Brambling and Hummingbird Hawkmoth

Brambling in front of the Dell Hide 26th September.

With a Yellow Browed Warbler also present by the Obs. A major fall of migrants all along the Norfolk coast saw Grey Phalarope, Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted redshank and a Whiskered Tern present at Redwell Marsh on the same day.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth at rest on the Buddlea outside the Obs 25th September

Arctic Skua Holme Beach 19 September

Barred Warbler 19 September

With thanks to member Sandra Solly who took and supplied the photographs .

19th September Arctic Skua and Barred Warbler

A lone Arctic Skua that spent nearly an hour on the beach after making a half hearted attempt to mug a Sandwich Tern

Barred Warbler in front of the dell Hide. This is the first that of the seasons 3 Barred Warblers to be ringed -27th August - but remains on site over 3 weeks later and showed well over the 2 days of the week-end

Rarities delight weekend visitors

To the relief of many the ARCTIC WARBLER was still present over the weekend and showing much better and more consistently in the field than it had done earlier in the week. In addition, the RED-NECKED PHALAROPE continued to show well on Redwell Marsh and a BARRED WARBLER was still present on the NOA reserve, meaning the 'purple patch' continues and many people went away happy on both days. The Arctic Warbler was also photographed in the field by a variety of people (top shot by John Furse, rest by Penny Clarke - see her blog for more www.pennyshotbirdingandlife.blogspot.com)

more shots to follow

Garden Warbler 5th September

Garden Warbler ringed on the 5th September.

6 Redstarts ringed the same day and all the classic Autumn migrants present either in the Dunes or around the Observatory - Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Winchats and Stonechats, and Weatears as well as Red Backed Shrike

Burnt Carpet Moth out of the Obs Trap

Red Necked Phalarope September 2010 2nd record for Redwell Marsh

Discovered on Redwell on the 3rd September and still present a week later on the 10th. A welcome long staying bird after the previous bird that was present for less than a day and is pictured below

Red Necked Phalarope Redwell Marsh 19 September 2005

ARCTIC WARBLER 6/9/10

The start to the autumn at Holme has been spectacular to say the least, with scarcities including 4+ Barred Warblers, Icterine Warbler, Wood Warbler, Wryneck, 2 Red-backed Shrikes and a Red-necked Phalarope, but today this was trumped by a superb ARCTIC WARBLER (pictured above by Rob Gordan), only the 3rd Holme record, that was trapped and ringed on the NOA reserve in the morning. It wasn't seen during the afternoon but was seen again briefly but well in the evening, although it couldn't be relocated after this sighting either despite searching. The bird was carrying very little fat and with rain setting in just after dusk it should still be present tomorrow.

All Holme Arctic Warbler records are listed:

10th September 1984

5th September 1999

6th-12th September 2010 (photographed; J. Andrews, S. Barker et. al.)

A bird previously accepted as an Arctic Warbler, present 14th-19th October 1976 (many observers), was rejected on review and reidentified as a Greenish Warbler (following concerns raised initially by S. Joyner and D. Holman), almost certainly the first Western Paleartic record of 'Two-barred' Greenish Warbler (plumbeitarsus), although the photographic and descriptive evidence 'narrowly failed to meet the high acceptance threshold required by a first for Britain' (see full review in British birds February 2003 Vol. 96 No. 2).

The Holme Arctic Warbler is the first twitchable bird in the county since the 1999 record at the same site.