Asteroid Vesta

In a brief clear patch of sky at 22.30 last night I managed to photograph the constellation Cetus (the whale) Using 'Heavens Above' for reference, I realised I'd captured the asteroid Vesta on a 20-second exposure.

Tonight's Moon

Tonight the waxing crescent Moon is low in the southern sky in the constellation of Sagittarius. Later, if it's clear around 10pm, it should be possible to locate two asteroids - Vesta and Pallas, both in the constellation of Cetus, the whale. If the clouds stay away I'll have a bash at photographing one or both!

Four million!

Thanks to everyone who visits 'Birds of the Heath' and makes the effort worthwhile!

Wildlife surprises at All Saints...

From time to time Linda leaves a trailcam at the church to add to our understanding of the wildlife that visits when we're not around. Considering All Saints is surrounded by arable land, it's often a real surprise when we check the SD card: below are some recent visitors to the drinking station, possibly the most unexpected being the male Blackcap. (Several correspondents have suggested that No 3 is a Polecat, which - from its smallish size - was our original thought.)

Bayfield Hall sculpture trail

Linda, Sue, Peter and I visited the  annual sculpture trail in the beautiful Glaven Valley parkland of Bayfield Hall. As always, there were some excellent exhibits and some that were a little 'challenging'! The atypically warm weather with a gentle southerly breeze (with numerous pit-stops for coffee and cake) made the morning thoroughly enjoyable. Checking the Cley Bird Club WhatsApp over lunch at the Glaven Bistro, we discovered that the gorse at Walsey Hills was ablaze: sure enough, we could see the plume of dark smoke from the car park...

We finished the day with a stroll around the delightful georgian town of Holt (and more tea and cakes at the Owl Tea Rooms!)

Some decent - if distant - birds at Cley

Brian is back from his foreign trip, so it was a full house today: Norman's turn to drive (in his new Mercedes) so we were at the Coastguards nice and early! Lots of Auks passing in both directions: mostly Razorbills, but a few Guillemots too. We paused to photograph a flock of Golden Plover on the Eye Field - the 'super' of one looked good for an American GP, but as Steve G was kind enough to point out, the wing extension wasn't there... (Nice to chat with Bill, a local birder from Holt)

A session in Bishop's was fairly unproductive, so we walked out to the sea along the East Bank: flocks of Redwings were streaming in from the coast - my first of the Autumn! Plenty of close Red-throated Divers: some still had plenty of red on their throats.

After coffee, we visited the centre hides, being trapped there for an hour by the rain. Highlights were a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper and a well-marked Meadow Pipit. 

Another visit to the beach added Red-breasted Merganser and Scaup to the day list.

October wildlife survey at Hemblington All Saints

Peter, Sue, Linda and I (latterly joined by new recruit Susan!) have carried out monthly recording of the wildlife in and around the 'little church on the hill' for ten years now! Sue was delighted to receive this wooden plaque on behalf of the group: All Saints came first out of the thirty three churches that were entered in the competition.

Today's count wasn't the highest total, but it was interesting to note three Yellowhammers, a Marsh Harrier and three more Kites after the hour was up!