And then there were two or was that five!

The 3 Redwing were still in the garden attracted as ever by the berries on the Holly bush and they were joined briefly by a Song Thrush. They still haven't looked at the apples! A Wren also spent some time in the garden as well as the usual Greenfinch, Blue Tit, 3 Blackbirds, 2 Dunnock and up to 3 Chaffinch.

A big flock of 20 Redwing flew over and perched in very distant trees bordering the far southern end of the Orchid meadow, up to 4  chuckling Fieldfares flew overhead and several others were heard but not seen.

As 3 Redwing flew south- west over the garden one of my 3 Redwings flew up high and joined them flying south- west way over Parkhill Hotel grounds.

At lunchtime at 12.15pm I was absolutely delighted to finally see a magnificent dumpy Woodcock flying around Fallowfields, a first seen from the garden. Just after this, the purple patch continued with a sighting of male House Sparrow (very much a rarity in this garden) perched in the middle tree at the back. In a subsequent investigation of Fallowfields, I saw the Woodcock flying circling the area and it dropped down and was able to see it running in the snow-covered ground near the Hotel grounds fence. As I walked back, leaving it, a sudden gust of wind must have spooked it as it flew over the fence.

Late afternoon update: The Redwing total has now increased to 5, as before 1 or 2 regularly fly to the Holly bush but increasingly the birds are foraging for food under bushes where this minimal or no snow cover. Obviously after worms and other goodies (no, not Bill Oddie!) Under the cover of darkness I will sprinkle this area liberally with meal worms.

2 further House Sparrows, both female have been seen on the fatball feeders making a grand total of 3 seen today because the bird seen earlier was a male. 2 Starlings who came in late afternoon to feed on the fat balls.

A Fresh Blanket of Snow

As the icy white grip of winter tightens its grip on the local landscape, and the snow was some 4 inches deep, more and more birds are visiting the garden desperate for food. The ones that visit ours are in luck as there is plenty of different bird food provided daily. A Redwing was again visiting the Holly tree feasting on the berries and often perching in the trees in the garden. Up to 3 Blackbird were also seen, although none of these Thrushes took advantages of the apples especially put out for them on the lawn. A Jay was seen in bushes just outside the garden and a charming group of around 10 Long- tailed Tits (the fatballs were a particular favourite) , 3 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit and 1 Greenfinch provided a hive of activity and gratefully eating the food provided.

Ground feeders included 3 Chaffinch, 2 Dunnock and a Robin attracted by the wild bird seed and meal worms put out near the bird bath.

More Winter Thrushes & please feed the birds

As I was replenishing the bird feeders in the garden this morning at 7.50am I heard the tell tale "psst" call of Redwings and a trio of these lovely small Scandinavian Thrushes flew up from the hedgerow borders and over the garden fence. I also heard the "chuk chuk chuk" call of 3 excellent Fieldfares flying overhead that flew low south west over the garden and towards Fallowfields. As I was filling up the one of sunflower holders, a Redwing flew and briefly perched in the tree above me before seeing me and flying off.

As I retreated to the house, 3 Dunnocks, 3 Great Tits, a Blue Tit, 3 Blackbirds and fed in the garden as did a Magpie briefly and a Song Thrush perched up in a bush just beyond the garden.

A Redwing then perched up in a tree, I took some pictures in poor light it was snowing! It then flew to the lawn where it stood momentarily before it flew to the berry laden holly near the house sadly out of view from the bedroom window.

Jenny later told me she saw 2 Redwings feeding on the berries on the holly this afternoon at 2.58pm.

Please, please don't forget to feed your garden birds; they desperately need all the food and water (unfrozen!) they can get in this hard weather. The food you put out, such as sunflower seeds, unsalted peanuts, wild bird mix, fatballs, fat, cake etc are vital to their survival. Put food out on different levels (on the ground, on a bird table and hanging from trees etc) and put out nestboxes for roost sites too.

You could save several birds lives and they will reward you with good views and hopefully good pics, if you are a keen photographer and the light is OK!

