SYNERGY rock the Acle Beer Festival

We'll be 'avin' it large at Acle Academy on Sunday: see you there!

A fistful of year ticks in the Brecks

It being half term, Brian, Norman and I elected to visit the Brecks for a morning-only run round. First stop was Lynford, where a patient search failed to produce a conclusive Hawfinch, but gave us (always distant) views of Yellowhammer, Siskin and Brambling. From there we moved on to the Goshawk layby near Cressingham: again, although we saw two or three Goshawks they were always distant. (Nice to meet old teaching colleague Duncan McNiven and his delightful wife.) A few distant Woodlarks sang to the south of the road.

After a short drive to Becket End we searched in vain for the reported Ruddy Shelduck among a flock of Egyptian Geese. Last stop was a totally bird-free Santon Downham, so home for lunch!

Hot off the presses!

My autobiography is finally at the printers and can be pre-ordered by e-mail at the special price of £14.50, including post and packing: david_bryant51@hotmail.com

Everyone who's read it reckons it's a bit of a page turner and manages to be both entertaining as well as nostalgic and informative...

The Moon and International Space Station

This morning the ISS glided past the waning gibbous Moon: strange to watch it and then reflect on the two US astronauts currently trapped aboard waiting for a lift 'home'...

Back at the Prince Regent!

Despite the snow and freezing winds, a terrific crowd turned up to rock the night away: we didn't finish until well past midnight! Thanks to all the Synergystas who make our gigs such fun!

Ducks Deluxe!

 It's very easy when you live in a bird-rich county like Norfolk to take for granted the fabulous 'hard fowl' that visit in the Winter. As well as the huge flocks of wild geese (which often act as carriers for rare species) we are also blessed with large numbers of ducks. Looked at closely, these can be really beautiful creatures...

The future of conservation...

Over the past few months I've given talks to some wonderful local conservation groups, including the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists Trust, BADCOG, Friends of Hemblington Church. Bure Valley Conservation Group and so on. What I invariably notice on these occasions is that the average age of the audience (and of the work parties on their websites) tends to be 60+

These groups - and many, many others around the country - do amazing work maintaining local habitats and recording their wildlife: their efforts are rarely publicised, never glamorous and often arduous and dirty. These lovely people are not counting raptors crossing the Straits of Gibraltar, looking for rare waders in Indo-china, visiting Albatross colonies in the Pacific nor any of the other vaunted 'projects' undertaken by high-profile post-grad 'conservation workers'.  I do wonder just how much enthusiasm for the environment 'Generation Z' actually has...

Prince Regent Gig

SYNERGY are playing at the 'Prince' again this Saturday: it's a late one - 9.00pm until midnight. We've got some new numbers to debut, so it should be a great evening!

Snowman among the spring flowers!

Definitely not spring-like weather today, but the Little Snowman insisted on checking out the flowers. 

Butterfly talk for BADCOG

At 7.30pm on Friday (Valentine's Day!) I'm giving a talk on the Butterflies of Norfolk, for the good people of the Blofield & District Conservation Group, the venue being Strumpshaw Village Hall (near the Shoulder of Mutton)

Decent birds on the North Coast - despite the weather!

As usual, Brian, Norman and I wrapped up warmly and headed north: when we arrived at the Coastguards I was instantly grateful to Linda for the Valentine's gift of an electrically heated gilet!
A few Scoter were loitering quite close inshore, but I don't think there were any Velvets with them.
We moved to Bishop's where it was pleasant to chat with the regular Tuesday crowd: a decent flock of Avocets was about the best of it, until eagle-eyed Jacqui B pointed out a group of Water Pipits in front of Dauke's Hide. We trotted round and quickly located three individuals on a low, muddy island: apart from an obliging Little Egret, there was little else to look at, so we adjourned for coffee.

Next stop - on a whim - was Stiffkey: as we drove past the marshy meadows to the east of the village, I picked out the Glossy Ibis quite close to the road. Brian kindly pulled over into a gateway, allowing me to take a few shots.

We ended the day at Titchwell, where flocks of Golden Plover, several pairs of Pintail and an almost totally obscured Tawny Owl were about the best of it!

Red-breasted Merganser at Ormesby

Perseverance pays off! With all my 'meteorite jobs' taken care of (after a 5.00am start!) and with Linda busy making beeswax products, I decided on another bash at the female or juvenile Merganser at Ormesby. The weather (while still decidedly wintry) was better than yesterday and I quickly located the colourful sawbill to the north of the A149 bridge. (Several drake Goldeneye still, too)

Mission accomplished I headed on to Yarmouth, spending half an hour in a futile search for Black Redstarts, returning home via Halvergate, where four Cattle Egrets were still present.