By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2020_13.aspx?s_id=215515372
Tuesday, 24 March 2020
Monday, 23 March 2020
UK LOCKDOWN!
About time!
Hope this necessary lockdown isn't too late!
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/874732/230320_-_Revised_guidance_note_-_finalVF.pdf
Well, that's that then! So now, we have to comply and good job too! It was obvious it was going to happen, people don't like being 'advised' to do stuff, even if does mean saving lives – the majority of people are pretty dam selfish and that's putting it mildly. No mention of enforcing the second home owners back to London..... yet, anyway, come on Boris, do it! It does make me really cross that all those people acting like imbeciles over the weekend, have now stopped local people who don't live near the coast (because we can't afford to live on the coast!), being able to get there now, being as you can only walk from your house to exercise and have to "minimise time spent outside of the home". As a birder I find that extremely frustrating – if I lived on the coast or at least somewhere near the countryside, I would be more than happy for weeks on end with today's new 'measures', just simply going for one walk daily and seeing a few local birds – but, very sadly where I live, my local area consists of pavements and houses, nothing therapeutic about that at all! After having to work all day in the hospital in an incredibly stressful and increasingly worrying situation, it would have been so lovely to have gone for a short country walk, either after work or at the weekend. My life balance is going to be utterly rubbish! At least I have a few birds in my garden thank goodness!
I was very pleased to see the Holkham Estate has shut its car parks and everything else from 3pm today and in any case, nobody would be able to park there anyway now, as not allowed to drive to go for a walk. You can only walk for exercise from your house – if you live in Holkham you will be very lucky! I envy my fellow birders who do live on the coast, hugely right now!!! No Spring migrants for me this year, none at all😢 Mind you, I did see a Wheatear at Cley last week, so that could well be the only one! I detest suppression of rare birds hugely, but in these extreme circumstances that we find ourselves in, I would be eternally grateful, that if anybody finds a good bird in Norfolk, that they DO suppress it, for my sake and many others!!! Can't believe I just said that! Don't even think of broadcasting news of a first for Britain either! I don't want to know!
Let's hope that this lockdown doesn't go on for months on end, but I fear that could very well happen. Take care and look after each other, for those that are lucky enough to have more than one person in their house – I will end up talking to myself (no change there!).
Oh my goodness, I have just realised all the hairdressers are closing, my appointment on 7th April will obviously not happen. Can you imagine how crazy busy the hairdressers will be on the day they eventually open again! It takes three months to get an appointment booked at mine as it is! My hair will be very long again, by the time I get there!
On-line shopping will now kill off any high street shops completely. People will get so used to shopping this way, that any high street shops will more than probably never open again. We are getting a daily free cup of Costa Coffee at work, but I'm guessing that will be closed by the morning, we'll see.
I think I might start a new daily post at weekends "Hot Birding at Penny's!" Good night!
Well, that's that then! So now, we have to comply and good job too! It was obvious it was going to happen, people don't like being 'advised' to do stuff, even if does mean saving lives – the majority of people are pretty dam selfish and that's putting it mildly. No mention of enforcing the second home owners back to London..... yet, anyway, come on Boris, do it! It does make me really cross that all those people acting like imbeciles over the weekend, have now stopped local people who don't live near the coast (because we can't afford to live on the coast!), being able to get there now, being as you can only walk from your house to exercise and have to "minimise time spent outside of the home". As a birder I find that extremely frustrating – if I lived on the coast or at least somewhere near the countryside, I would be more than happy for weeks on end with today's new 'measures', just simply going for one walk daily and seeing a few local birds – but, very sadly where I live, my local area consists of pavements and houses, nothing therapeutic about that at all! After having to work all day in the hospital in an incredibly stressful and increasingly worrying situation, it would have been so lovely to have gone for a short country walk, either after work or at the weekend. My life balance is going to be utterly rubbish! At least I have a few birds in my garden thank goodness!
I was very pleased to see the Holkham Estate has shut its car parks and everything else from 3pm today and in any case, nobody would be able to park there anyway now, as not allowed to drive to go for a walk. You can only walk for exercise from your house – if you live in Holkham you will be very lucky! I envy my fellow birders who do live on the coast, hugely right now!!! No Spring migrants for me this year, none at all😢 Mind you, I did see a Wheatear at Cley last week, so that could well be the only one! I detest suppression of rare birds hugely, but in these extreme circumstances that we find ourselves in, I would be eternally grateful, that if anybody finds a good bird in Norfolk, that they DO suppress it, for my sake and many others!!! Can't believe I just said that! Don't even think of broadcasting news of a first for Britain either! I don't want to know!
Let's hope that this lockdown doesn't go on for months on end, but I fear that could very well happen. Take care and look after each other, for those that are lucky enough to have more than one person in their house – I will end up talking to myself (no change there!).
Oh my goodness, I have just realised all the hairdressers are closing, my appointment on 7th April will obviously not happen. Can you imagine how crazy busy the hairdressers will be on the day they eventually open again! It takes three months to get an appointment booked at mine as it is! My hair will be very long again, by the time I get there!
On-line shopping will now kill off any high street shops completely. People will get so used to shopping this way, that any high street shops will more than probably never open again. We are getting a daily free cup of Costa Coffee at work, but I'm guessing that will be closed by the morning, we'll see.
I think I might start a new daily post at weekends "Hot Birding at Penny's!" Good night!
