Catch

 Tuesday March 29

Buckenham was very quiet this morning. The vast numbers of geese, Lapwings, Golden Plovers and Wigeon have departed. Bathed in a low mist, the marshes have a mystic quality. A male Marsh Harrier ghosted through, three Buzzards hunched on a set of gates, two Cormorants on another. Careful scanning brought several Ruff, Little Egrets, Redshank, Canada Geese and Mute swans into view. Much more difficult were the first Norfolk views of two Snipe asleep behind a clump of sedge, on the large pool near the car park. 

The ducks are so beautiful in early spring, before frazzled parenthood shreds their feathers. Drake Wigeons, with their Bird's Custard mohican head stripe are one of my favourites. Even on a dull day they shine.

Strumpshaw Woods were alive with birdsong. Resident Song Thrushes, Wrens and Blackbirds announcing their territory to incomers, our first Blackcap heralding his triumphal arrival. 

Despite the mini heat wave (Sara would still have her fur coat on), moth trapping has been slower than expected in our garden. A few nice moths though, including having to acquire the skill of identifying moths from the wings left in the trap. Our Wren is to blame, An early riser and unafraid of diving past a hot MV bulb into the trap - and escaping the same way when it's had its breakfast. A lovely Brindled Beauty was the best this morning.

 

Pam's much loved Hellebores (Christmas Roses) are flourishing in the shade behind the well pond.

Gap

 Sunday March 27

I am very aware that I have not written an entry for about a week. glorious weather, warm and all day sun, plenty of birds, why not?. Mainly health issues, involving appointments which are time consuming. Garganey have been showing well at Cley, two Little Buntings have been attracting crowds on Kelling Heath. both involving walks, a lengthy one in the case of the Buntings. Bishops Hide, using my Rollator is a possibility, it remains on the agenda for tomorrow.

Yesterday, we visited Hickling NWT Reserve, gaining permission to drive down to Whiteslea Lodge, which is our limit. Chiffchaff song rang out everywhere we went. Pam climbed the steps to the bank part of the way along the long straight, seeing plenty of ducks on  the pools  Shoveller, Pintail, Teal, Gadwall and Mallard. Shelduck, Greylag and Egyptian Geese on the verges. Two male Reed Buntings swayed amongst tthe sprouting Sallows, one Small Tortoiseshell and a single Brimstone the only butterflies.

Parking for twenty minutes near the Lodge, we heard our first Bittern of the year and our first Cetti's Warbler. We must visit more regularly.

Pointless is one of my favourite programmes, it's on daily Series Record. We are always amazed at the general public's lack of information about Natural History, particularly birds. When the four pairs of contestants have been whittled down to the trophy winners, they then have the opoortunity to win some money. To do this they must come up with three possible answers to unknown questions which they have chosen from a list of four variable and changeable topics. A pair this week chose the Birds topic. One of their answers needs to be pointless i.e. score 0 when asked to a random selection of a 100 people. Their first answer to the Name a finch question was Bearded Finch. Oh dear. Their choice of raptor was Merlin. It was pointless - as were Gadwall. Pintail. Shoveller and Wigeon in the duck section. Astonishing. Although Merlin and Marsh Harrier were Pointless, Hen Harrier wasn't. The publicity has worked, thank you Chris Packham.

Moths at home continue to be the expected ones for early months. We have added Pale Pinion

 

 and Water Carpet

 

to our garden NFY. Cley traps had a Tawny Pinion on Thursday, which was nice. 

My Mother's Day gift from Sara in Australia was a spring flowers planter. Lovely. Pam took it outside to water where a Peacock butterfly immediately flew in to nectar. Pam's photo.

 

 

Sat in a Field

 Thursday March 17

Overnight rain kept the Cley Visitor Centre's moth trap virtually empty. Always a pleasure to sit on the terrace in lovely sunshine with views of the reserve, and to chat with friends. Time flies by. A Skylark sang thoughout, and there were at least fifteen Grey Herons on Simmonds Scrape. Unable to get up on time, we missed the Peregrine cruising through. 

