Quiet Weekend

Monday January 31 

High winds and overnight rain presaged a power outage this morning. Pam took the moth traps in at 4 a.m. 

Two Atlantic storms rolled in, mainly affecting Scotland and the north. We still managed to trap two new moths for the year on Saturday night,

A March Moth

and a Chestnut

Moths

By Jennifer O'Grady

 

Adrift in the liberating, late light

of August, delicate, frivolous,

they make their way to my front porch

and flutter near the glassed-in bulb,

translucent as a thought suddenly

wondered aloud, illumining the air

that's thick with honeysuckle and dusk.

You and I are doing our best

at conversation, keeping it light, steering clear

of what we'd like to say.

You leave, and the night becomes

cluttered with moths, some tattered,

their dumbly curious filaments

startling against my cheek. How quickly,

instinctively, I brush them away.

Dazed, they cling to the outer darkness

like pale reminders of ourselves.

Others seem to want so desperately

to get inside. Months later, I'll find

the woolens, snug in their resting places,

    full of missing pieces.

 

Welney 2

 Friday January 28

The large buggy at WWT's Welney Reserve was available for my use today, I couldn't bend my legs back sufficiently for the smaller one. We arrived at a similar time to last Monday, and thoroughly appreciated the improved staff we met. Not that the others were bad, to-day's were just better.  The welcoming volunteer on the ground floor gave us better information, the ranger who did the 12 o'clock talk whilst the birds were fed  (yes, we sat through that again), wasn't a patch on Monday's. No-one would have complained - if they hadn't heard both.

One of the Whoopers with a broken wing was right in front of us.

 

It is possible to stand below the hide so that photos can be taken at eye level. All of mine are from a higher viewpoint. The water often floods up to the observatory windows in the winter, not to-day, many islands were viewable. Our ultimate targets were here to-day. Nine Tundra Bean Geese, asleep on an island, behind some Greylag, offering an interesting comparison. They were virtually identical. None of the Beans showed their beaks for the first forty minutes, all fast asleep in classic roosting position. A Greylag had the timerity to walk through them, causing bedlam. I took some quick photos before they settled down again.

 

Snipe is a bogey bird for us car birders. In scoping the islands I found two birds, which Pam managed to see through her bins. She finds using a scope very difficult, turning down most offers of sharing - having sold her own.

There was nowhere to sit in the cafe, we took a few photos from downstairs windows. The usual skittish groups of House and Tree Sparrows and Reed Buntings..I prefer to take the birds in their natural habitat, no chance here.

 

At Ten Mile Bank, we diverted to Denver Sluice, taking the narrow road along the canal. Six Great Crested Grebes in varying plumage and a few Tufted Duck the only birds in the sluice area. We were hoping for Goosander.

Some time after Dereham, I snoozed, having had very little sleep for the last few nights.  I came to, saying 'we'll be passing the Wild Bean shop (+ M and S) in Aylsham'. ' Not any more',  was the response. Why not? We were going to Wells !! 

Holkham first for the eagle. At Lady Anne's Drive, there was no recent news of the young White-tailed Eagle, since it flew back to Holkham from Cley this morning. We sat at Stiffkey Marsh for an hour, me scoping the distant East Hills and all I could see, Pam looking right towards Morston. I found a Peregrine sat on the ground, where it stayed for about fifteen minutes, then a Barn Owl appeared distantly in the fast disappearing light. 

Another enjoyable day's birding. Win some, lose some.

 

 

 

Another Tick

Thursday January 27 

After two days of very cold murk,  it was a pleasure to be out to-day. 8C and sunny, with not much wind.

Our first stop was Snettisham Yacht Club. After a good look around the wilderness which is signposted as the Visitors car park, we drove to the end of the boat launch ramp, to find the sea lapping the near shore. We watched a distant fishing trawler with its smoke trail of gulls, three Sanderling scurrying along the water's edge, and nothing else. 

 

As we reversed up the ramp, we both saw it at the same time. A lovely Black Redstart using a wooden post, a dustbin and car tyres as perches from which to sally forth for food.

 

 

We saw it being successful once.

 

It then flew into the far distance, we repaired to the reserve pits. The tide was a high enough one, leaving some near mud for foraging waders. All the usual wash winter waders, without the masses of Knot which must be elsewhere today.

The chalet pit  had small flocks of Tufted Duck and Goldeneye, largely males.

 

We had to be home for a Sainsbury's delivery, one stop at Hunstanton's large Lidl and straight home.

