A Wonder of Wigeon

Thursday, November 26

Urgently needing to post a Christmas  parcel to Australia, we drove to Walcott Post Office, only to find that their computer system was down. No parcels accepted. Come back to-morrow. Tina will have to wait a bit longer for her desk calendar.

 

Buckenham beckoned. Such a lovely, calm November day. The sea was a milky mill pond, I prefer it to be at least rippling. 

Strumpshaw RSPB is a very popular reserve. When we drove past, both the roadside and original car parks were full and the overflow well populated. Straight over the, now unmanned, level crossing towards the marshes, Cantley beet factory chimney's ample smoke emission rising almost perpendicularly, before drifting away. A low lying mist blanketing the marsh, made identification of the distant geese very difficult. I eventualy identified Canada, Pink-footed, Greylag and Barnacle. Despite trying hard, I couldn't ID any Whitefronted.

The middle channel held plenty of the ever present wintering Wigeon, whistling to each other as they splashed and preened vigorously  Lovely little ducks.

 

Seven Ruff flew around beneath a skyful of startled Lapwing. The culprit? One of the two Marsh Harriers we saw. 

Further scanning found a Buzzard perched on top of one of the many gateposts at the Cantley end of the marsh. On the next gate series, two Peregrines hunched down, surveying their world.

In all there were a dozen Chinese Water Deer feeding, lying down or just standing, looking, well spread around the area. 

 

I love it here. Nothing rare, but always worth a visit, so good to be out birding.

 

Unplanned

 Sunday, November 22

Back in the spring, a lorry cut us up at a roundabout and did some damage to the front wing of the car. Hardly discernible, but warranting work on three different panels. For various reasons, including lockdown of course, the work hasn't been done. It's due to be picked up on Monday morning and will be gone for two days. Carless in Ridlington. No shop, one bus a day, taxis the only option - apart from kind neighbours. No problem.

We had two urgent business letters to post, so drove to Walcott Post Office, about two miles away. The front was like a Bank Holiday weekend. Nowhere to park, cars and people and dogs everywhere. Even the icecream van was there and the chippy was open.  A sunny, crisply cold, November day had brought the hordes out. We decided to take a mental break at Gunton, I've been indoors for a week. Shortly before our Gunton turnoff, a message came through informing that there was a Grey Phalarope off the beach at Cley and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose in the first field on the right when entering Beach Road. With little debate, we drove to Cley.

The two P's were already parked near the entrance to the muddy gateway, plenty of room for us to drive in behind them. The large muddy puddle was no deterrent to us, as we stay in the car. Pauline and Peter were both out, looking through their bins, quite oblivious to our presence, concentrating, as birders do.

It took about five minutes for the Pale-bellied Brent Goose to show itself, spending all its time in amongst the biggish flock of Dark-bellied Brent grazing at the back of the field. 

After a short chat with Pauline, the P's drove off and we re-arranged the car parking so that I had a clearer view, rather than through the bars of the gate - and the front windscreen. Eventually I managed a couple of photos of the bird when the others parted well enough for a short view.

The Pale-bellied race of Brent Geese, winters in Northern Ireland. It breeds in the Eastern Canadian High Arctic on barren tundra slopes. Three to five eggs are laid, and after fledging the family group stays together as a unit throughout their first migration to Ireland. Virtually the whole of this population of brent goose winters in Ireland. On migration they stop off in Greenland and Iceland before arriving in Ireland, and the same stopovers are used on the return trip in spring. 

At least one wanderer appears in Norfolk most winters.

We drove home via Gunton Park where the large herd of Roe Deer could be seen from the roadside. Two very fine adult males amongst them. This is a part of the flock, steadily making their way uphill across the estate. 

Although I felt a little guilty about being out at all, we cannot walk for exercise and we did not leave the car, therefore, not exposing ourselves - nor anyone else - to the possibility of infection.

Not a Lot

 Friday, November 20

 

Happy Birthday, younger grandson Josh, 19 to-day. 

Technology is wonderful - until it stops working properly - and we're in Lockdown. First of all my SKY Qbox stopped connecting to the router so that many of its attractions are unavailable. Then, the router started cutting in and out of internet connection. 

Quick ending. TalkTalk tell me that my router is the newest and best and is working normally. Check the connection.That's fine too. So?

Pam's IPhone has been locked for months, since she forgot the screen passcode. North Walsham Vodaphone shop said that a visit to the Castle Mall Apple Store was the only way to restore the phone. Appontments only, none abailable for months.

I have spent an inordinate amount of time this week following Apple online instructions, talking to Apple helpline, looking on Youtube etc, still no luck. I've tried something else this afternoon, it seems to be downloading and working. We'll see. 

