Oulton Marsh, Suffolk.

Seeing that the GLOSSY IBIS has been hanging around for a while I thought that I had better go and have a look. Not my first for Suffolk but for Lounge Lizard Land it is. I first picked the bird up amongst a flock of ROOKS and followed it to landing , where it sat fair way off on the marsh in front of platform. Other birders there had it in view and in real terms it was not difficult to fix on.

What was of interest was that behind us was a out of season CHIFFCHAFF which had taken to flitting amongst the read a sedge. Managed a good fix on it and although very grey in my opinion a (Collybita) but it did have significant plumage variation in that it was  pale brown on upper and very dull. Its long eye line strip was significant and for all intents and purposes it could well have been a (tristis) Also it was unusual in jizz in that it was very low to the ground and would often land on the mud.  Its call was not as it should have been for a tristis. Nothing like a Bullfinch call. Just like the other on the other day in in the garden. Which in summing up makes it a  first winter bird. Surprise, surprise. A Siberian chiffchaff has been confirmed in the exact place on January 14th 2014



 

Its that time of the year

Not right up to date but on December 21st I heard calling from the garden an odd one. I was proved right by my initial response in that it turned out to be just the usual CHIFFCHAFF. Mind you it did have some odd characteristics. But nothing that would make it recognisably a Siberian. It was to my way of thinking a bit of a cross over though so in its own right a good bird to view. It was an odd day in that I also had a BLACKBIRD which was very dark billed and a large bill as well. In that I have seen these before it was obviously a Bavarian type bird which again is of interest. These bird just show up and for all of us they are of significance. Another surprise was that I had a bumble bee decide to fly over the garden, he to was a big brute of a thing. So perhaps a female looking for somewhere to escape for the winter.

SO TO ALL OF YOU IN THE BIRDING WORLD MAY YOU FLY WELL THIS CHRISTMAS AND IN THE NEW YEAR

All three pic's taken in the winter of 1964. They are of Malting Green Road, Layer-de-la-Haye, Friday Woods and Abberton reservoir from our bedroom window.

 

 



Pakefield Beach,

Although this record does not apply to today I did catch up with a massive flock of COMMON SCOTER last Saturday of Gorlston south beach. My estimate which was made low at the time for the simple reason who can really tell how many birds there where was 300 plus. Others have placed it around 800 and I would not be at all surprised at that.

Today however just a short walk in brought a flock of SNOW BUNTING what lovely birds. There was 43 in all according to photo's that cant lie. Believe it if you like. But the surprise was that one bird was colour ringed as can be see by the picture below. So reported it in to see what goes. There where also 7 MED GULLS a single PIED WAG, HOUSE SPARROWS,B-H-GULL,G-B-B-GULL,HERRING GULL and the best was a single KITTIWAKE which just liked sitting behind an angling boat waiting to be fed. COMMON SCOTER offshore as was 2 CORMORANT and RED-THROATED-DIVERS heading north.

 

 



 

Ness Point, Lowestoft.

NESS POINT:   The first visit of the day to the Ness brought in a flock of 20+ EIDER both male and female which where heading North against the prevailing wind. A flock of 5 BRENT had given up an where being swept south. I also had a flock of 9 COMMON SCOTER again heading into wind. A few CORMORANT well out doing the same and adult GANNET flying south well out must have numbered out at 50+ birds.
LINKS HILL:  On arrival spotted a MED GULL with a colour ring. This is the same bird as I have seen at Tramps Alley.  (as seem below)

Followed by another new comer.

Followed by a BLACK HEADED GULL

NESS POINT: On arrival guys from Lounge Lizard Danny followed latter by Peter. Best bird on this visit was a VELVET SCOTER heading north with a COMMON SCOTER. Still plenty of GANNETS offshore and  two flocks of EIDER of about 20+ birds in one and 26 in the other with 7 male. Still CORMORANTS well out and 6 white birds well out supposed SWANS id no good. Even I cant see that far.

 



 



Home

This write up is not being made until Thursday 21st November for no other reason than it is to cold to site up stairs. I spend long enough in the cold as it is.

Mind you this is an absolutely amazing thing to be able to do. To record that last Saturday, that is on November 16th.  I was able to see in my garden a first winter CASPIAN GULL. Harry my very own herring gull who wanders in and out of here in the winter and brings in his female friend in the summer. Brought in for his Saturday feed on the shed roof,  a very white headed bird. It met every criteria for a cas. The long dark bill-The low profile forehead-The dark eye-The black primaries-The forward hung body and cut back belie-The longer legs. What else can you give for the id on such a bird. It was all there. So what is bad about it. It flew in and I stood and identified the features only for it to fly off in 40 seconds. But what a view for a Cas. Thanks Harry. Its not many who have this claim to fame.

Ness Point

The biggest flock of COMMON SCOTER today was a flock of about 40 birds flying north. But also there was flocks of 7 and 5 flying in the same direction. A flock of BRENT GEESE numbering 20 birds also flew south and nothing else to show except for a flock of 14 STARLING coming in of the sea.

Logging Mill (Sewer works Corton) and Ness Point

Walk was in bright sunshine but very little on view. Rather a chill in the air, but well covered up.

Corton Sewer Works: A SPARROW HAWK came over soon after getting out of the car and headed well over the fields. Some CROWS and 3 BLACKBIRDS eating blackberries. WREN, GREAT TIT and BLUE TIT. An obliging HEDGE SPARROW who was very upset at being molested. Other than that a JAY.

Ness Point: Was more promising with three flocks of late moving ARCTIC TERNS. The first held 3 birds and the 5 and then 2. I am not sure as it was well of but I think there was a kittiwake flying north to against the wind. I also had 1 BRENT GOOSE north and three CORMORANT. Several GANNETS well out at sea with a closer young one heading north.

Home: Flock of about 12 TEAL flew high over the house this morning and it seems we might well have a resident BLACKBIRD now for the winter.