Well, what a day at the Obs! Although there was a bit of east in the wind, I really wasn’t expecting much from ringing at the Obs today, partly as my experience in the past is that early August can be a bit quiet here!

The day started off steady and as I got to one net, it had 3 birds – when I got to the last bird I had a moment of “Ehhh… I was not expecting that!” An ICTERINE WARBLER! Perhaps just a coincidence but it was caught in the exact same net as the one we caught in 2024, which I had since affectionally nicknamed “Icterine net”! It was staying true to its name today.

I thought it would be interesting for people to see the process I went through to confirm ID of this bird. First of all, I knew the only options with it being a large robust warbler, bright yellow, grey legs and big bill that it could only be Icterine or Melodious Warbler. So, I had our main reference book open which very nicely summarises any species you are looking at and any confusion species, and what features to check between them. The key thing being with Icterine Warbler to look at and record is wing length, length of the first primary in comparison to the primary coverts, length of the second primary, and presence of pale edges on the secondaries/tertials. So, our birds wing length was 76 (too long for Melodious), primary 1 was short and pretty much in line with the primary coverts (it is noticeably longer in Melodious) and the second primary was long and equalled primary 4/5 (in Melodious, P2 is short and equals P6 or P6/7). The wing was absolutely pristine and fresh so I believe this is a bird born this year (adults in autumn should have worn flight feathers).

Icterine Warbler

Icterine Warbler Wing

Ringing totals

• Chiffchaff – 3 (1)
• Wren – 2 (1)
• Willow Warbler – 1
• Icterine Warbler – 1
• Reed Warbler – 3 (2)
• Common Whitethroat – 1
• Dunnock – 1
• Woodpigeon – 1
• Robin – (1)
• Great Tit – (2)
• Blue Tit – (1)
• Blackcap – (1)

** Birds in brackets() = retraps

Otherwise around the Obs we had a Grey Wagtail go over a couple of times. It was a good day for waders with Greenshank, Spotted Redshank and Green Sandpiper all heard. On Broadwater there was 34 Lapwing, 59 Redshank, 9 Dunlin and a surprising Turnstone!

Moths were steady again with highlights being Fern, Poplar Grey, 9 Small Mottled Willow, 2 Marbled Clover and 1 Flounced Rustic. There was a Speckled Wood too inbetween the car park hide and the Obs staff car park. There were 2 Southern Migrant Hawker close to Redwell.

Shannon

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk 2.Queen of Spain Fritillary butterflies Ringstead still at Ringstead Downs 100yds from carpark at 1.20pm c52.9314,0.5194 PE36 5JZ

Norfolk 2.BLACK STORKS (both juv) 1/2ml ESE of Acle flew over Acle Straight at 1.27pm c52.6326,1.5722

Norfolk Icterine Warbler Holme NOA again 11.35am in tree at back observatory staff car park from steps c52.9746,0.5562

Norfolk Queen of Spain Fritillary butterfly Ringstead still at Ringstead Downs by track west of car park c52.9314,0.5194 PE36 5JZ

Norfolk WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER ad Snettisham RSPB still 9.46am on The Wash from point.26 52.8571,0.4451: Viewed from 52.8577,0.4466; Park at c52.8685,0.4526

Norfolk WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER ad Snettisham RSPB still 9.05am on The Wash between Chalets +Rotary Hide c52.8548,0.4454. Park at c52.8685,0.4526

Norfolk WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER ad Snettisham RSPB still on The Wash from coastal path at 8.40am c52.8603,0.4450. Park at c52.8685,0.4526

Norfolk Pec Sand y’day Breydon Water on eastern pool at Lawton’s Marsh c52.6089,1.6774

Norfolk Curlew Sand ad y’day Titchwell RSPB still on Freshmarsh c52.9683,0.6093 Park at c52.9628,0.6065

Norfolk Caspian Gull Cley NWT on Sunday c52.9602,1.0673 Park at c52.9549,1.0647

Norfolk Icterine Warbler Holme NOA trapped +ringed at bird observatory c52.9746,0.5562