Beccles Antiques Fair

When Linda and I started visiting this delightful annual event, it took place on a Sunday in the centre of town: all the local shops and cafes stayed open, making it a real fun day out. When the Fair reopened after Covid, it was moved to a large field at Beccles Quay: we were a little dubious about how well-supported it would be. We needn't have worried: it was back, bigger than ever today. Parking was excellent (although it was a bit of a trek into the town centre for coffee!) and the variety of antiques and collectibles on offer was amazing. Our largest purchase was a new patio table in pitch pine - couldn't resist!

A Buzzard flew over distantly: it seemed to have a touch of the 'Honeys' about it, but was probably just a well-marked Common.

Icterine Warbler: an unexpected treat!

Hoping to add Pied Flycatcher to the year list, I left home in the dark and drove the twenty miles to Winterton-on-Sea, which yesterday had played host to a couple of dozen. By the light of the waning Moon and four planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn) I walked through the southern dunes to the oaks, a clump of scrubby trees just past the Hermanus holiday centre. A slow circuit gave brief views (but no photos) of a couple of Pied Flies as well as a Muntjac and several Whitethroats.

As I was scanning the nearby sycamores, I met old acquaintance Keith B. We returned for a few more circuits of the oaks (while putting the world to rights!) before it was time for me to leave. Fortuitously, I bumped into three birders who had pinned down the previous day's Icterine Warbler. Despite the low light and the bird's hyperactivity, I managed a few photos, while a Hobby hunted overhead.

  

Two Hummers!

Tonight at dusk our Buddleia was visited by two Hummingbird Hawkmoths at the same time! Linda and I can't recall this happening before: it's presumably a good year for them. One was 50% larger than the other...

Defeated by the cloud!

I had a band practice over at Ormesby last night: as I emerged at 9.30 the sky was completely clear and dark - the Moon hadn't yet risen. I was looking forward to grabbing my camera gear and going to the top of the Heath to photograph the expected aurora, but by the time I'd travelled the fifteen miles back home the sky had clouded over again!

I did manage to photograph the Moon just before dawn, but it was already too bright at 4.00am to pick out Mars.

Passes by the ISS and lots of exciting stuff to watch out for!

The Sun has been very active over the past 24 hours: if it's clear tonight you might well see the aurora ('Northern Lights') You'll need a dark northern horizon with no street lights: best results are with a long exposure on a DSLR on a tripod.

In the early morning Mars is close to the waning Moon and should be easy to pick out.

Finally: here are the next few weeks-worth of passes by the ISS: I've left out a few that are faint or in the wee small hours!

One day late - again!

Missing 'interesting birds' by one day is becoming a bit of a habit: White-tailed Plover, Albatross and, today, Spotted Crake at Cley. This is almost entirely a function of preferring to go birding with long-time chums Norman and Brian: we are all generally free on a Tuesday and it is truly amazing how often weekend birds disappear on Monday! (I do wish RBA wouldn't 'buzz' me on the pager with a list of birds seen yesterday! Fair enough first thing in the morning, but to carry on into the afternoon is plain 'padding')

Still: the company is more than worth the odd dip, and - to be fair - we've caught up with a high percentage of the birds we do chase! Today Cley was pretty unproductive: a few Chiffies and a good variety of waders on Arnold's (Green and Wood Sands, BT Godwits, Whimbrel etc)

A stop at Hickling (before the thunder) was even less worthwhile - just a distant Water Rail.

The Moon and Jupiter

The sky was really hazy last night, but I did manage a couple of shots of the Moon and Jupiter close together in the eastern sky...

Stalham Antiques Fair

Since this popular annual event was supposed to open at 10, Linda and arrived half an hour earlier - and nabbed the last parking space!

Lots to see and enjoy, but we didn't find anything to add to our various collections: just some silver jewellery and an ice cream! Bargain of the day was the Stagg electro-acoustic, with stand, lead, amplifier and hard case for just £60! If I had anywhere to store it, I'd've been tempted!