And then there's moths. I have run the trap a few times since arrival. And the captures merit a separate post, for which you, dear reader, will have to wait, as I have a few more boxes to unpack right now... 

My first Norfolk bird twitch was for a White-rumped Sandpiper at Hickling Broad - a tick for the county list I will presumably now be obliged to start keeping. It had been present for several days, but I eventually conjoured up both enthusiasm and energy to see it. It showed, distantly, and proved to be an adult moulting out of summer plumage. More exciting, I confess, was the largest flock of Wood Sandpipers I have ever seen: a full dozen. Two pristine juvenile Mediterranean Gulls were lovely - and I say that as a Larophobe. Even better were three Chinese Water Deer: two apparently rutting males and a separate singleton.

A unsuccessful twitch a day or so later was for the Cley Franklin's Gull. Nevertheless, some nice wildlife encounters were had. A Reeve's Muntjac sauntering across the A149 by the garage in Blakeney was grand. The avian highlight was an adult Hobby pursuing a House Martin for a full minute at Stiffkey Fen, before abandoning its hunt. Three Spoonbills at Stiffkey were fine - if probably only 7% of this summer's Norfolk population - and other back-up was provided by single Wood and Curlew Sandpipers at Cley. 

Exploring the vicinity of our new home was also rewarding. Banded Demoiselles abound along the slow-flowing rivers near Costessey, and I spotted a few Small Red-eyed Damselflies as well. Clouded Yellows apparently breed at Queen Hills, and I photographed a couple during a brief afternoon visit. On another visit I flushed a slumbering buck Roe Deer. A little further afield, we enjoyed Painted Ladies and Bee-wolf (a predatory wasp) amongst the dunes at Sea Palling.