Goodbye 2020

 Thursday December 31    

January the 1st birding has always been a much anticipated, and exciting prospect for me.

That of 2020 went by in a haze of post pneumonia fever and lassitude. I'd hardly been home from hospital twelve hours at first light. I don't even remember taking an interest in the garden birds. I had high hopes of 2021 - until we were put in Tier 4 lockdown.  My logic tells me that birding from the car is no risk at all for either of us, nor anyone else out and about. BUT. My conscience tells me that I cannot complain about Covidiots paying no heed to the 'stay at home' message and flocking to the countryside and beaches if I do the same thing. Yes, what we'd do is different. Nor can we walk to take exercise so are confined to the house  A change of scene is good for mental health. I'm still not completely convincing myself. 

The first lockdown was infinitely more palatable. Long daylight hours, coupled with a spell of good weather, garden wildlife in spring, with returning migrants, vegetables to grow and plant out. We're still coping really well, it's only the lack of birding outside the garden which frets.No moth-ing at the moment either, far too cold.

My aim this time, is to become proficient at loading my lists onto EBird. I've long been a member but haven't got round to sussing it out. Loading my UK list is daunting enough, my world list is a brain scrambler. I've got as far as reading the intro!    

This year's bird list has been the worst since I started keeping records in the early 70s. I don't think that we've even made the 200 target set by BirdWatching magazine. We have managed a few good birds though

Eastern Yellow Wagtail the only Norfolk tick.

 

Lesser Yellowlegs

 

 

 Wryneck

 

Bearded Reedling  

 

Cattle Egret - one of 10 

 

Pam recently produced a back of my head photo that she took at the end of the spring lockdown. I hadn't been to the hairdresser since the previous November, so had to resort to scrunchies and clips.

 

Beautiful sunshine to-day, eventually thawing the white, frost encrusted, grass. A call from Pam gave me a sighting of the male Blackcap feeding on the bird table outside the kitchen window. Come back to-morrow please.

To-morrow. What shall we do? Will early road conditions help us make up our minds?  

Christmas Day

 Saturday, December 26

 I've never taken part on the habit of photographing the food I eat - until yesterday. A Waitrose free range bronze, small turkey, cooked a la Delia's instructions, but with a split onion inside.

 

A traditional Christmas meal without some of the usual trimmings, as neither of us can manage large meals. I can remember being slightly miffed at elderly realtives' constant uttering of 'don't give me much, I can't eat large meals any more'. I've joined the club - but try not to say it outside home. 

Cheers, Pam

Neither did we get the Christmas cloth out, for the first time since it was bought in Tenerife in the 80s. A magnificent piece of local craftwork, white,  with lacework and Father Christmasses embroidered in each corner and the centre. It's a swine to iron. It stayed in the cupboard.

We had our traditional version of Buck's Fizz with present opening - Prosecco and mango juice - and a smooth Pinot Noir with the main course. I have a new trail camera which I shall enjoy setting up in the garden. 

In a food stupour, we watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for the first time ever. The TV was on for the Queen, which Pam insists on watching, the film followed. Full of noise and chaos, yet strangely watchable.

An early Christmas present for Pam was a male Blackcap on the near feeders, and the male Brambling back on the Acer griseum feeders. 

On Christmas Eve, Pam managed a photo of the Grey Wagtail, preening on the spitting frog - through four layers of less than clean glass. 

 

The Sparrowhawk has just had his Boxing Day meal.

First day of Tier 4 lockdown. Not before time. Yet, someone has birded Oulton and Filby Broads according to Birdguides. Not really walking distance from many places. What will we all do on New Year's Day?

 

Christmas Eve

 Thursday, December 24

The ghosts of Christmas past come to visit. 

Eight family members here already, two sleeping in the caravan. One more to arrive. maybe late to-night after the show is over - my nephew was lead guitarist in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals, Starlight Express the last. Or, early to-morrow morning. He always had a Boxing Day matinee so it was a fleeting visit. All now dead, apart from my daughter and family who live in Australia.

Board games and cards were the entertainment of choice. My sister was liable to accuse people of cheating at both Trivial Pursuit  and cards. No big fights, just a little wrangling.Sara always did cheat at Scrabble - try to anyway - by making up words, and going as far as giving them a meaning. All good fun.

