Avoiding Paint

 Wednesday March 15

The living room ceiling saga continues......

Steve and Wayne were due to give the whole ceiling a coat of emulsion today, merely sticking to the necessary section would show up the rest of the room. Pam had been fretting about our inability to prepare the room - moving ornaments, dust sheets etc. as is the norm. We had no choice but to leave it to the men. As I was getting up, Pam mooted that perhaps we didn't need the ceiling done at all. I'd looked at it and thought that the goop put on the stained section had covered it well - but my eyes are not brilliant. So, we cancelled the job. Steve was still coming to do some other small tasks around the house, so we went out as planned, although later than expected.

The road to Welney is still under water, the river broke its banks to add to the 'normal' overflow. There is another route but it's even longer. We drove to Snettisham, our default destination.  Lurching through the chalet park, the road is dreadful, there is a space where we can stop to view the first pit. As soon as we pulled in, an Egyptian Goose started swimming towards us. We rarely see this species here, definitely not such an apparently tame one. 

 

What bliss, the entry gate is still unrepaired and therefore open, we could drive straight through and up the slope to the reserve. We arrived an hour after a low high tide, when much of the mud is left uncovered. My first opportunity to try out my new eyepiece. What a difference, bright and clear. I really had needed a new one. As had been stated, nothing wrong with the telescope body. I had to use a coin to loosen the swivel screw which Suzanne had tightened, then all was well. All the expected waders and ducks, we found the mass of Avocets on the reserve pit's islands.

I had requested that we drive out to Holme to-day, for the first time this year, another painful entry road. Nine very sharp traffic calming humps past the houses, and then a potholed dirt track out to the reserves. It was an opportunity to take some photos for the folder. I find Magpies rather difficult as they are so wary. No sooner has the car stopped than they fly off. The light was wrong for showing eye highlights and iridescence too.

Always pleasing to see a Stonechat, this was our first this year.

No Konic ponies as has been the norm. Instead, a few of the white with black noses and ears, Old English type,  cattle.

The fields had small groups of Curlew feeding in the long grass, their proper haunts to me, born in a Welsh valley.

 We didn't see a Little Egret until we got to Holkham. Where have they all gone? To breed presumably, but they still need to feed. Holkham did have three Spoonbills feeding in the scattered pools. Sweeping their way through the water, it always reminds me of an old Hoover ad, ' it beats as it sweeps as it cleans'. Long head plumes lifting and spreading in the wind, adds to their regal progress.

Home in time for a cuppa before watching Man U beat Real Betis 0-1, 5-1 on aggregate, to reach the quarter finals of the Europa Cup. Long may it continue.