Verdant July

Wednesday July 3

Watching Andy Murray got too painful when rain stopped play - again. He'd already lost the first set to Ferrer.

Buckenham Marshes here we come. Very tall and luxuriant vegetation made viewing the pools near the Fishermans Car Park very limited. Luckily, we stopped in a gap before getting there and managed to scope a Green Sandpiper before it flew out of view. A few Black-tailed Godwits, a couple of Avocet and a goodly group of Lapwing and their well grown young, made up the rest of the population on the pools.

It was a lovely evening, warm and sunny. We stayed to hunt the distant tree belt for raptors - the gate to the Mill was not only closed but chain and padlocked. Two Marsh Harriers made lazy circles in the sky (Oklahomah), a single Kestrel hovered and a Sparrowhawk spiralled into noseeum territory. Lovely.

A paucity of Ducks again. A scattering of Mallard and a pair of Tufted Duck and a few Greylag were the only Wildfowl in sight. One Little Egret appeared briefly whilst Skylark shouted their pleasure into the evening.

A quick visit to Strumpshaw Centre pool, the hide shut for the day, we viewed the pool from the open area beside it. Many Mallard, Black-headed Gulls, a Coot on its nest and a shouting Cetti's. The highlight was a Swallowtail Butterfly fluttering hastily by.

Home to see Murray 2 sets -1 up and 6-6 in the 3rd. Can't bear it, we must watch something else. I should have stayed with him, he won 3 sets to 1. Well done. Can he beat Tsonga  in the semis? Even if he does, what chance does he have against Djokavic (probable opponent in the final) ?