Home and around.

Home:  The day started in the back garden with sound of an adult BLACK REDSTART calling from over the railway track. This was followed by 5 SWIFT that continued  to reel overhead.  But further on in the morning the gull family kicked off and sure enough I located a RED KITE which was a first for home this year. Although well off I am surprised at the shots I managed as this bird was never closer than 600 yards.
Carlton Marsh:  Called in to show off the LITTLE OWL which obliged so all well although overcast pic was contrived.

Abberton Resevoir and Home

Bright day and a ride round Abberton.

Best bird was a LITTLE RINGED PLOVER which was in its usual position at far bay of causeway on left. Also a few COMMON TERN and GREAT CRESTED GREBE, as well as 9 YELLOW WAGTAIL, COMMON BUZZARD, TUFTED DUCK, MALLARD, POCHARD, GREY LAG GEESE, MUTE SWAN, SWALLOW, SAND MARTIN, COMMON WHITETHROAT, BLACKCAP, CORN BUNTING, CUCKOO, SHELLDUCK, PIED WAGTAIL, JACKDAW, ROOK, CROW,

        

Home:  Two HERRING GULLS on roof with rings one red and the other white. Also BLACK REDSTART in the day heard but not seen.

https://youtu.be/cdHrHEkdUiU

 

Lound Lakes.

Day started for me here at 9am after following son on his round Somerlyton 25 miles bike race.

 

 

The best was not a bird but a female Adonis Blue butterfly, if it was it beyond rare for here. This was a real chance to see a good sighting as it was feeding with a single male HOLLY BLUE. Could not find a male but still good to see. A pair of BARNACLE GEESE, 1 GREY LAG and a single GREY HERON. Best bird was a single viewable GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER and I also heard a GREEN. Two JAY, but if that is good I am not sure. BLACKCAP, SEDGE WARBLER, CHIFFCHAFF, COMMON WHITETHROAT, GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT.

Some have responded to my claim and if I am at all honest I have doubts. But there are some things that are odd, as my pic shows white on either side of the black spot. But has several characteristics of Brown Arugus and if again I come down on any side it would be this. 

Lodge Road, Walberswick.

A rather inter day with a strong South Westerly wind.

 

Parked at the end of lane near what my children used to call the haunted house. While there a mixed flock of Hirundu came through with all SWALLOW, SAND MARTIN, HOUSE MARTIN and SWIFT. A very large GREY HERON gave me a fright but sure enough it was as thought. CROW, ROOK, JACKDAW, COMMON PHESANT, RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE. ROBIN, COMMON WHITETHROAT, SONG THRUSH, GOLDCREST, GOLDFINCH, COMMON BUZZARD 2, MAGPIE, STOCK DOVE, WOOD PIGEON, But best was a WOODLARK which was ground feeding and it turned out there was two there. So this was encourageing as photo confirmed the sighting, but only a record shot. Also a GREEN WOODPECKER. I also had a HOBBY fly through heading South against the wind.

 

Dunwich:   Brief encounter with a DARTFORD WARBLER which flew from gorse at side of road. WHITETHROAT also around.  

 

Uggashall: As we where driving through a RED KITE was loafing in a dead tree.

Oulton Marsh.

Not so bright today but some warmth. I was asked to support Ivan in taking round a group from SWT which proved interesting all round.

We managed 44 species for the 3 hours from 10 am. Best bird being a pair of Bearded Tit on the top corner pool. Also plenty of REED WARBLER and SEDGE about. It was the first time I have watched aggression between these two species. Sedge was well up a stalk when a Read came in on the act and moved it on. REED BUNTING to kept them happy as did COMMON WHITETHROAT. I introduced them to a latest migrant as I am sure that there are two Rhea in a meadow, a long way from South America.

I learnt something about botany today as I was introduced to a plant called foxtail. I never new you could learn so much about a weed. Also there is a rare willow on the marsh to and to finish it of a Scarce Emerald Damselfly.

North Cove, Marsh Lane circuit.

Bright day and warmer with an onshore breeze.

Home:  SWALLOWS over today with a count of 3 and the call of SWIFT with one seen.Later in the evening this increased to three.

North Cove:  5 COMMON WHITETHROAT, 4 CHIIFFCHAFF, 3 BLACKCAP, and two GARDEN WARBLERS  singing well at the end of Marsh Land adjacent to river Waveney. A HOBBY flew East along the river and a COMMON BUZZARD was well off over Castle Marsh. I also picked up on a PERIGRINE high over the same marsh. Several SEDGE and REED WARBLER calling and surprised at how many WREN calling and warding off. But the best of all was a WHIMBRAL which was in the meadow behind North Cove reserve.

