I took Lucy to see Father at John Lincoln Funeral Directors this morning and as expected it was very difficult indeed. I didn't really want to go a second time, but had to for Lucy – she coped far better than I thought she would overall. Thankfully he had hardly deteriorated since I last saw him. Lucy didn't want to leave him, so we stayed a few moments longer. As I tried to comfort her, I made her see that what we were seeing was only his shell, his soul and spirit has gone up with the birds – I think this helped her and myself. We glanced back to the door to say goodbye as we left.
Went to join Mother where we had lunch and spent the afternoon together. I had a text from Jim Thomson who said the DVD's of my VHS films were ready!!! Blimey, a 24 hours service, well impressed! Later in the evening I picked up my DVD's from Jim and then took Lucy home.
I spent the evening watching all four DVD's. There are some lovely shots of my Father on my wedding video in 1992 – also film of wedding guests sadly no longer with us and shots of me a good few dress sizes slimmer!
The next video was of a programme which I recorded called 'A Green Day Out' with Tony Soper, which was a weekly series covering different parts of the coast, this one was about Holme and has NWT Warden Bill Boyd and my Father at HBO talking about habitat, birds and migration.
The third video is very short and shaky and only a few minutes long of Richard Richardson walking up a slope to Cley Bird Observatory with Paul Kirby and Peter Jackson, a cat and birds feeding – a real mix!
The fourth and last video I had not seen before at all and is called 'Struggle for Survival' and was taken over the period of 1961-1962 – my goodness this was fascinating! It showed the sea frozen and ice floes at Holme! Lots of different birds shown including a water rail with feathers encrusted in ice, feeding from someone's hand, an oiled Great Northern Diver being fed on the steps of The Firs House and a starving Shag sitting on the low wall, Avocet feeding on Broad Water, Black Tern flying around the Broad Water! Waxwing at Wiveton and much more! This film was originally shot on 16mm silent film and transferred to video tape in 1997, runs for 36 minutes and now onto DVD – cheered me up no end watching this!
Wednesday, 8 March 2017
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, in field from Blunt's Corner, west of B1105, ESE of New Holkham
Shorelarks x 32 east of Holkham Gap, at Holkham Bay
Great White Egrets x 3 at Holkham Park Lake
Velvet Scoters x 80 at Titchwell RSPB
Glaucous Gull still off beach at Cromer
Great Grey Shrike at Cockley Cley Wood, NW of Cockley Cley
Russian White-fronted Geese x 8 on marsh at Holme
Glaucous Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Short-eared Owl at North Dunes, Snow Buntings x 14 on beach at Winterton
Wheatear male just west of car park at Weybourne
Short-eared Owl at Horsey Mill
Great White Egret at Narford Lake, NE of Narborough
Short-eared Owls x 3, Russian White-fronted Goose at Breydon Water
Short-eared Owls x 2, Water Pipits x 3 at Thorpe Marshes, Haddiscoe
MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN HARRIER
North Ronaldsay, Orkney
BLUE ROCK THRUSH Male
In garden at Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, in field from Blunt's Corner, west of B1105, ESE of New Holkham
Shorelarks x 32 east of Holkham Gap, at Holkham Bay
Great White Egrets x 3 at Holkham Park Lake
Velvet Scoters x 80 at Titchwell RSPB
Glaucous Gull still off beach at Cromer
Great Grey Shrike at Cockley Cley Wood, NW of Cockley Cley
Russian White-fronted Geese x 8 on marsh at Holme
Glaucous Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Short-eared Owl at North Dunes, Snow Buntings x 14 on beach at Winterton
Wheatear male just west of car park at Weybourne
Short-eared Owl at Horsey Mill
Great White Egret at Narford Lake, NE of Narborough
Short-eared Owls x 3, Russian White-fronted Goose at Breydon Water
Short-eared Owls x 2, Water Pipits x 3 at Thorpe Marshes, Haddiscoe
MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN HARRIER
North Ronaldsay, Orkney
BLUE ROCK THRUSH Male
In garden at Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire
Tuesday, 7 March 2017
Day 13 – Holme Birding, St Mary's Church – Weddings & Memories!
I didn't have a very good night's sleep and got up late. Sunshine all day, good for the spirit. Blog reader Steve Buick very kindly posted a comment on my post yesterday to say "There is a guy in Heacham who copies videos who only charges £6.00. His name is Jim Thomson on 07985 627301." I read this when I got up today. I phoned Jim up and he said he could get all four videos done by the end of the week! Result! Huge thanks to Steve Buick, saved me a fortune!
I drove to Hunstanton – the massive back log of traffic/traffic lights at the new roundabout is now gone, as the roundabout is now in full operation – mind you, I can see some accidents happening here! Two lanes of traffic are allowed to go straight over to the second exit and the right hand filter lane, filters in much too quick – there will be collisions! Just saying! I managed to get my videos back from 'Wolfy's Video & Photography' shop in Hunstanton, before they were sent off – phew! Headed for Holme for some sea air.
I parked along the Firs Road by the pools of water at the 5-bar gate and walked to the NWT Forestry in hope of finding my first Spring Wheatear. Wheatears always seem to turn up in East Norfolk first, shouldn't be too long now for us north west birders! I didn't find any, or anything in the forestry apart from a couple of Magpies and a Hedgesparrow. I walked back along the pot-holed road to my car. Big numbers of Golden Plover and Lapwings on the marsh and also Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon, Redshanks, Curlew, Shelducks, Starling flocks feeding, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Short-eared Owl briefly flying east.
I was in a melancholy mood and visited Holme Church. My parents married here on 30th March 1964 – this March would have been their 53rd anniversary. I married here on 13th June 1992 and my father walked me down the aisle – he was so proud and I can remember that hot sunny day like yesterday – pity it didn't work out!!! Anyway...... I sat in the church on the front pew for a good while, with so many thoughts racing through my mind. I walked around the churchyard to read headstones of people who I have known in this village all my life and felt proud to be a part of this wonderful village and all the characters that used to be here – Peter Tipple who used to run 'Tipples's Stores' on the main road, Donald Plume, church warden, Miranda's (whom I went to school with, next to the church) father and other relatives, Mrs Mann who used to serve the school dinners, Mr Renaut, farmer, who had the dairy along Eastgate Street (we knew it as 'Cow Lane') and so on. I felt a huge sadness being here, so many closed chapters. You can see across the marshes to both Holme Dunes NWT and Holme Bird Observatory from the back of the churchyard – a special place.
