Fritton all day!

In the garden a White- tailed Bumblebee seen. A look at Fritton woods, late morning at 11am, parking at the car park, I walked down to the usual area and the first area I checked before the path converging, led to my first Adder sighting. In the best area, I was disgusted to see a load of beer cans and crisp packets which I promptly cleared up; and afterwards I was rewarded in several Adder sightings here too. But down by the far end, just past the Christmas tree, I was treated to first one and then 2 confiding Adders, near the base of a tree. The Christmas tree area had several Adders as always. But another evergreen tree had been cut down next to it and several Adders were here too. Incidentally all the Adders seen were males, the females tend to emerge from hibernation a little later. Just then I heard the "chup chup" calls of some 25 Crossbill that flew past west behind me. Walking back east from the Christmas tree, at around 1pm with strong sunlight, around 8 Adders seen around here as prolific an area as usual. Walking south from here closer to the stream, some 3 Adders were seen here too in an area where I have never seen Adders, just their shed skins. In total I was delighted to see a very credible 15 Adders seen and 2 others (most likely Adders but Grass Snake/ Slow Worm cannot be ruled out) heard slithering away. 2 Comma butterflies were seen on the walk back. Back at the car park, some very vocal "chup chup" calls eventually revealed a Crossbill flying east. A late afternoon visit after a break for a late lunch, walking down to the hump overlooking Haddiscoe Island I joined regular correspondent Paul Wo and we saw up to 4 female Marsh Harriers quartering the fields, around 6 Chinese Water Deer seen including one chasing another and 3 Brown Hare too. I spotted a Short- eared owl perched on a nearby gate and it eventually flew low over the fields and was joined by a second Short- eared Owl. A dark backed male Peregrine Falcon perched on a post by a gate and then abruptly flew north low and fast over the fields. Suddenly, I had spotted my much sought after bird an excellent but much persecuted female Hen Harrier which hunted these fields with impunity (phew, he's in Jamaica!), it kept disappearing probably settling on the ground, it was a pale bird with obvious white rump but wasn't seen for very long. it obvious had passed the word onto Later on a second ringtail Hen Harrier flew low and north over the near fields, a darker individual with obvious white rump but were delighted to see it, especially Paul who had missed the first. A distant Sparrowhawk flew north too.

Friday 9th

Friday 9th March first stop Ness Point, a confiding Oystercatcher was seen on the rocks by the compass. The 6 Purple Sandpipers were on the rocks further along just north of the point. 1 Rock pipit was seen on the sea wall too. A Yellow- legged Gull was seen on the Hamilton Dock shoreline too. Driving to a local marsh, a pale Short- eared Owl seen flying over the field it then settled in the field and showed well and I was able to get within 30 yards of it. It then flew around hunting often turning and dropping to the ground, it then settled on a post. It flew up and down the dyke often hunting close by in the late afternoon sunlight. Saturday 10th March together with OFB we were treated to a repeat performance from the Short- eared Owl albeit in not such good light.

Goosander again

The Redhead Goosander was again showing "ridiculously well" late this afternoon at Leathes Ham, it was right in front of the feeding area, often going after other ducks if they took some bread when being fed by members of the public. I had a problem with a new memory card which didn't seem to be formatting properly, so I had to quickly edit some images to obtain some super close- up shots of the head when it swam left and was well lit with the setting sun. Wigeon and Gadwall were also posing nicely for the camera, c10 Pintails upending over the far side and the usual pale- headed individual came close again. A 7- Spot Ladybird was on the brick wall outside the front door this afternoon today, too.

Ladybirds- 7 Spot and Harlequin

Last Sunday 26th February- 3 Seven-spot Ladybirds were seen in the mild weather. Whilst today at County Hall Annexe at Norwich there seemed to be an infestation by the Harlequin, 7 seen in an around a small room.

