Carlton Marsh.

Sun, rain, hail and wind from North West, what can you say.

 

Set out along main track because of wind direction which to me does not give such good views. Best bird in real terms was a single YELLOW WAGTAIL flying of the scrape heading of along Peto's bank. Several SEDGE WARBLER and photo show that one had a ring on. A WHITE WAGTAIL on scrape as well as another "yarnelle".  Two male STONECHAT on wires and a single KESTREL the same. Also one flew through hunting. HOUSE MARTIN 11, SWALLOW 7, SAND MARTIN 6, REDSHANK 2, SHOVELORE, MALLARD, and a pair of EGYPTIAN GOOSE and also 3 GREY LAG GEESE. SKYLARK, LINNET 8, REED BUNTING 3, CROW, ROOK, JACKDAW, MAGPIE, Male MARSH HARRIER and only 2 WILLOW WARBLER and one BLACKCAPE. Also a pair of STOCK DOVES were showing interest in the KESTREL nest box close to the centre.

 

 

Marsh Lane, Worlingham.

Just a short park up and 20 minuets for a look. Bright but chilly.

Best bird here was an adult MISTLE THRUSH feeding a young bird which is so good to see. The adult flew in from across the meadows to feed this one so hopefully there is another young one out there somewhere. Also a pair of COMMON BUZZARD and 2 COMMON WHITETHROAT. A pair of GREENFINCH chasing each other. There was also 2 CHIFFCHAFF calling and a single HOUSE SPARROW. I also had a single SWALLOW and two WREN one of which is below and was sunning itself. A cock RING NECKED PHEASANT tried to hide. A pair of MALLARD flew in on the marsh. 

Thetford Forest-Home-North Dene's

Thetford Forest: Family day out at "Go Ape" Centre which until people started to leave did not heat up with birding. Turned out also warmer as the day progressed. Best bird was a self found FIRECREST which was right close to the centre. The first firecrest I have found that was not calling. CROW, ROOK, NUTHATCH, GOLDCREST, PIED WAG, STARLING, COAL TIT, BLACKCAP, CHIFFCHAFF, CHAFFINCH, ROBIN, WREN, BLACKBIRD, GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT, LONGVTAILED TIT.                              FIRECREST

Home: Woke up to the sound of a BLACK REDSTART calling out the front of the house, flew of North after only a quick view.

North Dene's:  BLACKCAP 5 from Sparrows Nest to Links Hill. CHIFFCHAFF, COMMON WHITETHROAT 6, BLACKBIRD, SONG THRUSH 2, SWALLOW 2, WHEATEAR 2 a male and a female. LINNET 3, GREENFINCH 2, DUNNOCK 2, WOOD PIGEON, CROW, MAGPIE, JAY 1,
At sea very little but resident TURNSTONES along sea wall, with a pair of SANDWICH TERNS flying North and a single OYSTERCATCHER flying South. HERRING GULLL and LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL.

                  

Essex Coast and Carlton Marsh

Spent 10 hours at sea of Mersea Island, Essex in bright sunshine and only a light breeze.

Mersea:  Best bird here was a first for the year in two COMMON TERS heard before being seen and very near the launch pier. Also two SWALLOW on the island. Small flock of TURNSTONE and OYSTERCATCHER, DUNLIN, REDSHANK, BLACK HEADED GULL, LESSER-GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL, HERRING GULL. CROW, ROOK, STARLING, HOUSE SPARROW, GREY HERON.

Carlton Marsh: Just caught sight of a tweet and sure enough followed it up with the sighting although distant still good for a BLACK WINGED STILT. My first for Suffolk and the nearest previously Norfolk. This bird was feeding well and roving about and not disturbed. Well done Matty, I expect you are looking for two trophies now.
Also SHORT EARED OWL one and a WHEATEAR well of on the scrape, two BARNACLE GEESE,  SHOVELORE  as a pair and LAPWING, MALLARD, WILLOW WARBLER, SEDGE WARBLER, LINNET, CETTI'S WARBLER, STARLING, CROW, ROOK, REDSHANK, GREY LAG GEESE.

                                                          A record shot from well of.

Lowestoft South Beach

Easter Monday a family walk along sea front brought  a single EIDER which was resting while boating. Seven TURNSTONE flying of the rocks and plenty of KITTY on the Clairmont. A few HOUSE SPARROWS and STARLING flying with the usual GULL fraternity.

Home: GOLDFINCH a pair with one at 1 meter  from were I sat, CHAFFINCH 1 and STARLING over with odd behaviour with Harry and Sally with him bill holding and trying to show his power over her video to follow. But the nearest thing you can get to a ROCK DOVE in Lowestoft on the South Pier. Only real issue is the featheration down the legs rather than stopping at knee.

Stocksby,Norfolk.

