Birds, Picnic, Ice-cream and Friend

 Friday May 29

Birds, Picnic, Ice-cream and Friend = one of our days out.

We met up with Pauline at Fakenham Morrisons car park. Not as hot as the previous few days the temperature had risen to 28C, much too hot for us.  Today we had a mostly overcast sky with an occasional sharp shower. The latter never lasted long nor were they frequent. 

We had to work hard for our birds today, there's a lot less song as they are nesting, many are sitting on eggs and migration is temporarily halted. Apart from the occasionally anomaly, like the Gull-billed Tern which turned (accidental pun) up at Cley in the afternoon. One could have walked to Lincolnshire from Snettisham, the water was so far out that it could not be seen through my scope. Without sun, it was possible to scope the reserve pit from the causeway. Again, a megalopolis of Black-headed Gulls, but much quieter than last time. There were some brown youngsters amongst the sitting birds. Pauline thought she'd seen a tern species on a distant islet. There are usually a few pairs amongst the gulls but I didn't find any. Just as I thought I'd found a Mediterranean gull, cyclists came up the causeway and Pam had to move to let them through. The only other birds I'd found were Avocets and Shelduck, with a few Cormorants fence-posting the furthest islet.

We ate our picnic lunch in the RSPB car park. The Pay and Display park at the beach would have been better, more chance of seeing birds anyway. We had driven round without seeing nor hearing anything. Pam saw a Turtle Dove in flight on the reserve, but too late to get anyone onto it. 

Hunstanton cliffs did have some Fulmars today, up to half a dozen swirling around before heading out to sea. One was visible on its nest. P was able to get out and take some photos.

The best thing about the drive out to Holme NWT on a much improved track, was the Ronaldo's ice-cream  from the reserve shop. Salted Caramel for Pam, Rum and Raisin for P (the raisins part of her 5 a day), chocolate for me. Whilst we ate, a Cetti's shouted and a Sedge Warbler sang before performing its display flight. No Swifts today, a few House Martins at Harpley and the occasional Swallow.

We can never drive past Brancaster Staithe. Not as many people and cars, we were able to drive as far as the mound, from which we can view the far end. A fishing boat lay on its side where the mussel-men usually dump and cleanse their booty. no R in the month, no shellfish. So, no birds feeding on the shell detritus either. 

We were looking for one. Well down the low tide mud with a worm of water snaking its way through the stranded boats, a single Little Tern hovered and dived. So small and so beautifully graceful. A year tick for Pauline and always a delight for me.

Holkham gateway allows distant viewing, using a scope is pretty essential. The end count was Whitethroat in the near hedge, Grey Heron, Spoonbills,  Great White Egret and an Egyptian Goose for the list. We'd already added Buzzard, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier and Red Kite so the lack of raptors was not important. No Little Egrets all day. A summary of our days out is that a final sighting of a Lapwing was greeted with delight. It's all about finding as many species as possible, enjoying a meal in the open air and an ice-cream when possible. The company of a good friend is the salt which adds to the flavour.

I've just discovered that my card reader doesn't work on my new PC. I doubt that I had any useable photos from yesterday, I shall try on my laptop later.