Still Here

 Frtiday November 1

Best laid plans.....

After a week of tonsillitis - at my age - eased by a course of antibiotics, which is due to be finished today, we planned a day out birding. First of all, a medical review at the doctor's where bloods are taken, blood pressure etc etc and then straight on to Snettisham. But, the Stannah stair lift refused to rake Pam upstairs. She escaped and walked up but I can't do that. I called the helpline, they will send a man out sometime this afternoon. As the actual time estimate is not possible, we decided to drive to Buckenham so that we could be back for 'after 2'.

After visiting the nurse in North Walsham, we took the Dilham road to Stalham. Near the bridge over the canal, a bare tree top held about a dozen Siskins, our first of the winter.

Approaching the Clippesby turning, Pam spotted two big birds flying along the back of the field. She suspected that they were Cranes so took the Thurne Road. A scarce Mistle Thrush swayed on a roadside wire, Mallard swirled on the quayside at Thurne, and three Cattle Egrets fed amongst the cattle on the marsh. No sign of any Cranes, unfortunately.

Such a dull grey day after yesterday's blue sky. A major roadworks, not due to be completed until 2026 meant huge tailbacks near our turning for Strumpshaw off the A47. It was a relief to leave it for the Cantley road.

Arriving at the marsh, it was not conducive to birding to see a JCB digger out in the middle, a tractor and trailor taking away mounds of black soil - and a quad bike doing what quads do, hooly about having fun. An enormous flock of Canada Geese, well over a hundred, a few Greylags, Lapwings, Starlings and dozens of Rooks, Carrion Crows and Jackdaws added to the month list. Two Little Egrets hunched near to the digger.  A lone Buzzard perched on one of the gates was the only raptor seen. I couldn't find any of the usual waders on the mill marsh.

 Returning to scope the Hide pool, we found hundreds of Wigeon clustered in and around the pool. The air was full of their fluty whistling. Searching through the flocks we foiund several Shoveller, many Teal, three Gadwall and two Egyptian Geese. Again, no other waders. We usually find Ruff and Redshanks here, and frequently, Snipe.

Time to drive home and wait for Mr Stannah.

Moth-ing has slowed down considerably. Much of the enjoyment has come from moths brought in to meets by fellow members. David Norgate is a rich source of goodies. This week it was a first for Norfolk, a rare immigrant throughout the UK, the micromoth Zelleria oleastrella, which he found in his own garden.  Our personal highlight was a first for our garden, Cypress Carpet. Giles Dunmore brought in the first we'd seen and this is only the third, rated as Uncommon. A beauty too.


Our first Mallow of the year





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