Ring Ouzel at Morston and lots of year ticks!

Having missed the Ouzel at Limpenhoe, I was keen to try and see the much more obliging individual at Morston Quay. Accordingly, I left home early for my first trip to the North Coast since last Summer. To my surprise, the roads were almost empty, and before 9.00am I pulled into the NT carpark, picking out the Ouzel before I even stopped rolling! Having scanned my card and received a ticket, I trotted over to the edge of the grassy field and took a few dozen photos! What a great bird!

I wasn't sure what to do next, but decided on Cley. Again, the roads - and car parks - were empty! A smallish crowd near Steve Gantlett's house suggested the presence of something interesting: this turned out to be a Wryneck, but despite two longish spells the bird didn't show while I was present.

A walk around the reserve added fourteen new birds for the year: predictably all bar a newly-arrived Sedge Warbler, a Med Gull and a Bearded Tit were waders! Arnold's was heaving with them: Golden and Grey Plovers, Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, Knot and most of the others.

My Zoom talks on YouTube

In reply to a number of enquiries: all of the paranormal Zoom meetings (once edited) will appear on my YouTube channel:

CLICK HERE!

Currently there are four: up to date, including last Friday's meeting. If you'd like to catch up regularly, just hit the 'subscribe' button!

Limpenhoe Cattle Egret - closer and better! And Slavonian Grebes at Rollesby

In the hope of connecting with the long-staying Ouzel at Limpenhoe I made breakfast early and left home in time to be on site by 8.00am. A good walk around the local bridle ways and a bit of patience eventually gave me much better views of the Cattle Egret, as well as large flock of Fieldfares and a Swallow - but no Ouzel!

I moved on to Rollesby Broad where the pair of summer-plumaged Slavonian Grebes were distantly viewable, looking north from the roadside. With a telescope they were real stunners!

The Moon and Mars

The Moon has moved past Mars during the daytime and is now travelling through Gemini. As always at this phase: some terrific crater fields along the terminator.

Escape from lockdown at The Oaklands

Linda, Sue, Peter and I enjoyed our first lunch out together since lockdown: on the terrace at the Oaklands in Norwich. With heated awnings, terrific, friendly service and delightful food we had a terrific couple of hours. Only slight quibble: very limited choice for veggies or vegans!

The Moon meets Mars!

As soon as my Zoom meeting ended last night, I rushed outside and took a couple of photos of Mars and the crescent Moon close together in the western sky. Lucky observers in Asia could have actually seen the Moon pass in front of (occult) Mars, but still: a striking conjunction.

Cattle Egret at Limpenhoe

A brief detour on the way home from shopping eventually found us overlooking the grazing marshes at Limpenhoe. Old birding acquaintance Richard and his sister were already examining the reported Cattle Egret so Linda and I spent a few minutes enjoying it, the sunshine and chats with a couple of friendly locals. No sign of any Ring Ouzels: just a few Helmeted Guinea Fowl, so home for lunch and garden work!

Raveningham Hall 'son et lumiere'

Regular readers may well recall that Raveningham Hall holds an annual Sculpture Trail. which Linda and I, together with Sue & Peter, have visited since it first began. When Linda discovered that the venue was intending to celebrate the partial release from lockdown with a 'woodland light show', we booked the first available slot: 9.20pm last night!

After a few wrong turns, we arrived in time for hot chocolate , before wandering through the woods for forty minutes. In truth, there wasn't much 'son' (although I did enjoy the couple of mood-music offerings!) but there were some terrific owl carvings and light 'installations'. Unfortunately my old camera decided to give up half way round, but here are a few images.