Anne's Journal

  Thursday March 28 We left home in sun, with blue sky highlighting the froth of white-flowering, hedgerow Blackthorn. After a short discussion, we decided to travel along the coast from east to west, contrary to our usual practice. Starting at Sheringham, we drew another blank for the wintering Purple Sandpipers. Ten minutes here and there, hoping that the birds will be in view from the promenade in front of the museum is beyond hopeful. Blakeney duckpond is still empty, but two handsome Lesser Black-backed Gulls rested on the creek edge in front of the Bakeney Hotel.  Not long before the highlight of the day. Pam saw a Swallow as we were entering the track down to Morston Quay. Only a glimpse and totally out of my view. Lovely - there will be more. North Point Pools at Wells were full of Black-headed Gulls, most of them in summer plumage, there must have been at least three hundred. The westerly pool had about twenty Black-tailed Godwits, fast asleep, heads tucked away, stan...

 Monday March 25 My blood test was over by early afternoon, we drove to Hickling. Good choice. The Centre was closed for two days 'staff training'. We tried the road to Whiteslea Lodge only to find a locked gate.  Driving home via Somerton, in a field near Sea Palling,we came across the biggest sheep I've ever seen. The nearest one had three lambs and looked as though she had three more to come. Long-legged, big headed, heavy coated, they were amazing. The photo is of one who looked like a small cow. I've no idea of the breed and am trying to find out. We still have a large number of Siskin and at least five Brambling feeding in the garden.

  Sunday March 24 The week to come is full of hurdles with regard to birding possibilities. We decided to make the most of the time we do have and drove to the north coast.  Selbrigg was devoid of bird food. After a few minutes of spreading some around, Blue Tit, Robin, Marsh, Coal and Long-tailed Tits turned up. The lake Mute Swan pair is already nesting on the far shore, this year's offspring swimming about aimlessly. A passing dog walker came to tell us that there were Grey Wagtails at the far end of the lake. We found a single female near the sluice exit to the stream, always a pleasure to see one, especially in a 'new' location. We tried very hard to see and photograph the singing Chiffchaffs at Glandford, without success. I did however add Cetti's Warbler to my year list, hearing one at last. This one was shouting so loudly that I couldn't miss it. Maybe I could manage a better photo of the Eye Field Wheatear. Although a grey and mostly dull day, at least it w...

 Thursday March 21 After a moth trap opening session at Cley - very few moths of only seven species - and an enjoyable lunch with Pauline, we drove to Cley Beach car park. We'd also driven down there yesterday, after Natural Surroundings. Despite a scanning session, we had found nothing on the Eye Field - apart from Lapwing and Wood Pigeons.  After leaving, a message came through from Sue G to say that there was a Wheatear on Eye Field! Bother. Today, it was raining, not much, but unpleasant as the wind had a cold edge to it. There weren't many cars parked, we could park sideways on to view the field ,without having to use the obstacle of the tinted and slanted windscreen. Pam soon picked up a male Wheatear. The grass was long and tufted, the bird was active and difficult to see. Eventually I did, also seeing a second bird, a female. The first Wheatear of the year is always a joy, the real harbinger of spring for me. Many of the Chiffchaffs already in, have over-wintered. It...

Tuesday March 19 Buckenham marsh is a good place to look for early migrants. Such as Garganey and fly through hirundine. I spent a long time searching the side drains and floodwater pools with no luck. A male Garganey was reported from here a few days ago, not for us. It was enjoyable looking.  Four Chinese Water Deer in view, several Marsh Harriers, one sporting bright orange wing tags, Grey Heron, Lapwings, Starlings, Canada Geese, Greylag and a lone Cormorant perched on one of the many gates. The clipboard armed man stood in the middle of the marsh will not have helped. The Wigeon looked very smart. The big pool held a few Avocets, two Gadwall, Mallard and Teal. The biggest number was that of Shovellers, I counted 42 males, the most I have ever seen. The pool is too distant for photos. A few flew off. Finding one Snipe was bird of the day for us, again partially hidden and distant, with good scope views. The amount of cawing and chakking from the roost site belied the small numb...

 Thursday March 14 Last night it was announced that two traps would be put out at Cley today, the first of the year. We'd had a very enjoyable session at Natural Surroundings yesterday, despite two traps being empty, the third held over 200 moths.We mooted that the lamps had not come on in the two barren traps.  We'd planned a day to the Brecks - again. Two previous trips had been cancelled. What should we do. On balance, there would be fewer moths at Cley and little chance of anything different. For various reasons, the Brecks trip was postponed until the reserves and facilities are open. After seeing the couple who had come to clean our gutters and plastic, we went north west. The sun was shining, the hedgerows are a gentle hazy of emerging green, trees show glistening buds, and the birds are in good voice, heralding the Spring.  It was not a good birding day but I enjoyed taking some photos of commoner birds in their breeding finery. I had two year ticks. A Chiffchaff ...

 Tuesday March 12 We have done some short birding trips locally during the last week, the only birds of note have been the 35 Whooper Swans in a usual field near Sea Palling. For the first time ever, there were no Mediterranean Gulls on the beach behind Sea Life in Yarmouth. Today started with three well spread - and futile - visits to known Little Owl spots. Three dips for this Welshwoman. Well, I wouldn't sit out in the rain either. It rained on and off all day, the sky varied from dark grey to very dark grey. We managed two year ticks, two Reed Buntings amongst a flock of finches near Abbey Farm. And a White Wagtail on a boat at Thornham. You can see the rain. The Waxwings at Titchwell were nowhere to be seen.  Three Cattle Egrets in a roadside field near Burnham Norton were probably the Thornham three. Their stance and demeanour mirrored the day even more than usual for the heron family.   A tractor drawing a trailer of tree trunks pulled into the gateway at Holkham....

  Sunday March 3 With  better weather forecast than for yesterday, we set off for west Norfolk. It was my turn to decide on where to stop - a mixture of what I wanted and what I knew pleased Pam. We hadn't driven Valley Farm lane yet this year, we were rewarded with views of two Mistle Thrushes and our first Yellowhammer. Yes, our farmworker friend was waiting, along with his now grey-muzzled terrier. I think that he was getting out of the house as they were expecting nine people to lunch, a regular Sunday event. His wife also cooks meals a couple of times a week for the gatehouse owner whose wife died during Covid - the 'he know when his dinner is ready cos the microwave go ping',  couple. He was amazed to find that we had driven through the deep water on the back lane to Abbey Farm and advised us not to do so today. We didn't, taking the main road as far as the turning to Flitcham. Still no Little Owl sitting. It's always a pleasure to drive through the immaculat...

Saturday March 2 Late morning, the sun was shininig, we went birding. Not much of a plan, apart from trying to catch up with missed birds. We had excellent instructions from Pauline, soon finding the preferred spot for a Little Owl or two. As we left Bodham, it started to rain, not conditions suitable for Owls to sit out. We sat, looked, and waited. No luck.  The rain had been quite benign until we got to Morston, where it bucketed down. The usual gathering of Redshanks, a Curlew and a Greenshank fed along the low water channel.   After checking Blakeney duck pond and marsh, we drove on to Beach Road, Cley. The showers became increasingly heavier until they were veritable cloudbursts, huge puddles appearing on the roads.Just as suddenly, the navy blue sky would split for some sunshine. Rainbows. The one at Cley was wonderful, at its best, a wide bow of bright, clearly delineated, colours with a faded second echo on its outside. Too big for my long lens to fit in. We'd stopped ...