Crake craik at Titchwell!

An early start saw Norman and me in Island Hide, Titchwell by 08.30. Just three people present, but they had all seen at least one Spotted Crake: very quickly one of them (a really friendly birder from Derbyshire and his wife) found the adult in his scope and gave Norman and me the chance to locate the little skulker amongst the reeds.Then the third birder (another pleasant guy) located the juvenile bird in front of the somewhat distant bund to the north.

With the persistent rain dampening things off somewhat, we headed for Cley: not much to report from the hides, but a brief sea watch gave us Arctic Skua, Adult Gannet and Red-throated Diver for the daylist: and so home....

Crescent Moon and Mars

Before dawn the waning crescent Moon was close to Mars in the constellation Gemini: hard to get the camera settings right for all these objects, but you get the idea! (Jupiter was just out of the picture, below and to the left: see last image!)

Beautiful waning Moon

The dawn sky was incredibly clear this morning, allowing great views of the southern crater field and the walled crater Copernicus and its central peaks.

Unexpected Ibis!

I was fiddling about with the settings on my camera when a Glossy Ibis flew over the garden: the atmospherics are terrible, but you get the idea! This is, I think, only the second in thirty-odd years...

I must be getting old!

Even five years ago I'd have whizzed across to Lowestoft to photograph the juvenile Red-foot that's been hanging around for a few days - it would only be a forty minute drive. These days, however, I tend only to  drive any distance for a new year (or very rarely!) life bird: I've seen a R-f F this year, so I resisted the urge to use twenty quid's worth of diesel. However: if it's still there on Tuesday, when the 'Summer Wine Crew' have their weekly run-out, the bird might come into play!

Here's a photo of the little beauty at Rendlesham seven years ago!

Wonderful what a couple of day's rain can do!

The few centimetres of rain we've enjoyed over the past week have brought the garden right back to life: even the lawn! Last week it was as brown and short as a test pitch at Lord's, but it grew so much after a good soaking that I had to mow it on Tuesday afterrnoon: today's steady drizzle has done it the power of good!

Some decent birds at Cley - but not the migrants we'd hoped for...

Norman and I started early and were in Bishop's Hide before 07.30. A Little Stint was a good find, and Bearded Tits are always welcome. A walk right around the reserve turned up more interesting birds: the three Whinchat were probably the best of the bunch. (We were pleased to show them to old birding acquaintances Richard and Michael and grandson)

A visit to the centre hides (after scones!) gave us Wood Sandpiper and twenty or more Spoonbills, while the walk back produced a 'kettle' of ten Common Buzzards over the reserve. We checked out the'Skirts' and 'Hangs' for a while, before walking around Walsey Hills - apart from lots of Ivy Bees, nothing to report, so we left for home...

Britain's cutest birds?

This afternoon a flock of Long-tailed Tits spent an hour or so in the Buddleia, occasionally zipping across to the suet feeder outside my office window. They definitely get my vote as our cutest bird!

Last Summer outing for Snowie!

Actually our little snowman is more of an iceman these days: his years in the freezer have glazed and darkened him - his shape has changed too! Still: it was good to show him around the garden for a last look at the summer flowers. Meanwhile, as soon as a brief spell of sunshine hit the Buddleia, a Painted Lady and a Red Admiral appeared from nowhere!