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Great Grey Shrike at Black Drove, Fincham
Cattle Egrets x 5, Great White Egrets x 5 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Great White Egrets x 6, Common Cranes x 3 at Welney WWT
Common Crane flew over Brancaster
Osprey flew over UEA at Norwich
Firecrest at Hopton-on-Sea
Caspian Gull at Sheringham
Great White Egret at Seamore Fen, Hingham
Spoonbills x 2 at Burnham Overy Staithe
Caspian Gull, Spoonbill at Cley NWT
MEGA NEWS
LESSER KESTREL
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
TENGMALM'S OWL
Lyndsay Lee Plantation, SW of Kergord House, Shetland
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Great Grey Shrike at Black Drove, Fincham
Cattle Egrets x 5, Great White Egrets x 5 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Great White Egrets x 6, Common Cranes x 3 at Welney WWT
Common Crane flew over Brancaster
Osprey flew over UEA at Norwich
Firecrest at Hopton-on-Sea
Caspian Gull at Sheringham
Great White Egret at Seamore Fen, Hingham
Spoonbills x 2 at Burnham Overy Staithe
Caspian Gull, Spoonbill at Cley NWT
MEGA NEWS
LESSER KESTREL
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
TENGMALM'S OWL
Lyndsay Lee Plantation, SW of Kergord House, Shetland
Sunday, 22 March 2020
Tescos for NHS, Mother's Day, Lucy, BBC Look East & Bread Flour Drop Off!
Very, very tired – I was up far too late last night/this morning tweeting!!! Brief Post:
Went to Hardwick Tescos, King's Lynn for the NHS opening time of 9am until 10am. I won't be doing this again, it was crazy, but I did get the last two white bread flours for my friends in Heacham who are elderly and have no bread. No yeast or loo rolls. Huge thank you to Tesco for the beautiful and unexpected bouquet of flowers they gave to every NHS worker this morning – it brought tears to my eyes, as it did several others. Very much appreciated. For some reason I can't email the photo to post on here, emails not sending from iphone – need to sort that tomorrow night.
Went to Lucy's and dropped her off some requested items and wiped each item over with a Dettol wipe before dropping them into a bag for her. We stood in the car park where she lives, standing a good distance apart and we did an air hug – something I started at work, where you circle your arms around as if going to give someone a hug! I so wanted to hug her, so difficult having to distance yourself from people you love.
Returned home shattered. BBC Look East contacted me and from their message they sent me, obviously liked my posts and thoughts re Covid-19 and asked me if I would like to do a Skype video tomorrow morning!!!! I thanked them, but declined, not my thing! I said I was quite happy if they wanted to link any of my tweets or blog posts on the BBC website though.
Cooked lunch and fell asleep on the sofa. Drove to Heacham to drop the bread flours off and a box of yeast (that was mine), so now M. and E. can make bread! Came back home, cooked tea and fell asleep again! Chatted on the phone to Pete S. who told me he decided to go for a little walk to his nearest beach (he lives in Weybourne) and couldn't even get in the car park – he said he never seen it so heaving with people and cars at this time of the year. I had the same conversation with John F. who said Gramborough Hill at Salthouse was also heaving with people and no one social distancing – people were having picnics in groups, children running round with each other etc etc. What don't people get? From others, it sounded similar all the way along the coast. Selfish, irresponsible and shocking behaviour! We are so going to pay for this!!!
For all those REFUSING to social distance and for those day trippers to Norfolk and second home owners, who have descended upon us, pushing our resources way beyond the limit, please watch the following: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8131269/Fit-healthy-gym-goer-39-struggles-breathe-coronavirus.html
I have read so many posts this evening that are similar to mine on my blog and Twitter, local people in Norfolk are really angry that people are descending on Norfolk for day trips and moving into their second homes – they are so angry, I can't even link what they are saying as there are so many swear words written, far more than mine! Quote "My mind is blown by the selfishness of people" is one of the more polite ones.
There are approximately 859,400 permanent residents living in Norfolk. Let's say that 1% of you need to be hospitalised because of Covid-19? I leave you to do the maths...... they won't all fit into our three hospitals, so very sadly many will die at home.
Late news from the BBC states "Essential travel does not include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar, whether for isolation purposes or holidays. People should remain in their primary residence."
Went to Hardwick Tescos, King's Lynn for the NHS opening time of 9am until 10am. I won't be doing this again, it was crazy, but I did get the last two white bread flours for my friends in Heacham who are elderly and have no bread. No yeast or loo rolls. Huge thank you to Tesco for the beautiful and unexpected bouquet of flowers they gave to every NHS worker this morning – it brought tears to my eyes, as it did several others. Very much appreciated. For some reason I can't email the photo to post on here, emails not sending from iphone – need to sort that tomorrow night.
Happy Mother's Day to My Dearest Mother
up there in the blue skies with the birds
I miss you so much and think of you every single day
💔
Went to Lucy's and dropped her off some requested items and wiped each item over with a Dettol wipe before dropping them into a bag for her. We stood in the car park where she lives, standing a good distance apart and we did an air hug – something I started at work, where you circle your arms around as if going to give someone a hug! I so wanted to hug her, so difficult having to distance yourself from people you love.
