The First on the Second

Tuesday November 2

The first frost of winter whitened the car windows. That had to be cleared before take-off. Pam saw one approaching driver leaning forward, peering through the small half moon which was the only clear patch of her front screen. Idiocy. Such a beautiful morning. Clear blue sky, trees in their closing down shades of Autumn, air filled with the contact calls of the hundreds of Pink-footed Geese which have taken up residence in our area.

Not in a hurry to get to Snettisham, we knew that it would be low tide, we made a short diversion to Selbrigg, for the first time in months. As we pulled into the small parking space, a flurry of birds appeared in the surrounding bushes. The first was a Marsh Tit. Pam's emergence to spread some food sent the birds a little further away. She had only moved a few yards to another post, when the first hungry birds came back to the bush/tree barely two metres away. Blue, Great, Coal, and Marsh Tits, Robin, Nuthatch - and four Grey Squirrels. Lovely. Too near for my lens, I took a few, less than sharp, shots anyway. I love taking photographs.

 

I didn't manage any of the wildly skittering Redwings and Blackbirds we saw in the hedgerows near Harpley Cottages. They were feeding on Haws, Elderberries, and an unknown black fruit which Pam identified as that of Wild Privet..Redwings have come in, in force during the last week or so, as have Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Starlings.

Approaching Valley Farm Barns, Barry pulled out in his car, winding down the window for a chat. We thanked him for the potato gift, saying how good they were as jacket potatoes. He immediately said, 'I'll get you some more'. Horrified, we stopped him, Pam quickly saying 'next time'.he then told us that he was 80 earlier this year and still did some work for the farm. His wife - at 75 - is thinking about retiring from her work on the organic farm 'up the road'. Pam reciprocated, we had a short conversation about how well we were all doing , and moved on to Red Kites. Barry was a bit miffed that neighbour Paul, had seen two more than him coming to roost in the wood. Barry had counted 26.

Entry to Snettisham Reserve for permit holders, is via a motley collection of caravans, sheds, nice chalets, derelict examples of all, and some very attractive beach houses. Just before the yacht Club is a large patch of Nerines, which grows larger every year. It beats me why they flourish in such inhospitable conditions.

They always remind me of the 25 years or more when we visited the isles of Scilly during October half term - for a blissful 2 weeks after retiring. Nerines grew wild all over St Mary's. We always had a bunch decorating the dining table in our harbour side flat.

Snettisham was indeed a vast expanse of water gullied mud. I find it splendid and awe inspiring, as I find deserts. Others would disagree I'm sure. The birds were thinly scattered, either individually like the Grey Plovers, Redshank, and  Curlew. Or,  in small groups like the Dunlin, Sanderlings, Wigeon, Teal, and Mallard.  A medium sized flock of Golden Plover surged into the air before settling out of scope view. The vast majority of birds present lined the very distant shore. Greater Black-backed Gulls stood out by their very size and monochromic plumage. Knot, by their flight pattens.

A poorly looking Rabbit lolloped across the mud. It had obviously done some paddling, probably accidentally by the look of its swollen eyes.

 

No sign of it on the return jourmey. 

We did see a good selection of mammals during the day. Fallow, Roe, and Chinese Water Deer, Brown Hare, and a Weasel, in addition to rabbits.

Hunstanton for the necessary fuel fill up at Tesco, before a coffee on the clifftop.Several Fulmars sailing the cliff edge to-day, the first since August. There were four trawlers way out in the bay, each trailing a side net, and accompanied by a wake of birds. 

 

After turning left to head east, we encountered a 'Road Closed' sign.  This ended up being an inland diversion to Docking, before  we could return to the coast via Choseley. Not planned, nor enjoyed. 

Brancaster Staithe only had one other car, and the least amount of water we've ever experienced there. The solitude was wonderful, as was the view. 

 

A few Brent Geese gargled overhead, Ringed Plover, Turnstones, Oystercatchers and Black-tailed Godwits stood about, inactive. A lone Curlew fed in the main stream.

 

Inevitably (it always is), our last birding stop of the day was Wells North Point Pools. Despite rigorous scanning of the assembled gull and duck flocks, the only new bird for the list was Egyptian Goose.