Big Weekend - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Part I)

Before we embark on the rather belated 3 Part Series, which is the account of a recent visit to Norfolk, there is an item of news from yesterday when we recorded our First 'True' Migrant of the year.

 SAND MARTIN

 We use the word 'true' to distinguish between those which have most

certainly just arrived from afar and those, such as Blackcap, Chiffchaff etc,

that could possibly have overwintered in out area.

Another most enjoyably and educational weekend away with our friend

Dave Foot,

we had left Dorset at 04:30 (recording a collective Tawny Owl + c6 Barn Owls on the way) before crossing the Norfolk border, close to the town of Thetford, spot on daybreak and headed directly for a rather run down industrial estate in the heart of the conurbation where 

MOST UNUSUALLY 
it was me who first spotted the

 GLAUCOUS GULL
(centre at outstretched right wing-tip)

 and the largest Gull

in these other images.

 However, it was just a little less than a nanosecond before Mr Foot
redressed the balance by finding c2 unexpected

 YELLOW-LEGGED GULLs

 (one directly below the Gull perched on the ridge)

and the c2 together with darker mantle and upper wings.

 With one Year Tick in the bag from there it was a full hour before we reached the

first of the major Nature Reserves on the North Norfolk Coast

 and quickly donned our waterproofs.

 Walking the main pathway (bottom left-hand corner, diagonally northish)

 it was no surprise that first up, and heard well before it was seen, came

REDSHANK

then in company

REDSHANK and CURLEW

before reaching the hide.

CURLEW

In total we recorded c5

MARSH HARRIER

before connection with the next 

First for the Year

KNOT

(KNOT and DUNLIN)

before a small party of

DUNLIN

flew in to join them.

There was also a solo 'ring-tail' (female)

HEN HARRIER

before the most delicate of the lot, the wonderful

AVOCET

hove into view.
Next to show was a single but equally contented

BAR-TAILED GODWIT

Other than that it was left to 

'displaying'

and 

'feeding'

SHELDUCK
Mid-afternoon, and as a result of a thus all too quiet 'tweet', we headed further
inland to make our 'first bid' for a Pallid Harrier that has been frequenting the
area for some time now.

It was disappointment all the way as far as the Raptor
was concerned but spirits were lifted when once again it was Dave
who spotted, at quite some distance (above), an early flying

BARN OWL

 This constituted not only our first 'stills' ever of this beautiful creature,

 but also our first videos footage, which we hope to improve upon!

 GRREEEAAAAATTTTTT!

BARN OWL

 In the evening we visited the

 WASH and TOPE
Public House
and could not fault it in any way, a fantastic end to our first day!
 PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR THE NEXT INSTALMENT!

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White Bird - It's a Beautiful Day

Back to days of Dave and Linda La Flame Link 
There was no notification from the Forecaster of early morning precipitation

but what else could it have been that was hammering on the deck-head of

Slight Return II

A quick glimpse out of the porthole confirmed that it was pissipitating down

and not only to my own disgust the local

BLACKBIRD

was taking the full brunt.

While he flew off to seek shelter we decided to take the bull by the horns
and get about our Daily Doings with a visit to the Moth Traps.
Not a lot to report, in fact the only specimen was a Micro and as regular Readers know
"We Don't Do Micros".

Anyhow, when it's Hobson's Choice anything is worth a go
and sending the image for a second and third opinion it was found to be

DEPRESSARIA DAUCELLA

or to us mere mortals more familiar as
PARSNIP MOTH

We will not return to this subject in a hurry and 'many thanks' to those concerned.

That done, and making our way round to what is increasingly becoming a
Bird Park

we were able to fulfil a promise to our Readership, made a few days ago, concerning the

EMUs

a couple of snippets of video before progressing the day.
Heading towards the Common, and it being Sunday an' all it was a
great surprise to find the was access to the
Eco Recycling Works
due to, among other works, the main gate being replaced.
For now it has been replaced by portable fencing and with one section
missing in we went for an undisturbed reci.
Priority was to take a look at what for the past few years has been  a

Sand Martin Colony

and for that matter if any of the birds have returned yet.
The 'bunds' have changed from last year and there were no Martins
but thought no reason why they should not nest as usual.
With that done it was onward to the 2 large pools that have been created
by gravel extraction, for one project or another, and with no workforce on site
there were a number of Birds to be recorded and images taken.
Most of these were Gulls with about a dozen Herring

which were outnumbered 4 to 1 by

BLACK-HEADED GULL
There was also a lone

SHELDUCK

(in the rain) 

with past experiences pointing to a cautious approach.

(showing some signs of displaying)
There were also a pair each of Canada Geese and Gadwall but
by far the best on show were c5

SHOVELER

a 'record count' for the Recording Area and including c3 male birds.
Onward, and while the Irrigation Pond is still to the liking of the
Coots there was precious little else to get excited about including the Gravel Pit.

 Not a lot of difference either along the course of the

 MOORS RIVER
save for these c3 raucous

 EGYPTIAN GEESE
also showing signs of getting it together?
There was a lovely stand of fresh

FUNGI
on the Heath along with a few 'ground feeding'

GOLDFINCH
but nothing else.
Was it that time already (it always is) but the hunger pangs were confirming it,
time to make a steady Return to Slight.
With access still available at Eco the temptation was simply too much
so we popped in for a second and final look.
My only God's are Fate and Grabbing/Making Your Own Good Luck
and this was to be a day for both. Scanning the pond which had been scrutinised
not 2 hours ago, there before me was a stunning adult

 GREAT WHITE EGRET

Not knowing whether to grab the big camera, the video version or phone,
to give Hugh an opportunity to view it before flying off,

 it was the Record Shots that took priority

and no wonder some of them are a little shaky!

Hugh was there only a few minutes later and even though he had
seen many of these across the World it would be true to say he was
staggered to see one on his own turf!

While the Great White Egret has become a more frequent visitor to
our shores. with some becoming resident,

they still remain a 'scarce bird' in Great Britain and in some places,
location zealously guarded, they are said to breed?

We tried some close-ups in an attempt to identify what it was catching,

 which looked every bit like
NEWTS

Not only is this an addition to the
Recording Area List
it also brings up the 150th
Species of Bird to be added to our List.

We make no apologies for swamping you with images and clips

of this

MAGNIFICENT CREATURE
And just when you thought you were going to win a reprieve,

we drove back

to find a 'perfectly plummaged'

LITTLE EGRET

(a smaller and far more widespread cousin of the above)

perched at pool-side on

Parley Pond.

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