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The Hide

I don't know if any readers have seen the wonderfully dark film The Hide, but those that have will understand when I say that something like that could feasibly occur at Breydon Water, such is the bleakness of the place (and the fact that I have been on a Stag in Great Yarmouth, and on a separate occasion been sworn at by pupils from one of the local schools at a rugby tournament. I was expecting my students to step in for me, they were perhaps a little scared). Anyway,  it is well worth a watch. Trailer here, time well spent and an amazing twist which the trailer in no way divulges:



Watch the film, go birding at Breydon, don't go to the dog track.

Debs and I left wader-less in the large, some stuff was distant but these seemed to be Curlew and Ringos. In contrast, such high counts at Titchwell of Knot (600) and Barwit (950) have certainly got me thinking about Wader migration.
Instead of a planned visit to Strumpshaw for the showy Crossbill flock, we diverted to Winterton Dunes where we enjoyed my third, and Debs' first, Woodchat Shrike.
Yes, that is a man hiding in the bush behind. He just couldn't get close enough!

Another wander round Thorpe Marshes yesterday evening (I must have narrowly missed you, James). A Garden Warbler have brief views, a Gropper was heard briefly and I watched a Barn Owl devour prey on a  post. Usual array of warblers breaking into song after the rain, lovely stuff.

Today I tended to my patch. 2 Bullfinch flew over calling near the start of the trail and nearby was the small female Sparrowhawk I had seen the other day. The usual Warblers were all present bar Garden. The lagoon was again lacking in inspiration, the Lapwing either hiding its chicks, or have they already been predated? 1 male Marsh Harrier again hunted the marsh, joined by a female Kestrel and a Barn Owl food carrying. These Barn Owls must be knackered at the moment, it seems non-stop for them.
The breezy conditions meant Butterflies were again in hiding, a Holly Blue all I managed. I did photograph a couple of Moths though. I can see this again becoming a Bug Blog now the Summer (?) is evidently with us.
                                                                        Snout
                                                     No, not a Moth...some sort of Chafer?
                                                                      Silver Y

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