Well, it was certainly windy as we settled in to our position in the dunes just before sunrise this morning. We had a very reasonable morning, the undoubted highlight being a cracking juvenile Long-tailed Skua that flew west, close inshore. It was all about variety too, with us logging an impressive 46 species. The best of the rest included 19 Arctic Skua, 3 Great Skua, 30 Little Gull, a single Mediterranean Gull, 260 Wigeon and 5 Scaup. As we broke for lunch, two cracking adult Pomarine Skuas flew right along the shoreline. There was also seemingly some small movement too, with a total of 117 Common and 101 Black-headed Gull moving offshore, in addition to those hanging around on the beach. We went back for an hour late on in the afternoon, but it was noticeably quiet, but we did bring our day total of Eider to a respectable 22. Just as we were packing up a very distant Asio owl, but disappeared into the waves before it got close enough for us to clinch an ID.

There was also some movement overhead whilst seawatching, with 46 Meadow Pipit, 3 Redwing, a single Siskin,11 Skylark, 2 Brambling and a Grey Wagtail heading west. A surprise Great White Egret also meandered its way west over the sea and a Merlin shot through.

Away from the sea, it was fairly quiet again, with a female Blackcap the only noted grounded migrant. A Red-throated Diver was found on the Broadwater before being seen flying off again to sea. The Lapland Buntings were still around at Thornham, and a single Snow Bunting was back on the beach again. The delightful Jack Snipe was still bobbing away from NWT hide 2.

Moth traps were pretty busy considering the cool overnight temperatures. We had 10 Small Mottled Willow, 10 Large Wainscot, 2 Feathered Ranunculus, 1 Barred Sallow, 3 Large Yellow Underwing, 6 Beet Moth, 3 Beaded Chestnut, 23 Lunar Underwing, 1 Square Spot Rustic, 2 Turnip, 1 Clancy’s Rustic, 8 Narrow-winged Grey, 1 Deep Brown Dart, 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character and 1 Black Rustic.

Shannon

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RAREBIRD ALERT

Norfolk Grey-headed Swamphen ad Great Yarmouth at South Denes just east of River Yare +west of Hartmann Road/ South Denes Road junction on puddles 52.5835,1.7310

Norfolk Sooty S’water flew NW past Walcott c52.8425,1.5012

Norfolk Lapland Bunting Brancaster on saltmarsh at 10.15am tho mobile 52.9718,0.6214

Norfolk BLACK-WINGED KITE ad Sea Palling still 2.14pm SW of The Marrams viewed from double metal gates tho distant NR12 0AL 52.7911,1.5839: Park at 52.7894,1.6013; Viewed from 52.795,1.5892

Norfolk 2.Grey Phals Blakeney Point just west of tern hut on sea at 2.05pm c52.9720,1.0259

Norfolk Lapland Bunting Titchwell RSPB at 10.15am tho mobile 52.9718,0.6214 Park at c52.9629,0.6063

Norfolk 2.Grey Phals flew west past Cley at 2.01pm c52.9669,1.0483 Park at c52.9653,1.0479

Norfolk Garganey Pensthorpe Water Fowl Park at Old Sqauw Lake at midday 52.8241,0.8819

Norfolk Pom Skua ad flew west past Holme Dunes at 12.40pm 52.9753,0.5563

Norfolk 2.Grey Phals flew west past Holme Dunes by 11.55am +Pom Skua flew west at 11.52am c52.9759,0.5562

Norfolk Leach’s Petrel off Cley at 11.30am c52.9651,1.0483

Norfolk Sooty S’water flew south past Waxham c52.7795,1.6188

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr 1ml east of Cley still south of A149 at Walsey Hills NOA in SW corner at 10.50am 52.9536,1.0675: Park at 52.9546,1.0669

Norfolk Pom Skua flew west past Holme Dunes 52.9753,0.5563

Norfolk 2+Long-tailed Skuas flew past Cley Beach car park c52.9668,1.0489

Norfolk 2+Long-tailed Skuas flew west past Holme Dunes between 7.50-8.50am c52.9759,0.5562

Norfolk Ring Ouzel NE of Lenwade flew south over Brandiston at 8.10am c52.7477,1.1529

Norfolk Leach’s Petrel flew west past Cley at 6.59am c52.9651,1.0483

Norfolk 3.Long-tailed Skuas (all juv) y’day flew west Sheringham in a’noon c52.9449,1.2139