Gunton Warren and return via disussed track.

Day started out with fog, so not the best conditions for viewing but ok for birding. Over the
House:  two small warblers with CHAFFINCH in the tree as well as GREAT and BLUE TIT. I also had one fly over MEADOW PIPIT and 2 DUNNOCK were calling by the time I left.
Gunton Wood:  Three JAY were sorting themselves out with noise. It seems that MAGPIES did not want to join in. LONG TAILED, GREAT and BLUE TITS around as well as 1 CHIFF. On exit of wood a SPARROWHAWK flew along cliff and was followed in the fog by what can only be described as a GREY HERON but in reality I could not see through the murk. A few ROBINS and only 1 WREN until a WHINCHAT on a bramble put in an appearance. A walk up tramps alley to the sounds of ROBIN, WREN and TITS
Dip Farm:  Until just short of the railway bridge the sound of several GOLDCREST. I locked on to a pair and then another, followed by yet another. I followed the pair and at 3 meters a female FIRECREST gave itself a good view and was gone. I stayed around for the next 20 minuets but no more sign, I gained a view of a GREEN WOOD and 4 BLACKBIRDS. I made my way along the Railway Cut:  and heard up front a CHIFF. This bird was unafraid and was sitting only  ammeter from my face. But soon as camera was raised it soon hid up. I counted in all 5 RED ADMIRALS and also a lovely COMA see below. The walk back was only greeted by 3 GREENFINCH and a single LINNET.
                                                                         COMA

    The very pale Pintail is back at the Ham and as for this Little, Little Grebe he was not happy.

 There is just something about a Crow

Ness Point

twitter went of and so did I. As Rob had just located juvenile RED-BACKED-SHRIKE. The amazing thing is that no one has disturbed it. So many workers and dog walkers its a wonder it hasn't totally shot on through.



Carlton Marsh, Oulton Broad,

I took a detour round Gislham on the way a saw a young SWALLOW resting on a wire. Needs to get a move on. The walk down to the scrape saw good numbers of MEADOW PIPIT but things did not really improve until I reached the bushes before the work being done by the environment. A flock of LONG TAILED TITS came through across the track with bot BLUE and GREAT TIT. Also with this 2 GOLDCREST and a few MEADOW PIPIT one took refuge in a bare tree and was hassled by a CHIFFCHAFF. This was a autumn fresh bird which always gives you the twitch. I also saw from this end of the scrape 2 waders which turned out to be RUFF. Altogether I put up 9 REED BUNTING and saw 3 GREY HERON. 3 STOCK DOVE and a PEREGRINE flew through. I would think this is a male bird by its size. I also had a light phase COMMON BUZZARD and 2 KESTREL. I also took a pic of a RUDDY DARTER. On the way home 2 SHAG at Mutford Lock.

Tramps Alley, Gunton Cliff

Six hours fishing from the shore today. Managed 9 fish. 3 Dogfish + 2 Smooth Hound + 1 freshwater eel + 3 Whiting.

 

 

In bird watching terms the best was the 5 MED GULLS that kept us company all afternoon. All bird were adult and no young to be seen. One bird was colour ringed and seemed to be Dutch  E861. I also had a flock of 7 MALLARD fly south offshore. Also one SWALLOW on Corton Road and one unidentifiable migrant heading the wrong way North.

All over the place

Wind turned to the North West which for us here is not good. Birding considering is difficult as there is not the movement that you would expect. But then when are we satisfied?

Home: Stepped outside the front door to see what was obviously 2 pairs of SWALLOW heading north. They where very low considering.

Corton Logging Mill: Best bird was a close encounter with a brown juvenile SPARROW HAWK Which was post sitting when I came round the corner. I also had a fly over COMMON BUZZARD that put every gull up on the plant roof. I was frustrated by another fly bye in the shape of a little LBJ. The thing was it was at 30 feet and as it flew it was showing a slight white to top of tail. No Wheatear and no Whinchat this bird so it was a distinct possibility of a Red Breasted Fly, but it would not show, so there you go. I also had a GREEN WOOD and 2 JAY. MOORHEN, CHAFFINCH, GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT, LONG TAILED TIT, GREENFINCH, GOLDFINCH, MAGPIE, ROOK, CROW, WOOD PIGEON, ROBIN, WREN,
The best pic today was of a SMALL WHITE BUTTERFLY.

Links Hill:   Had a fly in bird from well out but very difficult to id. In fact the only thing I could pin it to was a migrating WOOD PIGEON. So the only thing of not out at sea was a very brief view of a HARBOUR PORPOISE.

