Our Walking Group

Link to our walking group, Caister Wildlife Walkers, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1512293312417005/

Large as life

A couple of days ago, had walked into Gt Yarmouth, on my way back home , walking along Yarmouth Rd where there is a paddock with Donkeys in, on a small fence post I saw a large bird of prey, I stopped and took a careful look, to my delight saw it was a Buzzard, sat on a tiny fence post large as life, I stood there gawping at it, the car drivers whizzing past mustve wondered what on earth I was doing, needless to say I didnt have my binoculars with me as usual on such occasions, it saw me and then flew off towards the tiny church yard nearby, so I wondered if it could be roosting in there.
Weather has been so mild just lately up in the 16 and 17 degrees, seems so unreal walking about in warm sunshine in December, my little miniature Irises are starting to flower I think they are usually flowering in February,
Havent been for my usual walk along the beach just recently, for some reason recently not liking walking alone along there where as before I used to quite like being lost in my own thoughts.
Went on an interesting walk and talk the other week, it was at Potter Heigham, where they are making new reedbeds, it was a circular walk wont be open to the public though,lots of nature about, 2 Barn Owls flew from a tin hut, we saw 5 Cranes, 3 landed and 2 flew over, there were Curlew, its going to be a lovely place when the reedbeds take, it is now, will probably try the walk alongside by the back of the little waterfront houses and see if there are any decent views from there is a public path with a bank maybe able to see a bit.We carried on the long circular walk went into Hickling Reserve and sat in the Weavers way hide, saw 3 Marsh Harriers, then carried on by the road towards Potter Heigham church.We had out picnic at the old eel catchers hut in the reserve or by the weavers way, were told it is the last one in England, and all the old skills will now be lost unless someone takes care of it, it will be such a shame and a loss of our history of Norfolk.Why wont the English Heritage or Lottery fund do anything.When its gone its gone.

A festival of birds

That is exactyly what it was last Saturday, a festival of birds, we were on a walk around West Caister, it was dull and drizzly but not cold.we walked from the marshes up to the pine trees at West End Caister.
Rather than go through to the concrete path that leads to the chicken sheds Mautby way, we took a shortcut path over fields, this incorporated a lovely pond, here we saw Redwings, Fieldfare, and Siskins, we stopped at the corner of the scrubby edged field, where probably in the summertime there will be lots of lovely wild flowers, and thus attracting lots of butterflies hopefully.In the distance we saw two Barn Owls, nearby over the trees at Waters Covert we saw three Buzzards, they had caused the Corvids to fly up from the trees.
There were Goldcrests everywhere feeding feverishly in every scrubby bush, willow tree and Sycamore we passed, it was amazing.There were Yellowhammers, Ring Ouzel, and once again along another part of the Pickerell Holme we saw a Kingfisher, this is becoming a regular sighting, everytime we cross the stream.
The day was very dull and drizzly and there was an east wind, so in bad weather migration stops, the little birds drop down to find a nice sheltered bush or tree, to feed and rest and hunker down before they continue their journey in finer weather.

The Sea, Seals, and Buntings

I did mention a nice walk along the beach to our wildlife walkers.
This walk would be along from the Lifeboat Station to California or Scratby, it wouldve been roughly 2 miles and obviously 2 miles back.
The beach is amazing this time of year, pic coming soon to prove it.I was walking along it a couple of days ago, there were seals bobbing about in the surf, and Brent Geese flying south to north out to sea, There probably will be more Seals hauling up onto beach very soon, because November December time they usually have their pups, tiny white fluff balls, which soon get fat and round. Also further down the beach near Second Avenue if there arent too many dogs about the Snow Buntings will be arriving. Last year big excitement, we had a Hump Back Whale, it was all over the news, it was following shoals of Herring along the coast, it may become a regular arrival lets hope so.

Exploring new paths and old.

