Tuesday 10 September 2013

Titchwell and Sunny Hunny

Had a lovely day out on Saturday, poodling up the North Norfolk Coast, went to Titchwell Nature Reserve, saw lots of birds, lots of ticks not ticks as in nasty insects, but ticks as in birds ive not seen, which is a lot!!!Little Stint, Little Ringed Plover, Curlew Sandpiper Spoonbills, they drifter in late in the day, we stayed till sunset which was breathtaking, the light was perfect even for my poor old binoculars!!!
We then fancied fish and chips so went off to Hunstanton or sunny Hunny, went up the cliffs.the views were lovely the day was perfec!!!!!


Chalkhill Blues at Wareham

Last month on a beautiful balmy day had a lovely adventure up  in North Norfolk at a lovely place called Wareham Camp, we found a pub called The Three Horseshoes at Wareham, went straight accross the crossroads, and parked in a little lay by, i task was to find the Chalkhill Blue butterfly, we walked along the lane and came to a path off to our right, the wind had got up a bit but down this path we were well sheltered it was lovely and warm, a fleeting promise of things to come as a flash of lilac blue fluttered by us, through a large gate at the bottom of the lane, and our breath was taken away, a vast mound with a large ditch between another large embankment, and covered in wild flowers including ragwort which itself was covered in lilac butterflys, we sat atop the mound and were surrounded by these beautiful little lilac shimmering beauties, well worth a visit.

Monday 24 June 2013

Weed workshop!!!

That was the unofficial title of this fun day, held at the Priory Centre in Gt Yarmouth, and then relocated to Gt Yarmouth Minster Cemetery.This was a wildflower ID day, hosted by Norfolk Wildlife Trust Gemma Walker and Nick Aitchison, very knowledgable people, First we had a basic talk about bits of the flower and then we went out and looked for lovely wild flowers , found some good ones in the church yard, such as Broomrape a strange looking thing which is a parasitic plant and can appear 5 years later entirely in another location , also there was Wild Sage, Wild Thyme, Biting Stonecrop, and much more, it was  a free day out, and we learned loads
There are only a couple more workshops and talks coming up, and they are all free and well worth coming along to, go see the NWT website for further details Also Friends of Gt Yarmouth Minster are hoping to make a nature area in the future and are looking for volunteers to help.

Tuesday 18 June 2013

A secret place

Went to a very lovely place at the weekend, Catfield Fen, bit difficult to find but well worth it when you do.I believe the Butterfly conservation people work there ,the day we went was a bit overcast although warm, so we didnt see many Damselflies or Dragonflies, just a Hairy Hawker and a Norfolk Hawker, there are apparrently Swallowtails there also, we heard a lovely Songthrush, also a Grasshopper Warbler.
it isn t signposted so maybe Google Earth could help with the location, but dont tell anyone else, it is too lovely to be invaded by lots of people!!
On Tuesday we went to Holt Country Park where a Roller had been seen, a lovely colourful bird, we missed it at first by about 20 minutes, but we went for a little stroll over the other side of the road near some ponds, and there was a bit of excitement in the distance , luckily it had relocated to just where we were , we got lovely views in the end.

Friday 14 June 2013

What is this little creature?

Very sad day today found two of these little creatures in my garden , one was dead one died later, not sure what it is though, maybe a field vole, any ideas please?
I found out what it was , a baby Water Vole,very sad , 2 found in my garden, lets hopethere were more littlee brothers or sisters.

Friday 24 May 2013

Woodbastwick Marshes

Another day and another lovely walk out in the Norfolk countryside, but this time we were on a rare visit to a place not normally open to the public, it was Woodbastwick marshes this was another free trip from the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, and was led by a Natural England Reserve manager, Woodbastwick Marshes is part of the Bure Marshes National Nature Reserve .
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1006026.aspx
We were shown part of the Reserve and shown many plants and with a brief glimpse of the sun there was one dragonfly I believed to be a Four Spot Chaser, and the one little Butterfly was a Small White.One of the Water plants which the Reserves Manager was very keen on showing us was Bladderwort, which had tiny bladders on it with tiny hairs which when touched by any miniscule water creature caused the bladder to open and suck the poor little creature in so in effect a carnivorous water plant.
Milk Parsley

We also saw Milk Parsley and Marsh Pennywort.

