Shut Out or is that in?

I have been locked away in my most humble dwelling now for several days, for no other reason that a chest infection has caused me some discomfort. Sounds like I have just left Buckingham Palace.

So some other birding stuff is at hand. When I was introduced to birding it was as a 13 year old and I would spend my weekends with Major General Wainwright on Abberton Reservoir. The major lived at Hill Farm, Layer-de-la-Haye. In fact just across the village from me with His wife Lady Nancy Craven. The general was of the stiff upper lip for his day and things would have to be right but he was always good to me. So he is remembered in a very fond way. I could tell some stories here but will refrain. But John who for as long as I can remember has run the Layer garage has managed to forward me some pictures of the general and if anyone can give any information on who the other people are in the picture it would be of interest to me.

North Denes, Lowestoft.

Overcast with occasional light rain and still.

Caught up with 2 CHIFFCHAFF but nothing odd about them even when I gained good views. I also had 2 STONECHAT but difficult in the low light to gain a good picture. Also 12 LINNET and 8 GREEENFINCH. A few GREAT and BLUE TIT, but not one L.T.T. There were two JAYS and 3 MAGPIE. One second year MED GULL and two adult birds. Not as many BLACKBIRDS but I did have a single SONG THRUSH which was unusual for Gunton Cliff. The marauding CARRION CROW numbered three so something has changed here as well.

Waveney Forest and Mound.

Very still and cold with water lightly frozen, slight breeze from West.

First engagement was on walk  through with a flock of 25 LONG TAILED TIT. followed by a JAY which was one of 4 for the day. GOLDCREST in good numbers with only 2 CHAFFINCH. ROBIN and WREN in good numbers but due to deforestation only 3 COAL TIT, a few BLU and GREAT TIT. When I approached the mound 7 BLACKBIRD took flight. Not much yet from this view point but 9 CHINESE WATER DEER and a single KESTREL. Far over the island  several CURLEW, LAPWING, PINK FOOTED GEESE, MUTE SWAN, MALLARD, 9 MUTE SWAN and 3 MEADOW PIPIT flew on by.
Walk through the woods brought just one WOODCOCK but it was good to see 20+ BLACKBIRD feeding in a rowan tree. Some of these birds were not British in origin and came by the look of it from Bavaria. They were feeding with a single FIELDFARE. GOLDCREST again and a scattering of TIT'S. I came across some feathers and suspected them to be woodcock and checked out at home and sure enough they where flank feathers.
                                                  Four flank feathers from a WOODCOCK

Ness Poin, Lowestoft.

North wind doth blow and we shall have.........first LITTLE AUK of the year with one bird flying North with DUNLIN and single bird on its own flying same way. A few KNOT mixed around with dunlin but the other bird of note was a single SOOTY SHEARWATER which was being beaten back by the wind. I also had six other auk which you cannot separate from each other but just good to see fly through. CORMORANT numbered 7. 17 SHELLDUCK, MALLARD 7, KITTIWAKE 2, DUNLIN flew north in two flocks numbering 30. I also had two flocks of STARLING fly in off numbering 50 birds in all. GANNETS flying well out and about 50 birds in all, but many more in reality. BRENT GEESE again North but only 3.

 

Home: Just before sunset if you can call it that I had 6 BLACKBIRD on my garden postage stamp lawn.

 

Links Hill, Lowestoft.

Overcast with light West wind and raining. A dark day before Christmas. Some sad idiot has there front decorated for the season already with tree in the garden and light all a show.

 

50+ BLACK HEADED GULL just standing around with one colour ringed bird. Also two of these birds were roseate in colour. My understanding of this is that birds with this colouration come from the continent and have been feeding on krill to give this pigmentation. But who knows. One COMMON GULL and 5 HERRING GULL. As I drove to the sea wall saw a small bird come up from beach and wall sit. Soon jumped down again, so got wet and found a single SNOW BUNTING. A flock of 9 GREENFINCH flew onto small bush on North Denes.  

Snow, snow, quick, quick, snow.  Now come on.



          Youth hangs on?                                             What is a rose by any other name.                  

 

Lowestoft Old Coastguard Station

Very strong winds over night from the South West, pulled even more Southerly but speed dropping, with inter sun.

Movement of GANNET both North and South with some feeding. One bird flew close in and surface feeding. Two MED GULL one immature and one adult. TURNSTONES flew by with 10 birds in all and no Purple among them. One unidentified auk flying North but the best was 3 ARCTIC SKUA with two of them setting about gulls. Good entanglement at one time with a total hit on one bird but no sooner appearing than disappearing. Obviously water sitting. Braver than myself.

 

Not very good pic and only a GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL but it was 2 miles away, such is the power of the digi-scope.

 

Waveney Bird Club

Spent the evening at bird club with Adam, (Reserve Manager) giving an update on the work at Minsmere. There is no doubt that the work of the reserve is well understood, but to gain an understanding of were things are heading is always of interest.  But it was also good to see the forward planning in regards to support that WBC can give to the reserve. The desire to provide on going support towards disability is a good concept and one that I for sure will encourage. If you happen to read this I would ask you to consider your support to the end of helping others who are in need.

Tramps Alley, Gunton. Lowestoft.

Fishing was the aim of the game today but sitting by the sea for over 5 hours is an opportunity.

Mind you little about but that's nothing new either, but did manage to get 12 MED GULL on the beach together. Also had another fly by of a LITTLE EGERET heading south offshore. The best however was an unusual Kitty which was swimming offshore. Picture not good but unseasonal for Lowestoft.

Corton Wood

Light rain with very brief sun and the same with the wind.

Very little about after two hours of looking for a rarity. No such luck even with a walk along the lower level of Corton Cliff. A few GOLDCREST still calling with a TIT flock containing  L-T-TIT, BLUE, GREAT TIT. ROBIN WREN, GREEN WOODPECKER, BLACKBIRD and PIED WAGTAIL made up most of what was seen but I did have a short glimpse of a KESTREL and that concludes the tale.

Breydon South Wall

No surprise I dipped, but still what a great place to bird. I had 6 SPOTTED REDSHANK in one shot and also a fly by low to water of a KINGFISHER. GOLDEN PLOVER put on a good show and a scattering of GREY PLOVER with several KNOT feeding among the other waders. RINGED PLOVER and DUNLIN. Also 14 AVOCET and PINTAIL, WIGEON, GADWALL, MALLARD and TEAL. I also had a MEADOW PIPIT and CETTI'S WARBLER.
                                              Now how can this ever be less than anything.

Tramps Alley

Fishing from the shore in heavy fog. Very still.

The usual MED GULLS sitting tight around anglers waiting for scraps. With 11 birds in all and one immature bird. With a single fly by LITTLE EGERET heading North.