Now, from choice, it's Pam and I, and just as enjoyable, in a different way. We drove to Waitrose in North Walsham last night, in torrential rain, on heavily puddled roads, to pick up our small turkey. No-one else does small ones. Our designated pick-up time was 8-10 p.m. Fortunately there was no distancing queue to enter, nor at the pick-up point, nor the till. Maybe the weather had put usual shoppers off.

A pause there whilst I packed presents and had my annual Sellotape wrestling match. The tape always wins. Couple that with pretty paper which tears easily.... my parcels are not a work of art 

Just as well that Pam didn't make a cake this year, the usual Delia Smith Caribbean recipe. We were given two small ones. One by Sam, glazed almonds as decoration, and one by Kate with marzipan and holly. Pam loves marzipan, I always cut it off.

Pam's photo

 

We broke Covid rules for the first time last Saturday. Long-time friends Kate and Jim were celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary, and had booked a table at the Gunton Arms. Family live in the Netherlands so were unable to travel. We were happy to help them celebrate their day. The food is good, the service efficient, and space between tables very adequate.It's the first time we've entered a catering establishment since January. The hotel is on the Gunton estate. Two large herds of deer were visible from where we parked the car. It was a very pleasant and enjoyable occasion.

Tier 4 from Boxing Day onwards, not before time. We keep hearing from friends who have had the first vaccination, and the date for the second booked  When will we hear? It seems that urban areas are first in the queue, fair enough really. Both of us are in the 80+ at risk group.

Back to the delights of garden wildlife watching. A male Grey Wagtail paid us his second visit yesterday. He washes in the pond waterfall and then flies either to the pond cover, or the head of the spitting frog, where he preens. Lovely. Pam has seen the Nuthatch twice, not a frequent visitor at the moment. We intended having a birding day out yesterday, but it was very misty, wet and cold all day. Maybe next week.

The wildflower seeds Pam ordered from Fothergills (all UK) have arrived. Another job for Andrea.

I have access to my Apple equipment again and a SKY engineer fixed the WiFi connection problem with the QBox. All set for the winter. And Man U won last night, they're through to the semis of the Carabao Cup. Unfortunately we've drawn Man City.

Magic Moments

 Wednesday, December 16

After a few days which I found increasingly stressful, dealing with malfunctioning technology and anonymous online 'help', I was in need  of a natural history injection. This morning's forty minute long chat with a senior adviser - no solution offered - meant that it was a late morning start.

Surprisingly, Salthouse only had one car parked, its occupants walking the shingle ridge in the far distance. Excellent. As soon as we stopped at the far end, two pairs of Stonechats were in view. Using the fence posts and wires as a viewing point before dropping down into the field, or shingle. Very active and always at a distance. 

 

They are such delightful little creatures,  in looks, stance and habits. We spent half an hour enjoying their day with them.

As we left, the flocks of Lapwings, Rooks and Wigeons burst into flight. A Peregrine. It landed on top of a tuft in the now empty field, looked around as though to think, 'where have they all gone', before taking flight once more. Anthropomorphism. I know.........

A Wiveton diversion to check the Lesser Yellowlegs field next, before driving to Morston Quay. The speed humps in the approach road are a pain. Having to reduce speed has its compensations in that I can have a good look at the animal pens. The three turkeys and flock of chickens, usually running free, were in a pen. Christmas protection? The goat pen was empty, the gate open. 

We both love muddy creeks. Boats and derelict looking wooden posts, pilings and boat moorings. With a marsh background, a few birds in the rapidly emptying creek, and a low sun adding shadow and depth to the scene, it was soul fulfilling.

A few Redshanks, one Little Egret, several Black-eaded Gulls and one Grey Plover, the only birds on show. The Grey Plover was in full winter dress, making its stop start hunting forays along the muddy banks. The mud looked like liquid milk chocolate. Cadbury's of course.

 

Blakeney duckpond is always worth a look. One can dream. At least the last two are UK birds. Hooded Merganser, Barnacle Goose and male Pintail. Wire obvious in last two.

Time to drive home and a last throw of the dice in solving my AppleID problem. Adrian arrived with my old IPad, Apple sent a code to his younger daughter's phone. Adrian rang her to retrieve it. I used that to log in and change my password. Bingo. Why was no-one able to tell me to do that? Sounds simple now.

New password and phone number changed, access again. Still no contact addresses on my phone though. I shall have to email everyone to ask for phone numbers.

Sky engineer coming on Sunday to sort out the QBox. All is well again.

