Last Sink

Wednesday October 8

The damaged Butler sink I bought last year from a smallholding owner in North Walsham for 'only' £10, has been looking at me reproachfully ever since. Standing on its side near the shed, slowly filling with dead leaves it looked - and was - abandoned.

When the cold frame had finished its use for this year, there was room for Kevin to bring the sink round to its final position and stand the sink on bricks. I even scrubbed it immediately.

Some weeks (months?) later, when it had become cooler, I checked I had the necessary ingredients. Yes. Still no action.......

Girding my loins, I measured out the builders' sand and left it on a large tray in the greenhouse to dry off. Not essential but dry sand is easier to mix with the peat, potting compost and grit. More prevarication.

Eventually, I measured the remaining ingredients into the wheelbarrow, mixed it well  and it rained. The barrow was moved into the utility room.......

A few days later, immediately after rising, Pam and I found the mixing board, tipped the barrow's contents onto it, Pam mixed whilst I added the water until the hypertufa was the required consistency - just wet enough to clump together. Although I hate wearing them, this is definitely a rubber gloves job.

First, the sink's surface is coated with PVA glue, using an old paint brush, I do it in sections. The sink needs to be covered about 4-6 inches down the inside of the sink as well as the outside.

Then comes the firm  moulding on of handfuls of  the mixture, leaving a rough finish so that it looks like stone, under the bottom edge of the sink is essential. 

Cover the sink with damp sacks or plastic and leave on for 2-3 days. One to two weeks later, depending on the weather and how impatient one is, put a layer of permeable membrane in the bottom of the sink, and add crocks/large stones to the depth desired. This saves on compost and adds necessary drainage.

 Fill with a mix of 2 parts JI 2 or 3, 1 part sand, 1 part peat. 1 part alpine grit and a handful of bonemeal, well mixed beforehand. When settled, plant, add tufa rocks - one's own can be made if there is any hypertufa left over. The final act is to add a top dressing of alpine grit, I shall do so this weekend. Phew. Enjoy.

The recipe for hypertufa is available from the Alpine Garden Society website.

October Round-up - So Far

October 1-3

The first was occupied by Coffee morning and a flu jab. The latter made us feel sprightly in comparison with the others lined up. Worth going for that ! 

The 2nd started with moth trap opening at Cley, followed by coffee and a scone with Aileen  and Bridget on A's 80th birthday. She looked well.

In between we registered Ruff, Marsh Harrier, Wigeon and Golden Plover on and over the marsh. We had a quick look at the west bank marsh in search of Stonechat and  the Eye Field, before driving home. 

At least one Marsh Tit and Coal Tit are  regular vocal visitors to the garden bird feeders at the moment. Tawny Owls are calling from the wood - in daylight - and the sound of rutting Red Deer is not infrequent. We often hear Chinese Water Deer and Muntjac, this is the first year the Red have been close enough to hear. A few House Martins are still present, for how long I wonder.

Autumn moths are making an appearance in our garden trap. Yellow Underwings are disappearing, Beaded Chestnut and Lunar Underwings have increased. The beautiful Merveille du Jour and Dusky Thorn are beginning to appear

Merveille du Jour

Dusky Thorn - wings never flat

We are also still getting second broods of earlier moths such as Yellowtails and Brimstone. I am becoming more aware of the seasonality of moths.

October 3rd

It never seems right doing our 'big day' on anything other than the 1st - this one wasn't. We set off at 6.30 in thick sea mist (haar) which didn't clear until we were well past Holt. It was a lovely sunny day by valley Farm Lane, it was almost as though there had been an invisible wall. One side haar, the other, blue sky and sun. No Tree Sparrows nor Little Owl to-day. Nor was there anything to add - apart from Coot - at Abbey Farm. The water there has diminished to two small pools again, the spring is low after a very dry September.

As we drove west, the haar descended again. That made viewing at Snettisham, in addition to the tide at its nadir, very frustrating. I got cross with the couple in a car which sped past us on the way in, we found them parked at the first hide. They got out, not a binocular between them, carrying a plastic container, proceeding to pick blackberries. I was all for asking them if they had a permit but Pam persuaded me not to !

