Annual Odyssey

Wednesday, February 26

Pam has been a member of the WWT (Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust) for as long as she can remember, having always had an affection for Geese and Ducks. Its Welney reserve has a heated hide which is an extra attraction. The main attraction is the number of Swans and Ducks which congregate on the wash in front of the hide, fed daily during the winter months.

Again, a blustery wind but it stayed dry until mid afternoon. 

Maybe if we'd known what to expect we might have changed our plan. I'm glad we didn't.

Taking the short route to Littleport from Downham Market, we found a large Diversion sign with a Road Flooded warning. We should have guessed really after all the rain. The diversion took us towards March and Manea. Not where we wanted to go.

I should have consulted the website !!

Water levels have again increased on the Ouse Washes, the Wash road A1101 is now closed. The main hide and wing hides are open. All other hides and footpaths are currently closed due to flooding. Swan feeds and hare walks are continuing as normal. We have an exciting programme of events and activities over the coming months, with plenty to see and do, we look forward to welcoming you for a visit.  

Pam turned round, we drove back to Downham and took the main A10 to Littleport, finding a right turn to the Centre well before the town. This is a typical fen road. Flat fields as far as one can see, tall pylons marching into the distance, deep drainage dykes and the worst road surface. The road undulates in all directions, the camber is wrong on the bends and the bumps hit make one feel as though the car could take off. Probably because of the very wet ground on which the road floats. The same thing happens on Mull in places, that patch of road is on peat.

The best is, that as one nears the Centre, flocks of mainly Whooper Swans with a few Bewick's, start appearing roadside, usually a long way away. At dusk they fly into the reserve to feed on the spread grain.

Pam dropped me off at the rather splendid Centre before parking the car. Even the disabled parking spaces are a 100 metres away. 

I borrowed a buggy, reversed into the lift and rose to the upper floor. Through the shop, along a picture gallery, and, finally the cafe (good marketing ploys) and into another lift which, to the accompaniment of recorded bugling Whoopers, takes us to the bridge crossing the river to the hides. The bridge, although it has wooden sides to hide us from the birds, is very draughty. I was pleased to get to the spacious, heated hide with its large angled windows overlooking the main flood.

Only three other birders present, until two young women and an exceedingly noisy one year old plus appeared. Killing time whilst their other halves were birding we guessed (sexist or a good guess - or both?) as they were not the slightest bit interested in anything, apart from the colouring table set up for kids. 

As the very flooded wash - it looked like an inland sea - held very little in the way of birds, it wasn't long before we left. We spent an hour or so scanning the extensive area, finding  a couple of hundred drake Pochard and one female. The males are mainly from Eastern Europe, choosing to winter here. I don't know where the females go. There was one Whooper Swan in the relatively sheltered corner

along with the mass of Pochard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Wigeon, Gadwall and Teal. The turbulent water with the birds appearing and disappearing in the troughs made for challenging photography through the windows.

It was good to escape the screams and return to the cafe for a late lunch. There was one vacant window table overlooking the flooded fields and two feeding stations on which Reed Buntings, House and Tree Sparrows, fed intermittently. Nearby reeds made a useful waiting room.

Adult male Reed Bunting

Male Reed Bunting , not quite in full breeding plumage.

Female Reed Bunting

Mallard, Coot and Moorhen dashed in to feed on the ground under the horizontal swaying feeders. 

The Swan herds were visible in the far distance. Paired up Shovellers, dabbled in the shallow margins, Wigeon grazed on the grassy islands.

Shovellers

Replete, having eaten half a cheese and caramelised onion panini with salad (me) cheese and ham (Pam), the other halves parcelled in a napkin, we left. 

On the way back to the A10, Pam saw a Barn Owl, legs dangling in readiness, hunting along the near verge. With no traffic about, she parked on the opposite side of the road so that I could do my between the wing mirror and the screen, keyhole photography. Unfortunately, the owl crossed the road and flew away along a dyke before Pam could join in - apart from through the windscreen.

I would wish for sharper images but I love Barn Owls.

A long way for a Pochard, we thoroughly enjoyed our day - apart from the diversion.

After Natural Surroundings

Tuesday, February 25

Not many of us at coffee this morning. It made for a very calm and - much quieter than usual
session - a chance to hear about M and K's trip to Sri Lanka. K is very mammal orientated, delighted to have seen both the world's smallest cat species, Golden Spotted, and a Loris sp.

Selbrigg Pond and feeding station is a minor detour from the Holt road. The birds are fed on top of, and around, the gateposts on either side of the road. We park in the larger gate entry. To-day, the padlocked gate was open and we could see the Ranger's vehicle at the corner.

Parking clear of the entry, Pam scattered some food on the stump and ground nearest to us, birds collecting on the tree above as she worked.