 

 

WWT Welney

 Monday January 24

Pam loves wildfowl, and is a long term member of the WWF, Wildlfowl and Wetlands Trust, founded by Sir Peter Scott. Apart from the last two Covid years, we have made an annual visit, usually in January, to the Cambridgeshire Fens, Welney Reserve. Approaching via Ten Mile Bank, we avoided the flooded road, but missed Denver Sluice, which is usually good for Goosander. The road is straight, pothole sided, incredibly bumpy, and undulating in all the wrong places. Passing through the rich black, newly tilled, soil of the fens, drainage ditches enabling, seeing for miles in all directions. Emptiness - apart from steel pylon men marching on to the horizon and the occasional farmhouse. On this very murky winter day one can see why many murder mysteries are based in such areas.

Pam dropped me off at the imposing Centre whilst she parked the car. The motorised buggy I usually use had already been booked out, I couldn't get my knees bent back far enough to use the smaller one available. I used my Rollator.

Lift to the upper floor, book in at Reception, through the cafe , another lift to the top floor, and then the longish walk over the bridge crossing the Ten Mile Bank road and the Main Cut water.

 

The hide is heated, and has many chairs, facing the panoramic, tinted and canted to avoid direct sun, windows. Not ideal for photography, very tempting possibilities though. So comfortable.

Facing us was an enormous expanse of water, broken by muddy islands, the water level not as high as it can be in January. A total of no more than 20 Whooper Swans 

 

amongst several hundred, mainly male, Pochard. 

 

The females mostly go to southern France and Spain for the winter, although a few join the males. 

The screech of a newly turned on mike, presaged a half hour  talk by a member of staff. A surprise to us. It began at 12, finishing at 12.30 when food was distributed - to the birds that is, picnics in the hide are forbidden. The speaker began with what he called a party political broadcast, about the work of the WWT, and why we should become members, using the recent re-introduction of 200 Madagascar Pochards to the handful of remaining birds, as an example.

Two of the Whoopers had broken wings, they have been resident here for a few years. Both have paired with fit birds, both pairs have bred, and their young have gone off to Iceland as is the norm, the fit parents staying at the reserve with their mate.

Grain is thrown out for the birds present, most of the swans are out in the fields of winter wheat. They change their diet from carbohydrate to protein at this time of year, in readiness for the long flight north to Iceland. The farmers welcome their topping of the wheat as it produces stronger plants.

From nowhere, a flock of 150 Coot hove into view before dissipating along the island banks.

 

We added Tufted Duck, Pintail, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Wigeon and Black-tailed Godwit to the day list. There are two thousand of the latter on the fens, we saw about fifty fly past. A male Sparrowhawk flashed through, causing a short term panic. We repaired to the cafe, where a group was leaving one of the coveted window tables as we arrived. There we had the most expensive cake and drink ever (over £11) whilst watching the pools and the bird feeders. 

Two Cattle Egrets were following a digger, which was doing some ditch clearing, A Great White Egret stalked a distant pool, along with two Little Egrets and a couple of Grey Herons. The feeders are interesting for the half a dozen Tree Sparrows which feed, 

 

along with three Reed Buntings and a mob of House Sparrows. Moorhens clear up underneath.

 

We had hoped to see Tundra Bean Geese, we were told that they were not present today - I'd scoped carefully from the hide. Neither did the Short-eared Owl turn up for us. Such an enjoyable and comfortable day.

 

Ebbing

Saturday January 22 

January is ebbing away with few new birds to go for. Plenty of additions around, at Holkham for example, We are unable to walk the distances required. Another visit to Buckenham this morning when we saw five Taiga Bean Geese in the back corner near the railway line.They usually go by the end of the month so that was lucky. Hundreds of Pinkfeet, Lapwings, Starlings, Rooks and Wigeon around the marsh. More Shelduck than usual, a few Shoveller, Canada, White-fronted and Greylag Geese and a plethora of Chinese Water Deer. I counted a dozen whilst scanning for birds in a limited area. One female Marsh Harrier fed on carrion, hassled by corvids.

Yesterday evening we drove as far as Somerton and back, hoping for owls. No luck, but we did see feeding Red Deer and Muntjac in the warm, golden, evening light. 

 

In common with next door neighbour John, we have , reluctantly, commissioned Steve to put a deer fence at the bottom of the garden. Muntjacs have already caused us to protect all our vegetable crops. They are now eating shrubs and perennials down to the ground. The deer protection sound deterrent hasn't worked. We tried.

Not uncommonly in rural Norfolk, we are not on mains drainage. We have a cess pit rather than a sewage tank which means that a high water table prevents liquid from seeping out. The dyke is high at the moment after recent heavy rain. We were recommended a new man who sucks through the connecting pipes as well as emptying the pit. Most will not do that - a nonsense. We have a long stretch between the kitchen and the centre bed where the tank lies. We were amused by the slogan on his tank, 'Yesterday's Meals on Wheels''.

Mothing is slow too. Either blanks or one or two moths. Yesterday we had a lovely Spring Usher. 

