The Moon crosses the Pleiades

Last night the waxing crescent Moon passed in front of the famous 'Seven Sisters' cluster (AKA: the Pleiades) It was a pretty spectacular sight - particularly if you're an Astronomer!

Garganeys, Dartfords and a Spotshank!

A sunny but cool day out for Brian, Norman and me began in Bishop's Hide at Cley. Still plenty of Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits, as well as a Ruff and a fly-through pair of Spoonbills, but nothing to set the pulses racing. A typically skulking Cetti's Warbler was good to see.

After coffee we moved to a nearby heath, where a walk around gave us views of Dartford Warbler: this being nesting season, we didn't hang around for 'better photos'. Lots of Linnets and a gorgeous Yellowhammer were welcome additions to the day's list.

Final stop was Hickling, where Brian and Norman finally connected with Garganey: two drakes and a duck. A spotted Redshank was a new bird for the year, and a Crane flew over the visitor centre as we left!

A day with friends in Walsingham

Great friend Margaret (Peter's sister) had decided to rent a beautiful, old house on the edge of the delightful pilgrimage town of Little Walsingham. She kindly invited us up for the day, enjoying the company of several of her chums who'd traveled up from all over the country. Sue & Peter were staying too, so it was a very joyful and relaxed gathering.

We made several long walks (totaling nearly ten miles!) both around the sites associated with the Marian tradition and through the beautiful surrounding countryside: raptors were everywhere, as were Chiffchaffs!

The Old Moon in the New Moon's arms

Tonight's crescent Moon - setting shortly after the Sun - was the most beautiful I can recall: absolutely stunning! As the sky darkened, the crescent grew progressively brighter and the Old Moon more visible...

The night sky in April

Here're my notes for April's broadcast on Suffolk Sound: still lots to see (following two eclipses in March!) and Orion is still a fantastic sight just after sunset...

Partial eclipse of the Sun

For once there were very few clouds to spoil this rare event! Linda and I enjoyed watching the eclipse with the traditional 'bowl of water' method, as well as using the filter we bought in Devon for the 1999 eclipse.
Here's a sequence leading up to maximum at just after 11.00am.

Snowman's monthly outing!

Poor little fellow is looking a bit 'freezer burnt': there wasn't enough snow to patch him up this Winter, so he's gone all crusty! Still: he's doing well for his age!

Comings and goings!

In the six years since we put up our owl box, not a single owl has shown the slightest interest in it (Although a Tawny once sat hooting on the roof!) However, that's not to say it's never occupied: every year there's a competition between pairs of Stock Doves and Jackdaws - which the corvids always win! Also: at the moment we're regularly visited by a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers that seem to enjoy the Gingko tree.