Hatfield Forest in the warm sunshine!

The sun was glorious as I arrived at Hatfield Forest.  Many children about..... so after a bacon buttie I headed off around the lake.

Two Great Crested Grebes were swimming but no sign of a nest.  A common Tern was fishing.

A family of four young Greylags swan close by...

As I walked around the lake a Green Woodpecker posed after, I think, digging in the mud

and high up in the distance, a Chiff Chaff sang.

Not much else about and it was a shortish visit... but really lovely to feel warm in the sun.

Hot and sunny in Norfolk

Set off at crack of dawn with Pete and Trev.  Plan A - stop at Walkers cafe for brekkie on the way to Morston (for something fishy for lunch) to walk to Blakeney

Walkers still hadn't opened by 07.15 so we gave up waiting and headed off.  Pete had the brilliant idea to go the Deepdale Cafe for a full English.. however, this wasn't opening till about 1/2 after we arrived... By now we were all starving so we headed off to Titchwell. .... the cafe there wasn't opening till 9.30 so we headed off for the beach.

Down near the beach, this Meadow Pipit posed for a bit with a mouthful of food before flying off - the nest must have been reasonably near by.

A Reed Bunting sang.

There were a pair of nesting Avocets with 4 eggs - the tide was in and the water level was quite high.  Do reckon much to the chances of a preserved nest if the water levels rise much more!

A red damselfly - first one I've seen this year

A little tern (lifer for me) - record shot only but good to get one!

Loads of Gotwits and the two very 'blurry' gulls at the forefront are Little Gulls!!

Having finally stopped for brekkie and a look around the shop (where one of our party replaced a pair of binoculars - and it wasn't me!! :D  ) a Robin popped along to say farewell as we left to go onto Morston.

From there onto Morston Quay where we had Crab Sandwiches before setting off walking westwards along the coast path.... the east path is closed for sometime for 'essential works'... It's a more interesting walk eastwards towards Blakeney - Blakeney being a good point to stop before returning.

Seen along our walk

This flutter was so well camouflaged I was surprised Pete spotted it.  It never opened its wings - no idea what it is - but if anyone can ID it, I would be grateful.

And we left then, to go onto Sheringham Gardens.  WE had a piece of cake and a drink before heading off into the gardens - masses of people around .

The colour of the azaleas and rhododendrons was wonderful.

The lads!!

And this time, a Chaffinch sang to us as we headed back to the car park and off on the journey home.

A great day with fabulous weather and thanks Pete and Trev for a good time.

The sun was shining on the Forest...and at Rye Meads!

Not many times I can say this, but the A27/M23/M25 were splendid today.... I've never seen such little traffic - actually pleasant driving!!

And it was a corker of a day - really warm, sunny and the sky bedecked with blue!

Got to the Forest - little about in the way of birds, but I've reason to think one pair of G.C. Grebes just MIGHT be staring a family again :D

 
Having a chuckle with a few of his mates

One of the new National Trust signs that are say you CAN, rather than please DO NOT !!

And a trip over to Rye Meads

A Pochard having a wing stretch...

and a female having a bath!

The Kingfisher was bringing food to the nest... rumour has it the chicks should be fledging soon.  He's already been seen (from the internal camera) cleaning out a new nest for the next brood

A sleeping Pochard

 Saw only 1 common Tern - who was chasing of black-headed gulls!

A cormorant arrived - much to the annoyance of the black-headed gulls.

 and a rather battered Peacock flutterby!