 

A Birding Ride

 Thursday, December10

Another dull, damp and dark December day. So good to be out birding. Our sort of birding. Driving around in the car, stopping where the fancy takes us, or some birds show. 

We started at Selbrigg, where Pam scattered some food for the birds. We are not alone in this, others do so too. The lone parked car turned out to be Greg's. Even I, who is so unobservant where people and things are concerned, noticed that it was a different colour from the previous model. A silver Nissan Qashqai. After a catch-up chat, we departed. Whilst Pam was outside chatting, Coal, Marsh, Blue and Great Tits still dropped in for a feed. Two Grey Squirrels did likewise and a Muntjac shot across the forest track.

Encouraged by Pauline's mention of birding at Courtyard Farm, near Roydon,  Pam decided on that as our eventual destination. Roydon Common and the western continuation of what is known further east as the Cromer Ridge provides an area well suited to raptors.

Cromer Ridge is a ridge of old glacial moraines (terminal moraine) that stands next to the coast above Cromer, Norfolk, England. Cromer Ridge seems to have been the front line of the ice sheet for some time at the last glaciation, which is shown by the large size of the feature. All the material that was dredged up from the North Sea was poured out of the glaciers to form a ridge.

Located on the North Norfolk coast, Cromer Ridge is among the highest land of East Anglia reaching 335 feet (102 m), and is 8.7 miles (14 km) long. It is characterised by its irregular, undulating, intimate and well-wooded topography and by substantial areas of heather in the west. Small, enclosed arable fields, hedgebanks, sunken lanes and sparse settlement are also characteristic features of the ridge. (Wiki)

Norfolk's highest means not high at all.

We did see two Buzzards, four Kestrels, two Marsh Harriers and a female Sparrowhawk. The latter exploded out of the hedge immedistely after a small poasserine. The prey escaped, and the disappointed hawk flew, arrow straight, down the lane before making a steep left turn into the woods. Such skilful flyers.

Thornham Creek was nearly full of water, an hour or so before high tide. The wintering flock of Twite, numbers now increased to 17, flew, apparently aimlessly, around. A swirling amorphous cloud, changing direction as one. Do they have a choreographer? We did not see them land. They disappeared as suddenly as they arrived.

A lone Curlew stalked the creek bank, probing for worms. Luckily, I managed a photo as it pulled one out of the water.

On to picnic lunch at Brancaster Staithe. Cambridge Diet shake for me, a cereal bar for Pam, coffee for both. Our individual Zojirushi drinking flasks are excellent at keeping drinks hot all day.

It was lovely here to-day. One other car, far enough way, meant that the birds were close and unconcerned, feeding away on the goodness brought by the incoming water. 

Dunlin

Grey Plover, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, the usual gulls and Oystercatchers. 

 

 

 

 

One of the latter decided to swim across to another mud bar.

 

Little Egrets are irresistible photographic subjects for me.So elegant. This one already had a few long neck plumes. 

Hunting

Shall I fly? No.

Yes, I will now.

A Rock Pipit fossicked along the tideline, allowing us to stop and look, although keeping a wary eye open for any movement.

A soul satisfying hour or so. We drove home.

 

Christmas Decorations

 Wednesday December 9

Since retiring, our Christmas decorations are unpacked on December 1. Previously, it was left until the last weekend before Christmas. An end of term celebration. Adrian hangs the icicle lights on the garage, and carries in the trees. Another post retirement change, no longer 'real' live trees. I miss them. Not the mess though. A larger tree in the living room, a small one in the porch. A few indoor photos.

 

Yesterday, Pam heard a thump on the kitchen window. Looking out, she saw a Sparrowhawk, sitting a few feet away on the back of the bench outside the window. I tried one photo, from my computer chair, through four layers of glass. The thump on the window was a small bird which the Sparrowhawk, eventually, picked up before flying away

 

The Russians are Here

 Saturday, December 5

An early afternoon constitutional drive to Horsey - it's the birding which does our mental health most good. Always has, and always will.

We found a large flock of Pink-footed Geese, spread across a field south of Horsey Mill. scattered widely, viewable through roadside Willows and tall reeds. Our second viewpoint was a small gap enabling a clearer view.  Two Russian Whitefronted Geese, near enough to try photographing. Their white-fronts - the patch where the bill meets the head - shining in the temporary sunshine, their black-striped breasts not as obvious. 

 

 

Their orange legs were hidden in the long grass, until one raised and stretched a leg. 

