Anne's Journal

 Tuesday January 30 A rainy and dismal morning, we stayed indoors. After lunch, we drove to Morston. At the near edge of the car park pool, a Greenshank flew away as soon as we saw it, alarmed into flight by the calls from two Redshanks - the ''wardens of the marsh''. No chance for a photo. It flew strongly away downstream, we expected to find it on Redshank bend, plenty of its namesake, as usual, not the hoped for bird. The fast ebbing water in front of the Blakeney Hotel had our first Lesser Black-backed Gull of the year.   Blakeney duck Pond was full of Mallard and nothing else. Bird Flu has killed all the exotic ducks and geese which have been here for years. I miss them. I couldn't resist taking a photo of a Kestrel, silhouetted against the marsh, steadfastly refusing my pleas to look at me. Then it did - I discovered when I downloaded my shots. The photo is a triumph of editing - from dark outline to colour. As we drove along Leatherpool Lane, a Merlin overto...

 Sunday January 28 We drove straight to Snettisham, without any of our usual birding stops. Maybe then, we would be near enough to this morning's high tide for the birds to be close enough to identify easily. It wasn't and they weren't. The usual mind-blowing mass of birds on the tideline, others scattered widely on the mud, appearing from, and disappearing into, the myriad deep creeks and gullies. Such a lovely day, it was a pleasure to be there. Warm - not the 19.7 in Kinlochewe - little wind, and waders. It's the best chance for us to view a variety of the latter. I eventually identified: Knot, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover, Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew and Oystercatchers. Accompanied by Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shelduck and a few Pintail . A small group of Greater Black-backed Gulls stood out amongst the diminutive feeders. Unexpectedly, no Golden Plover nor any of the heron family about. Despite careful inspection of all three pits, we did not see a...

 Wednesday January 24 Yet another short outing, Buckenham the destination and this time we made it. A very dull afternoon was compounded by the mist hanging over Buckenham Marsh, scoping was like looking through thin soup.  The first scan, near the railway station, at what we know as goose corner, only produced two young male Chinese Water Deer. Their 'tusks' were very obvious as they followed each other through the rough sedge. One had a distinctive white flash on its face. Further scoping unveiled: thousands of Lapwing, both scattered everywhere we looked and, in enormous swathes flying above the far bank one Canada Goose , its head and neck stretched up from a dyke a dozen Greylag two white Ruff - we only saw white Ruff here last winter, is that because they are returning birds, or stand out because of their colour. Maybe the dark ones hide better. hundreds of grazing and abluting Wigeon . A further three Chinese Water Deer made that total five, well down on numbers usuall...

Tuesday January 23 Buckenham and then Halvergate Marsh were the targets.  As we turned onto the coast road, the rain started. It wasnt forecast until the afternoon. By Stalham it was heavy and relentless. When we went to see and photograph the swans, over a week ago now, Pam's camera battery was flat - even though she'd put a fresh one in. She suggested that we might cut our losses and see if the swans were still there, on the Stalham - Hickling road. Yes, they were. What WERE they eating?Another vehicle was in the better layby, Pam managed what she wanted from the one where one has to lean at an angle. Her camera needed wiping after a short spell out of the window. I'd managed to miss photographing the Bewicks, ever obliging Pam drove up the road to turn round, me hoping that the other car had gone. No such luck. Despite a splendid Appalloosa horse - the spotty one - and its rider spooking the swwans to the far side of the pool, I managed to snap one of the few Bewick'...

Monday January 22 After a morning of necessary chores, we had a couple of hours to spare before the Sainsbury delivery. We drove Clippesby roads first, hampered by a stormy squall from a suddenly steel gray sky. No luck there. Thurne next, still rather gloomy, we drove down a side road. I asked Pam to stop so that I could scan the marsh. Success. Behind a distant gate, viewed under a willow tree, another in the dyke beside it, two Cranes. Always good to get them on the January list. I'd be happy to see them every time I went out. Such elegant birds in their symphony of greys. The record photo for my year folder is bad.   Was it the same Buzzard in the field where we'd seen one standing over prey at the weekend? It looked like it.

 Saturday January 20 It may well have been driving three days in a row, we shall never know. By Wednesday evening, Pam had a very painful left arm with a swollen hand, and fingers stuck in a semi curl. Adrian also reported that the minor lanes diversion caused by the road closure at Bacton Woods ,was lethal after overnight hard frost on impacted snow.  By today, everything had eased. It was a few degrees above 0C and Pam's arm was better. We still didn't leave until mid morning, giving the roads time to improve.Still plenty of snow on the hedge-lined lanes, but reasonable to drive - carefully. As we drove through Weybourne, I asked Pam if she was interested in going for the Waxwing reported to be at Anterton Hill, Cley,  yesterday. She was. Against all previous experiences, we drove up Anterton Hill which is posted as Private. There are several houses at the top. At the last house, we spotted a heavily berried tree. On top of the left hand side was our first Waxwing of th...