A Grey Squirrel had finished off most of the food in the main barbed wire decorated gatepost. I managed two shots of a Nuthatch before it flew off.

Two Treecreepers visited whilst we were there, only visible through the windscreen until one flew across to a tree I could see between my side mirror and the screen.

Best of all was a flitting Goldcrest, our first of the year, remaining frustratingly hidden amongst the conifer fronds. 

The Ranger returned and two men arrived to renew the feed, one armed with a camera. Perhaps that's one of the reasons for the dedication.

A couple of the other birds for my folder. To be replaced when I take better pics.

Female Great Tit - narrow centre breaststripe

Coal Tit

Curate's Egg

Friday, February 21

Birds, especially passerines, do not like windy weather. That was obvious to-day. We got as far as Abbey Farm before we hit double figure number of species.

We both love Hares. This one posed nicely in the middle of a field on our Harpley lane loop.

Things started looking up after leaving Abbey Farm, and stopping in the gateway just before the first house in Flitcham Village. A favoured tree held a dozen or so birds which turned out to consist of 6+ Brambling, Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Blue Tits.

The tree is sturdy and protected enough to offer a modicum of protection, the bushes around it were waving madly. A nice comparison between male Chaffinch and male Brambling

Female \Brambling

Male Brambling

Cheered, we left for Snettisham, where, my phone tide timetable told me, it would be low tide. Two Red Kites and a Buzzard soared on the updraught, fighting the headwind, tail manoeuvering dexterously or, hurtled away with the strong gusts behind them. Fun.

Hurrah, the disabled access gate to the Snettisham Reserve was open, concrete post still lying where we'd seen it last. A lot of site traffic too, tractors ferrying timber, pipes and other building materials for the new hide, from their dumping ground outside the caravan site shop. Their weight and big tyres are going to make the entry track even worse.

We stayed long enough to scan the, mostly birdless, mud, before checking the last pit where we saw: Goldeneye, Little Grebe and a dozen early return Avocets. I tried to find the Short-eared Owl roost without success. If they've got any sense they'll be deep inside the bushes. Where had all the waders gone to roost? There was little chance of my finding the Little Stint wintering here.

The very hot coffee in my new ZOJIRUSHI SM-SD60 RC Travel Mug. was very welcome. Not cheap but the best I've used. Slim enough to hold easily in one hand, leakproof and easy drinking. Pam's had one for several months.
A deserted Brancaster Staithe - a real surprise at half term - had sixteen Bar-tailed Godwits, washing in the outgoing tide race. We don't usually see them in a flock, more likely to be scattered along the shore.

One of them showed signs of the colour of breeding plumage arriving. The close Curlew made this substantial wader look puny.

Gun Hill layby was also empty. A quick scan - the wind was bitter - added a flock of Barnacle Geese and a few Pinkfeet to the list. A car drew up behind us and Neil B came for a chat. He was looking for Whitefronts and Cattle Egrets. No luck here. He had his young grandson with him. He was said to be delighted with having both seen and photographed the Sheringham Caspian Gull.
Neil roared off, we followed at a lesser speed. We next saw him parked, along with three other cars, at the main road, Meals House track entrance. We went on to our canted layby so that I could scope Holkham marsh. The 200 or so White-fronted Geese were grazing in a field near the Joe Jordan hide. I hope Neil saw them. We also added two Great White Egrets, occasionally appearing from the many dykes and creeks and five of the ten Spoonbills present. I tried to photograph two distantly flying birds with very poor results - when heavily cropped.
More Red Kites and a couple of Marsh Harriers also made a windy fly past.

Another Marsh Harrier was the best bird seen at Stiffkey Fen before an abortive attempt to see the Little Owl at the poultry sheds. One day.
The last bird we saw was a biscuit coloured Barn Owl, always a delight.

Now automated

Monday, February 17

Storm Dennis has passed through without causing us any damage - apart from the unplanned electricity failure yesterday morning which messed up my PC - again. Daile fixed it to-night. It's very good of him to come so promptly.  He left with Pam's laptop to attempt an increase in speed and storage. She does have rather a lot of photos on it.
A beautiful morning, 8C and the sun shining from a uniformly blue sky, we set off for Buckingham. The weather forecast promised rain by the afternoon, which hastened our breakfast and departure. 
Yes, we were right. Work has finished and the level crossing is now unmanned and automatic. No more doling out Werthers to the crossing gate openers as a thanks for the bother. Have they all been made redundant?
Still a very strong, blustery breeze, the birds were keeping low. No passerines along the track and what looked like an empty marsh - until I scoped it. At least 3,0000 Golden Plover in a long and deep line in the distance.

