Black-winged Pratincole

As has been mentioned in the previous post a superb, although mobile and elusive, BLACK-WINGED PRATINCOLE has been ranging between fields just south of Holme village (north-east of Ringstead village), the reservoir south-west of Thornham village and Titchwell RSPB, often just outside the official observatory recording area, from 31st May to 6th June at least.

This is the 34th British record (it looks to be the same bird as the Kent one) and the 4th Norfolk record (the first for a decade.)

All Norfolk records are listed below:

1999 Cley, adult, 17th to 18th July, 3rd intermittently to 30th August, photo.; same, Titchwell, 19th to 27th July, photo.; same, Terrington Marsh, 31st July. Birding World 12 (7): 261, 265, photos; Birding World 12 (8): 303, photo; British Birds 92: plates 184 & 222; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 93: 529, pate 222

1974 Salthouse Heath and Cley, 25th to 28th August. F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 68: 320

1966 Cley, adult, 3rd to 5th July. F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 60: 320

Pictures and words © Connor D. Rand

Tawnies and Spoonbills but no Pratincole yet .....

With an extremely smart looking Black-winged Pratincole gracing the cereal fields north of Ringstead for its second day - 31 May/ 1st June - will it make it on to redwell or Holme Marsh? Pictured below are this year's 2 young Tawnies from the nest box in the pines, ringed on 23rd May and looking as laid back as only young Tawnies can! Seeing these birds being ringed was a particular delight for a visiting party of birders from Northern Ireland, where of course Tawnies are absent. An added bonus came later in the day with a group of 5 Spoonbills flying slowly east past the Observatory.

Drinker Moth caterpillar taken at Redwell Marsh NOA.