On Thursday 12th January, whilst putting the bins out at 11.30pm I could hear the cries of a Fox calling from directly west of the Close.
Finally well enough for an early morning visit, I saw the excellent adult Iceland Gull this morning on Friday 13th January, viewed from the top level bar one of Battery Green car park, parking along the free car parking spaces by the police station and walking across. This denizen of the high Arctic was seen before work, flying around Waveney Dock, a stunning bird all white with light grey upperparts and a "light brown shawl" on the upper breast, the bird was seen from around 7.40am to 8.10am (when I had to leave for work. It flew around the dock, even settling for a time (out of view) presumably on the ground right in front of the fish market. I never did see the bird perched, but I had good views of it flying around the dock, around the far eastern wall. As a ship slowly cruised across, the Iceland Gull was then flying around the middle of the dock and looked for the world if the ship's skipper was a birder and even manoeuvring it for a better view, what I would have given to been on board with my camera and lens! The bird was flying right over into Hamilton Dock on several occasions and was even seen flying almost over to the South Pier area too.
Driving over to Martham again, I saw a male Goldeneye on Rollesby Broad as I drove past slowly again.
Friday, 13 January 2012
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
"Bullies" return
On Tuesday 10th January, whilst driving slowly past Rollesby Broad, I could see the Great Northern Diver on the east side of the Broad plus a very close male Goldeneye on the west side of the Broad, couldn't stop as I was off to Martham Library.
The plaintiff "pouu" calls of Bullfinches at lunchtime Wednesday 11th January (although I couldn't face any food) had me looking out of the bedroom window today, I was off work with an ongoing bad attack of presumed food poisoning which has affected poor Jenny too. We may have picked it up whilst eating out at Gorleston eatery laughing called a "cafe" one lunchtime (Monday). The pair of Bullfinches have returned to the garden at 1.40pm feeding presumably on the sprouting buds from the Cherry tree (a sign of the very mild weather). The male was typically resplendent with peachy pink breast and underparts, the female a more subdued but striking coffee brown colour.
The plaintiff "pouu" calls of Bullfinches at lunchtime Wednesday 11th January (although I couldn't face any food) had me looking out of the bedroom window today, I was off work with an ongoing bad attack of presumed food poisoning which has affected poor Jenny too. We may have picked it up whilst eating out at Gorleston eatery laughing called a "cafe" one lunchtime (Monday). The pair of Bullfinches have returned to the garden at 1.40pm feeding presumably on the sprouting buds from the Cherry tree (a sign of the very mild weather). The male was typically resplendent with peachy pink breast and underparts, the female a more subdued but striking coffee brown colour.
Sunday, 8 January 2012
Dismal weekend
On Saturday, 7th January the very strong winds had blown down our Jasmine and Honeysuckle plants alongside 2 Trellis' completely destroyed, what great weather we are having, not! Third time unlucky (in 2012) on a very windy afternoon (always bad for spotting birds) , and inevitably yet again I failed to see the RFB from Fritton woods, the windy conditions certainly didn't help. 2 female Marsh Harriers were seen and around 20 Pink-feet and a Chinese Water Deer seen. Marsh Tit, Treecreeper 2, Coal Tit also seen all in a sunny spot around a tree and bushes by the entrance track, a nice interlude in an otherwise birdless weekend. Ruddy Shelduck seen distantly from the A143 (too distantly to photograph) with the group of Egyptian Geese.
Sunday after a very nasty migraine cut short any morning birding activity, a look at the Drive Reydon (driven by Jenny, I couldn't drive following this morning's bad head) on 2 occasions this afternoon failed to reveal any Waxwings. 1 female Marsh Harrier flew over Potters Bridge marshes.
Sunday after a very nasty migraine cut short any morning birding activity, a look at the Drive Reydon (driven by Jenny, I couldn't drive following this morning's bad head) on 2 occasions this afternoon failed to reveal any Waxwings. 1 female Marsh Harrier flew over Potters Bridge marshes.
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
Cold and Windy
Tuesday 3rd January was a complete wash out, walking through Fritton woods, a Muntjac Deer looked at me by a puddle on the path. Looking over a very windswept Fritton/ Haddiscoe island very little was seen due to the weather conditions save c100 Pink- footed Geese out on the marshes and elsewhere, the Ruddy Shelduck was again seen along the New road, fairly close to the road in the company of some 60 odd Egyptian Geese.
