A morning seawatch from sunrise to 08:20 continued to see some duck/goose passage with 1 Brent Goose, 88 Wigeon, 214 Teal, 82 Common Scoter, 5 Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Fulmar, 14 Gannet, 21 Cormorant, 1 Arctic Skua, 12 Black-headed Gull, 10 Sandwich Tern, 1 Mallard, 7 Grey Plover, 2 Shelduck, 2 Swallow, 92 Pink-footed Geese (in off) and bizarrely 4 Great White Egret! So, a really nice seawatch, especially with lots of mixed duck flocks! But the afternoon is when things really picked up on the sea when a Leach’s Petrel was picked up going east, then seen again going west and it also dropped onto the sea. Then, an adult pale morph Pom Skua went past west close in. I also had a single Bonxie going past east. More Brent Geese were passing on the sea by the afternoon and two Pale-bellied Brent’s were also seen with some Dark-bellied Brent’s.

After seawatching, I opened the nets and had a reasonable morning 37 birds captured, including 10 Goldcrest, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Wren, 10 Blue Tit, 3 Goldfinch, 4 Meadow Pipit, 1 Robin and 4 Dunnock. Still a lack of migrants about so far.

A Brambling (the first of the year) was in the Pines just above the Obs midday before noisily flying west through the Pines. Just as I was about to leave this afternoon a Spotted Flycatcher turned up and with sitting in one of the trees between the NOA staff car park and NWT VC and gave great views. Hopefully the start of more to come in the next few days with northeasterlies forecast!

Decent number and diversity in the moth traps today for the time of year with 10 Large Yellow Underwing, 1 Black Rustic, 40 Lunar Underwing, 2 Feathered Ranunculus, 1 Rosy Rustic, 1 Brimstone, 1 Shuttle Shaped Dart, 3 Square Spot Rustic, 2 Beaded Chestnut, 1 Shore Wainscot, 1 Delicate, 1 Dark Sword Grass and 1 White Point.  I always check the Pine tree next to the moth trap for any moths that don’t end up inside the trap, and often don’t find anything on them, but today I found this very well camouflaged Feathered Ranunculus tucked up in between the bark!

Feathered Ranunculus

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FORM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk 2.Pale-bellied Brent Geese flew west past Holme Dunes with 12.Dark-bellied Brent Geese at 1.53pm c52.9755,0.5563

Norfolk Pec Sand Salthouse again 1.30pm west of Iron Road on Swan Pool 52.9569,1.0808. Park at 52.9534,1.0806. Viewed from 52.9562,1.0817

Norfolk LESSER GREY SHRIKE Winterton North Dunes still 1.15pm c100yds north of totem poles. 52.7234,1.6915 Park at c52.7179,1.6982

Norfolk 2.Glossy Ibises Salthouse still west of Beach Road at 12.57pm c52.9531,1.0947

Norfolk Pom Skua Cley Marshes flew west past beach car park. c52.9673,1.0511 Viewed from c52.9655,1.0488 Park at c52.9653,1.0483

Norfolk Ruddy Shelduck Cley NWT again on Bull Marsh with Pink-footed Geese at 12.53pm c52.9611,1.0518 Viewed from c52.9609,1.0475

Norfolk Pom Skua pale-morph ad flew west past Holme Dunes at 12.35pm c52.9755,0.5563

Norfolk Leach’s Petrel flew west past Holme Dunes NWT again at 12.05pm then landed on sea c52.9755,0.5563

Norfolk Glossy Ibis Holkham Pines from Washington Hide at 12.05pm 52.9711,0.8025

Norfolk Leach’s Petrel flew east past Holme Dunes c52.9755,0.5563

Norfolk LESSER GREY SHRIKE Winterton North Dunes still late morning c100yds north of totem poles. c52.7199,1.6930 Park at c52.7179,1.6982

Norfolk 2.Sooty S’waters flew north past California at 9.51am 52.6804,1.7178

Norfolk Snow Bunting Winterton Dunes flew north over toilets at 9.30am c52.7173,1.6979

Norfolk no further sign of Lesser Grey Shrike Winterton South Dunes by mid morning. 52.7143,1.6994 Park at c52.7179,1.6982

Norfolk Pec Sand ad Snettisham RSPB again on Pit.4 at 7.30am c52.8502,0.4468. Park at c52.8685,0.4526. Viewed from 52.8502,0.4458

Norfolk LESSER GREY SHRIKE Winterton South Dunes still 8.46am opposite Hermanus. 52.7143,1.6994 Park at c52.7179,1.6982

Norfolk 2.Pec Sands Salthouse still west of Iron Road on Swan Pool tho elusive +2.Glossy Ibises south of pool in ditch c52.9569,1.0808. Park at 52.9534,1.0806. Viewed from 52.9562,1.0817

Norfolk LESSER GREY SHRIKE Winterton South Dunes still opposite Hermanus c52.7141,1.6972. Park at 52.7179,1.6982