Apart from a 9.00 INR test at the surgery.....still sorting it after the two operation lay-offs, a free day.
Our last chance for Norfolk migrants before leaving for the north on Monday. Not such good weather as the last few days but, pleasantly warm with little wind.
We didn't make many stops to-day, concentrating on hedge-lined lanes until we got to Snettisham. The latter is usually good for early migrants, more so in the eastern trees and shrubs area, too extensive for us to walk.
A few handsome, brick-red, summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwits on the reserve muddy bay with noticeably fewer waders in number. The Avocets have mostly dispersed too. Three Common Terns cruised the pits, yelling at each other like teenagers, a host of Black-headed Gulls adding to the cacophany. They seem to have taken over some of the islands.
Best was our first Cuckoo, calling from the other side of the last pit. Lovely. We always had a Cuckoo at home, May 1st the usual arrival date, until the marsh at the bottom of the garden was planted with trees which are now a tidy sized wood.
Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps have arrived in numbers, their calls everywhere, even in our garden. I'm pretty certain that I heard a Garden Warbler at home too, but only the once.
I am guilty of neglecting the birds we see all the time in suitable habitat. This handsome pair of Shelduck adorned the mud near enough to try a photograph.
Oystercatcher pairs were looking to nest very near the track through to the hides - again. They were successful last year though.
No singing warblers at Holme either, there could well be Reed and Sedge here by now, a good place for Grasshopper Warbler too. I did pick up, at last, my first Ruff of the year feeding beside a pool on the entrance road.
New at Holkham was a small herd of young Belted Galloways, east of Lady Anne's Drive and just before a newly sculpted pool in a fenced area. Part of the new 'Reserve'?
Lovely cattle, I'm very fond of them, shame they were distant and facing away. Couldn't linger as we'd stopped roadside and the traffic is always steady.
The day was shortened by turning inland, and returning via Cockthorpe.
Friday evening
The first time we've had to miss a moth-ing session at Cley Thursday morning (hospital app) and Roger B brought in a Blossom Underwing moth, one I've wanted to see for ages. My appetite had been whetted by increased postings on Facebook. Mike H kindly mailed me of its appearance, we could have called in this afternoon if we'd known. Delighted that we were informed at all. If we don't attend, it's our responsibility if we miss stuff.
Roger was good enough to make it available at Cley Centre on Saturday. Again, thanks to Mike for making us aware of that.
Mike's photo is better, here's mine, taken in the pot.
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