The White Falcon

Still some late flowering Yellow-horned Poppy on the beach behind Arnold's Marsh, which is always a treat to see, bringing a vivid brimstone splash of colour to an otherwise fairly grey kind of a Cley morning.
@linnetincley.bsky.social

A very handsome chap!

This striking Caloptilia had us scratching our heads for a little while a couple of mornings ago. Lynnette worked it out pretty quickly: this was actually a very smart (& rather spotty) Caloptilia rufipennella - the Rufous Stilt.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleymothobs
#norfolkmoths
#teammoth

About 10 days ago, Lynnette & I were chatting about birds & weather & Isabelline Shrike was mentioned as being a potential arrival in the coming weather...
Fast forward & we've enjoyed two evening encounters with Daurian & Turkestan Shrikes less than a week apart. Sweet!
@linnetincley.bsky.social

Turkestan Shrike
Dunwich Heath, Suffolk
October 6 2025
@linnetincley.bsky.social

The very fine ♂️ Turkestan Shrike, in the gathering twilight at Dunwich last night ~ it really seemed to like this particular gorse perch, returning to it frequently with food items as the sun set and the full moon began to really shine...
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#RareBirdsUK

Despite seeing at least a couple of 1w Isabelline Shrikes over the years where the consensus was all for them being young Turkestan, this was my first adult male so it was an actual tick. Which as quite exciting 😀 Must be knocking on the door of 550 - decent I guess for a phased lister 😅

The Shrike became super active towards dusk, w/frequent sallies off the gorse catching what appeared to be a selection of moths, caddis & crane flies. Kind of pleased with the phone grabs in the dusk-y twilight, such a gorgeous bird & new for both of us 😎
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#RareBirdsUK
3/3

It looked as though it may stay tucked away for the night but the Norfolk Daurian last week re-emerged from roost, so we were optimismic. Sure enough, after a good 25 mins inside the bush, the Shrike popped out to raid the larder. An absolute beauty!
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#RareBirdsUK
2/3

Where were we? We had our 1st chance to pop to Dunwich y'day afternoon for the♂️Turkestan Shrike. We had brief views around 5.40 but it went to ground, maybe to roost. Some searched for it, no joy, so I had a go. After a while, I noticed a hidden mask...
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#RareBirdsUK
1/3

Sensational shot Hugh👏

Tomorrow there'll be some more of this...!
@linnetincley.bsky.social

The brilliance of this morning was encapsulated by this migrating flock of 7 Spoonbills. Here's a species that breeds at Cley but these felt really exciting, hurtling across the reserve, barely pausing for breath, as they headed west (earlier they'd been at Hickling).
#NorfolkBirding
#cleybirds

This morning's Snow Bunting, sitting pretty on the shingle, not far from the Beach Hotel. Given half a chance, these super birds are often so confiding. Such a lovely bird on such a lovely birdy patch morning.
#NorfolkBirding
#cleybirds

Back from such an enjoyable morning around the marsh. The Glossy Ibis were on the North while westbound were two Whooper Swans, seven Spoonbills, two Grey Wagtails, plenty of Skylarks, RB Merg & Common Tern. A Snow Bunting was on the beach + Peregrine & 8 Red Kites. Ace👌
#NorfolkBirding
#cleybirds

Wooooooah!
Sensational Sword-grass scenes in Strathspey 😎
That's brilliant Pete!

Unreal to think it's as old as it is...sounds so contemporary in so many ways. Sublime. And rarely bettered. Love a local patch playlist too 🙂

Gets a like for the Talking Heads reference alone (and it's a very nice Stonechat too). Chapeau sir! Chapeau!

How fresh is that! Top-notch shot there Dougie. Love it👌

A perfect Parasol from this morning's walk out back. Up to 8 Red Kites & a newly ploughed field that was full of Lapwings (plus c35 Ruff & 80 Linnets) were the primary birds of note. After a brief flurry of passerine migrants, the door has shut again...
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#NorfolkBirding

Must be 40 year brain fade...but that's what PH told us, so...🤷
I do know we went out further than most Chalice did (no idea why) ~ an easterly wind did for us in terms of large Shearwaters but we saw 13 Wilson's. We had to carry Keith Vinnicombe downstairs to see his 1st Great Shearwater...

When I went out on the Chalice with Pete Harrison, we were 110 to 120 nautical miles SSW beyond Scilly (at the furthest point) ~ I remember that distinctly as we had what was likely a Whiskered Bat around the vessel & we were as far from land as we could be. The Challenger is amped-up Chalice 2025.

These do look to be potentially game-changing findings out there & the photos to go with them are stunning. Once upon a time in the late 80s we had Pete Harrison's explorations to the Wilson's Triangle to excite us. Nearly 40 years on, these Challenger expeditions are taking things to a new level.

A nice, round 100/25 this morning at CMO HQ. Clancy's Rustic remains a scarce visitor to the garden traps (it becomes only our 7th record to date - of 10 moths in total) whilst the fine-looking Brick was new for 2025 for us.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleymothobs
#norfolkmoths
#teammoth

You've been having a terrific time out there Tim ~ great selection and excellent numbers too👌

These do look to be potentially game-changing findings out there & the photos to go with them are stunning. Once upon a time in the late 80s we had Pete Harrison's explorations to the Wilson's Triangle to excite us. Nearly 40 years on, these Challenger expeditions are taking things to a new level.

The moth of the day today, Pink-barred Sallow alongside one of its commoner cousin, the Barred Sallow. Few species announce the real change into autumn more than some of the Sallow species & each one of them is a cracker.
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleymothobs
#norfolkmoths
#teammoth

Two more NFY moths at CMO last night ~ a gorgeous Pink-barred Sallow & a very fresh Red-lined Quaker. We're already into our best year ever here & these two welcome additions to the Moth Obs yearly total keep things rolling along...
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#cleymothobs
#norfolkmoths
#teammoth

Oh they're good ~ very, very good. Love those shots. Isn't it amazing just how distinctive the Band-rumpeds are...😉

Loving that bottom left-hand photo. It's like a DIM Wallace painting that's come to life👏

Great patch work find Pat 👏