A walk through to Loathingland Lake, nothing much out of the ordinary but added to the year list. But always good to catch up with, PINTAIL, SHOVELORE, COOT, WIGEON, GADWALL, MOORHEN, and my first STARLINGS for the year. Where have they all gone.
North Dene's: The surprise was the eight OYSTERCATCHER but also a single STOCK DOVE.
So here we go again, but it doesn't get any easier. The age of trekking is proving more difficult year on year. But we will still be out there in the wild, in the weather and watching out for feathered friends. Because I have still not lost my get up and go, to see the unusual and find the unmissable.
Todays walk brought in 30 species with the best being a KINGFISHER at Oulton Broad. But in real terms the best will be the two GREAT WHITE EGERET which when you think I saw my first in 1964 makes us all understand how thins have changed.
But the KESTREL below took a real fancy to a rodent beside the track, which did not stay alive for long. I also had a fly over SNIPE and a flock of BEARDED READLING on Horseshoe corner.
Some year, many will be pleased to say goodbye. But whoever you are no one can say it was not different. But with new vaccine on the way perhaps we can look forward to a world of safety.
Best bird for the year was the self found BLACK BROWED ALBATROSS offshore here in Lowestoft.
Took a short walk through Loathingland Lake, to pick up on the RED BREASTED MERGANSER. Managed a few pic's but also had 11 TURNSTONE, 1 SHAG, PIED WAGTAIL, GOLDFINCH, CORMORANT.
Just a final comment: Was the Bemton Cliff, Black Browed Albatross seen on July 3rd the same as the one seen off Lowestoft on September 28th.
A winter and cold walk out onto the Suffolk coast. As some duck have been reported from Covehithe. The first bird of note was a single WATER PIPIT which was on the move and would not allow close view. The other bird of note was again a single LONG TAILED DUCK which was regularly diving for food. As where the three GOLDENEYE with two female and a male. While watching a SHORT EARED OWL flew through, but only the briefest view as it flew on. On the top field three BARNACLE GEESE and a large flock of GREY LAG GEESE on the water. SHOVELORE, GADWALL and many MALLARD on the fields feeding with gulls.
Birthday walk with my son who has reached the grand old age of 38. Rather a foggy dat to go birding, but we managed 16 species in an hour. The best was a mixed flock of GOLDFINCH and LESSER REDPOLL. Not unusual to see them feeding together as they are locked into the same genetics. Also a GREEN WOODPECKER, 2 JAY, 1 COMMON BIZZARD, 6 SHOVELOER, 1 SONG THRUSH.
Regular call in with little to shout about, with only 5 MALLARS, GREY HERON, DABCHICK, MOORHEN and to CARRION CROW. ROBIN, DUNNOCK, MAGPIE.
Links Hill: 50 BHG and three COMMON GULL but best was a MED GULLL with colour ring.
A sea watch for an hour proved little with only 2 RED THROATED DIVER and 2 COMMON SCOTTER. Still a good size flock of resting BLACK HEADED GULLS with 3 COMMON GULLS and 8 HERRING GULLS. The best was the TURNSTONES on the beach with 57 plus others on groynes.
