Birthday supper!

Not for the first time, Peter and Sue joined Linda and me for a wonderful meal at the Tamarind, our local fine-dining Indian restaurant. The food was exquisite, not the least the special birthday starter the manager presented me with!

A quick dash for a Red-necked Grebe

The short drive to Thorpe Marshes reserve to look for the reported Red-necked Grebe looked as if it was going to be unsuccessful: a few year ticks (Little Grebe, Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker) were picked up during the muddy trudge to the riverbank, but vantage points are few and far between. I spent half an hour mardling with a fascinating 'big lister' from Bolton (I'm ashamed to admit I've forgotten his name!) before walking around the lakes again. A largish raft of Tufted Ducks included a Pochard and - as I realised just as they were all flushed off to Whitlingham - the target Grebe!

Canon or Pentax? Field test!

My new Canon R7 has already produced some very encouraging bird photos so I thought I'd see how it compares with the Pentax for astrophotography. Tonight's waning Moon was an ideal subject... I know which I prefer: how about you? (Canon at the top!)

The Stock Doves are back!

Despite our 'neighbour' cutting half our Sycamore tree's canopy away, a pair of delightful Stock Doves have begun prospecting the Owl box again! Every year so far they've been hoiked out by Jackdaws!

Shorelarks at Holkham: a birthday outing on the North Coast.

Just Brian and me today... An early start saw us trudging eastwards along Holkham Beach before anyone else had arrived. At the very end of the 'roped off area' I noticed a little movement which, through the bins, resolved itself into a flock of eight Shorelarks. We stood still and watched as they scurried nearer and nearer, eventually giving us both our best views of this engaging species. A walk back along the beach and through the pines to the Jordan Hide gave us a few year ticks, but none of the other recently-present scarcities. Heading back to Cley for coffee, we stopped at Stiffkey for very distant - and obscured - views of the Glossy Ibis.(Second image is Brian's!) Nothing new from Bishop's, the East Bank or the Coastguards apart from lots of Scoter (and possible Long-tailed Duck) Good to chat with a delightful lady-birder from Finland, as well as the equally delightful David from Norwich!

Birthday Moon!

The 'Wolf' full Moon popped out of the clouds in time for a snap with Mars this morning!

Beauty and war together in the sky...

Tonight Mars and the Moon are moving closer and closer: they'll practically snuggle up just after midnight. Beside them are the Heavenly Twins, Castor and Pollux.

Return of the Greenfinch!

Greenfinches became less frequent visitors to the garden a year or two back, but like Goldfinches they now come to the feeders on a daily basis: what beautiful birds they are - shame about the 'song'!

Tycho: probably the Moon's 'newest' major crater

Last night's clear sky allowed great views (and photos!) of the amazing crater Tycho. The material ejected during the impact that created it formed bright rays that, in several cases, pass right around the Moon. The fact that the rays cross 'seas', craters and mountain ranges proves they were formed quite recently: perhaps just a million years ago. It has been suggested by some lunar geologists and meteoriticists that some of the black, glassy tektites found on Earth had their origins in this massive impact event!

Great Spotted workout for the new camera!

Wow! Just wow! These are without doubt the best photos I've ever taken of a Great Spotted Woodpecker - on the Ginkgo tree at the far end of the garden. It just shows what can be achieved with the right kit in bright sunlight!

Planets dominate the night sky!

Yesterday's beautifully clear night allowed terrific views of four planets (five if you count the Earth!)
Venus and Jupiter are incredibly bright with Mars not far behind: you could have added Uranus, too, close by Jupiter and the Moon, but (at magnitude 5.4) you'd've needed binoculars. Finally: if you have a clear Eastern horizon, you could have glimpsed Mercury before dawn: at magnitude -0.3 it should be easily visible.

Looking East at 20.00

Looking South at 20.00

Looking West at 06.00

Garden work!

Linda and I did some overdue garden maintenance today, but there was plenty to keep us entertained!
The Sun showed a few spots as it sank to the horizon, while the crater fields on the waxing gibbous Moon were great to see.
Two of our resident Partridges are so tame they barely reacted as we moved around the garden: Goldfinches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew in and out all afternoon, while a female Marsh Harrier passed through just ten metres overhead...

Cattle Egrets at Halvergate

Since I had a long-overdue hair appointment in Acle, I decided I'd have to risk using the car despite its dodgy clutch. In the event I allowed far too much time (in case of a breakdown) and, to pass half an hour, visited the ever-present flock of Cattle Egrets along Branch Road, Halvergate. Today there were seven birds present (that I could see) and, despite their comparative abundance these days, I really enjoyed watching these engaging creatures.