It was pretty grim yesterday on the coast, with a strong ESE wind,
100%overcast and some occasional horizontal drizzle. Needless to say, we
didn't go far.
I met John and Boulmer car park at 8am and the first hour was spent watching
the sea from the car. The waves were rolling in on a white foamy sea. Our
hopes of a white winged gull or something came to nothing. A couple of
Kittiwakes were the best birds we could manage, plus a tiny Weasel carrying a
mouse along the edge of the car park, under the toy box and under our cars out
of sight, so we decided to venture out.
A wander north along the beach to the village was the plan to see if there was
anything loitering around the corner.
Sadly the first thing of note, was already deceased. A fresh Harbour Porpoise
was washed up. Its body covered in small white lesions of some kind.
Deceased Harbour Porpoise, Boulmer
Only 200 mtrs beyond the beached cetacean I notice some fresh looking Stoat
tracks on the sand by some tank blocks. John then called out, 'Whats that moving
on the sand?' 'Its a Stoat with a Black Rabbit!'.
Sure enough, a moribund melanistic Rabbit was hanging on to life as the Stoat
did its very best to serve the coup-de-grace by biting the nape of its neck,
but the prey seemed a bit too big to get a good grip. We watched for half an
hour until near hypothermia set in. In that time, the Stoat dashed to the long
grass at the beach edge a couple of times before returning to its kill. It
tried dragging the sad Rabbit up the beach but each time it would muster
enough life force to kick back and slow progress. As we left, the Stoat had
the Rabbit nearer to cover but the struggle looked set to continue for a while
yet.
So. some great mammal experiences were had, it just shows there is always
something if you just put a little effort in.
Despite the steady north easterly breeze and the fact that Norfolk is grid locked with rare sibes we still managed to get out this morning and find little in the way of 'good' birds. John and myself covered the whole of Warkworth North Side - Birling area but it was rather quiet. Still, after a dull start, the day turned out to be very pleasant with some nice autumn sunshine.
As there were no birds, our attentions drifted elsewhere. In the dunes, this Red legged Shield bug Spiked Shieldbug ( thanks to Graeme Lyons...)was doing something despicable to a small caterpillar. The photo has come out quite well with the 300 lens.
Up at the car park, the wildlife took on a 'big game' feel when we were disturbed from our morning cuppa by some distressed squealing in the picnic area. Now, in a car park like this, that could have been anything, but this time it was a seriously myxied rabbit doing its best to avoid being eaten by a young Stoat. After some 'Benny Hill style' chasing around and wrestling, the Stoat ran off and the Rabbit left by another exit. I bet the Stoat tracks it down again later...
Flying Stoat.
May not be as good as one getting a lift off a Woodpecker, but I was still pleased to get this one...
You wouldnt think it from this shot, but the Stoat was spooked by us watching and legged it. The Rabbit recovered and ran to cover.
So, with all this carnage around, I was pleased to get back home to do the moths...Lately rather than just trying some voucher shots on slate, I have been trying to show some off on some nice surfaces...
Its sometimes good to be late for work. This morning I was running a half hour or so behind schedule, and with a fallen tree reported to be blocking the route south via the coast I headed west towards the A1.
and this is what I saw for my trouble -
An absolutely pristine fully white Ermine scuffling through the base of the roadside hedge at Littlehoughton.
I spent the two very cold spells in 2010 looking for these in drifts of snow. When the snow melted I felt sure there would be Ermine to see against the dark brown leaf litter, but all I managed were two semi-ermine, almost white but with a hint of stoat about them. Now, in a mild winter with scarcely a flake of snow this turns up. I see a few Stoats around here and have seen three or four in recent weeks but all nice russet ones. I never considered the appearance of a ghost-stoat!
It just goes to show, you never know what you will find next.
