Rainbow Roulette

Sunday, December 1

As a response to a message from a thoughtful friend, M, we started at Selbrigg on the outskirts of Holt. Pam pulled in so that we could look at the lake and I immediately found the two female Goosander, preening, against the far bank. Excellent. 

I'm going to re-name Valley Farm Lane, changing it to Red-legged Partridge Drive. There were almost fifty birds, in several groups, running along the road in front of us. I didn't see any actual targets painted onto them but, they would be easy meat. As we returned, finding one Tree Sparrow in the hedge, the Red Kite we'd seen on entering the lane came into view again, soaring over the barn and the field beyond. Awesome birds, one of my favourites. So good to see them regularly in Norfolk. 

We also saw 12 Kestrels and 8 Buzzards during the day, with only one Marsh Harrier.

Stopping to peer through the gate at Abbey Farm, hoping to see the Little Owl, ever observant Pam noticed this lichen coverted post. It would make an interesting soft furnishing fabric.

An even bigger flock of Linnets in and around the mistletoe tree to-day, over 300 I guesstimate.

My daughter, Sara, phoned as I was settling back into the car after opening the gate at Snettisham. Unfortunately, several messages also came up, obscuring the connections for the call. I didn't succeed in time. She keeps ringing on Sunday mornings when we are out and is sending ever more desperate texts.Soon after we'd parked at the top of the slope to scan the receding tide, I returned the call, missing the chance to photograph the bird masses making their own kaleidoscope patterns in the sky. Fortunately, Pam did and I had a good chat with Sar who is going into hospital for an operation on Tuesday. Nothing too major but it should cure a nuisance problem.

These are Pam's photos, taken with her bridge camera past me out of the car window. It kept raining in sharp showers and it was cold - it always is here.

Eight Avocets (one out of view) were unexpected, gleaming black and white against the dark mud.

We both felt as though we'd been cocktailed after driving to Holme and back - shaken and stirred. Very quiet birdwise too, the entrance road edged by unplanned lakes. We had a mostly dry day with a lot of sun with ominously dark clouds spitting the odd shower at us, helping the formation of yet more spectacular rainbows.

Moth News

Despite the cold, wet weather, we are still trapping a few moths every night. The best yesterday were Silver Y and Rusty-dot Pearl, both are migrants. Most of the catch is December Moths with a few Winter Moths (both aptly named) and the odd Angle Shades and Satellite. One of the moths we took in last week to Natural Surroundings was indeed a Dark Chestnut as we'd thought. R dissected it.

Moonpig

I am so impressed with this firm. I sent grandson Josh in Australia, a Moonpig picture card on his 18th last week. A large card with quite a few photos I had of Josh, at varying ages, making up the front cover. Unfortunately, it arrived late and only Sara noticed that the front caption read ''Happy Birthday Karen''. 

I emailed the firm, getting a very pleasant and friendly return missive suggesting that it was user error. I can see now that it probably was ! The following day I received a mail saying that a new card with the correct caption had been mailed and both the new and the original cards were free of charge. I couldn't wish for a better outcome.

The Winterton Run Again

Friday, November 29

Want to see some birds? Only a couple of daylight hours left? Winterton Beach car park is a favourite destination. Taking the back roads via Happisburgh, Eccles and Sea Palling always gives the chance of seeing something. Pretty barren to-day, despite the sun shining for a change. Approaching Brograve Farm, which used to be a favourite with Cranes, I casually mentioned that we hadn't seen any for months. They tend to gather in a large flock in the winter, when it's a question of where this is currently for viewing.

On to the newly renovated Horsey Mill, white sails gleaming in the late sunshine. I've never seen the mill in action, although they did demonstrate the ability to do so on the opening day, earlier this year. 

Several flocks of Greylags had us stopping and scanning, they occasionally harbour other species. Only a few Pinkfeet to-day.

The birders' layby, halfway along the straight leading to West Somerton, was empty so that we could cross the road to park there. Avoiding huge potholes is nigh impossible. Lurching to a stop, I scan to the east and Pam to the west, calling out any bird species seen. I had a scattering of Lapwing with a few Golden Plover, then Grey Heron - and another. An immediate re-identification when preening heads were raised, two Common Cranes in the far distance, at least four hundred metres away. I took a few blob photographs

before reaching for my lens extender, Pam scrambled for her camera........we looked up.... they'd gone. No sign of them anywhere, not in the sky nor on the ground! Why? Then, a whole mass of hitherto hidden birds filled the sky. Hundreds of Pinkfeet and Lapwing with a few Golden Plovers and Black-headed Gulls. A blue-coated man and a dog came into view. That was why. He had every right to be where he was, and the dog was on a lead. Not at all useful to us.

A group of Red Deer hinds and young raced away across the field, also disturbed by the dog walker I guess.

