R & B? C & D!

There was a time when 'Rhythm and Blues' conjured up images of smokey coffee bars and cellars resonating to the sound of harmonicas, semi-acoustic guitars and Selmer or WEM amplifiers. These days the phrase has been hijacked by acts such as Beyoncé, John Legend, Ariana Grande, Frank Ocean and - God help us -  Pharrell Williams....

What any of this has to do with the genre popularised - invented, even -  by Howlin' Wolf, T-Bone Walker, Fats Domino and Bo Diddley is beyond me. Maybe I'm just getting old...

Well: no 'maybe' about it! I'll be 65 in January..... But! Last night my bass-player mate Colin and I played two hours solid rock, blues and R&B: no electronic effects, no autotuner and no vocoder: just two old guys who learned to play and sing when people didn't take shortcuts.

 

Back in the Valleys! (Yare and Bure, that is!)

Just a couple of hours available, but the weather forecast was promising, so I dashed up to Strumpshaw Fen. To be honest, there was nothing unexpected on show, but you do get the chance to see some terrific wildlife up close and personal!

Sitting in Fen Hide with Brian, Mike, Kim and her new acolyte Linda (ex  Pedro's chef!) we were entertained by Herons, Harsh Harriers and pinging Beardies, before B, M and I moved off to the meadow.

Even more Norfolk Hawkers and Hairies today, but I still failed to find a Hairy that would sit still for a photo!

Brian and I decided on a move to Upton: as we left a really tatty crow was giving the good news to an even tattier Buzzard (Alright: I read too much Andy McNab!)

Upton Fen was strangely quiet - the temperature had dropped a little - but we did see our first Emerald Damsel and Brown Hawker of the year, as well as a few Black-tailed Skimmers and Norfolk Hawkers.

Suffolk dip!

You can't win them all! LOL!

Brian and I had a morning free, so we dashed down to Micklemere for a crack at the Red-necked Phalarope: sadly, it had departed overnight....

A move to Lackford was little better (apart from some craik with Rob Wilson and Blonde Liz!) although several Orchids, a Cinnabar Moth and my first Skipper of the year were worth pointing the camera at!

Following lunch at Brown's, Brian & I finished the expedition at Lynford Arboretum: no sign of any Firecrests, but a Spotted Flycatcher delighted us, as did several Emperor Dragonflies hawking over the lake.

Finally, the half a dozen Buzzards we saw at various places were joined on the list by a low-flying Red Kite over the A11 near Wymondham.

Watch out - there's an Aurora about!

The sky is totally clear tonight and there is an amber alert: if you wake up before dawn, check the northern horizon: there was a fabulous aurora all over the UK last night!

Meanwhile: Venus and Jupiter look lovely, snuggled together in the west, while the Moon's terminator is perfect for viewing crater fields...

Local Buzzard!

There are at least three pairs of Buzzards nesting locally: one pair is a 'dead cert.' that can be seen and safely photographed every day!

These display and hunt over Salhouse Garden Centre, Honeycombe Lane: I can't remember driving along the road this year without seeing at least one bird. Bearing in mind how rare Buzzards used to be in East Norfolk until very recently, I still get a 'buzz' seeing them - and hearing their delightful, wild call....

Light!

Astonishing light today: a gap in the clouds illuminating some trees and not others producing this surreal result....

Hummer!

Another super little Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the garden, feeding on Valerian (Centranthus)
Frustrating: it was only here for ten seconds - not enough time to put my macro lens on!
Still: fabulous creature - even its compound eye is coloured to look like a bird's eye complete with pupil!

Uninvited Companions!

My latest book is now available on Amazon: but if you contact me directly, you can have a signed copy for a 30% reduction (£10 + p&p)
Click the picture to purchase from Amazon. or my e-mail for a signed copy!

info@spacerocksuk.com

 

Back for Sandpiper seconds!

Since Martin was keen to catch up with the WRS at Cley and I'm always up for a day out birding, we drove up to the north coast and were in the Centre Hides by 9.00am.

As on Wednesday, the White-rumped was immediately on view: if anything somewhat closer, allowing lots of photo ops despite the gloomy light and cool wind.

Today a Little Gull came much closer (but was repeatedly 'bounced' by an Avocet!) and there were eight sleepy Spoonbills.

A move westwards to Holkham produced lots of Buzzards, three fly-through Spoonbills and a Red Kite, as well as an obvious Little Egret nesting colony.

Returning home, Martin had a quick check for Turtles in my back garden before leaving: he missed this little, dark male by two minutes :(