Many Birds, Few Species

Tuesday December 22 

Rarely have we driven straight to Snettisham via Sedgefield - of Wagtail fame - without stopping to bird at favoured spots. That's what we did to-day. 

The near mud was virtually birdless, thousands of Pink-footed Geese and Knot darkened the edge of the receding tide. Oystercatchers formed a black and white, distant splodge, towards the yacht Clubhouse. Curlew, Dunlin, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit and one Turnstone fed actively on the glistening mud left behind by the water.Groups of Teal, Mallard and Wigeon huddled together along the deeper creeks, Shelduck by the hundred, ubiquitous amongst the flocks.

Les Bunyon, assistant warden, was on duty again, acknowledging our legal presence with a friendly wave. The far pit had Greylag galore, a solitary Cormorant drying its wings in a horizontal pose reminiscent of the Angel of the North. Goldeneye have increased in number, I counted at least a dozen of these handsome winter visitors.

Now you see them, now you don't, two  Little Grebes constantly dived amidst the Mallard on the chalet pool. Only two cars at the chalet/caravan village to-day, empty for Christmas week, and probably the rest of the winter.

Hunstanton cliffs to eat our Lidl bought lunch, pizza rounds and an apple puff, was interrupted by a powered hang glider passing close by. It returned, we both scrambled for our cameras. The nearest thing we could get to flying I think. I forgot to check the horizon!

 

The pilot waved as he passed by. Very Jules Vernesque.

 

 

 

Memorable was the sheer numbers of flying Pink-feet skeins throughout the day, and unusually large flocks of Lapwings at Snettisham, Wells, and Holkham.

No more moth trapping until the next warmer spell. We are still catching Winter and December Moths and, this morning, a splendid Mottled Umber, all singly or in low numbers. The back lawn grass was white until mid morning as I write this on Wednesday.

The Omicron variant of Covid is keeping us isolated again, no more social gatherings for a while. Constantly surprised by the kindness and generosity of friends, Kate and Sam both made us a small Christmas Cake. 

 

This morning, Peter, a new neighbour, arrived with boxes containing Sausage Rolls, four iced cup cakes, shortbread biscuits and Cheese Straws. All made by his wife Joan.They moved into Viv and Roy's bungalow earlier this year.