Tuesday 21 May 2013

Spotted nationally scarce plant Gt Yarmouth

Suffocated Clover
Whilst on a Wildlife Workshop with NWT 's Gemma Walker community and education officer with NWT and Simon Harrap writer Naturalist renowned speaker and Nature Guide, we were looking for various plants on a walk through Gt Yarmouth's St Nicholas Church Yard and along North Denes, in the church yard we found Meadow Saxifrage a pretty little plant which could be easily overlooked.
Meadow Saxifrage
A rarity which we found was Grey Hair Grass this was along the North Denes.but the main event was the spott5ing of a Nationally Scarce plant Suffocated Clover this was also at North Denes, and was very small so we were grovelling around on the pavement with hand lenses .
Grey Hair Grass
Whitlow Grass
Another pretty plant with tiny flowers was Sea Sandwort.and we also saw Whitlow Grass an unusual looking little Grass.
Sea Sandwort

Monday 20 May 2013

The Peaks continued

Considering we only had a week we packed a whole lot into this holiday, The Dark Peaks was a particularly spectacular day out, and the very picturesque Castleton was a particular favourite, but on this holiday there were so many lovely lovely places.
There were so many different caverns to choose from we weren't sure which one to pick, Blue John was the obvious choice but we didnt want that another had about 160 steps down to an underground lake and a very claustrophobic tunnel didnt fancy that, we did go and  have a look at the the spectacular entrance of Peaks Cavern
In the end we decided on Treak Cliff Cavern a working Blue John mine, the guide was very friendly and took us on a wonderful tour, I bought a beautiful piece of Blue John which now hangs in my window and which shows amazing patterns and veins of Blue.Another Cavern is Pooles Cavern  which is in Buxton.
The amazing views of Mam Tor took you breath away, I believe it was in the 1970 s that the side of the Tor slipped into the valley below thus covering the road below.

Friday 17 May 2013

Its me Kathy I ve come home!!!


Sorry came over all Kate Bush, Heathcliffe, Wuthering Heights etc!!Out on the wild and windy moors and all that!!!Need a good rest after that holiday, saw lots of lovely places, Dovedale was spectacular, we started out early so not too many people about at first but the numbers did creep up during the day, along the walk we saw a Dipper, collecting food and flying in and out of a small cave so it was obviously nesting so that was good.We walked along the Monsal trail, from quite a steep climb down some slippy steps, to a large bridge with huge arches crossing a very pretty valley, where you could sit and picnic, we walked to Bakewell, but dodging cyclists all the time, some of them were very considerate others down right rude!!so beware.Another of our trails was Curbar edge, the view was amazing we sat along the cliffs looking out over towards Chatsworth, being a Bank Holiday weekend there was a silver glittering stream of cars snaking its way towards Chatsworth, well not so much moving though, a huge traffic jam, we did think of them in their hot little cars as we sat atop Curbar edge with a cool breeze to enjoy.

Thursday 16 May 2013

Free Bat and Moth night

Friday 17th May, 8.30 til 10.30, An evening in search of Bats and Moths, Bat detectors provided, meet Beacon Park, Beaufort/Excalibur Road, Gorleston, Details at The Wild Norfolk Events, 2013, Norfolk Wildlife Trtust, org.UK.Put it in your diary, although it is tomorrow!!!!

Five go to The Peaks!!!

Apologies for the lack of Blogs but I ve been on my hols!!to The Peak district, for a Norfolk girl used to very flat and wet marshes and not much climbing a bit traumatic, but very lovely, not strictly a Blog about Norfolk this one!!!From the highest Peaks to some very lovely caves we explored all over, saw some breath taking scenery and some lovely wildlife, from Dippers to a very surprising view of 4 Water Voles which was very exciting, We even disturbed some people who looked  bit Druidy, and were very put out that we came to look at some standing stones and a burial mound ,where they had settled down in their folding chairs to watch the sunset.
But the funniest thing was some gorgeous Lambs galloping around and around the circle in a little Lamb creche having a whale of a time!!!
We found a very pretty and very secluded little walk this was at Chee Dale, farther up from Mill Dale and Dove Dale, it was early evening  and there was a glorious golden light, this was where we saw the Water Voles, just large as life swimming and climbing about on the far bank infront of us we did do the touristy thing of Dove Dale , but this was much better for quiet seclusion.


