High, But Low

 Tuesday April 2

Arriving at Snettisham an hour before high tide was an unplanned bonus. But........it was a 4.7 metre high tide, it doesn't get much lower than that. There was still a great expanse of mud between us and the water's edge. Plenty of birds still, despite the thousands of Knot, and other waders, having already left on their compulsive journey north to their breeding grounds. Oystercatchers, Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank and Brent Geese, made up most of the numbers. I counted at least 75 Avocets, a scattering of Dunlin, a few Grey Plover and a lone Great Ringed Plover which was scurrying about the nearer pools before running to the stony beach where it disappeared. Good camouflage plumage.

 


Stopping at the chalet end for more views, Pam noticed our first Pochard of the year on the nearby pit, actively diving .

Throughout, birding had been punctuated by the monotonous 'song' of Chiffchaffs. One posed for a photo at last, unfortunately completely against the strong sun, a complete silhouette.

Another surprise. A Short-eared Owl flew strongly and purposefully from the direction of the Wash, across our bows and inland. That's twice in a few days that a Shortie has made a surprise appearance. The previous one was at Brancaster Staithe.

Sunny Hunny was still full of Easter holidaymakers, we tried the Sailing Club parking area again. A delightful pair of Fulmars were nesting on the nearby cliff, Feral/Rock Doves in a cleft a little further away. Fulmars are very endearing birds, their soft, dove-grey eyes and mantle giving a benevolent look to their demeanour.

 

The worse than ever potholed track out to Holme NOA and NWT reserves, made Pam exclaim that it would be a good bird to tempt us out there again. The orchid areas were still under water, the Natterjack pool a small lake, and the ponies had lifebelts.

None of the spring migrant fly throughs, Brancaster Staithe called. Half a dozen Knot, all in winter plumage, maybe non breeders, fed on the Mound.


 

Enough time for a quick stop at Holkham before heading home for the weekly grocery delivery. Two Spoonbills in and around the nesting trees, four Mediterranean Gulls, their complete black hoods gleaming amongst the small dark brown of the Black-headeds, Shoveller, Marsh Harrier and another year tick. A Raven flew through. 

Pam talked to Jem, who thinks that maybe the razing of the field hedge here was part of the estate management plan to get rid of non native trees and shrubs. In my memory, the hedge was mainly Hawthorn. The mystery goes on.

The Sainsbury man was early and had already put our order on the floor in the porch. He willingly volunteered to put it where we wanted it which saved Pam an onerous task. We weren't late.

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