Crescent Moon

Just before dawn the waning crescent Moon was a beautiful sight above the eastern horizon: to the south Saturn was visible (but not worth an attempt at photography!)

Wildlife survey at Hemblington All Saints

Today's survey was linked to a public wild flower ramble in the churchyard, with expert Lucy Seely on hand to identify what was found. Scarce and interesting wild plants included Crosswort, Pig Nut, Yellow Rattle and Cat's Ear...

Red-footed Falcon at Strumpshaw Fen

While getting ready to carry out this month's survey at Hemblington All Saints, I glanced at the pager to discover that the recently present Red-footed Falcon was performing in front of Reception Hide at the Fen: i calculated I had just enough time, so grabbed my camera and headed south!

As I arrived (around 8.45) I was just in time to see the bird leave the area and head south towards Fen Hide: I followed it! On entering the hide I was pleased to find only a couple of people already seated: one of these was warden Ben who kindly pointed out the target bird at the top of a willow tree. For half an hour I enjoyed acceptable (if distant) views as the Red-foot was pushed from  bush to bush by the resident Hobbies! 

Jupiter and Venus

I had to wait for an hour-long thunderstorm to clear, but the clouds eventually parted around 10.00pm

Lots of good birds at Cley and Hickling

A great day out with Brian and Norman, starting in Bishop's before moving to the Centre Hides. On the way we saw a distant falcon fly south: we all thought it looked quite good for Red-footed... Avocet Hide produced a flock of ten or more Cattle Egrets, as well as a very confiding Little Ringed Plover. (A juvenile Sedge Warbler did a passable impersonation of an Aquatic Warbler!)  A large flock of Black-tailed Godwits contained an orange-tagged bird and a single Bar-tailed Godwit. After coffee we carried out a half hour sea watch at the Coastguards, being entertained by Little, Sandwich and Common Terns.

With threatening clouds closing in we headed inland to Hickling, where an obliging Swallowtail and numerous Hobbies were good to see. Other birds included Spoonbill and Great Egret. (We were trapped in Bittern Hide for half an hour by a very active thunder storm!)

Conjunction

At around 22.30 last night the clouds finally parted in the west to reveal Jupiter and Venus a finger's width apart: all four of Jupiter's Galilean moons were visible. Tonight - if it's clear - the two planets will appear even closer...

Strumpshaw: lots of Hobbies, but no RFF: a Lesser Emperor was some compensation!

Linda was out at her various apiaries this morning, so it was quite frustrating to see a Red-footed Falcon come up on the pager. Fortunately, she arrived back at around 1.30, so I scooted off and was walking up to Fen Hide at 2.00. I picked out a falcon spiraling up into the blue sky, but - apart from a 'feeling - couldn't give it a definite i/d. Over the next three hours I saw and photographed lots of Hobbies and found a Lesser Emperor dragonfly, but no sign of the RFF. Plenty of friendly birders: good to bump into Dot, Steve and Drew and others who knew me through the blog: I enjoyed sharing a Swallowtail (and other butterflies) with a delightful couple from Wales.