Links Hill and Ness Point

Dull old day but still.

Links Hill:    Only BLACK HEADED GULL at rest but 7 GREENFINCH scattered between the bushes. But on the sea heading South a single SHAG was heading down on the tide to roast in, I expect Hamilton Dock.
Ness Point:   36 TURNSTONE around Birdseye and a PIED WAG.

Great evening last night with WBC, which was presented by Mark Avery who gave a talk on "Driven grouse moors". great insight into the subject which covered areas which are very revealing. He also faced head on some of the main  issues but on questioning it seems that there needs to be some more thought into what we are looking for. I understand that the it the real and true protection of  raptors, but the countryside and how it could be developed is still one that needs to be looked at, or so it seems.........I also won the the raffle and so a big thank you to John Evans for the photo of a Red Grouse which Mark signed for me.........Also a big thank you to Kathy Piotroswki for such a great evening. Well done Kathy.

Home.

Home: Still he comes and yet closer with a late evening shot, as his eyes are closing for the end of the day.

 

This is BTO record of WAXWING sighting a week ago.

MW	RG	NW41662	07/01/2017	Aboyne, Deeside, Aberdeenshire	6f		Ringed today	IH, ML, HS,	IH
MW	RG	NW41662	04/02/2017	Bloodmoor Road, Pakefield, Lowestoft, Suffolk	6f	588kmSE	Resighting. PHOTOGRAPH	Rob Murray, Jane Ferguson	IH
MW	RG	NW41662	12/02/2017	Conrad Road, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft, Suffolk	6f		Resighting. PHOTOGRAPH	Gaius Hawes	IH



Marsh Lane, Carlton Colville.

Started bright but soon the light failed. The walk was along the track from the level crossing and mile down and return.

The Wood:  Best bird in here was a single TREECREEPER as well as several GOLDCREST which flited around the ivy covered trees. CHAFFINCH calling as well as feeding. BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, but also a pair of JAYS kicking of for what reason I have no idea. WREN came in at four birds.
On the Track:  A single fly over SNIPE and three COMMON BUZZARD over Barnby which were obviously sorting out breeding. One bird was smaller and lighter but an obvious pair. The other bird was rather put out and cleared of for a rove round only to return again and be sent away. Also a female MARSH HARRIER and a very dark COMMON BUZZARD over the river Waveney. CETTI'S WARBLER  could be heard, but only two but at least I managed to glimpse one. STOCK DOVE 19 and GREY HERON 2. SKYLARK have paired up as 3 pairs and a single bird. A far of flock of LAPWING but only three along lane. I also heard a STONECHAT but it took five minuets to find it. Last years MUTE SWANS all looked rather out of sorts.

                                 Common Buz pairing.                         Out of focus Stonei

                              Skylark with his eye on me?                  Snipe heading away.

Ness and Leathe's Ham.

Made time for a run out despite feeling under the weather.

Ness Point:   TURNSTONE came in 18 birds and PURPLE SANDS at 5 with CORMORANT flying North with only 4 birds. CARRION CROW were giving the gulls some grief with four birds giving the big heave ho to gulls as food about.

Silo: Only one PERI on silo unlike yesterday when two were there with one display flying.

Leathe's Ham:  Still plenty of GADWALL in and PINTAIL the same. Also a pair of MUTE SWAN and only 6 TUFTED DUCK. LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL at least 5 birds all adult. MALLARD, SHOVELORE 4, MORHEN, COOTE, BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT,

Conrad Road, Lowestoft.

Jonathan came in and said that he had just seen some WAXWINGS at Conrad Road, about 35 birds he thought. So took a ride out there with him and managed a few shots. But it was so dull again today so no chance of good pictures. I counted about 18 birds but already 8 birds had took to flight. The best thing about this was that one bird was colour ringed as can be seen from the dodge photo. But good enough to do the job.

                                                                                            Red above Green ring.

 

 

Again

RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE in a flash.

 

Trams Alley, Lowestoft.

Dull old day to go fishing, but I did. Well I would have done if there had been any. As for Tramps Alley I looked like Compo, but then they said that of my dad.

So what I had was 3 BRENT GEESE flying South and 260+ CORMORANT heading to Fritton to roost. We had our normal company with MED GULLS coming in at four birds. But the best was a very friendly KITTYWAKE who was intent on being fed. So I tried him out and found it loved SQUID, MACKREL, CHEESE, gagged on bread and would not look at lug worms or fresh king prawns. So you can work it out for yourself. But also would not touch my wife's butterfly cakes. He was also what I call a WRY BILL kitty as his lower mandible what skewed to port. Take a look at pic's below.

Video on:   https://youtu.be/nVK7Mi5B40M

 

 

Waterloo Park, Norwich.

School run for grand kids  with a park up and on return there were two SONG THRUSHS in full song competing. Sign of the times or is that of the season.

Home

And still he keeps coming in for feed. But it must be an easy life when you have someone so well trained as me. I even get called to come and feed him now.

 

Leathe's Ham,

As the day drew to a close it improved with a great sunset.

Still lots of GADWALL and PINTAIL with just a few SHOVELORE about but an increase in TUFTED DUCK but new on the scene here was the new arrival of a single LITTLE GREBE and a fly through male SPARROWHAWK which skirted the far reed bed before diving into cover in the far wood. LESSER BLACK BACKES counted out at three.

Blunderston Lanes and Marsh.

Bright with moderate wind from the West.

First real sign of spring was these snowdrops on a bank as I started out.

But as for birds a large flock 150+ FIELDFARE feeding in false crop field. These birds were very flitty hence the bad pic's. Calling COMMON BUZZARD over Flixton and another flew through heading for the marsh. Small stuff was hard to find but a dead grey heron was just lying around. It had not been shot but was an adult bird and was not far from were they breed. BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, flock of GOLDFINCH and flock of GREENFINCH. ROBIN, WREN, BLACKBIRD and a single SKYLARK. There seems to be  a movement of COMMON GULLS and a flock turned up while on walk. At the cottages 9 MORHEN.

                                                               Fieldfare and Skylark.

In the garden again and a herons foot.