I visited Holme Marsh Reserve NWT and gave the buddleia by the first hide, its annual prune that my mother planted (a long time ago) and if anyone is asking, I asked permission! I should have done it sooner, but have not had the time. Hopefully it will be full of flowers and butterflies later on for visitors to enjoy whilst birding. From hide one, there was a Little Grebe, Mallard, Heron, Marsh Harriers x 2, Curlew, Egyptian Geese, Coots, Blackbird, a Robin and a Cetti's Warbler burst into song. I didn't go to the other hides, but headed back to my Mother's house.
Mother and I stamped and addressed envelopes (with typed letter) to distant relatives and friends who don't have the Internet or email etc to let them know that Father has died – another job off the list.
Dropped in my four videos to be converted into DVD's to Jim Thomson at Heacham. It was really nice to meet him and from what he was telling me, he has had a fascinating life in the film industry, filming weddings globally and all kinds! He is therefore, the best person to convert my videos!!! Thanks Jim.
Tomorrow is going to be traumatic – I'm taking Lucy to see Father at John Lincoln's Funeral Directors. Lucy insists she wants to see him, but I feel she may regret this, I'm not looking forward to doing this a second time. Vivien has decided she can't face it and wants to remember him as he was – glad I haven't got to go a third time!
I drove to Hunstanton – the massive back log of traffic/traffic lights at the new roundabout is now gone, as the roundabout is now in full operation – mind you, I can see some accidents happening here! Two lanes of traffic are allowed to go straight over to the second exit and the right hand filter lane, filters in much too quick – there will be collisions! Just saying! I managed to get my videos back from 'Wolfy's Video & Photography' shop in Hunstanton, before they were sent off – phew! Headed for Holme for some sea air.
I parked along the Firs Road by the pools of water at the 5-bar gate and walked to the NWT Forestry in hope of finding my first Spring Wheatear. Wheatears always seem to turn up in East Norfolk first, shouldn't be too long now for us north west birders! I didn't find any, or anything in the forestry apart from a couple of Magpies and a Hedgesparrow. I walked back along the pot-holed road to my car. Big numbers of Golden Plover and Lapwings on the marsh and also Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon, Redshanks, Curlew, Shelducks, Starling flocks feeding, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Short-eared Owl briefly flying east.
I was in a melancholy mood and visited Holme Church. My parents married here on 30th March 1964 – this March would have been their 53rd anniversary. I married here on 13th June 1992 and my father walked me down the aisle – he was so proud and I can remember that hot sunny day like yesterday – pity it didn't work out!!! Anyway...... I sat in the church on the front pew for a good while, with so many thoughts racing through my mind. I walked around the churchyard to read headstones of people who I have known in this village all my life and felt proud to be a part of this wonderful village and all the characters that used to be here – Peter Tipple who used to run 'Tipples's Stores' on the main road, Donald Plume, church warden, Miranda's (whom I went to school with, next to the church) father and other relatives, Mrs Mann who used to serve the school dinners, Mr Renaut, farmer, who had the dairy along Eastgate Street (we knew it as 'Cow Lane') and so on. I felt a huge sadness being here, so many closed chapters. You can see across the marshes to both Holme Dunes NWT and Holme Bird Observatory from the back of the churchyard – a special place.
I visited Holme Marsh Reserve NWT and gave the buddleia by the first hide, its annual prune that my mother planted (a long time ago) and if anyone is asking, I asked permission! I should have done it sooner, but have not had the time. Hopefully it will be full of flowers and butterflies later on for visitors to enjoy whilst birding. From hide one, there was a Little Grebe, Mallard, Heron, Marsh Harriers x 2, Curlew, Egyptian Geese, Coots, Blackbird, a Robin and a Cetti's Warbler burst into song. I didn't go to the other hides, but headed back to my Mother's house.
Mother and I stamped and addressed envelopes (with typed letter) to distant relatives and friends who don't have the Internet or email etc to let them know that Father has died – another job off the list.
Dropped in my four videos to be converted into DVD's to Jim Thomson at Heacham. It was really nice to meet him and from what he was telling me, he has had a fascinating life in the film industry, filming weddings globally and all kinds! He is therefore, the best person to convert my videos!!! Thanks Jim.
Tomorrow is going to be traumatic – I'm taking Lucy to see Father at John Lincoln's Funeral Directors. Lucy insists she wants to see him, but I feel she may regret this, I'm not looking forward to doing this a second time. Vivien has decided she can't face it and wants to remember him as he was – glad I haven't got to go a third time!
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, in field from Blunt's Corner, west of B1105, ESE of New Holkham
Great Grey Shrike at Cockley Cley Wood, NW of Cockley Cley
Glaucous Gull behind fishing boat a Sidestrand
Wheatear male at Weybourne Camp
Shorelarks x 31 east of Holkham Gap, at Holkham Bay
Great White Egrets x 3, Russian White-fronted Geese x 5, Spoonbills x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Glaucous Gull on Arnold's Marsh, Russian White-fronted Geese x 5, Smew redhead east of East Bank at Cley NWT
Red-necked Grebe reported at Filby Broad
Snow Buntings x 8, Glaucous Gull on beach at Winterton
Velvet Scoteters x 16, Long-tailed Ducks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owls x 3 at Haddiscoe Island
Spotted Redshank at Burgh Castle
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Breydon Water
Golden Pheasant at Wolferton Triangle
Hawfinch at Lynford Aboretum
Russian White-fronted Geese x 8, Short-eared Owl at Holme
Jack Snipe at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN HARRIER
North Ronaldsay, Orkney
BLUE ROCK THRUSH Male
In garden at Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire
Great Grey Shrike at Cockley Cley Wood, NW of Cockley Cley
Glaucous Gull behind fishing boat a Sidestrand
Wheatear male at Weybourne Camp
Shorelarks x 31 east of Holkham Gap, at Holkham Bay
Great White Egrets x 3, Russian White-fronted Geese x 5, Spoonbills x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Glaucous Gull on Arnold's Marsh, Russian White-fronted Geese x 5, Smew redhead east of East Bank at Cley NWT
Red-necked Grebe reported at Filby Broad
Snow Buntings x 8, Glaucous Gull on beach at Winterton
Velvet Scoteters x 16, Long-tailed Ducks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owls x 3 at Haddiscoe Island
Spotted Redshank at Burgh Castle
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Breydon Water
Golden Pheasant at Wolferton Triangle
Hawfinch at Lynford Aboretum
Russian White-fronted Geese x 8, Short-eared Owl at Holme
Jack Snipe at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN HARRIER
North Ronaldsay, Orkney
BLUE ROCK THRUSH Male
In garden at Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire
Monday, 6 March 2017
RAR At Halfway House, Blakeney Point!