On our way to Morston, Pam asked if I wanted to go and look for Goshawk instead. Not the best time of day to look, early afternoon, but I agreed. 

The gateway to Hindolveston's Raptor Watchpoint field was a bit muddy after the rain, but easily driven. .A lone car, boot open, scope and tripod set up nearby, no occupant, was intriguing. He later emerged from the hedgerow tall vegetation, clad in camouflage gear and carrying a massive lens and camera. As soon as we parked, Pam spotted raptors high in the distance. Four Buzzards  kept our interest for some time. As did a bird diving into the far line of trees. The friendly birder known as Richard the Hat had drawn up alongside, leaving his vehicle to chat to the camera man. A shout alerted us to a Goshawk appearing from the right before diving into the trees. Not brilliant views but good enough. 

The next, and definitely more exciting views, were of three Bullfinches in the hedge, two males and a female, industriously and very delicately nipping new hawthorn growth buds. As Richard said, when they were perscuted for disbudding fruit trees, there were always plenty of fruit on the trees later. They are one of the birds I find breathtaking every time I see one. The males are so beautiful. Seldom have I been able to scope them at work, as I did today -  for at least twenty minutes - before tearing ourselves away. 

The photos are only fit for my year folder until something better comes along.

A few more 'new for the year' NFY moths

Double-striped Pug

Small Quaker

Twin-spotted Quaker

.

Another Fine day

Tuesday March 15

Accustomed, during lockdown, to vacating the house on Tuesday mornings whilst Sam cleaned for us,  we couldn't go far to-day, as Pam had an early afternoon routine dental appointment. Again, the hygienist cancelled so it was dentist only. She swears that it was a mere two minute job before she was out again. How much did he get paid for that?

Five minutes after we arrived at Selbrigg, Marriet's Chariots turned up, and a whole class of school children filed out. I took one photo of a Dunnock and we left.

 

Via a sun burnished Kelling Heath and Old Woman's Lane, we drove to Cley beach, stopping along the lane to photograph a male Reed Bunting on the overhead wires. Our first in Norfolk this year.

 

No Wheatears on the Eye Field - one was reported from Granborough yesterday - on to Salthouse via Iron Road. So few birds around, apart from a flock of very flighty Starlings, swirling around in a patternless and segregated flock. Suddenly, a thick cloud of midges massed outside my window, quickly leaving as suddenly as they had arrived. I think that the Starlings were chasing them.

A detour via Lion's Mouth on the way home, due to extensive road works on the Felbrigg Road, took us through Metton, where I heard my first Chiffchaff of the year. Pam heard one in the garden yesterday.

After Pam returned from Stalham, I walked the garden, recording some of the plants in bloom.

Camellia

Mini daffodils

Dodecatheon

Polyanthus

Unlabelled Alpine !

 

Our Acacia/Wattle/ Mimosa is an annual delight. 

 

Last year, the trunk split very badly during a storm. Adrian tied a rope tourniquet around the split with a piece of wood inserted. He gradually tightened the rope using the wood and it seems to have worked wonderfully.

Pam called me over. She'd found mating toads in the pond.

There were also strings of eggs already laid, none of them showing on my photos.

I've seen several Peacock and Red Admiral butterflies this month.To-day, there was a Comma in the garden, warming itself on the concrete path. The car thermometer went up to 14C by lunchtime - several people walking around in shorts seemed a bit previous.

 

Tempted

Sunday March 13 

Despite the low greyness of a late afternoon, we made the decision to go on a Short-eared Owl hunt. One has been reported from 'Ludham Bridge'. Further investigation gave the area as being 'field east of St Benet's Abbey' . That's not the area known to me as Ludham Bridge.

