I took another late afternoon walk along the East Bank at Cley today – it’s becoming a bit of a habit! There wasn’t as much on the sea, though I did see several gannets, a lot of razorbills and four red-throated divers. Sea-watching is tricky when the wind is strong as the amount of swell makes it hard to keep track of birds on the surface of the water. At one point I was pretty sure I had found a black-throated diver, but before I could get the telescope on it for a proper look it disappeared and I never found it again. Divers can cover a lot of ground (not sure that’s the best description!) under water, so that and the high waves contributed to the bird not being seen again. I was pleased to see a small flock of five common eider fly past at one point.**
Just as I got back to the car a small flock of 7 cattle egrets flew overhead!
Brenda writes: “There was a significant absence in the moth trap today: After another cold night there 5 large wainscots, a beaded chestnut and a delicate….but no large yellow underwings! Apart from the nights when the trap wasn’t run I have recorded this moth every day since July 27th. It will be back I’m sure…..”
No new species for October 16th:
TOTALS TO DATE:
Birds = 223
Moths = 250
Wildflowers = 289
**”I’d an idea some eider were ‘iding ‘ere!”