All Birding Day-

Thursday, April 1

For the first time ever, I did not play an April Fool's joke on Pam. I am always successful. a tribute to her trust and my ingenuity. I had planned something, but forgot to carry out the initial step, before deciding to have a year off. Instead, I concentrated on enjoying a good day's legal birding.

Soon after seven a.m. on a dull and cloudy morning, the first bird was a Pheasant. Not unusual. Our garden always has at least one bird, year round. Not welcome visitors, we have learnt to tolerate them most of the time. It's a case of forced acceptance really, until a Star Wars Force Field can be put into operation. Or, the Government could decide that they are alien birds and forbid the breeding of millions every year so that mindless idiots can shoot them as recreation.

Our first woodland bird stop was a disappointment. Surprisingly, only a few Chaffinches put in an appearance.  Onwards and westwards with much more traffic on the road.

Hares were prominent to-day, much to Pam's joy. We saw over 20 without ever searching for them. Buzzards were also plentiful, three down in a field were being bombed by a pair of Red Kites. That held us in thrall until the birds tired of their game and drifted away. Chiffchaffs chiffchaffed everywhere we went.

Tree Sparrows made their presence known by cheeping a different note from House Sparrow, from a dense Hawthorn Hedge. 

 

The same lane's grassy verges had clusters of small white flowers, which, on closer inspection turned out to be Violets. Not what we expected, wild violets are violet.. 

 

A set aside type weedy field, scanned for the usual Stock Doves - not present - brought a darkly handsome, summer plumaged Fieldfare into focus. For no apparent reason, about forty of the previously unseen birds sprang, chakking, into the sky and away.

 

We added three birds to the year list. The first, a pair of Grey Partridges loitering in a stubble field. The second, a joyous adult Swallow, swooping over a Snettisham Pit before flying away, and out to sea, over our heads. The third was Tree Sparrow.

The predicted 7 metre plus high tide was still covering the Wash when we arrived at Snettisham. A chance to have a coffee and a breakfast snack whilst waiting for some mud and birds to appear.The far pit's islands were inundated too, only a small amount of their surface showing. A black and white Oystercatcher carpet on the far bank, a small group of restless Knot, Cormorants playing statues, and a few Teal amongst the Greylag studding the free water.

As the tide receded, a few Ringed Plover, Turnstone, and Redshank fed along the shore. We left. 

Thornham was closed off. Why? High Tide which covers the road? Or, the terrible condition of the road's surface. more potholes than tarmac.

Brancaster Staithe also showed evidence of a very high tideline. Wet mud where one usually drives, with a sea detritus strewn tideline. Well coloured Black-tailed Godwits,

 

and Curlew were feeding avidly on the soft mud.

 

Avocet were sweeping madly in the outrushing, tidal creek, occasionally lurching into deep, swimming-level water before finding their feet again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holkham Marsh, viewed from the Meals House lane gateway, gave clear views of the destruction to trees caused by nesting Cormorants and Spoonbills. This the current Spoonbill tree with Cormorants next door.

 

We needed to get to the doctor's surgery before they closed in order to pick up our prescriptions, we turned inland at Stiffkey. 

Numbers were in the middle seventies, the three new year birds the highlight, as were Great White Egrets, and a Green Woodpecker.

 

Friday, April 2

After Pam had finished working in the garden with Adrian, we drove to Buckenham Marshes, where the Garganey which have nested there for the last few years have returned. Like yesterday, it was cold - 7C - with a cutting northerly wind. Within five minutes of arrival we'd talked to Dot, parked in front of her car where Steve was sitting, and seen the beautiful male Garganey swim across the dyke nearest to the car park hide. We stayed a while, getting three more looks at the male bird, one of the female, when they appeared distantly out of cover. Although Steve had kindly moved their car so that we had a better view, when they left it was even better. I took a few photos for the folder.