The newly-arrived Yare Valley Pinkfeet seem to have settled into their traditional habit of roosting at Buckenham and Cantley and heading north west towards the Wash and North Coast to feed. It's a lovely sight (and sound!) as they fly overhead in their hundreds.
One of the other Synergy members passed his flu on to me last week: I was dosed up with Day Nurse in order to struggle through Saturday's gig but (I think) I'm over the worst now. Not been out of the house for two days, but today I went to pick up my laptop, which needed a new screen (I somehow managed to break it on the way home from Friday's astronomy talk! This is another reason my posts have been somewhat sparse: I had to use Linda's laptop, which doesn't have all the stored passwords etc)
There have been a few 'birdy' moments: a few Buzzards have been over the garden, usually being harassed by corvids, and Pink Feet are virtually daily now... Hopefully I'll be out tomorrow to see if I can finally catch up with some Autumn migrants.
In case you hadn't seen this mentioned elsewhere, there will be a partial eclipse of the Sun in a week's time, on October 25th. From the UK only a tiny 'bite' out of the solar disc will be visible, but this will occur at the convenient time of 10.00hrs - 12.00hrs, with the maximum at 11.00hrs.
Don't forget: DON'T look directly at the Sun and certainly DON'T use binoculars!
Fabulous first gig for our new drummer Graham last night, playing to a full house at Heathlands Social Club. We played three sets and raised over £800 towards Hemblington Church restoration Fund.
Many thanks to 'the Boys in the Band' (It's an immense privilege to play with talented musicians) and, of course, to Sue and Linda, who yet again organised a tremendously successful and enjoyable event for the village and the FoHC.
I'm going to be a busy bee for the next few days!
Yesterday the Chairman of the Breckland AS phoned to ask if I could fill in as guest speaker, since Prof. Chris Lintott (of Sky at Night 'fame') has covid. Two days is a little short notice, but I do love the sound of my own voice, so I agreed! The talk requested is 'Astronauts and the UFO Phenomenon'
The Society meets in Great Ellingham, near Attleborough, and anyone can attend: if you're in the area and are interested, here's their website:
Just to remind you: I've been a vegetarian for over thirty years - long before it became fashionable. You may also recall that Linda is a back-garden beekeeper: she maintains three hives, producing 20 to 30kg of honey a year. The bees are well-treated, protected from pests like wasps, wax moths and mice and live out their industrious - and short - little lives in a specially planted garden which provides nectar and pollen all year round.
I have never understood the problem that vegans have with honey: domestic bees, unlike say pigs or cattle, are not purposely harmed. They are not cruelly deprived of their honey and reproduce at a prodigious rate on what is left and on the fondant they are fed in exchange.
I have just seen adverts online for a vegan honey substitute that make shocking - and untrue - claims about bees and beekeepers:
Existing honey production not only endangers bees, but also a lot of current shelf-ready products made from it, as they may contain toxins, pesticides, and antibiotics.
Plant-based honey is a solution to the alarming negative impact the bee-made honey industry has on biodiversity.
It is a fact that there are around 250,000 maintained Honey Bee colonies in the UK: despite what you may read, their numbers are not in decline, largely thanks to the UK's beekeepers. In contrast - and, sad to say, largely due to the reckless use of agrochemicals - populations of many of the 250+ species of wild bee in the UK are in sharp decline.
Another fact: honey produced by the vast majority of beekeepers is analyzed every year before sale to check for water content and other additives as well as its source: not only can Linda be certain her honey is completely pure, she can tell you exactly what flowers her bees are visiting every year!
Since Brian was otherwise engaged, Norman and I headed north to look for Jack Snipes. Despite a good search at Snipe's Marsh, the Serpentine and Wells North Point pools we failed to find any waders at all! I did add Water Pipit to the year list (no photos!) before moving back to Cley for coffee and scones. A check of Snipe's was still fruitless, but the sea gave us distant views of a Grey Phalarope, an apparent Slav Grebe and a few divers.
We carried on eastwards to Kelling Quags, where there were still no Jack Snipes - just a close Buzzard and a couple of Little Egrets. Overhead a pair of F35s were keeping the sky safe for democracy!
Last night there was a minor bit of auroral activity (might have been visible on the North Norfolk coast) Presumably there was a Coronal Mass Ejection: perhaps this was associated with the sunspot groups that could be seen today.
Just to record the event: tonight's 'Hunters' Moon' still quite close to Jupiter, but somewhat shrouded in mist!
I'm sad to see that F1 and the FIA have become a travesty of fairness in sport: a horribly manipulated result in 2021, a probable $10m cost-cap breach this season, inconsistent penalties and implausible stewarding and now - worst of the lot - awarding full points after only half a race! How can they possibly justify deducting Leclerc 5 points for gaining an advantage when he was ahead of Perez???
Linda and I are so disappointed to see what has happened to the sport we have enjoyed together for many years: Sir Lewis was cheated out of the title last season, Charles Leclerc was cheated of his chance this season: the FIA seem determined to find any way they can to prevent Sir L surpassing MS's record. Verstappen? IMHO: a terrific driver but an ungracious, petulant cry-baby.
I crawled out of bed at 4.00am (as you do!) to photograph the conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter just above the western horizon. Spectacular sky-sights like this are impressive to us - imagine how our ancient ancestors must have responded!
The two brightest objects in the night sky are really close tonight: so much so that I could just fit them in the field of view of my 300mm prime lens! The Moon is one day off full (tomorrow night it will rise as a 'Hunters' Moon')