Camps Heath, Oulton Broad.

Bright day and some warmth at last.

Camps Heath:  Greeted by the call of a pair of GOLDFINCH with several flying about. Also the sound of COMMON WHITETHROAT. Also SWALLOW flying about over the marsh and a pair of MISTLE THRUSH on the high side of the marsh. ROBINM WREN, BLACKBIRD, ROOK, CROW, JACKDAW,  I got in conversation with a local who was selling plants and as I did so I saw my first damselfly of the year a DAINTY RED DAMSELFLY and a GREEN VIENED BUTTERFLY also a SMALL BLUE, YELLOW BRIMSTONE.

Somerlyton: Driving through I had my first pair of SWIFT rather late for me.

 

Home

Bright morning and still when I heard the call again of BLACK REDSTART. I have been hearing and seeing these birds at a distance from the front door but today from my roof. It was good to see an adult female feeding her young one, with all the excitement from the young one looking forward to his meal.

Bird Race 2017

Rather cold to say the least with strong wind from the North East.

                                           Common Buzzard with rufous colour around.

Bird race on my own brought in 96 birds.

Carlton Marsh:   Best  bird here was a single GARGANY although there should be two birds. Also two CUCKOO and a single YELLOW WAG. Mind you a brief encounter with a SHORT EARED OWL was a bonus. As was a SPARROW HAWK that flew onto a gate where I was standing.
Breydon: Little to write home about here but plenty of COMMON WHITETHROAT and BLACKCAP as well as CHIFFCHAFF.
Lound Lakes:  Only GREEN WOOD added here.
Green Lane: LINNET in good colour.
North Dene's: Nothing added.
Hamilton Dock:  Added a male EIDER to list.

Leath's Ham: Added good sighting of REED WARBER.

 

Silo: PERIGRINE sitting in front of box.







Recent confirmation.

Ringing details
Species:      Black-headed Gull   (Larus ridibundus)
Ring:          ST 193337  Date of ringing 05.07.2002  Time of day (hours)
Place Coordinates:KORPILAHTI, KESKI-SUOMI, VAASA (SF88), FINLAND 62°02′N 25°37′E (WGS84)
Sex Age Young, out of the nest Weight (g) 370 Wing length (mm) 178 (min) 
Status Capture method Ringer HEIKKI HELLE (2709), AHDE 4 C, 40520 JYVÄSKYLÄ, FINLAND 
Recovery details
Ring ST 193337
Date found 14.03.2017
Time of day (hours)
Place Coordinates Links Road car park, Lowestoft, SUFFOLK (GB36), UNITED KINGDOM 52°30′N 1°45′E (WGS84) ) 
Status Alive & released
Recovery method:  Ring number read in field 
Comments: Bird was at rest and reasonably settled in car park
Finder: Gaius Hawes, 35 Tonning Street, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 2AN, UNITED KINGDOM
 
Info:   Time from ringing to recovery is 5366 days (14 years 8 months 9 days)
The place of recovery is 1767 km from the place of ringing in direction WSW

Felixstowe and Bawdsey, Suffolk.

Overcast with light wind from East.

Langaurd Point: Just a short time around the fort brought in several LINNET about 20 birds in all. With 5 BLACKBIRD and MAGPIE as well as CROWS which headed South for Dovercourt. and HOUSE SPARROWS.

Bawdsey: On the golf course a single WHIMBRAL was feeding well on a green with a PIED WAGTAIL. Also a single LITTLE EGERET and a small flock of three SWALLOW flying North. Three CORMORANT headed inland but gave up for what reason I have no idea as wind was behind them.                                                             WHIMBRAL

              

He really liked chips.

Homersfield Lakes, Suffolk.

Short call in with inter weather and light winds.

Best bird was a flyover CUCKOO which was very brief but also a soaring COMMON BUZZARD. Plenty of male MALLARD with less females about 50 birds in all and about a dozen TUFTED DUCK. Three GREAT CREASTED GREBE and a single pair of POCHARD. Along track a GREEN WOODPECKER was feeding on the ground and also three COMMON NWHITETHROAT and a single CHIFFCHAFF, CHAFFINCH, WREN, ROBIN, GOLDCREST, but a very smart MISTLE THRUSH.