A steady day at the Obs, a trip to Thornham harbour and Gore Point revealed: 60 Brent Geese, 4 Shelduck, 85 Wigeon, 45 Teal, 65 Cormorants, 6 Little Egrets, 145 Oystercatchers, 6 Grey Plover, 35 Lapwing, 24 Curlew, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Turnstone, 18 Sanderling, 4 Dunlin, 12 Redshank, 11 Skylark, 200 Starling, 4 Rock Pipits and 45 Linnets. A highlight was 2 Great Northern Divers on the sea.

With fewer birds around I have been spending longer looking at individuals, so far this week I have photographed 5 colour-marked individuals: 3 Curlew, 1 Oystercatcher and 1 Black-tailed Godwit. Colour marks such as lightweight plastic rings, are put on a birds leg alongside a BTO metal ring, this enables the identification of the individual bird without needing to recapture it. Using colour marks alongside a metal ring allows us to study aspects of a birds ecology which cannot be investigated using a BTO metal ring alone. For example it can be used to estimate survival rates of a marked populations, understand the behaviour of subgroups of birds, such as males and females, or juveniles and adults. It also enables investigations into habitat use, as well as breeding, wintering and migration patterns. So next time you find yourself with a good view of individual birds, why not have a look for colour marks. You can find where to submit your colour ring information here: https://cr-birding.org/colourprojects

Molly Brown – Seasonal Assistant

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Holkham Pines still 11.50am at Bluetail Trail tho elusive 52.9714,0.7888 NR23 1RG

Norfolk 2.Long-tailed Ducks (both fem/1w.drk) Titchwell RSPB still on sea at 11.48am c52.9738,0.6055

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Wells Woods still in willows in NW corner of The Dell (juv.Great Northern Diver off beach huts) 52.9726,0.8433

Norfolk Siberian Chiffchaff Titchwell RSPB still at Fen Trail near Meadow Trail junction at 9.15am c52.9640,0.6043. Park at c52.9629,0.6063

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Holkham Pines still at Bluetail Trail tho elusive c52.9717,0.7888 NR23 1RG

Norfolk 2.Water Pipits Cley NWT still on Pat’s Pool from Bishop’s Hide at 8.35am 52.9563,1.0581. Viewed from c52.9561,1.0582. Park at c52.9544,1.0567

Norfolk Glossy Ibis y’day Warham Greens again on saltmarsh north of Garden Drove at 3.45pm c52.9591,0.8919. Park at 52.9520,0.8920

Norfolk Water Pipit y’day Hickling Broad NWT 1/3ml ESE of visitor centre at Brendan’s Marsh c52.7399,1.6025. Park at 52.7420,1.5950