Ness Point, Lowestoft.

Visibility good and little haze. North wind light. Warm but hot inland.

NESS POINT:  

First bird of any significance was a single GANNET flying south. Once eye was in a I found in total 9 birds. Another surprise was two single WHIMBRAL flying north about 10 minuets apart. Both at usual distance about 1 mile off shore. A single juvenile SHELLDUCK flying north.  Distant but visible was a flock of 7 COMMON SCOTER flying south well out. But I did miss out on two duck flying out to see from shore no idea on id. A single COMMON SCOTTER flew close in heading north on its own. But of interest was a single RINGED PLOVER flying south literally yards offshore. Increasing numbers of SANDWICH and COMMON TERN. With KITTYWAKES feeding close in and far off.

FRITTON GREAT WOOD: 

Several RED DRAGONFLIES and large and small BROWN BUTTERFLIES. I also picked up on a a single COMA. It was also interesting to hear crickets in the long grass, something to remind me of my childhood.
CHAFFINCH, BLUE TIT, COAL TIT, GOLDCREST and young. MUNCKJACK DEER, plus a pair of suspected MINK. But the best was a JAY having a bath in the cottage pond. 

Minismere RSPB

Meeting up of club members today for the usual walk round. 9 am start and the first birding for me after two and half weeks of recovery. Must be getting old.

Species list today: Was about 62  for the day which in real terms is not that great but at least some really nice looking birds. Best where:  WHIMBRAL...one single bird and a good flock of LITTLE GULL. I suppose the best bird show was put up by the spotted redshank but amongst all of the BLACK TAILED GODWIT flock of over 80 birds and with them three red KNOT. We had a fly by HOBBY and found six WHITETHROAT nests.      The best thing is I feel no worse for wear.

 Spotted Redshank

 Little Gulls

Common Tern waiting for the water to rise.

Spotted Red with Avocet



Out and about.

Best birding was with W.B.C. Last Thursday week ago. Managed to add a few things to the list, but I suppose the best find was an incredible pair of CUCKOO that I managed to screw up on at the Sluice at Minismere. It has been 9 years since I have seen a pair in action together so to have a video of the relationship and pictures to follow it up is in itself good. I have also picked up with DARFORD WARBLER and KNIGHTJAR which gives a good complement of birds. In real terms I am doing ok this year but have some way to go to add to my life list. I missed out on one the other day in North Norfolk, but we won't go there.
It seems that some of our local Swifts have already done a runner. With also very few COMMON TERNS in appearance.
I have picked up on HOBBY at the following locations this year. Abberton Reservoir, Shrub End at my sisters house. Minismere, Carlton Marsh and Oulton Marsh.
LITTLE EGRET: It seems that this is the first year we have seen these birds in flocks my largest was 11 birds but at Minismere there has been as many as 14.

Found out what one of the moths is....Magpie Moth

Posted update.

Sorry if you have logged in of recent but have had family on hand for two weeks. Not a bad thing but some things just have to give anyway.

Can anyone help with this little ditty. It was only 15 mm across and seen late afternoon at East Ruston Rectory Gardens. As was a BUZZARD.

 Spotted Wood

Well today is just one of those days in life when its a real BLUE SKY.

All I can say is well done Eddie.

I would like to introduce my great friend to you after have a stroke while in a plane heading back from Australia over two years ago, he has now achieved another goal. To climb the last section of Man Tor in Edale. What an achievement .

 

On this same day I received a letter confirming that I am now cancer free and that it is not time to say good bye just yet.

 

It is also the day on which I added to my bird LIFE LIST with a red breasted flycatcher. A female which I had got to hear was at Kensington Gardens. Perhaps not the best picture in the world but at least it is there. Was so interesting about this bird was that it rested with its mouth open as it sat. Never closing it at any time. Was it just tired or was it that it just needed to feed up on its continuing journey.

 

 http://youtu.be/P0E89nvJurA

Minismere RSPB

Made contact with Steve form W.B.C. and informed him that I should be able to meet up with him and the team today. so arrival a 9 A.M. Thanks for the coffee Steve.

Best Bird: SPOONBILL, just the single bird viewable from the East Hide. This bird was a ducker and diver behind some reeds. But eventually made its way out for  a reasonable look.
This was followed closely by another lone ranger in its close symbiotic friend a GREAT WHITE EGRET.

We also pulled in a LITTLE GULL, BEARDED TIT, MED GULL, PINTAIL DUCK  a pair. WIGEON, TUFTED DUCK, TEAL, COM TERN and SAND. There was also a good movement of SWIFTS again. Struggling to feed in this now confirmed late spring for 30 years.



Variable veiwing?

Loddon:    Called in for a short walk and I suppose the only thing you can say about today is that there little birdies starting to get about. The best ones here were a family of  MISTLE THRUSHS. It seemed as if the parents were with four young birds over the marsh on the west side of Loddon. We also had a very confiding GREY HERON who with his partner seemed to be intent on gaining food for young. I could also hear a WHITETHROAT and CHIFFCHAFF as well as CHAFFINCH and SONG THRUSH.
Hales:   We had a fly over BUZZARD which was heading North, it was in good condition.
Reedham Ferry South Side: Best bird was a COMMON SANDPIPER heading East close to the water, being escorted by a SWALLOW. There where plenty of Hirundo around again today. We also had one very diminutive and well coloured MARSH HARRIER here. There were also GADWALL with young and several SHELLDUCK, 2 SHOVELORE, 5 LAPWING in one meadow and several scattered around. With on HARE trying to feed up.