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.
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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.
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