A new experience: lecturing in a tent!

Dodging the showers yesterday, Linda and I drove out to Northrepps to give a ninety-minute talk about the Moon: its origin, formation of its surface features and mankind's exploration of our nearest neighbour.

Our hosts were the charming couple Sue and Jerry who run 'Soulcraft', a delightful events group based at their private 'Hungry Hill' campsite. The open-minded audience showed real interest and asked some incisive questions: a great afternoon spent with a really pleasant group. (The only slight problem was that the interior of the tent was too bright for my pre-prepared Powerpoint: I just had to do a lot more talking!)

Never far from a Red Kite...

Amazing to reflect that back in the eighties I drove all the way to mid-Wales to see my first Red Kite: now, even with the current inclement weather, there's always one or two lurking over the Heath...

Ah! Summer weather!

I have never seen a sky the colour of today's, just before a heavy hale-storm. The contrast between the leaden clouds and brightly lit trees and shrubs was very striking. Of course, this weather (added to my current back problems) make it unlikely I'll be adding any new birds - or photos - to the blog for a while!

My eighth book!

Nearly ready for the printers: my eighth book should be available on Amazon and elsewhere very soon.
Well-known author, TV personality and broadcaster Malcolm Robinson has written a wonderfully flattering foreword, for which I am extremely grateful!

Stints! Some decent birds at Cley

Despite having an absolutely terrible bad back, I recklessly visited the North Coast with Brian, starting with a grind through the shingle to the North Screen and Gillmor Hide. A lot of squinting and cropping eventually located a Little Stint, doing its best to stay concealed in the dry grass: a Whimbrel provided much better views!

Moving to the Centre Hides, we soon discovered that high water levels (and the NWT's Land Rover) meant that just a few waders were on show, best of which were a Little Ringed Plover and a couple of fly-through Greenshanks. Time for coffee!

A trudge along to the Babcock Hide was much more productive: Temminck's Stint, Common Sandpiper, Yellow Wagtail and Wheatear were most welcome, as was an enjoyable chat with Sue & Steve G.
(The final two Temminck's photos are by Brian)

We drove home via Hempstead, 'enjoying' fleeting and distant views of the Black-winged Kite...

Jupiter and Venus

These two planets are a beautiful spectacle in the western sky just after sunset: even using just a 300mm lens, two of Jupiter's moons are plainly visible.

Dawn Moonrise

The last quarter waning Moon rose just before dawn this morning: a beautiful sight before the clouds began to roll over, with a delightful apricot tinge...

A 'swift' spot of gardening!

Since Linda was selling honey and wax-wraps at a local farmers' market, I was marooned at home. I decided to do a bit of garden maintenance: cleaning out pond pumps, watering tubs and weeding the lawn. Needless to say, a camera was nearby, and I was pleased to see - and photo - several groups of Swifts. Kestrels are not common over the Heath, so a soaring male was good to see, as was one of the local Red Kites.

We tend to choose unusual plants for the garden: one of my 'picks' was a Drimys. a hard-to-find species from South America. This specimen has not flowered since we planted it four years ago, so this spring's display was a surprise and delight!

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!