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.