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It's the first of the Month

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Saturday November 1 On a day of sunshine and overcast, mainly the former as the day went on, with a very brisk wind, the best bird was the dullest looking. The juvenile Long-tailed Duck was on the second pit at Snettisham, in the bottom corner - exactly where the beautiful adult male spent some time last year. It was extremely active, often disappearing from view. I managed a quick glimpse from the car near the top of the entry track, before we had to move. A very croaky and unwell Sue Bryan was already viewing. Later, we moved so that Pam could see the bird and then, back to the track so that I could try to photograph it. Sue had walked across the causeway with her camera, coming back to tell me that I wouldn't see it from where we were.  I managed one photo only of a partially obscured bird - for the year folder - Sue's Blog has three good ones.   The tide was still very low here, it should have been coming in. The mud was almost bare, even the Shelduck were not in view, apa...
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Occasions

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 Thursday October 30  The dreaded Clocks back time change has happened, we've had two storms, and it's November on Saturday. Where does the time go? We've made a few birding outings, none of them very productive, but a chance to view the Norfolk countryside in its autumnal splendour. I should have taken more photographs but parking the car in the right place is not often possible on our busy roads. After having our flu and covid jabs, we drove the back road to Gunton Park. Again, we can no longer enter the park as the only gate open says 'Private Only' which means that Pam will not drive in. We view the Roe deer from the roadside, through any available gaps in the hedge. There was a small herd in view, distantly, under the trees. Three well antlered stags strutted their stuff, obviously sniffing the air with raised and drawn back nose, snuffling. There can't have been any receptive does as that's as far as it got.   Another ride to West Somerton gave us view...
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Autumn

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 Sunday October 20 Active birders are in pursuit of the Yellow-browed Warblers, Dusky Warbler and Humes' Yellow -browed seen along the coast from Cley to Holme.  There have been reports of the first thrushes coming in too. We managed a small flock of Redwings near Abbey Farm. Our day was remarkable for the lack of passerines. Probably the other most surprising omission was Carrion Crow. Pam now tells me that she saw a couple near home when I was asleep (3 hours sleep last night). One Robin, one Blackbird, one Blue Tit, a singing Wren and fly past Goldfinches were the list padders. The highlight for me was, when parked at Hunstanton Lighthouse car park, two Glossy Ibis flew overhead. Pam followed them, seeing three more join them as they flew out over the Wash. I didn't immediately identify the the birds, it's the first time I've seen them in flight above me. Broad wings and a steady flap, no glide. The Fulmar aren't back on the cliffs yet, small huddles of Feral/Roc...
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Sunday Again

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 Sundy October 12 With two mornings moth-ing a week, two days of gardeners helping out, and various other appointments, the weekend is often the only time when a whole day's birding is possible. Sunday is quieter than Saturday, both on the roads and the coast. Much of the day appeared through a thick sea fret. The sun broke through at midday, but didn't shine  for long. The fret did enhance the cobwebs festooned on the bushes along the bank at Snettisham.   Not the most artistic of creations. Too many dropped stitches and inconsistent pattern-following!  Droopy underpants came to mind.  Each web is a marvel produced by a hungry spider, only obvious to us by the fret adhering to the gossamer threads. We saw hundreds of ducks today, Wigeon, Mallard and Teal are back in force. Geese less so. Only one Brent, a field full of Pinkfeet behind North Point Pools and 40 Canada Geese at Snettisham.  A hiighloght was a flock of at least nine Mistle Thrushes. A fie...
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After the Storm

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 Sunday October 5 Hurricane May passed through on Saturday. Today was still very windy indeed, until mid afternoon when it gradually abated. Whilst accepting that most birds prefer to keep low in the wind, we were still disappointed by their paucity. We ended with the measly total of 48 hard worked for month birds.  That sounds as thiough we had a bad day. On the contrary, it was lovely to be out in the countryside in bright sunshine, a cloudless sky for most of the morning. Sweet Chestnuts are shedding their prickly cases onto the road, Hawthorn is a mass of red berries, Bullaces, Crab Apples and Sloes promise food for birds and animals. Birch trees are the first to lose their leaves, other trees are beginning to turn into the russets of autumn. Horse Chestnuts are amongst the forerunners. Our LiquidAmber is starting to do so too. Snettisham bank was a roaring, car shaking, sand blasting experience. Couple that with a sea at its nadir.(OK Sue?). We didn't stay long, adding Cu...
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59

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 Sunday September 28 How did the years go by so quickly? My daughter, Sara was fifty nine today. We celebrated by going out birding, what better? Friend Pauline, who recently accompanied us on one of our birding from the car days, said that we went looking for birds rather than looking for one in particular. I think that sums it up well. When we were fit and able, we did both of course, but month listing as well as year listing and age has brought about an increase in the general approach. Driven by necessity but really rewarding.  The lack of Blackbirds has been noted, we can spend a day out and see none. This week we had one bird in the garden with feathers missing from its head. The single bird we saw at Snettisham looked the same. Is this a sign of the disease affecting southern birds? The sea at Snettisham could have been further out, it was well on its way. A mass of Knot and Bar-tailed Godwits crowded the shoreline. a phalanx of Oystercatchers, including one albino bird...
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Foxley

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 Saturday September 20 The Norfolk branch of the Butterfly Conservation organised a moth-ing session at Foxley Woods, which is a Norfolk Wildlife Reserve. It's Norfolk's largest remaining ancient woodland, good for  both moths and butterflies. Our last session here, earlier in the year was disappointing, as the weather was not conducive,.This is the latest date that a trapping session has taken place here.  Yesterday, the temperature had risen to 25C in parts of Norfolk, so hopes were high. Six traps had been spread around the reserve overnight by the ever willing Mike Glasson. David Norgate did the trap opening. His identification of the smaller moths was aided by Andy Wallis and Andrew Kershaw so that David could carry on with the main catch. Green Brindled Crescents, Brindled Green, Black Rustic, were very welcome.As was the single Clifden Nonpareil. The latter is known to be present but it's the first time one has been trapped. A Deep Brown Dart was brought in from th...
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