"For now we are young let us lay in the sun and count every beautiful thing we can see" Neutral Milk Hotel.

Wednesday 30 August 2017

Hunstanton seabird census results for 2017

Fulmars

This year there were 110 AOTs (Apparently Occupied Territories) on the cliffs. They produced a rather miserable 27 chicks between them, the worst productivity (0.245 chicks fledged per pair) since I started counts in 2007.

Herring Gulls

I located 54 pairs with nest this year - a record. However, 21 of them failed (17 were apparently interfered with as the nests subsequently 'disappeared' and 4 pairs apparently ‘deserted' their nests i.e. though nests were present late in the season, there was no sign of adults or young when they might have been expected). The 33 successful pairs produced a rather pathetic 55 young (a productivity of 1.56 chicks per pair) with 6 broods of three, 10 of two and 17 of one chick.




Great White Egret

Great White Egret, Holme NWT, 19th August 2017


Great White Egret

Great White Egret, Holme NWT, 19th August 2017


Tuesday 29 August 2017

Three new species for the patch

Water Stick-insect, Ranatra linearis, Holme GM, 28th August 2017


The sea slug  Acanthodoris pilosa (Mollusca: Onchidorididae), Holme beach, 28th August 2017


The freshwater triclad Dugesia tigrina (Tricladida: Dugesiidae), Holme GM, 28th August 2017




Nodding Bur-marigold

Nodding Bur-marigold, Holme GM, 28th August 2017


Tuesday 22 August 2017

Long-winged Conehead

Long-winged Conehead, Holme NWT, 20th August 2017. 

First found on the reserve on 3rd September 2014 (beside the path above the paddocks), individuals have been hard to find until this year, when they seem numerous - and may are macropterous, flying considerable distances when flushed. This female was in tall grass on the bank just to the west of the car park sycamore. 


A new micro-moth for the patch

Dark Fleabane Neb, Apodia bifractella, Old Hunstanton, 21st August 2017  - this is a scarce (and/or very under-recorded) species in Norfolk and a great find by Joan Fox.


Friday 11 August 2017