2021

Friday, January 1,  20-21

We did it.

We went out birding/driving for the day - and it was wonderful. Despite the weather. The roads were empty. Frost garnished the verges where hedges had sheltered, heavy mist shrouded the views, occasional drizzle, sometimes heavier, and an infrequent shaft of watery sunshine sums up the conditions. It was very cold, barely rising above 0C all day, a northerly wind the culprit.

My first bird of the year was a Wood Pigeon, rising out of the wood at the bottom of the garden. I wished I hadn't looked out when I drew the bedroom curtains, as my second was the male Blackcap on a nearby fat ball feeder. 

It was reasonably light when we arrived at Selbrigg. The driver of the one parked car was feeding the birds on the lake, Mute Swans the nearest, Coot, Mallard and Moorhens standing on the ice. As soon as we drew up and Pam opened the boot to get the food, birds arrived, waiting expectantly in the vegetation surrounding the gateway. She was hardly back in the car before Blue, Great, Coal and Marsh Tits grabbed their breakfast. Two Nuthatches, Chaffinch, Dunnock Robin, and Blackbirds were the supporting cast. One Grey Squirrel and a skittish young Muntjac appeared near the gate. I took my first photos of the year in the 10 minutes we were there.

 

 

The traffic was light, but beginning to increase, as we made our way to the Harpley area where the hedgerows and fields were devoid of birds. Where have the thrushes and finches gone? At our turning spot in Valley Farm Lane, the nearby road and field held around two dozen Red-legged Partridges, wild enough to flee when they saw the car stop. Barry, our farm worker friend, drove up and came for a chat. We haven't seen him for months; he must have seen us drive past. Basically, he wanted to know if we were well, but then proceeded to tell us some horrific Covid tales. Not good. Elderly people he knew who had been taken to hospital with broken bones, contracted Covid, and died. We were happy to drive away, after admiring a fly by Red Kite

The only other birder at Snettisham was someone we know as sitting man. His bike is laid on the ground, he sits on a small stool, scoping the wash in the shelter of a large bush, always in the same place. I managed to find the lone Little Stint amongst the Dunlin, Sanderling, Knot, Grey and Golden Plaovers, Redshank, Oystercatchers, Curlew and Black-tailed Godwits. Two pairs of Goldeneye on the pit, the males are so handsome.

 

At least nine Little Grebes and one winter Great Crested Grebe diving amongst the vast numbers of Greylag. One Marsh Harrier, no sign of the White-tailed Eagle unfortunately. I missed my annual Mull fix of this awesome bird.

A knot of birders, tangled tripod legs, and a melee of cars trying to park, near the entrance to the RSPB car park, alerted us to something about. Somewhere known to us as the Ring Ouzel field. I stopped in the caravan park entrance to read my pager. An Eastern Black Redstart (it has a red lower belly) and a Yellow-browed Warbler. None of the birders were wearing a mask and they were certainly not distanced. Maybe Barry ought to have a word with them. I've only seen that Black Red race in Eastern Turkey, and later, in Ethiopia. Not to-day thank you, we're not leaving the car bubble.

We saw two of the two hundred plus Fulmar present, and one Rock Pigeon as we drove slowly along Hunstanton clifftop - far fewer cars parked than previously.

A Great White Egret at Holkham Freshes, two of the reported ten Cattle Egrets at Burnham Norton, they were in a distant field, amongst the cattle, barely viewable through the intervening hedgerows. 

Maybe the Waxwing on Kelling Heath would be accessible. Yes it was, but not for us. More birders not wearing masks, tripods, parked cars and general melee. We drove past.

A total of 72 species seen. The only thrush we saw was a Song, no Goldfinch, Wren nor Long-tailed Tit. Plenty more birds to enhance the month ahead.

I kept a list on EBird on my phone to-day. Cue trumpets. It was really easy and the app is free.

My next target is to get the batteries into my trailcam. It takes 12 x AA lithium in a double row of 6 with a bar across the centre. The batteries will not go in without removing the bar. The springs are very tight. As one tries to get the last pair in, one or more shoot out like champagne corks. I managed, sort ot, and then,  I can't get the bar back in........