Richard Richardson, ? and Paul Kirby at Halfway House,
Blakeney Point ©Peter Clarke
Blakeney Point ©Peter Clarke
Whilst searching for old pictures of my Father today, I found this fascinating photograph amongst his possessions. Father has hundreds of black and white photographs, mostly of birds, but some fascinating ones of people and places. I recognised Richard immediately when I dug this photo out! It is simply labelled 'Halfway House' at 'Blakeney Point', but doesn't say who anyone is or what year it was taken. I'm guessing it was taken in the '50's. The photo is tiny and no more than 70mm across. I photographed the picture with my iphone, so not pin sharp. If anyone could tell me who the other birders are, that would be awesome? Mother could not work out who they were – she said that Peter Jackson and Paul Kirby walked BP with Peter and Richard, but neither of these are of Peter Jackson, as I always recognise him straight away. A wonderful piece of history!
Update: Via Twitter on Tuesday: Great Yarmouth Birder Peter Allard said that Paul Kirby is standing on the right of this picture, thanks Peter!
Update: Via Twitter on Tuesday: Great Yarmouth Birder Peter Allard said that Paul Kirby is standing on the right of this picture, thanks Peter!
Day 12 – Back In Time
I felt very low today with no enthusiasm to do anything much. It was nice to hear of the first Spring migrants turning up today with the first Wheatears arriving at Weybourne and Titchwell RSPB, along with Little Ringed Plover and White Wagtail also at Titchwell.
I took four VHS videos to be converted into DVD's at 'Wolfy's Video & Photography' shop in Hunstanton. I've been meaning to do this for ages. Two of them are old films that my Father made, one is of Father on TV and one is of my wedding in 1992 – I only want to watch this because of my family on there, not to reminisce about my wedding! It's not a cheap thing to do, as I expected: £20 each for 2 hours footage, if the footage is longer than 2 hours, then it goes up to £30.00 – one of the reasons I have never got this done, but I want one of my Father's films in time for the wake/funeral. As the lady handed me my receipt, she said 'they will be ready to collect in about a month'!!! I requested for the one I wanted urgently to be done asap if possible, she said she would try, but couldn't guarantee this, as they had a huge back log of videos to convert. I will keep my fingers crossed.
At Mother's house I spend a good while searching through tons of my Father's old photographs. I was looking for old photos of him for the wake/funeral. I found some fascinating pictures amongst all the bird photos – there were some really cute pics of him as a baby on a beach, toddler pics with his mother and father, feeding some pigeons in a park and so on. I also found an old photo postcard titled Holme Bird Observatory, which was of the Firs House – this of course was HBO headquarters at the time and where my parents lived. There were some very fat, smiley baby pictures of me including an amusing one of me laying on my front and smiling up at the camera on a bed in the Firs House. Several pics of us sisters as youngsters and some lovely pictures of my mother, including one of her sitting amongst gannets on the Farne Islands.
We had a lovely phone call from dear Joan Ramsey (wife of the late Mick Ramsey who was on the NOA committee and regular sea-watcher from Hunstanton Cliffs and also my headmaster at Holme CP Primary School) – she phoned to say how sorry she was to have read of Father's death. She sounded in a bad way herself and she explained that she has been housebound for the last two years, she must the same age if not older than Father was. It was so nice to hear from her. Joan was a Matron in her younger days and came out to assist with my birth, mother told me!!!
I took four VHS videos to be converted into DVD's at 'Wolfy's Video & Photography' shop in Hunstanton. I've been meaning to do this for ages. Two of them are old films that my Father made, one is of Father on TV and one is of my wedding in 1992 – I only want to watch this because of my family on there, not to reminisce about my wedding! It's not a cheap thing to do, as I expected: £20 each for 2 hours footage, if the footage is longer than 2 hours, then it goes up to £30.00 – one of the reasons I have never got this done, but I want one of my Father's films in time for the wake/funeral. As the lady handed me my receipt, she said 'they will be ready to collect in about a month'!!! I requested for the one I wanted urgently to be done asap if possible, she said she would try, but couldn't guarantee this, as they had a huge back log of videos to convert. I will keep my fingers crossed.
At Mother's house I spend a good while searching through tons of my Father's old photographs. I was looking for old photos of him for the wake/funeral. I found some fascinating pictures amongst all the bird photos – there were some really cute pics of him as a baby on a beach, toddler pics with his mother and father, feeding some pigeons in a park and so on. I also found an old photo postcard titled Holme Bird Observatory, which was of the Firs House – this of course was HBO headquarters at the time and where my parents lived. There were some very fat, smiley baby pictures of me including an amusing one of me laying on my front and smiling up at the camera on a bed in the Firs House. Several pics of us sisters as youngsters and some lovely pictures of my mother, including one of her sitting amongst gannets on the Farne Islands.
We had a lovely phone call from dear Joan Ramsey (wife of the late Mick Ramsey who was on the NOA committee and regular sea-watcher from Hunstanton Cliffs and also my headmaster at Holme CP Primary School) – she phoned to say how sorry she was to have read of Father's death. She sounded in a bad way herself and she explained that she has been housebound for the last two years, she must the same age if not older than Father was. It was so nice to hear from her. Joan was a Matron in her younger days and came out to assist with my birth, mother told me!!!