Waders included a beached flock of Golden Plover, a scattering of Grey Plover, several still in their black aprons, Numerous Redshank, Curlew and Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, 1 little Stint and Black-tailed Godwits. The Knot were scattered about, the large flocks were probably on the shore. This Little Egret fed along the inshore pit, water gleaming silver behind it, disappointingly, the photo doesn't do it justice.

 As we left, the sun broke through and we had a glorious day. The blackberries at the gate entrance were large, sweet and delicious. Pam nearly drove off without me, waiting the other side of the gate for me to close it. That's what she said anyway. I can't even take some back for her as she dislikes them - then she enjoyed Blackberry and Apple Crumble at the caravan with M and K yesterday (hm......).

No Fulmar at Hunstanton, about 20 Common Scoter flew past.

Seeing Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier and Kestrel in five minutes at Holme was notable. One Greenshank and a lone Avocet amongst the Mallard and Wigeon on the Broadwater.

Not a good day species wise and one lacking in 'hwyl' for both of us. Which came first? Enjoyable though, really good to be out.

Empty creeks apart from Curlew, at Thornham. 

Not even any Brent on the marsh. (We saw a regular procession of them flying past the Dunwich caravan, which has spectacular sea views, on Saturday.  A vismig experience). 

'Cos I fancied it, I tried some shots of a soaring Marsh Harrier. 

A walk at Cley was also declined, the day did not reach 70 species and did not include Great Tit, amongst many other 'misses'. And... the ice-cream van wasn't at Salthouse.

Not Just Moths

Wednesday September 17th

Happy Birthday grandson Harry, who is 16 to-day. I got through to him whilst he was at his birthday meal in an Italian restaurant, awaiting his calzone. 

Home from an early dental appointment, time to empty the moth trap. Over 100 in number - we counted 125 but some always fly away - of 30 species. Nothing new for the year nor the garden, but an always spectacular, both in size and looks - Red Underwing and two Oak Hook-tips were the most attractive. Yellow Underwings galore, Setaceous Hebrew Characters and 30 Lunar Underwings made up the majority, normal for Autumn. 

The trap attracts other wildlife too. Yesterday at Natural Surroundings, a toad had found its way in plus our first Lilac Beetle.

The beetle is lilac and blue on its underside, difficult to photograph well through a mucky pot whilst it's paddling its legs like mad - a natural reaction to being on its back !

To-day, we had a huge 5cm long beetle which we are yet to identify, 

Large Diving Beetle - another one at Cley on Thursday

dozens of Shield Bugs, a few spiders and a Hornet. 

The Hornet is 4cms in length, a fearsome looking beast. The last three have been dead in the bottom of the trap, to-day's wasn't, its wings frantically quivering, warming up to take flight.

A Scorpion Fly escaped to rest on the back of my hand. This is the female which does not have the male's scorpion-like up-pointing tail.

Productive Days

Tuesday September 16

Yesterday's very busy pager, reporting the many migrants along the east coast during a spell of easterlies with coastal fog, was frustrating. I was busy harvesting, shucking, blanching, cutting off the kernels and freezing corn cobs.

After a moth trapping session at Natural Surroundings, full of hope, we set off for Garden Drove, east of Wells. Which one of the 'unsafe for vehicles' tracks north is Garden Drove? Not marked on the very large scale map book nor on the track itself. Local folklore! Fortunately, distant memory took us to the right one. In the 80s we had been able to drive right down to the gate onto the marsh where there was just enough room to turn and park. Nowadays, one has to park on the concrete pad at the end of the driveable section, keeping field entrances clear. The 200-300 metre track down to the marsh is narrow,  heavily rutted, lined by mature trees and shrubs, giving  dodgy walking conditions for the elderly unsure of foot. We hadn't expected to see as many parked cars nor the numbers of birders - mostly older  - scattered around the tree belt lining the marsh.

Nearing the gate, Dave H ran past telling us that two Honey Buzzards were over the marsh. We didn't run.......couldn't. We got there in time to see one gliding away across the tree-tops.Phew. Time to look for and see, two Red-breasted Flycatchers, our first Spotted Flycatcher of the year (!) and make a hasty retreat back to the car for a drive to the toilet block at Wells. No bush stops to-day, too many birders. I would have liked to have seen the male Redstart further on down the track. We took the upper way back, along the field edge, which was much better walking. 