The sun was dropping lower in the west as we entered the beach car park. Pay at the cafe today, winter opening hours from Friday to Sunday inclusive.

On our favourite mound, I scoped the sea, finding a small flock of Common Scoter, their white cheeks glowing in the sun. A large sand mound has appeared on the beach north of the car park. Twisting around, I could barely see that its inhabitants to-day were Common or Harbour Seals, not the Great Black-backed Gulls of last week. 

There were a few pups amongst them - and a photographer as near as the sign allowed. Tired of screwing my neck around, I looked below to see a seal swimming in, before settling on the beach below. 

A few minutes later, another seal came ashore, making a bee-line for the first one. Although the waves were still beautifully lit, the beach was in the shade due to the sinking sun. After a few contact touches, there ensued either a half-hearted fight, the later seal making open mouthed lunges at the first, or, a poor attempt at amorous foreplay. If the latter, she was not at all interested. He departed and returned several times before a final huffy swim and dive. 

Your caption

I thought that it was definitely a male and a female, Pam thought that the size was similar.....

The car park closes at four. The threateningly dark line of clouds heralding an approaching front, rapidly approaching from the east, started to deliver its load of rain. Spectacular clouds, a lovely sunset, rain  and a rainbow accompanied us on the homeward journey.

Dreich

Sunday November 24

 

Dreich (Old Scots origin)

A combination of dull, overcast, drizzly, cold, misty and miserable weather. At least 4 of the above adjectives must apply before the weather is truly dreich.

 

To-day was truly dreich. Not much drizzle until the afternoon, all else was pertinent. Yet, still enjoyable because we were out looking for birds. 

An early start, soon after daybreak, with only a few stops before Thornham Harbour. Still plenty of people about despite the weather. As soon as we parked, six Twite zipped by in their close-flying, tight flock, not stopping until out of sight. The Glossy Ibis was distant in a field west of the harbour, best viewed from the footpath to Holme.

Stopping on a muddy verge to view the almost empty tidal channel, better views of a loose flock of small birds identified Rock Pipits. They kept landing where the mud met the marsh, restlessly feeding along the sueda and heather stems. More blob photographs.

 

We then spent an hour or more parked in a disabled parking slot in Titchwell car park, from which we could view the sycamore trees favoured by the Yellow-browed Warbler, present for about a week.

 My patience was rewarded by a brief view of a warbler amongst the tit flock which passed through the near trees. Out of view for Pam unfortunately, as she had, unselfishly, parked where I had the best view. I'm pretty certain that it was the Yellow-browed but would have loved better views.

Parking on the boat launch mound at Brancaster Staithe gives excellent views of, a largely empty of boats, expanse of mud and a serpentine, low tide channel. The boats have been taken elsewhere for the winter. Enjoying a coffee whilst watching Redshank, 

 

 

Turnstone, Oystercatchers, a lone Grey Plover, 

 

 

a few Dunlin and a Bar-tailed Godwit 

 

 

go about their daily lives. 

Three middle teenage girls passed us by and stood right in front of us - until the gull flock thought that they had food and swooped above their heads. Much consternation, one girl even removed her jacket to cover her head, before they beat a genuinely frightened, squealing retreat. Hitchcock has much to answer for. So do the press and TV programmes which publicize seaside gulls swooping to steal chips etc from children and adults and killing small pets.

The favoured lay-by west of Wells was again full of cars, parked on the churned mud. The Rough-legged Buzzard was perched in a tree nearer to Wells harbour than the parking area but, not viewable from the road out to the woods and campsite.

 

Time to drive home for warmth, comfort and Man U v Sheffield United away.

What a dreadful performance. We were so fed up by the appalling first half betrayal of all our club stands for that we switched over to Countryfile. Wanting to know the score - it was 0-2 when we left - we were in time to see Rashford make it 3-2 to us. Three goals in 7 minutes. Not deserved. Then Sheffield equalized in the final minutes. It looked like a handball and could have been declared void. It wasn't - but that was a fair result.

Another Fine Day

Saturday, November 17

A dry day at last. One with sunshine too, enhancing the Autumn colours of the trees - which still retain a good covering of leaves. Our Liquidambar has been particularly colourful this year, shades of yellow and brown with some red. I have a love of Acers and they too add to the colour palette of the garden. The Acer griseum's copper coloured peeling bark is becoming exposed and will be a joy in the bare months of winter. The Sangokaku next to it has red branches in the new growth.

Again, a late start. Saturday traffic is greater too. The roadwork traffic lights at White Horse Common changed to green as we approached, a boon. It's a lengthy piece of work in progress, so the lights are slow to change.

Inspecting the Phaselia field on the outskirts of Flitcham, a very large flock of finches flew around in multi-sized groups, landing in the tall trees, including the one containing an impressive growth of Mistletoe. Mostly Linnets with some Chaffinches and Greenfinches. Too retless and, silhouetted against a strong light, to persist with ID.

