Call in at Pathways my usual Monday hour spent in the hide. As usual the KINGFISHER was about and very high count of MOORHEN. But only two LITTLE GREBE. While watching the BLACK HEADED GULLS a COMMON GULL came in for a wash and brush up. As you can see below. I did have a COMMON BUZZARD fly through.

The last few weeks

Just a catch up time as I consider the good as well as the bad. The bas being the very beautiful KESTREL that I picked up dead at the side of the road. Still warm and with a broken neck, how sad. Took me back to when I was young when as I would be cycling round watching birds around Layer-de-la-Haye. I would stop and sadly bury all the birds found. I would put my heal in the soil in the bank and say goodbye. Perhaps things don't change over many years. But I know that years change us all and I know that I am nowhere so overcome by the loss. But I am more upset at the loss of bird life in general and wish that there where as many birds living in the wild than there are.

The above reflects against the picture below as I photographed this lovely KESTREL doing what it should at Carlton Marsh last Wednesday. I also had the regular BITTERN put its head up twice while I was in the lookout hide. The oyjer things of interest was a really dark form female MATSH HARRIER. Which flew within feet of the hide and as it did so it put up 3 SNIPE. Also the regular GWE was strutting its stuff, and 3 COMMON BUZZAED over North Cove.

At Pathways this morning the first CHAFFINCH for months, and with all the gadwall gone and only three MALLARD on site. BUZZARD kept on flying over and bringing the BLACK HEADED GULL to flight after  there bathing exploits. The COMMON GULL was enjoying company. Also the regular KINGFISHER was calling well but only viewable once. 

Links Hill: For a seawatch meant that on arrival a single MED GULL and a single COMMON GULL it is not the same as the Pathways bird. As for what lay out on the sea there was an obvious movement of GANNET with around 50 birds and about as many CORMORANT all heading North.. Just 4 RED-THROATED-DIVER but some auks unidentified well off.

Lound Lakes

 Short walk round with no surprises but the best thing is a late sighting of WILLOW GREEN EMERALD and also four COMMON DARTER. As for SHOVELORE 8 and several GADWALL. CHAFFINCH 3, GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT and small flock of LTT. REDWING 4 and 7 BLACKBIRD.

Also it was odd to see so many CADDID FLY in the air.

Pathways

 Regular visit with an increase in the duck count. Also our regular KINGFISHER put in a brief appearance. So the kids that I introduced to birding where very excited to say the least. But just good to take kids roung even if it was in the rain.

Spent an hour at Leathes Ham with a good view of the five PINTAIL but all SHOVELORE where well off. 

Carlton Marsh

 Regular visit on s Wednesday afternoon brought the b view I have ever had of a BITTERN. This bird flew in to lookout hide. Not for long as it landed, stuck its head up and then disappeared.  I had a WOODCOCK fly through heading West and three SNIPE all high in the shy. A flock of 11 REDWING and a flock of 5 GOLDFINCH. I could hear trrfdling but was unable to locate. Also 6 MEADOW PIPIT , GREY HERON, GWE, LITTLE EGERET, and a posing LAPWING. 3 MARSH HARRIER and 3 COMMON BUZZARD.

Acle Strait and Northe Dene's

 While traveling home from Norwich in slow moving traffic a caught sight of a GLOSSY IBIS flew in flying first along a dyke and then landing in it. Just unlucky that it would not be visible where it was. Also large flock of GOLDEN PLOVER just West and North of Stracy Arms.

North Dene's:     Not much about but gave a diminutive CORMORANT a good look. never seen such a variation in size, but after a good look I relaxed somewhat. Just one OYSTERCATCHER and 10 TURNSTONE. Also 10 LINNET, 1 JAY.

Ness Point and Carlton Marsh.

 Spent 2 hours on sea front on North Shore and managed a good day with absolutely brilliant views of a pair of ROCK PIPIT, she being much lighter than he I assume. As he was still holding much colour. I also had a BLACK THROATED DIVER flying North, it being close enough to confirm. Also 9 RED THROATED DIVER, with some on the water drifting South. But best sighting was an adult male VELVET SCOTER with 2 immature birds in tow. The other bird of note but no id was a far distant shearwater which turned hihj in the sky before decent showing good sillotte with lined white wing. Also good numbers of CORMORANT moving North and GANNET South. Only one flock of 10 starling in off.

Carlton Marsh Only 1 SNIPE, 1 MARSH HARRIER and 1 COMMON BUZZARD. LITTLE EGERET and fly over flock of PINK FOOTED GEEDE around tqo hundred. Also a flock of 10 REDWING.