Water Pipit

What's normal a tricky patch species to see four have hit the nets in the NOA in the past week!  Away from the there individuals have been seen along Thornham Bank and on the pools from the NWT hides.

A Rhopalid bug and a Speckled Bush Cricket from Chalk Pit Lane

Rhopalus parumpunctatus, Chalk Pit Lane, 29th October 2015

Speckled Bush Cricket, 29th October 2015

Larkspur..........an unusual plant in the dunes between Old Hunstanton and Holme

Larkspur, Hunstanton, 27th October 2015

Cliffs Vis. Mig. update

Saturday 24 October 2015

Counting period: 07:15 - 09:45 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind SSW1, cloud-cover 8/8 Observers: Andy Brown, Gary Hibberd, Chris Mills, Robert Smith, Hilary Shipton, Nick Pomiankowski and Richard Belter S N S N S N Pink-footed Goose    155    -    Blackbird    3    -    Greenfinch    26    -    Woodpigeon    40    -    Redwing    1    -    Goldfinch    11    -    Collared Dove    3    -    Goldcrest    2    -    Siskin    34    -    Skylark    4    -    Jackdaw    22    -    Linnet    20    -    Meadow Pipit    36    -    Starling    1264    -    redpoll sp.    1    -    Rock Pipit    3    -    Chaffinch    1840    -    Yellowhammer    1    -    alba wagtail sp.    1    -    Brambling    51    -    Reed Bunting    6    -    Totals: 3524 individuals, 21 species, 2:30 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number) Comments: A bunting that "ticked" caused some frustration as seen late! Sunday 25 October 2015 Counting period: 06:20 - 08:50 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind SW1, cloud-cover 1/8 Observers: Andy Brown, Gary Hibberd, Chris Mills, Robert Smith, Hilary Shipton, Nick Pomiankowski and Richard Belter S N S N S N Little Egret    -    2    Mistle Thrush    2    -    Brambling    24    -    Woodpigeon    83    -    Goldcrest    1    -    Greenfinch    210    -    Collared Dove    8    -    Long-tailed Tit    10    -    Goldfinch    15    -    Skylark    15    -    Jackdaw    8    -    Siskin    29    -    Meadow Pipit    38    -    Carrion Crow    1    -    Linnet    5    -    Rock Pipit    4    -       -    Yellowhammer    1    -    alba wagtail sp.    1    -    Starling    2303    -    Reed Bunting    20    -    Redwing    2    -    Chaffinch    4285    -       Totals: 7071 individuals, 23 species, 2:30 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number) Comments: A really good chaffinch day, and another even more frustrating bunting that ticked twice as it went over and watched albeit briefly by two observers.  Monday 26 October 2015 Counting period: 06:35 - 08:35 Weather: wind SSE2, cloud-cover 8/8 Observers: Andy Brown, Gary Hibberd, Chris Mills, Robert Smith, Hilary Shipton, Frank Branch and Richard Belter S N S N S N Spoonbill    -    1    Grey Wagtail    5    -    Chaffinch    1811    -    Sparrowhawk    -    1    alba wagtail sp.    1    -    Brambling    29    -    Lapwing    357    -    Blackbird    3    -    Greenfinch    49    -    Snipe    46    -    Fieldfare    6    -    Goldfinch    1    -    Curlew    1    -    Redwing    11    -    Siskin    56    -    Mediterranean Gull    -    1    Mistle Thrush    7    -    Linnet    1    -    Woodpigeon    70    -    Goldcrest    1    -    redpoll sp.    4    -    Skylark    123    -    Long-tailed Tit    12    -    Lapland Bunting    1    -    Swallow    3    -    Jackdaw    35    -    Yellowhammer    2    -    House Martin    1    -    Rook    4    -    Reed Bunting    10    -    Meadow Pipit    16    -    Carrion Crow    5    -       Rock Pipit    7    -    Starling    14545    -       Totals: 17226 individuals, 34 species, 2:00 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number) Tuesday 27 October 2015 Counting period: 06:34 - 08:34 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind SE2, cloud-cover 8/8 Observers: Andy Brown, Gary Hibberd, Chris Mills, Robert Smith, Hilary Shipton, John Baker and Richard Belter S N Snipe    1    -       Skylark    1    -       Meadow Pipit    4    -       Blackbird    2    -       Redwing    1    -       Starling    12782    -       Totals: 12791 individuals, 6 species, 2:00 hours Present: Chiffchaff 1 Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number) Comments: Misty thoughout the count period, with starling the dominant feature.