Relieved, we drove to Salthouse, parking in the track leading to Kelling Quags. 300 yards down the track, a few birders gazed at a willow thicket. We joined them. I'd taken a stool this time so could wait in relative comfort. A beautiful Yellow-browed Warbler fed,  restlessly flitting through the centre and back of the willows. I had very good binocular views, probably the most prolonged ever, at a comfortable viewing height. None of the usual painful neck craning. The many branches impeding camera viewing and focusing meant that I had not even tried a shot. Suddenly, the bird appeared in a clearer area. I pressed the shutter .......nothing. Hm, I only changed the battery last week when nothing showed in the display. I did so again when I got home, still nothing. Despond, the electrics must have died.Never had a camera go wrong before and it's only 3-4 years old. Worse... I've carried it all day to no avail. Just as well I didn't have the possibility of achieving the crippling shots Penny C has on her Blog.
Plenty of birders' rumours abounded to-day. The buzzards were Common - someone had a photo purporting to be of a Honey. It wasn't. There certainly were both sorts there.
The reported  Icterine Warbler at Garden Drove - another photograph reporting - was a Willow Warbler. And so it goes on. Men's stuff. Some seem to delight in bad mouthing other birders, Lee came in for more than his fair share of this. He was there to-day, scoffing at the 'I can see wingbars' etc plus other calls - of the same bird, which was a mooted Barred Warbler when it was the often confused, juvenile Garden Warbler. Part of birding which we walk away from.

Another Early Morning

Thursday September 11

Cley Centre moth trap opening morning. At 9.00, very few people had arrived and only 2 traps had been delivered - on top of the mound where there are cafe picnic tables. Every week is a surprise. The 'usual' bottom car park was being used by contractor's cars - they had excavated the area in front of the old Centre in order to place a sewage tank for the new toilet block. Greg appeared and disappeared, returning after 10 minutes looking a bit miffed. Bernard had forgotten to put the trap out last night. At least he came over to apologise although his demeanour was defensive, an antithesis of  the words spoken.

Eventually, a rather leisurely session with enough moths to keep us amused with a couple of goodies. Gold Spot - a Macro - and Schoenobius gigantella - a Micro.

The Micro was discussed over a drink in the cafe so I didn't have the opportunity to photograph it.

Via Kelling to have a futile look for the Eastern Bonelli's Warbler - it was reported last night but everyone seemed rather sceptical - we drove to Cromer. Unsurprisingly, nowhere to park along the front so it had to be the main car park. We walked to the pier area, viewing from the esplanade in front of the Hotel de Paris. The few gulls present were rather distant and the walk down to the lower esplanade was vertiginously daunting. Down - fine, BUT back up? No way. Especially with a hospital visit for ultrasound injections in both shoulders for Pam later on to-day. My knees aren't good to-day either - great yesterday. 

We managed to identify a Yellow-legged Gull and a probable Caspian but the latter was a bit stringy. Another visit required.......investigating a different approach road.

Friday September 12

A good moth catch last night in the Robinson MV.  50+ of at least 22 species excluding Micros. Our first Snouts of the year, although we've had several elsewhere, and our first Flame this year. Will try and take a better pic later as we have it tubed in the fridge.

Efforts Rewarded

Sunday September 7

Many commoner migrants had landed along the east coast this week. In Norfolk, the landing places are Blakeney Point, Winterton North and South Dunes, Wells Woods and Yarmouth Cemetery. None of these are favourites of ours. I like Winterton South Dunes but parking is almost impossible.Cley looked like a good start.

Walsey Hills was the first port of call. As usual, many frustrating sightings of birds flitting into and out of sight in the thick vegetation and trees. Chiffchaffs fly-catching, making vertical ascents out of the Hawthorn were the most attainable. Reaching the end of the path, a Garden Warbler sang from the right, two Pied Flycatchers, Willow Warbler, Blackcaps and more Chiffchaffs fed in the thick sunlit ivy, its mass of flowers buzzing with insects. Lovely.

