Back at NS

Tuesday, April 20

Not many moths again in the Natural Surroundings traps, on a cloudless, warm, late spring morning. Very misty overnight, burnt off soon after dawn. Twelve of  us were present, we outnumbered the moths. The highlight was three Pammene Giganteana, Early Oak Piercer, pheromone lured by Andy, there at NS, into a hanging trap.

Pam's photo

 

After a hot drink and the usual enjoyable sociable chat, Pam and I went on to Morston. The tide was well in, the first of the seal watching boats' passengers returning to the far mooring spots. We did a quick turn around, parking on a small rise behind the cafe, overlooking the creek, marsh, and  the field where the target bird had been seen. We waited and watched, a Buzzard perched on a post and then a tree, Song Thrush, Blackbirds, Starlings, and Jackdaws in the field. Brent Geese grazing on the marsh and two fly-by Swallows.

Another birder arrived, setting up his scope below us in a hedge gap. Pam joined him. He hadn't seen the bird either, she returned to the car. A few minutes later, he beckoned and we drove over. The handsome male Ring Ouzel had appeared out of the hedge lining the seaward edge of he field. Cue some shutter clicking. 

 

Despite all our entreaties, it never did come any closer.

We thanked the helpful birder, and drove to Cley Beach car park. No sight nor sound of the Sedge Warbler we saw last Thursday - nor of any other migrant. Maybe West Runton would be more productive.

As we could produce an NENBC membership card, the car park fee was only £1. We parked behind the hut so that I could look at the sea. Ian and Sue soon joined us. We'd made contact as we drove in. They'd walked, but the reputed Black and a Common Redstart plus a Common Whitethroat were nowhere to be seen. Whilst we chatted, a constant small scattering of hirundine flew through. Mainly Sand Martins with a few Swallows, and probably at least one House Martin. Both Sue and I thought that we had seen one. Better views wanted. A lone Fulmar was the only seabird of interest, a female Wheatear popping up on the edge of the cliff in front of us, was a delight.