I bet you there will be references to the Star of Bethlehem in the media soon! Still 14 days to go until the incredible conjunction of December 21st: lots of other stuff going on - the Geminid meteor shower at a maximum and a very strong chance of an Aurora over the next few nights (if it ever clears!)
Again: Linda and I had legitimate business at Potter Heigham, so we took the long loop home via Waxham, Horsey and Martham, stopping a couple of times to take photos from the car window.
I suppose the best picture opportunities were provided by a beautiful female Roe Deer at Horsey: shortly before (at Horsey Corner) a distant Great White Egret was vaguely noteworthy. Despite a good 'grill' of the several hundred Pinkfeet along the Horsey Straight, no Whitefronts or Tundras coiuld be picked out.
The Solar System's two largest gas giant planets are drawing closer to an incredible 'Star of Bethlehem' conjunction on December 21st. Look for them low down in the south as soon as it gets dark!
While I was groveling about in the loft looking for the Christmas decorations, I came across a collage of paintings I did for Linda the year before we were married: it records the birds we saw in a single day in Norfolk in 1993. Even then Linda and I were aware this had been a special outing, shared with fellow 'Cley Casuals' Martin Reed and Bob Walker.
Never say never, of course, but I doubt that I'll ever again see so many scarce or rare birds in one day: Black Kite, Sociable Plover, Penduline Tit, Purple Heron and Garganey!
A dentist's appointment and essential bank visit in Norwich was a perfect opportunity for a stroll along Gentleman's Walk. The familiar 'Tunnel of Light' was back, and the back entrance to the 'new' Mall has some lovely giant stars.
As we were walking back to the car park it began to snow heavily: made us feel quite festive despite all the C-19 signs!
An early-ish rise revealed clear skies to the east: I was able to open the office window on that side and photograph Venus and - briefly - Mercury. Just as it looked like I might get a chance to look for the new comet, however, the clouds rolled over. Still: some atmospheric shots that clearly show Venus' phase...
The waning Moon was taken last night: it was passing through the bright constellation Gemini.
On my way home from an essential short outing, IU stopped for five minutes at the famous barn near Acle. I could see thousands and thousands of Pink-footed Geese (and for all I could tell, other species too!) wheeling around and moving from field to field. There seemed to be two reasons for this: a car parked in a farm track further north and at least half a dozen Buzzards close to the main flock. Three of these were perched on fences or gates, three were flapping in and out of the geese. Through binoculars, one of these looked quite good for a Rough-leg, but it never came nearer than a couple of miles.
This morning I was up early hoping for a clear dawn sky: Erasmus is close to Venus and just about as bright as some of the dim stars in Virgo (6th magnitude) I'm pretty sure it should be visible with binoculars at least.
Unfortunately, the clouds didn't clear until around 5.30, by which time the sky was too bright to pick out the comet. Here are a few photos of Venus from my office window!
