Well what an epic day at the Obs! The undoubted highlight of the day was a Hume’s Warbler we caught in the first net round of the morning. It is only the 3rd ringed at the Obs and there’s only a handful of records in the recording area. A very special bird! We also caught two Firecrest with a further 2 being recorded elsewhere meaning at least 4 were around our core recording area. With the nets open dawn to dusk it was a really busy day ringing for us with 92 birds processed, 50 new and 42 retraps. The other highlights of the day was a young male Kingfisher and a very lovely Redpoll.

Hume’s Warbler and Firecrest – Shannon Clifford

Unbelievably, a second Hume’s Warbler (unringed) turned up in the NWT dunes in the morning, followed by a Dusky Warbler! Both of which were on view at the same time in the same bush!

Elsewhere, three Lapland Bunting flew west over the dunes. A flock of 26 Snow Bunting flew over the NWT VC. At the end of the day 2 Short-eared Owl were over the grazing and a Woodcock was on the track. A final treat was over 20,000 Pink-footed Geese going over the obs to roost at Thornham; at times the sky was literally filled with Geese. A real Norfolk bit of magic.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk 10.Waxwings flew over Hardingham towards Hingham at 3.36pm 52.6028,0.99

Norfolk Siberian Chiffchaff 1ml east of Cley still south of A149 at Walsey Hills NOA at SW end at 3.18pm 52.9534,1.0677: Park at 52.9546,1.0669

Norfolk 2.Waxwings Norwich still 2.30pm at Jenny Lind Park at Union Street entrance in rowan +showing well 52.6243,1.2844: Park at 52.6235,1.2844; Viewed from 52.6241,1.2851

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Holkham Pines still 2.34pm at Bluetail Trail. Park along Lady Anne’s Drive c52.9712,0.7879. Park at c52.9660,0.8144

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Stiffkey still 2.35pm at Campsite Wood at east end c52.9570,0.9347. Park at c52.9566,0.9238

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Wells Woods 300yds west of drinking pool at 2.30pm c52.9744,0.8352

Norfolk 6.Snow Buntings Snettisham Coastal Park on concrete ramp at 1.57pm c52.8770,0.4497 PE31 7RA

Norfolk 2.Twite Thornham on saltmarsh at 1.27pm c52.9665,0.5719

Norfolk Little Bunting Stiffkey still 1.54pm at east end of Campsite Wood in maize field c52.9569,0.9363

Norfolk DESERT WHEATEAR south of Eccles-on-Sea still 2.10pm on beach 52.8048,1.5764

Norfolk Rose-coloured Starling juv Happisburgh still on wires from Happisburgh Community carpark at 1.40pm tho elusive c52.8222,1.5366. Use beach carpark NR12 0PR

Norfolk 2.HUME’S WARBLERS Holkham Pines still 1.30pm at midway along Bluetail Trail. Park along Lady Anne’s Drive c52.9712,0.7879. Park at c52.9660,0.8144

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Stiffkey STILL 1.43PM at Campsite Wood at east end c52.9576,0.9373. Park at c52.9566,0.9238

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Holme Dunes still 2.10pm at Forestry just west of Natterjack Toad pools c52.9748,0.5542

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Waxham by Church Road west of church in willows near cottage at 1.45pm tho mobile 52.7781,1.6176

Norfolk Twite Burnham Overy Dunes this a’noon +Snow Bunting flew east c52.9744,0.7791

Norfolk Velvet Scoter Happisburgh still on sea from cliffs c52.8224,1.5412 Viewed from c52.8219,1.5387

Norfolk DUSKY WARBLER Holme Dunes at Forestry just west of Natterjack Toad pools tho elusive c52.9748,0.5542

Norfolk Slav Grebe Sheringham flew west past seawatching shelter c52.9473,1.2073 Viewed from c52.9458,1.2069 Park at c52.9451,1.2067

Norfolk 3.Waxwings Norwich still 12.34pm at Jenny Lind Park at Union Street entrance in rowan +showing well 52.6243,1.2844: Park at 52.6235,1.2844; Viewed from 52.6241,1.2851

Norfolk 3.Snow Buntings just north of Sea Palling on beach c52.7878,1.6083. Park at 52.7896,1.6013

Norfolk DESERT WHEATEAR south of Eccles-on-Sea on beach +showing well (+18.Snow Buntings) 52.8048,1.5764

Norfolk Little Bunting Stiffkey still at east end of Campsite Wood in maize field at 12.30pm c52.9569,0.9363

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Great Yarmouth still 11.30am at Great Yarmouth Cemetery in north section in NE corner tho elusive c52.6159,1.7333

Norfolk 2.HUME’S WARBLERS Holkham Pines still this a’noon at east end of Bluetail Trail +Pallas’s Warbler still (+Siberian Chiffchaff still). Park along Lady Anne’s Drive c52.9712,0.7879. Park at c52.9660,0.8144

Norfolk still no further sign of Black-faced Bunting WNW of Stiffkey at Warham Greens in suaeda north of whirligig by 12.24pm c52.9583,0.9107. Park at c52.9566,0.9238 NR23 1QF

Norfolk 3.Snow Buntings Holme Dunes again flew east over beach at 11.50am c52.9749,0.5649

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Holkham Pines still 11.31am by main track c150yds west of Meals House. Park along Lady Anne’s Drive c52.9712,0.7879. Park at c52.9660,0.8144

Norfolk 3.Snow Buntings Titchwell RSPB at 11.58am 52.9749,0.6007: Viewed from 52.9693,0.6048

Norfolk no sign of juv.Rose-coloured Starling Happisburgh by Happisburgh Community carpark (but 5.Snow Buntings below lighthouse) c52.8222,1.5366. Use beach carpark NR12 0PR

