Garden goodies

On Monday 28th March, whilst creosoting the Pagoda in the garden, I saw a fine kettle of 5 Buzzards circling right over the garden at 1.40pm, 2 birds were constantly mewing and later on a good movement of Redwings with groups of 6, 36, 12, 5, 1 & 6 (a total of 66) flying low over the garden (up to 5.22pm) and heading east back to Scandinavia. The fine Yellow- tipped Darwin wasp (Digger wasp) again seen near the garage too.

Minsmere reserve too busy for me!

On Friday 25th March 4 Fieldfare flew south -east seen from the front garden and the brief trill of a Redpoll heard too. Saturday 26th March a rather late trip to Minsmere 11am, I failed to see any Adders beneath the Sand Martin bank but a fine male Black Redstart was seen around the posts at the top of the cliff. With the reserve bustling with people, and Covid going through the roof at the moment I decided to try Westleton Common and despite an extensive search no Adders seen but I did see one Slow Worm and heard a Wood Lark. I also saw a very brief Small Tortoiseshell in this area too. on Sunday, 26th March ding extensive garden work, I saw 2 Buzzards over Parkhill just south- east from the garden at 2.25pm.

A successful trip to the Brecks

On Wednesday 23rd March, an early start and I picked John H from Great Yarmouth at 7am and we were the first site by 8.30am, parking up we could here Siskins and a singing Wood Lark and walking down we saw a rasping Brambling, Siskin and a pair of calling Mandarins regularly flying down the river. Around 500 yards down we stopped and immediately saw a fine female Lesser- spotted Woodpecker, my first for at least 23 years! It was on a pale dead trunk and then flew off. Around 20 inutes later the "kek kee kee" call of the male Lesser spotted Woodpecker was seen and it flew in onto some fine branches before flying down to the right hand side of a tree where it excavated a nest hole before eventually flying off. Lovely to see these Starling sized birds with black and white distinctive stripes on its back and the mnale sporting a fine red cap. Over the course of the next hour both birds were seen and the male returning 3X to the same nest hole to excavate it further. A shout went up and a magnificent large female Goshawk flew over and behind us. Meanwhile the pair of Mandarin duck flew first down and then up the stream hearalded by their distinctive call. Walking back a fine Yellowhammer and Cetti's Warbler were heard but not seen. The little rattle of a Lesser Redpoll had us looking by a row of bushes and finally saw it briefly fly behind a bush. Butterflies seen included Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and 3 Brimstones. With 25 separate Brimstones seen on the drive north. We left to go to the Goshawk site, we saw up to 5 Buzzards here, including a very pale bird plus a Kestrel and we saw a female Goshawk over the distant trees being harassed by a Sparrowhawk and she was later seen flying left low over the trees. Wood Lark was again heard here and one Wood Lark flew onto the field diagonally behind us and seen walking around on the ground. A Pied Wagtail seen in a bush by the road plus up to 4 Hares seen in the fields. A tip off returning to the main road turning right and then first left to LC, by the pig field, we stopped and just in front of the green bin, 2 fine reasonably close Stone Curlews seen, sadly looking directly into sunlight but we enjoyed views of these fine birds with the right hand bird having a brief walkabout before settling down again. Next stop was Lynford Arboretum, where we heard of a roosting Tawny Owl seen in one of ther trees near the end, getting great directions we saw the bird back on near the very top of the tree (15 foot from the top) on the left hand side of the main trunk. Looking in the wood to the left, we heard Firecrest and 2 birds seen near a tall tree plus a Goldcrest. Walking back by the tunnel up to 4 Yellowhammers seen fedding including 3 males (1 male a very smart butter yellow bird and a female), 2 Nuthatch and a Coal Tit. Concluding a fine trip out our most successful Brecks trip to date.

Finally Fieldfares

On Tuesday 22nd March, travelling back at around 4.45pm travelling back from Fritton to Ashby, a flock of 25 Fieldfares flew east.

