A Robin and a Dunnock singing in the front garden, Collared Dove on Rai's wires and a
Wood Pigeon cooing from his pine tree. And sun in a blue sky. All was well in my world.
Was the Waxwing still at Sculthorpe Moor reserve? My IPhone had seized up after an aborted IOS system update so, my pager wasn't receiving the signal from it which enables reception in our home.We drove in, stopping at the five bar gate so that we could view the bird table and trees beyond. Almost immediately, Nigel, the warden, pulled into the car park entrance and walked towards us to ask if he could open the gate for us. Very commendable - but unnecessary and a bit embarrassing. We explained that we wanted to see the feeders, drove into the car park, added Redwing to the year list and drove out again.
A Greenfinch perched treetop high partially hidden by branches was good enough for my folder.
Our Tree Sparrow site came up trumps to-day. At least three pairs of Tree Sparrows were partnered and prospecting the grotty nest boxes on the house end wall.
Again, no Little Owl at Abbey Farm old oak tree nesting site. A few Brambling in the finch flock along the hedges there, plus another Redwing, before making for Snettisham. We still haven't got this year's tide timetable so had no idea what we would find.
What a joy. The gate was open. Maybe contractors were working on the hide again. We parked in our preferred position at the top of the slope from which we can scan the eastern side of the Wash. The sea was as far out as is possible here. It was still possible to see the Oystercatcher oilslick but identifying the thousands of massed birds was decidedly dodgy., even with the scope zoom turned up. Not to maximum, as that enhances the haze.
Then a blue tractor stopped at the gate, lights flashing, did something, arrived near us and promptly turned round and drove off.
A group of 30+ walkers trudging the path, appeared at the causeway, crossed and made their way down the slope to the pit edge. What !! A sure fire disturbance. Everyone should keep to the path along the sea wall.
Time to scan the far pit. As soon as we stopped, the warden arrived at my window. Twenty minutes later, I made end of conversation noises and Pam reversed down the last causeway. Scoping directly into the sun, I found two Goldeneye and a Little Grebe. - by jizz and habits. The sea was coming in very slowly, some birds had appeared a little nearer. There must have been a Golden Plover stretch of over two thousand birds in two groups. Solitary Grey Plover were making their stiff-legged, stuttering feeding sorties across the mud.
Where are the Sanderling?
Arriving at the exit gate, we saw what the tractor had done. Completely uprooted the large concrete pillar to which the gate was attached, tossing it onto the bank. Very shortly, we found out why. The blue tractor now had a giant extra set of external wheels and was making a slow and gingerly journey towards us. Pam found a big enough space to pull off where we waited until the beast inched past.
Rather later than planned, we missed out Holme, paying a quick and fruitless visit to Thornham, before a comfort stop at Titchwell with a shop visit to renew our Snettisham permit and buy tide timetables.
Brancaster Staithe, lovely in the sunshine, held a pair of nearer, if still distant, Goldeneye.
A Greenfinch perched treetop high partially hidden by branches was good enough for my folder.
Our Tree Sparrow site came up trumps to-day. At least three pairs of Tree Sparrows were partnered and prospecting the grotty nest boxes on the house end wall.
Again, no Little Owl at Abbey Farm old oak tree nesting site. A few Brambling in the finch flock along the hedges there, plus another Redwing, before making for Snettisham. We still haven't got this year's tide timetable so had no idea what we would find.
What a joy. The gate was open. Maybe contractors were working on the hide again. We parked in our preferred position at the top of the slope from which we can scan the eastern side of the Wash. The sea was as far out as is possible here. It was still possible to see the Oystercatcher oilslick but identifying the thousands of massed birds was decidedly dodgy., even with the scope zoom turned up. Not to maximum, as that enhances the haze.
Then a blue tractor stopped at the gate, lights flashing, did something, arrived near us and promptly turned round and drove off.
A group of 30+ walkers trudging the path, appeared at the causeway, crossed and made their way down the slope to the pit edge. What !! A sure fire disturbance. Everyone should keep to the path along the sea wall.
Time to scan the far pit. As soon as we stopped, the warden arrived at my window. Twenty minutes later, I made end of conversation noises and Pam reversed down the last causeway. Scoping directly into the sun, I found two Goldeneye and a Little Grebe. - by jizz and habits. The sea was coming in very slowly, some birds had appeared a little nearer. There must have been a Golden Plover stretch of over two thousand birds in two groups. Solitary Grey Plover were making their stiff-legged, stuttering feeding sorties across the mud.
Arriving at the exit gate, we saw what the tractor had done. Completely uprooted the large concrete pillar to which the gate was attached, tossing it onto the bank. Very shortly, we found out why. The blue tractor now had a giant extra set of external wheels and was making a slow and gingerly journey towards us. Pam found a big enough space to pull off where we waited until the beast inched past.
Rather later than planned, we missed out Holme, paying a quick and fruitless visit to Thornham, before a comfort stop at Titchwell with a shop visit to renew our Snettisham permit and buy tide timetables.
Brancaster Staithe, lovely in the sunshine, held a pair of nearer, if still distant, Goldeneye.
Pam suddenly called 'Grebe'.
Much nearer to us a first winter Great Crested Grebe was feeding avidly, making frequent dives.
We managed to squeeze in at the Gun Hill layby, adding Marsh Harrier to the day list. The pull off near Meals House was better. As I was scoping, a Great White Egret flew majestically across the marsh, black feet a clincher. A flock of White-fronted Geese was at the near edge of the reserve.
Jem said that there are about 200 birds present.
It gradually clouded over and it was raining by the time we got to Wells.We gave it twenty minutes before driving on. No sign of the Rough-legged Buzzard. Pam still needs it for the year.
A final stop at the chicken sheds was also a negative, no Little Owl for us to-day, but we did seen two Barn Owls.
We logged over 70 species - how many over depends on whose count we believe.
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