A New Book by Carl Chapman

A Duty of Hope

Anyone that knows and has held a conversation with me will understand my keenness to preserve our wildlife and the world in which we all live. Sometimes it’s difficult to face the future knowing the drop-off in biodiversity that I see day in day out. Not knowing how or when that fall in numbers of birds and insects will stop is a profound thought that is always on my mind. It is a true fear.

I was with my friend Simon at Cley the other day. We were chewing over the fat and I voiced my fear. He said something that is still ringing in my ears. He said ‘We all have a duty of hope’.

I have wanted to photograph the Ring necked Parakeets in the London Parks for the last couple of years but just never found the time. We have them here in Norfolk but they are not very obliging in public areas. This week Tania and I took advantage of the £10 return tickets on offer to Liverpool Street Station and made our way on the underground to Lancaster Gate. We spent a pleasant few hours walking in Kensington Gardens. The parakeets were easily photographed but one thing immediately struck me… the variety of bird song. We were in one of the biggest cities in the world and the species list we ‘clocked up’ was something rivalling a walk on the Norfolk coast. Amazing. The day made that duty of hope … just a little easier.

White Arse

The Victorians didn’t like the term ‘White Arse’ so they changed it to Wheatear. We counted two flashing their ‘derrieres’ as we walked down the dunes at Horsey last week. A further nine on a bare patch in a field nearby. Grasshopper Warblers, Willow Warblers, Lesser Whitethroats and Whitethroats had arrived and numerous Stonechats were pairing up. Even a Brown Wall butterfly got in on the act and later a Hairy Dragonfly passed us by. A couple of Drake Garganey and four Cranes were also in the top ten of the day.

Vicious

On tour in the Broads last week we happened upon a couple watching the same Grey Seals as us. I had counted around 700 Greys with no Commons hauled up on the beach. The gentleman of the couple enquired of me what the collective noun was for a group of Seals. When I informed him it was a Rookery or Herd (or even a Pod or raft if at Sea) he said they had been wondering if it was a ‘Herd’ or perhaps a ‘Shit Load’. We were quite taken aback … but found it quite amusing. Given the number hauled out it did seem an appropriate description.

The animals were moulting. Irritable maybe. I guess they get quite itchy. One large bull; the largest on the beach was picking on an animal that couldn’t have been more than a few months old; maybe one of the late born pups from last year. My it gave it a rough time. The youngster got away … but not without a scar or two.

Blue headed Wagtail

A movement of Yellow Wagtails at West Runton the other day had a couple of Blue headed within them … including this lovely male feeding between the cattle.

Insects

The cold spring has held back a few insects of late. When we went to Minsmere on tour a week or so ago there were Orange tips and odd other butterflies on the wing there were even Large Red Damselflies were seeking out sheltered corners in the sunshine.

Songster

We had a good trip into Essex last weekend with guests enjoying the Spring migrants. However, it was the Nightingales that were the true stars. Staking their claim of territory when the first arrive these songsters of the night often ignore the time of day. They will show in bright sunshine. So it was with this one particular individual.

Summered-up

The regular Long billed Dowitcher at Cley was showing superbly well yesterday. Now in its summer garb it really does look the biz. However, it appears to have developed an aerofoil. A bunch of feathers standing above it’s mantle. It needs its mum to lick her hand and flatten them down a little.

Opening Up

I was half asleep to be honest. The warm sunshine was a change from the ‘cut your legs off’ Northerly that had been driving off the North Sea. As I opened up the gates at Wild Ken Hill this morning for the days tour I was surrounded by a cacophony of birdsong. Breeding in full swing.

Amid the harmonious warblers was a screeching; a panic of gulls from above. I looked up. A large bird of prey was the issue. A White tailed Eagle floated gently by. I’m getting quite used to seeing these birds in Norfolk now.

Whitethroat

Despite the cold Northerlies this Whitethroat was determined to register an interest in his bramble fortress.

Going Back

Some say it’s never good to revisit part of your past. They could be right. The rose colouring of time often makes experiences seem better than they were. However, every Spring I lament not looking out on the pond at Falcon Cottage. I created a migrant bird haven. A place where birds could shelter for a while; take rest and recover before moving on. The list of species that visited the garden on the ridge just east of Northrepps was nothing short of astounding but it was the regular and reliable spring occurrences of Ring Ousel that I looked forward to most of all. Sadly, since moving on, the garden is now not what it was.

We had good but brief views of Ring Ousel in Scotland two weeks ago. The vanguards of breeding birds had arrived and we found a female on Cairngorm sheltering from a ferocious wind. Here at West Runton earlier this week there was a splattering of birds moving through. A nice male posed in the cattle paddocks briefly; but you could tell it was anxious to move on. It never settled for long, even when viewed from a distance. The need and the rush to breed is strong.

However … birds never show as well as they did at Falcon Cottage.