With the winds swinging north-westerly around lunch, the afternoon was dedicated to sea-watching (the morning was dedicated to hiding from the heavy rain!). The weather throughout was poor, with intermitent bouts of heavy rain making visibility poor, so we spent the first few hours in the seawatching hide before braving it in the dunes. However, there were still good numbers of birds moving with totals of 2 Pomarine Skuas (one adult), 26 Arctic Skuas, 19 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Little Gulls, 3 Mediterranean Gulls,  2 Arctic Terns, 89 Brent Geese  and 18 Kittiwakes amongst lots of other goodies (totals on Trektellen https://www.trektellen.org/count/view/6392/20261007). Always a highlight on seawatches too, was watching a Short-eared Owl make the final leg of its journey across the North Sea, over the dunes and down onto the grazing marsh. Pure migration magic. This also appears to set us up nicely for tomorrow, when the winds are predicted to be rather favourable for some all-day seawatching. We’re hoping for a big day!

A trio of Pom Skua – 2 photos show a nice comparison with an Arctic Skua. This bird has spoons and shows a nice breastband, and was noticeably larger and stockier than the Arctic Skua. Photos by S. Clifford.

There was also magic in the moth trap today, or should I say wonder….. Although a fully-spooned Pom through the surf on a seawatch has to be the highlight of the day, a Merveille du Jour (which means “Wonder of the Day” in French) in the moth trap is a close rival… This was a first for me and is now my absolute favourite moth!

Shannon

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk Red-necked Grebe flew west past Weybourne Camp 8am-9.30am c52.9495,1.1293

Norfolk Sooty S’water flew west past Cley at 3.26pm c52.9651,1.0483

Norfolk probable Barolo Shearwater flew north past Hunstanton at 2.55pm c52.9498,0.4933

Norfolk Sabine’s Gull juv Cley flew east past beach carpark at 2.35pm 52.9651,1.0483

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

Norfolk BLACK-WINGED KITE ad Sea Palling still SW of The Marrams viewed from double metal gates at 12.37pm tho distant NR12 0AL 52.7911,1.5839: Park at 52.7894,1.6013; Viewed from 52.795,1.5892

Norfolk FERRUGINOUS DUCK ad.drk Rollesby Broad again 11.23am 52.6782,1.6404

Norfolk Little Gull 1w Cley NWT flew over Simmonds’s Scrape at 11.10am c52.9591,1.0553. Park at c52.9546,1.0566

Norfolk Ring Ouzel Burnham Overy Dunes c52.9772,0.7587

Norfolk Curlew Sand Titchwell RSPB still on freshmarsh from Parrinder Hide at 9.38am c52.9684,0.6109 PE31 8BB

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr y’day Glandford by ford at 4.42pm c52.9314,1.0422