Norfolk here I come

I'd arranged to spend Saturday in Norfolk with Pete so rather than have to get up at some ridiculously hour on Saturday, I went up the previous day. I'd decided to add about 15 minutes to my journey time and duly set off in sunshine and showers. Pete had reminded me that the rush hour traffic on the M25 on a Friday was bad but, I thought, being the school hols and wouldn't be as bad as usual. WRONG!! 1.5 hours later I'd travelled 16 miles!! The M25 was at a standstill. I'd kept Pete advised of my whereabouts (he'd volunteered to cook the meal) and was greeted by mutterings of "I told you so"!!!

Well I finally arrived, the journey having taken 3 3/4 hours - it normally takes 1 1/4 hours!! I was soooo glad to get out of the car and the glass of wine presented to me as I walked in the door was more than welcome :D

Norfolk generally was very very quiet in terms of birds. Titchwell was extremely quiet but that could be due, in part, to the building of the new sea defence wall.

We saw more flutters and dragons than birds but nonetheless the sky was blue, the sun was shining gloriously, the air was fresh - it was a stunning day!

From Titchwell we went to Hunstanton as I'd been promised Fulmars - and Fulmars we saw. I didn't manage any pictures (that would stand up to blogging) but it was wonderful to see them soaring up above the cliff top and, from further along, flying up onto the ledges. Londg tailed Tits entertain deep within the bushes, but the one I managed to get a picture of - turned its back on me!

From Hunstanton to Briarfields at Titchwell for lunch - poached Trout and vegetables for me, Scampi and chips for Pete - a really good meal and definitely upto Briarfield's normal standard.

From there to Sculthorpe Moor Reserve. Again it was very quiet in terms of birds but flutters and dragons were about.

A great day; thanks Pete

Feeling somewhat red faced.....

I'd been out to the shops and returned to notice increased bird activity in the garden. I think (with the rain we've had today) the birds must have been finding plenty of food in all the garden shrubs.

I was gazing out at the birds when this Blue Tit flew onto the gas boiler's external vent! I don't know what it found there but something held its interest.!



Well I seem to have solved my computer problem today. Woo hoo. I was going to ring an IT guru friend of mine next week to pick his brains and throw myself on his mercy but, I'm delighted to say, that's now not necessary.

My problem was that when "clicking" on any item whether on the net or the PC, I had to click several times before there was any reaction. The keyboard shortcuts were working fine so it wasn't anything to do with the "area" I'd chosen! All this happened immediately after Virginmedia had installed broadband etc. last week, so, I was attributing the problem to something connected with that. I was then talking to a friend on the phone who asked if it could be something wrong with the mouse

Now this got me thinking. I hate wires and cables and therefore I have a cableless mouse. The mouse talks to a "pod" which, in turn, in connected to the PC. What I hadn't realised was that the "pod" (during all the cable removing and attaching for the Broadband isntallation) had slipped down and was partially trapped behind desk.

So...... (I'm sure you've all worked it out already!) when I returned said "pod" to the correct position, Little Mouse having given a great whoop of joy on bening reunited with its pod, immediately sprang into action and enjoyed clicking responsively around the screen at a fair old lick almost, I may add, clapping it's tiny paws with glee. Thanks to this I'm now able to enjoy the vastly increased speed provided by cable broadband! SORTED!! (One day I will live this down!)

Staying local

I nipped down to a local Vineyard earlier this week. I'd intended going to Denbies Hillside for flutters but the weather wasn't that brilliant so opted for the vineyard instead. Had a wander around to the Garden Centre and on the way was distracted by the huge number of House Martins on the very high roof of the building. There must have been at least 70 (at a very rough count). The roof was too high for any good shots but here's just a couple. There were a few Swallows mixed in amongst them but in very small numbers.


I then wandered through the vines themselves and game across a family of Goldfinches. Talking to one of the staff (who's a keen birder - great!) the Goldfinches have been nesting amongst the vines. Where the supporting wires join the wooden posts the nests have been tuck down there. At least four have been found near to the buildings. Skylarks are a common feature in the spring as are Linnets. Right at the top of the hill, I'm advised there is a colony of Green Woodpeckers - all in hiding today nonetheless!



