a norfolk jolly

Popped down to the Norfolk coast yesterday for a bit of fresh air and a look at birds. Yes it was cold but it was lovely.

The best views of any bird had to be a Barn Owl which just kept flying around really close quartering the ground looking for food.

Mind you the Teal just outside a hide window came close second. Didn't get a picture of the Barn Owl I was too engrossed in watching it, but the Teal.........

They were sitting on the grass bank catching sun and dozing, but a quiz for you here, there are two Wigeon in the picture as well a male and a female, can you see them?

working in the land of story part two

Its about a year now since I first wrote about this area and I have been back. The fields are now divided by a bare ribbon of earth, with crops growing right up to that ribbon as reminders of what the land will return too when work is completed.

During the clearance work to create the ribbon through the fields, signs of early human occupation have been found, on ground that would when the signs were left have been dry in that time before the peat developed, a time when Doggerland existed taking Norfolks coast hundreds of miles northwards. The signs are not big or incredible, they are just reminders and souvenirs that remind us we are never far from those that went before, what signs will we leave I sometimes wonder.

tempting fate good times and sad news

Well it had to happen didnt it. I talk about mild weather and we get frost for a few days. About time too it looked seasonal and winterish which makes a change.

Been out and about again, another trip to the coast to mark someones birthday. Frost on the sand and some nice mammals and birds and lovely Norfolk scenery. A stoat in full ermine was lovely to see as it dashed about on a roadside verge. A small group of Grey Partridges in a field beside a car parking area with beyond them pinkfooted geese and a quartering barn owl. Pictures in the mind for other days.

Then onto more sad news I am afraid, I posted about the number of Rangers lost in 2011 working in and gaurding the wildlife and special places around the world. 2012 has not started well in this respect at all. Four Rangers in four different countries have been killed be poachers and other folk who dont like what they do to protect the natural world in all its forms that we see and perhaps take for granted on TV screens. For most of the families of those lost life will be very hard now without a breadwinner. For one where the Ranger lost was a woman her husband is also a Ranger in the same park, going to work will never be the same again I am sure.

We must never lose our love of special places but we also never forget that people work hard to maintain them, in some cases risking their lived to do it on a daily basis.

Winter will it get here???

Will it or not is the question. We all know its been a mild winter and they are saying that it might get colder yet but when. Try looking at a long range weather forecast and you will see what I mean.

The winter birds are here I know, I had the chance and took it to see thousands of wintering geese last saturday on the Norfolk coast. It was marvellous there were Pink footed, White fronted , Brent and Barnacle on top of the usual Greylag and Egyptian.

But back to the mildness, I was looking at a new garden this afternoon and already in flower way too early are Periwinkle, Bellflower and Hebe, not to mention a Passionfruit that looks like it has never stopped growing and is covered in buds waiting to break.

What a few days

Its has been one of those weeks and its not over yet workwise either. Hopefully though I might get a chance to relax something which I think I have earnt this week.

Whats happened then well two days gardening as per usual, then the last three have been a tad different but very enjoyable. I have been helping out a local ecologist on a development site in Norfolk, a bit of work with reptiles and good fun it was as well, common lizards and a grass snake. Been long days though with the travelling and fitting in a garden or a bat survey when I got home.

Did get a bit wet today but yes we do need the rain still, and after all trousers get dry eventually.

Little brother is still doing well although the rain he has had has been very heavy and unfriendly. The worst was from Tongue round to Ullapool steep roads not made very welcoming by heavy rain. The Tongue Hotel deserve a really big thank you from Robin, there hospitality was incredible and he is very grateful for all you did for him as someone raising money for Marie Curie.

He is now away on the islands again, he landed at Stornoway Wednesday evening after a rough boat trip and is looking forward to his cycling there as he knows it will be quiet with a bit of wild camping which he loves for good measure. New photos coming up.