Betelgeuse: a potential daylight supernova!

Are we about to witness a supernova? The red giant star Betelgeuse in Orion has shown a steady reduction in brightness recently: this could be a sign that, having expended much of its hydrogen, the star is collapsing into itself (Stars only retain their size through the balance of outward radiation pressure and inward gravitational force)

There are several other possible explanations, but the huge supernova that would result from such an implosion would be extremely cool to witness!

Here are a couple of photos I took last night!

 

 

The ISS just before dawn and Venus at sunset!

Lovely sight in the south-west this morning: the International Space Station crossing the sky from SW to NE. Honestly, it's well worth making an effort to take a look just before dawn over the next few days (see the transit chart a couple of days ago.)

Also: the planet Venus is a spectacularly bright object in the south west, setting at around 6.30pm. The last image (taken at 5.00pm) shows the gibbous phase, visible with even a small scope!

Happy Christmas...

….to all of you who have looked at my (sometimes off-the-wall) diary this year!

Highlights of the year, 2019

It's been a little problematical picking out just one bird each month: there were several spells when scarce or interesting species overlapped. However, I've more or less kept my selection to local birds and, in a few cases, individuals I actually found for myself!

January: Black-bellied Dipper at Ebridge Mill

February: Tawny Owl at North Elmham

Green-winged Teal, Herringfleet

Lesser White-fronted Goose at Potter Heigham

Pair of Black-winged Stilts I found at North Point, Wells

Lesser Grey Shrike, Horsey. (With a Red-backed nearby!)

July: I found this Purple Heron at Titchwell

A juvenile Cuckoo in my garden!

One of three (hybrid) Ruddy Shelducks I found in 2019

Shorelark at Lowestoft

November: an Arctic Skua at Cley

The long-staying Isabelline Wheatear we saw the same day

One of three Cattle Egrets I found in 2019



Blue-headed Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Sedgeford

Killer in the garden!

This delightful female Sparrowhawk has been playing havoc with the Collared Doves over the past few days - there've been feathers everywhere! Finally caught her on the fence this morning!

International Space Station: Christmas over Norfolk!

Today the ISS began a long series of passes across Norfolk. These all take place just before dawn, with an especially bright transit on Christmas Day! Worth a look if you're up early looking for Santa!

Waxwing at Strumpshaw Fen and some Christmas Cranes!

Linda and I fancied a walk so we made an earlyish start at Strumpshaw, arriving just after eight. It soon became apparent that much of the reserve was under water: we couldn't access Fen Hide, nor the riverside walk. However, we did find a beautiful and confiding Waxwing feeding along Sandy Path (or were there, perhaps, two?)

After enjoying this unexpected splash of colour for a good half-hour (and with no other visitors around to share it with!) we decided to head eastwards to Acle, via Halvergate. The Cattle Egret we found last week was still present, albeit on the other side of the road among some trees. It flew off northwards, so perhaps it was the same bird - or perhaps another - that we saw right by the A47 just east of Acle. As soon as we arrived at the usual spot near Billockby we picked out two adult Cranes feeding somewhat distantly: these were joined by a further fourteen birds that, having circled around, dropped out of sight.

Christmas cards!

Every year for the last umpteen I've made fun Christmas cards featuring Linda and me in a variety of unexpected situations: here are this year's (including one I made for the regulars at the Lingwood jam) and a few from past years:

Jam session at Lingwood King's Head

Fantastic Christmas jam session at the King's Head, Lingwood last night: all the regulars (Tim, Simon, Mike, Olly, Conner and I) were joined by Laurie and Howie and a terrific harp player I'd not met before. What an absolute blast: despite everyone being ex pro or semi-pros, there were no egos on display and the standard of musicianship was superb!! Thanks to Tim for organising the venue and making sure everyone got a share of the fun!