Not Strictly birding

At Leathes Ham, I saw Richard W, who quickly left as there appeared to be no sign of the Goosander, and I decided to tempt some Pintails over to the northern end, a male Wigeon took the bait, or rather bread and showed well for the camera as did 3 Coot who wolfed the bread down. Walking back to the feeding area, the excellent redhead Goosander was showing ridiculously well, mostly too close for the camera lens. Stepping back I managed a few shots despite the cross sunlight. 3 Pintail, 2 males (one very pale headed one) and a female also showed well. Today was a non- birding day out with Jenny, however i managed to squeeze in a fe birds. At Minsmere approach road, there were 24 Bewick's Swans in the field this time further away, nice to see Rob Wil & Paul and Jane here too. At Pakefield cliffs, parking by the roundabout I walked out 100 yards north and through the field and along the hedgerow having seen 150 Brent Geese in flight settling into the field, I watched from the hedgerow, and easily picked out 2 stunning Pale- bellied Brent Geese sticking loosely together at the back of the flock.

A feast of birding

An excellent morning's birding today, I had waited all week hoping to try for the Greenland White- front down at North Warren. At North Warren, i parked just past the cottage on the left and seeing 2 birders scoping the Geese, it turned out to be Roy M and Lee W. They were just leaving and Roy kindly showed me where the bird was, the excellent Greenland White- fronted Goose, before he left. But it was difficult, the bird was asleep and it was only when the bird woke up and walked about, showing a very dark brown back and below with thick breast marking on the darker breast, just a sliver of white at the base of the dark tail and most significantly the orange bill with white around the base of the bill. A cracking bird but very difficult to pick out unless it was side on with its head up and almost impossible to pick out if it was walking away from you feeding or asleep. The first one i have ever seen of this form. Scanning through the flock a little later after the birds had moved a little, I picked it out with its dark back and orange bill as it walked right, it was at the back of the flock, just in front of some reeds at the back of the field. A little later, a fine Tundra Bean Goose with short bill, black at the base and orange at the tip seen too. Also with the Whit- fronted Geese were 5 Barnacle Geese. Next stop Minsmere, viewing from Whin Hill, initially not a lot was seen but after careeful scanning the excellent Glossy Ibis was seen distantly in a feild way over to the right just in front of the line of Poplars near eastbridge village. The bird although distant showed its distinctive dark silhouette longish neck and legss and long down curved bill as it consstantly fed in the field. At one point it flew back and behind the Poplars before we picked up again in the same field. Whilst on Island Mere, 4 redhead Smew were seen on the western end and at the southern end another 4 redhead Smew were seen, the original 4 Smew flew to join the others creating an impressive flock of 8 redhead Smew. Someone picked up the excellent Great White Egret walking right along a distant field reed edge the large size, kinked neck and yellow bill were clearly seen despite the range. Several 5 Meadow Pipits were seen in the grass just ahead. Driving out of the Minsmere approach road, a flock of 16 Bewick's Swans seen in the middle of the field reasonably close to the road, I parked up and manageed tto get aa few shots. At Benacre broad, I counted 11 Goldeneye, 1 male and 10 females. A flock of 40 Teal seen too, plus 2 Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher at the beach end edge of the Broad, the Oystercatcher was flushed and it strangely it perched in the middle of the back of the Broad, obviously the water level is low. I finally picked out the excellent Slavonian Grebe which was constantly diving right out in front the hide albeit on the northern half.

Week of Dips

Wednesday 22nd February, I tried early morning for the WT eagle which was seen in a field near Filby, missed it be 10 minutes. I saw a Great- crested Grebe crouched low over the water on Rollesby broad. Very disappointing especially as I was one of the very few people that missed the Eagle the previous year. Thursday 23rd February, I tried for the 5 Ibis's seen on Berney marshes, arriving at Burgh Castle early morning I saw Peter A, the finder, but the birds had flown behind a cottage and in the 30 minutes I was there there didn't reappear. However amongst a flock of 200 Brent Geese were 2 Pale- bellied Brent Geese. Lunchtime and 3 of the Ibis' had flown. But none were showing in the 30 minutes I had there. early morning Saturday 25th February no Goosanders at the "dead end" ie Caldecott road end of Oulton Broad.