Unusually, the approach lane held three parked cars, the occupiers scoping an apparently empty field. Yes, they'd seen a Short-eared Owl over. there, waving a languiid hand at the field behind them. Thank you for the help! We drove on to the car park. From here, sharp-eyed Pam eventually found a Short-eared Owl hunkered down in deep thick grass, its head visible some of the time.

Appalling photo

With patience, another bird was also hiding fairly close by. The latter sprang into the air, flying over the hedge towards the abbey. The original bird also took flight,. landing further away but in better view. Cue more really dim light photos.

 

A third bird was perched on a soil mound in the yard of the nearby farm buildings.

 

Here's one I made earlier. Photographed on North Uist in 2021.

 

 

Truly Spring - Nearly

 Tuesday March 8

Natural Surroundings is closed on a Monday until Easter. Until the end of March, traps will be put out on Tuesday nights for us to open on Wednesdays. We could go birding.

It rarely happens that even a morning is cloudless, to-day was blue all day. I love the look of leafless skeleton trees against a blue background; the delicate tracery of Birch, the solid stoicism of English Oaks. Willows are already swollen-budded, Blackthorn is in full wedding white puffery. Underlined by still frosty grey grass, groups of Snowdrops and the occasional random bunches of narcissi. We took the Sedgefield route to Snettisham.

A high tide of under 5 metres ensured that the birds were widely spread along the shoreline, best viewed from the entrance end of the last pit. No need for any of them to fly onto the islands in the pits whilst their feeding area was covered. Knot, scurrying Dunlin, Shelduck, Redshank, Teal, Oystercatchers, Ringed Plover and at least 20 Avocets were identifiable.

There were even more Avocets on a pit island, as crowded as a mosh pit. Only one pair of Goldeneye and a few Tufted Duck on the centre pit. 

Parked near the entrance, drinking coffee, two vehicles pulled up, one behind us, one in front. The Pick-ups were labelled Environment Agency. A boot was opened, showing a neatly sectioned and filled tool-board, and an array of equipment. The older driver took out a tape measure, stood in front of his car and released several metres of tape down the shingle bank towards the shore. The younger man made his way down the bank, sliding several metres on his backside. This caused much hilarity from both men. He held the end of the tape, releasing it - only for the whole process to be repeated, without the slide. Why?

We hurried to leave as the two Environmental  Agency vehicle drivers had left the gate open, meaning that we could drive straight through. They soon followed, we pulled into a wider part of the chalet park so that they could pass. Two Linnets landed on the grass in front of us.

 

As did a Pied Wagtail

 

Surprisingly, considering the conditions, it had been a raptorless day. Holkham Marsh Nature Reserve made up for it. Three Marsh Harriers, a Kestrel, several Red Kites - one of which flew near enough to consider taking a few flight shots.  

 

One Spoonbill roosted in a breeding tree and two Grey Herons loitered nearby. The Cormorants, Egrets and Spoonbills nesting here is evidenced by the row of dead trees.

 

I didn't count the White-fronted Geese, they were widely scattered. No Lapwing, nor at Snettisham. Have they moved north? Two dozen Shoveller on the westernmost water, two Egyptian Geese and one Great Egret.

A last call at Wells North Point pools.Many Lapwing here, plus a small flock of Golden Plover. Three more Marsh Harriers, idly cruising the far shore, terrorising all birds into heedless flight, soon returning to their previous positions.

 Natural Surroundings, March 9

It was worth putting the traps out. We had 40 moths of eight species, only one of them a Micro. Common Quaker was the leading number, there were 9. Best for me were the two Small Brindled Beauty and a Small Quaker, both new for the year.

Dreich

 Wednesday March 2

 Dull grey overcast, drizzle, sometimes heavy, and a paucity of avian activity. A ploughing on regardless day - which we did. Happy as Larry. Who was Larry? 

The Yellowhammers are back in the hedges on our main road to North Walsham. Harbingers of Spring.