Norfolk FERRUGINOUS DUCK ad.drk Rollesby Broad still near NE inlet at 11.40am 52.6786,1.6399: Viewed from 52.6787,1.6431

Norfolk no further sign of Black-faced Bunting WNW of Stiffkey at Warham Greens west of whirligig by 11.52am 52.9557,0.9043. Park at c52.9566,0.9238 NR23 1QF

Norfolk 27.Twite Salthouse on shingle ridge east of north end of Iron Road tho mobile 52.9555,1.0801. Viewed from 52.9554,1.0815@. Park at 52.9534,1.0806

Norfolk Caspian Gull 1w Salthouse east of Iron Road at 10.55am c52.9551,1.0991 NR25 7XA

Norfolk Little Stint SE of King’s Lynn still on Hardwick flood lagoon c52.7398,0.4311. Park west of A149 roundabout +view from verge before fence

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Holkham Pines still 11.15am at east end of Bluetail Trail. Park along Lady Anne’s Drive c52.9712,0.7879. Park at c52.9660,0.8144

Norfolk 7.Shorelarks Salthouse still 10.36am on shingle ridge east of Iron Road c52.9549,1.0996 NR25 7XA

Norfolk 5+Mealy Redpolls 4mls ENE of King’s Lynn still at Roydon Common NWT at 11.04am c52.7728,0.4861. Park at 52.7783,0.4898

Norfolk Waxwing flew south over Holme at 10.39am c52.9748,0.5542

Norfolk 3.Waxwings Norwich still 10.58am at Jenny Lind Park at Union Street entrance in rowan +showing well 52.6243,1.2844: Park at 52.6235,1.2844; Viewed from 52.6241,1.2851

Norfolk BLACK-FACED BUNTING WNW of Stiffkey again 11.19am at Warham Greens west of whirligig in field south of coast path then flew east +landed in suaeda 52.9557,0.9043. Park at c52.9566,0.9238 NR23 1QF

Norfolk no further sign of Black-faced Bunting WNW of Stiffkey at Warham Greens west of whirligig in field south of coast path by 10.58am 52.9557,0.9043. Park at c52.9566,0.9238

Norfolk Long-eared Owl Holkham at Lady Anne’s Drive flew over cattle field at 9.20am c52.9606,0.8150. Park along Lady Anne’s Drive

Norfolk BLACK-FACED BUNTING WNW of Stiffkey still 10.30am at Warham Greens west of whirligig in field south of coast path 52.9557,0.9043. Park at c52.9566,0.9238

Norfolk repeat: BLACK-FACED BUNTING Warham Greens west of whirligig in field south of coast path at 10.10am 52.9557,0.9043

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Great Yarmouth still at Great Yarmouth Cemetery in north section at 10am c52.6151,1.7317

Norfolk probable Siberian Chiffchaff Holkham Pines in hedge just east of Joe Jordan Hide at 10.05am c52.9701,0.7912

MEGA Norfolk BLACK-FACED BUNTING Stiffkey by coast path 1/2ml west of carpark at 10.10am 52.9557,0.9043

Norfolk 4.Shorelarks flew south over Waxham c52.7795,1.6188

Norfolk 4.Snow Buntings flew north over Waxham c52.7795,1.6188

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Holme Dunes still 9.49am at Forestry c52.9748,0.5542

Norfolk 3.Waxwings Norwich still 9.21am at Jenny Lind Park at Union Street entrance in rowan 52.6241,1.2847: Viewed from 52.6241,1.285

Norfolk Pallas’s Warbler Holkham Pines still at east end of Bluetail Trail at 9.50am then flew east. Park along Lady Anne’s Drive c52.9712,0.7879. Park at c52.9660,0.8144

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Holkham Pines in pine just east of Joe Jordan Hide at 9.41am c52.9701,0.7912

Norfolk 2.Waxwings flew south over Waxham at 9.42am c52.7795,1.6188

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Stiffkey at Campsite Wood east of track at east end c52.9576,0.9373. Park at c52.9566,0.9238

Norfolk 2+HUME’S WARBLERS Holkham Pines still at east end of Bluetail Trail at 9.03am. Park along Lady Anne’s Drive c52.9712,0.7879. Park at c52.9660,0.8144

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Holme Dunes at Forestry c52.9748,0.5542

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Holme Dunes NOA trapped +ringed c52.9738,0.5515

Norfolk 2.HUME’S WARBLERS Holkham Pines in sallow at east end of Bluetail Trail at 8.49am. Park along Lady Anne’s Drive c52.9712,0.7879. Park at c52.9660,0.8144

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Holkham Pines still at east end of Bluetail Trail at 8.44am. Park along Lady Anne’s Drive c52.9712,0.7879. Park at c52.9660,0.8144

Norfolk 9.Shorelarks Salthouse still on shingle ridge east of Iron Road (+21.Twite) c52.9549,1.0996 NR25 7XA

Norfolk 3.Waxwings Norwich still at Jenny Lind Park at Union Street entrance in rowan at 8.11am 52.6241,1.2847: Viewed from 52.6241,1.285

Norfolk 2.Snow Buntings Winterton 200yds north of seal cafe at 8am c52.7200,1.6971

Norfolk 20.Snow Buntings y’day Blakeney Point 52.9752,0.9757

Norfolk 8+Mealy Redpolls y’day 4mls ENE of King’s Lynn at Roydon Common NWT c52.7728,0.4861. Park at 52.7783,0.4898

Norfolk Shorelark y’day Blakeney Point (+Mealy Redpoll) c52.9736,0.9733