The following entries are extracted from my personal NATURAL HISTORY DIARY which I manintained on a daily basis during our stay in Norfolk.I hope that you will find these entries of interest and perhaps prompt you to visit this outstanding of English counties yourself.
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MAY 2002 in NORFOLK
18 May (Saturday):
Away from home at 5 o'clock, making good progress along the A27 to Lewes, then north along the A26, to join the A22. At Junction 6 we joined the M25. Grey skies, but dry - that was the main thing! The M25 was quite busy, but we were soon through the toll booths and Dartford Tunnel. Straight on, then, leaving the M25 along the M11. Just south of Cambridge we stopped at a Little Chef for a break and a meal. Quite where we were I had no real idea, but the receipt for our food said 'Fourwentways, Cambs.' Some of these modern roads are quite featureless.
On along the A11, diverting at Brandon to visit Wheeting Heath, well-known for its small population of STONE-CURLEWS. We were in luck. From one of the two hides, we were able to 'scope two Stone-curlews which showed themselves well for us, albeit it at a distance. They appeared to be displaying to each other. We heard no calls, unfortunately. WOODLARKS were singing and we saw two. Two MISTLE THRUSHES were noted, and lots of GOLDFINCHES and GREENFINCHES. It was cold and grey, so there was little else to see - no butterflies, for instance.
Back on the A11, we headed north, turning left on to the road to Wells-next-the-Sea. As we had time in hand, we drove along a country road towards Great Walsingham where we stopped for half an hour, pulling off on to a sloping track next to a very dense hedgerow. One of the first birds we heard was a TURTLE DOVE. A couple of BLACKCAPS were in full flow and there were GOLDFINCHES around. CHAFFINCHES were singing and lots of BLACKBIRDS were carrying food. A HOLLY BLUE was flying amongst the vegetation.
And so onward to Wells where we parked next to a pub by the name of The Ark 
Royal and then located our cottage which was no more than 100 yards away. Unloading took time, but we were soon installed. Quite a nice cottage, but in a fairly noisy position. From some of the windows we had direct views on to the Quay and the salt-flats and harbour beyond. The garage which came with the cottage was a blessing!
The weather was quite sunny by this time, so we had a long walk out along the estuary to the life-boat station and back. In so doing we had a number of LITTLE TERNS and a few COMMON TERNS, both of which were fishing on the rising tide. Three TURNSTONES in breeding dress were along the tide-line, and there were several pairs of noisy OYSTERCATCHERS. LINNETS were quite numerous. Out at the life-boat station there was an amazing cock CHAFFINCH which was using a call which I had never heard back at home!
Our journey to Wells today added up to 238 miles in total. The side trips to Wheeting Heath and Great Walsingham amounted to probably 20 miles in all.
Rang our son in the evening, using our mobile from the top-most room of the cottage. With the window open, we just about managed a good signal!
19 May (Sunday):
A grey morning, but no wind. First thing, had up to a dozen STARLINGS in the front garden. Waste sacks had been put out before our arrival and must have contained some discarded food. The Starlings surely knew about this as they pecked their way through the plastic bags and had a good time sorting out a number of bits and pieces. With them came numerous HOUSE SPARROWS. Indeed, both species were amazingly common, especially the SPARROWS which knew all about soliciting food from our windows where they must have been fed before. Anyway, we had more SPARROWS in the first five minutes than we might see at home in a month!
After breakfast, I had a wander along the quayside, eastwards, as far as where the boat sheds and such finally give way to rough ground and a sea-wall, along the top of which runs the path to Stiffquay. Quite a number of LITTLE TERNS were fishing up and down the channel, also COMMON TERNS. Back at the cottage, I collected a few things and then we had a general wander around the village, familiarising ourselves with the lay-out, the nearest shops etc. In doing so, we found John and Barbara's place. They were away, we knew, so we merely peeped at their front garden, before heading back towards the cottage.
Our first excursion took us westwards along the coast, stopping to look at the church at 
Burnham Deepdale where I took some nice pictures, both inside and out. The sun was shining nicely. The church here has a round tower, a feature of several other churches nearby. A large party of domesticated ducks were paddling and playing around in a shallow pool on the other side of the road. The scene was a reminder of days in Neusiedl village, many years ago when I used to take groups to eastern Austria.
