Spent first day as guide at SWT Carlton Marsh. Conversation with folks for first week of opening good. Also good to see a pair of MARSH HARRIER after being missing for a month. A single WATER PIPIT could be heard calling and altogether four STONECHAT. 10 GOLDCREST, 2 SNIPE, 1 GWE.
Pathways: Saw and unusual sight today as a COMMON BUZZARD flew through being assulted by CROWS, GULLS and a pair of RING NECKED PARAKEETS. The most MALLARD for weeks in two pairs.
Obviously there is a drop of in birds in numbers and species so what was about was minimal. The best was the COMMON KESTREL below which had some characteristics of a lesser. Like its clawswhere not black but yellow. But it is just the common kestrel. I also had a few GOLDCREST in Flycatcher Alley and also a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER briefly. Seven GREENFINCH, LONG TAILED TIT, GREATB TIT, BLUE TIT, ROBIN and two JAY.
New came up and running, so now to work it out and see what it can produce. Obviously optics are very good, so we await the findings. Thanks Canon.
Brest bird of the day was two GREAT WHITE EGERET and also a late flying COMMON DARTER with two flying about. Rather late in the year for a dragon. LAPWING came in about 80 but not for long when they were spooked. Only one SHOVELORE so ducks have still to arrive. A single WATER PIPIT could be heard calling in the first meadow on left. I also had another, but briefly further up. Also MEADOW PIPIT, kestrel, magpie, crow, rook, jackdaw, mute swan, little egeret, goldfinch, wren, robin, blue tit and Chinese Water Deer.
Pathways: COMMON BUZZARS only one today nut as for water birds only CORMORANT and 3 MOORHEN. At least seven REDWING flitting about and a few BLACKBIRD one came near enough to identify it as a continental bird. Most likely from the Black Forest area.
Home: It was obvious that a movement of small stuff was on today, as I had three flocks of what I assume was Brambling.
Early start and walk around brought in a few things of interest with the best being a very distant SHORT EARED OWL which was lying low in a meadow adjacent to the car park. Plenty of MEADOW PIPIT flying over as were LINNET. Also four GREENFINCH and nine SKYLARK. Also in sheep paddock four CURLEW with 14 CORMORANT offshore. Bawdsey Battery: Heard but did not see a CETTIE'S WARBLER and also a very happy WHITE WAGTAIL which kept hanging around. First influx of WIGEON, TZEEAL, SHOVELORE, GADWALL, and GREY LAG GEESE. It was also good to see about 10 LITTLE GREBE. Bawdsey Radar: Good to find two RING OUZEL on high brambal bush with BLACKBIRDS. Flying over wood two BUZZARD.
After a fall of birds this weekend I thought it might be interesting. The first thing to say is all the MUTE SWANS including four young have now left home for greener fields. So these are the major birds of interest. Two HOUSE MARTINS flying high over the lake intermingling with WOOD PIGEON and HERRING GULLS. Also CHIFFCHAFF in at four and BLACKCAP 9. SONG THRUCH 15 and ROBINS 30+ In truth the best was a male PIED FLYCATCHER which did not give itself away.
Below male Pied Flycatcher and middle right male Blackcap.
This seems the place to go for me at the moment as a report came in that a RUSTIC BUNTING was on view. So a quick goodbye and away for a short visit. Sur enough the bird was there but well down in the bramble bush. I stood with Stev P and then it popped out right in front of us and started feeding on the double yellow lines. But no one complained about illegal parking. I did not stay long as in many respects it was not safe to do so. More than 30 there in fact about 60. So I soon left.
Called in later at the Oval with ROBINS calling in every direction. BLACKBIRDS, SONG THRUSH 40, FIELDFARE 3, REDWING, GREENFINCH, SPARROWHAWK 1, MEADOW PIPIT, but best of all was a WRYNECK which JB put up as we weed walked. We also put two SNIPE up. In compound two WHEATEAR.
This is the best fall of birds that I have ever seen in Lowestoft. It was much hailed and realised.
Called in with 500 wildflower plants at Pathways today. They should make a show next year. While there had a walk round with the best being eight LITTLE GREBE and the young being chased around the pool. Only two MALLARD and one MOORHEN. As for the family of MUTE SWANS it seems that one of the young ones has got away. It left with mum to the pond but now cannot be located. Three COMMON DARTER and a male EMPORER still on the wing. The other feature of note is that a RING NECKED PARAKET flew through the farm on Tuesday calling. New to Pathways list makeing it 87.
Today a call in to Links Hill after Mondays carry on. Only three MED GULLS at rest, but just look at the photo's. Look at that beak.