 

One Target Achieved

Wednesday January 19 

Being able to leave as soon as the news came through, helped a lot. The Birdguides message said Clippesby. The actual location is a favoured spring feeding place of these birds, open fields, near to a Maize stand. We first saw two birds on the left hand side of the road.

 

A phone call from Bob C - parked 50 yards up the road - alerted us to many more on the right hand side, even more distant.

 

The Common Cranes were actively feeding, using two fields, roaming between them after crossing a grassy verge and dyke. Others had made their way through to a more distant field.

 

My maximum count was 25 birds on one side and two on the other. There may well have been a few more. 

I'm always delighted to see Cranes, even more so in January. when they congregate to feed and are (usually) easier to find.

After NS

 Tuesday January 18

Another beautiful winter blue day. We woke to an air frost, silvering the delicate tracery of our Birch tree branches, glistening in the morning sun. An hour later, north facing areas were still white, others already thawed, trees dripping onto the car as we passed underneath.

Almost the first passerine of the day was a Siskin, high in the topmost branches of a tree beside the bumpy drive up to NS cafe
.

After the usual convivial chatter at Natural Surroundings, Pam and I drove to Cockthorpe airfield chicken sheds, in search of Little Owls.This time, we found one, deep in the shadow of the roof coping, barely visible. Year tick - and my first owl of the year. 

This time, there was a Greenshank at Morston, feeding in the narrow channel of low tide, along with a Redshank and a Little Egret. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Day Dips

Friday January 14 

It started with an early afternoon trip to Cley in the hope of catching up with a Black Redstart. It had been reported as frequenting the rooftops of the houses west of Cley Centre, mid morning was the latest WhatsApp message..I wasn't very hopeful, but disappointed to miss it.

We went on to Morston, where the tide was high enough to allow a boat with six adults and a child to depart for a Blakeney Point late afternoon Seal trip. 

 

We added a Rock Pipit to the year list. 

For once, a Kestrel stayed on its roadside wire when the car stopped, enabling me to take a photo.

Saturday January 15

I have a compulsion to see Cranes in January. Again, not optimistic as the last report was mid morning, it was the afternoon before we left for Thurne, BirdGuides and my phone taking us to the pin dropped field. No sign of any Cranes, hundreds of Corvids and Wood Pigeons milling about in dense clouds.

Sunday January 16

Those Cranes again. Repps with Bastwick this time, a short way from yesterday's location. Again, it was the afternoon before we left home.One or more Muntjacs are causing a lot of damage to our plants.We are joining a neighbour in putting up a deer fence at the bottom of the garden, on our side of the dyke. Steve came round this morning to measure up, and to make a few adjustments to leaking rooves and cisterns.

Again, no sign of cranes, maybe Thurne/Ludham Marshes would turn up trumps. The car park was full. Many of them birders, the most we've ever seen here. We stayed until 3.30 when the light really had gone. To-day's addition was a Peregrine perched on a gatepost . Another birder, who had one of those binocular lens Swarovski scopes, had seen two Short-eared Owls an hour or so before we got there, He was convinced that they had gone to ground only 60 metres away. If so, they were still there when we left.

A Chinese Water Deer fed nearby, our first Fox of the year slinked through the sedges, very large flights of Cormorants, Lapwings and Pink-footed Geese went to roost. Hunger drove our departure.

- White Wings

 Thursday January 13

Although we come across singles throughout the year, visiting the beach behind the Sealife Centre in Yarmouth is a January tradition. It was a lovely sunny day with hardly any wind. Bag of home made seeded bread pieces at the ready, we pulled up at an open area from which we could see the beach. Sure enough, there were about ten Mediterranean Gulls huddled down in small groups, mixed in with Black-headed and Herring Gulls.I often wonder why they choose this particular spot in the winter. One bird had the speckled head of approaching summer plumage.

The others were all in winter piratical head garb.

 One gull had a leg ring which I found readable on my photograph.

Returning home via Martham and the coast road, Pam saw a Great Egret in a West Somerton roadside field. We sat looking at it for at least five minutes, waiting for it to move into a better position. We then indulged in all sorts of non ethical persuasions, such as whistling and hand clapping. No reponse at all, not even a flicker. We were beginning to think that it was a plastic bird when it turned the other way, freezing again.

 

We left it there. I really wanted it to fly, but once it had proved that it was not plastic, it seemed very wrong to offer more persuasion.

Thanks to David B, I know that the helicopter photograph in my last entry is that of a Chinook. A transport helicopter in use by the military and others since the 1960s. A reliable workhorse still going strong. Still vaguely menacing, but not as much as the Bell Huey used in Apocalypse Now, the film version of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, which was a set book in a degree course I completed. The book was set in 19C Congo. Coppola's film, starring Marlon Brando and Martin Sheen, was set in Vietnam. The film did not bear much resemblance to the book, I remember it for the awesome helicopter shots. It was nominated for 14 Oscars and won 2.