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
White Wagtail, Water Pipits x 4, Little Ringed Plover, Velvet Scoters x 70, Scaup x 10 at Titchwell RSPB
Great Grey Shrike at Cockley Cley Wood, NW of Cockley Cley
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, in field from Blunt's Corner, west of B1105, ESE of New Holkham
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 3 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Great White Egrets x 3 at Holkham Park
Wheatear male on grass slope west of Weybourne
Twite x 6 flew east over Weybourne
Jack Snipe at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Great Grey Shrike in clearing by entrance track at Grime's Graves
Snow Buntings x 8 on beach at Winterton
Wheatear reported near Patsy's Pool, Titchwell RSPB
Russian White-fronted Geese x 8 on marsh at Holme
Purple Sandpiper on rocks by promenade near Crown Pub at Sheringham
Spoonbills x 2, Hen Harriers x 2, viewable from East Quay, Wells
Spoonbill, Hen Harriers x 4 at Warham Greens
Russian White-fronted Geese just east of East Bank at Cley NWT
Short-eared Owl at Burgh Castle
MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN HARRIER
North Ronaldsay, Orkney
Great Grey Shrike at Cockley Cley Wood, NW of Cockley Cley
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, in field from Blunt's Corner, west of B1105, ESE of New Holkham
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 3 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Great White Egrets x 3 at Holkham Park
Wheatear male on grass slope west of Weybourne
Twite x 6 flew east over Weybourne
Jack Snipe at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Great Grey Shrike in clearing by entrance track at Grime's Graves
Snow Buntings x 8 on beach at Winterton
Wheatear reported near Patsy's Pool, Titchwell RSPB
Russian White-fronted Geese x 8 on marsh at Holme
Purple Sandpiper on rocks by promenade near Crown Pub at Sheringham
Spoonbills x 2, Hen Harriers x 2, viewable from East Quay, Wells
Spoonbill, Hen Harriers x 4 at Warham Greens
Russian White-fronted Geese just east of East Bank at Cley NWT
Short-eared Owl at Burgh Castle
MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN HARRIER
North Ronaldsay, Orkney
Sunday, 5 March 2017
Day 11 – Music, Rain & Spuds!
It took ALL day to listen to music, re-listen and make decisions on what to play at Father's funeral. We had a break in-between and Vivien, her partner Ray, Lucy and I went to the The Firs NWT Visitor Centre at Holme for a jacket potato lunch which was very nice. Mother couldn't face going there and needed a break from 'all the noise'. It was raining all day with grey skies and because of this no one else wanted to walk around the reserves. We had a nice chat with Gary and reminisced about father. Gary reminded us of how he remembered father shaking salt on his tomatoes that he ate, from his bumper crop of tomato plants grown on the window sill of the observatory – how could I have forgotten that! So many memories.
We had planned to write an eulogy in the afternoon, but ran out of time. The music is very beautiful that we have chosen and brought tears to our eyes when we played it, particularly a piece that Lucy remembered that Father liked. It would be wonderful if Lucy could play her violin at the funeral, but there is no way she would be able to do it – we are all so sad, its going to be bad enough going to the funeral, never mind anything else.
We don't know how many people to cater for, I have no idea how many people will turn up, could be 20, 30, 50 or more, who knows! I don't think it will be that many to be honest. The most important thing is that we give him a respectful send off. I have to take Lucy to see Father this week, that will be a traumatic day, not looking forward to it at all. I miss him so much, I last saw him alive on the 16th February – I feel that I am way overdue to visit him at the care home, but of course he will never be there again.
We had planned to write an eulogy in the afternoon, but ran out of time. The music is very beautiful that we have chosen and brought tears to our eyes when we played it, particularly a piece that Lucy remembered that Father liked. It would be wonderful if Lucy could play her violin at the funeral, but there is no way she would be able to do it – we are all so sad, its going to be bad enough going to the funeral, never mind anything else.
We don't know how many people to cater for, I have no idea how many people will turn up, could be 20, 30, 50 or more, who knows! I don't think it will be that many to be honest. The most important thing is that we give him a respectful send off. I have to take Lucy to see Father this week, that will be a traumatic day, not looking forward to it at all. I miss him so much, I last saw him alive on the 16th February – I feel that I am way overdue to visit him at the care home, but of course he will never be there again.
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, in field near Blunt's Corner, just west of B1105, SE of New Holkham
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Water Pipits x 2, Hen Harrier, Black-throated Diver at Titchwell RSPB
Shorelarks x 17 east of Holkham Gap, at Holkham Bay
Glaucous Gull on saltings east of car park at Stiffkey
Great Grey Shrike, Mealy Redpoll at Cockley Cley Wood, NW of
Cockley Cley
Waxwings x 6 at Bawburgh Lane, New Costessey
Black Redstart at 77 South Beach Road, Hunstanton
Firecrest at School Lane, East Bliney, East Dereham
Short-eared Owl at Burgh Castle
Hen Harrier at Claxton Marsh
Glaucous Gull on beach, Little Gulls x 4 flew past at Hemsby
Russian White-fronted Geese x 8 at Holme
MEGA NEWS
AMERICAN COOT
Balranald RSPB, North Uist, Western Isles
BLUE ROCK THRUSH Male
In garden at Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire
KILLDEER
Mainland at Sandwick, Shetland
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Water Pipits x 2, Hen Harrier, Black-throated Diver at Titchwell RSPB
Shorelarks x 17 east of Holkham Gap, at Holkham Bay
Glaucous Gull on saltings east of car park at Stiffkey
Great Grey Shrike, Mealy Redpoll at Cockley Cley Wood, NW of
Cockley Cley
Waxwings x 6 at Bawburgh Lane, New Costessey
Black Redstart at 77 South Beach Road, Hunstanton
Firecrest at School Lane, East Bliney, East Dereham
Short-eared Owl at Burgh Castle
Hen Harrier at Claxton Marsh
Glaucous Gull on beach, Little Gulls x 4 flew past at Hemsby
Russian White-fronted Geese x 8 at Holme
MEGA NEWS
AMERICAN COOT
Balranald RSPB, North Uist, Western Isles
BLUE ROCK THRUSH Male
In garden at Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire
KILLDEER
Mainland at Sandwick, Shetland
Saturday, 4 March 2017
Day 10 – Hibernating!
Life is so precious, every day is precious, but I wasted the entire day. I had a 'duvet day' – I didn't want to get up or do anything at all. I couldn't get the image of my father laying in his coffin out of my head and it has really disturbed me.
I went to visit Mother for a short while in the evening to make sure she was ok. I found her asleep in the chair, as was that cat – both snoozing away. We both read the EDP to find and check Father's funeral announcement.
