Ness point, Lowestoft.

Still strong wind from East and cold. (Bitter)   3:30pm

LITTLE GULLS still showing, the best numbers for me four birds in all at any given time. It is just crazy how they cam hold there own in such horrendous conditions.



At the PEREGRINE box today the female was in the nest box walking up and down and poking her head out every so often. He remained on the corner of the building just watching. While there she decided, without warning to up and off. As soon as she had done so he hoped along the top and went strait inside.............. Have they done something up there..... Who can tell.

Ness Point and Links Hill

Still strong Easterly Wind

Call in at Ness to find still just a single LITTLE GULL but also picked up a YELLOW LEGGED HERRING GULL. This bird was hanging in the air with others but did alight for just a brief few seconds to confirm.

At Links Hill: A small flock of LINNET and a BLACK HEADED GULL with metal ring. See picture below.  Stockholm bird And now a pair of feet from a Latvian bird. (Managed the number this time)

http://youtu.be/NCgDfXVM4oE
While watching the gulls this little wader flew in and decided to walk right by my open window. This bird was so diminutive in size it was almost unbelievable. But as far as I am concerned it was a Dunlin. Even if it did suffer from dwarfism.

 

 

Ness Point and Stokesby

Strong cold easterly wind, how unusual?

Ness Point:    Heard that LITTLE GULLS have been seen from Ness over the last few days so gave it a look and sure enough only one bird. Not the best of views but still a good sighting of the bird feeding in between the breakers. How amazing that such a little thing like that can have such control in strong wind, it's as if it is flying on air. Well you know what I mean. If you don't please refer to the hand book.

 

 

Stokesby Acle Bridge:    Again twitter came into it's own as these birds had been reported for the last few days. In the knowledge that I was going near by thought I might as well give it a look and sure enough three adult CRANES in stubble field. Very close to the road on arrival but drifted further of once we stopped. Not the best pic's in the world but at least they are there.

 





Ness Point and South Pier.

Brighter but East wind kept it cold.

Well arrival of new scope..... what can you say......only things are rather clearer now. But still the same birds. Plenty of GANNET movement, same direction and groups up to 20 birds. Also AUK don't ask. RED-THROATED-DIVER and CORMORANTS. Plenty of gulls feeding well out over bank and TURNSTONE at my feet.

At children's corner 46 TURNSTONE at roost, plus mumeration which was no where near as good as last night.

As for the garden it seems that my ACCENTOR in the garden has found something to keep him interested. He was chasing her about all morning never giving up.


Want to listen to good music and see Iceland then go to.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBNFJ2AqYQI

Lound lakes

Still overcast and cold for the first day of spring.

Time spent with kids from local school and Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Four EGYPTIAN GEESE continued to take interest in each other. Obviously trying it on and to identify there relationship. CROW,ROOK and JACKDAW as well as MOORHEN and COOTE. Several passerines about with CHAFFINCH, GOLDFINCH,GREENFINCH and REDWING, FIELDFARE, BLACKBIRD. We also had MALLARD, OYSTERCATCHER, KESTREL, COAL,LONG, BLUE and GREAT TIT.

Nothing to declare

In memory.

Except that I have ordered a new scope today. I must say that it has cost me an arm and a leg. But not as much as some. Just to have something that I can look to and remember my dad. Thanks old man you did make this interest possible.

Links Hil, Tramps Alley and railways line back.

Bright for a short time then fog bound.

Walked out along Gunton Cliff and first great bird of note was a female MERLIN. She flew of initially, only to return in a few seconds and alight on a branch of a tree on cliff. Did not stay long enough for a pic however. I did meet up again with the same bird flying through to Plesurewood Hills after railway bridge. GREENFINCH and LINNET calling with only one SONG THRUSH at lower end of Gunton Wood. Also SPARROW HAWK made an appearance again very brief.
Along railways track the usual TIT flock with nothing untoward only to be baffled by the sighting of a very thin bird which was very much disliked by a magpie. When it flew it was one of those that really wo0rries the mind as it was very woodpecker like ,yet did not look like one through the bins. Another lost bird to history.
I also came across a flock of 20 plus REDWING and five FIELDFARE as well as three MISTLE THRUSH.
There was a serious amount of MAGPIES about which have been separately logged.

Kessingland S.W. and levels.

South wind strong and overcast. (Still cold)

Walk through to the treatment works with CHAFFINCH,GREAT TIT and BLUE TIT. Only came across one LONG TAILED TIT. There where throughout the area calling and viewable GREENFINCH. View over the filter bed brought in 14 PIED WAGTAIL. Some about four where obviously WHITE WAG so not so bad but no real surprises. While viewing from bank a GOLDCREST put in a brief appearance and above my head where 4 REED BUNTING three male and a female bird.
Walk through covered area again was only good through several MOORHEN about 10 birds in all and a calling GREAT SPOTTED WOOD.
At far end while walking through the wet marsh area before caravans I put up a SHORT EARED OWL. Which did me no favours in disappearing very quickly. Three pairs of MALLARD and MAGPI, plus a pair of CARRION CROW.
Out on to shore area a really large movement of GANNET all heading North and interspersed with RED-THROATED-DIVER. There where also several CORMORANT heading in much the same way.
Finished of walk with four SKYLARK on the levels and as one was very obliging we have pictures below.

