Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk.

Here again. The second time in a few weeks at this venue. Dull day but birding reasonable. This KINGFISHER put in a good view. Best bird however was the PIPIT which has been recorded as a WATER. The thing is that although it has some similarities to this species it hold some odd characteristics. It's jizz was nothi9ng like a meadow but not everything was as a water. But we will go along with the crowd. MARSH HARRIER with one wing tagged. BLACK SWAN and usual variety of duck. Several MARSH TIT and all the others. There was also a pair of STONECHAT.

 

Stracy Arms. Acle, Norfolk.

On the way back from Norwich called in at the railway bridge to give it a view.

How many thousand LAPWING can only be guessed at but ran into a good number. As was the amount of GOLDEN PLOVER sitting on the flats of Breydon. As for raptors a close run with a young female MARSH HARRIER one of three birds in all and two COMMON BUZZARD. A flock of 30 geese I assume PINK FOOTED  flew across from North to South. I heard only one MEADOW PIPIT and a MISTLE THRUSH. Three KESTREL along the strait and over 100 MUTE SWAN along the same. But it was also good to see two EGYPTIAN GEESE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

 

Something away from birding but to me rather an odd end to the year. As I was offered the opportunity to host the Alzheimer's Society dementia friendly Carol Service in Bury St Edmunds Cathedral. Opportunity to gain some funding and also for over 300 people to gather.

So yours truly in the picture.

 



Home

Dull today, but a day to remember. About to head of to Bury St Edmunds as I am hosting the Carol Service at the Cathedral this evening.

I expect anyone who takes a look at this blog, is rather fed up by my red footed friend but I had to place this pic on the blog. If you are fed up you cant have my dinner?

Carlton Marsh,

Bright day with ice and a chill in the air. But the sun made all the difference.

 

Walk through Spratt's Water with BLACKBIRD, LONG TAILED TIT, GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT, DUNNOCK, WREN, ROBIN, ROOK, JACKDAW, CROW.

But on the back track at the double bend a small flock of BEARDED TIT. Three birds seen here and round the corner on the left again another two. Yet further just past brick culvert on left another one. MEADOW PIPIT three birds along here and two GREY HERON. Three COMMON PHEASANT all male.wo COMMON BUZZARD flew over from Castle Marsh and returned and also another in popular trees well over the marsh. REED BUNTING count was seven. A flock of SKYLARK flew in of twelve birds and another single. A SPARROW HAWK flew over from the same direction and headed of down to Oulton. Chinese Water Deer count here was four.

Scrape:  Two REDSHANK and a GREY HERON with a selection of gulls. Plenty of CROWS and ROOKS with seven MUTE SWAN.

Peto's Marsh:  The best here was a SILVER PHEASANT it was scrubbing about but was well red wattled. Water deer count here was five and a KESTREL was hunting well.

Main Track: STONECHAT on right at first reed bed and again male. ROBIN, WREN and BLACKBIRD as well as five MEADOW PIPIT and seven SNIPE flew over calling well. With only one GOLDFINCH and a single REED BUNTING.
                                     Phone scoped at a distance, this marker white pheasant

 

Fly Catcher, North Dene's, Lowestoft.

Reasonably bright day with no wind and chilly.

Fly Catcher Alley: On arrival two JAY calling each other. One must have visited a nearby garden as it had an unopened peanut. Which it kept moving about trying to hide from prying eyes. MAPIE and WOOD PIGEON about with only one ROBIN and WREN  and two DUNOCK. The best bird along here was a single SONG THRUSH which was moving around feeding amongst the leaf litter. BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT and a noisy CROW. Gulls on Oval and moved on to. 
North Dene's: Again three ROBIN along this stretch and only one WREN. A small flock of LOG TAILED TIT and a KESTREL intent on feeding until it settled as can be seen from pic. One GREENFINCH on wild rose bush near Links car park and walk back gave reasonable views of a pair of STONECHAT. only flyover PIED WAG to add here. Out at see an adult GANNET with a black young one moving South. reversing direction a single GREAT CREASTED GREBE.  CORMORANT well out but only a few.

 This herring gull has a few tell tale signs of being just a H-G and nothing else. Close inspection shows streaking on the head, grey saddle and although a large bill, dark eye and seemingly long legs. It is a true form H-G.