19th-25th March 2012

Sunday 25th - Dad and I popped out for the morning, starting at Cantley for a successful Glossy Ibis twitch - four birds, including a darvic ringed bird from Spain (no further info yet). These had been around the valley for a while, but soon afterwards relocated to Germany. We then went to Buckenham, where just a couple of Ruff were of note. A quick stop then at Strumpshaw produced my earliest ever (by four days!) singing Willow Warbler by the fen hide. No Bitterns or Beardies, but the white-winged Black-headed Gull for the third consecutive spring! In the afternoon we all walked around the Rockland/Claxton loop, with highlights a Water Rail peeking out of a clump of sedges by the hide, and a distant lump on a gate that could only have been one of the wintering Short-eared Owls (no scopes!) First Peacock butterfly of the year too.

Atmospheric Glossy pic, Cantley Marshes

Saturday 24th - kids skiing in the morning, and parents down for the weekend; walked around the village in the afternoon, with the first Dark-edged Bee-flies of the year in the garden, Red-tailed Bumble sp, a very dark Episyrphus balteatus (keyed out - apparently, early ones often are dark - never knew that) and a little moth potted from next door's hedge which turned out to be a pale example of Epermenia chaerophylella. Also Frog spawn in the stream, mid common, and Ground Ivy in flower now.

First bee-fly of the year, at home

Epermenia chaerophylella, Shotesham

Friday 23rd - went to one of my Stone-curlew sites in the morning but no joy; or at least, no joy on that species, but a fine singing Woodlark is always appreciated. Couple of Chiffs also singing in the woods. At work at lunchtime, Orange Underwing flitting around the tops of the birches by the lawn, and "proof of life" from a rumbling mole-hill! Big moth-trap catch overnight, with 140 moths of 9 species; a huge count of 105 Small Quakers were overshadowed however by my second ever adult Small Eggar! Just over a year since the first one too. What a cool moth.

Small Eggar on denim - cool or what?

Thursday 22nd - had to take the car to the garage, so popped in to Whitlingham on the way for a blatant Chiffchaff attempt, which was unsurprisingly successful!


Tuesday 20th - finally got a Brimstone at the Nunnery today - was feeling it was getting a bit late. Also Marsh Marigold in flower, with my first owl-midge of the year back home in the evening.


Monday 19th - Simon rushed into the office today in a generous attempt to help me get Red Kite on my window list, but to no avail - much appreciated though! Imagine my chuffedness though when (presumably) another floated over the A11 near Thickthorn on my way home that afternoon; always a thrill but my second A11 bird this year already - how many by the end of the year?