And so to Titchwell RSPB Reserve. Walking from the car-park towards the Visitor Centre, we were accompanied by a superb male ORANGE-TIP which flew along beside us. For lunch we had Cornish pasties - excellent fare! We sat outside at one of the tables, enjoying the blue skies and hot sunshine. It was very busy, but most folk headed immediately down the main path, aiming for the pools and the shore. We, on the other hand, had a detailed look at the natural history along by the board-walk. A CHIFFCHAFF was singing in the woodlands, also a BLACKCAP. ORANGE-TIPS were flying and there were quite a few DAMSELFLIES, among them AZURES. LARGE REDS were also frequent.
An attractive fen area produced more male ORANGE-TIPS (at least four), some going on 
to CUCKOO-FLOWER and RAGGED ROBIN, and singing SEDGE WARBLERS. A male HOLLY BLUE was noted and a RED ADMIRAL zipped by. The hide which overlooks this lovely area provided us with sightings of two MARSH HARRIERS (we saw the food pass between a pair) and a couple of BEARDED TITS which dashed across in front of us. We sat for some time just gazing at the view and absorbing the atmosphere. As we left the hide, BEARDED TITS were calling somewhere not too far away. A good many SWIFTS were wheeling overhead.
Heading out towards the wall which leads direct to the sea, we heard a STOCK DOVE 
singing and noted a KESTREL. SEDGE WARBLERS were rattling in the bushes, and REED WARBLERS were in full flow. Some RAGGED ROBIN was well-tenanted by GREEN-VEINED, SMALL and LARGE WHITES. Our seventh ORANGE-TIP of the afternoon flew by. Other butterflies were a PEACOCK and two WALL BROWNS. BEARDED TITS were calling and we found a pair of paired LARGE RED DAMSELFLIES.
The open pools were full of birds. AVOCETS were numerous and noisy, and we listed SHOVELERS, GADWALL, POCHARD and MALLARD. Two TURNSTONES were on a small island of mud and a couple of PIED WAGTAILS were obviously feeding young somewhere. The farthest pool, closest to the sea and therefore with the most salinity, had GREY PLOVERS in breeding dress and SANDWICH TERNS flying over. To our left, a familiar shape revealed itself as a LITTLE EGRET.
Out on the shore we spent a little time just appreciating the empty open beach and then 
pursuing an interesting TIGER BEETLE (Cicindrella hybrida) which I managed to photograph eventually. It was not easy! It hunted just like a Green Tiger Beetle, but the elytra were brown and had cream spots and bars. There were a number of them, but they were very flighty and it took me ages to get a decent image. The environment was of sand, with MARRAM GRASS. As we were looking for the beetles, two WHIMBRELS passed right overhead. They were calling beautifully.
And so back eastwards along the coast road, enjoying every yard of it. The roads were so quiet!
20 May (Monday):
Coming into the kitchen to make the early-morning tea, I found a SILVERFISH in the sink. Using a piece of newspaper, I rescued it and put it into one of the cupboards.
A nice sunny morning and quite warm. A southerly wind, Force 1 and 2, freshening to Force 
3 later. To Cley this morning, parking below the Visitor Centre which we visited for a short while, before making our way out on to the marshes. A WALL BROWN was noted, and we heard a COMMON WHITETHROAT singing. The first of the three hides gave us excellent views of breeding AVOCETS with youngsters, several GADWALL, pairs of SHELDUCK, two pairs of TUFTED DUCKS, two pairs of TEAL, and a pair of MARSH HARRIERS - we saw the food pass. COMMON TERNS were frequent. REED and SEDGE WARBLERS were singing.
The second hide of the three gave us a view on to a different pool. Some 40 BLACK-TAILED GODWITS dropped in, followed by a dozen more. Many were in breeding 
dress. Right across the front of the hide, swimming close together came two handsome drake RUDDY DUCKS. Fortunately, I had the camera ready and was able to take a couple of quick shots, one of which seems to be satisfactory.
Walking back through the PHRAGMITES, we saw a few butterflies - CABBAGE WHITE, WALL BROWN and PEACOCK. A pair of GREYLAGS came over at an impressively low height.
And so along to the East Bank, after an absence of some 50 years! On our right, many pairs of GREYLAGS were noted, some with youngsters. EGYPTIAN GEESE were listed, too. Yet more AVOCETS were seen, GADWALL, GREYLAGS, SANDWICH TERNS, CANADA GEESE, three summer-plumaged DUNLIN and three RUFFS. They gave us good views through the 'scope.
Back to the road and a visit to the Walsey Hills. The pool close at hand had LITTLE 
GREBE, COOT and singing BLACKCAPS. A climb up to the Observatory produced a very nice geometer moth which tuned out to be a CLOUDED SILVER. I got some pictures before we reached the observatory and chatted to a warden who was on duty. He was quite a character! He showed us an ADDER which was lying out under the bushes, only a few yards away. A WILLOW WARBLER was singing close by.
