More Diversions

 Wednesday February 14

We thought we'd give Selbrigg another go after the previous disappointment. Seeing food spread by someone else was hopeful. Within seconds, two Coal Tits, a Marsh Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Robin and Blackbird were arriving to snatch and fly. I heard a Nuthatch but it was never seen.



We didn't stop long, the day beckoned.

Today's birding route was determined by a surprise diversion. Instead of driving on past the turning for Docking, we were diverted down it by a police motorcyclist. Bemused, we followed the signs and ended up driving through the Birchams and past CITB's enormous complex. I knew the firm well from teaching days. They arranged apprenticeships in the building trade for school leavers. It looked like an ex forces settlement, complete with apartment blocks. Google maps soon got us back to familiar territory - but we'd missed Sculthorpe, Abbey Farm ,and Sandringham. 

It must be half term week somewhere. Not crowded, but more cars and open chalets in the park as we drove through to Snettisham RSPB. It had been a 'wader spectacular' weekend, we hoped that the still good tide height would have exposed a bit of, but not too much, mud. Yes, the water's edge was visible, thousands of birds forming a thick moving shoreline. A good number of the 40,000 Knot said to be present lifted into the air from time to time, not travelling far in any direction before landing again. The larger birds were Bar-tailed Godwits, discernible from the pied plumage Oystercatchers. Further scanning found, Grey Plover, Redshank, Curlew, Avovets, Teal, Wigeon and, so many Shelduck.

Backing down the pedestrian causeway, i could see that the last pit was so flooded that only two small islands of dry mud remained. The far banking had a huddle of oystercatchers and a mob of wandering Greylag. A few Cormorants and a scattering of Lapwing, Wigeon and Teal before a very young RSPB warden appeared, asking for our permits etc. Why do they never seem to approach the pedestrians with dogs off the lead, the samphire pickers, cyclists etc? 

A flock of about thirty small birds on the stony beach got our hopes up - they were all Goldfinches, not the hoped for Snow Buntings we saw last time.

The area of beach behind the Sailing Club house is less extensive. With restricted viewing from the car, we could see a good number of waders on a relatively near stretch of water. This is the unedited view through my long lens.

The brightness of the reflected water means that the birds are dark outlines, a symphony in shades of grey.

 



The three Cattle Egrets were still in the field east of the Lifeboat in Thornham. This time, widely scattered, hunting for food down the wet dykes.

After calling in at Titchwell to renew our Snettisham permit - change of system,  we now have to phone someone at the end of April - we stopped in the Holkham gateway. Again, a largely empty marsh. Until I found a Peregrine perched on a fence post. It was almost obscured by the pile of tree logs still standing beside the path.

The view from the car via my 500mm lens

Edited view.

Many people looking, but we didn't find the Green-winged Teal at North Point Pools. Time to drive home.




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