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 Friday May 1

I had a routine blood test at midday which prevented a whole day's birding. As soon as the test was over, we set off for north Norfolk, staying in the Cley area. Midday on a hot early summer day, is not good for bird activity. We saw very little at first, heard a lot more, but gradually accumulated a reasonable list for the first of the month. I can't remember a wholly cloudless day in Norfolk in the past. That's what we had today, with thr temperature rising to 23C.

Where have the North Norfolk Nightingale's gone? Just being on Salthouse heath at the right time was bound to find at least one on territory. We even had one in a Hawthorn at the bottom of our garden one year. 

We added two year birds, a male Bullfinch and a Whinchat.  The Whinchat was at the end of Salthouse Beach Road. I managed a couple of poor snatched photos through the gap between the side mirror and the car body before pedestrians frightened it away. One of them was John Furze who warned us of a 'nasty man' who booked people who were in the wrong place.

We were parked at Glandford ford, listening to Blackcap, Cetti's, Chiffchaff and Dunnock, when a piping noise came from nearby. I was struggling to place it when Pam saw it at the top of a tree before it flew. I caught it in flight, a male Bullfinch. We see very few these days, all sightings are a celebration as is Whinchat in Norfolk.

We stopped at Salthouse Duckpond to view the distant shore pool.  A woman got out and started throwing out large chunks of an entire loaf of white bread. She needs educating. It did attract corvids and a Moorhen.

Rook 



 Moorhen


 The Swallw was on a nearby wire, busy preening.


 


The Eye Field added Whimbrel and Wheatear.

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