Storm Arwen

Sunday November 28 

There have been so many storms this year that they've had to start the alphabet all over again. Arwen blew into the north on Friday night, bringing snow, gales and mayhem to the east coast of Scotland and north east England. We had some hail yesterday, a gusty wind with frequent showers, but nothing untoward. 

We drove to Bacton P and D car park at mid-day yesterday to do some hopeful sea watching. The waves were spectacular. Being down on the beach taking photos would give a truer idea of the height and depth. No thank you. We stayed in the car looking down from a similar height to that from the lower Sheringham sea watching shelter. There were very few birds in the twenty minutes before heavy rain set in and we left. A few Eider, one Great Northern Diver and three Scoter. I took these pics.

 

 

 

To-day we went earlier, as Little Auks and the odd Skua had been reported from the north coast. No repeat of yesterday's Brunnich's Guillemot at Wells, which made its way onto a sand bank to die. Poor bird. It must happen to hundreds of older, or emaciated, birds in this sort of weather. 

We spent an hour in sunshine/ hail showers/rain/ overcast, all very cold. Oh for DB's waterfront apartment balcony. I picked up a slow trickle of Auks way out, too far, even for my scope, to identify. A party of four, and then another seven, Eider ducks, two Great Northern Divers, several small groups of Common Scoter, and what could have been three Goodander. Again very distant. The beautiful adult Gannets were even further away, their very size and sparkling white plumage in the sunshine, standing out. With very few exceptions all the birds were flying north west, into the wind. The few flying south were whisked through at blink of an eye and you've missed it speed.

Younger grandson Josh is now the proud owner of his much desired Ute. Lack of funds, and available used cars, in the Covid affected market has kept him waiting for months. It's a beast. Pam would like one. A dark blue off roader. He needs the covered pick-up type back for his ladder and tools. I;ve got a great video of him driving it into his home - but it's too big to load.