Watching the lovely birdy!!!!

The lovely birdy being a Red Footed Falcon,earlier in the week we had gone to Hickling reserve after hearing about this lovely bird being there, but unfortunately it decided to go on a little trip to Horsey, as it was getting chilly we took a chance to go and see it another day at Horsey.It was a lovely evening although a little bit of a breeze, we parked up just past the pub at Horsey and walked down the path, the eveing was glorious and golden, we spotted some people with binoculars and scopes in the distance, things were looking good, we joined these fellow birders and settled to watch, the Falcon was intent on hunting for Dragonflies and other insects, hovering and swooping and returning to its favourite perching post, it was a truly beautiful bird, a juvenile, with more of an orange bill and orange feet,we watched for ages, it was joined by a Hobby, and then later a Marsh Harrier flew past in the distance pausing to check out the field below it.The light was perfect low and golden and clear, what an amazing sight, that evening i actually said "I love my binoculars" I know weirdo!!!!

Dragons Damsels and magical meadows!!

Yes we do have these wonderful things in Norfolk,hidden lovely places, a few of us discover, maybe more than a few, who knows, pick a day a time and explore, who knows what you will find!!
The adventure begins at Upton reserve, a humid, grey day, threatening clouds hang low in the sky all around us, little flecks of blue sky escape the darkness overhead, we all sit waiting expectantly our teacher making ready the leaflets booklets and pictures for our day ahead, hunting dragons and damsels, armed with our little bit of knowledge we venture out into the "weather" and what weather it is, wild and wooly!!!windy teaming with rain and thunder and lightning, not looking promising at all, but we are not downhearted, the weatherman says it will brighten and who are we to doubt his word, we amble along the marshy paths surrounded by reed and then into woodland glades a beautiful place, stopping now and again to look at flowers and birds passing overhead, somebody spots a Hobby, where there are Hobbys there are usually Dragonflies, the skys suddenly clear bright hot sun shines on our cold damp backs, and yes, there, ahead in a bank of reeds we see the wonderful jewel coloured creatures Damselflies, hovering and basking in the brief sunshine.Then an abundance of these beautiful creatures infront of us,a little further on an Emerald Damselfly, a Norfolk Hawker, Chasers, Red Damselflies, our quest came true, what lucky people we were to see these lovely things on what we thought was going to be a dark dreary day!!

Another lucky day came soon after this one, taking a chance on a dreary day to go exploring virgin paths, we decided to go and take a look at the woodland walks at Burlingham, we had been along a couple of these paths before, but decided to explore a different one which started off opposite the turn off to Fairhaven ,it started off normally enough a pleasant walk along a fairly ropey road, with a lovely fen to our left and woodland on our right ,the fen being called Hare fen, we stopped to listen to birds and take a breath before we started on the long ramble.carrying on through a small dark wood we came out onto another track, it was well signposted and we had a map with us so no worries there getting lost,then clouds seemed to darken and a warm drizxle fell, so we found shelter under a bank of trees alongside a field, and we were surprisingly warm and dry,we sat and chatted and watched crickets and beetles scurrying and hopping by, afte our brief rest, the rain  subsided slightly so as time was getting on we decided to take a chance and carry on, walking past hedgerows and picturesque cottages, we came out onto a huge expanse of meadow, filled with small orchards off into the distance, there were rows and rows of poppies oxeye daisys knapweed birds foot trefoil timothy it took your breath away it was so pretty, bees and butterflys were spoilt for choice flitting here  and there, with a feast of nectar at their (fingertips?) wingtips?, we carried on accross the meadow and came to a circular dip, resisting the urge to do something i used to do as a child, (lay on the floor and roll down trhe dip)and not wanting to leave this Magical meadow, we walked along the side of a field and over a road, what other beautiful sights would greet us on this virgin path (to be continued)

Hunting the Broad billed Sandpiper,and adventures in Holt!!

Sorry havent been able to write just recently have been a little bit busy.
Its been a good week weatherwise, although still windy,we had a good Bank Holiday weekend, went on a lovely adventure!!Me being me and my birthday being late in the year I needed a little something mid year to look forward to, so a friend suggested another birthday like the Queen!!!so we suggested 29th May, which is always going to be around the Bank Holiday,bit hectic regarding visitors about, but never mind, we have to put up with these little difficulties living around The Broads!!Our little adventure started off by passing every single place I had ever visited, in our area of Norfolk( well almost slight exaggeration there)coming up to Holt, I couldnt think what the surprise could be, but, we didnt go through Holt, we stayed there and went up some little side road,and then I started to get an inkling as to what it was, I had always wanted to go on the steam train, from Holt to Sheringham,the Poppy Line, and lo and behold we took a *sharp* turn into the Railway car park, I was so chuffed(get it!!!!) sorry,
We spent the day near enough on the Poppy line steam train, getting on and off where and when we wanted, the stops on the way were, Weybourn, a pretty,  old fashioned station, where we got off and had a lovely walk and sat and had a picnic, by a little pond full of tadpoles, and Dragonflies and Damselflies, and then we went to Sheringham, a bustling seaside town, lots of Holiday makers  being the Bank Holiday, we walked along the sea front, and onto the beach for a little while , as we had to hurry back for the train,which was quite full, so we had to stand.,I think lots of people just stayed on the train and journeyed back and forth all day,which was a pity , later that afternoon we got the last steam train back to Holt, we had had a lovely day, but it didnt finish there, we popped along the coast to Cley, and had a look in a couple of the Bird hides at the reserve, lots of waders about, so I practiced my I.D. skills.
During the week we went Broad billed sandpiper hunting, along Breydon, I lucked out a couple of times, all I could see from my friends scope was a little dot!!but he managed to see it later in the week, which is good.If it hangs around Breydon, I may try again!!