Sunday 20 December 2020

Getaway

Just last week it was considered OK for us to travel as long as we didn't go to areas with a high rate of Covid-19. Now it's all changed again and I can't even travel to my local town of Royston, which is just a couple of miles away, but over the border in Hertfordshire. So it was that one day last week my brother and I went to the North Norfolk coast for the day. 


As you can see there's plenty of space up there and we planned a walk from Holme-Next-The-Sea to Thornham Harbour and back. You can walk on the beach or among the dunes and there's a wide variety of birds to keep you entertained.


In fact I got so engrossed in searching out the various wading birds that I didn't take many photos at all, though I did get  side-tracked for a few moments by the patterns created by the outgoing tide.


Here we are at Thornham Harbour which was once a much busier port than it is today. The old posts that stand rotting away on the saltmarsh always attract my attention. They are all that remains of some former jetties and buildings.


You can usually find one or two small working-boats moored up here. As you can see from the mud in the foreground this is hardly a major commercial harbour though. And speaking of mud: guess who slipped over in it?


Once I'd cleaned myself up, I photographed the three-hundred-year-old coal barn. Presumably there must have been coastal trade at that time with boats sailing down from the Northumbrian coalfields.


This old vessel is not sailing anywhere. There are usually a few old wrecks on the mudflats and saltmarshes around the harbour or staithe, as wharves are known up and down the east coast. 


A lot of the North Norfolk coast is a confusing maze of saltmarsh, dunes, mudflats and tidal creeks. Not everyone's idea of the seaside but birds love it. Here's a list of the birds encountered along the shore:

Black-Headed Gull, Great Black-Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Redshank, Starling, Stonechat, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Brent Goose, Curlew, Ringed Plover, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Cormorant, Coot, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Shoveler, Shelduck, Mallard, Mute Swan. 

and on the fields just inland from the coast were huge flocks of geese, mostly Pink-Footed Geese recently flown in from Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard.


This curious abstract pattern was spotted on the beach. It's just ripples on the sand but there's something about the dark shadows caused by the low-angled sun that my eye finds confusing and sometimes it just "flips" to something else. Either you see it or you don't....

And just to add to the confusion this last picture may well be the worst photo, from a technical point-of-view, that I've ever put on this blog. On the other hand it gives me more pleasure than most others....


We were scanning for birds when Les suddenly said "What on earth is that beside that muddy channel?"
Neither of us could figure out if it was a bird or a lump of wood, even with binoculars. Just then it raised its head and I exclaimed "Chinese Water Deer!".

Some of these tiny deer escaped from Whipsnade Zoo many years ago and established a small wild population in an arc stretching from Bedfordshire, up through Cambridgeshire and into North Norfolk. Unlike some invasive species they cause no harm whatever to native wildlife or human economic activity. Ironically they are doing rather better here than they are in China and now represent about 10% of the world population. There are perhaps between 1,000 and 2,000 of them but they are very secretive and shy. In years of walking in the area I've never encountered one before. Les has also always wanted to see one, and there it was just staring at us from the edge of the vegetation.


Take care.


30 comments:

  1. I have never seen, or heard of, a Chinese Water Deer. How lucky you were to see one, he or she is beautiful! The patterns in the sand are neat, it’s wonderful that you both enjoyed at least one day there.

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  2. I have never seen a Chinese Water Deer. It is beautiful! You are so lucky to have them. I'm glad they are able to live and not be killed. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.

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    1. It is actually legal to shoot them - but you've got to find them first!

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  3. Great collection of sea-side photos...I like old buildings and seeing what remains from them as well as boats...it shows us how they were put together in the first place. Great sighting of the Deer!

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  4. I'm so happy to read your post! Seems you are doing great and I will continue to read your posts again! Take care, John.

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  5. I hadn't even heard of a Chinese Water Deer. How wonderful that you and your brother (finally) got to see one.
    And thank you for taking us with you on this beautiful meander.
    Stay safe, stay well.