 

On the return journey, we stopped to scope the circa 30 swans in a heavily flooded field west of Sea Palling. Mainly Mute and Whooper, I identified two Bewicks. We didn't stay long, it's a busy road, the birds were distant, and we were looking directly into the low sun.

The First on the Second

 Wednesday, December 2

Good enough when we set off. High cloud cover, good light and dry. Until the Fakenham area. The rest of the day was a miserable mizzle. Cold, and everywhere was shrouded in mist and fine rain. Not good birding weather, yet we had a very enjoyable and productive day.

Not a lot in the Flitcham area, until we took the road out towards Sandringham. A pair of Bullfinches flew out from the hedge, and two Red Kites were perched in two separate trees, either side of the road. Not good for photography, too many branches in the way.

The first chalet park pit at Snettisham had one female Goldeneye, there was another on the second pit in the reserve. No Sanderling on the mud with all the expected waders and ducks, including Pintail. No sign of the dead Sperm Whale out in the Wash, it must have floated away - unless I missed it.

We ate lunch at Brancaster Staithe, largely unpopulated to-day. Two Black-tailed Godwits, a few Dunlin and a winter Herring Gull . The latter always look baleful with that cold grey eye and rapacious beak.

 

Most of the boats are in winter storage.

 

These Teal were doing what the day dictated, asleep, tucked up as tight as they could be in their individual duvets.

 

The best experience of the day came just before  Burnham Norton, where fields on the left had a herd of cattle - and ten Cattle Egrets. We parked roadside, to enjoy the spectacle of these neat little hunched up egrets go about their day. 

 

Following the cattle, picking up any disturbed insects.or, just standing, in that miserable looking heron family way, staring into apparent space. 

  

Reluctantly, we left them for a ride down to Stiffkey.

Conveniently, a Great Egret flew across the marsh at Holkham as soon as we stopped..

Not yet three o'clock when we reached Stiffkey, it seemed like dusk. The raptors thought so too. In the half an hour we stayed, three Marsh Harriers, and one male Hen Harrier dropped in to roost. A Barn Owl on a mission flew rapidly past, from west to east, almost close enough to fill the lens - seen too late though.

A message from Birdline sent us away to Cley Beach Road. The large flock of well stretched out Brent Geese in the Eye Field was best viewed from the middle of the largest puddle roadside.Turning in the car park, Pam parked suitably so that I could scan the flock. Far more undulations in this field than there are apparent to the naked eye.

I found the Pale-bellied first, it does stand out when the birds part enough for it to come into view. Finding the Black Brant took longer. It was at the back, hidden for most of the time. I managed one shot of the bird, and that's not sharp. Not enough depth of field in that light.

 

Stopping in the parking area half way down Beach Road to pack away my scope, a kind birder told us that a male Hen Harrier had been hunting the Blakeney area of the marsh for about an hour. He even climbed onto West bank to check for us. It had gone. Not too disappointed, although they are always a joy, having seen one earlier.

 

Eye - left

 Tuesday, December 1

 

Not the way I would choose to spend the first day of the month. A 9.15 appointment at Cromer Hospital Eye Clinic - six weekly routine - became a return trip. As is almost usual, I needed another Lucentis injection in my left eye, which suffers from a retinal bleed  That is, a leaking capillary. Instead of going directly to the theatre, I was asked to return early afternoon. 

Should we go home and come back? It was a lovely sunny day, we drove to Sheringham Cliff car park. One juvenuile Gannet, a Guillemot, a Red-throated Diver, 20+ Turnstones and assorted gulls. The sea was tremendous. High tide, the rolling breakers crashing onto the rocky breakwaters below - where the Turnstones were playing chicken with the waves. 

A well clad Pauline appeared beside us, she'd been sea-watching from the shelter. She left for the warmth of her car and a cup of coffee at Sheringham, we drove to Salthouse and then, Iron Road.  

A flock of Brent geese is always worth a scope through. This one contained about two hundred birds, all feeding avidly on the succulent grass. Found it. Not the Black Brant I initially thought it was, I wasn't wearing my glasses, but the Pale-bellied Brent again. Better views this time. I re-identified it when I got home and looked at my enlarged photos.

 

We lunched at Selbrigg with very close views of Marsh, Blue, Great and Coal Tits, feeding within a metre of the car. Great. Our garden birds are nothing like as confiding. 

Back to Cromer for my 27th injection - at least it gives me some vision in that eye. Not as horrific as it seems, they use a good pain deadener.