On Wednesday 4th January, a much better day, albeit it was still very windy, I picked up John H at Caister, first stop was Buckenham marshes, along the way to the mill we saw some very close Wigeon c300 birds and 300 yards beyond the mill we could see c30 Taiga Bean Geese with them was the excellent Lesser White-fronted Goose, smaller in stature with distinctive white shield shape distinguished it from the otherlarger White- fronts but it was more difficult to pick out when it was fededing head down also 60 White- fronted Geese , and several close Wigeon.
Strumpshaw Fen workers on the marsh we were looking over revealed little save for 1 brave female Shovelor. , feeders inc. 1 Marsh Tit
Next stop Ranworth Broad, where the female Ring- necked Duck was seen quite close and with good scope views, just left of the Visitors centre (which was closed) and the duck was feeding among submerged tree routes in water with Pochard and Tufted Duck. walking along tree lined meadow first, a "rattling" Mistle Thrush seen then a Fieldfare perched in a top roight hand branch.
Finally at Rollesby Broad the Great Northern Diver seen well with a stunning male Goldeneye seen behind him.
On Wednesday 4th January, a much better day, albeit it was still very windy, I picked up John H at Caister, first stop was Buckenham marshes, along the way to the mill we saw some very close Wigeon c300 birds and 300 yards beyond the mill we could see c30 Taiga Bean Geese with them was the excellent Lesser White-fronted Goose, smaller in stature with distinctive white shield shape distinguished it from the otherlarger White- fronts but it was more difficult to pick out when it was fededing head down also 60 White- fronted Geese , and several close Wigeon.
Strumpshaw Fen workers on the marsh we were looking over revealed little save for 1 brave female Shovelor. , feeders inc. 1 Marsh Tit
Next stop Ranworth Broad, where the female Ring- necked Duck was seen quite close and with good scope views, just left of the Visitors centre (which was closed) and the duck was feeding among submerged tree routes in water with Pochard and Tufted Duck. walking along tree lined meadow first, a "rattling" Mistle Thrush seen then a Fieldfare perched in a top roight hand branch.
Finally at Rollesby Broad the Great Northern Diver seen well with a stunning male Goldeneye seen behind him.
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
New Years Day 2012
Driving back from Wales 2 Red Kites and a Buzzard seen over the M4 just before Reading (the Kites) and just after (the Buzzard),
Arriving at Lake Lothing via Riverside road late in the day, the Black- throated Diver was showing very well, swimming along the river right in front of us and therefore good shots were obtained albeit in poor light. Much further west along the river, a female Red-breasted Merganser was seen rather distantly by the orange bouy. A "tweet" message stating a Hume's or Yellow- browed had me eventually driving to Ness Point, the warbler was seen flitting and working right along the bushes, it was a bright Yellow- browed Warbler. It worked its way right along the bushes and then promptly disappeared. Some fifteen minutes later it reappeared showing well on occasions albeit very briefly, the cream supercilia, double wing bats and cream tertial edging clearly seen. 5 Purple Sandpipers were seen on the rocks butting out from the northern end of Ness Point, 4 were asleep one was busy feeding away from the gang of four.
A look in Hamilton Dock cost me a sighting of the Hoopoe (nonetheless a great find by Ricky) which I missed by 5 minutes.
On the 2nd January, after a further 3 hours looking over Bouton and Paul's old factory, finally at 11.20am all the Pigeons flew up and underneath them flapping away with it's distinctive butterfly flight, the buff- orange plumaged Hoopoe with with black and white- spotted wings flew underneath them, it also sported a folded crest and longish down curved bill. It flapped around then dropped down after about a minute's duration.
Meanwhile along the river, the Black- throated Diver showed reasonably well today albeit in much better light than yesterday.
A trip to Beccles eventually revealed 64 Waxwings,perched precariously along the roadside verge bushes just west of the Go Kart track, I had refound them and phoned OFB and both he and Dick drove over and sensibly stayed in their cars. But unfortunately an individual from Bury St. Edmunds (who will remain nameless although I know who he is!) decided to walk straight up to the bush (why???) and inevitably scared the Waxwings off. They were later seen in a distant bush in a disused industrial yard, albeit much further away. 2 Fieldfares perched high up in a tree elsewhere. I unfortunately flushed a Short- eared Owl flushed from a bush, just metres away during a comfort stop! It simply flew away obviously startled, poor thing!
Finally, taking Mill Lane by Mutford "high street" and right by the iron gate, Morris B, OFB and Dick W and I walked out along the footpath traversing the middle of a very promising looking field, we waited for 2 Short- eared Owls, the first one, eventually came out at just after 2.30pm, the darker individual flew along the east side of the field and initially flew towards us before swooping down in to the field. it later flew along the edge and over the gate right by OFB's car and the waiting incumbent (Morris B) had an Owl's eye view at very close range. A paler Short- eared Owl was west of the field near a barn, where it perched on a distant post for a while before hunting again along the south side of the field.
