Anne's Journal

 Sunday October 11 It's well known amongst Norfolk birders that Stone Curlews collect at Great Cressingham's pig fields in the Autumn, before migrating south for the winter. There can be over a hundred. There are many pig fields, only viewable through gaps in hedges or gateways. We intended going last week but medical appointments got in the way. Pauline and Pete did go, finding seven birds. Would any still be there for us as its well on in October. A lovely Autumn morning to be driving through the countryside, we went across country rather that the fast via Norwich route. Arriving in the village of Great Cressingham, we drove up the hill until we saw the first pig pens, stopping at the first gap. I laughed, saying, 'That's Pauline's shed'. We had stopped alongside the shed where Pauline had seen some birds last week and sent me a photo. Pam made the short walk, scanning the fields to either side, without luck. We continued up the long, straight sloping road, st...

Friday October 2 Moth meet at Cley on the 1st, the highlight being a lovely Vestal.  Today was a day of birding landscapes and action, definitely enough birds to make us happy, without any of individual note. We arrived at Snettisham the day after three days of the RSPB's 'Wader Spectacular' events. People travel from all over the country for these high tide events, there were over 500 here yesterday. To our pleasure, there were very few others here today, and they were all birders. No cyclists. No dog walkers. Brilliant. The tide was well on its way out, thousands of birds in their insulated groups forming long,sun-burnished conurbations on the mud, others scattered in between. Lincolnshire's trees on the horizon. Most distantly, shining pale in their winter plumage, were the Knot.    Nearer, the dark line was Oystercatchers, not as numerous as the Knot, but in good numbers. The Godwits,  mostly Black-tailed,  also keep to themselves.    Just one...

  Sunday September 26 Both eyes now cataract free, I can see better than I have for years. Able to read the newspaper and to watch TV without the help of glasses - my glasses are now useless. In a few weeks time I shall be able to get a new prescription, then I can read the questions on Pointless and work comfortable at my PC.  After our usual leisurely start, with calls at Sharrington for fruit and Greggs for lunch, we arrived at Brancaster Staithe. Considering that it was a sunny Sunday, the place was very quiet. The usual small queue at the Crab Shed, no-one on the Mound. The tide was well out, we entertained ourselves watching a few people preparing to paddle across to the other shore. The water, although not narrow was barely ankle deep. A few Bar-tailed Godwits flew in to feed avidly on the wet mud. Pam spotted a very distant Curlew and Little Egret, a few Herring Gulls began to gather around us.  Although not regular feeders of bread to birds, I only eat half of th...

 Sunday September 20 Rising to a lovely blue-sky Autumn morning, we drove to Morston Quay. We felt the need to do some birding but didn't want to drive too far. When we arrived, there were very few cars in the designated car park, we drove to the far end of the boat mooring area. There was some water in the creek; it soon became obvious that the tide was coming in. A lone Redshank feeding avidly, was the only bird to be seen at first.    Carefully scanning the marsh, where a few gulls loitered, Pam found a half dozen Golden Plover. A few distant white blobs caught our eye, enabling a Marsh Harrier to come into focus. A Black-headed Gull, hoped that we might be lunching, eyeing us from the top of one of the weather-worn posts, swaying, feathers well ruffled, in the strong breeze.     Then, a Bar-tailed Godwit came into view, often obscured by the plethora of mooring stakes, steps and platforms. It too, fought the wind as it fed on the rising shoreline. ...

  Monday September 15 My first birding day out, nearly three weeks after the lens replacement in my left eye. Mr Burton pronounced the result 'very good' when I saw him last week. Apart from a small misty area due to macular degeneration, I can indeed see everything much more clearly. Thanks go to my. surgeon. My right eye will be operated on next Tuesday.  It's a shame that the birds didn't turn up for us until we got to Snettisham. When we met Pauline at Fakenham Morrrison's - after buying lunch from Greggs of course - we still hadn't reached double figures. Seeing a group of birders at the top of the slope to the reserve is always encouraging. We discovered later that it had been a high tide 'wader spectacular' morning. The tide was well out by now but near enough to marvel at the number and variety of birds on show, feeding avidly on the receding tideline, or, roosting in huge swathes along the mud. I never tire of this sight. Even if identification ...

  Tuesday September 1 This year seems to have flown by. I haven't been out birding for a while as I had a cataract removal operation on my left eye. I am now able to see much better than before, thank goodness - there are no guarantees. We didn't set off too early as Sam and Adrian arrived before we'd left . They have very recently returned from a holiday on Crete so had a lot to tell us. Both of them are walnut coloured, and found the humid, unrelenting 34C + heat, difficult. It was after a trip to Crete in August that we vowed to only go to the Mediterranean countries at Easter from then onwards. We left them to their garden chores/house cleaning duties - always a pleasure!. There were even fewer birds than usual en route, not in double figures until after Abbey Farm. Seeing Swallows lining up on wires in preparation for migrating, is a pleasure, with a hint of sadness. We saw the occasional House Martin but few in comparison.   Driving up the slope towards Snettisham, ho...