It’s that time of the year again…

Tags

black-tailed godwit, Brancaster Staithe, Burnham, marsh harrier, nature, Oystercatcher, Photography

No, you’re not seeing things – this male Marsh Harrier, giving an impersonation of a ski jumper, is actually carrying some useful nesting material in his talons!

This was him taking off with his treasure – must be a big nest…

Those talons are not just useful for carrying prey it seems…

We are at Titchwell Marsh again today and had already walked the length of the reserve, feeling chilled in the easterly wind and pretty disappointed at not seeing the quantity of birds we saw on Tuesday. A last minute visit to the Fen Hide brought forth these photos taken by Peter of the Marsh Harrier but also of this Jay who turned up on the bird table.  Many bored ornithologists turned their giant lenses on him and the air was thick with clicking.

Just as we were about to leave, nine darling little ducklings raced across the water from the safety of the reeds. We couldn’t get all nine in a shot because there were some stragglers who shot across after the others had disappeared into the opposite reeds. These are the first offspring we have seen this year.

It being early afternoon, we decided to carry on along the coast road and just happened to stop at Brancaster Staithe – can’t think why. Oh yes, the cockle stall – this will be our last for this holiday as we are moving on tomorrow.

There’s a lot of activity, with three largish yachts waiting for the tide to come in before being floated off the quay.

Out on the mud an Oystercatcher and a Black-tailed Godwit were scouting around for tasty morsels.

Holes were being dug in the mud by humans too and wheels buried inside with a chain attached to provide a mooring.

We left one Staithe to drive to another one – Burnham Overy Staithe. The sun had come out again and the boats looked bright and breezy.

At nearby Burnham Overy Town this beautiful watermill is for sale for £2,250.00…

…and the church of St Margaret at Burnham Norton (there are many Burnhams in this part of North Norfolk) looks pretty behind the blossom…

…and inside the Mediaeval wineglass pulpit is magnificent.

We’re leaving Bramley House tomorrow to travel south to Suffolk for another couple of nights before we return home, so today’s were our last cockles until we return to this glorious part of East Anglia.  It has not disappointed.