Some decent seawatching on the North Coast

Three year ticks today! With early morning drizzle, an easterly wind and work going on by all the hides on the reserve, Norman and I spent an hour sea watching at the Coastguards. We were rewarded with close views of Red-throated Divers (most in summer plumage) Razorbills, Guillemots, Gannets and Little Gulls: best of all an Arctic Skua chased a group of Sandwich Terns quite close in. A Bonxie was too far out to photograph...

A walk along the Iron Road produced a couple of possible Caspian Gulls and dozens of Mipits but little else, so we returned to the VC for coffee, followed by a stroll out to the sea along the East Bank. A Razorbill and lots more Gannets were close in and a couple of fly-bys seemed good for winter-plumaged Black Terns. A drake Eider was another pleasant surprise! Walsey Hills was next, where a brief wait was rewarded by views of a flittery Yellow-browed Warbler - I managed just a single photo!

We finished the day at Kelling Quag, where a female Stonechat posed nicely, as did the eleven Red Kites and two Buzzards that circled low overhead! (Remember when both were scarce in Norfolk?)

Amazing sunset

Just for a few minutes tonight the western sky glowed with beautiful bands of orange, red and gold....

Last of the Hummer wine!

There are just two or three flowers left on our Buddleia, so I was astonished to see this Humminbird Hawkmoth from the kitchen window. Because its chosen flower was around the back and almost out of sight, I managed just two dodgy shots - still: the latest I've ever seen a Hummer.

Shine on Harvest Moon!

With a more or less cloud-free sky, tonight's 'Harvest' Moon was a splendid sight, peeping over the hedge at 19.20 tonight. Half an hour later, Saturn appeared, below and to the left.

Unusual Raptor at Hemblington church

While Linda and I were unlocking All Saints today, we noticed a slate-grey raptor moving away across the fields beyond the dew pond. It seemed bigger than a Sparrowhawk, but greyer than a Buzzard. I expect it was just an unusual buteo colour variation: certainly interesting to see, not the least the way it flew off half a metre above the ground

Suffolk Sound: the night sky and ISS in October

I've just (3.45) finished my monthly chat with the charming Jules Button on Suffolk Sound radio (available online for a day or two) As promised, here are some things to look out for in October...

Could this become a Nutcracker year?

It's reported that there's been a westward movement of Nutcrackers into Norway: if this continues, a few people's lists might gain a new species! I've seen two: the first in Westleton in November 1985, the second in Cocknage Wood, south of Stoke in October 1992. Obviously, I'd be pleased to add the species to my photo library! (Interesting to see how my 'art' developed between those dates!)

One day off full...

Saturday's Harvest Moon will rise around 18.20 and should look pretty spectacular: being just above the horizon it will seem larger than normal. Here's today's gibbous Moon, just one day off full.

A second Stork dip...

I'm not blaming RBA for missing a White Stork near Woodton today, but I think some of their phone-in reporters could try to be a little more concise! As you can see from the images below, a White Stork was reported in the same region as earlier this month: Linda and I were on site by 10.15, but - despite cruising the lanes for over an hour - there was no sign. I phoned RBA and they were honest enough to admit that they'd posted a 'third-hand sighting' and had no idea where the Stork was...

Dew pond birds!

The High Noon Lane dew pond was full of life this morning: as well as the semi-resident Green Sandpiper, a Meadow Pipit, a flock of Linnets and a pair of White Wagtails visited for a drink! Nearby we were pleased to see several Yellowhammers on the wires..

Tuesday Moon

These photos of last night's waxing gibbous Moon reveal the extent of the rays of impact debris spreading out from the crater Tycho: some actually pass completely around the Moon.