Today I just had a short walk at the pools west of Wells, but managed to see just over 30 bird species in about 45 minutes. Nothing new for the year but some great views of soaring marsh harriers, a lovely grey heron, and plenty of lapwings, redshanks and avocets. At this time of year …
I was conducting a concert in Ely Cathedral today but did manage to have a couple of hours at Wicken Fen between rehearsal and concert. This is a lovely reserve near Ely and warblers were in full song today: I saw sedge warbler, willow warbler, blackcap (males with their smart black caps and a female …
Perhaps the most interesting bird encounter today was when I was helping Brenda with some cleaning at our static caravan – I noticed a magpie fly down just outside, perhaps to pick up a scrap of something. It was immediately followed by a jay trying to snatch whatever it had picked up. They then continued …
We both continue to be in a bit of a busy period compared – certainly for me though perhaps not for Brenda! – with earlier in the year, but today we did manage an hour or so at Lady Anne’s Drive where we headed west through the pines, briefly visited the hide that overlooks the …
Brenda writes: “Today I was mostly working. I started the day at Burnham Sutton and in the churchyard there was a clump of buttercups – so it was time to bite the bullet and work out which one as they’re really not easy! Having consulted both field guides and another book which has photographs my …
On my way to another rehearsal with Ely Sinfonia I once again visited Lakenheath Fen today. I remember a wonderful evening at this reserve about ten years or more ago, when the soundscape of bird song was absolutely incredible. Today saw the reserve building toward that – I think in a couple more weeks there …
Brenda writes: “Today I was mostly around home doing chores and paperwork and then in the evening I had a meeting at the church in Wells. As I headed off I was delighted to record my first hawthorn flowers in our own hedge. We’re now in a period where there is an overlap as the …
I had a busy day rehearsing Ely Sinfonia for their upcoming concert next weekend, but I remembered that I had taken a short video yesterday whilst at West Runton, of a cocoon of caterpillars which – pending confirmation by James – I’m assuming are small eggar, something we talked about in an earlier blog (https://con-brio.com/cocooned/). …
Today I decided to go over to Kelling Heath again to try to see a Dartford warbler, but having consulted the Rare Bird Alert app I saw that a very rare Isabelline wheatear had been sighted in West Runton (another of the rarities from southern Europe that have been appearing in the UK this spring). …
Today saw the start of what I think might be a really interesting and rewarding wildlife relationship: A friend who I met through conducting Norfolk Symphony Orchestra, having discovered my interest in wildlife, asked me if I would be prepared to do some surveying on her farm. She’s very keen on regenerative farming and building …
