Its called just interesting, well to some.

Take a look at this Lesser Black Backed and the unusual mirrors and the two obviously out of character white feathers on the wing. Have you ever seen anything like this. The other surprise was this at home today an orange ringed Herring Gull.

Oulton Marsh.

Still the air is cold, what is going on.

It's took till today to see my first GARDEN WARBLER. very nice bird and singing well, but also was giving semi favourable views. Also a CUCKOO came into view and several REED BUNTING. A movement of SWIFTS, SWALLOWS and SAND MARTIN, all hunting and filling themselves up for the next few weeks.
Also had SEDGE WARB and CETTI'S WARB with 4 of these.

                             

Sizwall, East Bridge, Dunwich, Hen Reed bed

The day was bright but still a slight chill in the air.

Sizewell: COMMON TERN about off outlet with 3 PIED WAG and few COMMON WHITETHROAT. CROWS and LINNET and that's it.

East Bridge: CETTI'S WARBLER called in Marys ear as we stopped for a car the other way. I think it blew her ear drums out. The only other bird of note was a female BULLFINCH.

Dunwich:   The sight of two HOBBY well above the wood feeding and SAND MARTINS landing in the car park. SWALLOW and HOUSE MARTINS about 17 in the village nesting.

Hen Reed Bed:  Best was three MARSH HARRIER and the sound of REED WARBLER and sight as well as the call of REED BUNTING, CETTI'S WARBLER.

Ottley Common , Bungay, Suffolk.

Walk round with the Waveney Bird Club. A lovely evening after a miserable day.

 

 

Altogether I pulled in 47 bird species but I understand they made it 51, but I think I left out House Sparrow. Best bird was the well singing NIGHTINGALE. But it was also good to see the KINGFISHERS who have made a home in the SAND MARTIN Cliff. How unusual is that. Also the well calling REED BUNTING, WHITETHROAT, BLACKCAP, SONG THRUSH and OYSTERCATCHER.

 

Also set up my new lens with digi. Not to bad ,but room to improve yet. First pic was a hidden WHITETHROAT in the garden and the second the local PERI. I also went for short time to the Ness and had a single COMMON SCOTER through and two SWALLOW.

 

 Nightingale from to far away.

South Wall, Bythburgh

What a serious change in the weather with South West winds and rain. So sought some shelter and headed for the above as it would be high tide.

 

Best bird was obviously the three WHIMBRAL. All seen at different times but there where at least two birds. Also of course there cousins with one bird in good fresh colour which is also nice to se rather than the drab bird of the winter. Just one DUNLIN flew in briefly and a two COMMON SAND flew by low calling. Just the one LITTLE EGERET and several REDSHANK with one pair performing just out of sight. REED BUNTING, MEADOW PIPIT, and 4 WHITETHROAT. Again it was good to pick up on 9 STOCK DOVE over in the time there. Also of interest was the lone male GADWALL which kept flying out and back in again.

                                       Not such a bad pic when you consider the conditions.

 

Home and Stokesby Norfolk.

In the garden birds seemed on edge with sky watching gulls. This turned into an issue around 9:57 am when a raptor appeared well off south over the river. View was very brief on both occasions. But it was being given a hard time by 4 CROWS. I had all of 6 seconds to view it and came initially to the conclusion that it was a pale phase Common Buzzard. But when I sent tweet out it became apparent that a OSPREY had been seen at North Denes at 9:55am.
So what did I see in such a short time and what gave me to believe that this bird was pale and could it have been the OSPREY mentioned.
1.  I did see an eye mask on the bird.
2.  The bird was light brown on upper wing.
3.  It was flying so low that I could see its upper wing, in fact it was being given such a hard time and was flying at about 7- feet due west along Lake Loathingland.
4. It flight was not a typical of a Buzzard, but in retrospect it was of an Osprey.
Conclusion is that this is what I saw and although I was not able to id it. I have little doubt as to it real identity.

So I will make it a garden tick and a year tick.

Stokesby:   Best bird here was a WHITE WAGTAIL. I had 2 KESTREL and 2 COMMON TERN with JACKDAW, CROW, ROOK, GREY HERON, SEDGE WARBLER, COMMON WHITETHROAT, REED BUNTING, SWIFT 2 and SWALLOW.

This is now the 9th day that Sally has been sitting out her nesting duties with some relief when Harry gets the idea.

 

Away from Birding but still in the Blue

Went fishing instead of birding at Ness Point today. Still very cold but when the sun was out not so bad. Fishing was interesting with a lovely male CUCKOO WRASSE. This is not the first time I have caught one here, but it is the first time I have had the sense to take a camera. Although not a big fish how amazing to have caught it on a real that 100 years old and a rode the same.

I also managed a BASS of 2lbs which fought well on the light line of 10lbs and a weight of only one once. It even jumped for a couple of feet out of the water. I also had a small WHITEING POUT and my mate had a small ELL.  Birds what birds. There where none. Well not of any distinction.