A Good Desision and ....Not a Wise Decision

Saturday October 31
Walking in Scuilly decided it. Time to look at lighter gear for holidays at home and abroad. I arrived at Cley Spy intending to buy a Nikon 50 scope, small enough to fit in my pocket. I left with an Opticron 50! So new that there was only one in the shop. My immediate reaction on looking through both was that the Opticron was better optically, brighter and the eyepiece easier to use. What a surprise. And £100 cheaper. That and a Velbon tripod will be bliss to carry in Aus this year and Scilly next October. My Zeiss spent more time in the flat than on my back. A Marsh Harrier over Cley Marshes gave us our 100th Norfolk October bird. Phew, cut it a bit fine.

Sunday November 1
Despite a fairly horrendous weather forecast -which became more hopeful on a local station - we set off for Snettisham at 6.40. The lack of rain soon changed. It then rained solidly until early afternoon , driven by a very strong SE wind. The Little Owl huddled in its tree root whilst we breakfasted at Abbey, very little water and a gathering of mallard the only other accompaniment.
Just one other birder braving Snettisham, we stayed in the car apart from when I had to rush out to open and shut the gate both ways. Tesco, Hunstanton for comfort stop and food, coffee at Holme, no geese at Holkham, no icecream van at Salthouse, home for a nap in front of the TV just before 3.00. I did see a Kingfisher flashing down the dyke at Salthouse but the pleasure it always brings was blighted by it eluding Pam. She WAS driving.....