Sanderling Blizzard

 Thursday September 7

Our actual nine hour day out was last Monday, the fourth. Since then, we have had three moth sessions, including an 'extra' yesterday at Weeting Nature Reserve. That was another early start for a scheduled 9.30 beginning, crossing Norwich during the rush hour. We made good time, arriving ten minutes early to find only three other people there. Peter C from our group, Stewart, and Alison, two moth-ing regulars. We were later joined by James, the extremely knowledgeable warden at Weeting, who had put the traps out.

There were plenty of moths, with some 'good' ones that we rarely or never trap at home e.g. Feathered Gothic, Hedge Rustic, Clay Triple Lines and Tawny-barred Angle.

Back to Monday.

 I have been struggling with Firefox refusing to upload photographs to my Blog. To-day, I switched to Edge. Same problem. Then Google. At last, cucumber photo uploaded, here we go.

Such a lovely early Autumn day. An Indian Summer - as seems normal, we always reckoned that an August wash-out would be followed by warm sunshine once school holidays were over. Cloudless, with virtually no wind, no birds either. This is becoming a far too common complaint. We saw three birds in the five miles to North Walsham, two of them Yellowhammers, the other a Wood Pigeon. Our House Martin fledglings were calling first thing but they seem to have gone.

We knew that it had been a weekend of high, 7 metre plus, tides, but hadn't checked the times. We like the surprise ! Cresting the hill to Snettisham Reserve, we found two cars and some bicycles already parked near the entrance. And a high tide at its maximum. The near shore had a fringe of moving shades of white and grey. 


As is their wont,, frequent and unnecessary short flights formed a blizzard, but one filled with the susurration of a myriad whirling wings. Most of them were Sanderling, with occasional Dunlin and a small flock of Ringed Plover. Much of the flock consisted of this year's young birds.




As the water ebbed away, Redshank, Oystercatchers, Shelduck and thousands of Knot appeared, most of them fringing the ever more distant shoreline. A line of about eleven Spoonbills flew east.

On to the far end of the pit, the usual frustrating viewing into the sun. I did see a Common Tern fly in with an enormous fish for its begging young.

The dog rose bushes are now attaining their autumn hues, still a few deepening shades of orange to go.



We dragged ourselves away, captivated as always by the shifting colours, movements and ambience of our much loved Snettisham. We met Marcus here with his group. He later wrote 'always different, every time I come'.That was his second leading day of the weekend.

Stopping at the caravan park offices to put on our seat belts, we noticed that hirundine were collecting on the wires above the shop. Mostly Swallows and House Martins, but we saw at least one Sand Martin amongst them. A few snatched photos - there was constant movement.




A family of Stonechats in the low bushes near the entrance hut to Holme, was the only other notable bird sighting of the day. 

A  constable-like scene met us at North Point Pools.



 A long and lovely day.

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