Truly Spring - Nearly

 Tuesday March 8

Natural Surroundings is closed on a Monday until Easter. Until the end of March, traps will be put out on Tuesday nights for us to open on Wednesdays. We could go birding.

It rarely happens that even a morning is cloudless, to-day was blue all day. I love the look of leafless skeleton trees against a blue background; the delicate tracery of Birch, the solid stoicism of English Oaks. Willows are already swollen-budded, Blackthorn is in full wedding white puffery. Underlined by still frosty grey grass, groups of Snowdrops and the occasional random bunches of narcissi. We took the Sedgefield route to Snettisham.

A high tide of under 5 metres ensured that the birds were widely spread along the shoreline, best viewed from the entrance end of the last pit. No need for any of them to fly onto the islands in the pits whilst their feeding area was covered. Knot, scurrying Dunlin, Shelduck, Redshank, Teal, Oystercatchers, Ringed Plover and at least 20 Avocets were identifiable.

There were even more Avocets on a pit island, as crowded as a mosh pit. Only one pair of Goldeneye and a few Tufted Duck on the centre pit. 

Parked near the entrance, drinking coffee, two vehicles pulled up, one behind us, one in front. The Pick-ups were labelled Environment Agency. A boot was opened, showing a neatly sectioned and filled tool-board, and an array of equipment. The older driver took out a tape measure, stood in front of his car and released several metres of tape down the shingle bank towards the shore. The younger man made his way down the bank, sliding several metres on his backside. This caused much hilarity from both men. He held the end of the tape, releasing it - only for the whole process to be repeated, without the slide. Why?

We hurried to leave as the two Environmental  Agency vehicle drivers had left the gate open, meaning that we could drive straight through. They soon followed, we pulled into a wider part of the chalet park so that they could pass. Two Linnets landed on the grass in front of us.

 

As did a Pied Wagtail

 

Surprisingly, considering the conditions, it had been a raptorless day. Holkham Marsh Nature Reserve made up for it. Three Marsh Harriers, a Kestrel, several Red Kites - one of which flew near enough to consider taking a few flight shots.  

 

One Spoonbill roosted in a breeding tree and two Grey Herons loitered nearby. The Cormorants, Egrets and Spoonbills nesting here is evidenced by the row of dead trees.

 

I didn't count the White-fronted Geese, they were widely scattered. No Lapwing, nor at Snettisham. Have they moved north? Two dozen Shoveller on the westernmost water, two Egyptian Geese and one Great Egret.

A last call at Wells North Point pools.Many Lapwing here, plus a small flock of Golden Plover. Three more Marsh Harriers, idly cruising the far shore, terrorising all birds into heedless flight, soon returning to their previous positions.

 Natural Surroundings, March 9

It was worth putting the traps out. We had 40 moths of eight species, only one of them a Micro. Common Quaker was the leading number, there were 9. Best for me were the two Small Brindled Beauty and a Small Quaker, both new for the year.