Since Linda and I had a bit of shopping to do, we thought we'd combine a visit to ASDA with a quick look for the reported Ring Ouzel at the Lakenham Car Boot field. There were only a couple of small gaps in the hedge, but - with perseverance - we managed distant, fleeting views and a couple of photos. Incidentally: I've never seen so many rabbits in my life!
Since Brian and Norman are both off on their travels, I was in need of a morning in the fresh air. Accordingly Linda and I decided on a walk around Hickling NNT reserve, before a visit to buy bird food at nearby Latham's.
Despite the watery sunshine, the air was still coolish, but Wilow Warblers had obviously arrived in some numbers and were calling from every suitable copse! Also new for the year were several Whitethroats and - star birds - at least half a dozen Garganey on Brendon's Marsh, including four males. A confiding Crane was good to see, as were three Cootlets taking their first swim in front of Secker's Hide.
Despite a cool breeze and the threat of rain, Linda, Sue, Peter and I managed to fit this month's survey in among all our other planned activities! Just a few signs of spring, but the low temperature (just 8 degrees) kept most species hunkered down. Best bird, I suppose, was the female Merlin that flew low right in front of our car by Hemblington Hall.
On the short drive home Linda and I stopped to say hello to one of 'our' local Little Owls: angry-looking little chap, isn't he?
Here are the passes by the ISS for the next few weeks: these include several incredibly bright transits. Sadly, however, they are all very early in the morning!
A very sad day for Linda - and me - as the beehives are transported fifteen miles away to their new location on a Broadland farm. Many thanks to Katie and Pete for their advice, help and new site.
Our visit from the Environmental Protection Officer confirmed that we were under no obligation to move the hives: he described our garden as a '...haven for wildlife' and gave us his card in case our 'neighbour' (I use the term as a purely geographical term) caused us any further distress.
Hopefully Linda can continue to keep hives and produce quality honey for years to come.
Linda and her bee-keeping colleague Pete spent the morning 'packing up' the bees, ready for a move to a new site (about twenty minutes away) Luckily the weather was perfect: warm, still and sunny. Time for Snowie to put in an appearance!
Last night I was invited to give a presentation about dragon and damselflies to the Acle Women's Institute. Despite it being over twenty years since I was a teacher at the village school, there were quite a few present who remembered me: I'd even taught some of their children! Most enjoyable evening: thankyou, ladies.
On the way home the clouds parted briefly and I was able to grab a photo of the waxing crescent Moon, just above Jupiter in the western sky.
No Norman today, but Brian and I nevertheless zipped down to MInsmere to see if we could catch up with the Bitterns. We hadn't even left the car park when we heard our first Nightingale of the year! After an hour or so in Island Mere Hide (enlivened by a distant Crane and a pair of charming Little Grebes - Brian's photo!) we finally enjoyed reasonable views of a smallish Bittern in a reed-filled ditch.
We carried on around the reserve, adding Sand Martin, Sandwich Tern, Barnacle Goose, Bar-tailed Godwit, Med Gull and all the other expected East Scrape regulars, before an enjoyable lunch at the reserve centre.
Following a fruitless search for Ouzels, Stone Curlews and Dartfords by the Dunwich sandpit, we ended the day at Hen Reedbeds, where the only wader on the Hide Scrape was a Spotted Redshank!
