Anne's Journal

  Saturday December 31 Or Old Year's Day, as it is known to proper Norfolk people. One I know anyway. A day of finishing with the old and preparing for the new. The finishing was Christmas food. Pam and I between us, made a Turkey, Ham and Almond Pie. A long standing favourite from a Marks and Spencer Christmas Cookery book for the freezer,  I bought at the same time as my first freezer. When how to prepare food for the freezer was new and unknown. It's our preferred way of using up leftover turkey meat. These days I tend to use ready made shortcrust pastry as it means less time standing. I still prefer home-made........   Many years ago now, at least 25, I acquainted myself with a small Apple PC provided at work, by producing a bird year list - as recommended by the IT man. 'Do something to do with birds', is what he said. The list has been refined and much altered since but is still Pam and I's year record, updated every last day in the month. Yes. we month list t...

 Monday December 26 How did I cope when there were ten of us over Christmas, eight actually staying here? A caravan helped.  Not as many decorations either, they all have to be put away again. Always a living room tree,    artificial these days, a mantelpiece decoration. the crib and a porch tree,  with outside icicle lights around the sideway and garage.     We start with a fizz and fruit juice tipple whilst opening the presents. Apple, Peach and Apricot and Prosecco this year. Delicious.  The main meal is mid afternoon, having worked up an appetite producing it.The turkey is small, organic bronze, free range. My meal, much smaller than in years past, but the only meal of the day.  

 Tuesday December 20 Knowing that the afternoon would be best, it was almost mid-day before we set off.  What a lovely day after all the murk and big freeze. An almost cloudless blue sky, the golden sun of a December afternoon gilding the winter brown reeds which fringe all the dykes on Ludham Marsh. Birds were very scarce on the way out, driving sedately along the segmented, flawed, concrete track. A roadside Buzzard was far enough away not to fly as Pam left the car to get her camera from the back seat. It had a look though.   It was down on the ground, listening intently for worms. I always think that this is an ignominious meal for a butch raptor.   Half the parking space was occupied by three large Broads Authority vans. Three remaining cars left us one space in the front row  for us to drive into. In the past, before the area became as well known, we have always been able to park sideways on so that I could scope from the car. Binoculars through the windsc...

Wednesday December 7  Animals usually choose to give birth at a time and place conducive to the survival and successful develpment of their young. Why would Atlantic Grey Seals choose an exposed, windswept heap of sand during a December day when the temperature was only 3C and the heavy showers wintry?  Pam forgot her camera when we were last here a week or so ago. To-day, she was ready. So was I - but the owner was in the kiosk and very firm with her directions of where to park. I could see part of the beach from the car through the front windscreen, enjoying watching the male seals patrolling the surf, looking for mating opportunities. The main beach had many more seals, and over 50 pups scattered amongst them. Pam offered to take some photos for me, using my camera and long lens. All these are taken by her.   Babies fed from their parent   Watchful females saw off any males which encroached on feeding time. Gulls fed on the nutrient rich placentas Others rested Ma...

 Sunday December 4 We must try to choose a better day. The sun appeared in time to make viewing the pits at Snettisham impossible, the rest of the day was exceptionally dull and overcast. The highlights of our Snettisham visit were half a dozen female Goldeneye on the first pit and a juvenile Spoonbill way out on the mud flats.   As always, we enjoyed the searching, despite the lack of birds seen, it was barely 50 species. We had a quick look at Brancaster to see whether the Hume's was accessible for us. It wasn't. Apart from two Egyptian Geese, Holkham marsh was empty. We didn't see any Brent all day and only one flock of Pinkfeet. We just love being out in the countryside looking, most days are more successful than this one. A teacher once told us 'If you've got nothing to say, don't say anything'. Goodnight.    

 Saturday December 3 When we visit Winterton Beach car park, it's always with the intention of looking for sea birds.Last week, both the sea and the sand was empty of any wildlife, just the inevitable dogs and their owners in sight. This week, winter opening times were in force, when on certain days,  the owners allow the Coastguards to man the gate, asking for volunteer contributions instead of the set parking fees. This is very good of them. Money thrown into the bucket, we drove to the far end before parking.  Nowhere else in Norfolk is it possible to watch Atlantic Grey Seals pupping from the comfort of the car. The extensive area of sand to the north had about a hundred seals scattered around the edge. This started as an overflow from Horsey further north, where over two thousand pups were born last year.   They pup from late November until the end of January. The coastguard told us that there were no pups as yet, we saw two at least, their white fur standing ou...