Signs of the Times

 Sunday August 14

This morning, we spent a very pleasant hour in a sun-baked field, ground like concrete, with rough, brown grass tufts, those present sun-tanned, and wearing shorts, flimsy tops and sunhats. The Mediterranean? No, Trimmingham, where a small group of Bee-eaters has nested in a Norfolk sand-quarry for the first time ever. There are two active nests, one of them has a ready to fledge youngster poking its head out of the hole regularly. Any day now, the adults are encouraging it. 

A Kestrel has taken to perching near the nest, which is concerning.

We were allowed to drive down to the viewing area. The RSPB has set up an awning under which there are scopes trained on the nest-holes. Two nesting pairs of birds, with three attendant helpers. All we could view was the birds landing on wires near the quarry. I had excellent scope views. One of the birds had a dragonfly in its beak for ages before flying off. Pam saw the youngster appear in the nest-hole entrance. The ground was too undulating for my less than steady legs. I took a number of photos, none of which am I happy with. Just too far away, obvious when cropping the photos. Sharp photos become blurred as the pixels are lessened.  It was still a lovely experience, especially when the birds flew around emitting their evocative, musical trilling. Very nostalgic reminders of previous birding trips.I once aimed to see all the Bee-eater species in the world, but many of them were inaccesible then - some still are now. I did manage to see Black Bee-eater in Uganda plus many more of this delightful species.

 


 



A mob of unruly starlings jostled for space on the wires, flying down en masse to feed on blackberries before rising again. About 80% of them were brown juveniles. One lady was surprised by this mass, educated by TV into thinking thet this only happened at roosting time.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If it's global warning which has caused the long period of extreme heat, and lack of rain, which has encouraged the birds to nest here, then the cause for our latest installation is down to the passing of time.

I resisted as long as I was able to make it once a day. Once Pam started finding the stairs - 13 and very steep - too painful and difficult, we had a Stannah stair lift installed. As the man remarked when measuring, 'you have long legs', he didn't mention the gigantic knees.I barely clear the wall during my stately and less painful ride to bed.


 

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