Links Hill, Lowestoft.

Late call with a few COMMON TERN and two birds rather light which could well be ARTIC TERN but no clear id. As for the garden a count of 19 SWIFT and 8 HOUSE SPARROWS. PERI flew through  heading for the silo.

             

 

Minesmere with W.B.C.

Rain stopped to make it a good evening, with plenty of waders. The best being YELLOW-LEGGED GULL and CASPIAN GULL and John to give us a run down on the id. Also 7 SPOTTED REDSHANK and over 148 BLACK TAILED GODWIT and 168 DUNLIN one of the highest counts for many years. But the sad thing about this was that only 11 birds were this years progeny. We also had glimpse of two WATER RAIL one of which went for a swim. A single HOBBY flew towards us in East Hide and a SPARROW HAWK flew West beside us with prey, which I assume was a PIED WAGTAIL. I also counted five LITTLE RINGED PLOVER and a pair of BITTERN flew over the far marsh. I also had a view although far of a BARN OWL. COMMON and SANDWICH TERN flew in and left just as quick as did a single LITTLE GULL which was also complemented by a MED GULL. MARSH HARRIER count was 3  and teal about 20 birds.

Here there and everywhere.

Best bird of recent was PERI flying through the garden which caused some confusion.

But the thing of interest has been the change of habit as far as Harry and Sally are concerned. Both young visit regular but one more than another. But for the last three days Harry has been rather strange. He is coming in but not feeding except when given fish.Which he takes and feeds the young. But turns his nose up at bread.  It seems as if Harry has gone of the feed so he is trying to wean his young. The difference between him not eating and not feeding young is seemingly difficult to negotiate for him.
Although one young tries its luck with the bread. But the real interest is the relationship between Harry and Sally. She arrived on her own on the roof of the shed and fed on bread that had been left by Harry. Normally any gull that tries to eat what he leaves receives a quick reminder by a pass or a direct his from Harry. But she ate some and then he turned up at her side and moved in to remove her. She flew to a nearby chimney and he followed and moved her on. She flew to nest site and he moved her on again. So he is looking to securing his territory.
HOUSE SPARROWS have moved into the garden as never before. With eight birds in all of which 4 are female 2 are young birds and 2 are male.
BLUE TIT and GREAT TIT on the table today with COLLARD DOVE, BLACKBIRD, mum dad and the young one. STARLING, WOOD PIGEON.

Walcott:  LITTLE TERN flew through but a good pic was difficult. In all 5 birds and 3 CORMORANT and one COMMON TERN.

BUNGAY: Flyover MUTE SWAN with 3 birds as well as GREENFINCH, GOLDFINCH, WOOD PIGEON, STOCK DOVE 1, CROW, ROOK, STARLING. 3 Common Buzzard.

                                                                                 Little Tern, Walcott Norfolk.

Great Black Backed Gull Gorleston Boat Lake

Fairhaven Lord, Acle Strait New Road.

On the South side of the road half way to Stacey Arms in flash pools two WHITE STORK assumed from Thrigby Hall with LITTLE EGERET and GREY HERON. This was only a drive by so no real surprises on views. But all birds visible from the road. On the return journey 2 miles further to Acle a HOOBY flew South over the A47. At my daughters in Norwich, Old Catton several screaming SWIFT more than we have here in numbers and also much more vocal. A  high soaring COMMON BUZZARD as well as a SPARROWHAWK being mobbed by swift.

As for home Tuesday saw Harry bring in two young one of which found its way into next doors garden. This bird could only just fly but was tangled in blue cotton. So next door held its leg and I worked on it until it was free. Placed it in the shed because it was to hot. Gave it a pond to cool it down and chicken for food. On return in the evening I place the bird on the top of the roof and by morning it was back on its roof on the other side. Only to fly down with dad a calling incessantly.

He never complained about the stae of my shed so don't you.

 

Ness Point, Lowestoft.

Showers on and of all day.

Ness:    Very little here except managed a pic of a rung gull which was a new one to me. Reported in and see what joy there is with this bird. Note the fishing line around the birds leg which does not bode well. Several gulls well out all moving North with a few KITTYWAKES doing the same.

Towcester, Buck's

Visit to family on a very windy few days.

Towcester:    Best bird GREY WAGTAIL which I locked onto on two separate occasions although very briefly. On both occasions flying adjacent to Silverstone  Brook. But the real surprise here was the amount of young BLACKBIRDS which on my count was over 35 different birds over an hour. This along with BROWN MEADOW butterflies as well as TORTS and COMMON SKIPPER. But the best  was the number of RINGLET butterflies. I also had a  single SPARROWHAWK  which was a flyover bird. I also had four COMMON BUZZARD journeying there and back.

Home: Failed to report through the blog that on July 5th I had a flyover heading North of nine MEDITERRANEAN GULLS. These could well have been birds from Minesmere which have been breeding there. Today I had a single flyover of a SPARROWHAWK as well as 19 SWIFT heading south with three SAND MARTIN and  a single SWALLOW. PIED WAG in the garden and a GREATER BLACK BACKED GULL.

        

 

Home

Did not venture far today but of interest was the PERI which flew low through the houses again with one bird carrying prey. There was also young birds flying around for much of the day with adult keeping up the noise. I also had a Crowned Phlyctaenia moth on the window.

Hen Reed Bed, Suffolk.

Called in to Hen and Sotterly and a chill late evening.

Hen:  Good to see brief view of overhead BITTERN which is an issue when driving. But REED BUNTING, REED WARBLER, REEDLING all playing there part with several LITTLE EGERET with five in the air at one time and two on the ground let alone others. A HOBBY along dump perimeter and COMMON BUZZARFD but the best was two young MARSH HARRIER who fell into the reed bed after being dropped food from the air. A few SWIFT but many more SAND MART5IN and the occasional SWALLOW and HOUSE MARTIN. A single BARN OWL at far end.

Sotterly: The usual LITTLE OWL family which could have two young but one any way.