Anne's Journal

 Monday June 19 Yes, still hot, but we went anyway. It wasn't unbearable as there was a good deal of cloud throughout, plus a gusty wind. Weeting was very disappointing. We were the first visitors of the day. We made our way to West Hide, my ' rough terrain' Rollator not liking the small pine cones and roots en route. Pam saw a Stone Curlew as soon as we were seated. It was stood in the middle of the ridge way across the field, largely hidden by the long grass. By the time I got my camera out, it was sitting down, only its head showing occasionally above the autumnal, russet brown grass. Bring back the rabbits. The disappointment was the poor viewing from the hide. The shrubby growth in front prevented viewing through all but two small 'windows' through the hedge.  Visitors who pay for the visit have a right to be annoyed.  Lakenheath didn't perform very well for us either. Our fault for turning up at mid-day. We drive to the disabled parking area near the West...

  Sunday June 18 We're keeping one or more Moorhens well fed at the moment. One adult and definitely six young. More than one family? They've learnt that feeding birds means food drops to the ground and they leg it across the garden. So gawky. Teenagers whose legs look out of proportion and out of control. The resident Garden Warbler continues to sing loudly and regularly. At first a joy, now, an irritant by the time the day ends.I still haven't had a good view of it, let alone a photograph. On the way home from Natural Surroundings, we came across an irresistible photo opportunity in a roadside dyke. Moorhen Male Tufted Duck A pair of Tufted Duck Garden We continue to eat delicious new potatoes. Adrian has planted the well grown Peas, Runner Beans and French Beans. The latter are a climbing variety, the well known Cobra, this year. Easier for Pam to harvest.The Leek and Sweetcorn plants will be put in on Tuesday. I gutted my very first Alpine Trough, left it for a week to ...

 Wednesday June 14 The planned day out in the Brecks was aborted - again. This time because, if it's too hot here, it will be much hotter in the Brecks. There's more chance of a cooling breeze near the coast.  We met a lot of traffic ,and the inevitable road works ,before making our first stop at Sculthorpe Mill. Since it's sale and re-vamp, this attractive Hotel has become even more popular. Set astride a mill stream with attractive gardens, it's easy to see why. It has also been the home of a piar of Grey Wagtails and, in the summer, Spotted Flycatchers, in the twenty and more years we have been visiting. We thought that it might be politic to order a coffee as we do not know the new owners/proprietors.  I sat at a table with a view of the ivy covered front. Pam ordered our drinks before returning to the car for her camera. As soon as she'd disappeared around the hedge, a bird flew out from the ivy, perching on the telegraph wires almost immediately above my head....

 Friday June 9 We have managed to add Turtle Dove to the year list since I last wrote. We had an unevenful and unremarkable day out along the north coast. Remarkable in that I didn't take any photos. The Turtle Dove was a flying bird over Snettisham car park woods. We enjoyed our day out, but it was lacking in notable birds. Our last week has been taken up by foot, hair, eyes (both optician and hospital) and ears check-up appointments. All is well - apart from having to make another appointment for my ears as I have a wax build up in one. Why can't they provide this service in the same place as the ear test? It's not a condition which is discernible before you go.  Moth trapping continues to be slow, everyone is complaining. A cold north easterly wind hasn't helped at all. I also think that we are comparing this year's catch with last year's, which was exceptionally good. Some of the newer moths :   Least Black Arches - 2cms only - and a Macro Toadflax Pug Nutme...