Tuesday 23 April 2013

The first cuckoo

Not strictly Norfolk, but close enough, set out for Carlton marshes, just through Oulton Broad, Suffolk, it is a Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve, never been before, the turning is off the A146 to Beccles, opposite The Warren School, the turning is Burnt Hill Lane, it is 153 acres, it is part of The Broads, and there are many paths that link Oulton Broad, the river Waveney, there are marshes, Fens and dykes and large reedbeds, there is also an education centre.
Sunday was lovely and sunny but the wind was still very cold, so it was good to find a lovely little path out of the wind that took you into a very marshy area wich on the pamflet map was called Sprats Water nature trail, walking to the end of this path, it becomes a little confusing so it would be probably best to take a landranger map with you.
We heard Cettis Warbler and a Cuckoo, the first of Spring, Woodpeckers, after taking part in a Tree ID course, trying my non existent skills out, we found a tree which we believed to be a Black Poplar.

Wednesday 17 April 2013

A quote from the Dalai Lama.
All living beings have experience of pleasure and pain, and we are among them.What makes human beings different is that we have a powerful intelligence and a much greater ability to achieve happiness and avoid suffering.Real happiness and friendship come not from money or even knowledge, but from warm-heartedness.Once we recognise this we will be more inclined to cultivate it.

Searching Horsey Dunes.

Last Sunday was a bit of a disappointing day, even though the weather was fine, I couldnt get out into my lovely countryside, but it did get better later in the day, it was a lovely golden sunny evening, bit breezy and a bit of a chill in the air, popped up to Horsey, searching for a lovely little bird i had never seen let alone heard of!!It didnt look too promising there was nobody to be seen and for something like this I suspect there would be a few people about.We hunted about and checked directions and that we were in the right place, but it was nowhere to be seen, but we were not downhearted, wandering about we found a promising looking little scrubby copse in a deep dip in the dunes, and lo and behold there it was, robin sized lovely black eyes, great views of the Red Flanked Blue Tail, what a lovely little bird, I was so pleased, probably the rarest thing I had seen, personally.

Friday 12 April 2013

Where has our Caister beach gone??

Went for walk today between the showers, along Caister Beach, i d heard that the Manor House Hotel which had fallen into the sea in the 1930 s, had been uncovered by the rough weather of late, the erosion of the sea had left a 6 foot or more drop the beach looked unrecogniseable, metal groins or sea defences were now uncovered, and you couldn t actually walk along the beach very far North because you would have to clamber over the metal posts.
So where did all our beach go, opinions are divided and there has been much said about various works which have been  going on recently and over the past 25 years, causing the erosion, who knows, or is this just a normal cycle of Easterlies taking it away and Westerlys bringing it back?

Wednesday 10 April 2013

Springing into action

Been getting down to some serious gardening now that the weather has turned, poor garden, the sharp frost we had a little while back has scorched the leaves on all my poor plants honeysuckle, verbena, the fennel started to put out shoots and they have died down too, all my seedlings are ready and waiting on the bathroom windowsill, unsure whether to venture out into the big wild world, maybe under glass, we ll see, we are poised like a coiled spring!!!!
 The two pictures show the dyke I cleared at the bottom of my garden and how it changes from summer to winter,

Tuesday 9 April 2013

NWT Free courses and days out.

Got some lovely news today I am all booked up on NWT free course and free day out to lovely reserve Upton marshes.Also havent booked up but coming up there is a talk all about Orchids at Gt Yarmouth Library with Simon Harrap, but no need to book on that one just turn up, Tuesday 16th April 2.00 pm.
Also hot bird news Goshawk seen on Winterton Dunes.