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.