Well today I had to work again (really gets in the way!!!) but managed to escape later and went to
NOA Hempton marsh arriving at 3pm - partially sunny, well ok, more cloudy!!! Saw a
kingfisher flying across the marsh (right of board walk), heard cuckoo, willow warbler, saw 2 red legged partridge, a
large red damselfly, chiffchaff and blackcap singing, saw
2 marsh tits, chaffinches, 2 great tits, 2 blackbirds, 1 blue tit, 1 robin and a jay by the viewing platform when I was sheltering from rain in old hide which basically consists of sticks and plastic, but totally waterproof, looks something Ray Mears has put together!
Decided to then go on to
Walsey Hills (Salthouse) arrived at 5pm and the sun was now brilliant
. Stopped briefly at
NWT Cley's new centre, very, very modern, I don't know if I like it or not really, bit too clinical I think. Views over marsh were stupendous though. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had sampled a cake - but they were packing up, it was 4.50pm, too late, never mind, next time! Anyway parked at Walsey and walked up to top and sat on seats eating sandwiches with flask of tea. It was heaven - the best thing all afternoon was a willow warbler that sat on telegraph wire next to me and sang the whole hour and a half I was there, it looked so brilliant in the sunshine. A couple came up the steps and the lady (newish to birding I think) was also fascinated by this beautiful bird that looked and sounded so magical. Did not see any adders. Heard chiffchaff, cettis was serenading me, reed warbler singing, male kestrel flew over, marsh harriers both male and female soaring over Arnold's Marsh, Walked around reserve, following bottom path, and saw common whitethroat, linnets, pheasant in the flowers and a hare that came quite close, I stood motionless to see how close it would come, when a marsh harrier suddenly appeared from nowwhere right over me and the next time I looked down, the hare had gone!!!!!! 4 long tailed tits flitting about in the gorse along the top and another common whitethroat. Chaffinches, skylarks, meadow pipits singing in the blue skies. Walked back round the path and saw all the usual birds on Arnold's marsh, avocets, lots of sandwich terns etc etc. Back at the centre, saw
2 wall butterflies. Put my long lens on camera to take picture of willow warbler, still sitting on wire! - stood under pole (very tame!) and was just about to press shutter, when a kestrel came over and the willow warbler shot off the pole like grease lightening. Sat on the seats for a while, waiting for it to come back, waited, waited, put camera stuff away, put rucksack on back and yes, you've guessed, the willow warbler came back!!!! It was still singing on the telegraph pole as I shut the car door!
Went onto Salthouse - 6.45pm - Lots of common and sandwich terns going west, turnstones and avocets and redshank on marsh. 3 pied wagtails and 5 wheatears on the hill!!! Drove home via Holt/A148 with beautiful, dramatic cloud filled skies against setting sun.
I am borrowing someones pager whilst they are on holiday and it has just bleeped, that there was a red-backed shrike, yesterday at 6.30am at Blakeney Point!!!! - very nice! And there is a Pallas' W at Freiston Shore, have not seen one of those for alot of years!!
Best Wishes Penny:girl: