Blunderston Lanes..

This weather is rather odd, hot for February. As for the list today it came out at 28.

Best was the male  GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER and a 120+ FIELDFARE, 2 LIINNET.

Gunton Hall and Pathways

Usual visit to both sits. Bright  day and warm. Best bird was a GOLDCREST with a pair of EGYPTIAN GEESE. With MALLARD 19 and MOORHEN 16. Plus one COAL TIT.
Pathways: It seems that MEADOW PIPIT have taken to the West bank with six birds still flitting about. Species list for day here 21.

South Pier, Lowestoft.

A walk up the pier to see if it would offer a surprise, but the only one was an orange tagged leg flag on a TURNSTONE one of nine birds being fed by an angler. A few BLACK HEADED and HERRING GULLS and that was it.

Carlton Marsh.

First time at Carlton for this year, on a lovely winters morning in the sun.

Best bird of the day was a pair of STONECHAT which flitted about on posts near to centre. Also CETTI'S WARBLER.. Managed to add to the year list with these two birds. Had several Moorhen but no water rails. The only buzzard was well off but it is still a good sound when you here SKYLARK. Several small birds at East end of reserve with CHAFFINCH, GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT, LTTit.

Oulton Marsh and Sottely Woods

Walked round the Marsh and ended almost pain free so hopefully I have managed to get over the leg and muscle pain. The day was still but not that bright. It still a surprise that the list for the walk is still so low at 22 species. The best is the 3 COAL TIT and 2 REED BUNTING. But the real good sign was the 300+ WIGEON. But what brings the greatest joy is the song of three SKYLARK, blend this song from the sky with the call of the wigeon and you have a real atmosphere.

Sottely:  Nothing over the top but the regular call of a SONG THRUSH, 2 FIELDFARE, and 1 COAL TIT. As the sky was blue and still no surprise that COMMON BUZZARD were in the air.

On the walk back from the marsh the rail crossing was being worked on by 10 railway workers. I stopped and spoke with the gang boss and informed him that I had a photo at home of the track taken out by a German bomber in the war. I told him that the trains have not changed that much.  

The track taken out

As now.

Waveney Forest.

Just a slight covering of snow and the world seemingly comes to an end. But winter is good even if the birding is cold. Mind you kept really warm and its great to have warm feet on a cold day. Several COAL TIT calling and viewable and three MARSH TIT. ROBIN 5, WREN 4, GOLDCREST 3, BLACKBIRD 6, Viewing from the mound was an improvement on the other day in regards to visibility. But variety of raptors was limited. Altogether 3 COMMON BUZZARD, and one ROUGH LEGGED BUZZARD. One of c-buzzards was really pale and has been passed of as RLB but there was one closer in and through the scope it fitted a match for RLB. I also saw 7 PINK FOOTED GEESE,  and a single GREY HERON.

On return had a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, and 2 JAY. On arrival back at the car a REED BUNTING popped up.

Waveney Forest and Pathways.

I was surprised to see mist hanging over Haddiscoe Island when at Waveney Forest.So any chance again minimal of seeing a RLB. But did manage three SHORT EARED OWL, KESTREL 3, MARSH HARRIER one adult male. But a good sighting was a single TREECREEPER which was encircling pines. COAL TIT 3, LONG TAILED TIT, MARSH TIT.
Track camera was interesting at Pathways as it logged a fox every night for four nights also COAL TIT, MEADOW PIPIT 5, SONG THRUSH 3, BLACKBIRD 5,