Norfolk

I’m back from Norfolk and had a wonderful time, the weather was great with only a couple of relatively short showers.

My birding list was as follows:

Shelduck
Mandarin
Great Crested Grebe
Mallard
Canada Goose
Lapwing
Tufted Duck
Black Swan
Coot
Moorhen
Crow
Jackdaw
Rook
Jay
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Chaffinch
House Sparrow
Woodpigeon
Feral Pigeon
Pheasant
Red-Legged Partridge
Collared Dove
Blackbird
Robin
Long-Tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Mistle Thrush
Goldcrest
Chiff Chaff
Common Tern
Grey Heron
Blackcap
Willow Warbler
Treecreeper
Swift
Swallow
Wren
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Gadwall
Pochard
Teal
Egyptian Goose
Pied Wagtail
Black Headed Gull
Common Gull
Herring Gull
Reed Warbler
Grasshopper Warbler
Cetti’s Warbler
Marsh Harrier
Sky Lark
Cuckoo

At least I think that’s all, I could’ve missed some off…

We discovered a nice place called Fairhaven, a water garden fairly close to Strumpshaw, so we often went back for a cup of tea/bite to eat. We enjoyed a nice boat trip along the broads, eventually the end it did begin to rain so our visit was cut short after hiding under some azaleas from the rain watching a brood of LTT’s flit around feeding.

Lots of LTT’s were around, I imagine there must have been more than one brood there were so many flitting around above us

Views of the water garden, these ‘streams’ criss cross around the garden.

A view to the house, we don’t believe this is open to the public as there was no obvious route to it, just tantalising little glimpses.

Primula Candelalbra, these are everywhere and looked amazing. I’ve never been a fan of Primula (love Vialii though!) but these were very nice and I think I may just have to get some! Mum was tempted but it seemed a little silly to drive home with a boot full hehehe

Small Tortoishell on a Hybrid Bluebell.

Egyptian Goose

Waiting for the boat ride, looking out onto the broads.

Little Mallard duckling

Mr Mallard

We visited Strumpshaw Fens, nice place and had a nice slow/long walk around the site 3/4 miles or similar I believe it was. We missed the bearded tits and Bittern, oh well. And apparently the day before Swallow Tail Butterflies had been seen, sadly I wasn’t so lucky!

Black cap in a shrub, I assume they had a brood already as they were in and out, the male then postured to the female as she brought him a twig!

Strumpshaw Fen, I think this was the meadow (obviously not yet in flower!)

Water way with reeds, barely caught any sightings of the warblers but they were definitely making their presence heard. The Grasshopper warblers especially, I’m unsure if we were actually hearing grasshoppers!

Female Common Blue??

Marsh Harrier, a record shot only.

Mr Pheasant

Mrs Pheasant, she didn’t want to move from the path for me, we had to creep around her lol.

Canada Goslings

Coot with pretty ripples around it

Far too much money was spent in Norwich *whistles innocently* obviously Monsoon is evil – but then it always is as surprisingly the same happens in Inverness every year… Hmmm strange how that should happen… lol. I managed to resist the temptation of Hotel Chocolat (well I did actually plan to go back later, but forgot)

I hope everyone has had a great Bank Holiday weekend, it’s been scorching hot here and I think I’ve caught the sun again after spending the morning birding in the local patch and then doing some gardening in the afternoon.