Hemblington Church flower festival

Linda and I popped up to the Church to visit the two day flower festival. There were lots of beautiful and clever displays, as well as art-work by children of the local school. (Even better: some amazing home-baked cakes and pastries!)

Dodging the showers at Horsey & Hickling

Since Linda, Peter, Sue and I were unexpectedly free, we drove out to the Nelson Head at Horsey for a walk through the dunes. Rain showers moved through continually, but we were lucky enough to avoid the majority: they did make photography a bit problematical, though!

Still a few Whinchats with their gaudier 'cousins', but best birds were, I suppose, a Honey Buzzard (sparring with a Common Buzzard) and a Hobby.

After a delightful lunch at the Nelson Head, we carried on to Hickling, where a rapid walk round added Water Rail and two Common Sandpipers to the day's total.

Rest in peace....

Seventy years of selfless service: you have our gratitude and sorrow at your passing.

Gorgeous Moon...

At the moment the waxing gibbous Moon is travelling across the sky low in the south east and is a splendid sight just after sunset. (Of course, its apparent daily motion is caused by the rotation of the Earth, while its phase changes and day by day movement against the star background are produced by its orbit around us.)

Looking at the dense crater fields and rugged mountainous regions around the lunar south pole, you can't help but wonder about NASA's intention to land its Artemis missions there!

A good year for Curlew Sandpipers

Brian, Norman and I made our usual early start at Cley, beginning in the centre hides: the presence of a digger and working party may have explained the lack of any waders! On the path out, however, I found two Willow Emeralds - my first of the year!

Norman and I walked round to the beach, while Brian went back to move the car. a reasonable 'gallery' stood by the shelter, but, it transpired, had seen nothing of note. I was delighted, therefore, when a trio of Eiders flew east - a new bird for 2022.

After a bit of fruitless seawatching, we moved round to the East Bank, where a stroll out to the sea gave us reasonable views of a family of Bearded Tits and a group of five juvenile Curlew Sandpipers. Nationally, there have been lots of these delightful passage waders arriving this Autumn: presumably they've had a decent breeding season. Other waders included Greenshank, Snipe, Wood Sandpiper and both Godwits.

We finished off the session with a walk out to the 'Whirligig' at Stiffkey: we failed to find anything other than a few House Sparrows and Goldfinches!

Unexpected Hobby and Swift - last of the Summer Wine!

It was friend and neighbour Peter's birthday last week, so with a fine evening forecast, he and Sue invited us round for drinks in the garden. It was a lovely, relaxing soiree, made even more memorable by flyovers by one each of Hobby and Swift. The Hobby was the latest I remember on the Heath and it - or another -  is still around this morning!

As the sun set, night birds began to call: first of all a pair of Little Owls, then two Tawny Owls, which were joined by a screeching Barn Owl! Sadly none of these came close enough to be seen, but terrific to hear nonetheless!

Moving home!

No: not Linda and I - our oldest tank resident, a colourful little Hermit Crab. We noticed him trying to squeeze into a far-too-small winkle shell this morning, so popped up the road to a local garden centre that sells marine shells. The crab checked them out to see if there was one he fancied before choosing this beauty!

Still plenty of Hummer action!

At least two Hummingbird Hawkmoths are still visiting every day: the gorgeous blue Salvias in the front garden are the new plat du jour!

Hemblington Church wildlife survey

Time for Peter, Sue, Linda and I to carry out our monthly survey in and around Hemblington churchyard.  It was a pleasantly warm day with hardly a cloud in the sky, but a few birds turned up to be counted! The local farmer was harrowing his harvested wheat field: this attracted well over 500 gulls. I'm fairly certain I picked out a Mediterranean Gull, but didn't manage a photo (or confirmation) so it's not on the list!

Lots of Common & Ruddy Darters, as well as scores of Migrant Hawkers and Carder Bees.