Anne's Journal

 Monday August 4 All mornings are leisurely starts these days, unless we have a specific timed activity planned. We set out under an overcast  sky, it even rained a little as the car was packed.  Few birds around, it took us until Sculthorpe before we hit double figures.  Glorious mud at Snettisham, but....... my first Turtle Dove of the year flew from the bushes beside us, across the front of the car to the pits below. Pam had seen one a couple of weeks ago. As we reached the parking area, our friendly reserve volunteer strolled across. He kept watch for the warden last time we were here so that we could back down the causeway to view the pit. His choice. It's really good to meet someone who is not officious and understands different needs. He said that the Turtle Doves had only been seen in the singular. Wouldn't they have moved on if a mate hadn't been found? The whole time we were chatting, there was a regular incoming of screeching Common Terns carrying fish. ...

  Monday August 3 Birthday card and present opening came first, which meant a late arrival for Snettisham high tide. The mud was still wet, despite the already hot sunshine, distant groups of waders could occasionally be seen flying along the shore. i did manage to find a Little Tern hovering near the Oystercatchers. Hopes were not high when Pam reversed down the causeway so that I could scope the end reserve pit. Scope views showed that the, apparently rock and pebble strewn islands, were thousands of birds. Looking directly into the sun, I could identify Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Redshank, and Knot, from size and beak length etc. What else was amongst them? So frustrating. Even viewing from the Rotary Hide would not help. Shore Hide would be better, but that was beyond our walking capabilities.    I took a few photos, hoping that I could zoom in on the birds  on my P.C.  at home. I managed to add Common Tern, and Bar-tailed Godwit to my list.    ...

 Sunday August 2  Concerned about the effect of the long drought on my small potted alpines, with Pam's help, I planted up the two sinks I prepared last week.  Previously emptied of spent soil and plants, I patched the top edges of both sinks where the hypertufa had been knocked off. It's over 30 years since I first covered them, the first ones I ever did.They've lasted well.     Garrulous Gary, number two gardener, was fascinated. He hadn't realised that there was a Butler sink underneath it all. This is where we are at. Not completed with a top dressing of alpine grit, as I still have some bulbs and a few more plants to add. The new stuff will weather to a better colour match - I hope. The original had peat in the mixture, I used potting compost this time.