The North Coast long day out was deferred until to-morrow. My weather forecaster (Pam on her IPad mini) said that to-day's forecast predicted a lot of rain.
We set off in the dry , low cloud cover looked forbidding. The sort of day when one needs better spectacles or someone to turn the lights on.
Nearing Horsey, the drizzle started and didn't end.
At Waxham, Pam decided to take the road loop around the farm and church, past Shangri-La lane and back to the main road. As we got to the junction, I called a female Hen Harrier quartering the field opposite. With good bin views, we turned towards Sea Palling and chased the bird. Which flew further and further away..........apparently slowly until I tried to photograph it. My camera and lens now reside in a bag at my feet as I was very aware of how vulnerable it was just casually placed beside my feet. The disadvantage is......not instantly ready for use. Another excuse for less than good photos.
Exhilarated, we turned south again. Pam stopped near Borough Farm to view two Chinese Water Deer at the far end of the field.
Remembering that this used to be, some years ago now, a favourite haunt of Cranes, I binned the field behind the farm through a convenient gap in the hedge. Eureka. Two Common Cranes feeding.
Struggling to adjust the camera's programme for one more suitable to the appalling light and drizzle, I missed the take-off. Two became six. A flight of another four Cranes joined the general exodus.
Always looking for 'wild' swans at this time of year, we stopped to inspect the geese and swans at the back of the western fields south of Horsey Mill. Not good through drizzle so we drove nearer, Pam parking so that I could use my scope. Twenty plus Mute Swans, a handful of Russian White-fronted Geese and........ about five Taiga Bean Geese. Great.
The sea at Winterton beach was empty apart from a lone Common Seal. Neither did the public loos have any moths.
Hoping for better views, leaving West Somerton, we stopped to view the geese again from a field entrance. Apart from a few Greylag, everything had gone. Such is birding.
A very successful short trip in the rain.
The football match wasn't... Southampton 2 Man U 2. We came back from 2-0 down.
Exhilarated, we turned south again. Pam stopped near Borough Farm to view two Chinese Water Deer at the far end of the field.
Remembering that this used to be, some years ago now, a favourite haunt of Cranes, I binned the field behind the farm through a convenient gap in the hedge. Eureka. Two Common Cranes feeding.
Struggling to adjust the camera's programme for one more suitable to the appalling light and drizzle, I missed the take-off. Two became six. A flight of another four Cranes joined the general exodus.
Always looking for 'wild' swans at this time of year, we stopped to inspect the geese and swans at the back of the western fields south of Horsey Mill. Not good through drizzle so we drove nearer, Pam parking so that I could use my scope. Twenty plus Mute Swans, a handful of Russian White-fronted Geese and........ about five Taiga Bean Geese. Great.
The sea at Winterton beach was empty apart from a lone Common Seal. Neither did the public loos have any moths.
Hoping for better views, leaving West Somerton, we stopped to view the geese again from a field entrance. Apart from a few Greylag, everything had gone. Such is birding.
A very successful short trip in the rain.
The football match wasn't... Southampton 2 Man U 2. We came back from 2-0 down.
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