More misses

An early morning look at Sotterley failed to produce any Hawfinches, no surprises there.

A look at Lound revealed little and from St. Olaves bridge, I saw 78 Pink- footed Geese on Haddiscoe marshes but no Ross' which had flown off. A look from Herringfleet Hills only revealed 1 Egyptian Goose plus 50 and 30 Siskin flying south just over the Alders. A calling Treecreeper spiralled up a nearby tree and a nice consolation bonus was first 1 and then another Woodcock flying around the fields.

Grave Concern over Egyptian Museum treasures

I have been very concerned over the security of the Egyptian treasures housed in Egypt particularly the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and some of the Museums and temple and Tomb sites at Luxor. The current riots against the Mubarek regime have targeted government buildings opposite the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the Museum was even broken into by thieves through a skylight and even some items were disgracefully looted and damaged including a statue of Tutankhamun (broken in two) and two 2,000 year old Mummies destroyed. Looters will be aware of the very high sums these items would fetch on the black market antiquities trade market. Given the ages quoted in the news, these Mummies destroyed must be Greco- Roman mummies and I sincerely hope not older mummies from New Kingdom era Ancient Egypt.

The treasures in this Museum are priceless and are world heritage archaeological items and many are in my opinion the best things that mankind has ever produced ie. the Golden mask of Tutankhamun is the most beautiful and iconic work of art ever produced.

More MUST be done to preserve these priceless world treasures. A review of security is urgently needed now.

UPDATE 30/1 I have now been able to get a few more details about the looting of the Cairo Museum. Several priceless artefacts from the Tutankhamun collection have been damaged including the statuette of Tutankamun standing on a Panther (a wonderful piece about a foot high) and another statuette of Tutankhamun as a harpooner standing on a bier (another wonderful piece also around a foot high). Authorities say these can be restored.

2 other pieces both around a foot tall of Tutankhamun (from the same museum display case) holding staff have also been damaged.

They are now stating 2 Pharaonic  mummies have been destroyed with only their heads still intact, they haven't named the mummies as yet, I fervently hope these weren't Royal Mummies from the New Kingdom. Looking at the footage the open gilded cartonnage top is strewn on the floor of what appears to be the covering of Tjuya's mummy from the New Kingdom, I hope it isn't her Mummy and that of her husband Yuya which has been looted and virtually destroyed apart from their heads. The Mummies of Yuya and Tjuya are (or were?) 2 of the finest preserved mummies from New Kingdom Egypt, they were the parents of Queen Tiye who was the Great Royal wife of Amenhotep 3. They were Tutankhamun's great- grand parents.

I also hope the exquisitely beautiful and unique gilded cartonnage mask of Tjuya wasn't damaged (it's very eye catching) or looted as this was placed directly opposite the mummy too.

Of equal concern is the systematic looting of artefacts from museums around the country including museums at Luxor, Abusir, Saqqara no further information is forthcoming.

Usual lack of success at Sotterley

No posts for a while as I have been working a lot (trying to stay in a job!) and when I have been out I have just not been seeing any birds of note over the past few weeks.

Last Thursday lunchtime (time was very limited) I tried from the bung at Fritton woods for the Ross' but the only Geese I saw were 16 Greylag fly past.

A look at Sotterley at just after midday failed as usual, (this site has always been very disappointing as I have only ever seen 1 Hawfinch here ever and no LSW's either) as I failed to see any Hawfinches there at all, despite searching for 2 hours

Nuthatch heard and 1 Treecreeper and Redwing seen.

The final ignomany was a message sent round on BINS stating 2 Hawfinch seen at the Church at midday!!

Approaching 10,000 Page Views!

I am amazed that when I first started my blog I would approaching 10,000 page views within 2 years. It was initially meant as an easy personal online diary of my wildlife sightings. Thank you all for reading my blog and I hope to have some new entries at the weekend.

Iceland Gull on Link's road car park

This morning, Thursday 20th January from Link's Hill I could immediately see the 1st winter Iceland Gull splashing in a puddle of water, the Gull then started preening for several minutes and I took a few pictures from the car using it as a hide before it eventually flew flying over first Gunton Beach and then Lowestoft north beach. An adult winter Mediterranean Gull also flew north over Lowestoft north beach too.

A Waxwing was heard trilling somewhere near the back of Gorleston Library this afternoon at around 12.50pm I failed to see it despite having a quick look around.

Iceland Gull on groyne

Yesterday, Wednesday 19th January I saw the Iceland Gull perched on the far end of the groyne 1st one north of Link's road up until 8.35am when I had to leave for work.

Iceland Gull on Gunton Beach

Another early start hoping to see and photograph the Iceland Gull on Links road car park, it wasn't there and looking north along Gunton Beach I saw it flying north low along the beach, where it appeared to settle. Walking along the beach around 200 yards north of Links road, it was seen perched on the 3rd groyne along and perched on the nearest post on the beach. Sadly, it was cloudy and the Iceland Gull flew off before I got anywhere near it and appeared to fly way north towards Corton. I ran out of time and had to leave at 8.30am for work.

Frustratingly, as I left for work the sun came out!