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  6. My friend lives in Cromer so I have explored a lot of those beaches along the coast. A lovely area.

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  7. Lucky you got this walk in before the COVID rules changed. Those patterns in the sand are so interesting and your photos of them are terrific! What a sweet little face on the Chinese Water Deer! That was awesome to see.
    Thanks so much for sharing your hike!

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  8. Don't think any of us saw what hit us from Boris the weekend, I'm in the middle and cannot go outside our area. Two miles down the road will see me in Berkshire which is a No no so I will be staying at home. We mostly see Muntjacs around here and Roe deer though some of the poor little bugger get hit my cars

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  9. A different set of photos today - good to walk next to the water!

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  10. Wow - so cool to see that rare deer! I always love going to the sea. Looks like you had nice weather. Hope this virus dies down and goes away so we can travel again.

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  11. What a lovely walk and to see the Deer as well. Beautiful photos as always.

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  12. Lovely photos. Already on my list of places to go in the UK that look great that I've yet to go to!

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  13. Your beautiful photos have lifted my spirits this grey morning. I long for the day we can walk along a beach again. Great to see so many birds and the water deer:)

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  14. Enjoyed seeing an area I've never visited, and doubt I ever will. It's looks so lonely though and must have been amazing to see the little deer peeking out of the brush - curious to see you guys I'm sure.
    The birds there are incredible - hard to imagine seeing so many on just one walk.
    Glad you had sunshine John - hope it helped dry off the mud!!!

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  15. What a beautiful beach and lovely place for a walk. I love the old barn, the rippled sand, the long views and old boats. Take care there and stay safe, my friend.

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  16. Beautiful scenery down by the water. Thanks for sharing the Chinese Water Deer, I've never seen one and didn't even know it existed, now I do.

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  17. The brick and wood building for coal is beautiful with it aged patina, as is nature’s sand art. That’s a nice list of birds for the day, too. I wish our government would demand a lockdown here so we could stop this raging virus, but nothing will happen now for another month when the new President takes office. Thousands and thousands more sick and dead by then. (Sorry to be so gloomy!)

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  18. So glad you got to see the deer. What a special surprise.

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  19. Such scenic and atmospheric images of North Norfolk, John! A case of 'wishing I was there' seeing your post! My one and only Chinese Water Deer was sighted distantly at Stubb Mill Raptor Point. Your walk paid off this time, I am so pleased for you and your brother!

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  20. What a great day that was to see the Chinese Water Deer. Love the patterns in the sand...both of them.

    That was quite a number of birds to see in one day!

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  21. A Wow moment seeing the deer! I had to forego my planned holiday in Norfolk this year. I longed to see all that sky and wide open space so I've enjoyed these photos.

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  22. The little deer is a surprise. Beautiful landscapes.

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  23. You still find interesting stuff to show us even with restrictions. Love the sand ripples and the Chinese deer story was fascinating.

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  24. The coastline of North Norfolk looks so unique and interesting. There is richness in the lack of apparent beauty of winter and the remains of the fleeting prosperity is evocative. Chinese Water Deer is new to me. You captured the moment; the last image shows how one thing make a great difference to a photo.

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  25. Interesting lot of images John.
    I'm surprised you haven't bumped into a CW Deer before in your area.
    Yes, they fear for their life in China.

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  26. Hi John - stunning lots of photos there ... beautiful sand images - love those. It's an amazing coastline ... and how interesting about the Chinese Water Deer.

    We're all about to be restricted ... I have a local visit about 10 miles away for Christmas Day within in the tier ... then back to lock down ... and see where life takes us - Have a happy time over the Christmas season ... and let's hope 2021 is kinder to us all - Hilary

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  27. Sorry you are so restricted by this COVID thing. At least you are trying to make the best of it as you can. Best to you - John @ >^..^<

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  28. I had not previously heard of Chinese Water Deer, and I am surprised that they have successfully become part of British fauna without adverse consequences. A good story all round, and I can well imagine your delight at seeing one.

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