Arctic Skuas and a decent supporting cast!

The usual 7.00am start saw Brian, Norman and me at Cley before there was anyone else about (probably because of the unpromising weather forecast) Bishop's Hide was unproductive, so we walked out to the sea along the East Bank. Almost the first birds we saw were three fairly close Arctic Skuas, one of which was a beautiful pale-phase. Other birds passing by included several flocks of waders, Scoter, Wigeon and Sandwich Terns, as well as a seal that was enjoying a large flatfish for breakfast!

We continued westwards to Titchwell, where we soon established that the Red-necked Phalarope was either too distant or had departed: lots of Curlew Sandpipers, though, as well as three Spoonbills and a distant fly-by Great White Egret.

As we were leaving I checked the bulletin board and discovered that a Turtle Dove had just been found near Fen Hide: a brisk walk and we were soon enjoying excellent views of this beautiful bird.

Last stop was Cley again: this time the Coastguards. A brief seawatch added Gannet and another Arctic Skua to the daylist...

Odds and ends at Strumpshaw Fen

A somewhat later start (7.30) than anticipated saw me in Fen Hide by around eight o' clock. Several early birds present, including Brian and Norman and my fellow Osprey-dipper from Cockshoot!

To be honest, things were a little slow for half an hour, until two Bitterns flew across the reedbeds in opposite directions: I only managed distant shots of one of them!

A move to Tower Hide was slightly more productive, with close views of Chinese Water Deer, a pair of Snipe, over a dozen Ruff and, more distantly, a possible Honey Buzzard.

Completing the circuit added nothing more, so home for lunch!

 

Raveningham Sculpture Exhibition

Our neighbours Sue & Peter are always finding interesting things for us to do: this weekend it was a hop across the Reedham Ferry to Raveningham for a walk around the sculpture trail.

We already knew one of the artists: we've bought several of his pieces in the past, including the large dragonfly perched on a reed mace stem. A few of the exhibits were frankly a little 'challenging' (there was a forty-foot collage made from crisp packets!) but we thoroughly enjoyed the whole afternoon. The standard of the artwork was, IMHO, exceptional and we bought a few more pieces for our own 'sculpture trail'!

Home for supper (paella), a 'couple' of bottles of wine and, for Peter and me, the delight of watching England win the test series against India.

For those of you who like Astronomy....

For anyone who's interested: there are a couple of events worth looking out for this weekend - although you'll need to be a bit of a night owl!

Tonight and for a few more following the somewhat dim comet 21P/ Giacobini-Zinner can be found quite easily near the bright star Capella.

Capella is one of the brightest stars in the sky, being the 'leading star' of the constellation Auriga, the Charioteer. Around midnight Auriga is high in the north-east: the comet is a faint, greenish, fuzzy blob above and to the right of Capella.

On September 3rd, just after midnight, the Moon occults (passes in front of ) the bright star Aldebaran, the fiery-red eye of Taurus, the Bull (a 'V' shaped constellation above and right of the familiar winter group Orion)

Below is a photo of the comet I took this morning at 3.00am: it might grow brighter over the next few days.