Returned home shattered. BBC Look East contacted me and from their message they sent me, obviously liked my posts and thoughts re Covid-19 and asked me if I would like to do a Skype video tomorrow morning!!!! I thanked them, but declined, not my thing! I said I was quite happy if they wanted to link any of my tweets or blog posts on the BBC website though.
Cooked lunch and fell asleep on the sofa. Drove to Heacham to drop the bread flours off and a box of yeast (that was mine), so now M. and E. can make bread! Came back home, cooked tea and fell asleep again! Chatted on the phone to Pete S. who told me he decided to go for a little walk to his nearest beach (he lives in Weybourne) and couldn't even get in the car park – he said he never seen it so heaving with people and cars at this time of the year. I had the same conversation with John F. who said Gramborough Hill at Salthouse was also heaving with people and no one social distancing – people were having picnics in groups, children running round with each other etc etc. What don't people get? From others, it sounded similar all the way along the coast. Selfish, irresponsible and shocking behaviour! We are so going to pay for this!!!
For all those REFUSING to social distance and for those day trippers to Norfolk and second home owners, who have descended upon us, pushing our resources way beyond the limit, please watch the following: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8131269/Fit-healthy-gym-goer-39-struggles-breathe-coronavirus.html
I have read so many posts this evening that are similar to mine on my blog and Twitter, local people in Norfolk are really angry that people are descending on Norfolk for day trips and moving into their second homes – they are so angry, I can't even link what they are saying as there are so many swear words written, far more than mine! Quote "My mind is blown by the selfishness of people" is one of the more polite ones.
There are approximately 859,400 permanent residents living in Norfolk. Let's say that 1% of you need to be hospitalised because of Covid-19? I leave you to do the maths...... they won't all fit into our three hospitals, so very sadly many will die at home.
Late news from the BBC states "Essential travel does not include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar, whether for isolation purposes or holidays. People should remain in their primary residence."
- STAY AT HOME AT YOUR MAIN RESIDENCE AND WHERE YOUR GP IS REGISTERED
- DO NOT TRAVEL UNNECESSARILY
- DO TAKE DAY TRIPS TO OTHER PLACES AND SPREAD THE VIRUS TO OTHERS, YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE IT OR NOT......YET!
- WE HAVE ONE CHANCE TO GET THIS RIGHT!
- PRAYING THAT BORIS WILL DO A SERIOUS LOCKDOWN TOMORROW
- SCARED ABOUT GOING TO WORK TOMORROW
#STAYATHOME
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Rough-legged Buzzard juv. again, NW of Wells
Water Pipit at North Point Pools, Wells
Waxwings x 4 at Salthouse
Great White Egrets x 7 at Burnham Overy Staithe
Common Cranes x 2 at Brundall
Great Grey Shrike at Black Drove, Fincham
Waxwing near Fakenham Road at Norwich
Long-tailed Duck flew east at Holme Dunes NWT
Spoonbills x 5, Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Common Cranes x 2 at Claxton Marshes
Great White Egret at Seamore Fen, Hingham
MEGA NEWS
LESSER KESTREL
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
TENGMALM'S OWL
Lyndsay Lee Plantation, SW of Kergord House, Shetland
FORSTER'S TERN
Kinvarra, County Galway, Ireland
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Rough-legged Buzzard juv. again, NW of Wells
Water Pipit at North Point Pools, Wells
Waxwings x 4 at Salthouse
Great White Egrets x 7 at Burnham Overy Staithe
Common Cranes x 2 at Brundall
Great Grey Shrike at Black Drove, Fincham
Waxwing near Fakenham Road at Norwich
Long-tailed Duck flew east at Holme Dunes NWT
Spoonbills x 5, Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Common Cranes x 2 at Claxton Marshes
Great White Egret at Seamore Fen, Hingham
MEGA NEWS
LESSER KESTREL
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
TENGMALM'S OWL
Lyndsay Lee Plantation, SW of Kergord House, Shetland
FORSTER'S TERN
Kinvarra, County Galway, Ireland
Saturday, 21 March 2020
A SHOCKING DAY IN NORFOLK!
I have been tweeting A LOT on Twitter since last night and for good reason. People are not listening, well some are, but there are MASSES who are NOT!
This is serious, it couldn't be more serious. Currently the government are recommending that if we are outside that we keep a good distance from everybody who we are walking with or sitting with outside, later today this information changed and people are now being urged to stay at home and only travel if absolutely essential. This will now include ALL THE STUPID day trippers piling into Norfolk and the second home owners flooding in to escape London and in turn some of them will be bringing the virus here with them, thanks alot! We only have three small hospitals in Norfolk, we won't have enough beds for people that live here permanently, never mind a few thousand more and this huge influx of second home owners will add to the supermarket chaos! All second home owners should be enforced to return to their main residence.
WE ARE HEADING FOR A CATASTROPHE HERE IN NORFOLK AND ALL BECAUSE WE HAVE FAR MORE PEOPLE HERE THAN WE NORMALLY WOULD HAVE AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR & BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT SOCIAL DISTANCING! WE ARE A TICKING TIME BOMB! THE HOSPITALS AND SUPERMARKETS WILL NOT COPE - FACT!