 Wednesday January 17 We made it to Winterton today for very little reward. There was still a good smattering of snow from Sea Palling onwards, still too cold to dissipate it. Pam remarked on the lack of birds, no Pinks at all, no raptors, only a few gulls and pigeons. Winterton beach car park was open and the kiosk closed, free entry. Again, apart from a few gulls, including our first Common Gulls , the sea was empty. The Broads village of Thurne was the next target. We didn't find any Cranes but did find a female Marsh Harrier sat in a field. Even further away was a Buzzard zealously guarding dead prey. From the fluff around it looked like Rabbit.    Carrion Crows were attempting to join in the feast. One was successful.   Two Mute Swans in the boat dock. We drove to St Benets.   Plenty of room in the car park when we arrived, soon followed in by seven other cars. All of them parked and their passengers set off along the riverbank, silhouetted agains a leaden ...

  Tuesday January 16 No snow, and the sun was shining. Sam had warned us that the road to North Walsham was closed at Bacton with diversions in place. We sailed past the first one which would have taken us to Ebridge Mill via the Dilham Road, then, we also flew past the diversion takng us via the coast road to Walsham. What now.  A field full of Redwing and Fieldfare took our attention. Yes, the crossroads at Bacton Woods was barricaded in all directions. There was ample room for turning before stopping to try and photo the thrushes through narrow gaps in the thick hedge.It was worth the road nuisance to do that. Mostly Fieldfare with a few Redwing. Eventually passing through North Walsham, the next stop was Selbrigg. As we stopped to view the pond, a small wader flew towards us across the water, veering away to show off its white rump and flicking-winged flight. Our first Green Sandpiper for two years, having managed to miss it last year. The pond was frozen, a few Mute Swa...

 Monday January 15 It was planned as a short drive, to see how Pam's new regenerated hip would work. The weather made sure of that, actually curtailing our plans. Ever the optimist, my inner response to forecast snow was ' it will be alright'. It started soon after 9 a.m., the snow that is, one or two flakes fast becoming a flurry, then a small blizzard. Oh no. Then; it stopped. With one eye on the covering of low grey cloud, with a dim yellow orb over Stalham, we drove towards the last reported sighting of wild swans. Using Birdguides' reference to Google maps, we were soon parked at the side of the Stalham - Hickling road, looking at over 30 mainly Whooper with a few Bewick Swans. They were in an extensive field puddle. What were they finding to eat? They've been here at least three days. When I got home and looked at my photos, I found that I'd completely missed photographing the small group of Bewick's. By this time, the sun was out, viewing the birds wa...

 Monday January 8 Geese used not to be among my favourite birds. Growing up in the welsh valleys of southern Breconshire (now the ancient princedom of Powys), the only geese were of the waddling, hissing variety, which necessitated frantic pedalling so that I could lift my legs above the pedals as I freewheeled through their menacing beaks on the canal towpath. Moving to Norfolk changed my mind. Autumn flocks of incoming Pinkfeet pass over our garden, never silent, always communicating with their fellow travellers. The first flocks are always heralded by a delighted Pam, rushing outside to gaze at their passing. They really are a favourite of hers.  Norfolk in winter is a goosefest. Pink-footed at Holham and Winterton, Brent along the coast, White-fronted at Buckenham and Holkham.Always with the possibility of an alien co-traveller. Many an hour have I spent, eyes streaming, frosty fingers on the scope, scanning through feeding flocks looking for those aliens. Red-breasted the...

 Monday January 1 2024 I can't remember a first of January when we didn't go out birding from dawn until dusk. There was one occasion when we set off in thick fog, driving as far as Felbrigg before deciding that it was foolish to continue. Then, there was the memorable Christmas and New Year that we spent with Sara and family in Brisbane.New Year's Eve was spent on the beach at Mooloolaba, ending with fish and chips followed by delicious fresh mango whilst sitting on the beach watching a magnificent firework display. We did our new year birding around our Queensland haunts seeing birds such as Rainbow Bee-eaters, King Parrots, Galahs and Wedge-tailed Eagle. Pam is counting down the days until she can drive again, having made a very good recovery from her hip revision operation. New bird lists ready, printed and spirally bound,  notebook selected and labelled,  we watched the garden. feeders.  There was an obvious lack of numbers all day. A small flurry just before li...