As we came down to the road, a KESTREL was circling over the East Bank. Picking up the car, we drove into Cley where we had lunch at The George. It had been 50 years since I was last there, with Treherne.
Afterwards, up to Salthouse Heath where we heard singing YELLOWHAMMERS and WILLOW WARBLERS, also COMMON WHITETHROAT. We were both fairly tired, so did not undertake any exploration. It looked very interesting and I could imagine Nightjars here and perhaps Nightingales.
On the way home, we had a pleasant walk along a raised dyke, looking across to the Cley Windmill. Took lots of pictures! It was the classic view.
21 May (Tuesday):
Awoke to rain, quite heavy at times, but come 8 o'clock it was already moving away. Into the lanes of the village to find a paper shop (which I did) then back to the cottage. Away to 
Walsingham, where we parked in an empty car-park and began our exploration of the village. It was quite warm and sunny. During the course of our exploration, we came across the Russian Orthodox Church (St Seraphim's) which we looked at and photographed. It is a small building, but very nice, with a typical onion-shaped dome. At least four pairs of HOUSE MARTINS were nest-building and one pair had well-grown youngsters. I took some photographs, using my lens extension.
Then into the Shire Hall and Museum. In the former, trials used to take place. My pictures should turn out quite well since there was plenty of light coming through the windows. And so into the gardens of the Abbey. A STOCK DOVE was singing, also a SONG THRUSH, a WREN and a CHAFFINCH. A GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER was calling. The path crossed a low bridge over the river and then headed along the side of the water where we had outstanding views of a TREECREEPER. And so back towards the entrance. On the way, we had a look at the Crypt.
A visit to Weybourne and a walk along the cliffs towards Sheringham produced lots of singing SKYLARKS, at least three CORN BUNTINGS, and many SAND MARTINS which appeared to be nesting in the cliffs. Some were carrying nesting material. To look at them properly, it would have been necessary to drop down on to the beach and walk along below. Unfortunately, we did not have the time (and energy!) for that. There were lots of CABBAGE WHITES to be seen, including large LARGE WHITES, almost all of them heavily-marked females. Two WHIMBRELS came by, calling and travelling west, before climbing higher and heading out over the farmland.
Coming back, we stopped near Cley for ice cream. While waiting our turn, we noted a 
GREYLAG GOOSE with ducklings in tow! Quite how this arrangement had come about, one could only guess, but the goose was clearly looking after the ducklings as though they were her own goslings. The species of duckling I was unsure about, but I'm almost sure that they were Gadwalls.
Evening visit to see some friends, just for a drink and a chat. We had a look at their garden which is very much our kind of plot! While looking around, I noticed some lilies and out of interest mentioned our beetle problem at home. A casual look produced a pair of LILY BEETLES, pairing!
As we left, it had begun to rain and came down in torrents.
Thinking about today's activities, I remembered to make a note about a very large ACCIPITER which we saw briefly as we were walking to the car, on our way to see John and Barbara. It was a very large accipiter, with deep wing breadth. A GOSHAWK? Possibly.
22 May (Wednesday):
Last night's rain moved away during the night. Awoke to dry conditions and indeed even some blue sky. The promise of another reasonable day.
Holkham Gap this morning, arriving just after 9 o'clock. We parked at the far end of Lady 
Ann's Drive and then walked through the pine-clad dunes to a look-out where we found HOUND'S TONGUE (Cynoglossum officinale) in flower. I took some pictures which I am hoping will be satisfactory. On the way, we had heard CHAFFINCH, WILLOW WARBLER, BLACKCAP and SEDGE WARBLER singing, also a TREECREEPER. A flock of some 15 GOLDFINCHES was noted. As we stood on the look-out, two AVOCETS went over. SWIFTS were numerous.
Unfortunately, it was quite windy. Our walk took us to the left, westwards, along the edge of 
the dunes and woodlands, as far as where the dunes bend to the left. At that point, it seemed sensible to return, not along the shore, however, but through the dunes themselves. Birds were scarce, but we found some interesting plants - a species of FERN, lots of YELLOW RATTLE, SEA HOLLY (not in bloom), a tiny STORKS-BILL (Erodium cicutarium - sub-sp dunense), HEATH DOG VIOLET (Viola canina) and COMMON SCURVY-GRASS. There were a few butterflies - several COMMON BLUES, four SMALL COPPERS, eight WALL BROWNS and a few CABBAGE WHITES. Several SILVER-Y MOTHS were noted, also a few CINNABARS. Despite the wind, it was very warm in the dunes.
