North Norfolk

My previous post contains some of our Broadland photographs. This post has the area around the North Norfolk coast as its focus. It is always a joy and a thrill to see an Avocet, symbol (and success story) of the RSPB. We spent a fair amount of time at the wonderful Norfolk Wildlife Trust centre at Cley. Sadly we missed a book launch by Mark Cocker which had taken place there the day before our arrival. 

We love the reedy area around Arnold's Marsh: we have watched Bearded Tits and Reed Buntings here in the past.

I spent my teenage years in Norfolk, and this photo encapsulates those memories for me - long empty beaches of shingle, full of rugged beauty, perfect for wildlife but rather chilly!

The reedbed area on the landward side is equally compelling.

We paused for a while to watch this rather large Little Egret fishing.

Look at those feet...



There were various ducks on the saltmarsh, including this Shelduck.

The church below is in Brancaster and doubtless some of the masonry has been reworked from Brandodunum, the Saxon Shore fort built by the Romans.

We enjoyed watching the waders at Brancaster Staithe: the North Norfolk coast has so many hidden corners. 

Late afternoon: Brancaster Staithe

The photos below show Blakeney...

The sun came out after a dark cloud: I love the subtle saltmarsh colours. 

Another day began with quick visits to NT Blickling and Febrigg.

Part of the front of Felbrigg Hall

There were some very relaxed chickens in the walled garden at Felbrigg - and I loved their house!

The honey bees were certainly not in relaxed mode!

I love the hives, and what a beautiful flint wall behind. 

With blossom like this, I imagine the quality of the pollen must be superb! 

The photo below gives an impression of the vast beach at Holkham, a beach on the edge of The Wash, with sand, shells in profusion and estuarine mud.

You approach Holkham beach through a path between the pine trees. The hall and parkland estate, home of Thomas Coke of the Agrarian Revolution (as it was called in my school days), is just across the road.

I realise I have posted a rather random selection of photos. My next post will move inland again to the Yare valley (Mark Cocker's Crow Country), where I spent my teenage years - and where we spent a bit of time on this recent break.

Flowers, Insects and Fish at NT Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk

The weather was set fare on Saturday so we took a picnic lunch to NT Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk.

It was good to see more signs of spring, including this Arum Lily and...

...these lovely primroses.

There were a number of 7-spot Ladybirds, mainly on the dry leaves. I guess some may have been emerging from their over-wintering layers.



Some were scuttling about or resting in the sunshine.



We ate our sandwiches by this flint churchyard wall where I noticed a Red Underwing (Catocala nupta) in 2016. Sadly we failed to find any moths this time.



This was the view over the wall, of which more in a moment.

I always enjoy seeing the Oxburgh Hangings, stitched by Mary Queen of Scots and Bess of Hardwick, but on this occasion the spring weather kept us largely out of doors (though we did visit the tea room and secondhand bookshop).

I noticed this log-bench by the path in the woodland area, and thought what a brilliant bit of recycling. I could do with one of these benches in our own garden!

We could see these beehives in the area near the orchard. If you don't keep bees or have space for a hive, you might like these Green&Blue bee-bricks, which I read about on Instagram - or you might prefer to place an insect hotel in your home patch: my hotels have certainly been taken over by some grateful residents.

We heard a lot of munching in the stream and wondered if there could be a Water Vole. We stood and waited, but nothing actually appeared.

However, in another part of the stream, we noticed quite a few fish. I guess they are Sticklebacks, but my fish knowledge is negligible. I wondered if one was preparing to lay (or 'fan') some eggs. Unfortunately my camera failed to cope well with the underwater conditions...

The scene above brought back memories of the tiny BBC Springwatch hero from RSPB Minsmere, Spineless Si!

It is always a joy to find a Bee-fly. I must add this record to the recording list.



The 'summer house' by the stream, designed along the lines of an original that was used by Sir Henry Paston-Bedingfeld and his friends and relations, draws me every time.

On this occasion the summer house was empty so we were able to take up residence for a few minutes!

It was soon time to head to tea room for a slice of lemon and lime cake.

We decided to pay a quick visit to the church next door. There are extraordinary pink terracotta carvings in the chantry chapel.



You will note from the signs above and below that the village uses a different spelling from Oxburgh Hall.

village sign

Light was fading and it was time to head for home.

The Oxburgh Hall sundial