I was shocked at the scenes in Hunstanton as I left Tescos to drive along the cliff top on route to Old Hunstanton shop. There were people EVERYWHERE, I couldn't believe what I saw! People sitting on picnic tables eating their fish 'n' chips outside a fish 'n' chip shop (I thought they had to close?!), all sitting closely together and no one social distancing at all. People walking along the seafront in groups, loads of bikers parked up by the entertainment centre – the entire scene looked like a typical Bank Holiday Monday weekend. Are people not aware of what is going to hit us?! As Steve Trewhella wrote on Twitter "It’s a world wide pandemic not a fucking bank holiday you twats"
The cliff top itself was jam-packed, in fact I have never seen it that full! The cars were parked from beginning to end with no gaps. People are being so stupid, its sickening to see. They are not taking it seriously at all. Look at the stats for Italy! We are two weeks away from they are now. As someone wrote on Twitter today: "Nearly 800 people died from Coronavirus in Italy today. 29 days since their 1st death. We are on day 17 with 233 deaths. Italy had 233 on day 15. Not sure people realise how serious this is. WAKE UP UK, time to lockdown completely before this gets out of hand."
I heard that the rest of the coast was the same today, with tons of people out at Wells, queueing closely together like they normally would do outside a fish n chip shop, Lady Anne's Drive full (I have contacted Holkham Estate to request they close Lady Anne's Drive and Wells car park, not heard back yet), all the way along the coast, hearing stories of masses of people not social distancing at all and carrying on as normal. But, its NOT NORMAL, please take notice for your sakes and others!
THREE HOSPITALS IN NORFOLK DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO COPE WITH PATIENTS FROM NORFOLK & LONDON, SO IF YOU HAVE A 2ND HOME HERE, PLEASE RETURN TO LONDON, WHERE THERE ARE MORE HOSPITALS TO COPE WITH BIGGER NUMBERS, IT MAY BE YOU THAT WILL DIE AT HOME BECAUSE OF LACK OF ACUTE BEDS!
Boris Johnson needs to lock down the entire country NOW and get the army in to enforce it and he WILL need the army, as there will still be IGNORANT AND SELFISH PEOPLE that leave the house to do other stuff besides getting food and medication.
Government announces further measures on social distancing
Entertainment and hospitality premises closed temporarily on Friday and today people urged to ONLY travel if absolutely essential.
This is serious, it couldn't be more serious. Currently the government are recommending that if we are outside that we keep a good distance from everybody who we are walking with or sitting with outside, later today this information changed and people are now being urged to stay at home and only travel if absolutely essential. This will now include ALL THE STUPID day trippers piling into Norfolk and the second home owners flooding in to escape London and in turn some of them will be bringing the virus here with them, thanks alot! We only have three small hospitals in Norfolk, we won't have enough beds for people that live here permanently, never mind a few thousand more and this huge influx of second home owners will add to the supermarket chaos! All second home owners should be enforced to return to their main residence.
WE ARE HEADING FOR A CATASTROPHE HERE IN NORFOLK AND ALL BECAUSE WE HAVE FAR MORE PEOPLE HERE THAN WE NORMALLY WOULD HAVE AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR & BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT SOCIAL DISTANCING! WE ARE A TICKING TIME BOMB! THE HOSPITALS AND SUPERMARKETS WILL NOT COPE - FACT!
I was shocked at the scenes in Hunstanton as I left Tescos to drive along the cliff top on route to Old Hunstanton shop. There were people EVERYWHERE, I couldn't believe what I saw! People sitting on picnic tables eating their fish 'n' chips outside a fish 'n' chip shop (I thought they had to close?!), all sitting closely together and no one social distancing at all. People walking along the seafront in groups, loads of bikers parked up by the entertainment centre – the entire scene looked like a typical Bank Holiday Monday weekend. Are people not aware of what is going to hit us?! As Steve Trewhella wrote on Twitter "It’s a world wide pandemic not a fucking bank holiday you twats"
The cliff top itself was jam-packed, in fact I have never seen it that full! The cars were parked from beginning to end with no gaps. People are being so stupid, its sickening to see. They are not taking it seriously at all. Look at the stats for Italy! We are two weeks away from they are now. As someone wrote on Twitter today: "Nearly 800 people died from Coronavirus in Italy today. 29 days since their 1st death. We are on day 17 with 233 deaths. Italy had 233 on day 15. Not sure people realise how serious this is. WAKE UP UK, time to lockdown completely before this gets out of hand."
I heard that the rest of the coast was the same today, with tons of people out at Wells, queueing closely together like they normally would do outside a fish n chip shop, Lady Anne's Drive full (I have contacted Holkham Estate to request they close Lady Anne's Drive and Wells car park, not heard back yet), all the way along the coast, hearing stories of masses of people not social distancing at all and carrying on as normal. But, its NOT NORMAL, please take notice for your sakes and others!
THREE HOSPITALS IN NORFOLK DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO COPE WITH PATIENTS FROM NORFOLK & LONDON, SO IF YOU HAVE A 2ND HOME HERE, PLEASE RETURN TO LONDON, WHERE THERE ARE MORE HOSPITALS TO COPE WITH BIGGER NUMBERS, IT MAY BE YOU THAT WILL DIE AT HOME BECAUSE OF LACK OF ACUTE BEDS!
Boris Johnson needs to lock down the entire country NOW and get the army in to enforce it and he WILL need the army, as there will still be IGNORANT AND SELFISH PEOPLE that leave the house to do other stuff besides getting food and medication.
Government announces further measures on social distancing
Entertainment and hospitality premises closed temporarily on Friday and today people urged to ONLY travel if absolutely essential.
