Weeting Heath

I'm dealing with some difficult sad and stressful news which we've stressed over for a few weeks but was finally confirmed with a proper diagnosis on Monday. Not me but a very close family member that I love very much and I'll be there helping and supporting all the way as they face their personal battle.

On the back of the Monday's awful news I needed to get out for a while to process the news and clear my head a bit so I headed up the A11 to Weeting Heath thinking it would be quiet there and give me some time to deal with the sad news. On arrival I found just one other birder and in the three hours there I only saw two other birders one of which I stopped to chat to in what transpired to be a bit of an impromptu therapy session for both me and him, funny how we can find this unload easier with complete strangers whilst also appreciating a shared interest in birds.

Anyway I did clear my head a little and enjoyed views of a pair of Stone Curlew with a chick and another bird that appeared to be still on a nest but more distant. The summering Spotted Flycatchers have successfully fledged their young and being mobile now they took a little finding but I eventually located a pair still feeding two youngsters. Whilst watching them I was surprised to find a female Lesser-spotted Woodpecker feeding high in the tree tops which gave me an unexpected year tick.

A Fircrest was also present among a tit flock containing Goldcrests, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit and Blue Tits. Nutchatch and Treecreeper added to the day list before I left for home appreciating how good the outdoors is for my own well being. I'm fully committed to doing all I can to support the family as we hit the latest challenge head on together and whilst the blog and the hobby seem a little unimportant right now I'll try to keep it ticking over in the diary format if I can. 

Lesser spotted Woodpecker 

Spotted Flycatcher

Stone Curlews