Disappointing day

A glorious day weather wise, didn't translate into a good day of birding.

A trip with John H failed to reveal a potential Norfolk tick, so no Caspian Gull at Waterworks road, Norwich. One Carrion Crow harrying a Buzzard near Acle was the only avian interest.

A trip to Fritton woods, so I could look over Chedgrave marshes revealed a large Peregrine (probable female) perched on a fence post and 2 female Marsh  Harriers quartering the fields.

2 Chinese Water Deer were seen also, I failed to see the hoped for RLBuzzard, or any Owls though.

A trip to Ness Point mid afternoon failed to reveal the Iceland, 3 Purple Sandpipers were on the finger with some 20 displaced Turnstone on the walkway due to 5 boys recklessly clambering over the rocks looking for whelks (and deprive Oystercatchers of potential food).

Hamilton Dock revealed a close-in Red- throated Diver swimming away frantically sadly, as I would love to got some shots of it. 

At last 2011 Lowestoft Waxwings and Wild swans!

Having spent much of this year looking for my own Waxwings in Lowestoft, I finally managed to see some along Beccles Road/ Hollow Grove Way at Carlton Colville this afternoon as first 39 flew in briefly feeding on the berries before flying south-west and perching on a distant tree. Seeing Dick W, we then saw a further 22 Waxwing fly in and again eventually feed from the berries from the nearest tree. 61 Waxwing were seen in total. No pictures, I'm afraid as the light was so poor!

After missing seeing the wild swans last week, due to a tyre puncture I was keen to see them today.

So, just past Blythburgh parking in the first layby on the left along the A12, looking through the hawthorn hedge, I could see firstly 3 Whooper Swan amongst some 72 Bewick's Swans. As the layby was quite close to the birds, I stayed in the car to avoid flushing them and fired off a few shots. The Swans were settled and were feeding and even walking in my direction at one point.

A murmuration of some 3,000 Starlings seen flying in 3 separate flocks over the Lowestoft harbour area at around 3.30pm.

Norfolk joy, Suffolk woe

Starting at Cantley in Norfolk, (having spied 6 Pink- footed geese along the Acle straight on the south side of the road, 6 Shelduck on the north side), parking at Burnt House Lane and walking out right along the high field, we had a great vantage point over the marshes, unfortunately it was raining sleet as I set up the scope but there were 2 groups of reasonably close Taiga Bean Geese numbering about 40 in total. 

Immediately with them at the front and conveniently situated in front of a metal gate was a group with a much smaller goose, pointed out to me by a chap who had arrived a few minutes before me. The bird looked good, small (appeared slightly smaller than a White-front) small delicate almost cute looking pink bill with the white surround reaching up to the crown and kinking back when the head was seen side ways. The bird had short orange legs (i could see no rings on the legs) and long wing feathers extending beyond the length of the closed tail. I could not quite make out the yellow eye-ring on my 30x scope but looking through the 60X magnification of the chaps scope it could be seen. 

It was an excellent Lesser White- fronted Goose, it showed darker brown plumage (but had a paler breast area) than White-fronted Geese when 17 flew in. It was also slightly smaller than them and lacking the dark breast/ belly scallops of the latter.

The Lesser White- front continued to feed mainly amongst the Taiga Beans.

4 Egyptian Geese flew left and a Grey heron also flew by.

Driving along the Halvergate straight I spied 4 Fieldfares in a bush by the side of the road.

Next stop was at Herbert Barnes car park along the south shore at Breydon water where I saw John H and we saw a range of waders including Dunlin, 2 Grey Plover, a Black- tailed Godwit, 2 Knot and 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 (male, female) Pintail seen in the distance as we walked south- west past the farm the group of 130 or so Brent Geese flew past and settled on Breydon Water, 120 were Pale-bellied Brents and at least 6 were of the more usual dark- bellied form.

They then flew back onto the fields and I promptly left for Minsmere.

A stop at the layby looking over Kessingland Levels revealed 122 Barnacle Geese, at Minsmere I had the very pleasant surprise of seeing 17 Waxwings (my first on the reserve proper!) feeding just west of the Water Vole pool in the old car park, it was nice to see Steve P & Jon E here. The Waxwings perched in a nearby tree and promptly flew down to a bare tree spiked with many apples that they were feeding on.

