Raglan street, Lowestoft

Twitter done its trick and got me out a few hundred yards up the road to view a group of 13 WAXWING which had taken up perching on a telegraph pole near Hoseasons. They where only spending seconds in the bush before flying back again to roost. But then you cant have everything. (No sun either)



 

 

At Links Hill a single MED GULL and nothing much else. At Ness Point. TURNSTONE 1, PURPLE SAND 1, RINGED PLOVER 1, CORMORANT 1,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leathe's Ham. Lowestoft.

Spent some time looking through the gulls and found one of the BLACK HEADED GULLS from yesterday which was rung. Also a very odd looking HERRING GULL with a deformed beak. The lower mandible was longer than the top one.

At one point all the birds where startled as a PEREGRINE flew in rather fast to my right. I would not like to gusste-mate it's speed, but it was nocking on rather.

The following is the recovery record for one of the birds yesterday.

Printed:  Wednesday 27 February 2013        Ringing data   Arnhem .2502072 W-EKJ1
Kokmeeuw Larus ridibundus
Leeftijd & geslacht  : na 2kj / 2cy+ man
/ male
Ringdatum      :  13-02-2013
Ringplaats      :  amsterdam, museumplein 5221.00 N 452.00 E
Ringer       :  Frank Majoor

Leath's Ham, Lowestoft.



Spent a while looking at the gulls as they came in to roost at the Ham. I took a chair and a grain warmer to keep the cold at bay. Worked within reason. I want the sun, please let me have some sun.

 

Nothing to really shout about but the two BLACK HEADED GULLS below where colour ringed. Have sent of info to BTO so await a reply. One could be interesting as it was left legged rung. Odd. There was good numbers of SHOVELORE with 27 birds on count.

 

Right leg: 575

 Left leg: EKJ1

 

Lowestoft Dock.

Took a walk up to the South Pier late afternoon to view the STARLINGS coming in to roost. Some sight as they circle before its dark. Cant imagine why feral PIGEONS should get in on the act, but it seems that some where intent on doing so. As for some of the gulls making there way from land to sea for the night. They just could not gain a handle on what it is like to be encircled by small birds wheeling through there flock.

17 TURNSTONE on beach feeding on the leftovers from what had been thrown to the gulls.

BECAUSE YOU ARE TO LASY TO TURN OUT IN THE COLD YOU CAN VIEW IN SAFETY

http://youtu.be/GI3F3NopMZk

Ness Point and Leathe's Ham

Cold lazy wind today from the East. One of those days when it's so lazy it blows through you rather than round you.

Ness Point:   9 Sinesis CORMORANT flying north with RED THROATED in at 17 birds again North as where the GANNETS which turned up an amazing 14. Other than that TURNSTINE feeding well at Birds Eye. Perhaps they where eating the horse meat from the lasagne.

Silo: No Peri today but a really confiding SHAG. A few HERRING GULL and B-H-GULL.

Leathe's Ham: On arrival a the local WOOD DUCK put in an appearance, he was trying it on with a female mallard. She was impressed by the look of it. But then who wouldn't be by his turn out. Also a few adult LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL amongst a whole series of gulls. CHAFFINCH, WREN, DUNOCK, GREENFINCH just one pair.

At home: had a really smacking SONG THRUSH on the table with BLACKBIRD and STARLING.



Walberswick Reed Bed, Suffolk.

Well this again is literally a new mile stone for since my illness. Its the first time back here and a walk that at times I never thought I would do again. But then who can tell what's possible. Not getting any younger but old dog is not out of it yet. I don't know how many miles it is round there but it took it's toll in the mud and the mess. The birding was not out of this world, but still good.

COMMON BUZZARD: Three birds seen in all and an obvious pair. One of which was very tatty. Looked a bit like me. MARSH HARRIER: Tw birds, on over coastal strip a female and the other well up the other end again a female.
REED BUNTING and three female BULLFINCH along reed track. With GOLDCREST there and also at end of walk near cottages. On entering the wood on the way out a flock of SISKIN ( See  below) about 20 birds in all. Did not see nor here them, but did hear the sound of seed husks falling around me. I also put up a CHINESE WATER DEER here before coming out into the first clearing with GREAT SPOTTED WOOD. I saw in total 3 BEARDED REEDLING in 3 separate sites. Two flocks of GREY LAG flew over the reed bed. Which for me was not good for the time of year. CURLEW: Again three birds seen and all on fields, or leaving them because of disturbance. On the road to the Lodge a flock of around 30 REDWING in the wood to the south and LAPWING to the north. There was also 5 GOLDFINCH in hedge along here.  It was obvious that BLACKBIRDS are on the move with several groups getting ready to make the move back to the continent. 



Sotterly Woods, Suffolk.

 

I went out with the intention of seeing a Hawfinch but they are so elusive so no chance. Met up with several guys all of the same mind. Although the weather started cold with a frost it brightened up which you would have thought would have taken raptors up but this did not seem to be the case. Mind you I did pick up on 2 COMMON BUZZARD.

 

There was a pair of NUTHATCH calling and MARSH TIT,BLUE and GREAT. MISTLE THRUSH and SONG THRUSH.

 

MUTFORD and HAULVER: As I was passing through I had info that several GREY PARTRIDGES had been seen in the area. The light wasn't good but managed to pick up on them.