It is ABC Wednesday and C is for Cley Next The Sea - I am having trouble with blogger - so I am hoping that my pictures have uploaded in the right place - I have put a caption under each one just in case - I hope this works ! A 4 day winter break - fantastic - we managed to squeese in a few days away to Norfolk - allbeit we had to be back for Saturday because the boys were sleeping over (grandsons) We started out late (4pm) due to family commitments - it was raining and the M6 was heaving - but still we made quite good time - arriving pretty much on schedule - the Sat Nav took us to within range and then went haywire - so we asked at the local pub and all was saved. The holiday cottage was in a little village called Holme Next The Sea - the cottage was superb! Norfolk is amazing - the white beaches stretch to the horizon and the peace and tranquility is broken only by the cry of the birds. On day one we started out walking at 10amand returned at dusk approx 4.30pm - A barn owl was out hunting on the Holme Nature Reserve as we passed through - what an elegant bird - no pic - couldn't get it - but hoped to get it later in the week - but unfortunately we never saw the bird again - we passed a group of birders with their scopes focussed on the far distance - so out with our bins - to no avail - but we were offered a viewing through the scope and there was this gracefuk bird - a Short Eared Owl from Scandinavia - I have included a pic of the bird out of my book - on the blog - somewhere where ever Blogger has placed it !!! We followed the trail down onto the beach- so many shells and pebbles - the Holme Nature Reserve - has its own observatory for monitoring migrants has they arrive and depart and has an extensive ringing programme Oh yes must mention Leek and Potato Soup at the Lifeboat Inn at Thornham - I must search out a recipe for this when I get homw - delicious! Day 2 - and a visit to Cley - miles of salt lagoons - reeds and hundreds of birds - Brent Geese - lapwings - golden plovers and curlew to name but a few. Thw wind was cold but the rain kept away and blue skies fought dark grey clouds to make an entrance. The RSPB observatory is set back on the hillside overlooking the reserve and choice viewing can be had on life on the lagooms with a pair of binoculars or use of the RSPB scopes. We stayed until late afternoon and then drove back through Wells on Sea - a magical place for me - the light changes very quickly - changing the whole dimension of a camera shot Final day - a brilliant blue sky - but an icy cold wind - so away we went across the dunes towards Thornham - lunch at the Orange Tree - look at the Specials Board - is this the next foodie gimmick Bluey was carrying her own packed lunch of doggie biscuits! Next move onto RSPB Titchwell Marsh - a brisk walk around the reserve - birds seen - Herons - Redshanks - Curlew - Brent Geese - Oystercatchers - and more - the reserve stretches all the way down to the dunes and mud flats stretch for as far as the eye can see - there is always something special to see - I am hoping to link up with ABC Wednesday and Nature Notes - why not pop over to these sites

Setting out to walk the pathways of Cley

Look at this elegant little bird = lots of them here in Cley = but more scarce in the Midlands where we live.

Wells on Sea - the light here changes in a moment

The sky changed from pink to mauve as we atched the sun set - magical

This was the canine menu in the local restaurant - definitely a foodie gimmick

Titchwell

This was the bureau in Chapel Cottage- I just could not wait to turn the leaves of those books!

The beach at Holme - just look at those white sands

This is a picture out of my book - Short Eared Owl

Shells on the beach at Holme - I love the delicate colours

Each grain of sand could tell a story I am sure1

Geese at Cley - the noise was unbelievable

Visitors

Today I am linking to Through the Window and Nature Notes. The Redwings are back to feast on the holly berries - every year for a while now they return to the tree in January

The holly berries are quite hard and suit our visitors from Scandinavia - our resident birds prefer the softer berries such as Hawthorn and Rowan

The picture quality is not the best - the pics were taken through the glass window using the optical zoom on my camera

The Redwings group in neighbouring trees flying down enmass to devour as many berries as possible and then regroup in the safety of the trees -

The chaffinch above waits patiently in the Wisteria Bush for his turn to grab a sunflower seed from the feeder Why not pop over to the Maple Syrup Mob and Nature Notes to view more contributions

Hands across Land and Sea

No pics just words - of utter relief - I have had a blip on my blog- everytime I opened my Comments Box my screen froze or I was unable to scroll up or down on the side bar. My blog is my lifeline - and a reliable release from daily stress - although not the case this weekend! I have spent a fair amount of time this weekend trying everything in desperation. Messages to Blogger - tried to set up a new blog - which I managed to duplicate - how do these things happen?! I have clicked on most everything available to try and resolve the problem - finally finding a edit the comments box - I found I had a tick against embedded - looking at choices available I ticked (pop up ) and that seemed to do the trick - so I now have a working blog again. My link with the world and precious blogging friends. The picture in my header is of the River Severn as it flows into Attingham Park - I am practising with my new Sony camera. I am adding a link to my gardening blog MARIGOLD - If Blogger allows of course!! - for any like minded gardeners out there.

A Walk in the Wyre Forest in Worcestershire

This week to herald the beginning of 2012 - we took a walk in the Wyre Forest in Worcestershire UK- a short drive from home.

The weather was wet and blustery with some good clear sunny spells - so cameras at the ready!



The birch trees stood tall and strong with their silver bark catching the sunlight - the fir trees on the other side of the walkway rustled their branches as the wind swept through the woods.



- of course we means us three!




We parked up in Bewdley, on the way home and walked alongside the River Severn and watched the Swans Ducks and Canadian Geese



A brilliant start to 2012

Happy New Year to you all !