Anne's Journal

 Wednesday November 27 Wakimg to a beautiful sunny morning with very little cloud and wind, I suggested a day out where photographing any available birds was the aim, rather than a list. Pam embraced this idea, first stop Brancaster Ovary Staithe. This has always been one of our favourite north coast stops.Sea, birds, boats and marsh. Bathed in winter sun today, it was at its best. A receding tide too so that the birds present were busy feeding on the exposed mud. The tide rises and fall very quickly, the view is constantly changing. Just two other cars, we were able to drive around and change position.  As usual, the two cars present were in pole position, their owners reading the newspaper. They have every right to do so BUT, it's maddening.  A fishing Cormorant barely broke the surface before it dived again. The stubby part of its wings showing look like flippers.   A small flock of Pinkfeet flew over.   Ducks moved with the tide too. We had Wigeon and M...

 Monday November 17 A day of menacing black cloud, showers, rainbows, sun and overcast. All of these as we drove west. The Wash had the fewest birds we've ever experienced.  Mindful that my 2025 bird folder is missing some common species, we stopped to photogtaph House Sparrow on the chalet feeders.    The Long-tailed Duck was still present, just as active too. Pam saw it, I didn't. We both enjoyed the first year Great Crested Grebe, actively diving in search of a meal.     A Redshank in a hurry  and a Jackdaw which actually stayed as we stopped. They usually fly away. Although against the light, its brilliant yellow eye stood out as it strutted about on the grassy verge.   The wind was so strong as we left home, that the car door blew shut whilst my left leg was still on the drive. No real harm seems to have occurred.  A late influx of Sibes along the coast has been so frustrating, none of them available for us. Pallas's, and Hume's Yellow-b...

 Wednesday November 12  Needing to post a birthday card, we set off for Bacton Post Office, Walcott PO is shut on Wednesday afternoons. We then drove to Bacton car park, finding an enormous truck parked in the disabled parking spots with the lowest railings. I spent a quarter of an hour finding nothing but Herring Gulls, when news came through of a Pallid Swift over West Runton car park. One or more of this species has been present along the coast for the last few days. As we approached the village, we saw a group of four birders roadside, pointing long lenses into the sky. Bingo. We turned and parked almost opposite the Duffs' house. Pam immediately saw the Pallid Swift soaring distantly over the houses. The sky was empty for me, an indication of how bad my eyesight is these days. Using my binoculars, and looking through the front screen, I quickly picked up the Pallid Swift in constant swooping, diving, flight. Pam tried for some photos, as she could see it through her open ...

  Sunday November 9 Living in the subtropics has its penalties. Daughter Sara and family live in Brisbane, Queensland, and they're having a succession of storms at the moment. This includes large hailstones  which - to quote Sara - has made their cars look as though they live on a golf course. I wonder if insurance covers that. We set out on a lovely, blue sky with little wind, Autumn morning. The recent wind means that many trees have totally shed their leaves, achieving the skeleton look of winter. Others remain, more or less, fully clothed in shades of yellow and brown. Ochre and umber sounds much more attractive. Although there was the usual lack of passerines, five Red Kites and four Kestrels decorated the sky, two Buzzards the supporting show. Best of all was the Merlin which flew out of a roadside tree and across in front of us, shortly before getting home at the end of the day. Two Little Grebes were back at Snettisham, always good to see.    Even better, a ...

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...

 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...