The EDP don't seem capable of typing our funeral notice as requested, missing out a comma and putting one somewhere there shouldn't have been one – making some text bold which we didn't ask for. They may well be minor errors, but I'm pedantic, having been in the print trade for a very long time, I am very fussy about design, grammar, spellings etc. I hate it when I'm incorrect – fortunately I have a couple of readers who promptly email me if I have spelt something wrong (JF & RB)!
Tomorrow, the family is meeting up to make the final decisions on music and to write the Order of Service. There won't be any hymns, as Father requested 'no hymns, no priest' and so on! He also requested that he didn't want his ashes on our mantle piece! We have chosen some beautiful music, but we would really like someone to read something for us, none of us can do it – I would be in tears after reading the first few words – one of the funeral directors will read it for us, but it would have been nice if it had been someone we know. I can think of a handful of people I would like to do this, people who have known my father all their lives, but I don't like to ask them – I don't want to put anybody on the spot. I would like to hear some humorous stories too!
I went to visit Mother for a short while in the evening to make sure she was ok. I found her asleep in the chair, as was that cat – both snoozing away. We both read the EDP to find and check Father's funeral announcement.
The EDP don't seem capable of typing our funeral notice as requested, missing out a comma and putting one somewhere there shouldn't have been one – making some text bold which we didn't ask for. They may well be minor errors, but I'm pedantic, having been in the print trade for a very long time, I am very fussy about design, grammar, spellings etc. I hate it when I'm incorrect – fortunately I have a couple of readers who promptly email me if I have spelt something wrong (JF & RB)!
Tomorrow, the family is meeting up to make the final decisions on music and to write the Order of Service. There won't be any hymns, as Father requested 'no hymns, no priest' and so on! He also requested that he didn't want his ashes on our mantle piece! We have chosen some beautiful music, but we would really like someone to read something for us, none of us can do it – I would be in tears after reading the first few words – one of the funeral directors will read it for us, but it would have been nice if it had been someone we know. I can think of a handful of people I would like to do this, people who have known my father all their lives, but I don't like to ask them – I don't want to put anybody on the spot. I would like to hear some humorous stories too!
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Spoonbill, Water Pipits x 2, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 3, Long-tailed Ducks x 6, Velvet Scoters x 6 at Titchwell RSPB
Black Redstart in garden at Caister-on-Sea
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Smew redhead briefly at Snipe's Marsh, Walsey Hills NOA
Smew redhead on Arnold's Marsh, off East Bank at Cley NWT
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, in field near Blunt's Corner, just west of B1105, SE of New Holkham
Shorelarks x 35 east of Holkham Gap, at Holkham Bay
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 4, Jack Snipe at Holkham Freshmarsh
Glaucous Gull flew north past River Yare at Great Yarmouth
EASTERN STONECHAT sp. (either Siberian or Stejneger's) reported (no further sign by late afternoon) near boardwalk at Dersingham Bog NNR
Jack Snipe, Hen Harrier at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Hen Harriers x 2 at Stiffkey
Glaucous Gull, Hen Harriers x 4 at Warham Greens
Scaup x 29, Velvet Scoters x 14 at Snettisham Coastal Park
Lapland Bunting east of car park at West Runton
Hawfinches x 15 at Lynford Aboretum
Snow Buntings x 24, Twite x 4 on beach at Holme
MEGA NEWS
FORSTER'S TERN
Nimmo's Pier, County Galway, Ireland
BLUE ROCK THRUSH Male
In garden at Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire
Black Redstart in garden at Caister-on-Sea
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Smew redhead briefly at Snipe's Marsh, Walsey Hills NOA
Smew redhead on Arnold's Marsh, off East Bank at Cley NWT
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, in field near Blunt's Corner, just west of B1105, SE of New Holkham
Shorelarks x 35 east of Holkham Gap, at Holkham Bay
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 4, Jack Snipe at Holkham Freshmarsh
Glaucous Gull flew north past River Yare at Great Yarmouth
EASTERN STONECHAT sp. (either Siberian or Stejneger's) reported (no further sign by late afternoon) near boardwalk at Dersingham Bog NNR
Jack Snipe, Hen Harrier at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Hen Harriers x 2 at Stiffkey
Glaucous Gull, Hen Harriers x 4 at Warham Greens
Scaup x 29, Velvet Scoters x 14 at Snettisham Coastal Park
Lapland Bunting east of car park at West Runton
Hawfinches x 15 at Lynford Aboretum
Snow Buntings x 24, Twite x 4 on beach at Holme
MEGA NEWS
FORSTER'S TERN
Nimmo's Pier, County Galway, Ireland
BLUE ROCK THRUSH Male
In garden at Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire
Friday, 3 March 2017
Day 9 – 'At Peace', Tears and A Lovely Surprise!
My Mother received a phone call this morning from John Lincoln Funeral Directors to let us know that Father was 'ready for viewing'. This news made me feel very anxious – did I want to see him? Or could I live with my last memory of him, having just passed away at Summerville House Care Home? I decided that I needed to see him, to say my last goodbyes. Mother couldn't decide if she wanted to or not – I said nothing. We all deal with this dilemma differently – some people simply can't bear the thought of seeing their loved ones in this state and some need to have that final goodbye.
Father funeral notice was in the free 'Your Local Paper' today and later this evening I noticed the notice was on-line in the Eastern Daily Press (in paper tomorrow on Saturday)
https://www.familynotices24.co.uk/edp/view/4298726/peter-clarke
The day kicked off with taking Mother food shopping, which wasn't a happy occasion – she was in a very stressed bad mood and was getting angry with me for no particular reason in the middle of the supermarket, which got lots of head turning from other shoppers! Not a good morning at all and the day spiralled out of control until later on.
We went home to Holme and had a quick lunch. Returned to Hunstanton with appointment at the bank to inform them that Father had died, form filling etc etc. Then we parked outside John Lincoln F/D and sat in the car for a few moments to collect our thoughts. My mother decided she did want to see him and that in any case I couldn't go in alone, so in we went. Jacquie the lovely lady who came out to see us on Monday greeted us. We delayed going in the room where he was for a while and chatted to Jacquie in the reception area, where I noticed some booklets about turning a very tiny amount of someone's ashes into jewellery – http://www.ashesintoglass.co.uk – initially I thought this was a weird thing to do, but then decided that actually it sounded really nice, but an incredibly expensive thing to do!
