Today was all about birds that look very very smart. We met at 6:20 to open the nets but for the first 2 hours we didn’t catch much, it seemed that the birds were reluctant to do much in thick fog – who can blame them. We were very excited when we caught a Firecrest, surely one of the best looking birds in Britain. I never get tired of seeing these wonderful little birds in autumn at the obs, and there was much admiration as the bird was processed. After then a steady trickle of birds came through, and looks-wise something turned up to rival the Firecrest. Well 4 things in fact; Bearded Tits! Its that time of year when they’re moving around and this little flock (two males and two females) were passing through Holme and found their way into a net. In total we had 42 new birds and 14 retraps, with our ringing totals below:

What a stunner! Firecrest

There were plenty of other bird highlights around the recording area today too: a Woodlark and Brambling flew east mid-morning, 1 Lapwing Bunting was still on the beach around Gore Point, a Ring Ouzel was on the entrance track, the Jack Snipe was in front of hide 1, a single flock of 35 Redpoll moved west and a Short-eared Owl was reported in the dunes. There was also a local movement of Reed Bunting with one control (a bird ringed elsewhere and recuahgt by us) in amongst the 14 we ringed. Rather wonderfully, 200+ Starling slowly moved west, hawking for insects over the pines together with Black-headed Gulls. One of the local Tawny Owl was hooting at the Obs first thing.

The moth trap contained: 16 Rusty Dot Pearl, 1 Gem, 4 Large Wainscot, 3 Red Green Carpet, 3 Narrow-winged Grey, 3 Rush Veneer, 1 Brick.

A lovely Gem

Shannon

Norfolk Bird News from Rare Bird Alert

Norfolk Rose-coloured Starling juv Happisburgh still 2.45pm on wires behind houses c52.8216,1.5362. Use beach carpark NR12 0PR

Norfolk Black Guillemot Sheringham on sea at 1.58pm c52.9473,1.2073

Norfolk HUME’S WARBLER Great Yarmouth Cemetery in south section at 1.20pm tho elusive 52.6129,1.7328

Norfolk Lapland Bunting Holme Dunes still 1.05pm at Holme Point then flew to saltings c52.9741,0.5674

Norfolk Red-necked Grebe Cley off East Bank on sea at 12.54pm 52.9795,1.0761

Norfolk Lapland Bunting Warham Greens flew off saltmarsh over Whirligig at 12.45pm then flew inland c52.9565,0.8915

Norfolk reported Black-throated Diver Salthouse is a juv.Red-throated Diver 52.957,1.0978

Norfolk 5.Shorelark Holkham Gap on beach to the west near end of the pines at 12.42pm c52.9762,0.8201

Norfolk Siberian Chiffchaff Hopton-on-Sea at Warren Road at 12.33pm c52.5488,1.7298

Norfolk large pipit sp Holme NOA flushed from dunes +flew east at 12.21pm 52.9744,0.5506

Norfolk Black Brant y’day Cley NWT in Eye Field with Dark-bellied Brent Geese c52.9639,1.0491

Norfolk Lapland Bunting Holme Dunes still at Holme Point on saltmarsh at 11.50am c52.9741,0.5674

Norfolk 3.Tundra Bean Geese Warham Greens just east of Garden Drove at 11.40am c52.9503,0.8939. Park at 52.9520,0.8920

Norfolk Black-throated Diver Salthouse still on sea at 11.24am 52.957,1.0978

Norfolk Rose-coloured Starling juv Happisburgh still by clifftop carpark on mound in fenced-off area behind toilet block at 10.29am c52.8216,1.5362. Use beach carpark NR12 0PR

Norfolk DUSKY WARBLER Holkham Pines still in 1st large willow clump west of entrance to Bluetail Trail at 10.35am tho elusive 52.9719,0.7860

Norfolk NUTCRACKER SW of Holt flew SE over Hempstead at 10.05am c52.8910,1.1260

Norfolk Black-throated Diver west of Sheringham on sea at 9.30am c52.9473,1.2073

Norfolk still no sign of 1w.Nutcracker Mundesley at Water Lane just east of Water Lane House by River Mun footbridge between dawn-9.25am 52.8721,1.4352. Park at c52.8801,1.4330

Norfolk Black Guillemot flew west past West Runton at 9am c52.9412,1.2504

Norfolk Snow Bunting flew west Salthouse along beach c52.9553,1.0973

Norfolk Water Pipit y’day Lakenheath Fen RSPB again c52.4504,0.5245