It was a day of numbers. Sculthorpe Mill had 26 Collared Doves lined up on the wires or, washing in the car park puddle. Many Great Tits fed on the ivy-clad trees in the car park and a Goldcrest appeared briefly in front of us.

The tide was well out at Snettisham so the enormous flock of Golden Plover - I estimated 2,000 plus, could have been more - stretched in a broad swathe on the far tideline, gleaming in the sun as though they'd been Brasso'd. 

No sign of the reported Short-eared Owls, they'd probably been seen on the walk-in fields.

All the expected waders apart from Turnstone. One male Pintail, preening busily was a welcome sight. The dead seal on the foreshore  has not yet attracted any hungry birds.

Approaching Hunstanton cliffs, where we ate lunch, we discussed the lack of Fulmars in recent months, me saying that they'd soon be back prospecting the cliffs. As soon as I said that, two Fulmars cruised along the hedge tops which edge the cliff, cutting off the grass from the sea. 

We'd had enough bone-shaking roughness for the day so decided not to drive out to Holme. Later, I remembered that two Waxwings had been reported there...........

The Yellow-browed Warbler at Titchwell car park had only been seen once and very briefly during the morning. With the short daylight hours already well on, we drove  to Brancaster Staithe for a coffee whilst viewing the marsh and harbour.

Most of the boats have been removed for the winter, A fisherman digging for bait and another walking back accompanied by a prancing puppy - he had to carry it across the water - entertained us whilst adding Turnstone and Brent Geese for the day.

Two Marsh Harriers and Egyptian Geese at Holkham before driving down Lady Anne's,

where the entry field had three young Belted Galloway bulls.

Turning into Wells, a group of cars and birders stood scoping brought us to a halt. No room for us to park so we tucked in as best we could. They appeared to be looking up the cart track towards the dunes. All I could see was a Magpie and a brown blob in the grass on the rise. When it was convenient, I asked the classic question 'What are you looking at?'. ''Rough-legged Buzzard'', was the reply. ''On the ground'' I said. ''Yes''. The brown blob explained.

Apart from the fact that it seems to be the week when I take ridiculous photographs, expecting far too much of my 400mm lens, I have become aware that I haven't added to my 2019 bird portfolio for months. When I got home, I added that of the Velvet Scoter and the photos below.

 We turned inland at Blakeney, driving home in twilight.

The Winterton Run - Plus

Tuesday November 12

After the usual moth-ing session at NS (1 moth, a November agg !) we returned along the coast road and Cley. A flock of Brent Geese in the fields approaching the Eye Field had flown further away by the return journey so I couldn't scope them for hitch-hikers.

A Brown Hare hunkered down in the rough grass near the far fence in the overflow car park, quietly munching from its prone position.

 From there, we went on to Felbrigg grounds looking for fungi. We found several on old logs and tree trunks, all past their best condition.

White Spindles

Candlesnuff  (the small white ones)

Wednesday November 13

Another sleepless night led to a lie-in this morning. It was 1.00 p,m, on a sunny afternoon before we set off for Winterton, via the back lanes to Sea Palling from Happisburgh. Three Buzzards were the only notable birds to add to the dozens of corvids seen en route.

The car park at Winterton Beach was unmanned, honesty buckets and a polite notice asking for donations to the Coastguard Services - which keep the car park open in the winter - propped against the entry kiosk.

We park on a raised area in front of the fishing sheds at the far end of the space. Hampered by a car parked in the worst possible place. This later turned out to be that of a volunteer seal warden, who told Pam that there were over 30 pregnant females who should give birth this coming weekend.

The sea looked empty.Then, a Red-throated Diver flew through, followed by single Gannets. Pam, looking through the front screen, called a flock of Scoter. At first, I couldn't scope them as the side mirror obscured the area. The flock of at least 80 birds gradually drifted west, coming into view for me. Not Scoter, Long-tailed Duck. Excellent. Extremely distant and not identifiable through binoculars.

Their constant diving and changing of position made an accurate count difficult. Definitely the biggest flock of these ducks I have ever seen in Norfolk. A relatively common sight in Scotland though.

Trying to take photographs of birds which are not viewable through the camera viewfinder is idiocy. Pam called out 'now' and, when enlarged on the PC screen, this is the result !

Long-tailed Ducks

 I had earlier seen a single Velvet Scoter, which Pam also saw when it flew. One of my empty sea photographs, when enlarged, brought it into view. An accidental click.

Velvet Scoter

An hour and more of try hard optimism.   

On an area of sand exposed by a low tide, about a hundred Greater Black-backed Gulls stood around, the biggest flock I've ever seen.