Last Thursday the weather looked good again, so decided to do a reccie of the new path we found. It was halfway down the concrete track to the river in Caister, never noticed it before. So we set off was ok at first but quickly became hard going, long wet grass, so we decided to turn back, but good news was we found the original path which skirts the fields and goes over liggers.The yellow arrows had been covered by reeds.
We decided to take the path along by the stables, lovely country lane hedges laden with berries, lovely views again over the marshes, carried on to the end and I normally turn right to get back up to Caister West End, but we had found a path on the ramblers site showing a path turning left, it did look private but no signs saying this, so we ventured on there was some farm equipment, but it was a nice path, I checked a post and saw there was definitely a yellow arrow, pointing right once again by the edge of fields , they were stubbly and dry so we sat right in a corner in the sunshine and had lunch, views once again over the marshes where we saw riding the thermal breezes three Buzzards, beautiful sight.
After lunch carrying o9n following the ramblers map, I found it a bit difficult, distinct lack of footpath signs, but came out at another concrete track and rather than turning towards river and chicken farm, we turned right and back towards Mautby, we turned right again along pretty country lanes , saw a Kestrel hunting above us and later, saw a bird of prey take small partridge in its talons and fly off very low only to drop it, it got away.We crossed the Pickerell Holme, back towards West End Caister, and back along the road towards the blue footbridge. This walk was quite a way but worth it, in the glorious Autumn sunshine.Will save this one for the Caister walkers once they are maybe a bit fitter.

Caister on Sea Wildlife Walkers

Very original title there I was hoping for something a bit more Norfolk!!! incorporating the words Troshin, ie walking like Do yew go a troshin boi?
Well im back and needles to say been doing a bit of walking, I started a little group discovering country lanes  around Caister on Sea where I live, the first walk was a couple of weeks ago.We started at the blue walk bridge over Caister Bypass, it was a glorious day, we got 7 people altogether including me, we followed the back path past the paddocks off of West Rd, There were still a few butterflies about and one or two Dragonflies mostly Darters but there was a Southern Hawker I believe, there were speckled wood and comma butterflies. The hedgerows were laden with fruit, Blackthorn Elderberries, Blackberries, Rosehips, and also Gages, which were quite sweet, We carried on to the end of the path, and at the cross roads at the bottom of Clink Hill turned on to the concrete path to the river, it was lovely and warm and there was a gentle breeze, we stopped to look at the trees, ash trees were laden with bright yellow seeds, they glowed in the distance.like huge bunches of dripping yellow blossoms.When we got to the river embankment we stopped for lunch, I took along strawberries as a treat. Sat and chatted for a while then wandered back
On the way back along the concrete path a noticed a newish sign with an arrow showing an unknown path I hadnt noticed before, decided to save that one for later.Well that was the first walk and there may be more , a couple of us were seasoned walkers but some werent and I was worried I had taken them on too far a walk, they may want to carry on we ll see.

Missed the Fritt

Oh well never mind set out for Holt country park thismorning , a butterfly recorder friend told us there were Silver Washed Frittillaries at The country park, but it got very dull and there were no signs there , but went down to the Holt Lowes and saw an amazing Cricket, and a Keeled Skimmer dragonfly which was good.Then pootled back along the coast but the weather got worse unfortunately.

Day out Pigneys Wood

Went to a lovely little nature reserve today, Pigneys wood, been there on one occasion before but couldn't quite remember how to get there so sat nav came to the rescue, and found it, we parked at the Knapton end car park and walked along the Paston Way until we came to steps down into the reserve, it was very nice, sat atop a hill and had a picnic in the sunshine, then wandered around for a couple of hours.it will be lovely in the summer, bit nippy later in the day today, There were notices everywhere saying keep dogs on leads as it was a nature reserve, but unfortunately a few people did ignore it and allowed their dogs to jump in the water and run around, spoilt for others really, and they probably dont even think twice of taking notice of the signs, such a shame!

Getting back in the swing of things

Its been a gorgeous day today, went for my usual walk along the beach and found four pieces of sea glass for my collection, I should really carry on making my necklaces and little jars and stuff but im still resting after a spell in hospital, did do a task at How Hill Ludham on Sunday but took it easy, easing gradually back into my conservation tasks. got to get fitness levels back up again slowly. Saw my first newt in the pond today, and saw a Buzzard flying over my house being mobbed by gulls.

Toad Hole cottage How Hill