What a whopper!

Flower Bees fly so quickly - and erratically - that it's not easy to see or photograph the amazingly disproportionate proboscis of the tawny-coloured males...

Stunning crescent Moon

The skies were absolutely cloudless at sunset, allowing terrific views of the waxing crescent Moon and Venus again...

Unexpected aurora!

A glance from the office window at 22.00 revealed that an auroral display was in progress: I put a camera on a tripod and took some photos from my front garden (The final image reveals why I couldn't use the back garden - next door's uplighters!) No obvious rays, but beautiful colours.

Later during the night (around 01.30) I took a few more: despite quite dense mist, it was obvious that the display was even more intense.

Venus and the Moon

Just after sunset (around 18.30) a very thin crescent Moon was just above the super-bright planet Venus in the western sky: a spectacular sight: I could even photograph the conjunction from my back door!

First cut!

Three days of continuous sunshine meant that Linda and I could catch up with lots of garden jobs. Our clay-based soil takes ages to warm up and dry, but today I was able to mow the lawn and cut the edges. Lots of pruning - the pitcher plants, Eucalyptus and Buddleia all got a severe cut-back - and Linda restocked the herbaceous borders with biennials and perennials. Won't be long before we're enjoying a glass of something cold and fizzy on the patio!

A Redpoll day in the Brecks

It was a gloriously sunny day with barely a breath of wind, which Linda, Sue, Peter and I had chosen to spend in the Brecks. First stop (having endured the nightmare of the A11 roadworks!) was Mayday Farm. The very first bird we saw was a Woodlark, on phone wires by the parking area: the only one we encountered all day! In between the F-15s and F-35s we steadily added interesting birds to the list: a couple of Goshawks, numerous Buzzards and Kites and a Raven. Best of all, though, were the Redpolls, Siskins and Goldfinches that were visiting a little drinking pool by the main track. Nearby, the 'screen pool' wasn't so productive: just a couple of Yellowhammers.

After lunch at Brown's, we visited Weeting Heath: so sad to see this great little reserve being left unmanned, with no information board - or icecreams! No Stone Curlews, either...

Last stop was Cockley Cley, where just a few Hares and Linnets were about the best we saw: we wound the day up with tea and cakes in Swaffham!

Venus!

Venus is currently a brilliant object, visible in the west after sunset...

Not much at Cley, but a Bittern-fest at Hickling!

As usual, Brian, Norman and I headed to Cley in the hope of some newly-arrived waders or hirundines. Despite an hour in Bishop's and a walk right around the Walsey Hills circuit, all we managed were fleeting views of a Chiffchaff and the expected waders: lots of Red Kites over the reserve, though...

After coffee we decided to go home via Hickling, where (despite two coachloads of primary kids!) we enjoyed much better views of a couple of Chiffchaffs and excellent - if brief - close-ups of a Bittern. Good to bump into Chris & Mark, who gave us the 'heads up' about the Bittern!

Vintage guitars for sale!

As you'll all know: I'm retiring from live music (after 60+ years!) and am intending to sell a couple of guitars and an amp. The Fender Strat is a US built standard, made in 1986/7 and is in nearly immaculate condition: the electro-accoustic is a Fender (China) Sonoran: again, nearly mint and beautiful to play. The amplifier is a Roland Cube, 20watt GX. Incredible little amp, with two channels, loads of effects etc. (Cases included!)

Stratocaster:  £1200
Sonoran:  £120
Roland Cube:  £120

Make an offer, or you could bundle two or all three for a special price!
e-mail: david_bryant51(AT)hotmail.com