Sunday, October 09, 2011

Norfolk...



This week we have been on holiday in Norfolk, staying at Sea Palling. We tried further east for a change, but in future we will stick with the north coast. Its much nicer.
Our digs for the week...

We hired this boat for a day...they'll let anyone drive these....

The weather, as you well know, was unbelievable. Temperatures in the first half of the week were consistently between 26 - 29 degrees, peaking at 30 on our way down last Saturday. Unfortunately, the settled weather meant that few birds were to be had, but one or two bits of interest were noted.

Marsh Harriers seen in a few places including 3 together at Cley.
Cetti's Warblers heard only on the Broads and at Cley.
Mediterranean Gulls in bulk at Great Yarmouth with 25+ together on the beach.
Common Crane, a flock of 8 birds seen from near our cottage flying off to roost but distant.
A few passage waders, including Spotted Redshanks, Greenshank and Little Stint.
Lapland Bunting 2 seen well on the ground at Kelling Quag were nice.

Non avian interest also added to the week -

Adder 1 golden yellow female at Waxham dunes.
Moths - Large Wainscot, Beaded Chestnut and Herald at the lighted windows of our cottage.
Chinese Water Deer, 1 nearly knocked me over while I watched the cranes go to roost, disturbed by a farm vehicle.
Hornet, quite a few at Hickling along lanes near some woodland.

We visited the various coastal towns and villages around about. All were nice and quaint with that 'seaside' feel to them - Blakeney, Cley, Kelling, Sheringham, Cromer, Sea Palling and Waxham but nothing could compare with Great Yarmouth....I couldn't stop laughing the whole time we were there! I should have taken a tracksuit....

Great Yarmouth Pier. Oh dear we missed Joe Pasquale and the Chuckle Brothers...

'Ket' Shops abound...

'Joyland' looks like a set from the Scooby Doo cartoons....

Adult, second winter and first winter Med Gulls.
Herald Moth

After the 'fish out of water' experience of us at Great Yarmouth it was a pleasure to get back to the cool and quiet of Northumberland...

7 comments:

MP said...

The medical jargon of 'FFN' used to appear on patients notes very regularly in Fenland - fine for Norfolk, you might have encountered a few such souls in the Yarmouth area!

Stewart said...

Hi Mike, we did indeed encounter one or two. It was like Ashington on market day....

Tim Sexton said...

I see the Pier is as popular as ever. Or was everyone inside watching Joe?

Anonymous said...

when we were there, a local described Gt Yarmouth as the arsehole of Norfolk.
We thought the description fitted.
st

Stringer said...

I'd be gutted to miss the chuckle brothers !!

Northumbrian Birding said...

And there was me thinking you had retired at 400 !!, Can't believe you can get 7 sticks of I presume rock and not just sticks for £3 wow that's a massive 15p saving !!!!! hope mine is Minty .
Brian

Skev said...

Just catching up. Cannon & Ball, Pasquale etc. They can't be entertaining though as there is an 'Amusements Welcome' neon sign like they are imploring the public to bring their own ....