Cliffs 29th March

Tuesday 29 March 2016

Counting period: 06:30 - 08:30 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind SW2, cloud-cover 0/8 Observers: Andy Brown, Gary Hibberd, Chris Mills and Robert Smith S N S N S N Great Crested Grebe    1    -    Blue Tit    1    -    Greenfinch    9    -    Mediterranean Gull    2    -    Great Tit    8    -    Goldfinch    33    -    Lesser Black-backed Gull    1    -    Magpie    3    -    Siskin    18    -    Woodpigeon    204    -    Rook    8    -    Linnet    38    -    Skylark    2    -    Carrion Crow    1    -    redpoll sp.    -    1    Meadow Pipit    206    -    Starling    1    -    Reed Bunting    3    -    Grey Wagtail    1    -    Tree Sparrow    29    17       alba wagtail sp.    10    -    Chaffinch    20    -       Totals: 617 individuals, 22 species, 2:00 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number) Comments: A blocking front along the south coast blocked lots off, however bright conditions effected observations as lots went overhead, but not counted.

Butterflies and bees

Friday 25th March was one of the few warm sunny days so far this Spring. As such I spent a bit of time in the garden and couldn't help noticing the large number of bees visiting the flowers on the winter-flowering heaths.  Most were Honey Bees but there were also two Buff-tailed Bumblebees and a Tree Bumblebee (which didn't stay long enough for a photo).  Two Small Tortoiseshell butterflies settled on the gravel briefly before flying off to pastures new.  A reminder that the UKBMS butterfly transects start again for this year on 1st April.

Gadwall

Gadwall, holme NWT, 27th March 2016

Tufted Duck

Tufted Duck, Holme NWT, 27th March 2016

Woodlarks

Woodlarks, Holme NWT, 27th March 2016

Little Grebe

Little Grebe, Holme NWT, 27th March 2016

Sunday on the Cliffs

Sunday 27 March 2016

Counting period: 06:35 - 08:35 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind SW3, cloud-cover 0/8 Observers: Andy Brown, Gary Hibberd, Chris Mill and Robert Smith S N S N S N Dark-bellied Brent Goose    -    10    Fieldfare    8    -    Tree Sparrow    59    32    Lesser Black-backed Gull    2    -    Redwing    5    -    Chaffinch    19    -    Stock Dove    1    -    Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler    1    -    Greenfinch    6    -    Woodpigeon    295    -    Blue Tit    1    -    Goldfinch    30    -    Swallow    1    -    Great Tit    15    -    Siskin    66    -    Meadow Pipit    329    -    Jackdaw    1    -    Linnet    37    -    alba wagtail sp.    32    -    Rook    4    -    Reed Bunting    1    -    Blackbird    1    -    Starling    6    -       Totals: 962 individuals, 23 species, 2:00 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number)

Swallows, martins, warblers, 134 Tree Sparrows and much else over the cliffs

Saturday 26 March 2016

Counting period: 05:49 - 08:49 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind SW5, cloud-cover 8/8, High cloud but gradually thickening as am went on. Observers: Andy Brown, Gary Hibberd, Chris Mills and Robert Smith S N S N S N Golden Plover    9    -    alba wagtail sp.    87    -    Tree Sparrow    134    -    Lapwing    4    -    Blackbird    5    -    Chaffinch    38    -    Curlew    7    -    Fieldfare    257    -    Brambling    2    -    Lesser Black-backed Gull    6    -    Redwing    75    -    Greenfinch    26    -    Woodpigeon    36    -    Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler    3    -    Goldfinch    368    -    Skylark    5    -    Great Tit    7    -    Siskin    346    -    Sand Martin    16    -    Jackdaw    3    -    Linnet    119    -    Swallow    3    -    Rook    8    -    redpoll sp.    7    -    House Martin    1    -    Carrion Crow    1    -    Yellowhammer    1    -    Meadow Pipit    264    -    Starling    188    -    Reed Bunting    7    -    Totals: 2033 individuals, 30 species, 3:00 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number) Comments: A really nice morning with good variety and decent nos of some species. The first three common hirundines on the same day is quite likely a first for us. The tree sparrow count was the third biggest, while the goldfinch total was decent for March. The phylloscpus warblers was also very unusual, flying through strongly with no hope of identifying them.

