In the Rain

 Wednesday July 2

After a long dry spell, rain at last. When we set out it was a light drizzle, this continued all morning - apart from when it became  a gusty, windblown soak at Snettisham. The only birds that didn't seem to mind were the Wood Pigeons, they were on the road and tree tops when everything else was taking shelter. Gradually we started to make additions to the day list.

Where we first park to scope the Wash, there is a large clump of a grass species. Pam pointed out that it held something else. The stems were covered in Ladybirds. This coincided with one of the heaviest showers. When it cleared enough for me to open a window, many of them had been washed/blown away - the light was poor too.

 

There had been a high-ish  tide, 5.7 metres, the water's edge was still visible. The birds on the mud really were not, especially the large flock of Black-tailed Godwit, apart from a white rump or wing stripe flash when they preened. Every bird we could see was preening, as they were on Sunday last.

The white birds glowing in the murk, were mostly Sandwich Terns, with far fewer Med Gulls. Eventually I managed to add one Redshank, two Ringed Plovers and one Spotted Redshank to the total. I missed the two Turtle Doves Pam saw fly from the bank.

The rain stopped as we drove into Hunstanton, we decided to have another look at the cliffs.  A pair of Fulmar occupied a more distant nesting ledge, a lone bird on a nearer grassy area. 

 

 

We managed a call in at Holkham to see Spoonbills flying around, another at Brancaster Staithe  where the boats were back in force. I was hoping for views of a Little Tern, no luck. Just more Sandwich Terns. The last visit was to Wells North Pools where there was virtually no water on the western side and not a lot on the eastern. Best was the Hobby which appeared from behind a hedgerow , then alonside, before crossing overhead and disappearing. Lovely birds.