Norfolk Rivers Trust, Ingoldisthorpe - 30th August 2024

 With fewer and fewer migrants about now we went to the filter lagoons for what may be one of our last summer sessions. It turned out to be a good decision as we caught 4 new species for the site, giving a distinctly autumnal feel to the session despite the warm sunshine.

Juvenile Cetti's Warbler

We have always thought it strange that we have never heard Cetti's Warbler at the site. It does not seem likely that this bird was bred here, but if it stays and we recatch it, then we'll know that we were correct about this being a good site for what they need.

Age 3 female Sparrowhawk.

We hadn't even seen this bird before it turned up in a net. Juvenile female, possibly in the area following flocks of passerines moving through.

Juvenile male Grey Wagtail, captured in the net across the stream.

New species number 4,  a couple of young Greenfinch were attracted from a small flock that were seen in the tall trees between the track and lagoons.

3 male Greenfinch

A very worthwhile session, some nice records of species not caught here before, a few summer migrant species, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat included and some adults well into their primary moult.

The team for today was CL, DKL, DKH & FB.

Total: 38 (1)

Blackcap - 11
Blue Tit - 2
Cetti's Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 10
Coal Tit - 1
Dunnock - 1
Greenfinch - 2
Grey Wagtail - 1
Reed Warbler - 5
Song Thrush - 1
Sparrowhawk - 1
Whitethroat - 1
Wren - 1

Sculthorpe Moor - 28th August 2024

 Still a few migrants around as six hours in the field resulted in a catch of 39 birds. The Sedge Warblers have finished moving through now and only three Reed Warblers were caught by our efforts in the reedbed. We managed to attract some Chiffchaffs and a few Blackcaps, including an adult in primary moult that was ringed by us in May 2023.

Juvenile Chiffchaff

Adult male Blackcap ANZ9706, ringed as adult May 2023,

 well into main moult. Primary 5555554332 and replacement of some 

adult type retrices.

Juvenile Reed Warbler

We managed 11 species, boosted by singles of Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Treecreeper.

Male Great Spotted Woodpecker in main moult

Totals: 36 (3)

Blackcap - 5 (1)
Blue Tit - 6
Chiffchaff - 8 (1)
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Great Tit - 6
Long-tailed Tit - 2
Nuthatch - 1
Reed Warbler - 3
Robin - 1
Treecreeper - 0 (1)
Wren - 3

Norfolk Rivers Trust, Baconsthorpe - 18/08/2024

 A total of 41 birds on the record sheet today, with Wren very nearly coming in as leading species, but not quite due to one more Blue Tit. There were no large feeding flocks connecting with the nets in the beavers' enclosure so not a bad total although there were only 5 summer migrants in the mornings catch, there were plenty of resident species young birds that have been bred locally.  

Green Sandpiper and Kingfisher were both heard from the adjacent fishing pond.

One of 3 young Chiffchaff caught today

Total: 41

Blackbird - 3
Blackcap - 2
Blue Tit - 10
Chiffchaff - 3
Dunnock - 2
Goldcrest - 5
Great Tit - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 1
Robin - 4
Song Thrush - 1
Wren - 9

Barn Owls - 17th August 2024

 A few call backs where there were eggs in early July and we may have some later chicks to ring now. We visited 8 boxes finding 5 either empty or with cold eggs. However, one box where we'd missed the first brood that had already fledged had three good sized young to ring.

 

We also ringed a rather hefty adult female and retrapped one of our chicks from last year that had travelled a short distance from where it was hatched.

1st summer female

Total:4 (1)

Adult -1 (1)
Pulli - 3

Deepdale Farm - 16th August 2024

 A chilly blow from the   north brought temperatures down first thing and limited us from one of the usual rides due to being wind affected. We still got 7 nets up and caught 21 birds for one of our summer holiday bird demos. Visitors were able to see eight species including Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap and Robin and enjoyed the morning.

Willow Warbler

Total: 21

Blackbird - 1
Blackcap - 7
Chiffchaff - 1
Goldfinch - 1
Great Tit - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 2
Robin - 2
Whitethroat - 3
Willow Warbler - 1
Wren - 2

Sculthorpe Moor - 14th August 2024

 The track through the reedbed was finally dry enough to have been cut and this made setting the nets so much easier. We started off rather slowly although a small flock of Chaffinch, all in their first year, was a bit of a novelty for this time of year. By 10:30am it looked as though we might get up to 40 birds, then we had the first incidence of Chiffchaffs connecting with one of the double nets where we had been playing for Long-tailed Tit. They brought a Willow Warbler with them, only our 5th this year. 

