A morning at Cley: Spoonbills and a Glossy Ibis (Eventually!)

Brian and Norman picked me up at 07.00 for a run up to Cley: the weather was sunny, but nowhere as hot as recently... We started off in Bishop's Hide, where Spoonbill (3) Bearded Tit (12+) and the 'usual waders' were good to see. A walk out to the centre hides added Green Sandpiper to the day list, but the Spoonbills had flown off!

Back to the reserve centre for coffee on the terrace, before walking the East Bank to the beach. Lots of Little and Sandwich Terns and plenty of butterflies along the path. The CBC Whatsapp sent us scurrying back to the centre Hides, where the Glossy Ibis had settled in with the returning Spoonbills - we were amused to watch it aggressively poking a Spoony on its rump! Since the weather was beginning to close in, we decided to call it a day: back home by 2.30.

Lunar Clearwing moth in the garden

While rummaging in the freezer yesterday, I came across a two year old pheromone lure for Lunar Clearwing. More in hope than anticipation, I hung it on the Buddleia bush outside my office window, but nothing came to investigate. Today Linda pointed out not one but three Lunars buzzing around the lure: amazing, since our garden is nowhere near any large trees...

Noctilucent clouds

Great friend Paul (who lives in Swadlincote) enjoyed a fabulous display of NLCs last night, at around 11.30. I had a look before I went to bed (after England's somewhat tedious soccer display!) but couldn't see any here in East Norfolk.

Strawberry full Moon

Those of you who either stay up late or get up early can enjoy a full Moon on the 30th: it will rise at midnight on the 29th and will be low in the west... It might appear slightly smaller and dimmer, because it is at its furthest point from the Earth in its orbit.

Sunspots!

Following the (brief) rain, a fairly impressive sunspot group... (As always: NEVER look at the Sun with optical instruments, cameras or the naked eye - I have special filters!)

The night sky in July

As promised during my chat with Jules Button this afternoon, here are July's astronomy notes and times when the International Space Station passes over East Anglia. I've added some photos I took of a stunning noctilucent cloud display - it really is worth looking out for them over the next few weeks...

Still no Mercury!

After sunset I made the short drive to the top of the heath, where I knew I could expect a dark, clear western horizon. Venus and Jupiter were easy to find (despite the haze over Norwich) but Mercury eluded me again...

Tonight's Moon

Hanging low in the south, the waxing gibbous Moon was a beautiful sight just after sunset: to the west Venus and Jupiter were visible, but I coiuldn't find Mercury...

North Coast with Brian & Norman

Back from our various trips out of Norfolk, we decided to brave the 30+ temperatures and check out the North Coast. First stop was Titchwell: no Spotted Flycatcher, just Grey Wagtail and Great Egret after a sticky trudge out to the main hide. We moved on to Holkham - no sign of yesterday's Ibises - and then had to take a horrendous detour almost back to Fakenham.

Cley gave us just seven Spoonbills (of various ages) a Ruff or two and lots of Little Ringed Plovers. Most notable were the huge clouds of Hirundines: mostly Sand Martins, but with Swallows and a few House Martins...

Linda and I enjoy a few 'jars!

Since it was a beautiful warm evening, Linda and I decided to head north for our annual Nightjar quest. Just for a change from the usual spots, we parked on the heath where I first encountered the species 45 years ago. After a short wait (spent in the company of a delightful couple on holiday from Yorkshire) several birds began churring at around 10.00pm. Soon after, we enjoyed close views of at least four Nightjars, zooming low down among the scrubby trees: one repeatedly perched somewhat distantly on the same small birch. Great fun!