Cold Snap

Tuesday March 8 

The garden is a picture of the onset of spring. Snowdrops, Polyanthus, Winter Aconites, miniature Narcissi, Witch Hazel and Anemone Blanda, to name a few. 

 



Hellebore - Christmas Rose

Leucogem

Sarcococcus


Our much loved Acacia tree is however, dying. Two years ago, the trunk split during a gale. Adrian tied a rope around it and it seemed to be 'normal' last year. This year, half of it is dead. Such a shame. We have had over twenty years of pleasure from its mass of early spring, butter yellow flowers. This is a new tree, waiting for warmer weather.

 

Over the weekend, the promised 'cold snap' set in. For the north first, then from the east to-day. The Camellias are not liking it at all. Whilst Sam was polishing, we drove to Winterton Beach, happily throwing an entry donation into the Seal Group bucket. They keep the car park open on closed days.That's very good of the owners. On other days, it is manned by the Lifeboat people, who also get to keep the money. 

At first, the sea looked empty, apart from small groups of Gannets flying south. During the hour or so that we stayed, we saw about a dozen Divers, one Great Northern amongst the Red-throated, two Velvet Scoters and two Guillemots. All flying, apart from the ducks, which were rarely visible in the swell. Up to twelve have been seen, there may well have been more.

A pair of Cranes, one Marsh Harrier,  and a few Greylags were the only birds visible along the Horsey Straight. Eight Whooper Swans, distantly in the 'usual' field west of Cook's Farm Shop, Sea Palling.

Pam's photo - as are all others shown today.



 

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