Raptor fest

The warm weather with a gentle southerly last Bank Holiday Sunday prompted a raptor fest here on the hill. Initially came the first of the dozen or so Buzzards. A Sparrowhawk flying high and circling east was followed by a Short eared Owl that flew over and then landed in the garden. It didn’t stop long; the Magpies wouldn’t let it. A phone call from Andy in the village told of three Kites coming my way. Sure enough flying high over the cottage were the distinctive form of a trio of Red Kites. As I was looking at these a Hobby flashed through my view; my first for the year.

Godwits

Most of the Black tailed Godwits on the coast have now reached prime condition. Some beautifully coloured up birds on the tours last week.

Egret in the wind

Watching a Little Egret in the wind last week we were taken with the feathering reminding us of white ferns.

Scattered

As we sat in the hide at Cley watching Black tailed Godwits they all of a sudden scattered. The reason; the largest female Peregrine I’ve seen in a long while came screaming in across the scrape at breakneck speed.

Look who’s in the flower bed

A big thank you to to Trevor and Gill Davies for letting people into their house to see the Wryneck that occupied their garden at Cley next the Sea this week. A well marked individual this one which made it look even more reptilian than usual. Fascinating woodpeckers these.