Birth-day

 Saturday August 3

When a neighbour asked what I was doing for my birthday - they go to London on hers - I replied 'Going birding for the day, as always'.. Her face dropped a little before she said, ' Yes, you enjoy it don't you'. Too true.

So, not an early start, cards and presents first. Sara sent me a box of organic meat, steak, lamb steaks, sausages, green bacon, all very acceptable. Others included my usual perfume, Coco Chanel, various edibles and a soap dish for the shower. I;ve needed the latter since we had a new shower, which is on the opposite wall from the previous. I therefore can't reach the old soapdish and rack from where I sit to wash. Practical and very acceptable.

Again, slow birding at this time of year but with some nice birds. Two Spotted Flycatchers showed for us at Sculthorpe Mill, too briefly for a photo, just bin views which is nice. A good number of House Martins and afew Swallows flying around Harpley Cottages. Breeding looks to have gone well. At the bottom of the lane, more than twenty Swallows were perched on roadside wires. Local birds or migrants? I managed a few photos.

Snettisham has been host to some good waders this week, one needs high tide for that. I did find a small flock of waders near enough to scope identify but they were all Dunlin still black-bellied. Three Golden Plovers were unexpected. We did our usual car reverse down the causeway so that I could scope the last pit. I found one Spotted Redshank, a few remaining Common Terns and a Black-winged Stilt. I didn't quite believe my eyes as there had been no news. When reception allowed, I looked at BirdGuides and, yes, a Stilt had been reported from Snettisham this morning. I was delighted, a good birthday bird. After an icecream at Brancaster Staithe, it was time to scope Holkham. Thankfully it stopped raining. It had done so at varying density levels since 11.30. At least six Cattle Egrets and a lone Spoonbill in the breeding trees, very little else. 

We turned inland at Stiffkey, passing the chicken sheds on the way to Langham. One of the newly harvested fields there had at least eight Brown Hares chasing each other about. What was that about? A more unusual sighting was that of a Stoat, sitting up at the side of the road before streaking across.We don't often see them, many more Weasels cross our path.

Moth-ing continues to entertain. We added a good micro to our garden list yesterday. David N and his friend James A helped us with the ID. I usually rope in Richard ,but thought I'd give him a rest, he's had an awful lot of gen-detting to do recently.

A Pempelia Genistella, Gorse Knot-horn.Clssified as Nationally Scarce B. I have a photo - my problem remains unresolved.


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