Phone unlocked. Hurrah. Now Apple are confusing things. Manana, I've had enough.

No moths in last night's traps, only a few Caddis flies  and a spider said to be 'common', yet I don't remember seeing one before.

 

A Cross Orb Weaver, or Common Garden Spider 

Andrea has finished virtually emptying the centre bed, spreading ten bags of mushroom compost and some fertiliser before re-planting. The larger herbaceous were split and put in a veg.bed, temporarily, before being distributed around our garden and that of grateful neighbours. We intend edging the bed but haven't yet decided on the material.

Before

 After

The stump of the aged Witch Hazel remains as there is a Clematis growing up it.

 

Rainy Lockdown

Sunday November 15 

 The first lockdown coincided with a spell of fine, warm, and sunny weather which enabled everyone with a garden to  spend more time tending to it and to enjoy the wildlife. We now have a spell of very rainy weather, short daylight hours with often, only minutes to go oudoors.

We still have moths to watch out for. We trapped a very good micro last Tuesday night. Fortunately, I took a photo of it in the pot, the only one as it turned out. Pam's attempts the following day ended in the moth escaping.

Although it looks distinctive, it did not look like a good match for any photographs we could find. Eventually, Pam plumped for Acleris hyemana, Heath Button. I agreed and sent the photo to Richard for confirmation. When he concurred, I posted the record on the Norfolk Moth website recording page.

 

Norfolk status
Scarce.
Occupying heathland and moorland.
Characteristic purple-brown and silvery-white coloration.
Most active in the spring with male flying in sunshine.

Recorded in 11 (16%) of 69 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1874. Last Recorded in 2019. Additional Stats... Total Records 26 Total Specimens 72 Earliest Adult on Jan 24 (2003) Latest Adult on Nov 15 (2018) .

The record, plus photo, is on my recording page, but as yet, does not appear in any statistics

Alerted by a phone call from Ruth next door, we saw a white Pheasant in the garden yesterday. Not an albino as it had head markings.I managed some distant shots from the sun lounge door, using a small point and shoot, as it scuttled away.

 

 

That vegetable patch has been winter dug, no fresh and rotted manure to add, we've had to make do with bags of dried farmyard manure this year. That will be added pre vegetable planting in the spring. Our horse manure supplier - at a delivered £4 per trailer load - has moved too far away.

 

 

Keeping Fit - Mentally

 Thursday November 12

I've had a very busy day - with not a lot to show for it. The Sainsbury's online grocery order for next week, and the Christmas turkey ordered from Waitrose (they do a small one), also online. We still have last year's in the freezer, wrapped in clingfilm. Pam is very doubtful as to its viability as we froze it ourselves from fresh, and clingfilm is not ideal. Rather than spoil another Christmas, I've ordered another. Sam is the grateful receiver of the old one, it will be fine for curries etc.

Tina in Australia always sends us two magnificent calendars, one of Aus birds and the other of plants and flowers. Part of our reciprocal gift is a desk calendar using my photographs. One for me and one for Tina. That was also uploaded and ordered this morning. 

In between, I lifted the plants I put in last week and added grit to the alpine bed before re-planting them plus some additional bulbs - mini petticoat narcissi - which arrived yesterday. I love Yodel delivery emails' 'where's my order', tracking facility. It tells you how many deliveries the driver has to make, which one he's on at that time, how many before it's your turn and a map showing his van's position. I keep re-loading it. Very entertaining - or sad.

Whilst Sam was here cleaning on Tuesday morning, we drove to Winterton. One Gannet and many Greater Black-backed Gulls passed by at sea. On the return journey, we found a small herd of wild swans in a flooded field west of Sea Palling. All were asleep, the occasional head raising identified at least 4 Whoopers and two Bewicks amongst them.One has to view through a hedge from a busy road, we didn't stop long.

Wednesday started off very misty and grey, with some rain. We decided to go out anyway. Very variable conditions as we drove west. Should we turn round? We drove on.

Why does this happen during the daytime? Shortly after Sheringham, we discovered why there was a stream of slow traffic in front of us. A whole railway carriage on a trailer behind an articulated lorry was excruciatingly slow. Watching it being manoevred around the roundabout entering Holt was painful. We gambled and turned left, hoping to beat it onto the main road further on. Success.

A sudden loss of power was startling. We stopped and revved the engine which sounded fine. On we went, the same thing happened. Fortunately I remembered a similar experience on North Uist a couple of years ago. The instruction book led me to the solution. There's a knob on the steering wheel which will set a speed above which the car will not go. Meant for speed limit areas I suppose. Very easy to hit it by mistake - only the second in eight years though. All was well.

