Bill Oddie: RIP

If I was asked what influences transformed me from a birdwatcher to a birder / lister, I'd have to pick out two books: 

A Twitcher's Diary, by Richard Millington:

....and Bill Oddie's The Big Bird Race:

I've met both authors on many occasions: I first bumped into RGM at the famous (notorious?) Nancy's Cafe in Cley back in the early eighties. Although he spends a lot of his time antique dealing these day's, he can still be seen around the Cley square. If you've never read his twitcher's diary, you really should! It's a memoire of the golden days when a life list of 300 still put you in the top couple of hundred UK birders!

The first time I met Bill Oddie was by the roadside at Stiffkey, in the 'Flint Barn Layby'. I was pleased to show him a Red Kite in the distant conifer belt - still a rare bird in those days. He was a member of a team that took part in a televised 24 hour Bird Race in 1982, being beaten by another group including Bill Urwin, the Head of Key Stage 2 at Acle Primary that I replaced in 1986. This book inspired me to take part in several subsequent bird races, a couple of which my team - The Cley Casuals - won. We received our prize from Bill at the Rutland Bird fair! I met Mr Oddie on numerous other occasions, and - I'm pleased to say - never once mentioned the Goodies!

What to look out for in the August night sky: eclipses and the ISS

A month with major solar and lunar eclipses, as well as the best meteor shower of the year!

Is there any sport that isn't rigged these days?

With the shenanigans that denied Lewis Hamilton his eighth drivers' championship in 2021 (and including other slightly sketchy previous results) yesterday's three place grid penalty is beginning to raise eyebrows and cause many F1 fans to wonder whether the FIA and / or stewards are desperate to prevent the GOAT from challenging for this year's title and breaking Schumacher's record. We are very lucky to have an athelete like Lewis who is patriotic, modest and dedicated to his sport: his international fan-base shows how much he is admired by the rest of the world...

The Moon and Venus

Yes, I know: 'Again?' but both are such dramatic objects just after sunset - Venus actually is much brighter in reality.

Hummer: the video!

Hummingbird Hawkmoth!

These delightful little insects are daily visitors to the garden at the moment, allowing me to take some decent photos from my office window...

Odds and ends!

There's a semi-wild flock of Guinea Fowl on the Heath - one of half a dozen I've come across in Broadland. There are certainly more of these around than Golden or Lady Amherst's Pheasants: have there been any breeding records?

My mate - 'Butterfly Paul' from Derbyshire - sent me these photos he took near his Swadlincote home yesterday: a good inland record, I should imagine..

Ravens at Houghton Hall

While we were following the Chadwick sculpture trail at Houghton Hall, a family group of four Ravens flew past, 'cronking' loudly. Unfortunately I only had an 18 - 135 mm lens on my camera, so not terrific images...

Lynn Chadwick at Houghton Hall

Linda and I joined friends Sue, Peter and Margaret for a thoroughly enjoyable day at Houghton Hall, walking six miles around the hall and park to view 32 pieces by artist Lynn Chadwick. There are works by numerous other sculptors, including three by a favourite of mine, Antony Gormley. A great day out, with plenty of coffee and cakes that finished with a terrific Indian meal at our local restaurant, the Tamarind. Here are just a few images...

Lunar 'X' and 'Y'

Last night's waxing first quarter Moon was a beautiful object just above the southern horizon: the famous clair-obscur features that resemble the letters X and Y (or V if you prefer!) were plainly visible on the terminator.

Red-backed Shrike and other goodies!

Norman picked up Brian and me at 07.00 for a morning's tour around a couple of Broadland hotspots. First stop was Hickling, where an adult male Red-backed Shrike eventually posed somewhat distantly for photos: we were kept entertained by 18+ Cranes, lots of Whitethroats (Greater and Lesser) and a male Stonechat. A stop at the viewing platform added Green Sandpiper and Great White Egret to the day list.

After coffee and scone at Potter Heigham we decided to head home via Ranworth, parking by the Church and walking out to the Reserve Centre. On the way we enjoyed seeing half a dozen Swallowtail caterpillars, as well as an enormous Longhorn Beetle (Musk?) From the boat stage at the centre we could pick out the comings and goings of the Ospreys as they fed their now-fledged youngster, while another Great White and a Spoonbill side by side were noteworthy.

A stop at the hide on the walk back to the car gave us fleeting views of a male Kingfisher, while yet another Hummer was good to see by the Church cafe.