Daily Diary: May 2006
1st May 2006
At Whitlingham this morning, the first three Common Sandpipers and three Garden Warblers of the year, along with 50+ each of Sand Martin and Swallow and a couple of Swifts. At least six singing Sedge Warblers also. In the afternoon, a walk around Surlingham Church Marsh produced the first confirmed Reed Warblers of the year, four Cetti's, 6m2f Shoveler and 4 pairs Teal. A longhorn beetle was found indoors which was later identified (with help online!) as Leiopus nebulosus; it had presumably come in with firewood from the garden.
Leiopus nebulosus, Stoke Holy Cross, 1/5/06
2nd May 2006
Went to East Wretham Heath before work. Two male Golden Pheasants were calling from the scrub to the south. The main lake was bone dry (still had a pair of Shelducks). A Redstart was heard singing distantly from the north-west side of the lake (I was on the track along the southern side). Later, a Swift over Barnhamcross and five more over Thetford as they started moving in more widely.
3rd May 2006
Did my BBS square before work this morning. Fairly unexciting, with 11 Red-legged Partridges, 5 Blackcaps, 4 Whitethroats and 3 Bullfinches of note. In the evening, a Hobby flew across the A11 with prey just into one of my Norfolk atlas squares. Arriving home, a fine evening saw the first five Swifts arrive back over the garden, along with House Martin, Swallow and a surprise fly-over Cuckoo.
4th May 2006
First Holly Blue at the Nunnery today, and first Large Red Damselfly at the Nunnery Lakes. Best find was a Slow-worm along the track coming back from the lakes at lunchtime, about a foot long. My first record of this species in the area (indeed in Norfolk.)
5th May 2006
Plenty of butterflies now in better weather, with Orange-tip, Speckled Wood, Peacock and Brimstone along the riverbank. In the evening, put the trap out in the garden for the weekly survey. Not spectacular, but 31 moths of 15 species included several new ones for the year, including Lunar Marbled Brown, Least Black Arches, Common and Foxglove Pugs, Swallow Prominent, Lime Hawk, Powdered Quaker and Shuttle-shaped Dart. Also seven Plutella xylostella were part of a national arrival of this species.
6th May 2006
At Great Yarmouth, visiting the sea-life centre for Duncan's birthday. No Meds on the beach during a quick look, although a Barwit flew south.
7th May 2006
Up early for a dismal and damp Norfolk Atlas square at Wymondham. 45 species noted, including a fly-over pair of Common Terns, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and 24 Whitethroats. Later went to Buckenham with the boys, where a Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper representing the wader passage, plus 5 male and 1 female Wigeon, a Yellow Wagtail and a Hobby whizzing along the track. No sign of any Temminck's.
8th May 2006
At Whitlingham before work, where 5-6 Common Sandpipers were the highlight. Tried to turn a Herring Gull into a Caspian Gull, but it clearly wasn't. In the evening, to celebrate our offer being accepted on a house in Shotesham, went back to Buckenham with the boys where two (of three present) Temminck's Stints were seen well on the pools. Very nice, but they could have been there the previous day! Also Greenshank and a male Wheatear of note.
9th May 2006
Following heavy rain, surprised to see four male and one female Gadwall on the flood at work - obviously more kicking around here than tend to be obvious. Brighter at lunchtime, when amongst the usual butterflies, a brief Grass Snake in the meadow by the R Thet.
10th May 2006
Before work, the two pairs of Stone-curlews at the usual site were watched, both with obvious nests. Some half-decent photos taken.
Stone-curlew, Brecks, 10/5/06
11th May 2006
A surprise late arrival of a Nightingale this morning singing by Barnhamcross pumping station. Recorded the song on the camcorder with a Garden Warbler in the background. In the evening, went for a dusk walk around Strumpshaw. Very quiet, with no Bittern or Water Rail heard. Did have Hobby, Barn and Tawny Owls, 7 Reed, 15 Sedge, 3 Grasshopper and 2 Cetti's Warblers, plus Bearded Tit and Chinese Water Deer.
12th May 2006
Dragged myself along to Lynford Stag before work, where had to work very hard to eventually hear one singing Firecrest. Couldn't see it. Estimated that it was audible up to about 35 m away (not accounting for height in tree!). On Barnhamcross at lunchtime, first Cydia internana around the gorse flowers. Back home, Esperia sulphurella and Caloptilia syringella flying in the evening sunshine. Trapped 44 moths of 20 species in the garden, new for the year being Brimstone Moth, Flame Shoulder, Iron Prominent, Spruce Carpet, Scorched Carpet, Chocolate-tip, Knot Grass (two - bit of a surprise), Red Twin-spot Carpet, Eulia ministrana and Semioscopis steinkellneriana.
