Morston - 9th September 2025

 We took our chance to get nets up at the coast. The wind had calmed and any unusual birds that may have been around when flycatchers were popping up along the coast a few days before were long gone. We were surprised to find it rather quiet when we arrived and there were very few captures until around 8'o'clock when we started to see birds feeding along the ditch and in the bramble clumps.

There appeared to have been an influx of Dunnocks and Robins, as there are usually few Dunnocks about and this is the first time we've recorded or even seen Robin there.  Top species was Chiffchaff and a Stonechat and two Reed Buntings were marked for the respective darvic marked projects.

3M Reed Bunting

Thanks to PWL & LC for completing our team of 4.

Total: 38 (2)

Blackcap - 5
Blue Tit - 6
Chiffchaff - 11
Dunnock - 8 (1)
Reed Bunting - 2
Robin - 3
Stonechat - 1
Whitethroat - 1
Wren - 1

Sculthorpe Moor - 8th September 2025

 A quiet morning with only 18 birds processed. Leading species of Blue Tit, quite a late Sedge Warbler, with Cetti's Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat the best of the bunch that were all juveniles.

Cetti's Warbler

Sedge Warbler

Lesser Whitethroat

Total: 18

Blackcap - 4
Blue Tit - 6
Cetti's Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 3
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Reed Bunting - 1
Sedge Warbler - 1
Wren - 1

Dersingham Bog - 6th September 2025

 A few hours this morning focussing on Stonechats and we managed to catch 10. All were marked with red darvics for the project. A few individuals with interesting plumage.

This adult male shows white across the rump as does the following.

Both birds are in full moult, including primary feathers so not quite as smart as usual.

Total:10

Stonechat - 10

Morston - 5th September 2025

 The wind's from the wrong direction for vagrants but our departing summer migrants are skirting the coast so we gave this lovely site within a stones throw of the beach a go with PWL.

The bulk of the catch were migrants with Whitethroat making up just under a third of the catch including a somewhat tardy adult. Blackcaps outnumbered Chiffchaff just, and 4 new Stonechat have us thinking that these are also possibly birds on passage. Linnets, Dunnocks and Wrens represented the resident birds and a Cetti's Warbler was a real surprise, unlikely to have been bred there or nearby and probably on the move.

Adult Whitethroat

Juvenile Cetti's Warbler

3M Stonechat

3JP Stonechat

The winter bird feed crop is coming along nicely.

Total: 33 (2)

Blackcap - 6
Cetti's Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 4
Dunnock - 3 (1)
Linnet - 3
Stonechat - 4
Whitethroat - 9 (1)
Wren - 3

Norfolk Rivers Trust, Ingoldisthorpe - 2nd September 2025

 An unexpected first for the group, captured in the third panel of the net. Water rail.

Adult Water rail

Only three Reed Warbler today and all the Sedge already on their way. A few Blackcaps (highest fat score 5) and Chiffchaff representing the outgoing summer migrants.

10 species in total.

Chiffchaff

3M Goldcrest

Total: 28 (3)

Blackcap - 9
Blue Tit - 3
Cetti's Warbler - 0 (1)
Chiffchaff - 8
Dunnock - 0 (1)
Goldcrest - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 1
Reed Warbler - 2 (1)
Water Rail - 1
Wren - 3

Morston - 28th August 2025

 Spent the morning in fields by the coastal wall, with LC, trying to catch departing migrants. Chris has thought for a while that birds move to the coast, then make their way east before making the flight to the continent.

It looks as though he's correct as in contrast to the 2, 3, or less Whitethroats we've been getting inland we captured 15 with many more seen in the bramble bushes.

3O Whitethroat, Fat 4, Muscle 2, weight 19.4g

Juvenile Stonechat marked for the Natural England project.

A wind affected catch, but an enjoyable morning.

Total: 27

Blackcap - 2
Blue Tit - 6
Dunnock - 2
Stonechat - 2
Whitethroat - 15

Sculthorpe Moor - 27th August 2025

It wasn't long before the wind got up today, bringing the last of the Wednesday activity days in August to a close. The reedbed was quiet, and only 23 birds were captured. The bonus was our 2nd Willow Warbler of the year, although there were not many children around to see it or the birds that we did catch.

Willow Warbler, aged 3

Total: 22 (1)

Blackcap - 3
Blue Tit - 6
Chiffchaff - 3
Reed Warbler - 3 (1)
Sedge Warbler - 1
Willow Warbler - 1
Wren - 5