Helping My 'Family', Shopping & Birding!
I was so tired from my egg delivery runs last night and generally from work last week, that I didn't get up as early as I wanted to. Oh well! It was a beautiful sunny day with east winds. I feared that Norfolk would be jam-packed with day trippers today and indeed it was, I discovered later on.
I headed to Heacham, to "Moulham and Horn" to buy some much needed bird food and got a good selection to keep the birds happy over the next few weeks. They close at 12.30pm and I only just made it in time! I kept my visit as brief as I could and then left. I then phoned my very good 'family' friends M. and E. who live in Heacham, to ask if they were ok and if they need anything. I felt quite sad when they said I was the only person to have rung, to see if they were ok. They really wanted some bread flour, yeast and white granulated sugar, so I said I would see what I could do. I drove round to their house and chatted to them from the road at a good distance away over their garden fence. It was lovely to catch up, as I had not seen them both for a while.
Headed to the local supermarkets to see what I could find for them. Tescos at Hunstanton had none of the products they wanted and very little else either, lots of empty shelves, no loo rolls, no flour, no yeast, no sugar, no potatoes etc etc. I have not been able to find any hand sanitiser anywhere, so currently using Dettol hard surface wipes to clean my steering wheel etc and my hands (which are getting sore now). I had a lovely moment in the Tesco car park – at the back there are lots of bushes growing on a sloped bank, it was full of loads of chirping House Sparrows, the volume was so loud! I felt very much aware that there was no air traffic – the skies were silent, blue and clear, it was quite weird, very weird. I also saw a Comma Butterfly feeding on Alexander leaves by my feet – a lovely moment and brought a smile to my face for a short while. I didn't bother going to the much smaller Sainsbury's store, there would be no point.
I was shocked at the scenes in Hunstanton as I left Tescos to drive along the cliff top on route to Old Hunstanton shop. There were people EVERYWHERE, I couldn't believe what I saw! People sitting on picnic tables eating their fish 'n' chips outside a fish 'n' chip shop (I thought they had to close?!), all sitting closely together and no one social distancing at all. People walking along the seafront in groups, loads of bikers parked up by the entertainment centre – the entire scene looked like a typical Bank Holiday Monday weekend. Are people not aware of what is going to hit us?! As Steve Trewhella wrote on Twitter "It’s a world wide pandemic not a fucking bank holiday you twats"
The cliff top itself was jam-packed, in fact I have never seen it that full! The cars were parked from beginning to end with no gaps. I left this mayhem and headed to the shop on the main road at Old Hunstanton. I managed to find one of the products in here and bought two small bags of white granulated sugar. I then headed to Ringstead stores, but didn't find anything else there that M. and E. wanted. But, I did find one bag of Wholemeal bread flour for me – there was one bag left after that, which I'm sure got sold quickly.
Headed to the Thornham Farm Shop. No flour or yeast there either, but they did have bread, so brought M. and E. a sliced white loaf of local bread (they can't eat wholemeal). There was plenty of eggs here too and a few veg left. I bought for myself a bunch of bananas (almost run out at home) and some proper earth covered potatoes! No sacks being sold here now, a limit of 3kg per person. Tomorrow I am going to the NHS Staff only hour at Tescos, so hopefully will get some white bread flour and yeast for my friends and then deliver to them tomorrow, although I don't think I will get either to be honest. The owner at Ringstead shop told me that yeast is 'like gold right now'.
Now it was time for my fresh air, a bit of birding and relaxation, which I have needed so much after being at work all week. If the car park at Titchwell RSPB had been packed out, I wasn't stopping, but thankfully there were hardly any cars there at all. But, there were three huge campervans in the far car park, no doubt planning to spend the night there when they shouldn't be! The toilets were open, but there was no loo roll left – am guessing because no staff are there to top it up or had it been stolen?! I sat and had my late lunch, which was a sandwich made with my home-made granary bread, cheese and cucumber. It was now late afternoon and very cold and I regretted not getting here earlier, but I was determined to get a walk in.
Ambled around the Fen Trail and only passed one couple with a little girl on route to Patsy's Pool. I didn't see that much, plus my mind wasn't on birding if I'm honest, too many thoughts racing through my mind, but it was very therapeutic to be out amongst nature. The best thing I was saw was a pair of Tufted Duck on the pool! Not seen any Tufted Ducks for ages! Four Marsh Harriers were coming in to roost, there were several Cormorants and a couple of Little Egrets. I didn't see or hear any other birds here apart from a Great Tit.
I walked to the main path and all the way along to the beach. The hides were open still, with recommended social distancing notices etc, but I personally think they should be closed, as Cley NWT have done. Hides are confirmed spaces and you can't really keep a few metres apart in a small space! I certainly didn't and won't be going in any hides. There were big numbers of gulls roosting on the freshmarsh, along with Avocets, Oystercatchers, Shelduck, Teal, Med Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Redshanks etc. It was so cold now, I nearly turned back, but I was so glad I carried on to the beach as it was a very high tide! I only passed one couple on route to the beach and we both gave each other space by the path/Island Hide as we passed each other. The beach was dramatic and beautiful. Lots of Oystercatchers feeding along the tide line, nothing else seen. One couple walking back from Thornham Point, otherwise devoid of people and dogs. I stood for a while, watching the waves crashing on the shore and pondered. Where will we all be in a few months time? Sadly and scarily, some of us won't be here!
