Cliffs: visible migration Wednesday 30th March 2017

Magpie - one of nine that passed through Thursday morning

Cranes at Holme

Cranes, Holme NNR, 22nd March 2017 - Gary Elton

Cranes pass through most springs - presumably birds wandering from the east of the county, but rarely do they travel in such numbers or so low and even more rarely does one of us manage to get a photograph - well done Gary !

Cliffs: visible migration Wednesday 22nd March 2017

Counting period: 06:10 - 08:10 Weather: wind SSE4, temperature 4 ℃ Observers: Gary Elton, Andy Brown and Frank Branch S N S N S N Red Kite    1    -    Carrion Crow    1    -    Chaffinch    2    -    Woodpigeon    289    -    Wood Lark    1    -    Greenfinch    9    -    Collared Dove    8    -    Starling    95    -    Linnet    43    -    Magpie    7    -    Tree Sparrow    7    -    Goldfinch    33    -    Jackdaw    9    -    alba wagtail sp.    47    -    Siskin    24    -    Rook    23    -    Meadow Pipit    80    -    Reed Bunting    5    -    Totals: 684 individuals, 18 species, 2:00 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number)

Red Kite, Hunstanton Cliffs, 22nd March 2017 - Gary Elton

Tree Sparrow, Hunstanton Cliffs, 22nd March 2017 - Gary Elton

Cliffs: visible migration 16th March 2017

Counting period: 06:05 - 08:35 Weather: wind WSW4, cloud-cover 3/8, temperature 6 ℃ Observers: Andy Brown & Frank Branch S N S N S N Woodpigeon    745    -    Fieldfare    228    -    Linnet    145    -    Collared Dove    1    -    Redwing    1242    -    redpoll sp.    7    -    Magpie    4    -    Tree Sparrow    53    -    Goldfinch    104    -    Jackdaw    9    -    alba wagtail sp.    95    -    Siskin    534    -    Rook    19    -    Meadow Pipit    79    -    Yellowhammer    1    -    Carrion Crow    12    -    Rock Pipit    1    -    Reed Bunting    2    -    Blue Tit    3    -    Chaffinch    44    -       Starling    224    -    Greenfinch    8    -       Totals: 3560 individuals, 22 species, 2:30 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number)

Cliffs: visible migration Wednesday 15th March

Counting period: 06:10 - 08:10 Weather: wind WSW2, cloud-cover 6/8, temperature 8 ℃ Observers: Gary Elton & Andy Brown S N S N S N Woodpigeon    687    -    Redwing    363    -    Bullfinch    1    -    Collared Dove    3    -    Tree Sparrow    23    -    Greenfinch    1    -    Jackdaw    10    -    Grey Wagtail    3    -    Linnet    127    -    Rook    3    -    alba wagtail sp.    78    -    redpoll sp.    1    -    Carrion Crow    1    -    Meadow Pipit    68    -    Goldfinch    20    -    Starling    72    -    Rock Pipit    1    -    Siskin    233    -    Blackbird    2    -    Chaffinch    40    -    Reed Bunting    2    -    Totals: 1739 individuals, 21 species, 2:00 hours Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number)

Four Flies

Lispe tantaculata, Holme NWT, 12th March 2017

Hydrophorus oceanus (Dolichopodidae) Holme NWT, 12th March 2016

Unidentified Scathophagid, Holme NWT, 12th March 2017

A Heleomyzid, tentatively identified as  Tephrochlamys tarsalis, Holme NWT VC, 12.03.2017

Spring arrives - and the Environment Agency are out cutting and smashing our native plants into submission on Thornham Bank yet again.

No way to treat a nationally scarce plant: Suaeda vera - part of the special interest of this internationally  important site - smashed to pieces on Thornham bank yet again by the Environment Agency, 12th March 2017.

Saturday 11th March: Kite, Coltsfoot, Bittern and Holly Speckle

Red Kite, Holme NWT, 11th March 2017

Coltsfoot, Holme NWT, 11th March 2017

Bittern, Holme NWT, 11th March 2017

Holly Speckle, Trochila ilicina, Holme NWT, 11th March 2017

Mallow rust

Rust fungus Puccinia malvacearum on Common Mallow on Redgate Hill.  The rust is also found on Hollyhock.

Sweet Violets

Sweet Violet, Viola odorata, Ringstead Downs, 6th March 2016