The East Bank's Wryneck had left overnight, time for Cley Centre where we found Steve and Dot with Steve's mum. After a chat and refreshments, we drove to Blakeney Harbour where a Red-backed Shrike had been seen 'in the bushes by the pond'. We parked near the entrance to Friary Hills and scanned the hedge - until a man we've known since he was a teenager, greeted us, leaning on an open window. He was after the Shrike too. Another approaching birder said that he'd seen it - near a 'pond' out along the bank towards the seashore.

Off we walked, along the rough track being used by the machinery re-shaping the defences after the storm surge.

One really does not expect to find bi-lingual, Welsh/ English signs in Norfolk.

Near the machinery, a hedge leading towards the raised bank held the 1st winter Red-backed Shrike. It was seldom still, using the length of the hedge to hunt, apparently unconcerned about the people walking nearby. Despite the distance, after carrying my camera all that way, I took some 'record shots'. One was sharp enough to enlarge.

The trudge back crossed a still, reed-lined dyke along which a male Common Skimmer darted, hovered and dived. I've never attempted flying shots before.........a challenge.

After visiting Natural Surroundings to clear the way (subs) for Tuesday's moth trapping, (No-one told us that one had to become a member to attend - until Greg did at Cley last Thursday. Embarrassing. I apologised and Andrew was very gracious and grateful for our donation. Good that that's sorted.) news came through that the Western Bonelli's had re-appeared at Kelling after several hours' absence. We called in on the off-chance that it was showing, finding a crowd of about 40 birders staring hopefully at a conifer at the back of the school. No way could we stand for any length of time and the chairs had been removed from the boot (to make room for transporting the mower for repair). It would be a Norfolk tick too. Steve S tweeted that he waited nearly 3 hours. Fingers crossed that it stays.

Titchwell with Sue

Friday September 5

These days out never start early as Sue has to drive here from Burghapton. We didn't get to Titchwell Reserve until  10.30. The west pool had 2 young Red-crested Pochards, a Common Pochard, Tufted Duck and 2 Little Grebes.

As we passed the Reedbed Pool, I looked down to adjust my scope and.......Pam and Sue saw a Bittern make a brief flight. Bother. We met Dave H soon after who said that they were showing frequently this week. Not for me.

Settling on the bench before Island hide to view the reedbed and part of the Fresh Pool, we had a lovely half an hour listening to Cetti's,  watching a male Bearded Tit feeding on Rosebay Willow Herb and a family of two + juvenile and one adult Reed Warbler. Pam called a Hobby flying over, much to the delight of the group we'd gathered behind us.

The Fresh pool held a host of rather distant waders. I scoped, 8+ Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stint, Greenshank, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin and Ringed Plover. I had counted 22 Avocets when Ray K,  passing by, told us that a Wryneck had been seen at the back of Fen Hide. I'd been looking forward to walking on and seeing more waterbirds but that news was too tempting. 

In the vanguard of a general exodus, we made our best pace (still slow) along the Meadow Trail. Seeing that the shorter part of the trail leading to the Centre was now closed, new boardwalk being layed, was not encouraging for the return walk. 

The Wryneck had appeared, very briefly, in the hedge to the south of Patsy's Pool. A good dozen still looking, no-one had seen it - apart from Dave H. I sat on the bench overlooking the pool. finding Snipe and the usual ducks, before turning to scan the hedge where 'loads of warblers' had been reported.  I saw one Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff.

Lunch was eaten sitting on the newish seat at Thornham, which was lovely. Not as many birds to-day, still some noisy terns but far fewer. The sea was calm and empty too. Our first winter Pinkfeet flock flying in off the sea, was a bonus.

We now had an ominous sky and the first drops of rain. A quick visit to Burnham Overy before driving to Cley. I had hoped to walk East Bank for the Wryneck followed by Walsey Hills for migrant passerines. All parking places were full. After a consoling ice-cream at Salthouse, we drove home.

Moth trapping has been enjoyable lately. We saw a rare for Norfolk, Micro moth at Cley, Argyrotaenia Ljungliana. Someone brought it in to be identified.

Our own garden produced these - amongst others - on Friday night.

Bordered Beauty

Frosted Orange

The excitingly named...Cabbage Moth

From the left, Cabbage, Elephant Hawkmoth, Small Cream Wave