North Dene's.

First walk of the year round the Dene's on an overcast day.

Best was a CHIFFCHAFF one of two. The first one was still with the early winter calling bird with the peeee. The other was the new fresh bird with the general Chiff Chaff call. Also 7 LINNET and a pair of LONG TAILED TIT with him being chased by the female with a feather in his mouth. This is the second time I have seen this activity in a week. Obviously looking for a nesting site.

Leathe's Ham and Pathways.

Leathe's Ham:  After a near miss yesterday while being out and no tweet coming through about the PENDULINE TIT at Leath's Ham. Well done to (@Leostof ) At least I did not get wet while watching the bird. On arrival it had been seen some 10 minuets earlier, so there was a chance. After a short time while standing with John E, I hard it all. Turned to John and he agreed by making hp whistle of the bird himself. The bird called from our right and I was looking at the bulrush heads when I glimpsed a bird fly over the path from the small trees in front of us. The call went up and a scramble up the 20 foot bank behind us. The bird was in top of a Hawthorne tree hidden partially by ivy. Popping up on occasions but very agitated. After some 5 minuets it flew back down to feed on the heads again. Any pic would be difficult because of light in front of me and also with over hanging willow, it was difficult t got a shot, but at least it was there. So what follows is the best I have.

Pathways:  Best here today was a pair of BULLFINCH feeding on the petals from and flowering blackthorn. Again difficult to get a shot but made one anyway.

Dunwich Heath and Minismere.

Walk out at 7 am with W.B.C. a really great 5 hours out in the field.

Although the count for the dat was 90 species mine was somewhat smaller with only 61. But then you cant have eyes everywhere.

Best birds for me was the great sight of four DARTFORD WARBLERS with three STONECHAT as well. My best was a bad pictiure with a pair of stonie's and a female dart. Caught in the sun but at such a distance what can you say.
SPARROWHAWK, BUZZARD, BITTERN. CURLEW, BLACK T GODWIT, REDSHANK, RED T DIVERS 7. TEAL, SHOVELORE, 

It was also finished off with a hot coffee in the National Trust Coastguard Station with a bun.

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.