DEER' trails were seen, and we found one, not quite fully-coloured, AZURE 
DAMSELFLY. Two beautiful BANDED SNAILS were photographed. COAL TITS and JAYS were calling among the CORSICAN PINES. Numerous MEADOW PIPITS were song-flighting.
Making our way back along a board-walk through the pines, we came to a hide (the Washington Hide) where a pair of MARSH HARRIERS were cavorting over the reeds. Unfortunately, we were fairly tired and still had a fair way to go back to the car so we did not tarry. Perhaps next time! Along the track we had a RED ADMIRAL, and had a brief look at Salts Hole which still has marine life, it seems, even though it has been cut off from the sea for many years. A CUCKOO was calling and we saw another RED ADMIRAL.
We had lunch at the Holkham Tea Rooms. Afterwards, we drove through the Park, passing the House on our left, before reaching the Nursery. We enjoyed the lay-out and atmosphere of the Nursery very much. The sun was shining and it was really hot, probably in the low 70s. A pair of PIED WAGTAILS had young out of the nest. Three plants attracted us - Salvia interrupta, Verbascum Cotswold Cream and Aquilegia Mrs Scott Elliott. The prices were so low! £4.60 for the first, and £2.60 each for the last. Quite amazing. We saw several RED ADMIRALS.
On to Titchwell for a cup of tea. We found GREEN-VEINED WHITE flying, and a CHIFFCHAFF singing. We did not do any of the walks, but returned home in a leisurely fashion.
23 May (Thursday):
A sunny morning. Up at 5.30! To Holme today, to have a look at that area. We arrived at 10 
o'clock and although it was quite windy we had a wonderful time. Birds singing included BLACKCAP, WREN, SEDGE WARBLER, REED WARBLER, COMMON WHITETHROAT, WILLOW WARBLER, TURTLE DOVE. Both MISTLE THRUSH and SONG THRUSH were listed. Quite a few LINNETS were seen and heard.
In a dune area, complete with damp spots, butterflies were a revelation. We had a number 
of GREEN-VEINED and SMALL WHITES, LARGE WHITES and a few WALL BROWNS. The most impressive were numbers of mainly male COMMON BLUES and many BROWN ARGUSES. In addition, we had GREEN HAIRSTREAKS, three of them. After much effort, I managed to get some pictures of all of these! The wind made things difficult. A couple of SMALL COPPERS were noted, too, also several SMALL HEATHS. A PEACOCK butterfly was recorded as we were talking briefly to another birdwatcher who came along.
Other insects included two RED AND BLACK FROGHOPPERS, several CINNABAR MOTHS, a SILVER-Y, a LARGE RED DAMSELFLY, AZURE DAMSELFLY and BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLY.
Plants included flowering HOUNDS TONGUE (much liked by butterflies), also the tiny ERODIUM which we had seen at Holkham, GERMANDER SPEEDWELL, and an ORCHID species which we were not sure about.
Afterwards, we had a look at the beach which was clear of people, as far as the eye could see. Some of the beach here comprises relics of woodland which once grew here.
A brief visit to the Visitor Centre to say good-bye to the warden, before having a look along the coast to Hunstanton which failed to impress, I'm afraid!
A call at Titchwell for lunch produced plenty of song - BLACKCAP, BLACKBIRD, 
CHAFFINCH and CHIFFCHAFF. We had a walk along the board-walk, through the fen and then along the wall. It looked quite stormy, but all the storms moved by without troubling us. The Fenland Walk and the Meadow Trail were, as before, more than satisfying. Two BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLIES were seen. From the Fen Hide we had two superb male MARSH HARRIERS. Coming along through the wetland area, heading for the wall, a male ORANGE-TIP flew by, followed by a second. AZURE and BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLIES were seen. I photographed RAGGED ROBIN in detail: the display was amazing. Quite a few WHITES were nectaring at the blooms. I photographed, too, a very impressive orchid, a SOUTHERN MARSH ORCHID, I think.
Along the wall, we stopped to investigate a knot of people, or rather what they were looking at. The object of their interest was none other than a NIGHT HERON! It was within a few yards of the path and although fairly well obscured by vegetation was well-seen just the same.
Our bird list grew as we made our way towards the sea: LITTLE GREBE, POCHARD, GADWALL, AVOCET, TUFTED DUCKS, REED BUNTINGS. Two drake SHOVELERS flew over, pursuing a female, in the manner of Mallards. Leaving Ann sitting on a seat, I continued onwards. A LITTLE TERN flew right over my head, some ten feet above me.
