Last Day of High Tides

 Monday, September 21

We didn't actually check until part of the way there. It's been a weekend of 7 metres + high tides at Snettisham, the place must have been packed. We'd chosen the last day of really high tide and were there about half an hour after its zenith. I couldn't resist taking photos of the noisy Greylag Geese splashing onto the first pit  as we enetred the chalet park.

 

As we crested the track before the last pit, for probably the first time in my experience, the Wash looked like a millpond. Small groups of Shelduck and Mallard, floating amongst their own shadows, looked ghostly against the milky sea. Ten cars were already squeezed into the small parking area near the causeway, we managed to find a space on the flat shingle near the gate.

Waders were already leaving the pits, returning to the western banks where they gathered in masses.

 

A Marsh Harrier caused chaos floating across mid level but the roosting birds' flight was short-lived. 

 

We left the car for the Rotary Hide, from which we had an unencumbered view of the receding tide and the gradual appearance of the waders. Apart from the general exodus of all the birders who had been tiered along the far shore that is, where the waders fly in and out overhead

 Despite the warm sunshine, I got very cold in the hide. Part of it being an unencumbered view is that there is no glazing in the windows either side, That results in a cold through draught. A bit like the shelter on Sheringham's top level. We spent a most enjoyable hour just sitting and looking before retiring to the warmth of the car for lunch.

Not as many cars, caravans and motorhomes about to-day, we saw very few. The Grey Brigade were out in force though. With the same thought as us, schools back, work back, lovely day with bad weather forecast for later in the week, let's go birding. With that and high tide meaning sailing out in force at Brancaster etc, we decided to drive inland and home to open the moth traps.

In addition to The Delicate mentioned in my last posting, we also had another migrant on the same night. Pam discovered it when she was emptying the egg boxes. Unable to identify it after scouring the Norfolk Moths website, both Waring and Manley books she brought it over to me. I used my phoneapp, more in hope than expectation. I was in the middle of doing something so I pointed my phone camera at it and it came up with Helicoverpa armigera Old World Bollworm. What? The only bollworm I could find was a micro found in the US which decimates cottonfields. So I sent a photo to Richard E who is both expert and very hepful. Back came the answer. Scarce Bordered Straw. An immigrant species to Britain, mainly around the southern coasts, and occurring most often in the autumn months.

 

We have seen two before, at moth meetings but it's a first for our garden (NFG).

An old farming cottage at the junction of Valley Farm Lane has been sold and updated, making it into a very desirable residence. What I really covet is their magnificent weather vane, only viewable from the busy road. Pam found a lull in the traffic so that I could photograph it.

 

 I want one!