 This bird was obviously hungry and feeding, any idea of what it is?



Ness Point, Lowestoft,

Just that tad warmer and  a change of wind direction from North West.

There was nothing out of the ordinary about but still a good movement of GANNET of shore with 416 counted heading north and about 30 south. There where more younger birds with intermediates today. With dark phase following there adult still. I should imagine I must have had 50+ RED-THROATED-DIVER heading north to with the occasional auk putting in an appearance. Only other thing of note was single GREATCRESTED GREBE that was heading the same way.

I also had a HARBOUR PORPOISE but he was well of shore and feeding in the tide near the south continental buoy.

I also kept company with 10 PURPLE SAND'S which where for a change active and in good light.

Our usual white colour ringed HERRING GULL was also very loud today. 

If you would like to view PURPLE SAND'S then follow link:       http://youtu.be/ubDN5Ug_uIE





Ness Point

Any bird wanting to be seen at the moment will have to put on a good show..........TO COLD

Mind you I did catch a view of the WAXWINGS at the North end of Katwick Way when I went through yesterday. There was about 30 birds in all. How they can stick getting blown about on the coldest day in March for thirty years I do not know. I did pop into the Ness and had a single SANDERLING amongst the rubbish that was at Bird's Eye.

Ness Point:  Several GANNET well off shore with some creeping in closer. The wind was due North so they where close to water and just going for it. Visibility was good and viewable where RED-THROATED-DIVER and a few CORMORANT. Other than that very quite.

Ness Point and Loathingland Lake

Mist over the water at Ness so viewing restricted:

CORMORANT going North, where else. Plenty of birds with the occasional RED-THROATED-DIVER putting in an appearance. It also seems that GANNETS have lost there way and where heading South again. All birds flying low to the water and in small parties. 9 PURPLE SAND came in for quick visit and left me with two TURNSTONE. Colour rung HERRING GULL with partner. Also well offshore was a small flock of 9 GREAT CRESTED GREBE which when took to flight confirmed sighting.

Silo:  Two PEREGRINE in appearance today with the male obviously smaller circling round silo and calling. Also she was content to feed on feral job on the box, taking little notice of him. However for all of 3 seconds he landed beside her and cleared again to circle.

Female Bird from what I can see and well fed.

 This one taken with digi scope



Hen Reed Bed, Suffolk.

Bright but fresh day. The first of many, you'll be so lucky.

Sotterly:   Call in for Hawfinch, again you'll be so lucky.

Wrentham: Call in for Great Grey Shrike, you'll be so lucky.

Hen Reed Bed:  On arrival a male MARSH HARRIER flew in close by and was joined by a female some minuets latter. One other bird seen while we where there. We also put up a SNIPE which dived into reed bed without any hesitation, no surprise there. plenty of noisy GREY LAG GEESE about 50 birds in all. I also heard but did not view BEARDED TIT and saw REED BUNTING. 3 MEADOW PIPIT and some SKYLARK on meadow across river inlet. REDSHANK in good numbers as was OYSTERCATCHER which was where all intent on calling each other. We also had one BARN OWL which quartered reed bed for over 30 minuets. Seen catching something but did not go anywhere with it. Flocks of DUNLIN and RINGED PLOVER on main river, with BLACK TAILED GODWIT. On return we did not have to look far for SISKIN which on the way out we had put to fright. So managed reasonable picture of the same.

Ti view video follow link>            http://youtu.be/iREQVJ3ENeE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Ness Point, Lowestoft.

A bright day with a south east light breeze. Heat haze increasing but visibility fairly good.

Best bird of day was a RED-BREASTED-MERGANSER flying low over the water and heading south. This was against much of the flow of bird which in main where CORMORANT with numbers in excess of 300+ flying north after feeding on North Holm bank with RED-THROATED-DIVER whose numbers where not much lower than the previous. Also a few AUK unidentified. GANNET movement was North as well with numbers around 130. But only one young bird. Also flying North was a flock of 10 COMMON SCOTER. ROCK PIPIT called and seen flying through.  The getting ready to leave PURPLE SANDPIPERS where resting up with 7 birds.

Chapel Field, Norwich,

This is the story of two CROWS. Both in association with each other and feeding in the grass. But what is interesting and needs to be answered.

Why are both birds almost the same in partial albinism as leucistic birds.

Answer could be the following:

1.    Both have a throw back through genetics being of the same stock.
2.    Both birds are attracted to each other because of the abnormality.
3.    Both birds are suffering from a chemical imbalance.

(a)   Caused by what they eat.
(b)   Caused through the environment.
(c)   Caused by there genetic make up.

Any ideas?

Bird one

 Bird two