We were led into the room where Father was and as I expected, I broke down as soon as I saw him. My mother rarely cries and was much more controlled than me and said 'they had done a really good job' and that he looked lovely' – they had indeed. I have seen newly deceased patients at the hospital before and obviously this is very difficult to see, but I realised that this was the first time I have seen someone that has been dead for quite a while – its very, very different. So cold to touch, it made you gasp. I put my hand under his and the cold was unbearable. They had dressed him neatly in the clothes that Vivien and I had chosen and he was surrounded by a beautiful blue silky material in the coffin. He looked at peace at last and had been beautifully and respectfully looked after, thank you. I didn't say goodbye, as I realised I have to see father again – Lucy wants to see him and obviously I can't let her do that alone – that will be far more difficult than today. Poor Vivien is torn, she doesn't know if she wants to remember him like this, very difficult making this decision.
We sat in the reception for a good while, chatting about the Order of Service booklet that we need to decide on and compile with their assistance. I waited until I had recovered enough, so that I could drive my Mother and I home safely. Back at Holme, we both collapsed with mental exhaustion and fell asleep. I woke up in a irritable mood, had cheese on toast and returned to King's Lynn just in time to pick Lucy up to take her to orchestra rehearsal.
The day improved greatly in the evening, when my work colleague Sarah B. invited me to join her and Kelly L. at her house (walking distance from my house) for the evening. I took up their kind offer, but part of me just wanted to curl up like a hedgehog and hibernate!
Sarah has a dog called Murphy, who seems to have calmed down considerably since I last saw him as a boisterous puppy, which was good for my stress levels – I'm not good with dogs as I'm sure you all know. I was offered some wine, but had to pick Lucy up later, so only had 1/4 of a glass. It was probably a good job I was driving, as I could have easily consumed large amounts of alcohol after the last week! It was nice chatting with 'normal' people and seeing their smiley faces, both lovely girls. I left about 9.30am to go and pick Lucy up and take her home and as I did so, Sarah and Kelly surprised me with some very kind presents and flowers from everyone at work!
A huge thank you to all my wonderful work colleagues for my lovely bouquet of flowers, a food hamper bag full of my favourites foods (they know me so well). The dark chocolate ginger biscuits were very nice, about three left in the box now! Bless Chloe for remembering my fav soya desserts, I couldn't believe what was in there! Vege tart, pizza, veg soup, two big bottles of the 'Innocent' Drinks, ginger cookies, bunch of bananas!!! Words fail me (makes a change) and a lovely sympathy card with beautiful words from everyone. It made an especially difficult day, end in smiles and laughter. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! Love, hugs and kisses to you all, Penny xxx
Father funeral notice was in the free 'Your Local Paper' today and later this evening I noticed the notice was on-line in the Eastern Daily Press (in paper tomorrow on Saturday)
https://www.familynotices24.co.uk/edp/view/4298726/peter-clarke
The day kicked off with taking Mother food shopping, which wasn't a happy occasion – she was in a very stressed bad mood and was getting angry with me for no particular reason in the middle of the supermarket, which got lots of head turning from other shoppers! Not a good morning at all and the day spiralled out of control until later on.
We went home to Holme and had a quick lunch. Returned to Hunstanton with appointment at the bank to inform them that Father had died, form filling etc etc. Then we parked outside John Lincoln F/D and sat in the car for a few moments to collect our thoughts. My mother decided she did want to see him and that in any case I couldn't go in alone, so in we went. Jacquie the lovely lady who came out to see us on Monday greeted us. We delayed going in the room where he was for a while and chatted to Jacquie in the reception area, where I noticed some booklets about turning a very tiny amount of someone's ashes into jewellery – http://www.ashesintoglass.co.uk – initially I thought this was a weird thing to do, but then decided that actually it sounded really nice, but an incredibly expensive thing to do!
We were led into the room where Father was and as I expected, I broke down as soon as I saw him. My mother rarely cries and was much more controlled than me and said 'they had done a really good job' and that he looked lovely' – they had indeed. I have seen newly deceased patients at the hospital before and obviously this is very difficult to see, but I realised that this was the first time I have seen someone that has been dead for quite a while – its very, very different. So cold to touch, it made you gasp. I put my hand under his and the cold was unbearable. They had dressed him neatly in the clothes that Vivien and I had chosen and he was surrounded by a beautiful blue silky material in the coffin. He looked at peace at last and had been beautifully and respectfully looked after, thank you. I didn't say goodbye, as I realised I have to see father again – Lucy wants to see him and obviously I can't let her do that alone – that will be far more difficult than today. Poor Vivien is torn, she doesn't know if she wants to remember him like this, very difficult making this decision.
We sat in the reception for a good while, chatting about the Order of Service booklet that we need to decide on and compile with their assistance. I waited until I had recovered enough, so that I could drive my Mother and I home safely. Back at Holme, we both collapsed with mental exhaustion and fell asleep. I woke up in a irritable mood, had cheese on toast and returned to King's Lynn just in time to pick Lucy up to take her to orchestra rehearsal.
The day improved greatly in the evening, when my work colleague Sarah B. invited me to join her and Kelly L. at her house (walking distance from my house) for the evening. I took up their kind offer, but part of me just wanted to curl up like a hedgehog and hibernate!
Sarah has a dog called Murphy, who seems to have calmed down considerably since I last saw him as a boisterous puppy, which was good for my stress levels – I'm not good with dogs as I'm sure you all know. I was offered some wine, but had to pick Lucy up later, so only had 1/4 of a glass. It was probably a good job I was driving, as I could have easily consumed large amounts of alcohol after the last week! It was nice chatting with 'normal' people and seeing their smiley faces, both lovely girls. I left about 9.30am to go and pick Lucy up and take her home and as I did so, Sarah and Kelly surprised me with some very kind presents and flowers from everyone at work!