Two Chinese Water Deer, a flock of Lapwing, Starlings, Mute Swans, a few Greylag and a few more Canada Geese were the only birds on the eastern side of the track down to the hide and, the Fishermen's car park.
As we parked at the end, a Water Pipit flew over, calling, before landing in the marsh.
The western side of the track where there is a sizeable pool - and a lot of standing water - was full of birds. Mainly Wigeon, looking very handsome in their fresh breeding plumage.
That tower is wonky...........

Assiduous scanning saw a few Shoveller, Teal, Shelduck and Mallard appear, interspersed with the whistling horde.
A further scan revealed two white male Ruff, a Redshank and more Lapwing, their crests blown into crazy shapes by the wind. This one showed the best colour despite the unwanted Sedge intrusion.

On to Great Yarmouth Sealife Centre. Oh dear, it's Half Term. Everywhere was swarmiing with families, including the Med Gull beach. As we arrived, a flock of about a dozen Mediterranean Gulls flew off, spooked by dogs and children running at them. 
A leisurely drive home with a late lunch eaten overlooking the sea at Scratby (not a nice name), added Cormorant, Buzzard and a hunting Barn Owl to the day's totals.The promised rain was spattering the windscreen, the sky a gunmetal grey. We'd certainly had the best of the day.

There and Back

Friday, February 14

Pam's busy morning. Adrian was here to finish tidying the front flower beds and to align the new low wooden edging - he has to get it straight. a  man after my own heart.....She managed to leave him to get on with it so was able to do some serious casserole cooking to try out the oven again. The oven behaved as normal. No incineration to-day.

A drive to Winterton was mooted to which I rapidly agreed. Storm Dennis is imminent.

A remarkable paucity of birds en route to the beach at Winterton. Apart from a few gulls and two pairs of Carrion Crows, the only birds of note were three Buzzards and two Kestrels. 

£1.50 at Winterton Dunes cafe for an hour's parking. We parked so that we could see the sea, which was devoid of any life at all. One Seal and two Gannets later, a small flock of Snow Buntings flew past the car, disturbed by beach dog walkers. Others passed by out of sight. Brilliant, worth the visit.

We passed two flocks of 70+ Mute Swans, one at West Somerton, the other west of Ludham,. Both were checked for diversity. 

An unusual sight for us, in this area, was three Roe Deer feeding in a roadside field.

  

One of them was a well antlered Stag, antlers still growing with a thick layer of velvet as protection.

Home for a fraught two hours as the router was not connecting to the internet despite all its lights flashing, connections tight etc. This involved pulling out my very heavy computer unit, sorting out all the stuff which had fallen behind it (!!), clearing cobwebs, sorting sockets and generally checking everything. Then the screen 

stopped working. That was an easy fix, a loose connection.

Well, I got it to work - but I don't know what I did.

Odyssey

Wednesday, February 12

Still a lot of wind but, the forecast for to-morrow and the weekend is another promise of an apocalypse storm. Would the birds be flying to-day?

In sunny weather and, with optimism, we set off on the cross country trip to Cockley Cley. Our SatNav tells us that the quickest route is via Norwich, which Pam does not enjoy. We took the designated short route.

The hour and a half trip was through rural Norfolk on less travelled roads and was most enjoyable. 

This time, I took more notice of the extremely long wall which surrounds the Byelaugh Manor /Hall. Parts of it are missing, other stretches look pretty good and there are long stretches where ivy and shrubs mask the brickwork. I looked it up when I got home.
It was laid out during the mid 19th century and included a 14.4km long boundary wall, gardens, lodges and a Georgian style house. It is indeed a long wall.

Designed by the same architect who created the Houses of Parliament and Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle, it was once the third largest estate in Norfolk - after Holkham and Sandringham – boasting 17,000 acres around the impressive stone hall complete with obelisks and heraldic beasts. In 2014, Ben Budworth, owner and publisher of The Lady magazine, has ridden to the rescue with partner and magazine managing director Helen Robinson to buy the run-down property, for an undisclosed price tag, and with a unique business plan. They are converting the 74-bedroomed, 73-bathroom mansion into a training centre for household staff, from butlers to bodyguards and chauffeurs to chalet girls. “There is the Norland nannies training centre but nothing residential for domestic staff,” said Miss Robinson.

The route was set for Cockley Cley as we can never remember what to do after Swaffham. For future reference. We do not take the road signposted Iceni Village, we go straight on.  

Not too big a detour, we were at THE layby before 11.30 a.m. One other car and a lone birder scoping the distant tree line.

Pam quickly got my telescope and it was in time for both of us to view the end of a male Goshawk's display before he glided off left and out of sight. 

Five kettling Buzzard's in the air at once kept us occupied before they spiralled out of sight. Yet more occasional Buzzards and two Kestrels before a female Goshawk appeared low over the treeline, making her way left. Extensive and good scope views of the bird, longer tail and narrower wings obvious after the broad-winged, short-tailed, Buzzards.