Leathe's Ham: Influx of varied duck again today with a sizable number of female PINTAIL, also TUFTED DUCK, MALLARD, GADWALL, WIGEON, DABCHICK, MOORHEN, 3 LITTLE EGERET and 2 GREY HERON.

This must be a male Pintail in eclipse by showing a really good green blaze on his wing which is often hard to see at this time of the year.

 Star gazing.

North Dene's

A really warm day for September. With a walk from Sparrows Nest round the Oval and North Dene's provided some good views of WHINCHAT. There was at least 4 birds flitting about and would not be surprised if there was not double this amount. I also had some good views on NORTHEREN WHEATEAR of which there was one on the Deane's and 5 at the nets. PIED WAGTAIL at the caravans with a really good adult MED GULL. Several MAGPIES and a single JAY. 7 BLACKBIRDS in Sparrows Nest which I assume have flown in. MEADOW PIPITS as well some defiantly flying south. I also had a single SKYLARK and a bathing group of TURNSTON. To see this click the link that follows.    http://youtu.be/W_wWmLrpQv8

Have you ever seen these before,  I came across a flock of 19 in Holker Hall, Cumbria. They are accordingly EAST INDIAN BLACK DUCKS of course bred this way from America in or around 1830's.



 

South Shore, Great Yarmouth.

I needed to visit today so made a few stops along the way. A cup of coffee north of the town at the old Water Ways had a call of a Chiffchaff but was unable to locate it as it was so mobile. But managed to gain a pic of a GREY HERON. We then went along the south shore and on the fence was an obvious bird which was very evasive but at least a picture proved the point in that it was a SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. I also had a fly over WHEATEAR and a MED GULL.

 

Barnards Meadow and Lowestoft Cemetery

Nothing on Barnards so walked through along old railway track with a single GREENFINCH and a few HOUSE SPARROWS. Plenty of ROBIN calling. Eventually found a female BLACKCAP and 2 CHIFFCHAFF. There was a large roving group of GREAT, LONG, and BLUE TITS. I also has several calling GOLDCREST. In cemetery came a cross 2 SMALL COPPER and plenty of HEADGE SPARROWS. also only one CHAFFINCH. On return walk past Barnards Meadow 3 PIED WAG and 4 WHEATEAR one bird was a good adult male which is my best bird of the day.

Abberton Resevoir. Essex.

Spent a few days with my sis down in Colchester so a few hours on a few days brought the following. It was obvious the GREAT WHITE EGERET that was reported from the Layer Breton end. You would have to be blind to miss it. Thank God that is not the case for me, although for my sis it is not the same call as she will undergo eye surgery in a weeks time.

 Best bird in real terms was above but I did enjoy the view of a highbred RED CRESTED POCHARD. but then who wouldn't. Only purist I suppose. But then what RCP is pure these days. I also managed another tick for the year here and was also surprised by a late YELLOW WAG which was enjoying the company of PIED WAG which there must have been 30 of. I also found on an adjacent field 30 STOCK DOVE which by many are just looked over but how encouraging is that. There where also WIGEON, PINTAIL, TEAL, MALLARD, POCHARD, TUFTED DUCK, GADWALL, GREAT CRESTED GREBE, MOORHEN, COOT, and to finish it of 2 COMMON TERN young birds. Also the lingering SWALLOWS and I counted 11 RUFF.

On way home a HOBBY was hunting on the south side of the river at Kessingland.





North Dene's and Ravinmgham

On return home a walk one evening found us in good stead with WHINCHAT and STONECHAT as well as WHEATEAR. The garden was up to it's usual as well with 3 BUZZARD flying over on Monday morning. The wheatear at the nets where especially impressive and as usual very obliging.
Ravingham:     On arrival a clear very high flying COMMON BUZARD and a HOBBY was in company. The CHETI'S was not obliging with only brief views but a lovely YELLOW BRIMSTONE was a pure delight from the coffee shop at the church.

Coniston, Cumbria.

Taken a few days to sort out my pic's considering over 700 taken. There is a problem with digital photography. Best bird was the opportunity to watch each morning NUTHATCH coming onto the feeder behind the cottage. As well as COAL TIT and a variety of small stuff. Other than that was the views of a pair of MERLIN allowing themselves to be chased by CROWS as they had a young one in tow. Made very good show as did the RAVENS that each morning would fly over the cottage and return the same evening. Also saw a pair on the Old Man Of Coniston. Which I climbed at day break on my 65th birthday. From one old man to another. I managed several RED BREASTED MER and COMMON BUZZARD was daily. There was a massive flock of REDSHANK near Ulverstone and a few Eider round the corner. With loads of SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS unlike here where they are on the way back to Africa.