Thinking back

Not always the best thing to do but then I was young and my 27/6p camera was all I had to take pictures. Mind you dad did take the first one but when you think of the old 120 film, it really is so different today. The other shots where taken from South Stack, North Wales and they are little in terms of birding. But at the amazing age of 12 years I was already up for birding especially as I was on holiday. I can remember being up at 6am in the morning looking for Linnet and Goldfinch as well as Stonechat. The glimpse of a Raven and the sound of a very rare bird in those day a Peregrine. But then I was young and although it seems along while ago, yet it seems like yesterday. Someone said to me yesterday, "Im glad Im running out and not in. With the state of the world. My response was "well we made it that way."

At Kersey age 11 years                                       South Stack  1962

 

South Stack 1962 August

 

Home

This morning there was the sound from the bramble of the first migrant back through the garden. Sure enough was able to id it without even seeing it. COMMON WHITETHROAT in really good nick. Stayed around for 2 hours and then no sign. But a HOUSE SPARROW is always a welcome visitor as was his associate. STARLING.

Great Yarmouth

Walk onto the beach while the rest paly there games. The best was a small group of RINGED PLOVER which I counted out at 3. They all seemed adult , but the bird that was nearest me was more ringed than normal as it had been rung. but sadly not colour ringed. Made really lovely pic though.
Also on beach was a very lonely looking MEW GULL, the first for a coastal bird for the later half of the year. Very distinct dark eye.

Ride round Norfolk with the church today was in birding terms let's just stop so I can have a look around. Mind you did have a brilliant view of a hunting SPARROWHAWK that came alongside and flew with us for a few seconds really low.

North Dene's

Walk through from Sparrows Nest and North Beach brought in 2 female BLACKCAP and 3 CHIFFCHAFF. With the occasional BLUE TIT and GREAT TIT but in reality very few. ROBIN and WREN calling but not yet at there best for Autumn. A few SWALLOWS flying through over the Oval and Dene's. Some small flocks. GREENFINCH as usual at Links Hill car park. Best bird really was a young RINGED PLOVER which was the only juvenile amongst three birds. Several TURNSTONE and lots of PIED WAG.

Links Hill: Late evening. saw a single NORTHERN WHEATEAR which was hiding away behind the low wall. It was as usual disturbed by a dog and stood to attention.



Ness Point and Leath's Ham

Little to view in late afternoon, but I understand it improved as the evening went on. However with only a few GANNET well out and a CORMORANT there was little else except for a fly over PIED WAG.
Leathe's Ham: However was more productive as a  moving flock of small stuff came through while sitting there. Included in this flock of some 25 birds was CHIFFCHAFF, LONG TAILED TIT, BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT. On the water a few WIGEON in moult as where GADWALL. With plenty of young COOT about and a scattering of MOORHEN. It seemed also that young CORMORANTS were also intent in hanging out to dry.

DuxforD and Ness

Spent the day at Duxford with the family. I counted on one occasion 38 PIED WAG and the best fly by was 200 ROOKS. With BLACKCAP on the way home and a good size covie of RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE.

Ness Point:   Movement of birds is still very restrictive but I did manage a flock of 5 BLACK SCOTER. Not one tern but a flock of 5 KITTIWAKE made a good show. The usual TURNSTONE around a 2 DUNLIN keeping them company.

Melton and Sizwell

So the scope broke on Monday and today it's mended. Can you really in this day and age believe that, that is possible. Not only that I was charged nothing for the service. In real terms this is hope for the world that someone is prepared to do something for nothing. Perhaps there is a God and perhaps He lives in Suffolk. So a really big thank you to the staff of Deben Group. Distributors to the UK of Hawke Optics.

Waterloo Park, Norwich:  5 MEW GULL standing on the school field with one bird in very young plumage. SWIFT and HOUSE MARTIN around but only a few birds. Best was an obliging GOLDCREST which showed very well for the granddaughters.

Melton Duck Pond:   LONG TAILED TIT'S and a single WILLOW WARBLER greeted me on arrival. As did the young MALLARD ducks and a MOORHEN who were interested in my picnic. But it was very encouraging to see a REED WARBLER feeding it's young. Due to the time of year hopefully this was the birds second brood. So this is good. Things are good in Melton so it seems.

Sizewell:  Plenty of  KITTIWAKES breeding on the outlet. With COMMON TERN and about 8 LITTLE GULS but it's hard to keep an exact count as they feed. Also 3 PIED WAG and 3 LINNET