Halvergate

Wednesday January 12 

A domestic chore morning, on a lovely sunny day, encouraged an afternoon trip out. We both love Halvergate marsh but rarely visit. At the most, once a year. Turning right off the Acle Straight at what is now a Hindu Temple - latterly the Flamingo Nightclub (!) - over the humpback bridge, onto the very straight, extremely undulating, and badly cambered road across the marsh. At the end, and before the houses, there is a lane on the left which leads to a muddy parking area.There we sat, enjoying the views, with enough bird action to keep us happy.

Most numerous were the large flocks of Starlings, and Corvids, constantly moving from feeding spots on the ground to tree perches and fly rounds. A few Fieldfare did likewise, none near enough for satisfactory photos.

One Grey Heron in splendid spring plumage, a distant Great Egret, one Buzzard, 

 

Marsh Harrier and Kestrel.

 

This military helicopter appeared, flying rather low, but the birds were not unduly perturbed. That was odd.

 

Pam counted four Chinese Water Deer, pale brown rumps visible at a distance. We left after a tranquil hour,  as the sun was beginning to set.

Two moths around the traps this morning. One Mottled Umber and

 

one Pale Brindled Beauty.

 

We added a Caspian Gull off Salthouse Road yesterday, as we drove home from NS.

Waxwing Haunting

Sunday January 10

Seeing twelve Buzzards in Norfolk during one morning, was unthinkable, even a couple of years ago. Most of them were perched in roadside trees, about four more flying nearby. We also saw five Kestrels, three Marsh Harriers, and two Red Kites whilst driving inland to Snettisham and along the coast road home. It was a clear, blue sky, cold winter's day, not warm enough yet for the flight thermals needed. Yesterday's almost incessant, heavy rain, must have made feeding nigh on impossible for them.

With Waxwing haunting and obsessing my mind, our first call was Sculthorpe Moor Reserve  where one has been reported for the last two days. Was it still here? It hasn't been a Waxwing winter, very few are being seen. This bird turns up at the back of the Centre and in the trees near the blue badge parking area - which is where we waited. For an hour. A warden told us that it had been seen shortly before we arrived at 9.35 (!!!). By now, there were birders milling about everywhere. The car park was full, one gate closed, the other one manned  I've never before seen the entry road lined with parked cars. We left. It wasn't reported again until after one o'clock.

Snettisham was well peopled too. High tide on a fine Sunday will do that. Sculthorpe's were all birders. These were a mixture of family walkers, dog walkers, pebble collectors, photographers and joggers. We were again asked for our permit to drive, whilst everyone else seemed to roam free. It rankles a bit.  It was a fairly low high tide, the birds present were well scattered over the newly vacated mud. It did make scanning easier.

Shelduck Central, as usual, hundreds of Dunlin, with Redshank, Bar and Black-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Sanderling and Ringed Plover scattered widely. The Oystercatchers, Teal and Wigeon have their own ghettos. Probably a thousand Oystercatchers in a dense line nearer to the Yacht Club. The Teal cluster around what we know as the Cut, a deep channel which always has water. Two male Pintail fed amongst the waders. They can just about be identified in the photo above.

Stopping at the Yacht Club to look for Snow Buntings, Pam walked up the ramp and disappeared for a while. She returned to say that she'd seen a Black Redstart, had walked to the shore and there were so many dogs off leads runninbg around that the Buntings were unlikely to be present. We drove up the concrete ramp for the first time ever, to find a large flat area of rough grass scattered with half buried tyres as mooring stations. No sign of the Redstart.

Snettisham is a fair distance to travel, BUT, it's the only place where we can enjoy a good variety of water birds from the car. A visit every couple of weeks is very pleasurable. Especially as all the other coastal birding spots are so busy. We drove through Hunstanton, seeing our first Fulmar of the year gliding along the cliff top. 

Waxwings go to bed early. I was fretting that the one reported from Cley would have done so if we delayed along the coast. With only a short visit to Brancaster Staithe, we bypassed Stiffkey and Wells North Pools, arriving at Sea Lawns, Cley before 2.30. Permission was given to stand in the garden of Thrums,next door and look over the wall into the garden of Sea Lawn or view from the road. I used my rollator to join the small group in the unoccupied Thrums - S Gantlett looks after it, as Richard the Hat told Pam. The beautiful, adult Waxwing was feeding on guelder rose berries. Waw, a bird that always takes my breath away. Viewing was not the best. Through bare branches into a tree where the Waxwing was perched towards the back, obscured by more branches. I did take some photographs, none of which are suitable for publishing, even here. Very heavily edited in order to show some of the colour as the garden was in the shade and the bird was back lit.

 

After fifteen minutes of admiration by all, the bird flew away to roost.