A huge thank you to all my wonderful work colleagues for my lovely bouquet of flowers, a food hamper bag full of my favourites foods (they know me so well). The dark chocolate ginger biscuits were very nice, about three left in the box now! Bless Chloe for remembering my fav soya desserts, I couldn't believe what was in there! Vege tart, pizza, veg soup, two big bottles of the 'Innocent' Drinks, ginger cookies, bunch of bananas!!! Words fail me (makes a change) and a lovely sympathy card with beautiful words from everyone. It made an especially difficult day, end in smiles and laughter. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! Love, hugs and kisses to you all, Penny xxx
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Snow Buntings x 9 at Gorleston-on-Sea
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, just east of B1105, 2.5mls south of Wells
Hooded Crow flew west past Weybourne Camp
Glaucous Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 5 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Shorelarks x 33 east of Holkham Gap, at Holkham Bay
Black-throated Diver, Snow Buntings x 13 at Holme
Great White Egret at Earlham Marsh
Arctic Skua near Arnold's Marsh, Cley NWT
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Glaucous Gull on beach at Hemsby
MEGA NEWS
AMERICAN COOT
Balranald RSPB, North Uist, Western Isles
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, just east of B1105, 2.5mls south of Wells
Hooded Crow flew west past Weybourne Camp
Glaucous Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 5 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Shorelarks x 33 east of Holkham Gap, at Holkham Bay
Black-throated Diver, Snow Buntings x 13 at Holme
Great White Egret at Earlham Marsh
Arctic Skua near Arnold's Marsh, Cley NWT
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Glaucous Gull on beach at Hemsby
MEGA NEWS
AMERICAN COOT
Balranald RSPB, North Uist, Western Isles
Funeral Notice and Celebration of The Life Of Peter Clarke — 10.45am, Monday 20th March
PETER CLARKE
My Father at Holme Bird Observatory at their 'Moth Day' Event in July 2008.
©Penny Clarke
©Penny Clarke
The following will be published in the 'Your Local Paper' (weekly community paper, free to pick up in most supermarkets/garages locally) today Friday 3rd March and in the Eastern Daily Press tomorrow on Saturday 4th March.
C L A R K E – Peter
Founder of Holme Bird Observatory/NOA. Died peacefully, aged 90 years at Summerville Care Home, Heacham, 23rd February, 2017. Dearly loved husband of Margaret. Dearest Father of Penny, Lucy and Vivien. Funeral service at Mintlyn Crematorium, King’s Lynn on Monday 20th March at 10.45am. Informal/birding clothes! Family flowers only please, but donations if desired for The Norfolk Ornithologists’ Association (to be shared jointly with NWT) may be made at the service or sent to:- John Lincoln F/D’s, 40 Greevegate, Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 6AG.
All friends, birding associates and NOA/NWT members who knew Peter, will be extremely welcome to join us at the service, which will be followed by a celebration of Peter's life, to be held at The Firs NWT Visitor Centre at Holme, where refreshments will be available. Please note that the NWT VC is closed to the public during the week (open at weekends only during 'Winter' months) so this will be open for the wake only. The Norfolk Ornithologists' Reserve and observatory will also be open to all comers. There will be a display of photographs of Peter and history of Holme Bird Observatory over the years.
My father would not have been happy with us having a wake in a pub or such like, so I came up with a very different and much more appropriate venue! My parents rented the NWT Firs Visitor Centre when father started in the early days of building Holme Bird Observatory. There is a picture of mother holding me as a new born baby in one of the bedrooms at the Firs House – so this is where it all began!
I am hugely grateful to HBO Warden Sophie Barker who has helped me so much with ideas and advice re the above and much more! I would like to thank NWT Warden Gary Hibberd and the NWT "HQ' enormously for allowing us to use the visitor centre to make this happen. I can't tell you how much this means to my family and I – thank you Gary! How cool will that be! The day of the funeral, 20th March is officially the first day of Spring! Hopefully we will be watching some migrants arriving on that day, whilst munching on sandwiches and cake! (hoping for coffee cake, was Father's favourite and mine!). Plenty of room for parking with the two car parks and Gary is hoping the well known 'bumpy' road down to the reserves will be re-surfaced in time! Hoping to see some of you there.
Peter photographing a bee in his garden at Holme
13th June 2011 ©Vivien Clarke
Father and I in deep conversation at Titchwell RSPB
17th October 2006 ©Frank Edmonds
Thursday, 2 March 2017
Day 8 – Supporting Mother
Father with his three daughters – a very wobbly selfie!
His 88th Birthday, 2nd November 2014
I spent time trying to sort out funeral arrangements, submitting death notices to newspapers for deadline today – and other stuff. I feel like curling up and hibernating for six months, but it isn't going to change anything. I spent some time with my Mother this evening – she is finding it much harder to cope than I thought, but doesn't want to see anyone right now. She isn't sleeping very well at all – hope she gets some sleep tonight. I left her with some cheese on toast I made and a cup of tea.
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Glaucous Gull flew in off sea at Gorleston-on-Sea
Glaucous Gull on beach at Hemsby
Velvet Scoters x 100, Long-tailed Ducks x 4, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Bewick's Swans x 15 flew north over Great Yarmouth
Smew redhead still from East Bank, Cley NWT
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, at 9.22am, at rear end of stubble field, by B1105 SSW of Wells
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, at 11.15am, east of car park in pines at Weybourne
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, briefly early afternoon only at Warham
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, at 3.40pm, east of B1105, south of Wells
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, still between Wighton and South Creake
Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 50 at
Holkham Freshmarsh
Hen Harrier at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Glaucous Gull flew east past Warham Greens
Shorelarks x 20 east of Holkham Gap, at Holkham Bay
Hen Harrier male at Holme
Hen Harriers x 2 at Burnham Thorpe
Hawfinches x 2 at Lynford Aboretum
Hen Harrier at Upton Broad NWT
MEGA NEWS
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL 3w
Fair Isle, Shetland
PINE BUNTING Male
Beyond end of Kerver Lane, N of Dunnington, ENE of York, Yorkshire
BLUE ROCK THRUSH Male
In garden at Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire
Glaucous Gull on beach at Hemsby
Velvet Scoters x 100, Long-tailed Ducks x 4, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Bewick's Swans x 15 flew north over Great Yarmouth
Smew redhead still from East Bank, Cley NWT
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, at 9.22am, at rear end of stubble field, by B1105 SSW of Wells
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, at 11.15am, east of car park in pines at Weybourne
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, briefly early afternoon only at Warham
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, at 3.40pm, east of B1105, south of Wells
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, still between Wighton and South Creake
Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 50 at
Holkham Freshmarsh
Hen Harrier at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Glaucous Gull flew east past Warham Greens
Shorelarks x 20 east of Holkham Gap, at Holkham Bay
Hen Harrier male at Holme
Hen Harriers x 2 at Burnham Thorpe
Hawfinches x 2 at Lynford Aboretum
Hen Harrier at Upton Broad NWT
MEGA NEWS
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL 3w
Fair Isle, Shetland
PINE BUNTING Male
Beyond end of Kerver Lane, N of Dunnington, ENE of York, Yorkshire
BLUE ROCK THRUSH Male
In garden at Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire
Wednesday, 1 March 2017
Day 7 – Registering Death!
