Big freeze at Burgh Castle!!

On Sunday 20th January,ventured out into the wild!!!Bitter Easterly wind blowing across the marshes. Trying to think where to go, decided in the end to visit our local Roman fort, a huge ancient ruin,with views overlooking marshes and mud flats, and criss crossing paths leading into sheltered reed beds.We stood high on the hill and large flocks of widgeon wheeled overhead.Two Marsh Harriers quartered over the reeds, and disturbed them, we struggled down the steep steps onto the reedy path and came out onto a little bridge overlooking the river, we went quietly so as not to disturb the feeding ducks, two Dab chicks or Little Grebes, a small group of Shoveler, doing their strange little circle dance, a Snipe, and Mallard.
Treated myself to some base layer thermal wear, t shirt and leggings to wear underneath clothes, and why oh why didn^t I put them on, note to self, PUT THEM ON!!!!next time!Been hoping just lately to get out and start doing tasks again out on The Broads, but as I have been unwell lately havent been able to, arm is feeling numb and sore, after an operation so I have to build my strength up first, so been feeling a bit stir crazy, nice to get out even though it is flippin freezing!!!

Visitors in the snow

A few more inches of snow fell today, we have been lucky so far and havent had that much.Went out and kept the bird table and feeders topped up.Filled the water bowls, and wandered down to the dyke at the end of the garden, it was so peaceful, the snow seems to deaden all sound like a big blanket of white, a few little rustles in the bushes and clumps of snow drop from the branches of my Dragon Willow above my head, I glance along the ditch, hoping for a sighting, maybe of a Water Rail, or Moorhen, searching for a morsel in the undergrowth and ice free water , but no such luck.
Recently I ve had a lovely song thrush taking up residence in my garden, taking a liking to the suet and mealworm pellets , also a Jay dropped in for a little while. I did have a sighting of a bird I couldnt recognise, small Robin size pale Grey white front, and brown grey back, not a blackcap as no cap, any ideas anyone? Had lots of long tailed tits, and a coal tit.
Hoping this weather doesnt carry on too long, feel so sorry for the tiny little birds trying to survive the harsh winds!

Back to my lovely sea!

I'm back, been gone such a long time! Watching Winter watch, had my own close encounter with nature yesterday, a baby seal on the local beach, it was ok although all alone. As I used to be a seal warden remembered not to stress it out, looked for injuries, it was ok, the white fur had almost all gone, it was plumpish although not as round as some pups.checked the next day and it had gone so all  good

Adventures in The Peaks?or two go on their Holidays!!!

Culture shock for a poor little Norfolk girl, brought up near The Beautiful Broads, and used to tramping about in reedbeds and on the marshes!!!probably got little webbed feet by now, but she had to learn fast how to climb,HUGE mountains, well quite biggish hills,and the little webby feet turned to goaty cloven hooves for about two days!!!!
What a beautiful place ,The Peak District, so much to see and so little time, to be continued

Two go to Cantley

Part two of the Glossy Ibis search, and picture the day, dreary dull with a constant drizzle,all of a sudden a little tone on my mobile phone and also the home phone rang, message from a birder friend, the Glossy Ibis four of them have been seen at Cantley down a concrete track in marshy fields behind farm buildings, so off we go park just opposite the sugar beet factory gates and wander along the road and take a left turn down the track, and there a way along the track was a small group of birders and their scopes, we walked slowly and carefully along the track so as not to disturb the birds, and there feeding in pools in the sodden field are 4 Glossy Ibis, really good views, amazing looking birds with long beaks and a reddish rusty sheen to their black feathers.didnt care if it was such a miserable dreary daywe had seen the Glossy Ibis, i wonder if maybe they will end up like the Little Egret and decide they quite like it over here, all the nice wet marsdhy fiekdy type places and more may come lets hope.

Childhood paths, and hunting the Glossy Ibis!!

So many paths so little time, that was my mantra over the past few weeks, and also hunting the Glossy Ibis unsuccesfully i might add!!
A beautifully warm hazy day on the Halvergate road overlooking Halvergate marshes, not a sign of the Ibis of 5 Ibises i should say!!They are seen briefly usually, then they disappear into ditches, which as Norfolk being so flat is really frustrating as finding high ground to get a good view over the marshes is very difficult, so the only vantage point is the railway bridge on the Halvergate Road.They have also been seen at Burgh Castle, and Reedham , but we will not give up our quest!!!!

One of the old paths i was searching out was a childhood path from Boundary road to Burgh Castle, Gt Yarmouth, nearly 50 years ago now, which as you probably guessed a lot has changed unfortunately, such as factories being built on it, old bridges being demolished, marshes being built on or paths being redirected around a farmers field, old hedges had been dug up, so all in all completely different from the days of walking out over the marshes and jumping over dykes, but it was a lovely sunny day, and we did see three Little Egrets, so that was good.

The Reserve(my back garden and dyke) are doing well, so far we have a male and female Muntjak deer, a male and female pheasant, a dog fox, most of the plants are being eaten by the deer, so thats not so good, I had a Bank Vole last year, havent seen it yet this year, I dont know if they hibernate.

Oh and Smew lots of Smew, musnt forget them, Minsmere and Filby handsome wonderful birds!!!!!

And we have more things to look forward, Spring migration!!!Yey!!

Snow Day out

Well it had to come didnt it, eventually that flippn white stuff,dont like being cold I need SUN!!!!!
Went for a walk in the snow, yuk, although there were some lovely birds about, so I shouldnt complain, went on a circular path near Martham, lots of fields dykes and hidden little places where the interesting little birds like to go in snowy weather, saw a few Snipe, lots of Sky Larks in a field,a Peregrine flying over scaring off the Sky Larks, we flushed a Woodcock by mistake when trooping along by a small area of scrub.
Tomorrow Wednesday I have put my name down for the new project going on in Gorleston at Beacon Park some woods nearby are being tidied and paths made through, so I shall let you know how that goes, it will be a bit of a change from the Trinity volunteers ,as its not out in the wilds and hopefully not knee deep in mud, my injured foot although feeling better, probably wont take the deep mud just yet.