Walked briskly back to my car with hat on and both hoods of my two coats pulled up! Went to Heacham to deliver the sugar and bread to M. and E. Returned to King's Lynn and fell asleep on the sofa! I don't think I have ever sent so many tweets on Twitter as I have today, nearly all about Covid-19!
I headed to Heacham, to "Moulham and Horn" to buy some much needed bird food and got a good selection to keep the birds happy over the next few weeks. They close at 12.30pm and I only just made it in time! I kept my visit as brief as I could and then left. I then phoned my very good 'family' friends M. and E. who live in Heacham, to ask if they were ok and if they need anything. I felt quite sad when they said I was the only person to have rung, to see if they were ok. They really wanted some bread flour, yeast and white granulated sugar, so I said I would see what I could do. I drove round to their house and chatted to them from the road at a good distance away over their garden fence. It was lovely to catch up, as I had not seen them both for a while.
Headed to the local supermarkets to see what I could find for them. Tescos at Hunstanton had none of the products they wanted and very little else either, lots of empty shelves, no loo rolls, no flour, no yeast, no sugar, no potatoes etc etc. I have not been able to find any hand sanitiser anywhere, so currently using Dettol hard surface wipes to clean my steering wheel etc and my hands (which are getting sore now). I had a lovely moment in the Tesco car park – at the back there are lots of bushes growing on a sloped bank, it was full of loads of chirping House Sparrows, the volume was so loud! I felt very much aware that there was no air traffic – the skies were silent, blue and clear, it was quite weird, very weird. I also saw a Comma Butterfly feeding on Alexander leaves by my feet – a lovely moment and brought a smile to my face for a short while. I didn't bother going to the much smaller Sainsbury's store, there would be no point.
I was shocked at the scenes in Hunstanton as I left Tescos to drive along the cliff top on route to Old Hunstanton shop. There were people EVERYWHERE, I couldn't believe what I saw! People sitting on picnic tables eating their fish 'n' chips outside a fish 'n' chip shop (I thought they had to close?!), all sitting closely together and no one social distancing at all. People walking along the seafront in groups, loads of bikers parked up by the entertainment centre – the entire scene looked like a typical Bank Holiday Monday weekend. Are people not aware of what is going to hit us?! As Steve Trewhella wrote on Twitter "It’s a world wide pandemic not a fucking bank holiday you twats"
The cliff top itself was jam-packed, in fact I have never seen it that full! The cars were parked from beginning to end with no gaps. I left this mayhem and headed to the shop on the main road at Old Hunstanton. I managed to find one of the products in here and bought two small bags of white granulated sugar. I then headed to Ringstead stores, but didn't find anything else there that M. and E. wanted. But, I did find one bag of Wholemeal bread flour for me – there was one bag left after that, which I'm sure got sold quickly.
Headed to the Thornham Farm Shop. No flour or yeast there either, but they did have bread, so brought M. and E. a sliced white loaf of local bread (they can't eat wholemeal). There was plenty of eggs here too and a few veg left. I bought for myself a bunch of bananas (almost run out at home) and some proper earth covered potatoes! No sacks being sold here now, a limit of 3kg per person. Tomorrow I am going to the NHS Staff only hour at Tescos, so hopefully will get some white bread flour and yeast for my friends and then deliver to them tomorrow, although I don't think I will get either to be honest. The owner at Ringstead shop told me that yeast is 'like gold right now'.
Now it was time for my fresh air, a bit of birding and relaxation, which I have needed so much after being at work all week. If the car park at Titchwell RSPB had been packed out, I wasn't stopping, but thankfully there were hardly any cars there at all. But, there were three huge campervans in the far car park, no doubt planning to spend the night there when they shouldn't be! The toilets were open, but there was no loo roll left – am guessing because no staff are there to top it up or had it been stolen?! I sat and had my late lunch, which was a sandwich made with my home-made granary bread, cheese and cucumber. It was now late afternoon and very cold and I regretted not getting here earlier, but I was determined to get a walk in.
Ambled around the Fen Trail and only passed one couple with a little girl on route to Patsy's Pool. I didn't see that much, plus my mind wasn't on birding if I'm honest, too many thoughts racing through my mind, but it was very therapeutic to be out amongst nature. The best thing I was saw was a pair of Tufted Duck on the pool! Not seen any Tufted Ducks for ages! Four Marsh Harriers were coming in to roost, there were several Cormorants and a couple of Little Egrets. I didn't see or hear any other birds here apart from a Great Tit.
I walked to the main path and all the way along to the beach. The hides were open still, with recommended social distancing notices etc, but I personally think they should be closed, as Cley NWT have done. Hides are confirmed spaces and you can't really keep a few metres apart in a small space! I certainly didn't and won't be going in any hides. There were big numbers of gulls roosting on the freshmarsh, along with Avocets, Oystercatchers, Shelduck, Teal, Med Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Redshanks etc. It was so cold now, I nearly turned back, but I was so glad I carried on to the beach as it was a very high tide! I only passed one couple on route to the beach and we both gave each other space by the path/Island Hide as we passed each other. The beach was dramatic and beautiful. Lots of Oystercatchers feeding along the tide line, nothing else seen. One couple walking back from Thornham Point, otherwise devoid of people and dogs. I stood for a while, watching the waves crashing on the shore and pondered. Where will we all be in a few months time? Sadly and scarily, some of us won't be here!