After a walk around the vines, I went back to catch the House Martins - they all flew up together - wonderful sight and then flew off. I understand they've been there for about a month and the view was they were ready to leave. ~When I returned to that spot later - about 5 remained!!


I then paid my money and boarded the 4x4 pulled wagons for the Vineyard tour. We climbed higher and higher and looked across at Box Hill - eventually we were higher than that!

Looking at the centre of this picture is the Vineyard buildings - almost lost amongst the trees.





It was a great visit and I intend to go back earlier in the day and hopefully see the Goldfinches coming down to one of the puddles to drink. The staff outside were so friendly and keen to pass on their birding experiences of the vineyard. Thanks guys!

Today I went with a friend to Clandon Park - a house and small gardens not far from me.
The house isn't the most glamorous, but is beautifully proportioned.

Out in the grounds, is a Maori house undergoing some renovation. There is an agreement with a local Maori group that the building is to be renovated and then the Maori's will use the building for some of their ceremonies. It's the only Maori meeting house in the United Kingdom.

Hinemihi o te Ao Tawhito (Hinemihi of the Old World) is the Maori name for this meeting house. The Maori people believe it has living qualities based on their ancestral origin and so the meeting house will be referred to as a person.

This carving is around the front door.


and the carving above it.


Outside the meeting house are some Tree ferns that, sadly, seem to have died. However, they have now been "carved" which is rather a good way to decorate an otherwise defunct plant!

At the rear of Clandon House is the formal parterre garden.


And in the grounds, but accessible from the road, is the local church of St. Peter and St. Paul

We then walked through to the Dutch Garden which is based on the Privy Garden at Hampton Court Place. I can't really see the similarity but it does look similar to one of the other smaller gardens at the Palace. This is just my opinion of course.





And the only bird seen today, was this featherless Peacock. The only bird heard? A Nuthatch - a strangly quiet day for birds - but the weather was not pleasant and we had to wait for a heavy rain shower to stop before escaping from the car.


And so home again avoiding the rush hour traffic.

Here and then - an eventful week

Well - what a week. On Monday, Virgin Media arrived to install Broadband, phone and TV. TV seems to be OK although Virgin have had a fault, but it was general and not "me" specific. Phone is working OK BUT.... I was advised that yes, I could have caller display..but when ringing to activate this, I was advised that it is not yet available in my area!!!! Ring back in 2 months in case anything's changed!!

Broadband... Installed OK and wireless connection is working. The router is not as good as the one I had (Belkin) in that I'm experiencing more "drop outs" than before; a remedy needs further investigation.

BUT the very enthusiastic installation technician suggested (from something I said about IE always crashing) and then downloaded some Adware detection software and ran this. I should have said "NO". Since then I've had a PC problem in that when I "click" to select and item (whether on the PC or the web) it takes forever to activate!!! If I use a keyboard shortcut there isn't a problem. The software found Adware in some files and quarantined them. They are registry files. I'm slowly losing the will to live but hope an IT friend of mine can advise me tomorrow!

That aside, the week has been a goodie with a very good friend staying for the week. This visit ended this weekend (which we spent down in Sussex with my Mum) and I got back home later this afternoon. I'm now catching up.

We did visit RHS Wisley where the bees and insects were visiting too.

This youngster I found in my garden; it looks as though it's been attacked by something - sadly.

Warty Frog or Toad?

Walking in Bushy Park, this Common Darter posed for us.

Then a visit to Wisley produced, a "woven" sculpture of an Oak tree emerging from an acorn.

Sadly a rather tatty Red Admiral

and a Meadow Brown on Buddleia Bicolour. Wisley were trialling buddleias and I rather liked the soft colours of this one.


Down along the River Wey the sun reflecting on the water, gave this lovely view.

In the glasshouse, the water lilies were blooming




and back outside the bees were enjoying the flowers

and the hover flies kept them company..



Up on Battlestone Hill the feeder's area was well attended...
by a Great Tit

and a Blue Tit

A flutter was enjoying the Verbana (a green-veined white????)



A good week with my friend - thank you K :)