New Year, first day.

 After hearing that a LESSER YELLOWLEGS had been hanging around Southwold Levels behind the Harbour Inn. I had decided to leave a view of it until today to make sure I went out. After a struggle of fighting the car crowds I arrived at the gate to view and amazingly a car place was available. So a quick dive in only to find a birder from Great Yarmouth and about seven others. No one had seen it of recent so out with scope and all of us started a sweep. REDSHANK showing well, but soon out walked the LY. Put on a show for all of 3 minuets before it flew of after Peregrine flew through. This was a lifer for me so a good start to the year.

Also for the day: Blue Tit, Herring Gull, Starling, Feral Pigeon, Magpie, Dunnock, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Kestrel, Redshank, Mute Swan, Lapwing, Wigeon, Black headed Gull, Teal, Curlew, Mallard, Rook, Marsh Harrier, Stonechat, Pheasant, Jackdaw, Buzzard, House Sparrow, Cormorant.

Pathways Care Farm

 Well, completed the survey for PCF for the year, all ready to move on.

A pair of BUZZARD being set on bt a group of rooks which had taken a real dislike. Duck numbers are low however but as for the GREY HERON it also saw a meal when from nowhere it appeared with a field mouse. Which it dunked and eat. A small morsal for such a large bird.

Pathways Care Farm

Drawing to the end of the year and I have already completed the yearly survey. Visit to the hide and joined by Geoff who gained sight of our resident KINGFISHER. Put on a show for a short while with a flight across the lake. 25 GADWALL and two LITTLE GREBE. Our single GREY HERON was flying about. Nothing on the small side only a pair of PIED WAGTAIL.

 

Carlton Marsh

 

Sat and kept warm in the centre and then took a look outside. Only to find an otter swimming through the dyke next to the centre. Ran back in and put a call out. It kept on heading along the channel faster than I could walk. Some visitors and staff managed to get a glimpse as it made its way towards Spratts. In three hours only 11 species.

Pathways Care Farm

 An increase in numbers of GADWALL with a count of 17 and so the build up begins. Also a fall of BLACKBIRDS with 13 birds counted but I would think more on site.

Links Hill:  Ver little to shout about with 15 BHG but one of them might well have come a distance as it had a pink flush which could mean that it has been feeding on shrimp.

Lowestoft

 Myself and Derick called in on Crestview Drive to see if we could pick up on a small flock of WAXWING. A small group of local birders had an eye on them and sure enough birds in a tree just off from the road. Light was bad so pics not good. But now winter has arrived. At Links Hill car park a good flock of BHG with at least 6 MED GULLS one with a yellow ring, (See below)

 

Links Hill

 After  the storm very little about with only seven TEAL North. Seven MED GULL at rest and on groynes and the first COMMON GULL at rest. Very large  bird, odd how they vary in size.