13th May 2006
At the UEA marsh with Duncan in the morning where Common Tern and two singing Cetti's Warblers. Large Red Damselfly in the garden at lunchtime.
14th May 2006
Had a big morning out, with a respectable total of 105 species noted without any prior planning. After a Barn Owl on the way, had a quick unsuccessful look for the Monty's then went to Titchwell. Plenty here, the rarest being a five-second glimpse of the Purple Heron gliding over the reeds but dropping out of sight. Also a booming Bittern here, Ruddy Duck, Little Tern, Little Egret, Bearded Tit, Pintail, Greenshank, 25+ Grey Plover mostly in full plumage, 3 Common Sands, 4 1st-yr Little Gulls, White Wagtail, Whimbrel on the pools, c10 Knot, c80 Brents still hanging around, a huge number of scoters (2000+?) being flushed around by two lifeboats, including at least two Velvets (perhaps more), plus Fulmar and Gannet. Then went up to Choseley where 30 Corn Buntings sat on the wires and 3 Turtle Doves in a field. Annoyingly, had I gone and checked some more fields I might have found the 12 Dotterel that were there later - darn. Stopped then at Choseley Farm where a Tree Sparrow was seen immediately on a rooftop. Back to the Monty's, where the male was seen perched on the track. Eventually he flew up and right over us and off over the fields. I had a brief stop at Great Ryburgh on the way back, where Hobby, Buzzard and my fourth heron of the day (Grey), but a few days too early for the Honeys.
Montagu's Harrier, North Norfolk, 14/5/06
15th May 2006
A Turtle Dove flew over the Nunnery before work, probably my first record for the actual building. Went for a wander along the Little Ouse west of town at lunchtime in the vain hope of LSW and Willow Tit - discovered that it is not private to park here though. Also had Grey Wagtail and Banded Demoiselle. Put the trap out in the evening at home, with 21 species including two Orange Footman, Waved Umber, Common Swift, Garden Carpet, Chinese Character, Poplar Hawk, Pebble Prominent, Evergestis forficalis and Syndemis musculana.
16th May 2006
Quick belated WeBS count before work at Whitlingham, the highlights being 11 Egyptian Geese + 6 juvs, 28 Greylags with 4 broods totalling 27 juvs, a Common Sandpiper, the returning ringed Herring Gull (HTX) and the little hybrid goose (Barnacle x Greylag?) that has been kicking around the valley for a while. Working at home all day, and discovered that there was a Great Reed Warbler singing in Lowestoft during the afternoon but couldn't get round Trudy's work to go for it until late on - I arrived about 2030, 30 mins after it stopped singing. Waited around for two hours, but could only come up with a Hobby and 3 Tawny Owls.
17th May 2006
Nothing of note.
18th May 2006
The Nightingale still singing on Barnhamcross.
19th May 2006
The two pairs of Stone-curlews at the usual site still, but no obvious nest-occupancy. One pair well away from nest site seen before. No juvs visible. In addition to the previously recorded colour-ringed bird, one of the other pair had at least one red ring above the knee on the right leg. At lunchtime, a Hobby hunting low over Barnhamcross. Did the weekly moth trap survey but nasty wet and windy weather resulted in just 15 moths of 12 species, including Streamer, Pale Prominent, Bright-line Brown-eye, Shears and Setaceous.
20th May 2006
A Bee-eater had been seen at Winterton the previous evening, and again this morning before flying off north. I went and checked out Horsey and Waxham, mostly from roadsides. No luck with the bird, but a surprise was an adult Spoonbill soaring over the woods west of Horsey Gap before it flew off south again. Also a Little Egret by the mill, plus Yellow Wagtail and numerous harriers.
21st May 2006
Spent about two hrs at Great Ryburgh this morning during which time no Honey Buzzards showed, although four Common Buzzard, three Hobby, a displaying pair of Marsh Harrier and a few Sparrowhawks. Also a possible Goshawk soaring distantly. Three separate Little Egrets flew downstream. Also Large White, Common Tern and Cuckoo. In the afternoon, walked around the Great Broad with the boys and had prolonged views of a pair of Hobby over Whitlingham Woods. Lots of Swifts low over the water and a few Sand Martins at the Little Broad. Young birds included the first Coot brood. Also 15 Lesser Black-backs, mostly adults.
22nd May 2006
The Nightingale again singing at Barnhamcross before work, although not at lunchtime.
23rd-31st May 2006
See Iberia Holiday