I sat contemplating over the trauma of the last seven days and didn't do very much today. As each hour and day passes, I still can't believe I won't be able to see my dear Father give his lovely little smile again or hold his hand – breaks my heart. That smile will not be forgotten though – a smile that lights up the room.
My appointment at the Registrar's Office at the Town Hall in King's Lynn was 2.45pm. I arrived early and waited along with one other family. It felt weird sitting here. I had never been in this part of the town hall before. A lady registrar came out to greet me and called me into her office. It took far longer than expected to register the death and produce the certificates – I was there for 45 minutes. I was asked several questions that I didn't know the answer to and had to phone Mother a couple of times. I paid for eight certificates at £4.00 each – they go up to £8.00 if you want more at a later date. I was then given a unique reference code to phone the government 'Tell Us Once' service, which I have to ring this week and this service will then notify all the organisations such as Works & Pensions, Council Tax etc. I left the office with the final papers and returned home.
I had not checked out the far end of my back garden since Storm Doris (the day Father died) and to my horror discovered that an additional two 6ft panels (besides the one by my patio door) had been blown flat and now open to my other neighbour's garden! I spent ages trying to put them back up myself. This mean't I had to go into my shed to find hammer and nails. I have not been in that shed for a very long time. As I unlocked the door I was confronted with a horror scene from the film 'Arachnophobia'! The entire space was interlaced with huge cobwebs. I had to try and remove them all, just to get to the toolbox and hammer! I did manage to put the fence panels back up, but it was a poor job – they will come straight back down again in the next strong wind, but they look ok at the moment! It was a beautiful sunny day, but rained later on.
My appointment at the Registrar's Office at the Town Hall in King's Lynn was 2.45pm. I arrived early and waited along with one other family. It felt weird sitting here. I had never been in this part of the town hall before. A lady registrar came out to greet me and called me into her office. It took far longer than expected to register the death and produce the certificates – I was there for 45 minutes. I was asked several questions that I didn't know the answer to and had to phone Mother a couple of times. I paid for eight certificates at £4.00 each – they go up to £8.00 if you want more at a later date. I was then given a unique reference code to phone the government 'Tell Us Once' service, which I have to ring this week and this service will then notify all the organisations such as Works & Pensions, Council Tax etc. I left the office with the final papers and returned home.
I had not checked out the far end of my back garden since Storm Doris (the day Father died) and to my horror discovered that an additional two 6ft panels (besides the one by my patio door) had been blown flat and now open to my other neighbour's garden! I spent ages trying to put them back up myself. This mean't I had to go into my shed to find hammer and nails. I have not been in that shed for a very long time. As I unlocked the door I was confronted with a horror scene from the film 'Arachnophobia'! The entire space was interlaced with huge cobwebs. I had to try and remove them all, just to get to the toolbox and hammer! I did manage to put the fence panels back up, but it was a poor job – they will come straight back down again in the next strong wind, but they look ok at the moment! It was a beautiful sunny day, but rained later on.
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Velvet Scoters x 22, Long-tailed Ducks x 5, Red-necked Grebe, Snow Buntings x 17, Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Diver at Titchwell RSPB
Glaucous Gull on beach by golf course at Cromer
Glaucous Gull on Cricket Marsh, east of Beach Road, Pale-bellied Brent Goose in field NE of A149/Beach Road, Smew redhead on pool viewed from Attenborough Walk at Cley NWT
Snow Buntings x 30 on beach at Winterton
Great White Egrets x 2, Spoonbills x 4 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Great White Egret at north end of Holkham Lake
Shorelarks x 34 east of Holkham Gap, at Holkham Bay
Great White Egret at Blakeney Harbour
Short-eared Owl, Jack Snipe at Blakeney Point
Great White Egret, Short-eared Owl at Berney Marshes RSPB
Common Cranes x 5 flew west over Ludham
Siberian Chiffchaff just west of pines at Walsey Hills NOA
White Stork esc. flew over A47 Acle
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, south of (then flew SW at 3.20pm) Egmere
Twite x 10 at sea wall, Thornham
Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 7, Velvet Scoters x 3, Great Northern Divers x 2 offshore at Holme
Great White Egret at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
MEGA NEWS
PINE BUNTING Male
Beyond end of Kerver Lane, N of Dunnington, ENE of York, Yorkshire
PINE BUNTING Male
Saxon Shore Way, E of Milton Creek, NE of Sittingbourne, Kent
BLUE ROCK THRUSH Male
In garden at Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire
AMERICAN COOT
Balranald RSPB at North Uist, Western Isles
Glaucous Gull on beach by golf course at Cromer
Glaucous Gull on Cricket Marsh, east of Beach Road, Pale-bellied Brent Goose in field NE of A149/Beach Road, Smew redhead on pool viewed from Attenborough Walk at Cley NWT
Snow Buntings x 30 on beach at Winterton
Great White Egrets x 2, Spoonbills x 4 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Great White Egret at north end of Holkham Lake
Shorelarks x 34 east of Holkham Gap, at Holkham Bay
Great White Egret at Blakeney Harbour
Short-eared Owl, Jack Snipe at Blakeney Point
Great White Egret, Short-eared Owl at Berney Marshes RSPB
Common Cranes x 5 flew west over Ludham
Siberian Chiffchaff just west of pines at Walsey Hills NOA
White Stork esc. flew over A47 Acle
PALLID HARRIER juv. fem, south of (then flew SW at 3.20pm) Egmere
Twite x 10 at sea wall, Thornham
Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 7, Velvet Scoters x 3, Great Northern Divers x 2 offshore at Holme
Great White Egret at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
MEGA NEWS
PINE BUNTING Male
Beyond end of Kerver Lane, N of Dunnington, ENE of York, Yorkshire
PINE BUNTING Male
Saxon Shore Way, E of Milton Creek, NE of Sittingbourne, Kent
BLUE ROCK THRUSH Male
In garden at Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire
AMERICAN COOT
Balranald RSPB at North Uist, Western Isles
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