The First on the Fourth

 Friday April 4

Another lovely day in which to enjoy the Norfolk countryside and its flora and fauna. The warm sunshine days continue - and the cold north westerly had gone missing today too. The warmth has also accelerated the growth on trees and shrubs. The hedge-rows have a distinctive green haze, as do some of the trees. Deciduous trees don't have much of a rest. We thought that frogs had deserted our pond, we haven't had frog spawn for several years, just toad. This year we had a small clump but it didn't stay long attached to the surface weed growth. Disappointing. Chiffchaffs are widespread now, including our patch of gardens.

Despite the lengthy wait at the Fakenham roadworks traffic lights, we made it to Snettisham soon after high tide. Not a high tide today, what birds there were present were clustered on the shoreline, too far for accurate identification. The Knot were nearer, far fewer in number, Curlew, Redshank, Grey Plover, Avocets and Shelduck scattered about. All the waders I saw were still in winter plumage. Non-breeders? Last year's young?

The trog out to Holme, hoping for some migrants, was worth it for our first Cetti's Warbler of the year. A bird always heard but seldom seen. The bird flitting about in the car park trees was my first Blackcap - another bird usually heard before its seen.This one didn't sing at all. A male Muntjac stayed long enough for me to take a few shots before it skulked away into the undergrowth.

 

Later, we saw a female, but she was camera shy. I

t was a good mammal day. Four Brown Hares together in our old road lane at Harpley, virus free Rabbits scutting about in a meadow at Ditchingham, the Muntjac - and a small group of Red Deer near Bacton woods.

At Holkham, from the gateway, we saw five Spoonbills in the nesting tree, Red Kite and then a Marsh Harrier flew near enough for a photo attempt - despite the adverse lighting conditions.

 The goose field near the road, only had a few Barnacle Geese this time, a pair of Egyptian Geese sharing their grass.

 

 

We returned via Cockthorpe and the chicken sheds where Little Owls reliably bred in the roof. Only the concrete pads left, several large bits of machinery still present. We hear that new sheds will be erected. What will happen to the Owls in the meantime and will they have suitable nesting spaces. We are finding it increasingly difficult to find Little Owls in our part of Norfolk.

As we neared Wiveton Blue Bell, Pam called 'bird up there in the sky'. I scanned and luckily found, our first Swallow. Another Spring moment.

On April 3rd, after opening a very poor moth trap at Cley, we drove to Morston. I had intended staying for coffee, until it became increasingly obvious that I wasn't hearing speech. One aid did not charge up overnight and my right ear (the 'good' one) is blocked. All very frustrating. As we drove past the entrance cafe, it was clear that the water had covered the area beyond the car park where the seal boats are moored - and we drive to see birds. Although ebbing, the water was still higher than I've ever seen it, the boats were level with the landing area.