Another mild day the Observatory turning a bit bleak in the afternoon with heavy rain and wind. Before the rain started, I had a successful census of the beach/sea with the highlight being a close in Long-tailed Duck sitting on the sea. I also had 18 Ringed Plover on the beach in a single flock. There was a Peregrine on the beach towards Gore Point which sat for quite a while before flying east low along the beach. There were also 210 Wigeon, 190 Brent Geese, 44 Curlew, 25 Redshank, 3 Knot, 21 Sanderling and 35 Dunlin on the beach. A flock of about 80 Lapwing flushed off the grazing marsh and I had a nice fly over Black-tailed Godwit when I was walking up from Gore Point.

Peregrine

When I was filling up the feeders around the Observatory, I spotted this Coral Spot Fungus growing on one of the Sycamore. Although it’s pretty common, I’ve never took the time to appreciate it up close!

Coral Spot Fungus on Sycamore

With yet more rain, when I was heading home along the main NWT entrance track it made me laugh to see one of the resident Mute Swan swimming about in the pools in the paddocks just off the track. An area that was so, so dry for most of last year!

Shannon Clifford – Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk Scaup fem/juv.drk Ormesby Little Broad again from viewing platform c52.6687,1.6416. Viewed from 52.6677,1.6400. Park at c52.6647,1.6382

Norfolk Long-tailed Duck Holme Dunes NWT again on sea off Gore Point 52.9741,0.5501

Norfolk 4+Hawfinches Lynford Arboretum still c52.5103,0.6805. Park at 52.5163,0.6844

Norfolk Lapland Bunting Weybourne still in fields at Spalla Gap at c9am +2.Tundra Bean Geese with Pink-footed Geese c52.9481,1.1492

Norfolk 2.Velvet Scoters (both fem/1w.drk) Kelling still on sea off Kelling Hard 52.9543,1.1209. Viewed from 52.9519,1.1202

Norfolk 2.Glossy Ibises just east of Stiffkey still on flood south of A149 c52.9537,0.9439. Park at 52.9546,0.9512 in A149 layby +walk west

Norfolk 8.Tundra Bean Geese between West Somerton +Horsey Mill again north of track to Somerton Holmes Farm with Pink-footed Geese c52.7321,1.6511

Norfolk Red-necked Grebe Burnham Overy Dunes off Gun Hill c52.9772,0.7587

Norfolk Eastern Black Redstart (form murinus /phoenicuroides /rufiventris) 1w.male Sheringham still at The Esplanade 52.9444,1.2051. Park at c52.9454,1.2082

Norfolk Red-necked Grebe Burnham Overy Marshes still on reedbed pool east of sea wall c52.9690,0.7605

Norfolk 5.Bewick’s Swans just west of Winterton from road c52.7149,1.6820

Norfolk Red-necked Grebe y’day Sheringham flew west past shelter at 8.38am c52.9469,1.2070. Park at 52.9450,1.2067. Viewed from 52.9459,1.2069

Norfolk Waxwing y’day near Horsey again on wires in morning. Also 3.Tundra Bean Geese c52.7404,1.6398