Monday's wildlife

On Monday 21st March, a fine Red Kite was seen flying north just east of the road along the A47 (former A12) just past Stirrups Lane and aat work a Small Tortoiseshell was seen by the former bowling green plus a Chiff- Chaff singing from the southern hedge.

Kessingland North Beach

On Sunday 20th March at Kessingland North Beach Looking at the pool by the cliff initially not a lot seen by the pool by the sea by the extreme north east end by the wet mud, the fine Shore Lark was seen plus 5 White Wagtails plus Ringed Plovers and then back at the pool by the cliff, 3 White Wagtails and finally a Scandinavian Rock Pipit flew in. 3 Chiff- Chaffs seen one by the start of the track, one Chiff- Chaff by the copse. In the afternoon, Pleased to see this 'Sceliphron destillatorium' I shall call it Yellow- legged Digger Wasp in our Parkhill garden, North Lowestoft just now (still some biodiversity in the garden despite the 80% drop in species to the housing estate being built over the fence seen in the conservatory and I put it outside and it was seen frequenting the ledge underneath the conservatory. It was seen again the next day too.

3 Redwings migrating back to Scandinavia

On Friday 18th March 2022, a Redwing was heard flying east over the garden ar around 7.15pm and half an hour later a second Redwing heard flying wast whilst filling up at Tesco's Gunton and 5 minutes later another third Redwing called as it flew east after I had just arrived back home.

White -tailed Lapwing at Frampton

On Saturday 12 March, I was offered a lift by John H to go and see the White- tailed Lapwing at Frampton. We arrived at this impressive reserve with paths forming a square around the main marsh. As we were walking down, a small group of around 30 Wigeons feeding on the grass. We walked around past a painted bouy and a rflector pasr a gate them we looked over a marshy area and the excellent White- tailed Lapwing was seen partially obscured sitting in the grass. Typically lapwing sized with very pale buff-brown back, the feathers hung over the slight black shown as a line denotong the black on the folded wings, buff brown head cap and behind eye and a whitish supercilia, white below, obvious white tail and sicilian lemon yellowlegs! The bill showed a pale loive at the base and black to its tip. As I was setting the camera up the bird stood up and walked into the grass slowly disappearing. It was seen again walking left again partially obscured some 40 minutes later and 10 minutes after than it was walking right behind the island when I had a glimpse in the gap between the islands. We walked back to the car for lunch and 2 Goldfinch were seen in alders by the car parking area, then an incredible 750+ Golden Plover (in 5 distint flocks) flew over us and west and then south. Walking back the bird was seen just past the gate in the northern section of the marsh before it was again seen in the original area, although it had disappeared I picked it up back in the northern section again where it fed along the edge of the island being almost always partially obscured. A very deliberate short feeding style walking a few steps then stopping and feeding style which was very similar to its cousin the Northern Lapwing. It even fell asleep and roosted for some 10 minutes before feeding again and then disappearing amongst the undergrowth. A chap had picked up an excellent bouncing Jack Snipe and we saw it bouncing and slowly walking/ bouncing left before it too disappeared from sight. Walking back, around 30 Brent Geese and a Pink- footed Geese seen plus the c15 Wigeon were again feeding close in on the grass and I managed to get a couple this time in perfect light. On the journey back on the east side of the road just past Swaffham travelling south, 3 Buzzards over the road and I was delighted to see 4 Fieldfares flying south low over the field, I have spent the last few weeks looking for them to no avail, until today!

Carlton duo

On Wednesday 9th March, after finishing work at 2.30pm I went straight down to Carlton Marshes, my back was sore so I had to leave the camera at home. The long walk down to Peto's and from the Turnpike hide, just before that the fine Glossy Ibis was showing close to the path by the marsh just before and well lit by the sun to the west, it was a pity I didn't have the camera> I then walked further counted 71 Golden Plover deep into Peto's and 3 male Pintail and around 10 Pochard, 6 males and 4 females. Just before the North Hide, th excellent female Garganey swam very close in, showing well briefly before disappearing again. Walking back past the Turnpike Hide, the Glossy Ibis flew in again and was feeding again close to the hide! On the walk back, a Barn Owl seen flying by the bushes where the BO box had been installed.

