Out and About in NORFOLK

The main teething problem with the first post was the addition of the

correct date only indicated by a stream of admirers pointing out the error.

2½ hours later, no flies on this kid, the problem was resolved with thanks to the vigilant few!

With the Strange Rover still banged up in the Sick Bay until late afternoon yesterday we have been a little restricted in our ability to manoeuvre, so not a lot from the local surrounds. What have been notable are the numerous and seemingly ever vocal

 SONG THRUSH

performing both day and night

with in this case a descanting Great Tit lending a helping hand.

Additionally, there have also been decent numbers of

 BLACKBIRD

drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, a few each of Redwing and Fieldfare, Tawney Owls singing/calling throughout the nights while unusually a Coal Tit has taken up residence in the garden.

Although the year is still very young we have already deployed a couple of

 Moth Traps 

close to the homestead, more in hope than ambition, but have already captured c4

 CHESTNUT

and a rather underwhelming

WINTER MOTH

 Otherwise, from the morning stroll it was noted that the presumed breeding

 KESTRALs

 of last year have returned and although a little camera shy are already displaying.

 The waters of the

 River Stour

 have dropped back somewhat there are still pockets of

 FLOODING

 but nothing to effect local residents and while familiar with most of the domesticated animals hereabouts

Ol' Blue Eye

(singular) has never been noticed before, the other one is brown.

 With the

 now discharged from the Sick Bay and looking spick and span 

(and me over a £GRAND lighter in the pocket) it is predicted it won't be that 

shiny and clean this time tomorrow.

 As for the Hasienda, we are still snuggled up on the 

Lord of the Manors Lawn

onboard

SLIGHT RETURN II

 ( a tribute to the Jimi Hendrix hit song of the same name, enjoying the life of a

FREEBIRD

while dreaming of those heady days in 

KASHMIR

with my Shipmate and dear friend Jim the Medic

with more Hendrix tributes

s'cuse me while I kiss the sky - from Purple Haze

While back to the recent weekend in Norfolk where we were gunwhals under with  dozen upon dozen of

Wild Swans

and the weather was not conducive with good photographs

(always get the excuses in before the complaints start arriving)

Bewick's Swan (left) Whooper Swan (right)

Then onward to the East Coast where it was a case of

 "I must go down to the sea again to the loanly sea and the sky,

I left my socks and knickers there I wonder if they're dry"?

The irrepressible Spike Milligan

While there were other species added to the Year List most, such as Red-throated Diver, Common Scotter, Sanderling, Meditteranian Gull et al 

 there were also good numbers of rather large

 ATLANTIC GREY SEALS

but most attention was turned to finding and obtaining excellent views of the 80 strong flock of delightful

 SNOW BUNTING

all extremely flighty and rangey

but hadn't accounted for Mr Foot's stratagy of 

'Letting the Mountain come to Mohamed'

only a short wait and they were landing all around us.

Additionally and finally there were some lovely people strolling the sands including one of the Lady Seal Wardens, a young Seychellois gentleman with his English wife and young son and these 3

young Japanese Taxi Drivers from Kyoto here to learn the English language.

There can be little better than being able to warmly welcome to your own country those of a nation that has so warmly welcomed you - job done!

I would take the opportunity to thank all of the people we met, who had my Link forced upon them, but most particularly Dave Foot who it is always a Great Pleasure to be alongside.