Willow Warbler

On the next round we had a similar number of birds, in the same net, again!

Sedge Warbler

Reed Warbler

    3M Chaffinch

Juvenile Chiffchaff

Getting a good few birds when we were thinking of starting to pack up set us back a little and we didn't get off site until 2:00pm, but it was great to get a decent catch. Only the second time we've got onto a second sheet this summer, we finished on 88 birds with over half Chiffchaff.

Total: 82 (6)

Blue Tit - 10 (2)
Chaffinch - 6
Chiffchaff - 47 (2)
Great Tit - 1 (1)
Long-tailed Tit - 4
Reed Warbler - 3
Sedge Warbler - 3 (1)
Willow Warbler - 1
Whitethroat - 6
Wren - 1

Norfolk Rivers Trust, Ingoldisthorpe - 11th August 2024

 A total catch of 44 birds with Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap the only migrants. Only with a late flock of Long-tailed Tits was the catch swelled to a reasonable number for this date in August when autumn migration is well under way. Team of CL, DKL, OHK, KL.

3MP Blackcap

Total: 38 (6)

Blackcap - 2
Blue Tit - 3
Chiffchaff - 3
Dunnock - 1 (1)
Goldcrest - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 16
Reed Warbler - 8 (4)
Wren - 4

Sculthorpe Moor - 4th August 2024

 12 species at the beaver enclosure today as rather a lot of tits brought the total up to 49 new and 6 retraps. Migrant warblers were a little thin on the ground with only one Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat and 3 new Reed Warbler.

The conditions under foot continue to become increasingly wet as the beavers further extend and deepen their aquatic living areas.

Juvenile Whitethroat.

Juvenile Marsh Tit with darvic 19.

Total: 45 (6)

Blackbird - 1
Blackcap - 1
Blue Tit - 14 (3)
Chiffchaff - 5 (1)
Great Tit - 11
Long-tailed Tit - 4
Marsh Tit - 1 (1) 
Reed Warbler - 3 (1)
Robin - 2
Treecreeper - 1
Whitethroat - 3
Wren - 3

Wet areas either side of the track, that used to be completely dry, have now become 

connected and the track is permanently wet.

Here the beavers have dug a trench across the track to flood a previously dry, 

wooded area from one of the drainage ditches.

Increased water level in the ditch and flooding extending into the trees.

Dersingham Bog - 3rd August 2024

 Ringing efforts on Nightjars are progressing well, despite the unusual year they are having and the late start we made on Nightjar ringing. Another pair of young ringed this morning bringing the total to 6 pulli ringed, 4 of which are now fledged with the other pair only a week or so from taking to the wing. Four adults have also been ringed. It has been difficult to relocate known nests, but we're refining the system for a smoother process next year when we start our efforts to establish Nightjar feeding areas away from the natal grounds.

Female and chicks, courtesy of PWL

Courtesy of PWL

All ringing and monitoring activities conducted under licence. Joint project with Natural England to safeguard Nightjar feeding grounds.

Total: 2

Nightjar pulli - 2

Norfolk Rivers Trust, Ingoldisthorpe - 2nd August 2024

 An outing with DKH to the lagoons at Ingoldisthorpe brought data from 35 new and 6 retrapped birds. Leading species was Reed Warbler, way out in front with 17 new and 4 retrapped birds. Trailing a long way behind in second was Chiffchaff with 4 new birds and no other species achieved more than 3 birds caught. 12 species was a good spread of species including several singles that included Blackcap and Sedge Warbler ( they really do seem to be well on their way), Blackbird, Goldfinch, Wood Pigeon and the first Yellowhammer for the site.

Adult Reed Warbler

Adult Sedge Warbler

Juvenile Wood Pigeon

Juvenile Yellowhammer

Total: 35 (6)

Blackbird - 1
Blackcap - 1
Blue Tit - 2 (1)
Chiffchaff - 4
Dunnock - 2
Goldfinch - 1
Reed Warbler - 17 (4)
Sedge Warbler - 1
Robin - 2 (1)
Wood Pigeon - 1
Wren - 2
Yellowhammer - 1