Today was all about ringing at the Obs with forecast light southerlies, a change from the north westerly yesterday!

At the Obs in total we processed 54 birds, 41 new birds of 9 species and 13 retraps of 7 species with 7 Chiffchaff, 7 Willow Warbler, 2 Wren, 5 Robin, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 9 Blackcap, 3 Sedge Warbler, 13 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 2 Cetti’s Warbler and 2 Dunnock. A really nice mix of species and little movement of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap, most of which arrived all together at about 9am.

Otherwise around the Obs we had 3 lovely Spoonbill fly east over the grazing marsh first thing, and some very noisy Whimbrel over the grazing marsh. Two Greenshank were on the Broadwater along with 1 Black-tailed Godwit. Teal numbers are starting to build with 20 recorded today. There were a few Bearded Tit from the NWT hide and also in the reeds along our East Bank path.

We also had some more exciting records from yesterday evening to add to the log with 2 Short-eared Owl, 4 Barn Owl, 4 Crossbill, 1 Peregrine and an additional 22 Arctic Skua, 3 Bonxie, 1 Manx Shearwater, 2 Red-throated Diver and 680 Common Tern.

At Walsey, our volunteers were ringing and processed a whopping 88 birds, 81 new birds of 9 species and 7 retraps of 6 species including 10 Chiffchaff, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 51!!! Goldfinch, 6 Blue Tit, 5 Robin, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Reed Bunting, 4 Dunnock, 1 Wren and 1 Great Tit. What a great effort and fantastic to catch such a number of Goldfinch! There has been a huge flock hanging around the reserve for the past couple of weeks.

For moths we had a good number today with 20 Large Yellow Underwing, 66 Beet Moth, 10 Square-spot Rustic, 2 Frosted Orange, 2 Chevron Grass-moth, 2 Small Mottled Willow, 5 Rush Venner, 6 Archer’s Dart, 2 Vine’s Rustic, 2 Flounced Rustic, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Character, 1 Willow Beauty, 1 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 1 Yellow Belle, 1 Large Wainscot and 1 Small Blood-vein.

For butterflies and dragon/damselflies today we had Peacock, Small Heath, Red Admiral and Wall on the wing and there were good numbers of Migrant Hawker, Willow Emerald Damselfly and Common Darter around.

Shannon

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk Sooty S’water Sheringham flew past shelter at 10.05am +Caspian Gull c52.9469,1.2070. Park at 52.9450,1.2067. Viewed from 52.9459,1.2069

Norfolk BLACK-WINGED KITE ad Sea Palling still 11.10am SW of The Marrams from double metal gates NR12 0AL 52.7888,1.585. Viewed from 52.7948,1.5892. Park at c52.7892,1.6016

Norfolk Curlew Sand Titchwell RSPB on Freshmarsh +4.Little Stints c52.9683,0.6093 Park at c52.9628,0.6065

Norfolk 2.Spotted Crakes Titchwell RSPB still on Freshmarsh from Island Hide c52.9684,0.6069 Viewed from c52.9673,0.6048 Park at c52.9629,0.6063

Norfolk Spotted Crake Titchwell RSPB still on Freshmarsh from Island Hide at 7.46am c52.9684,0.6069 Viewed from c52.9673,0.6048 Park at c52.9629,0.6063

Norfolk Long-tailed Skua reported y’day Holme Dunes NWT +Pom Skua 52.9734,0.5501

Norfolk BLACK-WINGED KITE ad Sea Palling still SW of The Marrams on bush viewed from double metal gates at 7.05am NR12 0AL 52.7888,1.585. Viewed from 52.7948,1.5892. Park at c52.7892,1.6016