c52.9544,1.0567

Norfolk 2.Glossy Ibises Cley NWT at Pat’s Pool at 12.40pm (+Wood Sand still) c52.9570,1.0568 Viewed from c52.9562,1.0582 Park at c52.9544,1.0567

Norfolk 3.Black Terns Cley flew west past beach carpark mid morning c52.9656,1.0492 (NR25 7RY

Norfolk BLACK-WINGED KITE ad Sea Palling still 11.14am SW of The Marrams on wires viewed from double metal gates tho distant NR12 0AL 52.7888,1.585. Viewed from 52.7948,1.5892. Park at c52.7892,1.6016

Norfolk Pec Sand Cley NWT still midday east of north end of East Bank at Arnold’s Marsh from Richardson’s Lookout c52.9603,1.0674

Norfolk Pec Sand Cley NWT east of north end of East Bank at Arnold’s Marsh from Richardson’s Lookout at 10.50am c52.9603,1.0674

Norfolk no sign of Wryneck Kelling Water Meadow at Meadow Lane/ track junction late morning c52.9500,1.1152

Norfolk Spotted Crake juv Titchwell RSPB still 10.50am on back bund from Island Hide 52.9684,0.6069: Viewed from 52.9673,0.6048 Park at c52.9629,0.6063

Norfolk Spotted Crake juv Titchwell RSPB still 10.25am from Island Hide at SW compartment of freshmarsh on east-west bund c52.9670,0.6046 Park at c52.9629,0.6063

Norfolk 2.Glossy Ibises Kelling Water Meadow again at main pool at 9.59am c52.9499,1.1163: Viewed from 52.95,1.1159

Norfolk Sabine’s Gull juv flew west past Kelling Quags at 9.38am c52.9535,1.1166

Norfolk Wryneck Kelling Water Meadow at Meadow Lane/ track junction c52.9500,1.1152

Norfolk Pec Sand Cley NWT on Pat’s Pool from Bishop’s Hide then flew off c52.9567,1.0565. Viewed from c52.9562,1.0582. Park at c52.9544,1.0567

Norfolk Black Tern Cley flew west past beach carpark at 8am c52.9656,1.0492 (NR25 7RY

Norfolk Pec Sand Cley NWT on Pat’s Pool from Bishop’s Hide 52.9567,1.0565. Viewed from c52.9562,1.0582. Park at c52.9544,1.0567

Norfolk Little Stint Setchey still at Setch Road Clay Pits at 6.55am c52.7055,0.4332

Norfolk BLACK-WINGED KITE ad Sea Palling still SW of The Marrams on wires viewed from double metal gates at 7am tho distant NR12 0AL 52.7888,1.585. Viewed from 52.7948,1.5892. Park at c52.7892,1.6016

Norfolk Spotted Crake Titchwell RSPB still from Island Hide at SW compartment of freshmarsh on east-west bund. 52.9670,0.6046 Park at 52.9629,0.6063