Walked briskly back to my car with hat on and both hoods of my two coats pulled up! Went to Heacham to deliver the sugar and bread to M. and E. Returned to King's Lynn and fell asleep on the sofa! I don't think I have ever sent so many tweets on Twitter as I have today, nearly all about Covid-19!
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Short-eared Owl at Thornham Marsh
Great Grey Shrike at Black Drove, Fincham
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Raven, Hooded Crow at Winterton
Great White Egrets x 2 flew over St Olaves
Short-eared Owls x 2, Velvet Scoters x 2 at Holkham Gap
Common Cranes x 12 between Acle Bridge & Billockby
Rough-legged Buzzard juv. again, NW of Wells
Great White Egret at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Little Gulls x 4 at Sheringham
MEGA NEWS
LESSER KESTREL
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Short-eared Owl at Thornham Marsh
Great Grey Shrike at Black Drove, Fincham
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Raven, Hooded Crow at Winterton
Great White Egrets x 2 flew over St Olaves
Short-eared Owls x 2, Velvet Scoters x 2 at Holkham Gap
Common Cranes x 12 between Acle Bridge & Billockby
Rough-legged Buzzard juv. again, NW of Wells
Great White Egret at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Little Gulls x 4 at Sheringham
MEGA NEWS
LESSER KESTREL
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
MP Urges Londoners Not To Use Their Norfolk Second Homes
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/health/second-home-warning-in-norfolk-coronavirus-uk-1-6572648?fbclid=IwAR13RxZ4KJ1hfk_msXhZif1GeyOyYMhmFNOqztNHITNlN63zoJDck5wPJlU
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/health/duncan-baker-urgent-plea-to-holiday-makers-1-6572786
A BIT TOO FUCKING LATE!!!
Every second homer seems to be doing this throughout the UK, down south in Cornwall, Devon, in the Highlands and Scottish Islands and so on.
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands/2090794/this-isnt-a-wilderness-you-are-risking-lives-highland-msp-issues-warning-to-people-travelling-north-during-coronavirus-pandemic/?fbclid=IwAR2uATQFUe6wD53QE_q_ALnuJIqGN5YnITIRrWdkpEx3xCns-1JCuKynvFY
SPREADING THE VIRUS TO OTHER COUNTIES, THANKS EVERYONE!
We will be in a worse state than Italy in two weeks time and all because people are selfish! God help us all! We are a ticking time bomb. I feel frightened to return to work!
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/health/duncan-baker-urgent-plea-to-holiday-makers-1-6572786
A BIT TOO FUCKING LATE!!!
Every second homer seems to be doing this throughout the UK, down south in Cornwall, Devon, in the Highlands and Scottish Islands and so on.
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands/2090794/this-isnt-a-wilderness-you-are-risking-lives-highland-msp-issues-warning-to-people-travelling-north-during-coronavirus-pandemic/?fbclid=IwAR2uATQFUe6wD53QE_q_ALnuJIqGN5YnITIRrWdkpEx3xCns-1JCuKynvFY
SPREADING THE VIRUS TO OTHER COUNTIES, THANKS EVERYONE!
We will be in a worse state than Italy in two weeks time and all because people are selfish! God help us all! We are a ticking time bomb. I feel frightened to return to work!
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Friday, 20 March 2020
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egrets x 2, Common Crane at Welney WWT
Hen Harrier, Common Cranes x 2 flew over Roydon Common NNR
Rough-legged Buzzard juv. again, NW of Wells
Great White Egret at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Garganey x 2 at Holme Dunes NWT
Little Gulls x 4 flew past beach car park at Cley
Spoonbill at Cley NWT
Black Redstarts x 2 in garden at South Creake
Twite x 4 at Thornham Harbour
Common Cranes x 6 between Acle Bridge & Billockby
Great White Egrets x 2 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Lapland Buntings x 3 at Winterton
Shorelarks x 5, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Velvet Scoter at Holkham Gap
Great Grey Shrike at Black Drove, Fincham
Caspian Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Velvet Scoters x 2 flew past Mundesley
MEGA NEWS
SHORT-TOED TREECREEPER
Again, Dungeness, Kent
LESSER KESTREL
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
FORSTER'S TERN
Kinvarra, County Galway, Ireland
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egrets x 2, Common Crane at Welney WWT
Hen Harrier, Common Cranes x 2 flew over Roydon Common NNR
Rough-legged Buzzard juv. again, NW of Wells
Great White Egret at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Garganey x 2 at Holme Dunes NWT
Little Gulls x 4 flew past beach car park at Cley
Spoonbill at Cley NWT
Black Redstarts x 2 in garden at South Creake
Twite x 4 at Thornham Harbour
Common Cranes x 6 between Acle Bridge & Billockby
Great White Egrets x 2 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Lapland Buntings x 3 at Winterton
Shorelarks x 5, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Velvet Scoter at Holkham Gap
Great Grey Shrike at Black Drove, Fincham
Caspian Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Velvet Scoters x 2 flew past Mundesley
MEGA NEWS
SHORT-TOED TREECREEPER
Again, Dungeness, Kent
LESSER KESTREL
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
FORSTER'S TERN
Kinvarra, County Galway, Ireland
Emergency Egg Delivery!