Winter Thrushes

During a quick whistle stop tour of Horsey & Waxham during my lunch break many winter Thrushes were seen. The harsh weather has forced them nearer to human habitation in order to seek food. Around 10 Fieldfare and 10 Redwing were in trees near west Somerton, 3 Song Thrushes were in a bush near the pub at west Somerton, 5 Redwing were in a bush opposite Alder farm. At Alder farm itself 5 Golden Plover and 40 Lapwing seen. Opposite Brograve Farm, a Chinese Water Deer fed in a field of winter wheat. About 10 Fieldfare seen in a nearby field.

7 Red- legged partridges were opposite the Barn at Waxham. 2 Marsh harriers were seen, interestingly both males one at Horsey & 1 at Waxham.

Travelling back through Repps with Bastwick some 40 Redwing and 15 Fieldfare could be seen feeding on berry laden bushes opposite the garage.

I also noticed most of Ormesby Broad was frozen over save for one area on the west side of the road which was crowded with wildfowl but sadly I had no time to stop, work beckons again!

Goodies galore!

Waking up this morning, with an inch of snow providing a wintry scene, it was only fitting that I should visit the flock of Snow Buntings on Kessingland North Beach. Parking at the end of Rider Haggard Lane I walked onto the beach and soon picked up the excellent flock of 50+ Snow Buntings which showed well and included several very white and very smart males. There was no sign initially of the Shore Lark, but I spied a lone Brent Goose which was amazingly not the usual dark- bellied form but the much rarer pale-bellied variety feeding on the distant dune near the cliff face.

Making my way quickly over there and being joined by Chris D, Chris alone managed a few shots before it was flushed, but it only flew 100 yards south and was feeding on the middle of the beach. Chris and I then crept up very carefully and the bird became very confiding showing down to just 3 feet at one point! We naturally took advantage and filled up our memory cards within our cameras with dozens of cracking shots! The Pale-bellied Brent Goose is of the race "hrota" the Greenland variety, I have only seen this scarely seen variety twice before (a flock of at Langham in North Norfolk and 3 at Benacre in the mid 1980's!).

We left the bird as it was obviously exhausted and was constantly feeding to regain its strength.

Bumping into Pete M and gang he said they had just seen the Shore Lark and we ventured over to the beach near the pool and had some good views of this bird, it was on its own and the Shore Lark fed by the beach adjacent to the pool, where we were eventually joined by Dick W, who was somewhat put out as he had failed to photograph the Goose, because it had been flushed by an out of control dog.

Whilst driving along the A12 approaching Pakefield by the Focus DIY store, I happened to glance down by a damp ditch by the side of the road and was amazed to see a Jack Snipe standing by the ditch side! I turned the car around and parked up and as I walked over to the ditch the Jack Snipe unfortunately took flight and flew over east over to the old Gunnery range.

At Asda overlooking the River Waveney, 2 Shags could be seen looking west and at Ness Point, 1 solitary Purple Sandpiper frequented the rocks 50 yards north of the Point along the seawall edge.

Taking the very long walk mid afternoon out to Haddiscoe Marshes, the snowed up frozen landscape was the perfect setting for a host of cracking raptors seen, (thanks for the tip off Andrew E and Robert W & thanks to James W for helping me find my wayward mobile!) first up were 2 female Marsh Harriers quartering the marshes. From a viewpoint 300 yards past the big Pylon to the right, a crowd of the great and good of Norfolk/ Suffolk birding, the aforementioned Andrew & Rob, Dave H, Baz H, Jeremy G and others scanned the distant fields to the north- east and our hoped for quarry, a magnificent Rough-legged Buzzard was eventually seen perched on a distant gate. It would make frequent short flights to the east of the gate landing in the field and presumably catching various prey. During its regular flights the white tail with dark terminal band noted and when it perched back on the gate facing us we noted the pale head and contrasting dark lower belly patch. Up to 2 excellent Short- eared Owls flapped languidly over the fields. These wonderful birds even crossed over each other in flight. A ringtail Hen Harrier flew east, sadly an all too rare sight these days and the newly arrived eagle-eyed Lee G quickly picked out a female Merlin that sat on a gate in the foreground. 2 Chinese Water Deer were also seen, 1 feeding in front of the gate and also 1 to the side too. Singleton Linnet and Snipe were also seen in flight. A Little Egret flew into a field beside a gate.

