Family I have time for.

You can tell its spring and the wanderers have returned, but it is good to meet up with those that are thicker than water. Note the word thicker?

The year list still increases and birds are well on the move, but today I caught up with some other friends and could not resist the pic of a WILLOW WARBLER. While watching the BLACK KITE this bird obliged enough for a portrait.

 



Ness Point, Lowestoft.

Some sea mist but at least summers on the way. A slight south East breeze.

Two flocks of TURNSTONE North with 7 in one a 3 in another. I also had one CURLEW North and fairly close in so good id. 2 CROW and 3 PIED WAGTAIL. 1 GOLDFINCH and that's it other that four KITTIWAKE offshore. Also the pair of PERI still sitting tight on silo but not tight enough it would seem.

Oulton Marsh.

As it was foggy along the coast went a few miles in land for a really good spring day.

Leathe's Ham: As I was driving through a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER flew across the road and landed on the Leathe's Ham side of the main road. 

Oulton Marsh:  Before I had made it to the bottom of the track 22 species under my belt. At the end of the walk 42. The best bird was undoubtedly the SHORT EARED OWL which was being mobbed by CROWS and then quartered well off and up to the track from the railway line. Also while talking to Matt a TREECREEPER was ascending the tree only a few feet away. Plenty of REED BUNTING and a single flock of 10 MEADOW PIPIT. 2 KESTREL and a COMMON BUZZARD. Plenty of CHIFFCHAFF calling and also 9 CETTI'S WARBLERS calling and a few seen. I also had my first BLACKCAP for the year in a male bird which was intent on not having its pic taken. GREAT SPOTTED and GREEN WOODPECKER to is always good for here. JAY and all the Corvides that are local. I also had 2 BARN OWL with one flying from the box latter.

             
This is the second LONG TAILED TIT I have come across with distinct Continental type plumage. This bird was with another three along Fisher Row. It is just that bit odd and no pink colour at all. If you have a comment please feel free to make it as I we are all still learning.

Mersea to Walton 3 miles offshore fishing.

Fantastic day, fishing good birding ok.

Plenty of gulls with one rung bird in the air assumed Orford bird with Red ring.  CORMORANTS all (Sinises) with 1 LITTLE EGERET, 2 BLACK TAILED GODWIT and still a few BRENT GEESE about. 3 OYSTERCATCHER and four TURNSTONE.
I had fly in off the sea, one MEADOW PIPIT and one PIED/WHITE WAGTAIL. But the other surprise was a PEACOCK butterfly heading to Holland.

Herring gull on change from 1st winter to first summer in plumage.

                                                      Robert holding the skippers lobster.

 

What's wrong with a ride round our lovely country.

It's arrived. Lovely day.

Wrentham:  Best bird here today was a lovely pair of LITTLE OWLS. New to me these birds but what a smashing pair?  Good to note the variation in colour, not sure if it is a sexist thing or not. But its very noticeable in this pair.

                                                         

    
 

Hen Reed Bed:   On arrival the call of CETTI'S WARBLER was a real critter. Also the tumbling of a male MARSH HARRIER from high in the sky and strait into the reed bed is something of a classic. Also the plaintive a call of the low flying overhead of a CURLEW is that other feature of spring. Then the other call one which even Mary could here from the car of a booming BITTERN.
IT'S SPRING?
Ness Point:  I had 9 DUNLIN fly close in and head south. Then several CORMORANT heading here there and everywhere. With a close in (Sinesis) in smashing colour. A small flock of KITTYWAKE resting well out on the water and well out RED THROATED DIVER all heading North with 3 GANNET. To really see things moving was to see two FULMER heading low over the water in the same direction as everything else. Then I heard a call behind me and landing just past was a lovely adult male SNOW BUNTING. Truly the last of Winter, summer here we come.

Ditchingham Estate

Overcast sky with wind chill:

Ditchingham Estate:  Best bird of the day for me was my first BARN SWALLOW of the year. Flew through not to stay but view was more than enough followed with bins right down lake and out of sight.
Also the BARN OWL put in a good performance. But what a bout the REEVE'S PHEASANT now there is a bird which had I have been told escaped from a local guys collection. Long live freedom. Bird was at the side of the road as I swung in and ran across just 300 feet away. No camera to hand what a shame. Altogether over 60 species for the day including KINGFISHER and several CHIFFCHAFF but what ever happened to spring.

Sad to hear that my good friend past away early hours of this morning. What a day to enter heaven on a GOOD FRIDAY. See you up there one day Vernon, me old mate. He so liked to go to Ditchingham and even this morning I was talking to someone on the walk about the difficulties in relation to the care of people with dementia. But is it fair to say.....gone but not forgotten... I think so.

 

 

Home

Still a chill wind from the North  with inter sun and cloud.

Home:  First COMMON BUZZARD over the house today. Gulls kicked off and sure enough over Asda car park a raptor which set of after 2 minuets to the West.