Monthly survey at Hemblington Church (May 2026)

Just Linda, 'new' Susan and me today: beautiful, sunny morning with some decent birds. The Yellowhammer appeared after our 11.00am cut off, so isn't on the list!

Bee-eaters!

Linda had a hospital appointment this morning, so I was hoping she wouldn't have to endure the usual two hour wait: in the event she was home really quickly and we were soon off to Hempstead to look for the reported flock of thirteen Bee-eaters. Amazingly they were present when we arrived and there was a decent place to park!

We enjoyed watching these beautiful birds (albeit at about half a mile range) before driving the short distance to friend KT's house. It was without doubt the bees from the N&DBKA's nearby apiary that were providing lunch for the colourful visitors!

Bittern at Cley: a short video

I've often seen Bitterns in flight at Cley, but never had prolonged views like this!

Rare treat: Bittern at Cley

Norman, Brian and I visited Cley for a morning's chat and birding. No sign of the Wryneck, so we walked out to the Centre Hides: amazingly they were completely empty! Two Wood Sandpipers on South Pool and several Common Sands on Whitwell. A Great White stalked the edges of Simmonds..

Best of all, though, was the small, dark Bittern that suddenly emerged in front of Avocet Hide, allowing us our best-ever views of the species at Cley. I 'whatsapped' it straight away and we were soon joined by Julian and many others: our cue to leave!  (Interesting to see a huge flock of Dunlin on Pat's...)

After tea and scones at the VC, we took a quick look from Bishop's, before moving on to  Babcock Hide: just a few of the regular warblers and a single Wheatear. Back to the East Bank, where a short sea watch added Little Tern to the year list, while distant Yellow Wagtails were new for the other two. Last stop was a nearby heath, where we all enjoyed hearing a couple of Turtle Doves purring away.

Why can't they ever get it right?!

This afternoon I settled down to watch the excellent film 'Clear & Present Danger'. At four points we shared a character's binocular views of the action and, as seems almost always the case, this is what we saw:

You can't help but wonder if anyone in the cinema industry has ever looked through a pair of binoculars! If mine produced an image like this I'd chuck them away and buy a new pair!

An 04.00 rise for a double 'dip'!

Since Linda needed the car today, I crawled out of bed at 04.00 and drove through the dawn (and a beautiful moonset!) to Buckenham, in search of the pair of Black-winged Stilts that had been reported the previous evening. Needless to say, there was no sign of the Stilts, nor any Wood Sandpipers either: just the usual marsh and reedbed species. Lots of Cuckoos, though, both at Buckenham and Strumpshaw. Still a few Wigeon and plenty of Avocets at Buck: it was good to chat with 'blog reader' Mike from Norwich and Woodpecker specialist Keith... Not much else on offer at the Fen: no Barn Owls, but two booming Bitterns and a few Common Terns.

Flower Moon

Tonight's full Moon: the first of two this month...

Last day of the holiday...

Final day of our short break in Sheringham. After breakfast and clearing up, we drove to Cley one more time, parking at the East Bank car park. A walk out to the sea in glorious sunshine gave us some more memorable moments: Yellow Wagtails by the Serpentine, Great White Egret, Greenshank, Bearded Tit and - I'm pretty sure - A Tree Pipit. 

We decided to visit Hickling on the way home: a mistake, as it turned out, since a Wryneck was discovered on the path in front of the Hangs soon after we left!

Hickling added Crane to the holiday list, as well as distant views of two Wood Sandpipers on Brendans (courtesy of a friendly gent with a 'scope!) First dragonfly of the year was a Hairy Hawker...