It is that time of year again. The birds have raised their
broods and many have already begun the long journey to find somewhere a little
warmer than the Norfolk Coast for a well-deserved winter rest. They will be
back next year, but now that they no longer need that extra protection, the rangers have begun work to wind up all those miles of twine and gather all
those fence posts to be tucked away until next spring. Good news for beach
goers who will have just a little more room for a sit down after that arduous
ridge walk!
With the fences down, there is a chance to get a closer look
at the Sea Pea, which is still in flower on the ridge. Sea Pea is low growing,
forming dense mats of green blue foliage The flowers are a varying shades of
purple, pink and blue and then come the bright green seed pods which hang like
umbrellas. This plant is nationally rare. It was planted on Blakeney
Point by the renowned Norfolk Naturalist Ted Ellis. Please tread carefully if you do stop to have a look, this plant is
fragile.
Above: Sea Pea flower; Below: Sea Pea seed pod
There have been a number of Arctic Skua sightings this week, with the winds whipping up the sea. You will see them flying fast and low over
the sea, hassling terns and gulls to drop their catch. A stocky, dark bird with long,
pointed wings bent back like an arrowhead in flight, skuas have a
characteristic “banking” flight, appearing to jerk left and right with rapid
twists and turns.
Arctic Skua (Tom Whiley)
We have heard a migrant Willow Warbler calling in the Plantation this week and were payed a
visit by a lovely Wren picking around in the brambles for insects as well as. Wheatear movements continue
to drop us the odd individual with those unmistakable flashes of bright white
rump and speedy, dipping flight over the marsh edges. Sightings of Hobby
hunting on the saltmarsh have been pretty good too, with the flash of their rust-red trousers as they swoop low overhead.
The sea-lavender is still looking incredible on
the marshes so if you’re thinking of paying us a visit, what better reason is
there than this…….?
Common Sea-lavender in bloom
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