Mainly Birding

Monday August 14

What a misleading title. So few small passerines around, we hadn't hit double figures by the time we reached Abbey Farm. And we'd seen Great Spotted Woodpecker, House Martin and Pied Wagtail from our front drive.

Best sighting was two very tatty Red Kites soon joined by three Buzzards. I took a few quick shots of very dubious quality.

A field near Flitcham held a densely planted mass of Phacelia. According to Harrap:

Often sown as green manure or in wild flower margins beside arable fields, originating from wild bird seed and pheasant feed.

My camera couldnn't cope with the very dark green background and the blue flowers, washing out the colour of the latter. Until Pam came into sight, absorbed in photographing a small toad. 

Expecting to see insects, it became obvious that there were a few bees and, even fewer Small White butterflies and that was it. Sad.

Spring Tides at the moment, Snettisham was nearly three hours past the main height but plenty of the commoner waders feeding busily on the wet mud. Dunlin, Sanderling, Great Ringed Plover, Redshank, Oystercatchers a few Curlew and still red Bar-tailed Godwit and Turnstone. Distant flocks of Knot flew along the water's edge. Lovely under a spell of sun. Mainly cloudy to-day, the forecast rain held off.

The Shelduck were missing, probably moulting in flocks off the Netherlands coast. 

Most of the Common and Sandwich Terns were roosting on the pit islands, some adults carrying sand eels back for vociferous and noisy, well-grown, young.

Having ticked off Fulmar and Rock Dove as we drove along Hunstanton Cliffs, a quick and very bumpy drive to Holme for a Magpie (!), Brancaster Staithe   for an ice-cream, it was full of holiday makers, we drove home. 
To-day's mammal list was pretty average too. Rabbit, Roe and Muntjac Deer and a roadkill Hedgehog.

Yet to empty last night's moth trap, we were very tired but, set to immediately. Pam's idea of putting ice blocks on the top as welll as locating it in a cool place, works well. As long as it's carried and put down gently and I don't kick it...........

A new for the garden Reed Dagger, verified by Richard at Whitwell this morning, was lovely. We thought it was a Wainscot sp.but couldn't find a match.