It was an overcast day with even a few spits of rain in the afternoon – much cooler than it’s been. I focussed on ringing again with 31 birds caught, 19 new and 12 retraps, still not much sign of movement of migrants. For new I caught 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Wren, 1 Goldcrest, 9 Blue Tit, 2 Blackcap, 2 Great Tit and 1 Dunnock. For retraps there was 3 Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Wren, 1 Robin, 1 Coal Tit and 1 Dunnock.

One of the retrap Chiffchaff was quite an old adult ringed as a juvenile back in 2021! It was caught again in 2022, then 2024 and now this is the fourth time its been caught in 2025! According to the BTO the typical life expectancy of a Chiffchaff reaching breeding age is 2 years so it’s doing well.

A juvenile Goldcrest moulting in its crest

Otherwise, a quiet day with little reported. A few Whimbrel could be heard on the beach whilst I was ringing. A Black Tern went east past Holme dunes in the afternoon.

Another good haul in the moth traps today with 2 Fern, 15 Common Wainscot, 1 Small Emerald, 2 Straw Underwing, 5 Dingy Footman, 10 Vine’s Rustic, 3 White Point, 14 Archer’s Dart, 1 Yellowtail, 2 Sharp Angled Peacock, 9 Acleris laterana, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Character, 2 Drinker, 1 Pale Eggar, 10 Flounced Rustic, 6 Turnip, 4 Lesser BB Yellow Underwing, 5 Nutmeg, 1 Large Yellow Underwing, 1 Rosy Footman, 3 Shuttle Shaped Dart, 1 P. despicata, 2 Bryotropha sp., 1 Six-striped Rustic, 1 Bright-line Brown-eye, 1 C. implicatina and 1 Frosted Orange.  

I had three Hummingbird Hawk Moth at the Observatory today, including two appearing to be ovipositing on the Bedstraw outside! One also ended up accidentally flying into the Obs before quickly settling on the light of all places – I managed to get it in a pot to release it outside, it’s the first time I’ve seen one not busily hovering.

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRDS NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT

Norfolk 2+Wood Sands Buckenham Marshes RSPB still on pool NW of hide by fishermen’s car park 52.5942,1.465. Park at 52.5981,1.4698. Viewed from 52.5927,1.4668

Norfolk Caspian Gull juv Sheringham still on beach c52.9469,1.2070. Park at 52.9450,1.2067

Norfolk 6+Caspian Gulls y’day Titchwell RSPB in evng c52.9692,0.6068. Park at 52.9629,0.6064