Yet another strong contender for worst bird photo of 2020 - which I couldn't see through the viewfinder. I took some random shots in the general direction of where last seen and bingo.....a dot.

Lynford with Rolly

Saturday, February 8

With Storm Ciara due to hit to-morrow - sounds like Doomsday  - we thought we'd better go out to-day. Weekends are usually avoided unless it's to a less frequented area. Lynford Arboretum is very popular always, with both dog walkers and birders, but especially so when the Hawfinches are showing in the Paddocks. Flocks of up to 30+ have been counted.

Parking in the disabled spot inside the arboretum itself makes it a shorter walk. 

I admit to apprehension as it's further than I have walked for some time and, the so-called path is either stony or grass or mud. 

Kitted up, my camera in the perfect fit bag on the back of the seat, Rolly and I trundled off. The first stop was at the tunnel feeding station, where we had our first Yellowhammer of the year. There were also Brambling, Great and Blue Tits, Nuthatch and Blackbirds present.

Managing about 100 metres - often less - of walking between sit-downs, we then joined the Morrisons who had a Tawny Owl in the scope. I couldn't see it ! High up in a very tall conifer and said to be just behind the trunk with parts of it showing. Another man then offered me his scope and an invitation to change the focus. That did it.  I saw a brown-streaked blob. People are very kind.

A longer sit just over the bridge, hoping not to walk as far as the 30+ scoping birders about 50 metres away. No luck. A local dog walker - she had a terrier named Freya - stopped for a chat. White hair and a Rolly brings friendliness. She told me of all the Hawfinches she had seen (!!) as a daily dog walker and then said that the berries must be finished soon. I was able to tell her that it was beech mast on the ground. 

I eventually found a space to see THE area, again an immediate offer of a look through a scope - which I turned down with gratitude as I needed to sit. The main flock had gone, I saw at least two birds perched in a tree and one flying away. 

A truly dreadful record shot for the year folder. Already a contender for the worst photo of the year.

 

We missed the spectacle but enjoyed the sighting. It's been a while since we saw this species, the main motivation for the effort. They are a real treat. 

Trudging back, Pam still has an achilles problem, every step is a pain, we stopped on the bridge to view the birds coming in to the food scattered on the pillars and ledges. First was a female Reed Bunting, then the smash and grab visit of two Marsh Tits, 

Chaffinch

Blue and Great Tits. 

Great Spotted Woodpeckers squabbled in a nearby tree, a small flock of Siskins fed in the Alders. 

We were both pleased to arrive back at the car for a coffee and a snack before driving to St Helen's. 

Eschewing the main car park, we drove on to the layby which has a newly erected ' parking for church goers' sign. Safe to-day. The whole area is very popular. Despite cyclists, ramblers, and birders, Pam spotted a Treecreeper on an old tree trunk dead in front of the car. More through the tinted and graduated windscreen photos.

It's that year folder which makes me do it 😉

Both of us were tired and other birding spots too distant for to-day, we drove home via Thetford Sainsbury's.

 

Optimism

Thursday, February 7

A much smaller group than usual at Cley NWT Centre, always enjoyable.

A beautiful sunny, cloudless day was too good to miss. We went on to Wells to try for the Rough-legged Buzzard. A year tick for Pam and a month tick for me. 

One car occupied the increasingly rutted layby, its two occupants scoping towards Wells harbour. In hope, we raised binoculars and found the Rough-legged Buzzard perched on the lefthand side of a dilapidated shed's roof. 

As I raised my camera, it flew.

This is the first winter bird taken with my 400mm lens, unedited. 

 I then edited and massively enlarged, the remaining photos, keeping those that had any plumage details at all. 

North Pools was the next stop. As Jem had mooted, a short stop brought a feeding male Stonechat into view, from the car park. He was very active. Landing on a pen's sturdy rails, before returning to its favourite look-out on top of a Hawthorn bush. Silhouetted against a bright blue sky, he looked great but the light played havoc with the colouring.in my camera.

 

 Maybe our luck was in.

The sleeping policemen on the lane to Morston quay are pretty horrendous in their bone jolting ferocity  - even at a slow speed. I often wonder whether a slight increase in speed would get it over and done with in, definitely, less time.

The sought after Greenshank was well down the channel where we haven't seen it before. Past what we call Redshank corner at the far end of the car park. Is there any car park in Norfolk which doesn't have large and extensive potholes. They're full of water at the moment which makes them easier to see - and more difficult to judge the depth.

 Again a photograph as was, taken with my 400mm lens, followed by an enlargement.

 Blakeney duck pond, when there is little passing traffic, is always a temptation!