Well, I’ve been off on annual leave for the past week and feel like I’ve returned to autumn today! It was relatively cool in the morning, with a strong southerly and heavy persistent showers throughout the day at the Observatory. Two Whimbrel flew across the grazing marsh noisily calling late afternoon. There was a good count of 11 Little Grebe on the Broadwater. No sign of much dropping into the car park pools with the rain showers, with only 7 Redshank present when I looked in the morning. Also very little around in the way of migrants today, it was generally very quiet around the Obs.

The moth traps are starting to wind down in diversity and numbers with only 11 species in the trap today including 3 Setaceous Hebrew Character, 1 Flame Shoulder, 1 Ruby Tiger, 10 Large Yellow Underwing, 1 Rosy Rustic, 2 Flounced Rustic, 2 Square Spot Rustic, 1 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 2 Rusty Dot Pearl (a migrant species), 1 Rush Veneer and 3 Beet Moth.

There are still Wall Brown, Speckled Wood and Red Admiral on the wing.

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT

Norfolk Little Stint Titchwell RSPB still this a’noon +Curlew Sand c52.9692.0.6068. Park at c52.9629.0.6063

Norfolk 2.Garganey Salthouse by Iron Road on Swan Pool +juv.Little Stint juv.Curlew Sand 52.9569.1.0808. Park at 52.9534.1.0806. Viewed from 52.9562.1.0817

Norfolk Garganey Salthouse still by Iron Road on Swan Pool at 3.30pm 52.9569.1.0808. Park at 52.9534.1.0806. Viewed from 52.9562.1.0817

Norfolk Temminck’s Stint juv Welney WWT still 3.09pm from Main Observatory 52.5278.0.2775. Park at 52.5268.0.2786

Norfolk 3.Garganey Strumpshaw Fen RSPB still from Reception Hide at 3.25pm c52.6066.1.4547. Park at 52.6071.1.4566. Viewed from 52.6065.1.4558

Norfolk 3.Caspian Gulls (all 1w) y day Walcott on beach at 6.25pm c52.8423.1.5041

Norfolk 2.Garganey Cley NWT on Pat’s Pool from Bishop’s Hide c52.9591.1.0553. Park at 52.9544.1.0566

Norfolk Pec Sand Titchwell RSPB on Freshmarsh in east compartment 10.15–10.40am then flushed + no further sign by 11.58am c52.9678.0.6111. Park at c52.9629.0.6063

Norfolk Temminck’s Stint juv Welney WWT still from Main Observatory 52.5278.0.2775. Park at 52.5268.0.2786

Norfolk Red-backed Shrike 1w north of Thornham still in field south of coast path along saltmarsh in bushes c52.9654.0.5834. Park at 52.9636.0.586 +walk north then west

Norfolk Wood Sand Titchwell RSPB on Freshmarsh c52.9692.0.6068. Park at c52.9629.0.6063

Norfolk Bewick’s Swan ad Wiggenhall St.Germans still at Wiggenhall Bridge at 8.58am c52.7003.0.3799