Flixton Marsh Lane and area.

COMMON BUZZARD:   Two birds high circling over Blunderston prison, which parted east and west. They where obviously working each other out as they where in unison flight one above the other.
MARSH TIT:  A few birds seen in association with BLUE and GREAT TIT. At this time to a setteled group of SISKIN where fluttering through the  trees a low level. Which was unusual, but can be understood  as a BARN OWL was hunting on the other side of the copse.
KESTREL: 4 birds seen in all and all very active.
SISKIN: 2 flocks about with up to 20 birds in each.
BULLFINCH: All birds seen that is 3 where female.
REDWING: 4 birds in all
SONG THRUSH: 2 Birds seen, but the count is out see what you think below.

 

I walked along tracks to Somerlyton from Fritton Marsh Lane this morning and was returning via the thatched cottage that looks out across the marsh. When a thrush like bird landed in the top of a tree 100 yards away. I viewed through scope and was dubious about it, as I had first thought that it was a Blackbird. Surprised to see it as a song thrush. In flight the wings where to me a little rounded, and something was not right. I was struck by the pale breast and no spots lower and the amount of dark spots on high breast. It did seem to me that the bird had a kind of pale collar. The light was not great as it never is, and the bird was only there for a quick look and then to camera. Before it flew east south east. .......Was I right in assuming it to be a song thrush? Revisited on the 11th the only birds of thrush species where REDWING. (See 11.02.2013)

 



Cove Bottom, Suffolk.

I had heard that a male HEN HARRIER was coming in here at evening via twitter so gave it a look and sure enough at 4:30pm the bird obliged. I first picked it up as it was either trying to gain a last meal or looking for somewhere to drop down for the night. I picked it up twice as it quartered the reed bed. What an amazing bird even at a distance it was just wonderful to view.

LITTLE OWL: These are becoming of recent years scarce to say the least so I was pleased to pick some up in a nearby meadow on the way home. Both birds, I assume a pair this time of the year where getting ready to feed alongside adjacent hedges.
BUZZARD: Just one bird flew over as I was driving along the Southwold road. It was obviously flying in to roost. I had been standing for about 10 minuets when a flock of WOOD PIGEON flew in my direction from roost. They where then followed again by the common buzzard which flew due east circled and then headed south.
MARSH HARRIER: Two female about and a single male bird. The female had some attitude and managed to dislodge the male from roast. She harried him until he flew off over the reed bed.
LINNET: A flock of 30 birds continued to flutter round until eventually finding somewhere to roost up for the night.
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER and GREEN WOOD heard but not seen.
LAPWING: Large flock in fields some 500 birds in all.
FIELDFARE: Several birds flying before sunset as well as a single MISTLE THRUSH.

Little Owl

 

Name that bird?

North Cove. Barnby

I did not get out to late in the afternoon and even when I did I left my camera home. What a mistake as a really lovely BARN OWL not only put in an appearance but a really lovely show right up to 20 feet. Typical the one day you go out without your gear you get a good chance of a good shot.
I managed to scare 3 Chinese water deer, that thought there life had come to an end. By the amount of noise they made. REDWING, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, MALLARD, L-T-TIT, B-TIT AND GREAT TIT. WREN, EGYPTION GEESE, KESTREL and that was about it.

Leathe's Ham and Ness Point

Leath's .H.: There was about 30 TUFTED in here today and some where rather frisky. As where some MALLARD. Mind you there was only one POCHARD amongst several ducks. What was new on there was a pair of EGYPTION GEESE. The best birds was a 1st winter LESSER-BLACK-BACKED-GULL which was showing well in the centre of the lake.

NESS: 
CORMORANT (Sinises) flying up and down. On one count I stopped at 395. But this was not all the birds my estimate was in excess of 600 birds in all. They had obviously found something to feed on. They where accompanied by RED-THROATED-DIVER and GULLS. One GANNET put his oar in but did not stay long as he was harried by gulls.
RED-THROATED-DIVER: These birds where moving well of shore with most heading north. As an estimate I would think that in an hour a 120 birds flew by. One or two came in close and settled on the water and one or two could have been another diver as they where very dark.
PURPLE SANSPIPERS: 5 birds still about and a few TURNSTONE keeping them company.

Ness Point

Just a quick call in:  First bird seen was a colour ringed HERRING GULL new to me and reported.

Right leg white A7YY

Southwold

When we left for our ride out to Southwold we turned immediately onto Denmark Road, only to find so much violence I might need counselling. I know that at times Lowestoft has a bad reputation but this was outrageous. There at the side of the road on the payment they where engaged in mortal combat. With legs engaged in what  could only be called a death embraces. Looking at each other eyeball to eye ball and neither willing to give in there they lie doing battle. Of course they where only MAGPIES. So going to rewritable Southwold would be literally a piece of cake.


Best bird was a RUFF a single bird amongst BARNACLE GEESE which where in there normal grazing area. Interspersed with WIGEON, MALLARD and B-H-GULLS. Out at sea a large movement of RED-T-DIVER all seemingly heading north. On levels a single CANADA GOOSE and  a small flock of DUNLIN feeding. LAPWING I should imagine about 150 birds. At Kessingland levels aside the A12 a COMMON BUZZARD was hanging in the wind.

Filby Broad, Norfolk.

Met up with YMCA Norfolk worker today for coffee at Acle today. Just good to be with someone again who has the opportunity to work with young people. What a privilege.

On the way home it was brighter so called in at Filby Broad to see if it would throw anything up. In car park there was a small group of L-T-TIT'S and a few BLUE TIT'S as well as there close relative GREAT and COAL TIT. COOTE in the small channels along wall as well as MOORHEN and COMMON PHEASANT. On the broad itself MALLARD and TUFTED DUCK as well as 27 GREAT-CREASTED- GREBE. A single GREY HERON and the best of all was again another PEREGRINE. The fourth in two days. This bird was settled down on a branch across the broad so not that close but managed some sort of picture. I must learn to take my small dig camera so I can shoot birds through the scope. The only other bird of mention was a female GOLDENEYE.

PEREGRINE FALCON