One Week Later

 Sunday June 1

I believe that we'd have seen almost as many birds if we'd stayed at home and watched the garden. Although relatively warm, with sun most of the day, a strong wind is not conducive to birds. They stay hidden and don't sing as much - if at all. List ready, pen posed, I'd added two birds by the time we got to North Walsham, Carrion Crow and Wood Pigeon. It's sad that, for the first time since we have lived here, 1974, there are no Swifts around the White House. No Swallows in the village and no House Martins on our house, John's next door and the Hughes's across the road. The three weeks of no rain also meant no mud for nests. Did this deter them? We did see one Swift, and both the mentioned hirundine, during the day, but very few.

We checked Strumpshaw Mill for Spotted Flycatchers, unsuccessfully. We don't know of anyone who has seen them this year, they do move their nesting sites around, some more viewable than others. 

I've read that due to disturbance by walkers and dogs off leads, the Ringed Plovers at Snettisham and Heacham are having a poor year. We did not see any Plovers on eggs in the fenced off area on the reserve. We did  see plenty of dogs, all on the lead, but some of the walkers were going down to be in the shelter of the bank, alongside the pit. The public footpath is only along the bank. Apart from permanent wardening, I don't see how things can be changed. 

 The alien Egyptian Geese have found a welcome home at Snettisham's pits, Pam counted over ten. 

 

Most entertaining was watching the Fulmars on Hunstanton cliffs.  A nearby pair were swooping into the cliffs and out again, cackling the whole while. One of the pair then joined another on a nest, the remaining flyer continuing to swoop in and out, occasionally putting its legs down in order to temporarily land near the nest - much to the occupants' disgust. I tried some photos.

 

Holme was noteworthy for the icecream. I had Blackcurrant Swirl and Pam Strawberry. Not Pam's usual choice, but Saturday was very hot and the freezer had been emptied. 

Another sign of the times. We saw at least 15 Red Kites today, two Buzzards , one Marsh Harrier and one Kestrel. The Harriers were probably hunting inland.

Spoonbill and Cattle Egrets at Holkham gilded the day. We were both very tired so curtailed the day and drove home.