Slightly Further Afield

 Friday February 23

A late morning start, destination Cley. Apart from a flock of Fieldfare and at least one Redwing just along the road from home, we only saw a handful of birds on the way. We had hopes for Salthouse. Dashed. The fields to the east of beach road had a scattering of Rooks, one Curlew and a few Wigeon.

Driving out to Coastguards at Cley, a pair of Stonechats alighted on the roadside wires, quickly departing. The large flock of Brent on the Eye Field was widely distributed. We were able to scan the group climbing out of the pool, the others were very distant and well hidden by tall vegetation.

Apart from a Dunnock and a Robin, we didn't find anything along Waterworks Lane either. On to Morston where there were surprisingly few cars and people for half term, it's usually very popular. Our first bird was a Greenshank, still in full pale winter plumage, on the car park pool where we used to see one some years ago. These days they tend to favour the creek.

 


By now, the sun was out, enhancing an already warm day, after a week of low temperatures. A handsome male Teal was steadily feed-ploughing along the creek shore. Head down, never stopping, it covered at least 50 metres before, momentarily,  lifting its head, showing its muddy bill.

 




Herring Gull and Brent Geese were also added to the year folder photos, before we suffered the seven speed bumps of the approach road again. 

 


 


A brief call at Blakeney before a stop at Salthouse duck pond. Looking across thhe fields to the far water, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a male Shoveller added to today's list.

 Moths 

The warmer night predicted, encouraged Pam to put a trap out.  We had an Oak Beauty, a Hebrew Character, six Common Quakers, 1 Satellite 4 Chestnut and a Tortricoides alternella in the 14 moths caught.

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