When you come to the end of your lolly pop.

Well I can't see much more birding being done this year, so it's time to reminisce and after sorting out of some books look what I have found. My first real bird book. P.A.D. Hollom. If you wonder what the ducks are they were given me in 1963 by a women who was 92 years old. They are made of felt and old Miss Vesey told me they belonged to Princes Josephine one of the daughters of Napoleon. I have no way of knowing if that is true but they do look French. As for the book it has seen better days but then it was used well. At the time this was the best bird book around and changed my birding forever.

 
 



       

     

Cause for a celebration.

Well against all the odds I came away with the Lounge Lizard trophy for a year. So thanks to all those from the club who voted the BLACK STORK as the bird for the year and of course to all those who didn't. Thanks also to those who bothered to pick up on the twitter and were able to see it for themselves.

 

I never ever felt that this trophy would ever come my way, even if it was only by one vote, it gives credence to all the hours of enjoyment and a really big thank you to all those who share locally in this passion. Even if I did see it from my own garden. Perhaps the best garden tick I will ever have.

 

I have also been given to understand that although Mr Riley evidently won, they thought that I needed it more. How sad for Mr Riley.

 

 

 

 

Leathe's Ham:   A regular call inhere today was full of birding if only. If only it had stayed viewable for a few more seconds. If only it had not crept away into under growth. If only I had my camera with me and had not left it in Norwich. If only I had not been just that little bit to far away. If only I had got the scope out quicker. See what I mean. So was it a Ferruginous Duck. Well it had a substantial rear end. Was not appreciated by the TUFTED DUCK who very quickly shifted out onto the island. The length of the white which was clear and bright white unlike that on Tufted was at water level about 40mm long. It did have a bright eye, so should have been a male, but my thinking was it was female. Just a little longer next time please.

 

Other stuff 1 KINGFISHER which had just caught and was killing of its prey on a branch. Also 1 TEAL and GADWALL, PINTAIL, WIGEON, MALLARD, COOT, MOORHEN, 1 DABCHICK and 1 CHAFFINCH.

Oulton Marsh

Bright but chilly and wind from the west. Some ice in the puddles.

Best bird was a MERLIN which flew from over Petto's Marsh towards me. Was originally trying it on with a MEADOW PIPIT but failed in it's quest. Flew nearly over my head high and headed out still high over Oulton Marsh to the East. Also had 2 SPARROW HAWK one was a large brown bird assumed as above but could have been a GOSHAWK as it was very large. There was also a male bird about over St Michaels Church. 1 KESTREL and 1 MARSH HARRIER. adult female. A small flock of GOLDFINCH and 4 GREAT TIT. In regards to ducks 4 SHOVELORE and 218 WIGEON as well as 13 MALLARD. LAPWING flying a resting towards Herring Fleet.

Leathe's Ham

Again cold but then not that bad wind from the West.

Best bird was again another CHIFFCHAFF they seem to follow the tit flock which was 11 LONG TAILED TIT and 7 BLUE TIT. 3 CHAFFINCH as well. Just one MOORHEN and a single LITTLE EGERET. A few more PINTAIL about and GADWALL also 5 WIGEON.

                                                    

 

Lake Loathingland.

The sun shone for an hour today, but I was at ASDA so out we go.

 

Best bird was a ROCK PIPIT that was behind the Marine Services dock near Asda. This bird flew of towards the bridge calling well. There was also a MAGPIE holding ground here as well as a single CROW. About 50 BLACK HEADED GULLS feeding on the water and 3 CORMORANT. At the other end of the quay between Asda and Honda dealer a single KINGFISHER flew through and there was 10 REDSHANK feeding well in the shallow water. Also 2 CROW calling from behind Honda. 

Ness Point, Leathe's Ham and Lake Loathingland.

Still this low cloud hangs over us with a breeze from the East. Cold but not that far gone.

Ness Point:    Several RED THROATED DIVERS flying through mostly North with auk's unidentified amongst them. Also a few ducks but again to far to id. One PURPLE SAND and a TURNSTONE is all it can deliver today.

Leathe's Ham:  The amount of ducks varies here from day today or even from hour to hour. So again there seems to be low numbers here. But did make 12 PINTAIL DUCK 1 KINGFISHER 14 COOT and the best was a pick up on to CHIFFCHAFF. Both birds were a/typical and nothing to get excited about. If only? Also 3 DABCHICK and 22 MALLARD. with BLACK HEADED GULLS and HERRING GULLS as well as a fly through KESTREL. Other small stuff around with about 15 LONG TAILED TITS and a scattering of BLUE TITS. I also had 7 BLACKBIRD and 4 WRENS as well as 11 CHAFFINCH.

Lake Loathingland:   Don beside the lake a single REDSHANK which did not stay long and with it a single TURNSTONE. Also had  some CORMORANT fly out towards the sea and a few young gulls just being young in the water.

Acle Strait (Yesterday):   Best bird on way through was a very good showing ROUGH LEGGED BUZZARD. This bird was low to the ground and turned this time for a good view of it's rear end. Surprise. Also has another COMMON BUZZARD buzz the car. Large flocks of GOLDEN PLOVER in the air as were the LAPWING. Only had one CURLEW. The west side of Acle on the North of the A47 just before Cantley junction a flock of PINK FOOTED GEESE about 290 birds in all. But nothing with them. Mind you I did have about 25 FIELDFARE and few REDWING with them in copse along the back road to Wroxham.

 Thought I would have some shut eye before beginning my feed up.

 

Of recent weeks had up to six Blackbird in view in the garden. This one has stayed and looks as if it's beak is bigger. But not much else to make it a continental bird.