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Friday March 30
Good Friday

Another Spring itch bird is the Garganey, especially the splendid drake. One has been present on a flooded field/pool for a week or so. Despite there being reports of two birds at Strumpshaw, we'd never been to Bintry Mill. 

Bintry Mill is set in a valley along with its farm at one end of the flood pain and stands in magnificent isolation a mile from the village of Bintree. The mill and house are adjoining and used to share the same roof line until an additional floor was added to the mill around the turn of the century. Both buildings are of red brick under a Norfolk pantiled roof. The mill may well stand on the site of an earlier mill dating back to 1454.  

We loved the area, whilst wishing for some sun, instead of the grey monochrome, to highlight the scenery. Pam expressed a wish to live there.

The pool is just before the mill buildings, along a narrow lane where one can pull off onto the 45 degree verge with well spaced mature trees. I did not enjoy the angle at which I was trying to use my scope. Pam got out to use her bins and found a less severe slope which was much more comfortable.

I suppose I spent half an hour constantly scanning a very sizeable stretch of water where vegetation stood proud of the water along the far shore. This cover allowed Shovellers, heads nodding violently towards other males in an attempt to woo the females, pairs of stealthy Gadwall, a few Mallard, one hyperactive Little Grebe, a scattering of sleeping Wigeon and extremely aggressive Coots, to nest, feed, sleep, in well hidden spaces. A small flock of Teal flew in, the splashdown disturbing the formations. It was soon after this, when we were starting to wonder if the bird was still present - no news on the pager to-day - when I scoped a male Garganey quietly feeding in the thick spikes at the back of the pool. Excellent.

A Cetti's Warbler called from the far shore, another year bird for us. At last, a Little Egret too, new for the month, flew in and landed near the mill. As we left it landed on top of a nearby fencepost, I've never seen one do that before.

Pam took some photographs of the mill using my camera, as it was not possible for me to get out - no room on the passenger side. One of them heads this entry.

A successful journey to see a bird which we saw flock in their thousands in Thailand in February 2017. Not the same at all. Just as much joy.

We stopped so that Pam could photograph a group of female Red Deer in a high-fenced field. Venison farming?

Swanton Novers (Thanks P) Raptor watchpoint is nearby, one car already there. Not a good time of day, early afternoon, nor good weather, still overcast and very grey. The other birder appeared for a chat, he's a regular watcher here and thinks that there are at least four Goshawks being seen. He'd seen two before we arrived as had John Geeson yesterday. He asked if we knew him. John had been unsuccesful with the Garganey. We saw three distant Buzzards before leaving, vowing to try again another, more propitious, day. I've never been fond of this watchpoint having spent many an hour here gazing at distant birds, hoping for Honey Buzzard mainly.
It would be good to visit again when the water level has dropped, looks good for waders.