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.