From our favourite disused lane, I noticed some new buildings in the distance. Pigloos

 

Igloo shaped houses for pigs. That's new.

No-one else at Snettisham. Brilliant. I knew that a Little Stint was still present. I'd checked the map on Birdguides and - much to my amusement - it showed a large brown area with a flag in the middle indicationg the bird's position when seen. An otiose addition. I did manage to find the bird for Pam, as it's a new year bird for her.

The customary large flock of Golden Plover hunkered down on the mud with many more Grey Plover, very socially distanced from each other..I read recently that they rest up here before flying further west to spend the winter.

The sun came out, bad timing. Trying to scope the birds on the last pit from the causeway is difficult enough without having to do so directly into the sun. Blinding. Two Little Grebes were my reward.

We had flying views of the Twite around the Coal Barn at Thornham before making for Brancaster Staithe,.where the tide was coming in. I took some photographs of the Dunlin and Black--tailed Godwits here because I could! Awful light conditions.

 

A mussel man was unloading his boat, transferring the shellfish onto the shore using a large shovel. It looked very laborious.

It only took us an hour to drive home from Wells, traffic conditions very different from the outward journey.

 

 

 

Lockdown 2

 Sunday November 8

The grass hasn't been aerated and scarified for the last few years, it used to be one of my jobs - using a machine, not a fork and rake. Green Thumb were due to perform on it last Friday, we went out for a ride whilst they were here. Social distancing taken to an extreme.

Two hundred or so Pinkfeet in a field south of Horsey windmill, a Marsh Harrier near Sea Palling, where next. A message on my phone, Whooper Swan at Ludham Bridge. We drove to nearby Ludham Bridge, a known winter swan haunt, to find only Mute Swans. 

Investigating the posting more closely, I asked for the map placement. Not Ludham Bridge at all, Ludham Marsh lane. Too distant to photograph but identifiable through the scope. Eleven Whoopers, four  washing in a puddle, the others lying asleep. They must have arrived overnight, before spending the morning recuperating.

We got home to find both front and back lawns looking like short-grassed, rough meadows. Mounds of grass thatch and soil plugs lay in neatly raked heaps awaiting bagging. The detritus filled both our, and absent neighbour John's, (he gave us permission) brown bins. We are left with ten large bags of said stuff to donate to the dump.

During the last lockdown, there were very few cars on the road, to-day looked pretty normal. By giving everyone permission to drive to an open area to exercise, it has been interpreted as going out for a drive. Long years of attempting to foresee how students would circumvent rules has enabled me to see how this is possible and indeed, probable, unless draconian statements are made. The latter at least prevents the law abiding from over interpreting. Nothing works for the others, as has been proved.

Moth-ing has slowed almost to a stop. Cold, a strong wind, and clear nights are all poor conditions. Southerly winds on Friday night brought us our first Rusty Dot Pearl of the year. A  large, migrant, Micro moth.

We both atttended our doctor's surgery in North Walsham for a scheduled flu injection yesterday  morning. Extraordinarily efficient, it was like a benign military operation I was out before my notified appointment time, and didn't have to wait for anything.  

We came home via Gunton Park. Only two male Fallow deer in sight, again at the very back of the field, morning mist and backlighting  adding to the atmosphere.

 

Much Better Legs

 Wednesday, November 4

I woke - late - to bright sunlight  A, not abnormal, middle of the night wakefulness, during which I finished David Jason's latest autobiographical type book (an unusual one), led to a 9 a.m. final wake up. Alarmed by the time, I rapidly abluted and dressed. Hence the latish morning arrival at Cley. We parked in Beach Road, near the entrance to the marsh footpath, allowing me to walk the shortest distance to Keeper's Marsh, where the Lesser Yellowlegs is still residing.

By the time I reached the group of photographers leaning on or sitting near, the fence between the footpath and the field, the bird had moved away from the reedy eastern edge. It was making its way through the long grass, towards the larger pool of water, feeding avidly as it went. I positioned my seat off the track so that I could sit at the designated distance, giving me a reasonable view through to the field. Also, an unwanted view of a crouched photographer who's jeans had descended to a less than decent position.

 

I almost held my breath as the bird made its steady way towards the assembled audience, not a sound to be heard - apart from the machine gun fire of shutters. What a stunner.

 

 

Almost unbelievably, it then came along the fence line towards the next patch of water, almost within touching distance of the nearest birders, seemingly oblivious to its admirers  Too close for me to view most of the time, obscured by others, who had moved position, and tall grass. This is barely cropped.

