Shorelarks and Twite - but no Shrike...

Norman, Brian and I arrived at Salthouse as the Sun broke through the early morning mist. We parked at the end of Beach Road and trudged westwards, in order to avoid the quagmire that the Iron Road has become. Twite were everywhere! I counted at least forty in two large flocks, with others scattered along the shingle. Offshore, Eiders and Red-throated Divers kept us interested, until we eventually found half a dozen Shorelarks (west of the Iron Road!)

After tea at the VC I drove west to Brancaster: despite a long vigil, we failed to connect with the Isabelline Shrike - we'd missed it by ten minutes!

Mars and Jupiter

In reality, separated by 550,000,000 miles of space, the two planets are currently close together in the pre-dawn sky, in the constellation of Leo. Mars is visibly red, while Jupiter has a pale yellowish tinge...

Powerpoints!

For the past 50-odd years I've been lecturing and teaching to audiences all over the country on a variety of topics, ranging from Astronomy and Meteoritics to wildlife and to the paranormal: I haven't finished yet! I have two more talks to deliver before Christmas. However, I thought I might put some of my Powerpoints on the blog, so they could be viewed by a wider audience. Unfortunately I haven't yet found how to do it! Anyone out there know a way? (Of course, feel free to contact me to book a talk for your group: I have about a hundred different presentations! Norfolk only these days, I'm afraid!)

Good year so far: but where were the 'regulars'?

At the time of writing, my year list stands at 238: this compares favourably with the totals since I started Birds of the Heath back in 2015. In previous years Linda and I have visited the Farnes, Devon, Cornwall, Wales, the home counties and Yorkshire on numerous occasions: 2026 has been different, with just a three day trip to East Yorkshire which added five species to the total: the only fairly distant 'twitch' has been the Essex Hudsonian Godwit. 

In addition to the species I might have anticipated in the West Country and Wales are the expected regular migrants that have been conspicuous by their absence! Redstart, Wryneck, Pied and Red-breasted Flycatcher and Hoopoe have all eluded me this year. In theory I could have chased after these: they have all been briefly available around the county. But they are all birds that I've just 'bumped into' in the past. (I recall several visits to the plantation at Horsey that delivered all of the above in one morning!)

Fingers crossed: there are still birds that should be available before the end of the year: Shorelark, Barred Warbler, Hen Harrier, Firecrest, Pallas' Warbler, Great Grey Shrike, and perhaps an unusual goose or two!

A sparkling supper!

Last night friends Sue and Peter joined us for beef Stroganov (veggie, of course!) It being November 5th, Linda had bought some really impressive sparklers: the photos don't do them justice! You're never too old to act daft and have a bit of fun!

Waxwings in Norwich

A small flock of three Waxwings arrived in a corner of Jenny Lind Park, Norwich (Just off Vauxhall Street) Naturally, Linda and I dropped everything and headed into town,  joining three or four birders who quickly pointed out the delightful winter visitors in nearby trees. Occasionally they came down to feed in a Rowan - frustratingly, often obscured by twigs - and we all had lovely views. Linda passed her bins around to some charming locals who'd come to look, while I showed them 'back of camera' images.

Chasing birds on the North Coast

A pleasant morning out for Norman, Brian and me, starting with a sea watch at Cley. As usual, lots of auks, Gannets, Kittiwakes and Scoter, but nothing too exciting. Bishop's Hide was initially unpromising, but a Water Pipit and two Fieldfares were welcome.

News of a Waxwing at Holkham sent us westwards, but a long walk failed to add either the target bird or any Shorelarks: Little and Cattle Egrets were some consolation. The pager sent us back to Salthouse, where the full car park suggested we might be a little luckier: in the event we managed a flock of twenty or so Twite and four White-fronted Geese, but no Shorelarks here, either.

The VC at Cley was too crowded for coffee, as was Kelling Tea Rooms, so we called it a day...

Planetary conjunction!

Jupiter and Mars met up with the Moon and Regulus in the pre-dawn sky: a beautiful sight. On the Moon the large terraced crater Copernicus was particularly prominent: its central peaks were easy to pick out.

Rendlesham Ramble!

Team Rendlesham - Linda, Jane, Jason, Paul and I - met in Suffolk for our annual night walk around the Rendlesham Forest UFO trail. Despite occasional mist patches, the night was crisp and clear, and the Milky Way and autumn constellations were beautifully bright and easily visible. (A few erratic meteors were a bonus, as were the Tawny Owls and foxes!) We used FLIR and night-vision optics, only turning on torches when essential...

Nothing out of the ordinary to report (although I did feel I glimpsed a greyish, misty figure cross the path) but a thoroughly enjoyable outing: lunch at Orford and dinner at the Wilford Bridge were excellent, as always, and we enjoyed a peaceful sleep and tasty full English at our hotel.

Linda and I stopped at Snape on the way home: I added a couple of uranium glasses to the collection, while Linda couldn't resist a delicate orange poppy for the garden. (Always good to stop and enjoy the impressive 'Yoxford Man' sculpture on the way home)