Several (3) skeins of 100 or so Pink- footed Geese flew east, one flock landed in distant fields. Up to 2 Barn Owls patrolled the ditches. The Ringtail was seen again flying strongly east late in the day and this excellent day concluded with a small Peregrine (presumably a male) mobbing a Short- eared Owl!

Whitlingham Wonders!

A day of mixed fortunes yet again.

An early morning Green Woodpecker perched up in one of the trees at the back of the garden framed by frosted and dusting of snow landscape was a good start.

On the journey along the Acle Straight just west of the "Cadillac Roadhouse" AKA Stracey Arms about 300 Lapwing and 100 Golden Plover huddled in the field to the north of the road.

A foray into Norfolk was initially spectacularly unsuccessful with the hoped for Ring- necked & Ferruginous Ducks well and truly dipped at the Wroxham Broad. More than a gaggle of Geese, nearer 300 Greylags continually calling and flying close in, a meagre 30 Tufted duck, 10 Pochard, A Jay rooting around in the wood and singleton Redwing & Fieldfare failed to lift the spirits. 

I then visited the Great Broad at Whitlingham Lane and saw just about a who's who of Norfolk/ Suffolk birders. Birder sightings included the ever sharp and helpful boys from Dereham who quickly pointed out a Black- necked Grebe by the posts on the opposite side of the broad. These boys, in my opinion, should be invited onto the Norfolk rarities committee. The Grebe was a super bird in black/ white winter plumage and red eye, but constantly diving.

On the far western side of the broad they also pointed out a redhead Smew seen briefly at the back of the broad near the reeds on the far bank and a smart redhead female Goosander seen more in the middle of the back of the Northern section of the Broad through Ian's scope, cheers Ian!

After they left seeking the Diver, I also picked out a brief sighting of a female Ruddy duck.

I then bumped into Robin C who just seen a Shag but it dived just as I raised my bins and it completely disappeared, this was to be my only dip here. 

Another rare sighting was Morris B accompanied by Roger C who told me they'd seen the Diver earlier by the yacht club end.

Walking over to the southern section of the Broad by the yacht club end, the far section was iced over but another excellent redhead Goosander hugged the reed fringed far bank diving frequently and disappearing for long periods. But the master of this game was the Diver who could not be seen and hadn't been seen for some time. It took me an hour and a half, before I saw the bird. Following up a report from a birder who had just seen it, 10 minutes earlier, on the Northern section of the Broad, I finally, at last, had a brief glimpse of the excellent immature Great Northern Diver.

A large bird with large steely grey upturned bill and obvious scalloping on its back providing proof of its age. 

It was seen at the far northern end diving between a pink buoy and in front of an isolated tree,the last of a stand of trees.

The Diver continued to be elusive showing only occasionally until later (after the sky had clouded over, darkening considerably) I viewed the Great Northern with Andrew H and it showed well in the middle of the Northern section of the broad. behavioural posture noted included a "crouching" very low in the water and on another occasion it caught a couple of fish and its neck was positively bulging with its prey, a fine bird indeed and always nice to see.

 

Woodcock & Diver

An early morning foray at Fallowfields led to me flushing a Woodcock near the Parkhill hotel fence half way down, it flew south at 9.15am.

A close Oystercatcher stood on the wooden jetty in Hamilton Dock, whilst a Rock pipit flew over. At Ness Point 20 Turnstone were seen but not the hoped for Purple Sands.

Looking from Asda, looking west up the River Waveney I saw the excellent Black- throated Diver, it's rear flank patch was really distinctive. Initially, it was diving frequently but then it became more settled as it started preening. If you'd like to see a picture of a Black- throated Diver look above this blog entry as this is the bird pictured above, although I'm sure most who read would know this anyway! A Grey Wagtail flew over the river and settled on the roof of a commercial building. Whilst 2 Egyptian Geese flew down the river.

At Carlton Marshes, a female Marsh Harrier quartered the fields, 10 Herons stood above a frozen dyke area,  a Barn owl perched on a gate and then flew and started actively hunting being instantly successful on it's first swoop down into the field where it caught and fed from it's prey a vole caught in a field, a male Yellowhammer also perched at the apex of a tree, a Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed from a nearby tree.

Concluding a mixed day of fortunes on this, the first day of the year.