Another top day out

[Boddie]

Myself, Steve Fourwings, Mark MTR and Oscar Oscar 2006, as well as Nikon Nige, went over to Norfolk today and had another top day out. I am fairly sure the day should have resulted in some good images - I know I am fairly pleased with mine, and I shall try to get them up later.

[eeyore]

cool - your going to be our resident norfolk expert if you keep this up , where did you get to this time ?

(you undoubtedly had a better day than me - mine was spent driving about picking up and drropping off our mowers from/for servicing - first decent weather for ages and i'm flippin well working )

[Boddie]

We went over to Welney and then did the surrounding area.

Highlight of the day for me was the barn own that flew within 40 foot or so of us to the front of the car.

And strangely tonight I saw something drop out of the sky. It really was a strange sight. It was far bigger than a shooting star, almost like a firework, but it was travelling too fast to be freefall. If I did not know better I would have sworn it was a missile. It happened half way between Coventry and Birmingham. I would love to know what it was. Very strange indeed

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Highlight of the day for me was the barn own that flew within 40 foot or so of us to the front of the car

sweet - did any of you manage to get a photo of it ?

[Boddie]

Nope. It was one of those mouth wide open moments, and no thought for camera

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Boddie

And strangely tonight I saw something drop out of the sky. It really was a strange sight. It was far bigger than a shooting star, almost like a firework, but it was travelling too fast to be freefall. If I did not know better I would have sworn it was a missile. It happened half way between Coventry and Birmingham. I would love to know what it was. Very strange indeed

a vstol jet or a heli practicing combat landings ? we are getting a fair bit of that round here through the hills as they gear up for afghnistan

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by eeyore

a vstol jet or a heli practicing combat landings ? we are getting a fair bit of that round here through the hills as they gear up for afghnistan

No it was far too fast and it just shot down at too great an angle to be landing. It was one of the oddest things I have ever seen

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Boddie

It was one of the oddest things I have ever seen...

and that is undoubtedly saying something

i suppose a missile is out of the question ? are there any ranges arround that area where they might be practicing night gunnery from helis or jets - i would imagine that a hellfire is pretty flipping quick

when i was in norfolk they used to fire MLRS batteries actually over east wretham heath (where my boss lived) into stanta - made for an interesting sight when you'd been partying then saw that lot flying over head

[Boddie]

I cant see it myself as it is too built up, but that is what it looked like

[Fourwings]

I'm still editing the images from today, only another 120 odd to go!!

It was another quality day out, topped very nicely by some excellent Fish n'chips in March on the way home.

Plus, it would seem that for once I have managed to go out with the big lens guys for the day and actually hold my own using the Sigma 150 as a telephoto lens.

Here's a few of my early edits.

[eeyore]

i like the bottom one steve (not to say that i dont like the others too ) but its a shame about the power line - it has marred many of my shots taken there too - its a shame that they cant move it

btw did you go to welches dam - if so what did you think ? I've only been once and found the little bird feeding station unsurpassed but wasnt very impressed with the waterbird hides - i'd be interested in your views ?

[Fourwings]

Thanks Pete, it is a shame about the power lines, perhaps a little play with CS2 might solve the problem.

We spent most of the afternoon at Welches dam, there wasn't much doing at the hides but as you say the feeding station by the centre was excellent, I'm sure we all left with cracking images of Tree Sparrows as well as a host of other small birds. The reserve is well worth the visit just for this.

[glsammy]

Excellent shots Steve, well done. Sound like you all had a great time.
Whilst you were over there, I was at PRW!

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by glsammy

Excellent shots Steve, well done. Sound like you all had a great time.
Whilst you were over there, I was at PRW!

Thanks Graham, I've just been looking at the images, great work pal.
What I really want to know is why don't the Mutes fly like that when I'm down there?

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

Thanks Graham, I've just been looking at the images, great work pal.
What I really want to know is why don't the Mutes fly like that when I'm down there?

Thanks Steve. The answer is dead simple. Your not as ugly as I am, I scare 'em into the air!

[jerryh]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

Thanks Pete, it is a shame about the power lines, perhaps a little play with CS2 might solve the problem.

We spent most of the afternoon at Welches dam, there wasn't much doing at the hides but as you say the feeding station by the centre was excellent, I'm sure we all left with cracking images of Tree Sparrows as well as a host of other small birds. The reserve is well worth the visit just for this.

Glad you all had a good time. Don't know how far north you got at Welches Dam, but there are usually a lot of wildfowl from the hides up near the railway.
I was there this afternoon. After about half-an-hour, the mist came in and visibility was less than 50m. I never got further than the hide opposite the pub, as I gave up in the end.

Jerry

[mrs fish]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

Thanks Graham, I've just been looking at the images, great work pal.
What I really want to know is why don't the Mutes fly like that when I'm down there?

Perhaps they have been fed too much bread when you are there

I didn't know the mute swan was the heaviest flying bird in the world until my daughter showed me in the guinness book of records.

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by jerryh

Glad you all had a good time. Don't know how far north you got at Welches Dam, but there are usually a lot of wildfowl from the hides up near the railway.
I was there this afternoon. After about half-an-hour, the mist came in and visibility was less than 50m. I never got further than the hide opposite the pub, as I gave up in the end.

Jerry

Thats a real shame Jerry, it was my first visit to Welches dam but I shall certainly be going back, especially once I have my big lens!

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

Perhaps they have been fed too much bread when you are there

I didn't know the mute swan was the heaviest flying bird in the world until my daughter showed me in the guinness book of records.

I know you comment was mainly in jest, but I should point out that there's little if any chance of bread getting to the birds at PRW. It's a private site and the birds are very wary of us lot, often frustratingly so! Even the darn Coots scoot off the moment your within 100 yards!!

[PeetieM]

Boddie,
For your info, just had this post from the Cornish Wildlife Forum:

"On Saturday evening (3rd Feb) friends in Canon's Town saw a bright downward
moving light in the sky and heard a rumble and friends near Trencrom heard
what they thought was fireworks. Did anyone else hear or see anything?"

Seems like something happened.

Pete.

[PeetieM]

More reports coming in:

"Myself and two friends were driving across Goss Moor on Saturday evening
when we saw a large " firework" fall through the sky, this may have been a
meteorite it was an orangy yellow colour."

Research suggests (googling, actually) that Feb, March and April are times when there are occurrences of Fireballs, which are a type of meteorite.

Pete.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by glsammy

I know you comment was mainly in jest, but I should point out that there's little if any chance of bread getting to the birds at PRW.

Originally Posted by peetiem

More reports coming in:

"Myself and two friends were driving across Goss Moor on Saturday evening
when we saw a large " firework" fall through the sky, this may have been a
meteorite it was an orangy yellow colour."

Research suggests (googling, actually) that Feb, March and April are times when there are occurrences of Fireballs, which are a type of meteorite.

there you have it , conclusive proof , it was a very rare doughball - a meteorite composed entirely of bread dough , lightly toasted by the heat of entry to our atmosphere , which boddie witnessed just before splash down at priory water - where upon all the evidence was eaten by water fowl giving them extra energy to fly about infront of glsammy

its simple when you think about it

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by PeetieM

Boddie,
For your info, just had this post from the Cornish Wildlife Forum:

"On Saturday evening (3rd Feb) friends in Canon's Town saw a bright downward
moving light in the sky and heard a rumble and friends near Trencrom heard
what they thought was fireworks. Did anyone else hear or see anything?"

Seems like something happened.

Pete.

Pete

Do you know what time it was?

[PeetieM]

No, sorry, and I have deleted the email and so can't get back to them.

Pete.