 

We left it, still feeding.

 

What a delightful experience, one to cherish. A beautiful bird in lovely sunshine, with very little wind, giving excellent views. Happy and contented, we made our way back to the car. 

Newly settled in my car seat, and looking at my first shot on the back of the camera, I heard a familiar and welcome voice. Mike. 6 moths of 3 species in three traps at Natural Surroundings this morning, the last session of the year. After a quick chat, he left us to try for better photographs of the Yellowlegs.

After a short visit to Blakeney, overlooking the marsh where Kath and Mick saw Bittern and Kingfisher yesterday - we didn't see anything apart from Teal, 

 

Wigeon, Marsh Harrier and bathing Jackdaws - I had another try at photographing common birds in a natural setting for my year folder. Blue Tit, Coal Tit and Great Tit.

 

Wings and Legs

Sunday, November 1 

Rain and wind to see us off on our day out. Not as much as yesterday afternoon when we did an hour's seawatch at Walcott. Such a joy to see a procession of Gannets in all plumages wheeling their elegant way to both west and east. I picked up a distant Bonxie and was able to see it harrassing an adult Gannet - their favourite prey in the northern isles. We're so accustomed to the prey usually being terns here. A smattering of Guillemots, all flying east, punctuated the Gannet fest.

The 'what's the deer lying under the tree', mystery is solved - thanks to friend Kath. It's a Sika in its winter garb. They only turn dark brown in the summer.

I nearly didn't get any photos at all that day. When I got home I loaded the card reader and moved to slot it into my PC. Somehow, my arm was jolted and I dropped the whole thing into a newly delivered, piping hot, mug of tea. Pam leapt into action - whilst I was still trying to get up - tipped the mugful into the wash basin and returned the reader + card in situ. I wiped the card, tapped the reader, re-assembled it and tried again. Everything worked, so we had deer photos.

Back to Sunday. We knew that we wouldn't catch high tide at Snettisham, so stopped off at a wood outside Holt where birds are regularly fed. Not using feeders, merely spreading food on posts and the ground. Pam spread some seed on a nearby post. Before she got back in the car, Coal, Great, Blue and Marsh Tits had appeared to grab breakfast. When the Grey Squirrel had departed, a Nuthatch dropped in. 

A healthy male Chaffinch in fresh plumage is a handsome sight.

 

 The day was notable for the number of Starling flocks we saw. Small to enormous in number, they were obvious all day, hurtling single mindedly, as one. to where? Probably part of the European Autumn influx  There were also several flocks of winter thrushes. The hedgerow near Abbey Farm held Redwing amongst the Chaffinches, feeding on the Millet crop in a nearby field, and Hawthorn Berries.

There's a very good crop of Sloes this year too. This roadside bush was lampered.

 

The tide was well out at Snettisham, many more Sanderling than we'd seen here last month, male Pintail, white breasts gleaming in the murk, scurrying Dunlin and a host of distant waders, too distant to identify.

The final pit was smothered by Greylags, the air full of their raucous calls. Not even Cormorants had endured their cacophany. Sleeping Lapwing, huddled between them on the islands, seemed oblivious. Huddled on the far bank, a white blob stood asleep. I kept scanning back to it. Eventually a yellow-tipped beak emerged, a Spoonbill. 

Just the one fungus seen all day, on a dead Birch tree stump. Still haven't found my book.

 

A full house of the expected Raptors. Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel and Red Kite.

 

The sun appeared again as we approached Cley. Friend Kath had told us that we could view the Legs from a service road in front of the houses overlooking the marsh. Successfully in place, behind a camera pointing birder on the footpath below, we scanned with increasing urgency. A strong wind was whipping the reeds between us and the path into a violent frenzy. Neither of us could see the bird, We changed position several times before driving to the gate opening at the start of Beach Road to turn round. There it was. Our first UK and Norfolk Lesser Yellowlegs for a considerable number of years. Surely we should be able to find it from the service road now, it was too far to photograph from here.

Back we went with the same result, no bird in sight. The field did have some tall sedges and the grass was also long, it must be hiding. Back to the gateway, from which we could - again - see the bird. The sky was overcast as I got out to lean on the gate. Pam used her binoculars to tell me where the bird was so that I could press the shutter - I couldn't locate it  through my viewfinder. The rain increased, I retired. 

I ended with four photos where the bird was discernible. Others have been able to take super shots from nearby in sun. This is maybe the least bad of the four.

 

Embarrassing.

The next available day before a month's enforced Lockdown is Wednesday. Here's hoping that the bird is still there and the sun is shining. Please.