The conditions were good for ringing this morning, so we got a very early start to make the most of it! We ringed for 6 hours across the morning catching 21 birds. Although reasonably quiet it was all about quality catching notably 5 new Lesser Whitethroat and a retrap I originally ringed on the exact same date two years ago, so on the 7^th May 2024! This is the first time we’ve recaught it, it’s amazing how site faithful these birds are and how similar their movements are across years.

So, in total we caught 12 new birds including 1 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blackcap, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Sedge Warbler. For retraps we caught 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Dunnock, 1 Great Tit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Long-tailed Tit and 2 Sedge Warbler, one of which was another French ringed bird! That’s the second French Sedge Warbler we’ve had this spring.

The female Pied Flycatcher was back in the same spot viewable from the NOA carpark/boardwalk to the car park hide. The 4 Fieldfare were still in the dunes this morning. Two Spoonbill were again showing well on the car park pools.

There was a bit more in the moth traps today with 2 Cinnabar, 6 Shuttle Shaped Dart, 1 Northern Drab, 1 Turnip, 1 Colephora sp., 1 Muslin, 1 Pine Beauty, 1 White Ermine and the first Vine’s Rustic of the year.

We had 9 species of butterfly across the reserve with Green Hairstreak, Wall Brown, Peacock, Red Admiral, Holly Blue, Painted Lady, Small White, Small Copper, Large White and Small Heath.

Shannon & Bee

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk Pied Fly male Sheringham still 1.34pm in field west of Sheringham Cemetery c52.9412,1.1913

Norfolk Garganey drk Lakenheath Fen RSPB still c52.4504,0.5245

Norfolk 13.Bee-eaters south of Eccles-on-Sea again 1.20pm SE of Hempstead near Beach Farm along Heath Road c52.7955,1.5707

Norfolk 2.Temminck’s Stints Titchwell RSPB still on Freshmarsh from Parrinder Hide at 1.11pm then flew high west 52.9689,0.6074: Viewed from 52.9693,0.6069

Norfolk 13.Bee-eaters south of Eccles-on-Sea still 1pm at Hempstead south of Heath Road then flew high WNW c52.7969,1.5632

Norfolk 13.Bee-eaters south of Eccles-on-Sea still 12.44pm at Hempstead south of Heath Road c52.7969,1.5632

Norfolk 4.Wood Sands Cley NWT 2.at Daukes’ Hide +2.at North Screen c52.9578,1.0543

Norfolk 13.Bee-eaters south of Eccles-on-Sea still 11.10am at Hempstead south of Heath Road (+male Blue-headed Wagtail breifly at 11.07am) c52.7969,1.5632

Norfolk Common Crane ad Rawhall still at Old Beetley at School Road Flash at 10.30am 52.7308,0.9076

Norfolk 13.Bee-eaters south of Eccles-on-Sea still 10.31am at Hempstead south of Heath Road c52.7969,1.5632

Norfolk Pied Fly male Sheringham in field west of Sheringham Cemetery c52.9412,1.1913

Norfolk 13.Bee-eaters south of Eccles-on-Sea still 9.44am at Hempstead south of Heath Road c52.7969,1.5632

Norfolk 13.Bee-eaters south of Eccles-on-Sea still 9.33am at Hempstead south of St Andrew’s Church c52.7969,1.5632

Norfolk 13.Bee-eaters south of Eccles-on-Sea still 9.14am just SE of Hempstead south of Heath Road on utility wires c52.7916,1.5747

Norfolk 13.Bee-eaters south of Eccles-on-Sea still 8.55am just SE of Hempstead south of Heath Road on utility wires c52.7932,1.5728

Norfolk 13.Bee-eaters south of Eccles-on-Sea still at 8.09am at Hempstead by minor road just SE of Hempstead near Beach Road junction c52.7962,1.5677

Norfolk Hooded Crow Kelling Water Meadows still in field to the east at 7.40am 52.9506,1.1215

Norfolk 13.Bee-eaters south of Eccles-on-Sea still at 7.17am at Hempstead then flew high south c52.7977,1.5554

Norfolk 13.Bee-eaters south of Eccles-on-Sea at Hempstead at 7.08am c52.7977,1.5554