Dreech

Sunday October 1

The post heading describes most of the weather to-day. We asked ourselves why we were out at all. Mainly because it was one of the few first day of the month we were able to do so.

And..... I am suffering from lack of birding time. Roll on our trip to Scotland to celebrate  Pam's 80th birthday. We leave on the 10th, taking two days on the way up and then a week at the Grant Arms before making an identical return journey. Warm garments will be needed.

The paucity of birds of any kind, even Wood Pigeons, on the way to our first halt at Sculthorpe Mill, proved our lack of judgement. We had barely hit double figures by Abbey Farm where the general air of neglect is not welcoming. In addition to the very uneven concrete slabs which constitute the path to the hide, the latter were largely concealed by a thick layer of wet, rotting and slippery, leaves and tree debris. The path is never swept, I may well carry out an often voiced wish to arrive armed with a yard brush. No water in the pond and stream, not even Greylags on the meadow with a sky empty of the Red Kite, Buzzards and Hobby seen the previous day.

Pam , in one of our stops in gateways, saw a Sparrowhawk perched on the hedge. I managed one photo - with the car engine still on - before it flew. 

Ah, Snettisham called, the thought of waders lightened the mood as always. Until we arrived. Low tide with miles of dry mud extending to infinity. Careful scanning found Grey Plover, a few Knot, Curlew, Golden Plover, Redshank, a Greenshank called and a Curlew Sandpiper. As notable as the latter were the negatives - no Dunlin, Godwits nor Oystercatchers.

Sounds miserable, it wasn't, we were still enjoying the day. This Herring Gull looked as we might have felt.

The Greater Black-backed Gull had a damaged left foot.

Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Bar and Black-tailed Godwits, Ringed Plover and Dunlin at Brancaster Staithe before we called it a day and drove home, turning inland soon after Brancaster.

The day's total was 60 species, miserly but,  more than we expected. 
Some colour to end with.......

Red Underwing 
A large, showy and much desired moth. This one was too flighty - even after being in the fridge - to photograph out of the box.