18th-century gold mourning ring unearthed in Norfolk field by detectorist

A gleam of gold in the earth led to a dramatic historical discovery in Norfolk, England, when seasoned metal detector Malcolm Weale found an 18th-century mourning ring purported to commemorate a deceased British nobleman. The ornate gold and enamel band was unearthed in August in a field near Thetford after 18 months of searching by Weale.

More info: https://archaeologymag.com/2025/05/18th-century-gold-mourning-ring-in-norfolk/

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Norfolk born tiger departs for Denmark https://www.byteseu.com/1099733/ #AmurTiger #BanhamZoo #Denmark #Norfolk

Another view of the Shulduck duckling.

A Shelduck duckling on one of the gravel paths at Pensthorpe.

A female Shelduck leading four ducklings along a path a Pensthorpe.

A Common Tern perched on a post in Mill Pond at Pensthorpe. I was watching it call out for a while, it was only calling when another Tern was swooping nearby.

I missed the picture but the other Tern came and fed it a fish. Not looking like a juvenile I was confused until I watched the first episode of Springwatch that said this was courting behaviour!

A Black-headed Gull at Pensthorpe, it’s perched on the railing of the bridge over Mill Pond so you’re really close.

Norfolk Branch Naval YMCA, Virginia, c.1909 - Rotograph Co Postcard

https://www.ebid.net/uk/for-sale/norfolk-branch-naval-ymca-virginia-c-1909-rotograph-co-postcard-222560296.htm

Its a bullseye! The young #bull who was loose in the middle of #Birmingham (apparently having escaped from an abbatoir) and collected by West Midlands #Police was unclaimed (in spite of presumably having a valid eartag?)

He has now been rehomed by an animal sanctuary in #Norfolk (and won't have to worry about ending up in the (#livestock) sale of the century - he will be living the rest of his natural life at the shelter)

https://www.itv.com/news/central/2025-06-07/escaped-bull-spotted-in-city-centre-given-new-home-and-new-name

Something spooked the Heron and the Kingfisher together, they both flew off across the water.

The Kingfisher came back for another look from the perch.

I couldn’t help but take some more photos!

While we were at Strumpshaw’s reception hide a Grey Heron stopped by for a while.

First it had a little stroll about.

We followed the path towards the meadow trail, we saw some Blue Tits darting about in the woods but always coming back to a branch right next to the path.

We carefully snuck down the trail and on our way past saw this tiny fledgling perched on a branch occasionally being fed.

After the Bittern fly by a Common Tern was up to all sorts of aerobatics by the reception hide.

Just as I finished taking some photos of the Kingfisher a pair of Bittern took flight!

It was amazing to see them and we were so happy to finally catch sight of them, we’d visited wetlands and fens for a couple of years even hearing them boom but not seeing them.

In all the excitement I forgot to raise my shutter speed so there’s not many clear photos of them but these two turned out ok.

We visited RSPB Strumpshaw Few a couple of weeks ago. Not long after arriving the Kingfisher appeared briefly and perched nicely.

Little did we know this was only the start of the excitement…