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.