A Good Morning

Sunday, May 30

We tend to shun Bank Holiday birding. Too many people about. Such a lovely morning, it was a shame to miss out. Maybe Hickling would be reasonable. It's possible to walk the reserve outside opening hours. We need to drive to Whiteslea Lodge, with permission from the Centre, which is not open until 10 a.m. 

Arriving almost bang on 10, Pam was served by an  - as usual - reluctant and unwelcoming volunteer - who hailed a warden. Pam waved the Blue Badge, and was answered with a smile and a wave. The first section of hedge and tree lined track was alive with song.The only car around, we could loiter, hearing Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, and Goldfinch. Did we see them? No. Apart from silhouettes flying out of dense leaves and away. 

The long straight to the Lodge passes through a woodland before the marsh, strangely quiet to-day, apart from the kleep of an Avocet from unseen ponds the other side of the bank. We have Damselflies flying at home, no sign of any Odonata here  The sky was full of hurtling Swifts, the rising eddies of insects ahead of the car testifying to a good meal in store. A male Reed Bunting flew across the path, landing in a nearby spiky bush to broadcast its rather unassuming song.

From Whiteslea's small parking area, where we stayed for about half an hour, a Garden Warbler's song kept a small group of birders gazing, perplexed, at a tree. I don't think that they ever saw it. Two different Marsh Harriers lazed through.The much more urgent flight of two Hobby,  gave shorter views than desired, a catch-up for Pam. An even faster and shorter view of an arrowing Kingfisher, skimming the reed bed. All accompanied by the unheralded, ear- piercing burst, of a Cetti's Warbler's song. A thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours.

The pear-shaped central bed, concealing four manhole covers re-planted by Andrea last Autumn, is coming along nicely.

 

 

Slow Moth-ing

 Saturday, May 29

We've been busy gardening. The potatoes, onion sets nd tomatoes look great. Unfortunately, the cucumber plants succumbed to the cold. It was a gamble to plant them as early as I did,  in a cold greenhouse.  I thought that I'd be here to nurse them. Two more seeds planted in a pot, sweetcorn, french beans, runner beans set in long planters, all of them in the propagator. Peas in troughs and Courgettes will happen to-morrow.

The newly replanted strawberry boxes look good too, plenty of flower showing. Whilst we were away, Andrea planted my spare plants in one of those terracotta planters which have planting holes up the sides.  My intention was to leave them in the greenhouse as early fruit. I have never found that particular planter to be successful. We'll see, she wasn't to know.

We continue to put out the moth traps every night with pretty appalling results. There is a problem country-wide, bad for the moths, and for the birds which depend on them for feeding themselves and their young. We're putting out extra mealworms, which seem to be much appreciated. Unusually, we have three male Blackbirds feeding peacefully, concurrently. The Blue Tits are still feeding their young in the birch log box, many of them elsewhere are dying from cold and lack of food.

This morning, the number of Cockchafers in the actinic light Robinson outnumbered the moths. There were none in the MV Robinson. I onder why? Some of the expected species at last, but, apart from Muslin, only singles of each. 

Lesser Swallow Prominent

Poplar Hawkmoth

Green Carpet

Cinnabar

Shuttle-shaped dart

Waved Umber

 

Home

 Tuesday May 25

Home since late afternoon on Sunday, seems like weeks since we were away. The joy of birding every day, with the only responsibilities being feeding ourselves and the car. 

The ferry crossing to Skye was calm. The ticket man referred to the previous day's stormy 45mph windy seas as 'normal'. We made steady progress, easily reaching each day's destination, thanks to Pam's excellent driving. It was very tiring, but we had time to recover in between. The only stop on the way home was at Carlisle Todhills.making it  320 miles on Saturday, 300 on Sunday. Greggs make excellent - and reasonably priced - hot chocolate. A recent discovery of ours, Greggs that is. Northeners have known for years.

We started counting birds as soon as we crossed the Norfolk border  We usually see very little - apart from Carrion Crows and Wood Pigeons - before Kings Lynn. A Buzzard was first on the list this time. We were eager to see our first Swifts. West Rudham turned up trumps.

A small diversion via Flitcham added a Hare.

A roadside field's verge had this flower, which we don't recognise. It will be identified as soon as a book is found.

The garden looked lush, potatoes and onions well grown, visible from the house. Andrea,  who looked after our plants while we were away. reported that there had been enough (too much) rain to make outside watering unnecessary.

I have started editing my Hebrides photographs discarding the worst etc. I intend ending with one folder of the best available. The recycle bin will bulge.

Since then, I have been to the dentist, discovering that he was due at Papworth for a triple heart bypass to-day. He's 50.

 This morning, I went to the Eye Clinic at Cromer and had a Lucentis injection in my left eye. As we entered our village, having collected our prescriptions in North Walsham,  I saw a Hobby.

To-morrow I want to go birding for a Norfolk May list and all the migrants we've missed so far, really looking forward to that..