Legs

Monday June 28 

It was mid afternoon before chores allowed us to go birding. Beighton first, for the roadside Wood Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plovers. When we got there, we discovered that the pool was nowhere in sight, entailing parking and walking to goodness only knows where without a track in sight. 

Next destination, the Black-winged Stilts, which had moved from Hickling to Potter Heigham Marshes overnight. Not good news, viewing there is extremely difficult. But, we do know how to drive in rather than take the long walk from Potter.The long-grass-centred track, rutted, between very tall reeds and bramble, was wet, and very muddy in places.The first pool was barely visible, gazing through the least dense reeds. Scanning brought views of Little Egret, Canada and Greylag Geese, Black-tailed Godwit, and Lapwing. We continued to the end of the track, sliding about on the viscous mud. Pam climbed the bank to view the distant water. No luck. Reed Bunting, Sedge and Reed Warblers broadcast their presencer. 

After negotiating the slick mud again, we stopped for another look at the first pool. There they were. Two Black-winged Stilts. One of them feeding avidly, viewable in an obstructed gap.I'm going to enter the competition for the worst photograph of this month's good birds.

This one is untouched, as taken by my 400 mm lens.

  A few edited gems.

A little further on, two youngsters were standing on a bench, getting unimpaired views of distant birds.Those were the days.

Hurrah, the hand car wash in Stalham was open again - with no-one waiting. We could drive straight in to get rid of the red mud caked all over the tyres and undercarriage. Not to forget the large dollops of bird excrement down Pam's side window, and the glass roof. They do a really good job, the car looked great.

Mothing at home again is an improvement. Still not brilliant. The moths are much more active in the warmth, many of the photos have to be taken in the pots - which Pam keeps clean..The pretty little Small Yellow Shell

Light Arches

 

Bird's Wing

 and Heart and Club in to-day's catch.