Gunton Wood and Corton Logging Mill

Bright day and just past longest day. Birding has obviously changed in that birds have stopped singing. How sad to think that it is all over again. But then there are little birdies about.

 

Gunton Wood: Still some MARSH ORCHIDS about, but way past there best for this year. What a glorious show they put on for us all. Found a SIX SPOTTED BURNET feeding on a ........... (awaiting id) Several WHITETHROAT still calling and also a male BLACKCAP was still raising a song. CHIFFCHAFF trying very hard but still making a good vocal show.

 

Corton: Best was I suppose a lovely EMPEROR DRAGONFLY but was so active no chance of a good pic. Mind you I did find a YELLOW SHELL MOTH and also 3 recently emerged RINGLET butterflies which means they were very dark. There where also several TORTISHELL and MEADOW BROWN. I also include a FUNNEL WEB SPIDER.
 

In bird terms 5 GREEN WOODPECKER and several LONG TAILED TITS I stopped counting at 11. CHIFFCHAFF, WHITETHROAT, SKYLARK, PIED WAGTAIL.

 



Hen Reed Be and Britton Cenre car park.

Hen Reed Bed:  Dull day but called in at Hen for a look round on arrival calling CETTI'S WARBLER and a good number around 40 SWIFT interspersed with SAND MARTIN and the occasional SWALLOW. Best bird was a fly by BITTERN. Which was a very close at 30 feet,  but my battery was flat. Tell me the old, old story. Think that a hymn. Still good to see a pair of COMMON BUZZARD and food passing by male MARSH to female. REED WARB and LITTLE EGRET gain there mention with occasional REED BUNTING calling but very difficult to pick up on.

Britton Centre:  Just to see how the breeding of KITTY was doing. Managed to gain id on four colour ringed birds.

Home: picture of very young male PERIGRINE from the garden this morning

 

 

Lowestoft, Breydon Way.

EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD IS ROSY

 

This ROSE-COLOURED STARLING is the first one I have seen in full plumage. Just a great bird to see in all it's finery. The other benefit of course is it on the door step or near enough. The bird was originally hunkered down when I arrived. Sitting well tucked up in a tree in someone's back garden. It was obviously working with starlings and when it was put to flight it settled on a conifer on Pinewood Avenue. What else? This bird looked as if it was ready for bed and had already placed it's head under it's wing. Poor thing must be cold. So with limited light and view I have the best I could do to follow.                    For video open this link:    http://youtu.be/aa4gB1p7bSM

 

 





Abberton Res, Colchester, Essex.

This is home territory for me so went to my usual birding areas from my early teens and found 3 CORN BUNTINGS and  5 YELLOW HAMMER. Not bad I suppose in birding terms today. But how sad from when I was a young man. These where the birds of my garden in Layer-de-la-Haye. But not any more. I also had 4 COMMON BUZZARD and a my bird list for three days with not that much trying was 74. There was obviously more SONG THRUSH and SWIFT in the area. I had some good views of YELLOW WAG but the best is below.

 

Home and away

Home: Had an odd bird in the garden which was an issue in that it was not still enough for me. Called in reinforcements, so Rob turned up and conclusion was it was a REED WARBLER. This was an odd one though as early in the morning it was singing very oddly. I still wonder if I had more than one bird in here which confused my small brain, as I also saw a CHIFFCHAFF as well. Still conclusion is good took a look at the pictures taken and it does confirm that what we saw was a Reed Warbler as the white above eye was short and a the wing has dark alula so Blyth's is seriously out. Mind you did you see the feet of this bird. Always wondered about feet fetishes.

Castle Marsh:  Best bird was a pair of YELLOW WAGTAIL feeding fledged young. There was also a CUCKOO who kept on doing what cuckoo's do. A pair of MARSH HARRIER with male bringing in food. Several; SEDGE and REED WARBLERS about with a fly over pair of out of season REDPOLE buzzing as they headed of East. A few LINNET to where high flying through with only 2 GOLDFINCH doing the same. I had a HARE come an pay me a visit. By the style of her she has young about. A few calling REED BUNTIN and LAPWING with obviously protecting chicks.

