Morning Tea with Leah 30th January

Drove over to Hazelford to have morning tea with Leah this morning as a lovely sunny day for a visit to the river. The boat looking very nice in the sunlight although a bit of a muddy track to get down to it.

The river was flowing quite swiftly after the recent snow and melting. No sign of the Robin who comes into the boat given half a chance or the Moorhen but there was a lovely little Marsh Tit calling from a reed stem on the other side of the jetty.

As it was such a lovely day we walked up river towards the sailing lake to see if we could spot the Tawny Owl sunning itself in the hollow tree it often roosts in. We were in luck today and got a great view of it snuggled down in it's hole enjoying the winter sun, 105th species for the year!

Had to rush back a bit as I was picking up Viv after she had been swimming.

Thursday 26th January

We had quite a flurry of snow this morning, made the garden look really pretty for a while but most of it had melted by early afternoon.

I had moved the guinea pigs into a bit more shelter so they didn't get too snowed in, poor little things only have little legs and don't want to be wading in deep snow.

The snow did bring in a pair of Tree Sparrows to the feeders on the pear tree, first time they have visited the garden that we've seen for just over a year. If it stays cold we might just get a few other rarities with luck. It took the annual total to 104 species for the year to date.

Sailing at Brancaster January 2015

The only down side to sailing at Brancaster in the winter is the fact you have to get up at the crack of dawn to catch the tide but at least you get to see the Brent Geese and Pink-footed Geese flying in to feed having roosted out at sea for the night. The sky is just full of skeins of calling geese, quite a sight to see.

Fortunately I was sailing with Chris a friend from Norwich who had brought his boat a Wanderer down which meant Viv and I could leave our Wayfarer Mihangel behind this time. First time I have sailed a Wanderer, a bit like a slightly smaller and slower Wayfarer.

Saturday the wind was blowing a Force 4 with stronger gusts so we stayed inside the harbour but did get to have a play in the waves just inside the harbour mouth taking it in turns to helm across the waves and surf the boat.

Sunday the wind dropped to a steady Force 3 so we able to get out through the harbour entrance although quite a battle with the tide for a while and then beat up to Titchwell Creek along the coast. The sail back was down wind so quicker, warmer and drier and we again had a little play in the surf which had kicked up due to the fact the tide had turned by then and was running against the wind.

Chris relaxing and enjoying the view.

It was nice being back in Norfolk again although I had been there for a week bird watching only a week ago. I like to get away the beginning of the year to Norfolk and the Lakes to get the birding year off to a good start.

I had seen 58 different species around home including a Raven at the back of Farnsfield which was rather unusual. Norfolk gave me a chance to visit Cley Marshes where in addition to the usual waders I saw Marsh Harriers, Bearded Reedling and Snow Bunting.

At Stiffkey I saw my favourite bird a Male Hen Harriers plus female Hen Harrier, Sparrow Hawk and Barn Owl.

Before I came back I had a first visit to Burnham Overy Staithe where I spotted Pink-footed goose, White Fronted goose, Common and Rough Legged Buzzard, Red Kite, Red-necked Grebe, Common Scoter out on the sea and my second favourite bird a Short-eared Owl. At one point the Short-eared owl came right up close then circled off with a Red Kite just hunting over the marsh.

All in all quite a good week seeing 87 different species and taking the total for the year to 100 by the middle of January.

Writing this up this morning the weather outside not great, windy, cold and frequent squally showers of sleet and rain. However, we did have a pair of Tree Sparrows on the feeders in the garden, first time they have visited this year, we didn't see them at all in the garden last year.