Selbrigg seemed like a good place to bump up the numbers as we seldom see woodland birds elsewhere. The list increased by 12 species, the second column of 10 species started in my notebook, the drive to Valley Farm Lane produced a Red Kite and Red-legged Partridges. Where have the Tree Sparrows gone? Their habit of moving territory is thought to have contributed to their decline in the UK. Once good territory has been found, they should stay there - unless it changes. Valley Farm has not changed at all. Unlike Choseley Barns, where an unsympathetic son has ceased the seed scattering for example, and positively disencourages birders as well as birds.

The hedgerows leading to Abbey Farm were birdless. As was the Little Owl tree. As we were approaching the main road to Sandringham, a group of over a hundred Bramblings fled the hedges in front of us, many alighting in a tall tree, enabling us to identify them positively. What a wonderful sight.

The 'For Sale' sign on the £1.2 million house cum small caravan park at the end of Snettisham road, has disappeared. Sold or withdrawn?

Leading up to tomorrow's very high spring tides, we witnessed the very low neap tide  which accompanies it. Shelduck, two Curlew, a few Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Redshank and Teal were the only birds in sight. Not even the usual long streak of Oystercatchers. The rest of the hordes probably scattered as far as Lincolnshire. A displaying Goldeneye brings joy to the day. His mate was very unimpressed, she was constantly diving. The male's head thrown back and call display was very infrequent as he spent most of the time looking for her. I caught part of one.One display I hadn't seen before involved a semi-diving porpoise-like swim across the surface

The male is very beautiful,

 

The subtly marked female, less so.

From the gateway down to Meals House at Holkham, we saw our first Spoonbill of the year, in residence near the breeding trees. Four Grey Herons hunched nearby. Searching for the White-fronted Geese (I found two), we saw two Buzzards, several Marsh Harriers, Red Kites and a Kestrel. One of the Great White Egrets flew into view.

Grey Plover, Black-tailed Godwits, Brent Geese, Little Egret, and Turnstone at Brancaster Staithe. Golden Plover, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Avocet, and Gadwall at North Point Pools. 

Which way home? Pam gambled on the slightly longer Cockthorpe chicken sheds route. Bingo. The gates were open, two vehicles at the far end. Nothing hiding in the eaves. Change of position. A Little Owl standing in the open on top of the left-hand shed. There it stayed, always with its back to us, its eye showing sometimes as it kept a careful watch on the men

 As soon as they'd driven away and shut the gate, the owl flew back into the dark overhang of the other shed.

Adding yesterday's Red-breasted Goose made it 77 species for March. 

Two more moth species this week too. We resurrected the portable trap in order to give the battery a work out before Scotland at the end of next month. The weather has been less cold and windy too.

Hebrew Character (should be Valentine's Day) 

 

 Oak Beauty 

After NS

Tuesday March 1 

Dydd Gwyl Dewi. St David's Day. I wore my daffodil earrings and went to Natural Surroundings as usual. They should have been leeks. The welsh for leeks is cenin. The welsh for a daffodil is Cenin Pedr, Peter's leeks  Prettier, and a lot better smelling as a buttonhole.

After an enjoyable drink and a chat, we drove to Morston, where the tide was as low as I've ever seen it.  Part of the channel was empty of water. The expected Redshanks, Curlew, Herring Gulls,

 

and Little Egret, graced the muddy creek. The Egret is beginning to come into its breeding finery. 

 

Blakeney duck pond contains both wild and farmed birds. It does give the opportunity for some photography of British birds, whilst dodging the wire fence, trees, bird houses and exotics.

 

 

Driving through Cley, we reached Babcock Hide, and found a large flock of Brent Geese in a field opposite. The road is wide and straight here, we parked. Eventually, the Red-breasted Goose made a March appearance for us. It's amazing how well such a brightly coloured bird can hide amongst a sea of black and white. I managed a couple of photos,  through Pam's side window.

 Photos have now been added to my previous post.