January 2-5

Wednesday January 2
Chasing Dipper and Rainbows

First Wednesday of the month - coffee morning. Barbara's in Bangkokj. Lynne is in Australia, Viv has taken Roy to a hospital appointment (she was not happy) and Joan has injured her back pushing her broken down car in Sainsbury's car park . Joan is 85.........

Home to change before driving to Briggate Lock via Ebridge. A few stalwarts braved the drizzle, standing on Briggate Bridge watching the Black-bellied Dipper go about its life. I took a few photographs despite the conditions. 

No light in its eye but nictitating membrane showing.

As Pam said - not tactful - no light in its eye. I responded with 'No light, full stop''. David B's photograph is the best I've seen so far. He generously said that I could use his photographs, but it doesn't seem right somehow. One sunny day, I shall return.........If not, I may succumb to copying a really good photo.

Siskin made their high buzzy contact call from nearby alders.
On the way home, a bright double rainbow, one of the very short and wide ones, they have a name but I can't remember it. We chased it, hoping to find a group of trees or a church against which to photograph it. Nothing was right and it faded fast as we drove. 
We ended up at Walcott, where there was room to park and a lengthening rainbow highlighting the foaming wave tops. The sea looked lovely, long, white-toppped, rainbow lit waves crashing onto the sea wall.   A 300mm lens is not the best for landscape.

Thursday January 3

Ludham airfield again. This time there were swans. Both Whooper and Bewick (Tundra) loafing about on the grass before waddling onto the plough,  finding something to eat. Was it a sugar beet crop? Bits of beet are usually to be seen lying about, none obvious here.

One Bewick between two Whoopers a useful comparison.

Friday January 4

Pam's final - we hope - visit to her new bank to sort out a credit card for the account.  Apparently  it's a different branch so has to be negotiated separately. What next. 

The only appointment available was at the Cromer branch.

Home for a quick bite before leaving for Buckenham/Cantley \Marshes. Crossing the railway line, stopping near the station to view the geese's favourite corner, there was nothing. Vision was hampered by low lying mist and poor visibility. It's January. We made our way slowly down the track towards the fishermen's car park, pleased by the lack of traffic. We parked whenever the reeds and weeds allowed scoping finding two Buzzards on a distant gate, Canada Geese, Barnacle Geese and a small flock of Taiga Bean Geese before the latter flew over the river. 

Up to five Chinese Water Deer enhanced the entertainment, two males having a fight, somersaulting high in the air over each other, kicking out as they did so.

On the return drive, Pam found a lone Ruff stalking about in its stiff legged way amongst the flock of Lapwings. I managed to see it in the end when Pam turned the car so that the bird wasn't behind the large wing mirror.

Shortly after this, we passed two male birders - I was quite oblivious as is the norm -  Pam saying, ''It's him, he taught with us''. We reversed. It was Mike J who started off at Sprowston and then came to Stalham where he stayed until he retired. A lovely man and an excellent teacher. We chatted for a while during which he mentioned knowing David Bryant and how helpful he found him. Small world .

We got home to find an answerphone message from Bob re two Taiga Bean Geese in a flock of Pinks near Happisburgh crossroads. Hm.

Saturday January 5

Mid morning, we set off to look for the flock of Pinks. No sign of them in the usual beet field. Barton Broad sounded promising. It would be the first time I'd walked from the car park to the platform since my knees'  prognosis. I knew that there was a bench part way and, with luck, would be able to sit on a bench at the platform. A Great Spotted Woodpecker called as we left the car park, the alder carr through which we walk was quiet and activity free.

Only two birders on the platform, every one complaining about the cold. A north easterly wind, however light, is always cutting.

One birder waved towards the far shore saying that the grebe was near the island last time he'd seen it. Island? What island.........

It didn't take long for me to set up my scope and find a beautiful Black-necked Grebe against the far reeds and then, two female Scaup amongst the Tufted Duck/Goldeneye flocks. It took twenty minutes more scoping before finding the female Long-tailed Duck. She was as far as she could be, actively feeding, against the reeds on the other side from us. Brilliant. Coal Tits and Long-tailed Tits in the car park area brought an end to the day's list.