I strugle to keep this blog running. No real reason, just me. I still keep out there but putting it out on this blog. Today was hot again and no water. But a good few hours in the wilds of Suffolk. What more do you want. Best bird was an engagement of a RED KITE amd a HOBBY. Nothing really out of the ordinary but just a lovely day.
fter a long spell of good weather we have been inundated with rain and storms. Today was not much different. With a strong wind ranging from the East to the South. So wildlife was rather thin on the ground. Although it seemed that SAND MARTIN and SWALLOWS seemed to be feeding well over the reed bed. The only real surprise was the call of an AVOCET from Lookout hide. Which is very unusual, for I have never seen this bird from here. A young CHINSE WATER DEER strayed very near, as you can see in pic. Also took a distant pic of a male MARSH HARRIER which was orange wing tagged, but no id.
My regular walk around Pathways Care Farm, saw only the second RED VEINED DARTER for the site. Again a very good record. There us also on site 15 BEE ORCHID'S which is again another first for Pathways. Surprisingly I noticed them way back in December and dispite some being eat ny MUNCJACK DEER we manged to protect and raise enough for a good view. Our MUTE SWAN after over 50 days managed to get severen cygnits of which is the most we have ever had. There was also a an influx of MALLARD with 13 young in all.
First day back after a long winter with of course new migrants in attendance. It was just good to get out there, so thank you SWT. Went round with a good friend and the birds turned out as well. 49 Species in an afternoon is not at all bad. With the best being a male HEN HARRIER which flew against a COMMON BUZZARD for five minets. Also MARSH HARRIER male and RED KITE. CETTIE.S WARBLER, SEDGE WARB, BLACKCAP and CHIFFCHAFF. Several MEADOW PIPIT and BEARDED TIT.. Also a LAPWING nest sitting.
Yesterday from home the highlight was a pair of OYSTERCATCHER that flew low over the house heading for Lake Loathingland. In the afternoon spent two hours on the beach with the family. Again good to see the kitty's on the Clairmont Pier. With few ringed birds, one in pic below rung as adult in 2015.
Pathways: Sorted it out with firsts with SWALLOW, WHITETHROAT, BLACKCAP with of course the regular CHIFFCHAFF. Still only one LITTLE GREBE, same again in GADWALL. Nest still occupied by MUTE SWAN. In many respects a fly bye YELLOW BRIMSTONE, and also a TORTASHELL.
I spend hours these days in my small town garden and over the years it has produced beyond any expectation. Mine and many others can't believe the sightings that I have had. The thing is there are other surprises and one is that I get very few sightings of CHAFFINCH. This year has seen an exception with three sightings of these birds and today three birds. With two male and a female, they seem to be visiting next door for some reason and the only reason I can give to this, that being that there is children's sand on the floor. But the photo's do not support this as the tip of the beak is black.
Now that the six trees near by are growing well, after being cut back three years ago. We are seeing return of interest. The main one being that a pair of MAGPIE'S are part way through building a nest, but they can be rather fickle in this process and already local CARRION CROW.S have been giving them grief, So we wait and see which way it goes. I have had no COLLARD DOVE all year in the garden and in general there are not many about at all. The family of local HOUSE SPARROWS are starting to draw in close to the house again. I have also befriended a WHITE DOVE which has taken two weeks to feeding from hand. Don't know if this is a good idea or not.
Walk round Pathways Care Farm brought in COMMON BUZZARD, SPARROW HAWK, RED KITE. MUT SWANS are nesting well now. Also singing CHIFFCHAFF and very little else.
Called in to see if the ring necked was about but no joy. But a ride round brought in a single female CHAFFINCH, GREENFINCH, ROBIN, DUNNOCK, BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, BLACKBIRD.
There is not much you can say, as in the words of the old song "Where have all the birdies gone". Not one duck on the lake and very little else. Three LITTLE GREBE and three MOORHEN and that's it.
As for the Silo well it produced at last a female PERGRINE which flew from the feeding box and flew to the South side.
What can you say, only ducks are gone. Well only two MALLARD. In two words "Nout about". Three LITTLE GREBE and one MOOEHEN. So of to Link
s Hill: Loads of CARRION CROW and the sane for HERRING GULL. Only one MEDITERANIAN GULL and an interesting gull in what I would call a SCANDINAVIAN HERRING GULL. you decide.
Local birder posted that FIELDFARE and REDWING are back on the Oval. So a ride up and no sign. Gave it a few minuets and they flew in. Ten fieldfare and two REDWING a few BLACK HEADED GULLS and HERRING GULLS.
Pathways: Much the same with a brief than brief KINGFISHER, also numbers of WIGEON holding up but not the same for GADWALL. MUTE SWAN on the lake so they must have returned.
Links Hill: Just one MEDITERANIAN GULL and but plenty of HERRING GULL and a smattering of BLACK HEADED GULL. CARRION CROWS as usual but the sad was a struggling herring gull. Obviously intent on cleaning itself, which I would think will lead to its demise. The front of the bird is obviously coated with something of an oil nature which is so disconcerting. What we do to our wildlife is more than sad, its bad. Scraggy or what is all I can say.
Thought it was about time I gave the Ness a look for this year. Especially as it is becoming more difficult to catch up with PURPLE SANDPIPER'S. I can remember a time not that long ago when 30 plus birds where in residence. Sadly this is not the case with only up to eight this year. Today I managed six only. But at least they are still there. With them five OYSTERCATCHER and about 14 TURNSTONE. Other than this sleepy lot.
What a lovely day for the beginning of the year to go birding. So many birds what a joy. Treated to two BUZZARD and two Marsh Harrier and the best of the bunch was a SPARROWHAWK that having a winter wash in the very large puddle at the entrance to the far car park. See vid below when it shows. The list was at 29 for the site, but nothing out of the rea normal. But what a day, sun on my back with a heated gillet what more do you want. AVOCET, KNOTM GREY PLOVER, GOLDEN PLOVER, PINTAIL, SHOVELORE, WIGEON, TEAL, CURLEW, SHELLDUCK, CROW, GBBG, HERRING GULL, TURNSTONE, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, LONG TAILED TIT,
First call in of the year brought in 19 species, Best because of what it is what the short view at 30 feet of a KIBGFISHER. It was also good to see a single TEAL but the real surprise was the adult LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL. Very early bird for the year, but all features confirm it's id. Picture below clearly demonstrates this. The count of GADWALL was low and WIGEON count was normal.
Good to catch up with birding friends on New Years day. We is all getting older, but as I said. "We are still here".
The bird list is not great when you consider years ago my list for the day was 101. Today 14. Best for me was the flyover LAPWING, still a good bird to see as was the quartering MARSH HARRIER.
SO HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL.
This seems to be the last entry for the year, with many GREY LAG GEESE on the island and around it SHOVELORE and over 50 WIGEON. The best was a very short view of a RED KITE but also GADWALL, MALLARD, MOORHEN. and a flock of 8 STOCK DOVE. With a fly over flock of CORMORANT about 25 birds in all. So enjoy your coming year and make sure you fill it with JOY of looking up.
Boy took us out on his birthday and we first called in at Winterton but before then a stop off at Hemsby, as I caught a glimps of a PERGRINE high flying circling overhead. At Winterton so many seals and pups and running between them several SANDLING and GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL. But best of all was a flock of 26 SNOWBUNTING.
Walk over a very flooded Pathways with water flowing out the West side. The first COAL TIT of the winter, but not much else about or change. Still GADWALL, WIGEON, LITTLE GREBE, MALLARD and plenty of PIED WAGTAIL.