Coltsfoot and Toad

Common Toad, Ringstead Downs, 25th March 2016

Coltsfoot, Ringstead Downs, 25th March 2016

Hunstanton Moonrise

Hunstanton, 25th March, 2016

The first migration count kicks season off to a good (if late) start

Thursday 24 March 2016

Counting period: 05:50 - 09:20 Count type: coastal vismig (landbased birds only) Weather: wind SW2, cloud-cover 8/8 Observers: Andy Brown, Gary Hibberd and Robert Smith S N S N S N Cormorant    1    -    Redwing    834    -    Chaffinch    3    -    Red Kite    1    -    Great Tit    14    -    Greenfinch    16    -    Lapwing    2    -    Magpie    9    -    Goldfinch    57    -    Woodpigeon    67    -    Jackdaw    5    -    Siskin    181    -    Collared Dove    5    -    Rook    14    -    Linnet    44    -    Meadow Pipit    200    -    Starling    22    -    redpoll sp.    1    -    alba wagtail sp.    46    -    Tree Sparrow    9    -       Totals: 1531 individuals, 20 species, 3:30 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number) Comments: The first day of suitable SW winds.

Three more species recently added to the patch list

Yellow-legged Mining Bee Andrena flavipes, Ringstead Downs, 20th March 2016

The dung beetle Aphodius conspercatus, Holme NWT, 21st March 2016

The leafhopper Eupteryx florida, Peddar's Way, 21st March 2016

Four mid-March beasties

Shoulder Stripe, Holme NOA, 21st March 2016

Earthstar, Geastrum coronatum, Holme NOA, 21st March 2016

Common Flower Bug, Anthocoris nemorum, Peddar's Way, 21st March 2016

Ichneumon stramentor, Holme NOA, 2st March 2016

Off patch: Fungi twitch Titchwell

Just passing Titchwell but had been informed by Robert Smith of scarlet elf cap sp along path from car park to visitor centre. Very easy to find on the right hand side as you head west to centre. RS informed me that it's one of two similar species and can only be identified by looking at spores. Who cares which one it is just enjoy it for its striking colour in what still feels like winter.

Off patch: The Brecks

Just back in from an absolute superb day down in The Brecks with Steve and Andy.  Highlights included two Otters, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, three Woodlark, Crossbill, four Hololepta plana (pictured), two Goshawks and 100+ plants of Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem (pictured).

Yew Gall

A Yew gall found by Adrian and caused by the fly Taxomyia taxi (Diptera- Cecidomyiidae), Holme NWT, 12th March 2016

Hints of Spring

Plenty of bird-song today and a few plants noted in flower for the first time included Ground Ivy and the small dandelion which grows in the dunes. A queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris was in the forestry and flies were numerous in sheltered areas, including the first Yellow Dung Flies and Eristalis pertinax hoverflies. The Marsh Harriers revelled in the light easterly breeze and displayed for much of the day.

Early Virgin's-bower Clematis cirrhosa, Broadwater Road, Holme, 16th January 2016 (but still out today !)

March Moth, Holme NOA, 13th March 2016

Common Whitlow-grass, Holme NOA, 13th March 2016

A Linnet staking out his territorial claim

Mottled Grey

Mottled Grey, Holme NOA, 12th March 2016

Sheldrake, Thornham Harbour

Sheldrake, Thornham Harbour, 12th March 2016

Off Patch: 2 Beasties from Dersingham Bog

Minotaur Beetle, Typhaeus typhaeus, Dersingham Biog, 7th MArch 2016

Steatoda phalerata (Theridiidae), Dersingham Bog, 7th March 2016