Roy H said the GW Teal was showing from the west hide but when I and Chris & A, we couldn't see it at all although many Teals were asleep on the bank. A redhead Smew was first seen on the south scrape but then flew onto the west middle Scrape before finally swimming around North Scrape. I spied a Water Pipit that flew in calling and then fed at the edge of a bank, it was later seen even closer feeding on a small island. 2 Avocet initially seen on the south scrape flew past. Several Dunlin and around 4 male and 2 female Pintail seen plus at least 2 Black- tailed Godwit and a Snipe at the end of one island.

Despite waiting in the hide for close on 2 hours we were unable to relocated the GWTeal.

By the toilet block 2 Marsh Tits were seen around the bushes here.

Looking out over Island Mere from the overflow car park, 2 redhead Smew were seen on the far western end plus around 70 Greylag Geese flying past (my 8th Goose species of the day, and I didn't see any Canada's today!)

Driving out of Minsmere about 12 Red Deer seen in the fenced field and my planned detour to look for the Bewick's was abandoned owing to me receiving a massive instant puncture on my nearside back wheel- there was an eight inch gash along the tyre!!! (if you are driving on the B road from Blythburgh to Westleton near the Dunwich fiveways, please drive slowly & take care as the obstruction/ hole? is probably still there and caused another severe puncture to another car just 100 yards further north from way I broke down) , the car sound very juddery and noisy & I had to stop the car just 300 yards south of the Water Tower and I had to ring for Breakdown recovery as I could not get the wheel nuts off, even though I know how to change a tyre. An hour and a half later the recovery finally arrived and I belatedly made my way home.

Knot the Iceland Gull!

First birds of 2011 were 2 fine Jay in one of the trees at the back of the garden.

Also seen in the garden during the course of the day, 2 Collared Dove, up to 7 Greenfinch, the usual Blue & Great Tits, Robin and 2 LT Tits.

Oulton Broad North rail station produced zero Waxwings (unlike yesterday), so a stop at Ness Point initially we saw 7 Turnstone, a Knot and 6 fine Purple Sandpipers. At one point the Knot flew onto the new sea wall and I managed to creep up to it, "commando" style (which was appreciated by at least 1 Lounge Lizard), taking a few shots without disturbing it.

A close Great Crested Grebe flew north over the sea.

Hamilton Dock failed to produce the hoped-for Iceland despite Dick's generous feeding of the Gulls.

Leathes Ham produced a very tame Wigeon on the path; at the back of the pool on the right hand side, first 2 female Scaup and then 1 1st winter male Scaup seen too, 3 Scaup seen in total.

A call to James B's mobile (I had stupidly left mine at home!) alerted us to the fact that the Iceland was back at the point and we zoomed back to Ness Point to see the excellent 1st winter Iceland Gull flying low over the water by the southern most defence rocks in view. It settled on the water before flying across us and north and eventually settling on the 2nd groyne along albeit for a few minutes before it flew back and settled along the semi- circular curved roof just behind the "giant quill structure" Later it flew close onto the sea out of sight behind the sea defence rocks.

Out to sea James B spotted an excellent Velvet Scoter flying north and 2 Red- throated Divers also flew north as did an adult winter Mediterranean Gull brilliantly called by Dave H (we were already watching it, but thanks anyway!) I spotted a Grey Seal that slowly swam north just past the "finger"

Seeing many friendly & familiar faces including Andrew E, Robert Wil, Dick W, James B, Baz H, Dave H, Chris M  and others. As everyone left (except Chris M), I stayed behind to get some more pics of the Knot which was on the old seawall just east of the compass and I am especially indebted to Chris M I was able to get some nice shots of the Knot quite close by and awake it briefly from its slumber (thanks again Chris), as it spent most of its time asleep!

I searched for Waxwings in parts of Lowestoft/ Oulton Broad/ Carlton Colville this afternoon and drew a complete blank. The nearest I got were the murmuration of Starlings, flocks of c500 & c800 that flew north- east over Asda at 3.25pm.