50 %

Sunday November 10

Fifty percent chance of rain, promised the BBC weather app. That's what you get.......
A late morning trip to Buckenham Marsh, just to get out of the house and to see some birds. Pam spent four hours yesterday directing Adrian in the planting of eighteen perennials, shrubs and, the odd tree. All pot bound and needing winter protection - or planting. A good job done. Adrian will be very well trained by the end of this season.
We actually only had one slight drizzle as we left the marshes for home but drove through several areas where there had been heavy rain  Most oncoming cars had headlights on and patches of navy blue sky abounded. As did sun, enhancing the Autumn colours of the gradually hibernating deciduous trees.
We drove slowly along the track from the station, stopping to scope the marsh to the east. A different viewpoint brings different birds into view. Distantly, as usual, a good scattering of geese were identified as mostly Canada, a few Pink-footed with a lone Russian White-fronted amongst them, several feral Barnacles flew in to join the feeding flock. Grey Heron, a fence-sitting Buzzard, a hovering Kestrel , a few Little Egrets and two Great White Egrets flew in from distant fields. Finally, six Marsh Harriers circled lazily in the thermals.
At one stop, a Cetti's Warbler shouted at us from no more than a metre away, startlingly loud. Would make a good alarm clock call.
On the return journey through the marsh, I scoped the large pool in front of the viewing hide. It was full of Teal, Wigeon and Lapwing which frequently leapt into flight, flew away, circled and returned.

We must have seen about six Chinese Water Deer. These two decided to rest in the middle of the restless ducks and Lapwings.

Eventually I found two Common Snipe doing their usual, now you see me, now you don't, act in the poolside vegetation.
The ever present rainbow had spread, presenting an irresistible photographic opportunity. The centre was very faded and I couldn't get it all in anyway.

Moth News

Pam caught a micro on the kitchen window, taking it in to the Cley meeting to be identified. Richard E took it home and, to everyone's joy, it turned out to be a Acrolepia autumnitella 
new for everyone. 
This is Richard E's photo.

 

Optimism or Idiocy?

Friday November 1

Rai said that it was going to rain all day. So did Adrian. What is it with the British and the weather forecast?  As it was the 1st - we have rarely been able to bird all day on other 1sts of the month - and we had an appointment less day, we still went birding.

Because we set off in persistent rain, we only made one birding stop on the way west. Valley Farm lane, where we picked up some passerines but no sparrows of either species. Still plenty of Red-legged Partridges wandering about in large groups, like shooting fish in a barrel.....

We reached Snettisham pits at 7.45, dead on high tide time, which was due to be 6.2 metres. What's happening ? No birds on the shoreline, a few Shelduck on the water. We drove on to view the far pit where we saw only one island in view, the nearest one with large rocks, where several Cormorants were drying their wings. A few birds on the bank and a gaggle of Greylags. I've never before.seen the roosting islands submerged.

Coffee and breakfast helped waiting for the tide to recede. Almost imperceptibly, mud appeared, as did a myriad waders. First a few Knot and Dunlin, then, more and more plus Redshank, a few Curlew and masses of Shelduck. A small flight of Meadow Pipits moved restlessly along the shore. Oystercatchers appeared as a black mass far out in the Wash, legs still submerged. 

Still raining, my scope and my left arm rather wet. We left.

Tesco's petrol is most competitively priced, 121.9 per litre to-day. We also filled up at the store, including bacon rolls, most of my bread feeding the gulls on Hunstanton cliff top.

As it actually virtually stopped raining between 11.30 and 12.30, we drove out to Holme, where we saw a Mistle Thrush in a tree and one Redwing and one Fieldfare in a road puddle. 

Still optimistic, Thornham was the next stop, adding Brent Geese and Grey Plover to the meagre list.

The food van at Brancaster Harbour was free from customers the whole of the time we spent there. Not a good decision for them. As soon as we parked on our favourite mound, Pam saw a female Goosander in the distance, fishing avidly. My scope brought a graceful, darting Greenshank into view, in the same small pool, along with a Little Egret and a gull. It's hiding behind the boat in this photo. So distant that I couldn't see what was in the picture until I got home and enlarged it.

I finished my coffee and the Goosander came a little nearer. No real hope of it coming closer on a dropping tide.

Photo - bombed

Grey Plover, Redshank and Great Ringed Plover, dripping viscous mud from beaks and sinking legs as they hunted for a meal.

Great Ringed Plover

A black and white day......

The final visit was to a North Pools devoid of any birds apart from Mallard and Wigeon and two Mute Swans.

We ended up with a total of 57 species with many 'bankers' missing. Pied Wagtail, House Sparrow, Grey Heron, Pink-feet. Only a few Brent. Maybe we should have planned a different route, we left out too many possible stops because of the rain. 

We still enjoyed it though ..........