Ride out in the country and our first visit to the local shop for this year. Can't beat his sausage rolls and coffee and a sit by the river. While there I caught sight of four BEARDED TIT and a MARSH HARRIER as well as a very upset OYSTERCATCHER and six SWALLOWS and one SAND MARTIN. Don't forget the MALLARD.

Ditchingam Hall Estate.

Early morning walk around the above with 61 species on the list in four hours.

Best bird for today, well as far as I am concerned was the RED KITE, this is because of the throw back to when there was only six in Wales in the 1960's. So seeing one at anytime in Suffolk is to me always worth the sighting. I also had one SWALLOW and 5 GREY PARTRIDGE. It was also good to catch up with 2 GREY WAG that never seem to fail but be in the same place at the lake outlet. With reasonable number of CHIFF and BLACKCAP all is well but with willow warblers how sad. COMMON BUZZARD, KESTREL, SHELLDUCK, GADWALL, JAY, LITTLE EGERET, GREY HERON, CHAFFINCH, and so the list continues. Long may the work on the estate continue as well as the bacon rolls, thanks Kathy.

Hen Reedbed, Suffolk.

This is the first trip out South for the year. May seem strange but this short visit was well worth the 15 minuets.

As I walked in from the car park I gained a glimpse of my first SAND MARTIN of the year with following views and also two SWALLOW as first for year. But it was also good to see GREEN WOODPECKER and a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER. I also had a single calling BITTERN and two MARSH HARRIER as a pair. CHAFFINCH flying over and a single LITTLE EGERET. There was also 6 GREY LAG GEESE.

Carlton Marsh,

Bright with Westerly breeze.

Best bird today a single YELLOW WAGTAIL which was flitting about other than this little to really go on a about, with no raptors in the air which was a surprise. BLACKCAP 3, CHIFFCHAFF 6, WILLOW WARBLER 4, SEDGE WARBLER 6, PIED WAG 1, SLYLARK, REED BUNTING, also on scrape 4 at rest with an obvious nesting LAPWING and REDSHANK, WIGEON, TEAL, MALLARD, HERON, LITTLE EGERET, SHOELORE.

Norwich to Towcester and back.

Hot day to make this journey.

Altogether seven COMMON BUZZARD on way down and one on return. KESTREL two which seems very low. No Red Kite either.
Road Kill:    10 Badger+3 Munkjack+ 1 Fox+ 1 Barn Owl+ and who can tell how many Pheasant.

Towcester:  Best bird was a single singing BLACKCAP which played an elusive game and also four WHITE WAG and three yarnelli as standard. GOLDFINCH, CHAFFINCH, plenty of BLACKBIRD but only 2 CHIFFCHAFF.

Insects:  At St Neots we stopped at Cath Kidson only to find wood ants in the flower bed. I also had two YELLOW BRIMSTON and three ORANGE TIP butterflies. Also SMALL TORTASHELL.

Carlton Marsh,

Bright day but still not really hot.

Best bird was not a first for the year which was two WILLOW WARBLERS but a small group of STONECHAT which was three male and a single female. I also had 1st year male birds one of which was rung. SEDGE WARBLER came in at 3 and BLACKCAP 2. It was also of interest to watch some WREN which were trying to sort out there relationship. It did not seem to be going well. Just one KESTREL but a good group of male MARSH HARRIER with 3 of them and 2 female as well as 3 COMMO0 N BUZZARD all in the sky together. RDSHANK 3 and several SHOVELOER on the scrape with about 10 LAPWING around and also the sound of SKYLARK. LITTLE EGERET 3 and a pair of SNIPE at the end of the walk pool.

But the best view today was a lovely STOAT that did not hang about. Also with PEACOCK and small TORRISHELL butterfly's I also had a single YELLOW BRIMSTONE. 

 

Started of with sun but by the time I had got round it was overcast and a breeze.

It was good to here the sound of spring with four singing BLACKCAP and plenty of CHIFFCHAFF shouting out. No willow warbler. I did get a really good view of two CETTI'S WARBLER but missed it on the camera, in all six birds. Two COMMON BUZZARD flew around the area from Carlton through Oulton and out over Somerlyton. Two KESTREL hunting high and being escorted by gulls at times.  I also had a really pale female COMMON PHEASANT with four calling birds. LONG TAILED TIT 2, with ROBIN, WREN, BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT. Plenty of SKYLARK singing over Peto's Marsh and a few over the North side. Two CANADA GEESE on scrape and the same for TEAL with one GADWALL. REED BUNTING came in at 9 and a single male STONECHAT was in standing reed on way back. STOCK DOVE paired up with 7 birds in all. ROOK, CROW, JACKDAW, MAGPIE. I also had a late run FIELDFARE in the sheep paddock.

The odd bird however were two birds that sat in a paddock with ponies which turned out to be EMU. Long way from home.