Cley Marsh

With strong winds and then rain in the afternoon forecast we decided to go to Cley as it meant we could go round the reserve and walk on the beach, while knowing we could beat a hasty retreat to the car reasonably easily. The sound of the waving reeds was great and the rain didn't arrive until nearly 3 O' Clock and there wasn't much of it which was great. 

We've seen Marsh Harriers every day but never got one quite in shot...

Grey Plover.

Onto the beach...

Little Egret - and below. 

I tried taking photographs of the reeds to convey a sense of movement and decided that a video was the best option! 

More spectcular colours! 

A colour scheme for a weaving perhaps...

Titchwell RSPB

A very enjoyable walk around the reserve ...highlights were (bearing in mind we live up north and don't get down south much) the Avocets, Ruff and a new one for us the Great White Egret. 

Golden Plover.

Wigeon.

First view of Avocets.

..and closer...

Teal 

Plenty of Greylags.

Gadwall.

A very different strandline from yesterday...

Little Egret.

Ruff.

Black-tailed Godwits.

Dark skies and dramatic light.

Blakeney Point paint and rust

I can never resist photgrpahing paint and rust - be it on the vehicles that pull the boats to the top of the shingle spit or on an abandoned rusty boat carcass.

Blakeney Point

A good, hard walk out along this shingle spit....warm and sunny and a long way! 

Fishing paraphernalia. 

The vehicles used for pulling boats up onto the top of the spit are colourful and rusty...

The old rusty boat is still there ...

Sea campion.

Tideline treasures...

and inspiration.....

Blakeney Lifeboat house and UCL builing. Note the flood line on the building from the 2013 storm. 

Inside  the UCL part of the lifeboat station where 37 years ago, I too sat as a student beginning an MSC in conservation - it hasn't changed much! 

Autumn saltmarsh colour.

The far point of Blakeney.

At least coming back the dropping tide revealed some sand to walk on - easier than shingle!

Holkham NNR Lichens

One of the highlights of today was the large expanse of dune lichen heath ... some lovely Cladonias.

Holkham Fungi (2)

 ...and some of my favourite fungi photos from today...

Holkham Fungi (1)

Although the ground is clearly very dry after this summer's heat the rain from two days ago may have helped our fungi hunt! I don't know the species names but if anyone (Mum) would like to offer any identification I'll add it in...the next blog is my favourite fungi photos ...

..and  the star (literally), the Tiny Earthstar Geastrum minimum.