Strong North East Winds persist!

Mute Swans flying over Friary Hills.

Beautiful sunny day, but the strong north easterlies continue!

Arrived at Friary Hills to find the male Ring Ouzel, but no luck. Birds seen/heard: sedge warbler, cetti's warbler, common whitethroat, blackcap and a nice common sandpiper on the pool opposite the entrance gate. Had a 'discussion' with a couple and two children, plus dog about how THERE ARE NO DOGS ALLOWED IN FRIARY HILLS - 'but' said the lady 'we thought that mean't for the Cafe only.....' (yeah right!). 'He is on a lead' - I explained about the lady that owned the land originally and how she had left it to the NT in her will on condition that no dogs were allowed. The lady sarcastically said that all NT properties allowed well behaved dogs. I pointed out again that this one didn't allow any and she said 'there are not only NT properties in Norfolk you know' - then she went on about how 'the dog would bake in the car you know'.... I just shrugged - not my problem I thought - solution, leave dog at home or don't have a dog in the first place. Anyway the husband and children continued on through Friary Hills and the lady+dog went back to the car. I hung around to make sure she didn't come back!

Dog and owner walking OUT of Friary Hills!

Walsey Hills - my second 'telling off' for the day. A family and two children - two children charging round, flying up the steps and running all around where the bird feeders are!!! Bumped into Pete S. - walked round Walsey with him. Nothing of note really, did have a goldcrest at the end of the bottom path, usually Cettis Warbler singing and chiffchaffs.

Went to NWT Visitor Centre for lunch. I was going to Blakeney Point today, but couldn't face 10 miles of fierce winds. Feeling fed up. Pete's pager goes off "Wryneck in garden at Hilltop......" Reparked our cars on the 'triangle' at bottom of Old Woman's Lane and walked up to Hilltop. Huge thanks to T. and his wife for allowing people to walk through their house to view the Wryneck. It typically didn't show for a while. In fact it didn't show in the garden at all, but in next door's garden (who is not a birder) at about 3pm. I photographed it from the landing window in full sun, so not a prize winning photo, but a fantastic bird! I never tire of seeing wrynecks. The view of Cley Marshes and the sea from their house is awesome - what I would give to live there! Need to find out if there are any single men living on Hill Top!!! I spent a long time here, hoping it would nip over to their garden where the light was better. Pete went home and I went to Muckleborough Hill.

Wryneck at Hilltop, Cley-next-Sea.

Pete Snook has again kindly allowed me to link the following video. Thanks Pete!

Muckleborough Hill - spent a long time walking round here. Beautiful here, with tons of bluebells out and all the trees looking very green. Few Chiffchaffs, common whitethroat, a couple of jays, rooks and jackdaws, but little else.

Went back to Walsey Hills again for another look round, but nothing of note, so went home.