Impulse Outing

Friday December 16

Thurne is a dead end village off the Clippesby road, we're fond of it. It's the home of the windmills which can be seen across the marsh from St Benet's and a good place to look for cranes. We saw two Marsh Harriers, one down on prey in the same field as last year, but no Cranes.

On to St Benet's, hoping that the Black-winged Kite's move to the Horsey area meant fewer visitors. We took the last place in the front row of the car park. Two Cattle Egrets pootling about on the grass in front of us kept us amused.

 

Luckily, Pam was wide awake, and called, 'Cranes'. A group of four, followed by a group of five, Common Cranes, flew over Thurne and away. 

Next up was a Barn Owl, my first of the year, flying fast across in front of us before disappearing over the Cross embankment. A lovely, pale, biscuit-coloured, bird.

I settled for another wait, whilst keeping an eye on the other birder/photographer standing behind his massive lens. The lens suddenly pointed with a purpose. We looked in that general direction, seeing a blob on a fence post, largely hidden by tall brush. The Short-eared Owl occasionally turned its head towards us, so that we could see the distinctive face mask. 

 

Just to prove it was there ! Not exactly cracking views until it flew.

Without warning, the bird shuffled its wings and flew away, fast, in the same direction as the other owl. The fence line on the left of the parking spot is a favourite resting place for Shorties.

Soon after leaving home I said aloud ' We'd like to see Cranes, a Barn Owl and  Shorteared Owl today please'. I never expected that wish to come true.

Nor the fact that we are 2 up against City with fifteen minutes to go. A long time since I've seen Sir Alex look as pleased.