Martin's Bird Blog & Nature Photos

Tag: Blakeney

  • 15th August 2024 – Blakeney, Norfolk

    15th August 2024 – Blakeney, Norfolk

    Almost a non-birding day; except that on our walk this morning to Wiveton Hall we did see our first marsh harrier of the week across the marshes.

    A few years ago, on our first visit to Wiveton Hall, we had met the eccentric owner, Desmond, whose popular BBC programme “Normal for Norfolk” documented his adventures and the daily delights of life around the Hall, on the farm and in the café.  No such luck today. However, the coffee was very good and was worth the walk.

    From here we carried on to visit St Nicholas Church, Blakeney. I hope you agree that the inclusion of the visit is warranted here in that there was a wildlife aspect to our visit.

    St Nicholas , Blakeney famous for its two towers: one at the west and a curious, spindly beacon rising to the south-east of the chancel whose purpose is not really known.

    It seems that the church’s policy is having a good effect.

    Simon Jenkins in his book of England’s 1000 Best Churches says “the earliest and most interesting part of the interior is the chancel , dating from a Carmelite friary founded here in 1296”.

    “The rare stepped seven-lancet east window is unusual for this late date. The only other medieval seven-lighter extant is at Ockham in Surrey”

    The nave is Perpendicular
    The significance of Blakeney’s coastal position is well recorded here

    Most of the church is flint coated …

    … except the chancel is mainly covered in concrete.

    In the afternoon we visited NATURAL SURROUNDINGS, Norfolk’s Wildlife-Gardening & Wildflower Centre next to Bayfield Hall, just a stone’s throw from Blakeney.

    Small red-eyed damselfly

    House fly

    Definitely the stars of the show

    Red Admiral

    A very informative and enjoyable visit. Did I forget to mention that there’s a very good café with much too generous portions of cakes?

  • 13th August 2024 – Blakeney to Cley next the Sea

    13th August 2024 – Blakeney to Cley next the Sea

    The best aspects of our morning walk from Blakeney Quay to Cley next the Sea and back were the sounds. There was little wind and few people and so the sounds of the birds were easier to pick up.

    There were curlews, oystercatchers and a good number of cattle egret on the banks of the Cley Channel. Flyover cormorants, grey herons, goldfinches, linnets and meadow pipits entertained us from closer quarters.

    We chose to walk back along the road to get a coffee at Wiveton Hall; but we hadn’t done our homework and they were closed today. The coffee back on the quay at Blakeney at The Two Magpies Café was certainly very well deserved and seemed appropriate for a couple of birders.

    From Blakeney Quay

    Looking back at the quay

    No one in sight
    Curlews, oystercatchers and even a shelduck on Cley Channel
    Three grey herons in a row

    There were more that 20 cattle egret along this stretch

    Hollyhocks had spread from the High Street to the open country

    Meadow pipits along the pathway

    This one announced its arrival from well off and gave me the chance of a couple of shots

    Decision time: coffee in Cley next the Sea or on the way back to Blakeney?

    Fail to plan, plan to fail – only open Wednesday to Sunday

    Blakeney Church

    The typical flint covered buildings of Norfolk in Blakeney High Street

    Tide rising in Blakeney (and the people too)