Coming back, Ann spotted a large dragonfly which was flying to and fro along the edge of a reed-bound pool. It was a male HAIRY DRAGONFLY, our first for the year.
Then home in beautiful sunshine. Indeed, it was a beautiful evening: all the showers had disappeared out over the sea.
A very pleasant evening at our friends' place, eating and chatting, but not necessarily in that order! Much of the conversation revolved around my work' years, of course, and their participation in various groups. Home under a starlit sky with a lovely moon.
24 May (Friday):
Raining this morning, but we did not really care! We had had such a wonderful week so far and if we were to have a rainy day, well it would not really matter. As luck would have it, however, by the time we had got under way, en route to Pensthorpe, the sky was already brightening. It was still raining when we arrived at Pensthorpe, but stopped shortly and the clouds moved away to reveal lovely sunshine. As we sat in the car, waiting for the place to open, we were amazed to see a pair of GREY CRANES which were dancing and displaying in an enclosure on the other side of a field.
After a look around the Gallery (splendid paintings), then at various things in the Gift Shop, 
we ventured outside into an enclosed aviary where we found AVOCETS with young, several RUFFS, a juvenile RINGED PLOVER and at least two BEARDED TITS. It was all quite remarkable. Another aviary had SCARLET IBISES and a pair of SPOONBILLS.
A walk through the grounds, past lakes and along by the River Wensum, produced AZURE DAMSELFLIES (four together in one place) and LARGE RED DAMSELFLIES. A CUCKOO was calling and a SEDGE WARBLER singing.
The Hide looking out over the wader scrape produced AVOCETS with young, a female TUFTED DUCK with young, GREAST CRESTED GREBES displaying, and two drake RUDDY DUCKS. SHOVELERS were noted, also a pair of SHELDUCKS with 10 youngsters. Not far from the scrape we noted a colony of SAND MARTINS which were very active indeed. We could not approach the colony, but I reckoned that at least 100 pairs were involved. As we walked back, a REED BUNTING was singing, also a couple of WILLOW WARBLERS. We spent some time on a narrow bridge over the Wensum.
Coming back along the path, I saw a BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLY with violet stripes on the thorax. I took some pictures. We saw RED AND BLACK FROGHOPPERS, too.
Half way back I happened to have one of my severe indigestion attacks. It was so bad that despite a couple of indigestion pills I just had to stop and rest. We sat on a seat, overlooking one of the lakes. As luck would have it, we had hardly sat down when a WATER VOLE appeared, within a few feet of us. It scampered around our feet and finally dived into cover by the side of the lake. It's an ill wind, as they say!
Lunch at the restaurant was a pleasant affair. Afterwards we had a further look around the 
grounds, looking at the Millennium Garden and then at a couple of enclosed aviaries one of which had something which I had never expected to see in the UK - a group of HARLEQUIN DUCKS. There were several drakes and a duck. Luckily, they were beautifully posed and I was able to take some pictures.
A very satisfactory day. As we were leaving, a chap whom we had seen earlier mowing grass came along and spoke to us. I felt that I knew him and then realised that I had seen his picture in one of the publicity leaflets. It was the owner. Afterwards, one of the estate workers came and spoke to us, too. He was intrigued and impressed that we had stayed all day! Apparently the place is on the market.
25 May (Saturday):
On a bright and sunny morning, we left Wells-next-the-Sea just after 7 a.m. We made good progress down through Norfolk, not stopping until we made a halt for breakfast at a Little Chef, somewhere south of Cambridge. We had a little cloud from time to time, but generally it remained sunny and was good driving weather. Speeding down the A11, we soon joined the M11 and then the M25 which was very busy indeed. The bridge over the Thames soon came into sight however and we were quickly through the toll booths. Here, I made a mistake, keeping to the left and thus leaving the Motorway. Luckily, just round the corner, there was a roundabout which I negotiated and returned along the opposite carriageway, soon to join the M25 again. It was a close call!
Leaving the M25, we headed south again, coming across Ashdown Forest and so to Lewes where we joined the A27. After that, it was just a question of plodding on, arriving home at 1 o'clock. It had been a journey of five hours, plus an hour for breakfast.
After a quick lunch, we unpacked and put our things away. It seemed to take for ever, so, despite wishful thinking, I never got near to starting the job of mowing the lawn which had grown so much during our absence. We had a quick look around the garden and was amazed as to how much everything seemed to have grown in so few days! There would be quite a lot of work to do!
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