Good samaritan but generally a poor day

On Sunday 6th March, after another poor day on Saturday I was finally out early for a trip to Covehithe Broad revealed a chill north- east wind and 3 Goldeneye, (2 males and 1 female), a male was initially by the reedy clump half way back but sadly had swam over to the back so again no shots. A chap hanging around as I was walking back had a picked up a segull- an adult moulting into summer plumage Black- headed Gull which looked exhausted (it wasn't oiled or broken/ sprained wings) but it had to be picked up otherwise dogs would have devoured it. No room at Runham Rescue but a Rescue at Norwich were taking it in. Then onto Lymballs Lane, Westleton, so again no photos there, the 8 Bewick's Swans and 5 Whooper Swans were way at the back of the field. Visiting walberswick car park so sign of the Glossy Ibis I walked far out west on the river path and eventually spotted the Glossy Ibis in the field right next to the car park distantly but by the time I got back it had disappeared, a Little Egret huddled close to a clump of reeds at least meant I could get the camera out. Another drive around Henstead & north Cove revealed no Fieldfares but 2 fine Mistle Thrushes searhing for food in a field close by the side of the road (but directly into the sun) Then back to Carlton Marshes, I saw Andrew E and Chris M who said the Garganey was hard to see, I didn't see it despite scanning all over for around 45 minutes- I always find these Duck incredibly hard to see, a bit like a Duck version of Hawfinches at Sotterley (although it was seen an hour earlier and then again half an hour after I left) there were lots of islands by North Hide and I scanned all of them and the water and couldn't see it. I kept scanning for 45 minutes but still no joy, 5 male Pochards and 4 female Pochards seen though and walking back 7 male Pintails upending and 2 females with them. Walking back I met Rob H, I had to get back for food and a drink and I knew I'sd regret it birdwise, he spotted a Ruff amongst the Lapwing and several 3 Sinensis Cormorant amongst the Cormorants. Somewhat inevitably as I arrived home I had a text from Rob H stating simply "Garganey showing well!" dooh!

Return to the Red- breasted Goose

On Monday 1st March, whilst leaving for work, at approx. 8.10am, I saw a Dunnock at the front of the house, just east and by the bushes by the passageway. On Tuesday 2nd March, using my A/L up from work, the weather forecast looked dire with steady rain all day but John H had checked the weather for Cley and sunny intervals were forecast. So 3/4 of the Scottish team were reunited, John H, Tony S and myself as John kindly drove us up to Cley after meeting at 9am. The bird hadn't come up on Bird Guides, so we pulled into the mini parking area by the Babcock field and I could see a load of c150 Brent Geese on the field just south (nearer the sea) most were swimming in the water but at the extreme far left end (north-west end) I immediately spooted the fine Red- breasted Goose perched on a spit. It then walked to the end and started swimming in the pool heading half way over towards us before it swam back. The still conditions meant we often heard the superb double note call that the RBG was constantly calling. After watching the birds for some 25 minutes, without warning the birds all took to flight and flew over to the cereal field just south of the A149 coast road, but they landed much closer to the road, so we took the Attenborough walk and stopped directly opposite. Unfortunately the sun was almost directly behind the flock, the best I could do was position myself to the side a little and take some shots. The bird was in the middle of the flock and slowly walked back and to the left. We then drove to the East Bank and walked out onto the beach initiall failing to see the Iceland Gull, we looked over Arnold's Marsh and it, the 1st winter Iceland Gull, was asleep on an island. Also on the marsh were 2 Grey Plover, a Bar- tailed Godwit.

Thermal imaging birding

On Saturday 27th February, meeting Rob H at Heathlands at 7.45am, we walked down to Kessingland North Beach and using his thermal imager, Rob soon located a Jack Snipe was soon located in the marshy area. I managed a few pics of it and left it still crouching down in the same place.