Pathways Care Farm

 WEBS count today with 11 SHOVLORE, COMMON GULL 1,GADWLL 51, WIGEON 50. No other surprises, but a very low count on MALLARD.

Home

 Surprising at what turns up when you least expect it. Just stepped out of the back door this morning to a bird flying off my fake grass. I have no idea why it should like fake seeing it was a Jack Snipe. Flew of like a rocket zig zagging through the houses behind and heading South. Making garden list now 107.

Pathways Care Farm, Carlton Marsh SWT

 This visit on Monday proved again that duck numbers are still on the increase with 56 GADWALL and 16 WIGEON. Also a rare opportunity to get to grips with a GREEN . Also a GREY WAGTAIL flew through over lake. Other than that 23 species.

Carlton: Species list 26 for the afternoon. With the best being four WHOOPER SWAN that flew in. All birds seemed to be adult and while on there short stay of three hours they where not feeding. Other than that nothing out of the usual except three SNIPE and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER near to centre.

Carlton Marsh SWT

 This is the week when we say goodbye to Matt Goch, who in 19 years has brought to our area here in Lowestoft one of the most impressive conservation areas in the nation. But now he moves on and I wish him the best for the future.

My visit on Wednesday afternoon brought in two real birds of interest, with a TREECREEPER on the back track near the railway line and also a calling WATER PIPIT that gave itself away by it's call. Managed to record it on Merlin and sure enough popped up immediately.

Pathways Care Farm

 Call in to see how things are moving and they where. Five SONG THRUSH on the ground feeding, but soon up in the bushes. It was also good to catch sight of nine FIELDFARE in a flock flying across the farm. Also BLACKBIRDS must have come in over the weekend. The best was a WOODCOCK that was put up and flew across my path and out over the A12. The numbers of duck are still progressing with 22 WIGEON and 59 GADWALL as well as a pair of SHOVELOR with a male in good plumage. A GREEN WOODPECKER was laughing at me. I understand.

Somerlyton Staithe

 I and my mate spent and hour and half sitting beside the river until the sun went down. Warm enough for the last day of October until the sun dropped and so did the temperature. Best bird for me was a GREY WAGTAIL which flew through along the river. It was also good with two CETTI'S WARBLER and the same count for BEARDED TIT'S. But the sound of roosting ROOK and CROW is absolutely great, 

Pathways Care Farm

 This visit was the regular call in and with 26 species in under an hour. The numbers of GADWALL again increased to 45 and as for WIGEON the same with 11 birds. LITTLE GREBE turned out at 11 and then it was off and heading for Links Hill. It was obvious on arrival that there was a movement of CORMORANT and I stopped counting at 400 birds and only three BRENT GEESE flew South.