I left work this evening and headed to a farm shop egg shed, which was quite a few miles away from where I live. I took orders from some of my work colleagues via our new WhatsApp group and then returned and delivered eggs to everyone. It was hard work but eggciting!!! There are no eggs left in supermarkets in King's Lynn amongst other basic items. Got home just after 8pm and cooked chips, eggs and baked beans. Cream-crackered, good night.
Coronavirus: Two confirmed to have died at QEH!
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-deaths-at-queen-elizabeth-hospital-kings-lynn-1-6571602
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-patient-leaves-norfolk-and-norwich-hospital-before-covid-19-test-1-6571555
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/health/number-of-coronavirus-cases-norfolk-uk-17-1-6572282
I seriously, seriously hope that all the 2nd home owners haven’t piled down to NORFOLK for when we go into total lock down, as our three small hospitals WILL NOT BE able to care for everyone!
I read on Twitter this evening that someone witnessed lots of people, including elderly people, sitting and eating in cafes all along the Norfolk coast today like everything was normal! Selfish, stupid people – they have no idea what’s coming – all hospitals are discharging as many as people as possible to make space for COVID-19 patients when they arrive in droves, but there won’t be enough room – lots will die at home sadly.
THREE HOSPITALS IN NORFOLK DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO COPE WITH PATIENTS FROM NORFOLK & LONDON, SO IF YOU HAVE A 2ND HOME HERE, PLEASE RETURN TO YOUR FIRST RESIDENCE, WHERE THERE ARE MORE HOSPITALS TO COPE WITH BIGGER NUMBERS, IT MAY BE YOU THAT WILL DIE AT HOME BECAUSE OF LACK OF ACUTE BEDS HERE!
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-patient-leaves-norfolk-and-norwich-hospital-before-covid-19-test-1-6571555
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/health/number-of-coronavirus-cases-norfolk-uk-17-1-6572282
I seriously, seriously hope that all the 2nd home owners haven’t piled down to NORFOLK for when we go into total lock down, as our three small hospitals WILL NOT BE able to care for everyone!
I read on Twitter this evening that someone witnessed lots of people, including elderly people, sitting and eating in cafes all along the Norfolk coast today like everything was normal! Selfish, stupid people – they have no idea what’s coming – all hospitals are discharging as many as people as possible to make space for COVID-19 patients when they arrive in droves, but there won’t be enough room – lots will die at home sadly.
THREE HOSPITALS IN NORFOLK DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO COPE WITH PATIENTS FROM NORFOLK & LONDON, SO IF YOU HAVE A 2ND HOME HERE, PLEASE RETURN TO YOUR FIRST RESIDENCE, WHERE THERE ARE MORE HOSPITALS TO COPE WITH BIGGER NUMBERS, IT MAY BE YOU THAT WILL DIE AT HOME BECAUSE OF LACK OF ACUTE BEDS HERE!
WAKE UP EVERYONE! DO NOT SOCIALISE AND MIX WITH OTHERS
Hot Birding! East Winds Until 1st April!!!
IF you are not having to self isolate at home for 7 days (if you live alone) OR 14 days (if you or someone else you are living with, has Coronavirus symptoms), this is good news indeed, if you are a birder or want to escape to the countryside! I can't remember the last time I saw a long run of forecast easterly winds, as we have from now until 1st April at least!
So, this means (following above rules) and avoiding all social contact, us birders and nature lovers can still go outside birding, to keep our mental states on an even keel. We won't and shouldn't be using ANY bird hides though, as this is a confined space, the equivalent of being indoors with someone else. However, when we go to complete lock down, which will only be a matter of days I reckon and certainly not more than a couple of weeks I predict, none of us will be birding. So I would get out and do some hardcore birding while you can. As soon as we go into lock down, we will only be able to leave our houses to go food shopping or get medical supplies. There will be NO birding for anyone outside your gardens. This Spring migration's list of rarities will be virtually nil and nobody will be able to twitch, even if someone does find a first for Britain in their back garden. Roll on Autumn migration! Enjoy what could be the last weekend out for a while!
So, this means (following above rules) and avoiding all social contact, us birders and nature lovers can still go outside birding, to keep our mental states on an even keel. We won't and shouldn't be using ANY bird hides though, as this is a confined space, the equivalent of being indoors with someone else. However, when we go to complete lock down, which will only be a matter of days I reckon and certainly not more than a couple of weeks I predict, none of us will be birding. So I would get out and do some hardcore birding while you can. As soon as we go into lock down, we will only be able to leave our houses to go food shopping or get medical supplies. There will be NO birding for anyone outside your gardens. This Spring migration's list of rarities will be virtually nil and nobody will be able to twitch, even if someone does find a first for Britain in their back garden. Roll on Autumn migration! Enjoy what could be the last weekend out for a while!
Thursday, 19 March 2020
NHS QEH!
The daily struggles for everyone now, both at work and at home are going to be challenging to say the least, especially for working mothers and fathers, trying to cope with the huge issues that have arisen with children off school, childcare, juggling work hours, trying to get basic food on the table, the stress, the emotion and mental health will be stretched to the limit. I've heard several people say this, including my sister Vivien this evening – its all very surreal. You can not believe this is happening and it hasn't even kicked off yet! We are still at the starting line! It will pass, but we have a mountain to climb, before it even begins to get better. #BE KIND #NHS #LOVETOALL
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