Monday 23rd
May fresh NW Sunny intervals
The previous evening I spent
at Kelling Heath listening to maybe four nightjars churring around me. Before
dark, in fact before the colours faded to greys, turtle doves had been purring
and a male Dartford warbler had sung from a perch atop a nearby gorse bush.
Nightjars takes the list to
248, third on the BUBO Year list.
The same birds I see again in
the early morning. Well I don't unfortunately see a nightjar in the morning but
one keeps intermittently singing. This morning's Dartford warbler is a female.
I cycle down to Weybourne and
take the road west and bridleway north to access The Quags. Egyptian geese have
five well grown youngsters.
The day list grows with common
birds and there are a lot of hirundines flying around. I notice that sand
martins frequently go past with two following one, closely flying together. I
imagine that this may be two young birds learning from an adult.
I walk all the way to
Salthouse, not wishing to cycle and instead push the bike so that I can take in
the lovely, if rather chilly morning. There is a new hide just off the road as
I approch the famous east bank. Time for breakfast, spicy fruit loaf with
peanut butter. I read the notices and see that the extension to the Norfolk
Wildlife Trust's Cley reserve, an area of 53 hectares, has cost £2.6 million. I
ponder.
Next to the beautiful, Green
roof-covered Cley Nature Reserve visitor's centre for a permit. Down to Daulkes
hide to watch the many hirundines over the scrapes. A hobby comes past twice
just to prospect without hunting too seriously. A small group of black-tailed
godwits come down with a couple of knot. All of these delights are enjoyed by
myself and a group of Dutch birders.
The last week has been rather
exhausting, what with cycling almost 400 miles as well as the two days at the
Norfolk Bird Fair. I make my way after
walking around the reserve, to Moreston. Here I enter the church and
sleep on a pew for three hours! I hadn't intended to. I entered the Holy place
to look at the memorial to the village's War dead.
A cycle ride to Wells, a quick
shop for provisions, a short reading session in yet another church and into the
excellent Wells Youth Hostel for the night.
The year list now stands at
248, twenty five ahead of last year at this stage.
34.83 miles 1165 feet up elevation 1348 feet down elevation
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