It has been a really good spring day for birds in the recording area today after what has felt like a really slow spring this year so far! There was at least 2 Ring Ouzel, 6 Wheatear and 1 Redstart in the dunes west of the NWT VC. There was a Lesser Whitethroat in the dunes past Lavendar Marsh.

There has been some movement of Hirundines today with small trickle in of Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin all going west. At Thornham there was 1 Whimbrel, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Wheatear, 13 Ruff and 1 Spoonbill. There was also a Reed Warbler at the NWT VC singing away.

Wheatear

The moth traps were quiet again this morning with only 6 Hebrew Character, 1 V-Pug, 1 Red Chestnut and 1 Small Quaker.  However, with the milder weather, yesterday (9^th) was by far the best day of the year for moths so far with 2 Water Carpet, 3 Common Quaker, 2 Small Quaker, 8 Hebrew Character, 1 Pine Beauty, 1 Garden Mompha, 2 Clouded Drab, 1 Streamer, 3 Double Striped Pug, 1 Northern Drab, 2 Red Chestnut, 1 Powdered Quaker and 1 Lead coloured Drab. An Oak Eggar caterpillar was seen and there have been a few butterflies emerging over the past few days with Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Peacock and Small White on the wing.

The Ring Ouzel in the dunes on Wednesday was ringed, but unfortunately so far, we haven’t got enough of the ring to find out where it was ringed. If anyone managed to get any pictures of the ring please email them to info@noa.org.uk – thank you!

Shannon

Sightings from Wednesday 8th – Thursday 9th

Wednesday was my first day in charge of the Bird Obs (Shannon had given me a whistle stop tour on Tuesday) and I really enjoyed meeting all the regular visitors and contributors and going through the moth trap. The weather was glorious and the birding very good. A lovely male Ring Ouzel was showing well in the Dunes close to the pill box, there were Sand Martins migrating, a stunning Brambling flying down to the pond to take a drink and a Redpoll, first thing in the morning at the Observatory. Further sightings included: 1 Siskin, Barn Owl, Mistle Thrush, Reed Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, 5 Sand Martins and 2 Willow Warblers.

Thursday was even better with more moth species in the moth trap and more migrants that had arrived. As I was walking to the Observatory I heard a singing Grasshopper Warbler in the reeds. Throughout the day we enjoyed 3 Redpoll, a second Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Mistle Thrush in Dunes, 5 Ruff on Broadwater and Swallow and Sand Martin migration. The most stunning sighting however was the Stone Curlew which was spotted in the Dunes – this is a very special bird to see at Holme but unfortunately it didn’t stay for long and was seen heading off south.

Bee

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk 3.Ring Ouzels Burnham Overy dunes c52.9772,0.7587

Norfolk Ring Ouzel male Holme Dunes NWT still near car park then flew to dunes at 11.40am c52.9747,0.5481

Norfolk no further sign Hoopoe Roydon Common NNR 9:30am-11:15am c52.7735,0.4847

Norfolk 2.Garganeys (1.drk) Welney WWT still from main observatory c52.5312,0.2813

Norfolk Common Crane ad Rawhall still at Old Beetley at School Road Flash at 10.40am 52.731,0.9071: Viewed from 52.7295,0.9063

Norfolk Black Redstart Bacton on seafront by derelict bungalows along Keswick Road at 9.10am c52.8461,1.4929

Norfolk Russian White-fronted Goose Cley NWT still from Babcock Hide c52.9552,1.0758

Norfolk Lesser Whitethroat singing y’day Strumpshaw c52.6075,1.4498

Norfolk Hoopoe Roydon Common NNR at 7am c52.7735,0.4847