Siberian Chiff- Chaff at Leathes Ham

On Thursday 28th March, having failed to see the Siberian Chiff- Chaff the previous day very grey very gloomy day, following Andrew E's early tweet I raced down to Leather Ham and immediately heard the distinctive singing of the Siberian Chiff- Chaff , singing from the large tree just east of the tennis courts in Normanston Park, it then flew to the smaller tree on the east side of the path before flying to bushes by the Leathes Ham. It was greyish- brown with slight eye- stripe and whitish supercilia and black bill and legs. It was a scruffy individual with fluffed up and a few feathers out of place. There were also 3 Chiff- Chaffs around, making it harder to piuck up when it wasn't singing. We saw it very low down in bushes in the company of Peter N & Chris M. Later, together with OFB and Neville Loth we saw it in the bushes bordering the park where it showed despite twigs always being in the way. It then next started singing at 9.15 from trees by the Mere. Looking on Leathes Ham, male and female Pintail were the only interesting ducks seen on the Mere. A dash back in the afternoon, where I took the path east of feeding the wooden platformm, I joined Chris M and Maurice B, we saw the 2 excellent Garganey, a male and female swimming slowly left in and out of the reeds before we went around and joined by Andrew E saw them a little closer before they swam to the middle of the Mere and then over to the west side of the Broad.

Wheatears in the gloom and No Eagle (again X5)

On Thursday 21st March directly after work, I headed down to Lowestoft's North Denes and there were still 3 Wheatears on the North Denes Lowestoft (2 males, 1 female) near the sea wall around the Links Road end in the gloom at 6pm, no sign of any at the Net posts. On Friday 22nd March, a Sparrowhawk circled over the New day Theatre at the James Paget Hospital at lunchtime. Saturday 23rd March, a visit to Kessingland Sewage works where I was pleased to see a male White Wagtail feeding on the sewage beds and 3 Chiff- Chaff was somewhat overshadowed by news of the WT Eagle circling over Blundeston/ Somerleyton. I tried chasing it at Carlton Marshes- No Eagle, Corton- No Eagle, Breydon S.Wall- No Eagle. Extremely disappointing to miss this magnificent species for the fifth time in the Lizard area.

Glossy Ibis on Walberswick North field

On Tuesday 19th March, again taking a day's A/L from work, I drove down to Walberswick car park, it wasn't immediately apparent that the Ibis was about so I drove to Walberswick Harbour car park. Meeting David B he said the Ibis was in the Walberwick North field. Scanning across the Glossy Ibis was still present in the Walberswick North field. It fed around half way out along the left hand side. Seen at 12.30pm plus a large female Peregrine flying away from us, a Curlew also seen over the far side. From Blythburgh bridge, a Chiff-Chaff heard and then seen singing in the tree in blossom in the corner of the garden, I counted a big tally of 423 Redshank, 8 Black- tailed Godwit, 8 Avocet, 7 Dabchick, 1 adult summer plumaged Mediterranean Gull seen out on the estuary. A Sparrowhawk was seen circling over the woods north of Blythburgh at 12.50pm.

Redwings over

On Saturday March 16th, at least 2 Redwings heard flying over Bosquet Close, this evening at around 9.30pm, 1 heard 20 seconds after the first.

Good day at Minsmere

On Thursday 14th March, I had a day's leave to use up from work and I had a good day at Minsmere today, initially no sign of the Smew from the mounds by the old car park, however in the company of David B and his wife, who first spotted them the 3 Smew (1 male and 2 females)came swimming out from the left half way back viewed from the West scrape hide, the male particularly resplendent amongst the more dapper redhead females. Also whilst walking back along the trail nearly to the woods, I saw a female Long- tailed Tit fly into a Long-tailed Tits nest in the middle of some brambles. David told me about some Adders along the Adder trail and his description of the spot was spot on and helped helpfully by on the wardens too, by an obvious bush in the roped off area that formed a triangle to the left hand side. First one and the 2 Adders seen lying on the ground along the left hand side of the bush, they moved around a little and one even flattened his body. Both looked like males (both having the black zig-zag) one looked as if it had shed skin already being more silvery than the other browner individual (yet to shed its skin?) The from the Island Mere, 2 Sand Martin (my earliest ever!) seen flying over the water. Along the rhododendron tunnel, 2 Treecreepers seen in a tree and a Marsh Tit too, but missed the Firecrest all I saw in the scrub behind the East hide was Goldcrest & Blue Tit. Finally by the mounds, the first pool I saw the 3 Smew.

Greenfinches are back!

On Sunday 10th March rain stopped play, although I was really pleased to see 9 Greenfinches (a record garden tally) in the garden the most I have ever seen in one sitting and the only ones I have seen since the indiscriminate clearance totally of Fallowfields some 2 weeks ago. I have several black sunflower seed feeders especially for them so pleased it attracted a garden record of 9 birds today. Especially welcome since they had been totally absent since Fallowfileds was decimated. The Robin continues to sing from our back trees (the only ones until you get to Parkhill Hotel grounds, too. Delighted to hear my next door neighbour is planting trees (I suggested a few varieties) as a shield at the back of their garden too. We will re-establish a great line of trees and shrubs as a local corridor for wildlife. Now off to get some more nest boxes (Blue/ Great Tits and Robin boxes) to complement the ones I already have and the 5 House Martin nest boxes!

Herring fleet Hills Marshes again

On Saturday 11th March, a trip over to Herringfleet Hills marshes and again I saw the male Green- winged Teal from the woods albeit distant it was swimming vigorously to the left. The wind was very gusty and I managed to see an additional 40 Teal and around 3 Little Egrets too. Walking back 8 Goldfinch seen.

Highest tally of Purple Sandpipers for 21 years!

On Saturday 2 March, a tweet from Rob Wil, had me driving down to Ness Point and initially saw 5 Purple Sandpipers feeding on the finger, then a further 4 Purple Sandpipersseen on the close rocks. Also on the finger, were 17 Turnstone, later more Purple Sandpipers joined them and on the far side of the finger was an incredible 14 Purple Sandpipers, all feeding the far end of the finger whilst the 17 Turnstone fed much closer on the finger. This is my highest tally for 21 years, since 1998 when I had up to 16 birds. After later checking Hamilton Dock, 5 Turnstones seen flying over the dock. Travelling back to Ness Point, up to 12 Purple Sandpipers seen on the compass rocks, plus 3 close Turnstones too. When the sun came out I settled down to take a few pics. Hazards for photographers included a constant procession of people wandering around the compass and forcing the Sandpipers to the far side of the rocks and the now well known shadow cast by the blades on the whirring Wind Turbines, turning a third of the shots into shadow. Finally, a calling adult winter Mediterranean Gull was seen flying over Bird's Eye Factory.