Filby Broad

A disappointing but not entirely unexpected twitch to Kessingland today from 8.30am to 9.10am, failed to see the Golden Oriole found by James B. having to leave early due to work commitments. At 9.30am, as I was driving home, incredibly I saw male Peregrine Falcon fly due west just over the road, flapping its wings quickly and then gliding, then flapping its wings quickly again (typical Peregrine flight action). I then went visited Filby Broad and saw up to 4 Common Terns plus the usual 30 or so Swifts flying low over the water. Over by the far southern edge of the Broad, by the far Tern platform, I spied the excellent summer plumaged Black- necked Grebe distantly. It promptly dived but then resurfaced. A super bird, through the scope I could just about make out the summer plumage, black neck yellow fan and all. Meanwhile, over the south- eastern corner of the broad, I saw a largish white bird with black wing tips and black head and neck and down curved bill, it was a Sacred Ibis. I was really pleased to see one of these birds as it was a bird revered and mummified by the Ancient Egyptians who identified it with their God Thoth, the God of wisdom and learning. This bird was a free flying escapee no doubt from Thrigby Wildlife Park. It flew north over the trees. An excellent Hobby flew over the western edge of the Broad, hunting and flying over the middle of the Broad, even over the road and then back again reasonably close, but sadly against the sun. Driving to Thrigby, at 3.15pm, I moved a recently fledged juvenile Collared Dove, which sat kamakaze-like in the middle of the road and in grave danger of being run over, to the sanctity and safety of the bottom of a thick hedge. At Thrigby Wildlife Park, in an enclosure were at least 10 White Stork and 2 pairs of elegant Demoiselle Cranes.