Holme and the Hairdressers!

LINNET
Along the coastal path west of the NWT pay hut at Holme.

You can tell its been a pretty boring day by the title!!!

Got up early and went to search for the Red-backed Shrike at the Forestry, Holme NWT but it wasn't to be found at all. But I did have wonderful views of three Turtle Doves! It was such a gloomy day, no sun at all. There were also 10 Shelducks, 1 Whitethroat and 2 Hedge Sparrows. Walked behind the bungalows by the NWT pay hut and saw at least 3 Cuckoos who were making a right racket with their burblings, a pair of Bullfinches, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Robins, 5 Goldfinches and 2 Linnets. A Little Egret flew east over the Saltings. The wonderful thing about being at Holme in the week is the massive lack of dog walkers, I think I only saw two all morning! This is one of the reasons I prefer Cley – you just don't seem to get anywhere near the amount of unruly dogs (sorry I mean owners) there.

At the NWT Wader Pools from the third hide I watched a Common Sandpiper along with a Little Egret, 2 pairs of Pochard, a Reed Bunting, Tufted Ducks, Mallard, Heron, Black-headed Gulls and a Marsh Harrier.

At Holme Bird Observatory a ringer there (can't remember his name) said all he had caught in the mist nets this morning was a re-trapped Whitethroat! I walked all round the back of the pines trying to find something but couldn't find a single bird – a rubbish day for migrants!

 Yellow Flag Irises in the pond at Holme Bird Observatory.

Went to my parents to help my mother out with stuff and then had lunch with them. The skies blackened and it poured with rain for a short while. I was supposed to be leaving at 3.15pm to go to the hairdressers, but nipped to Choseley Barns on route back to Lynn. Typical – the sun decided to show itself and the light was incredibly beautiful. I positioned the car next to the gate with my camera at the ready. Recently someone had taken an incredible picture of two Turtle Doves here early in May – I can't remember where I found the picture on the net now. There were quite a few Yellowhammers here and also Corn Buntings (couldn't be bothered to count them), Chaffinches, Hedge Sparrows, 2 Mallard and 3 Racing Pigeons feeding on the scattered corn. A birder sitting in another car came across to tell me that he and his wife had just been watching 2 Turtle Doves just before I turned up! I waited and waited until I just had to leave. Pity I didn't see them as the light was perfect for photographing Turtle Doves! I also saw a Harrier sp. which I managed to photograph (see below). I then had to do a 'Penelope Pitstop' back to King's Lynn and only just made it time to the hairdressers. I was there for three hours! Hence why I only go every three months!

The weather looks disgusting tomorrow, but I am still going out – only so many days left before I have to go back to work on Tuesday. I don't want to back at all, really I don't. BUT Friday looks very promising indeed!!! http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2652856

 Hen Harrier at Choseley Barns.

Hen Harrier at Choseley Barns.