Arriving at Lake Lothing via Riverside road late in the day, the Black- throated Diver was showing very well, swimming along the river right in front of us and therefore good shots were obtained albeit in poor light. Much further west along the river, a female Red-breasted Merganser was seen rather distantly by the orange bouy. A "tweet" message stating a Hume's or Yellow- browed had me eventually driving to Ness Point, the warbler was seen flitting and working right along the bushes, it was a bright Yellow- browed Warbler. It worked its way right along the bushes and then promptly disappeared. Some fifteen minutes later it reappeared showing well on occasions albeit very briefly, the cream supercilia, double wing bats and cream tertial edging clearly seen. 5 Purple Sandpipers were seen on the rocks butting out from the northern end of Ness Point, 4 were asleep one was busy feeding away from the gang of four.
A look in Hamilton Dock cost me a sighting of the Hoopoe (nonetheless a great find by Ricky) which I missed by 5 minutes.
On the 2nd January, after a further 3 hours looking over Bouton and Paul's old factory, finally at 11.20am all the Pigeons flew up and underneath them flapping away with it's distinctive butterfly flight, the buff- orange plumaged Hoopoe with with black and white- spotted wings flew underneath them, it also sported a folded crest and longish down curved bill. It flapped around then dropped down after about a minute's duration.
Meanwhile along the river, the Black- throated Diver showed reasonably well today albeit in much better light than yesterday.
A trip to Beccles eventually revealed 64 Waxwings,perched precariously along the roadside verge bushes just west of the Go Kart track, I had refound them and phoned OFB and both he and Dick drove over and sensibly stayed in their cars. But unfortunately an individual from Bury St. Edmunds (who will remain nameless although I know who he is!) decided to walk straight up to the bush (why???) and inevitably scared the Waxwings off. They were later seen in a distant bush in a disused industrial yard, albeit much further away. 2 Fieldfares perched high up in a tree elsewhere. I unfortunately flushed a Short- eared Owl flushed from a bush, just metres away during a comfort stop! It simply flew away obviously startled, poor thing!
Finally, taking Mill Lane by Mutford "high street" and right by the iron gate, Morris B, OFB and Dick W and I walked out along the footpath traversing the middle of a very promising looking field, we waited for 2 Short- eared Owls, the first one, eventually came out at just after 2.30pm, the darker individual flew along the east side of the field and initially flew towards us before swooping down in to the field. it later flew along the edge and over the gate right by OFB's car and the waiting incumbent (Morris B) had an Owl's eye view at very close range. A paler Short- eared Owl was west of the field near a barn, where it perched on a distant post for a while before hunting again along the south side of the field.
A Very Wet Wales
Arriving at Mum's on Wednesday 28th December, a Nuthatch was seen chuntering from the tree opposite the front door.
Not a birding trip but a strictly family event.
The whole time I was there it poured with rain day after day. Walking down to the stream near Llannon, doing something I wish I never had to do, we heard a Dipper fly past.
The next day at Cymisfael Stream by the bridge right at the end of the hill a Dipper was seen close to the bridge briefly before flying a few yards away.
Not a birding trip but a strictly family event.
The whole time I was there it poured with rain day after day. Walking down to the stream near Llannon, doing something I wish I never had to do, we heard a Dipper fly past.
The next day at Cymisfael Stream by the bridge right at the end of the hill a Dipper was seen close to the bridge briefly before flying a few yards away.
Boxing Day Birds
A trip to Minsmere to pick up Suffolk Birds 2010, I was disappointed not to get any photo's published this year but the standard of pics are fabulous and most taken by pro photographers, but pleased to get recognition for my Rough- leg flying over Fritton woods in 2010. From Whin Hill I spotted around 8 Bewick's Swans. walking back to the car I heard a "pitchou" call looked up and saw a Marsh Tit by the side of the woods.
Receiving a text as I was driving was passing Kessingland, I saw Chris M at the Sewage works path and had a nice chat before walking some 150 yards further on and right taking the path stradling 2 fields, in the southern most one, 64 White- fronted Geese were in the field reasonably close and showing well, i decided to take shots with my newly acquired lens.
Receiving a text as I was driving was passing Kessingland, I saw Chris M at the Sewage works path and had a nice chat before walking some 150 yards further on and right taking the path stradling 2 fields, in the southern most one, 64 White- fronted Geese were in the field reasonably close and showing well, i decided to take shots with my newly acquired lens.
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