Carlton Marsh.

Call in on a really bright sunny day. Still a chill in the air.

Birding was another game however with the best birds being a group of SNIPE that had tried to hide away. Up to ten birds in this group but they were interspersed with REDSHANK which mad it difficult with the haze to give genuine number count. Also two LITTLE EGERET and several TEAL, SHOVELORE, MALLARD and WIGEON.

But the best was the 3 SMALL TORT butterflies and a single BRIMSTONE YELLOW BUTTERFLY. Which as usual was never at rest so the worst shot in the wold catches it flying by.

                                                       The worst pic in the world.

Found

Visited private estate today and watched a pair of KINGFISHER setting up nest in last years nest site. Both birds were intent on entering the hole, but most of the time the male stood guard as she entered and left. I would think that there was some preparation going on. But he was well up for it and fed her one fish as I was there so dependency is a good run in for the big day.

Oulton Broad, Suffolk.

Following up yesterdays sighting of GOOSANDER I wondered round Nicholas Everite Park to see if the birds were still around. Sure enough well of there two pairs well apart tucked in out of the wind at the far North Eastern part of the neck. No photo as to far and to sad for a picture. With them was assumed pair of GREAT CRESTED GREBE which is always important bird for any time of the year. But I also has a very confiding DUNLIN which was sitting with a small flock of TURNESTONE.

The top picture shows the Dunlin with its bill closed, but the one below it is twerking its bill. Obviously demonstrating its flexibility in what is assumed to be a ridged bill.

Pathways and Leathes Ham.

Overcast and slightly foggy. Some chill in the air and supposedly getting colder again.

 

Pathways:   Best bird here today was a fly over GREEN WOODPECKER. There is an increase in the BLACKBIRD population which was evident there today. But overall there was not anything to go wild about.

Leathe's Ham:  On arrival a CHIFFCHAFF was flitting in and around the pussy willow While watching it I caught sight of a single TREECREEPER which was flitting through the trees. It was also a surprise to see a COMMON BUZZARD flying over and being mobbed by gulls. The usual birding here was led into joy with PINTAIL and TUFTED DUCK, COOT, MALLARD.  

 

Camps Heath, Suffolk.

Light rain which was increasing, with a real chill in the air again.

Camps Heath: Its always difficult to asses what was the best bird on a walk but  in terms of birding I suppose it is the sight of three REDWING feeding in horse paddock behind St Michael's Church. There seems to be an increase in the amount of BLACKBIRD about, I expect they are heading back home to Europe soon. I also had a fly over GREY HERON and a single PIED WAGTAIL, GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT, 1 COAL TIT L.T.TIT, 2 SONG THRUSH, CHAFFINCH, WREN, ROBIN, GOLDFINCH,

 

Ness and Town Centre.

Went out when it was bright, but that did not last long.

 

Ness Point:   TURNSTONES at rest on the rocks as it was high tide 20 birds, with a flock of BLACK HEADED GULLS at rest at sea. CORTMORANT 14  heading to roost. Only 1 PURPLE SANDPIPER at rest.

Telecom Exchange and Church tower saw 29 KITTYWAKE in residence at nest site.

 

 

 

 

Pathways, Lowestoft.

Bright with a chill wind from the South West.

 

This was a regular visit which began with a great cup of coffee from the volunteer's. The lake produced 22 TUFTED DUCKS with an even split between drakes. It was the first time a caught sight of the local KINGFISHER which was zooming over the lake and resting at times, once calling in next to last years nest hole. I also had a COMMON BUZZARD fly through on the North side of lake. The DABCHICK were very vocal  at times and one caught a fish while I watched.

BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, ROBIN, BLACKBIRD, B-H-GULL, HERRING GULL, L-B-B-GULL MAGPIE, MORHEN, MALLARD.

 

Benacre Broad, Suffolk.

Inter weather, but at least it was dry. With a light breeze from the South.

 

The list of birds here was 32 with SKYLARK 2, CURLEW 1, BLACK TAILED GODWIT 1, DUNLIN 7, MED GULL 4, AVOCET 6, TEAL, MALLARD, L-B-B-GULL, BLACK-H-GULL. I also had 6 COMMON BUZZARD in the air at once and a male MARSH HARRIER quartering reed bed.  Swimming close in shore was a single COMMON GUILIMOT. I also had the surprise as it ran out in front of me a single WOOD MOUSE.

 

Oulton Broad, Lound Lakes and Waveney Forest.

Yesterday Sunday March 4th walk round Nicholas Everett Park:  On arrival still snow and cold with RED BREASTED MER still cruising about amongst the boats. Dipped out on goosanders but managed to gain a  distant view of two SMEW which were swimming and diving in front of the reed on the far bank.

Lound Lakes: Called in on the way through as there was a report of a SCAUP with TUFTED DUCKS and on arrival the same was true. Picture no good but at least it was a record shot.

Waveney Forest:  COAL TIT around the bungalow seemed to be 3 calling birds. BLACKBIRD, CHAFFINCH, GOLDCREST. But the best was a GREEN WOODPECKER that flew in of he reed bed and into the wood. There was a COMMON BUZZARD calling inland.

Haddiscoe Island: A pair of COMMON BUZZARD were fighting on the ground trying to gain control of a corpse. There was another well of soaring but nothing else.

 

 

Home

Were  else would I be in this weather, cold and serious wind chill.

There is a worrying change in the bird life here with not a single small bird in for feed. No sign of pied or any tit. But did have a pair of BLACKBIRDS and the best a FIELDFARE which was eating crab apples from the tree above the bird table.

This is best Fieldfare I have ever had in the garden, he returned at 3pm to start feeding again.

                                                            https://youtu.be/k6yZdM_TY_4

Home

I'm not going anywhere in this weather. Cold, cold and cold again.

Plenty of food out for the birds but so few and even less than yesterday. I did have a PIED WAGTAIL in yesterday that looked really worse for ware. Today much better as it has fed up on live meal worms and sun flower centers. STARLING in with force but the WOOD PIGEON would not be intimidated.
Best news however is that I have managed to get the sound back on my bird table camera, which gives me the heads up when stuff is on the table.