                                                                                   HAIRY DRAGONFLY and a

 LARGE SKIPPER.

 

Home

FIRST SIGHTING FOR SUFFOLK OF THIS BIRD

Home:  Not bad for a life tick, from  your back garden. Heading West along Norwich Road very slowly. It was as you can tell a good way off. But its there. It seems that after my tweet is was seen bt 3 others and then lost to England.
                                                                   BLACK STORK:

 

 

 



You can see by this that a garden tick is never easy.


 Next doors window is in shot. Says something for Cannon Camera.

Home and Flixton Wood.

Home: The day started with the pair of PIED WAG calling for there young, but none turned up. I had already seen one so it looks like they had scarpered already. Either that or the SPARROW HAWK that then flew high over had just enjoyed his full breakfast.
Flixton Wood (Camps Heath): As I was about to set of from the car at Camps Heath I noticed that a small group of four GREENFINCH were challenging each other for a snack at something in the sand and salt mixture that lie at the side of the road. It was obvious that the males were trying to hold onto it but females were gaining access to. Just shows what they need to digest all the stuff they eat. So view with interest the link.     http://youtu.be/xuL47AmHQcs   I had a good view of a GARDEN WARBLER without hearing a thing. It sat and looked at me as I stood still in the wood. I also had to viewable BLACKCAP both male and a fleeting female. CHIFFCHAFF 4 and 1 MISTLE THRUSH and SONG THRUSH. ROBIN and a family of LONG TAILED TITS. I also had a look at the nests of the GREY HERONS but it was impossible to tell how many young are there, but I should imagine there are two nests.

Home and Ham

Home: This morning woke up to the sound of SWIFTS over the house. I was surprised when I took a look that they were accompanied by what I assume to be SAND MARTINS. To start of with they were high but as a few minuets went by, they, that is the martins continued to gain height. I was watching with bin's and the only way I could keep them in focus was that they were higher than a gull that was cruising in. Eventually they just disappeared from view. But what height had they gained.

Leath's Ham: The big surprise to me was the increase in male MALLARD who are starting to run into eclipse plumage. I counted 58 males and 7 females. Obviously the female are not breeding and the males. Well I suppose they have done there bit. Today saw 2 GREY HERON. I watched the BLACKCAP which is still singing and the CHIFFCHAFF which was rather upset that I had decided to plant myself near there nest. I also had a visit by a HEADGE SPARROW who seemed intent on keeping his eyes on me as he has a family near by. I also watched a GREENFINCH an adult male in absolutely great form amongst the leaf litter. Finding what he could. There was also a family of LONG TAILED TITS. Who went through in a hurry. I could only track 1 REED WARB today so perhaps they have already had enough.

Benacre, Rushmere and Leathe's Ham

Bright day and a lovely walk in the morning.,

Benacre:  I heard another CUCKOO again here today. This makes my count 7 for the year which is not bad really considering. Also 9 COMMON WHITETHROAT heard singing and 2 others seen not in voice. 3 GREAT CRESTED GREBE, 1 MARSH HARRIER male and a COMMON BUZZARD over Benacre Farm and Church. 12 SHELLDUCK and it looks like a good group behind bank. A single REED WARBLER and a SEDGE WARBLER. Considering I went for waders the water was to high so no joy. I had a good view of a GREAT SPOTTED WOOD and LINNETS where out at 2. SAND MARTINS doing what they do on the cliff. I only heard one WILLOW WARBLER here today.
Rushmere: A pair of BULLFINCH near Marsh Farm. Plus a good number of HOUSE SPARROWS along the lane.
Leath's Ham:   A single POCHARD was a good find and new arrivals in the shape of 2 REED WARBLER. a single PINTAIL female. BLACKCAP and 2 CHIFFCHAFF as well as BLACKBIRD, GREAT and BLUE TIT. GREY HERON and dancing COOT.