Owls on the beach

During a walk along the dunes from Hunstanton to Holme NWT on Tuesday 27th October, I found 2 Short-eared Owls and 2 Long-eared Owls - one of the former was clearly exhausted and both of the latter flew straight from the sea up the beach to land on the first dune they could find.

Long-eared Owl, Holme NWT, 27th October 2015

Three recent moths

Pearly Underwing, Holme NOA, 24th October 2015 - a scarce lat autumn migrant

Merveille du Jour, Hunstanton, 28th October 2015 - one of the best looking of the autumn moths

Yellow-line Quaker, Hunstanton, 28th October 2015 - common enough in Norfolk but very scarce on our patch. This was the first Ive caught, just 2 days after one was at the NOA - the first in several years there.

Vis. Mig. at the Cliffs, Friday 23rd October 2015

Friday 23 October 2015

Counting period: 07:15 - 09:15 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind SW2, cloud-cover 4/8, temperature 10 ℃, Calm morning with light SW winds Observers: Andy Brown, Gary Hibberd and Chris Mills S N S N S N Little Egret    1    -    Grey Wagtail    1    -    Brambling    39    -    Lapwing    16    -    alba wagtail sp.    5    -    Greenfinch    478    -    Stock Dove    1    -    Blackbird    5    -    Goldfinch    45    -    Woodpigeon    131    -    Redwing    12    -    Siskin    40    -    Collared Dove    7    -    Jackdaw    82    -    Linnet    12    -    Skylark    33    -    Carrion Crow    5    -    Yellowhammer    1    -    Meadow Pipit    43    -    Starling    1758    -    Reed Bunting    18    -    Rock Pipit    2    -    Chaffinch    1731    -       Totals: 4466 individuals, 23 species, 2:00 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number) Comments: The flock of 80 jackdaws was certainly noteworthy.

Vis. Mig. starts on the cliffs - at last !!

Never have we had such a late start to the autumn visible migration season. These are the first suitable conditions (wind with a southerly component) of the autumn. And it wasn't the greatest start either......




Wednesday 21 October 2015




Counting period: 07:30 - 09:30 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind SW4, cloud-cover 8/8, precipitation rain Observers: Gary Hibberd, Robert Smith S N S N S N Lapwing    10    -    Meadow Pipit    2    -    Jackdaw    1    -    Curlew    1    -    Rock Pipit    1    -    Starling    3006    -    Black-headed Gull    1    -    Blackbird    12    -    Chaffinch    3    -    Herring Gull    6    -    Fieldfare    17    -    Goldfinch    1    -    Great Black-backed Gull    2    -    Song Thrush    2    -       Skylark    1    -    Redwing    2    -       Totals: 3068 individuals, 16 species, 2:00 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number) Comments: The first days visible migration for three weeks!!

Thursday 22 October 2015

Counting period: 07:15 - 09:15 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind WSW4, cloud-cover 4/8, temperature 10 ℃ Observers: Andy Brown & Chris Mills & Richard (later) S N S N S N Woodpigeon    105    -    Blackbird    5    -    Brambling    9    -    Skylark    1    -    Song Thrush    1    -    Greenfinch    194    -    Meadow Pipit    16    -    Redwing    8    -    Goldfinch    23    -    Rock Pipit    3    -    Jackdaw    2    -    Siskin    21    -    Grey Wagtail    2    -    Starling    371    -    redpoll sp.    1    -    alba wagtail sp.    3    -    Chaffinch    661    -       Totals: 1426 individuals, 17 species, 2:00 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number) Comments: 70 Pinkfeet in off the sea

Various invertebrate finds from Monday 12th October

Figwort Sawfly larva, Holme NOA, 12th October 2015

False Ladybird Endomychus coccineus, Holmhurst Track, 12th October 2015

Bronze Shieldbug, Troilus luridus, Holmhurst Track, 12th October 2015

Pantilius tunicatus, Holmhurst Track, 12th October 2015

Lesser Thorn-tipped Longhorn, Holmhurst Track, 12th October 2015

Showy Bittern

This bird spent most of  Saturday in front of hide one fishing along the reed edge of Christie's Pool.