North Cove, Suffolk.

Snow on the ground and cold but also bright which makes it the perfect sight for birding.

 

Oulton Broad:  Caught up with the RBM again this am as light was better as can be seen from the pic's. Very good conditions for viewing.

 

 

 North Cove:  Best bird was a female BRAMBLING which kept on showing up however brief. It was hiding well and could be so easily overlooked. But was just good to see and identify by its rump as it flew up into thicket. Also several MARSH TIT which came onto feeder. Two female COMMON PHEASANT also two DUNNOCK. But also COAL TIT, GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT, LONG TAILED TIT, CHAFFINCH, ROBIN, WREN. It was also good to pin down on SISKIN which was only one which was feeding with LESSER REDPOLE. COMMON BUZZARD.

 

Links Hill. Lowestoft.

Now this is what I call a winters chill, with a strong East wind blowing in it is obvious that any birding is out of the question. But that also means that some things will change.

Home: BLUE TIT and GREAT TIT on the table as well as a male BLACKBIRD. Goldfinch over the house as was a PERI heading back to the silo.

Links Hill:  On arrival 27 BLACK HEADED GULLS, 2 HERRING GULLS and 3 COMMON GULL. There was also 28 GREAT CORMORANT heading to roost at Fritton Lake.

Oulton Broad, Suffolk.

Bright and very cold, bad weather heading our way.

Managed at last to catch up with the RED BREASTED MERGANSER after a meal at the Wherry. Bird sat well of but viewable through scope so only a record shot. as it headed further away. Bad light behind the bird hindered any good shot.

Carlton Marsh, Suffolk.

Bright and cold day.

 

I put to flight a single SNIPE and also a single MEADOW PIPIT but the best bird was a single POCHARD a male which was on the scrape. Just one MARSH HARRIER female well off. But the day was good with 36 species list for the day. The count of teal was good with 70 birds and 35 WIGEON. The also good sighting was a pair of SHELLDUCK.

Mutford Lock: Lust three GREAT CORMORANT which were all Sinises,

 

 

Wrentham, Sotterly and Mutford.

Dull and overcast but no wind.

 

Home:  Again CHIFFCHAFFF turned up with BLUE TIT and GREAT TIT. Also 2 BLACKBIRD and 2 DUNNOCK. HERRING GULL and CARRION CROW.

Wrentham: Not a close view of HAWFINCH but managed  to get it in the bag. Only a record shot, but what a beak. GOLDCREST, BLACKBIRD, CHAFFINCH, ROBIN, WREN, DUNNOCK.

Sotterly: Had a good view of a NUTHATCH that flew in as one of two birds. CHAFFINCH, SONG THRUSH, BLUE TIT, LONG TAILED TIT, GREAT TIT.

Mutford:  Barn Owl a very dark long winged bird feeding low over horse paddock.

                                         

 There is a slight bill deformity on this bird.

 

 

Links Hil, Ness Point and Loathingland Lake.

Dull and misty day,.

Only our usual colour ringed MED GULL at Links Hill with 3 HERRING GULL, 1 COMMON GULL and 27 BLACK HEADED GULL. Other than this two GREENFINCH.
Ness Point:   TURNSTONE here came in at 18 birds which is the most I have seen here.
Loathingland Lake: PERI on fan outlet box and BLACK HEADED GULLS the prominent gull, only a few HERRING GULL.

South Pier, Lowestoft.

Bright with South breeze.

Best bird was an obliging ROCK PIPIT which I heard fly in and then found. This bird was a-typical of the species. It was feeding well and at one point flew up on the joint of the concrete wall and acquired a spider. This was soon dispatched and down the hatch. It also drank from a pool of water as can be seen from the pictures. HERRING GULL 27 and TURNSTONE 6. A pair of CARRION CROWS flew in and off. As for CORMORANTS there was a large group on the groyns. Altogether count came in at 26.

Sparrows Nest/Bellevue Park/ Linear Cycle Track/Barnardes Meadow.

Bright day and drop of car at garage a long walk round at above.

 

Sparrows Nest:  Best bird was a GOLDCREST which was feeding well but to active to take a pic of any significates. GOLDFINCH, ROBIN, WREN, GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT, LONG TAILED TIT, BLACKBIRD, DUNOCK.

Bellevue Park: WOOD PIGEON, CARRION CROW, STARLING.

Linear Cycle Track: GREAT TIT, DUNOCK, BLACKBIRD, SONG THRUSH, MAGPIE,

Barnards Meadow: MAGPIE, BLACK HEADED GUL, HERRING GULL, COMMON GULL. 

                                              There is just something about that red eye.





 

Ness Point and Links Hill.

Rather windy and also very cold, lazy wind or what. But despite this not very much about.

 

Ness Point:  Best bird for me was the two KITTYWAKE that were heading North close into shore and a MED GULL that was doing the same. A few divers well off and unidentifiable with GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL about.

Links Hill:  Two MED GULLS at rest with one colour ringed White Black Lettering 22E2 I think, as ring is becoming fragmented at top and bottom.

 

Gunton Warren, Lowestoft.

Bright day with slight Westerly wind.

Caught up with a good showy SNG THRUSH that performed well as can be seen below. MED GULL 4 and a scattering of small stuff but nothing to shout about. BLACKBIRD, GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT, GREENFINCH, CHAFFINCH, ROBIN, WREN, DUNNOCK,

Just some comment on this Song Thrush:  This bird is not spotted as some and arrow spots are well streaked as is the top of the head, which starts from above the bill. Its mantel is somewhat grey as well with a well marked black fringed alula. It also has white fringing to tail feathers, primaries and primary coverts. It also shows a light rump which stands out well.