Walberswick & Dunwich

On Saturday despite or maybe because of the bright day I had a headache all day pity as it would have been good photography weather. Sunday 23rd January was duller and my first stop was Asda car park where I looked across at the Grain silo and a Peregrine Falcon was flying around, another second Peregrine was also seen flying around scaring all the Feral Pigeons, the Cormorant was on its usual post and a Chiff- Chaff flew into the Pine trees by the riverside completing a good start to the day. Next stop was Wrentham cemetary, where a female Pheasant scuttled away from me by the edge of the hedge, on the back trees were 2 Greenfinch and a Song Thrush flew away from the central bit, still no Fieldfares, none on the back hedges either. A Buzzard was sat on the top of the tree to the east field from the cemetary. After cafefully negotiating the former pothole ridden Lodge road at Walberswick, I parked up by the side of Hoist Covert wood and immediately heard Marsh Tits, but I couldn't locate them and the same could be said of Treecreeper just past the board marshwalk area. A chap was cutting reeds to the east by the path and in a bush to the right a Sparrowhawk flew up onto the bush saw me and flew east. Then 8 Barnacle Geese suddenly appeared and flew right over my head and east. 18 Greylag Geese flew south and another 7 Greylag Geese flew east again over my head. By the wind pump a calling flock of 30 super White- fronted Geese flew south. Bearded Tits were calling from the reeds just past the wind pump but again they were staying low so weren't seen. I then checked the bird feeding station and success straight away when a Twite was seen feeding with 18 Linnets, a dog appearing on the ridge flushed them they all flew west over Corporation Marsh, the Twite was smaller squatter shorter tailed and distinctive call too. Later, on 13 Snow Buntings flew and perched by the ridge before they and 3 Linnets fed from the feeding station. Walking down to the area where the shore pools were around, a Great White Egret flew past and settled in a pool where it stood on an island, huddled up. Out to sea, A wp Great Crested Grebe seen on the sea and 2 Red- throated Divers flew north, no sign of any Scoter whatsoever. About 1.2 km north of Dunwich beach car park, I saw a flock of passerines mostly feeding on the back vegetation. Most were of the 40 strong flock were Linnets, but at least 9+ were super Twite, their yellow bills distinctive and showing like beacons even in this poor light, their buffy faces also seen well through the scope. At one point they flew closer. But then I sadly lost them. On the pools a scan revealed a Ringed Plover and around 10 Dunlin, plus a wp Spotted Redshank at the back too. A calling Water Pipit flew south, one of 4 seen/ heard during the day. I then saw the flock of 30 White- fronted Geese again flying north- west disappearing past Dingle Hills. Walking back, the Great White Egret was still hunched up on the island and back at the feeding station, 4 Reed Buntings seen plus Greenfinch and Chaffinch. 18 Linnets then flew in and then the 13 Snow Bunting also flew in later, inevitably another dog on the ridge forced them south. Walking back by the dyke on the corner, a Water Pipit seen and by the reeds just before the Wind pump 24 super Bearded Tits were feeding in the reeds and showing reasonably well. Walking back by the wind pump, the 30 White- fronted Geese flew north at the back of Westwood Lodge marshes. No sign of the SEO but still a very enjoyable visit to Walberswick hampered only by the poor light (so no photos- header is a Library pic from 2 Feb 2012 Burgh Castle/ Breydon Water).