Nine Days Not On The Ranch 1-9 February 2020: Day 1 & 2

1^st February:

After a 10am drop off for the cats in Cliffe it was onto the road and north.  I had remembered my out of Kent/Essex passport (it is not blue by the way) and enjoyed a smooth run all the way to Thetford with Red Kite and Buzzard already on the list by then. An hour on the A11 at Attleborough with a hideous accident being attended just a few cars in front stymied my attempts at lunch but before too long we were at Top Farm at Marsham just south of Alysham.

There was no one else staying and I hoped that they Pod would suffice for a cold winter week. 

There was still time for me to get reacquainted with this camp site and a long circular walk produced Siskins twittering in the huge stand of Alders, Yellowhammer, singing Song and Mistle Thrushes and a swirling mass of Rooks and Jackdaws that would undoubtedly be heading off the roost at Buckenham 15 miles south east quite literally as the crow flies.

Surprisingly I stumbled on a very torpid Minotaur Beetle floundering on its back with legs flailing around mechanically. I righted it took a couple of pics before placing it under some leaf litter at the bottom of an Oak.

Minotaur Beetle

Minotaur Beetle

As the light faded the Tawny Owls started up and a Barn Owl screeched as it flew behind the pod causing the same heart jump as the Pela bird on Lesvos!

Fish and Chips in Alysham from Gottersons where I discovered possibly the most disturbing fish 'n' chip shop poster of all time... a precussor to Sausage Party...

2^nd February:

The weather was foul overnight with lashing icy rain (I know this from the scurry to the toilets at 1am!) and gusty winds and it dawned similarly grey dank with the threat of more rain. After a lazy breakfast we headed for the Broads with shopping excursions in mind before a Barn Owl at Ludham Bridge caused an opportunistic stop and photo op despite the dreary conditions.

Barn Owl

I could see the wild swan flock from the main road and looped around onto the old Ludham Airfield where two groups were spread out for me to scan through. I counted 57 Bewick’s and at least 13 Whooper as well as a lone Mute with another close Barn Owl trying its best to photo-bomb every shot I took.

Bewick’s Swans

Bewick’s Swans & Barn Owl

Bewick’s with Whoopers middle and right

Whooper Swans

Bewick’s Swans

Latham’s and then down to Billockby where some hastily parked cars near a barn suggested birders and indeed a small huddle were sheltering to watch six Cranes feeding in two stately trios. Another two flew in to increase the spectacle. Marsh Harriers quartered and a Great White Egret head and neck briefly appeared while a Chinese Water Deer was the first of the trip. 

Common Cranes

Common Cranes

Back towards Martham with a flock of 300 Pink-feet by the roadside and then off on the coastal loop up through West Somerton, Horsey, Waxham and Sea Palling before popping back out at Tesco at Stalham for lunch.  It was actually quite productive although the weather was still blustery and grey but with a suggestion that some clearer skies may be coming in from the west. 

Pink-footed Geese

Thirty-three Bewick’s Swans were seen with Pink-feet in the hundreds near the road and Marsh Harriers and Buzzards dotted the fields with the odd incongruous Egyptian Goose loafing around.  A climb to the top of the dunes at Waxham Barn produced birds in both directions with another nine Cranes out towards Hickling, more Pink-feet inland and a quintet of year ticks the other way with a single Black-throated Diver, Guillemot and six Gannets and two Sanderling and six Turnstones on the beach.  A melange of Grey Seals looking like a pile of blubbery rocks.

Spot the Seals

Waxham Church

Our high class lunch was consumed at Hickling NWT with Treecreeper, Long-tailed Tits and Marsh Tits for company before I headed off towards Stubbs Mill on the never walked inside path.  It was a bit squelchy but worth the effort and the sun ever tried to come out albeit in a watery fashion.  A flock of noisy Greylags were resting up on the flooded pools with a good number of all the regular dabbling ducks and everywhere I looked there were Marsh Harriers enjoying the still breezy conditions.

The Koniks were rather splendid and mostly quite rotund...

The Stallion

Down at the Watchpoint it was just me and another two couples for the first 45 minutes but in that time we saw three Cranes, Barn Owl, copious Marsh Harriers already checking out the best roost spots and the odd Buzzard perched up watching proceedings. Two Common Chiffchaffs called as they moved through with a tit flock that also contained another Treecreeper, Goldcrest and a calling Siberian Chiffchaff that was seen by others as they approached.

Barn Owl

Common Cranes

Common Cranes

Common Cranes

Common Cranes

Much to my delight Yvonne and Frankie appeared and the next hour was like old times with me trying my best to get them (and the small crowd now present) onto whatever I could find. Two more Cranes came in, six Whoopers headed over towards the Greylag pools, a female Merlin careened across and I ended up with a conservative 32 Marsh Harriers and thankfully a lone ring-tail Hen Harrier wafting through.  

Whooper Swans

Four Stonechats dotted the sedges and a Cetti’s Warbler called but we had to wait till we got back for the traditional Woodcock show in the car park with three birds whizzing around to end up proceedings before the drive back to Top Farm where the Tawny Owls duetted upon arrival.