Also seen from Asda at this time was the fine Peregrine Falcon perched on the 2nd window ledge from the top of the grain silo. Also GC Grebe, 6 Coot and 2 Cormorants on Lake Lothing.

Waxwings & Pinkfeet in the Mist

I was a passenger in car when we were driving through Oulton Broad at around 1.15pm and rather fortuitously a BINS message came through a minute before we were passing Oulton Broad North rail station and although sadly, we couldn't stop and look I did see at least 5 Waxwings perched in the berry tree by the platform. 2 Fieldfare flew across the road by the railway crossing the A146 at Beccles.

This evening, whilst replenishing the bird feeders in the back garden and in between the usual ear-splitting deafening screams of "neighbour's" children and fireworks next door at 9pm, I heard several Pink- footed Geese, probably around 5-6, not seen but they flew in a north-easterly direction, first heard over Parkhill hotel grounds and then over the Close and north-east, pity I couldn't go with them for some peace and quiet!

A very cold Welsh Christmas break

I have just returned from a very enjoyable trip visiting my family in Fleet, Hampshire and Carmarthenshire, Wales.

Staying over with my cousins in Fleet, I woke up on Friday 24th Christmas Eve to the sound of a Fox not far from the garden barking at around 6.50am.

On my journey from here back to the M4 I was fortunate enough to see 3 separate Red Kites hunting for the food near the road, no doubt forced nearer to human habitation by the extreme cold weather. Even on the M4 near Reading I saw a further 4 Red Kites and incredibly a lone Waxwing flew over the carriageway from left to right in front of the car!

having safely arrived at Llanddarogg I had to park the car on the road as there was too much snow and ice to get the car onto Mum's drive.

With the intense cold and only the main roads passable, I concentrated on areas closest to my family's houses.

Going out early on Christmas day, the ground was carpeted by a thick blanket of snow and the temperature was very, very cold despite wrapping up snuggly the intense cold (the coldest I have witnessed in the UK with no wind) at -15 degrees celsius was stinging my eyes and lips especially. If you exhaled, your breathe froze to ice immediately upon contact to the surfaces of your spectacles or back of the camera!! Icicles hung from the guttering at LLL and the base of a tree by Cymisfael stream.

Not surprisingly birds were in very short supply, a Wren seen by the hedge near Mum's, had done well to survive the night. A Grey Heron twice flew off from the frozen stream and a Grey Wagtail seen here too. A Red Kite flew out of a tall tree in the wood opposite LLL.

The bird feeders at Mike & Su (opp. Mum's) was visited by a wide range of common birds, whilst Mum's feeder hosted up to 2 grateful Nuthatches.

At Llannon farm, at my brother's feeders Nuthatch, Pied Wagtail and Song Thrush seen plus 2 Red Kite perched in trees and flying around the sheep field.

A slight thaw had started by Boxing Day and 3 Nuthatch were seen in the trees and bushes around the stream area, whilst on the stream itself 2 main areas had thawed out and provided vital feeding opportunities for a reasonably confiding Dipper and a Pied Wagtail. Down by the bushes by Whitehall bridge, a calling Willow Tit briefly showed itself before flying off.

2 Nuthatch & Song Thrush were seen by the LLL feeders and a Treecreeper in the trees overhead.

Back at Llannon, Pied wagtail and Nuthatch again seen by the feeders plus 4 Raven flew by croaking!

By Monday 27th Dec, the thaw was in full flow and most of the Cymisfael stream was by now free flowing, the Dipper was still feeding but more difficult to pin down as it had a much wider choice of suitable feeding areas. A Fieldfare and Buzzard flew over as did another Buzzard by the Fox field and in the field behind LLL 2 Raven flew around.

2 Nuthatch again seen by the feeders.

Merry Christmas Everyone

I'm off to Wales over Christmas and should be back 27 or 28th December, (yes, I know the big Arctic/Scandinavian rarity will now turn up in Lowestoft!!!) wishing everyone the compliments of the season and a Happy, healthy and bird- filled 2011!