Mixed Bag

On Saturday 11th January I was attending a special conference at the Hospital but was able to pop out between 10.15 and 4pm, driving to Great Yarmouth, the Ibis had flown so I went to Acle Bridge and could initially see no sign of the Cranes. Driving to Yarmouth again for the returned Ibis, but sadly dog walkers had flushed it off again, so I went onto Hickling Rush Hills scrape where there wasn't even a Teal present so dipped on the GWTeal, not a good start. A tweet from Carl had me driving back to Acle Bridge and seeing several cars by a barn just east of the bridge and a tweet from Jane I diverted back and had excellent views of the 2 Cranes at the edge of the field and they were quite close and would have made my best pictures yet but no camera!!! Jane & Paul F, OFB and a departing Steve S & Dot were in attendance. We then drove back to Ludham airfield and we saw a group of around 117 Bewick's Swans with at least 9 Whooper Swans in attendance too. On the far left of the group they were 5 immatures Whooper Swans showing, with up 11 seen in total. Several around 1/4 of the Bewick's were sitting down and none of the ones standing showed yellow legs. Back at Buckenham meeting up with Paul & Jane again around 129 White- fronted Geese seen at the back. By a closer pool amongst Lapwing were at least 3 Ruff walking around. We also tried looking at Cantley, again there was a big flock of White fronted Geese, around 30 Barnacles and 40 Canada plus an odd looking hybrid that may have been Canada X Bar- headed Goose but alas no Beans. I had to leave to to go back to the conference for 4pm and sadly my shoes had become a little muddy and Jane very kindly volunteered to clean one of them with wet wipes while I did the other, amid much hilarity (I can confirm we had not visited any pubs/ beer festivals immediately prior to this!)

Kessingland Sewage Works

On Wednesday 8th January, TOIL from work in the morning meant I was able to have a quick visit to Kessingland Sewage works, it was a gusty morning and at the start of the Sewage works, a fine female Bullfinch was seen in the hedge briefly. Lots of Tits moved through including Blue and Long- tailed Tits. By the hedgerow bordering the sewage beds, 2 Chiff- Chaff flitted about and 22 Pied Wagtails seen on the sewage beds themselves. I kept scanning the scrub on the left, a Chiff- Chaff seen again and a charm of around 12 Goldfinches flew into the scrub, but still no sign of the Firecrest and I was about to leave after an hour when I heard the distinctive call and up popped a fine Firecrest briefly in the scrub on the left. I watched for a couple of minutes, always active and on the move before it disappeared from view. Another final look on the sewage beds and I was rewarded with a view of a Grey Wagtail on the northern edge of the northern sewage bed. A look at Ness Point at low tide failed to reveal any Purple Sands. Work beckoned!

Rough- Leg & Velvets

Look out from the rapidly diminishing Fritton Woods, the excellent Rough- legged Buzzard was seen on a gate on haddiscoe island, but it eventually flew towards us. It then settled on a post a little nearer. Meanwhile a really fine striking male Hen Harrier flew over the river and left right in front of us.

Common Scoter flock

At lunchtime today again in worsening weather 1.10 - 1.30pm today, I noted a flock of 140 Common Scoter on the sea off Gorleston cliffs, in the choppy seas I couldn't make out any velvets and all the Scoters that flew were definitely Common Scoter. An adult winter plumage Mediterranean Gull flew south too.

Birding Mecca: Birds & Wildlife of Lesvos tomorrow St Mark's Church, Oulton Broad 7.30pm

I am giving a talk on "Birding Mecca: Birds & Wildlife of Lesvos" tomorrow Friday 3rd November at St Mark's Church, Oulton Broad 7.30pm for the local RSPB Members group. A small fee is payable for non- members. Lots of pics of birds, I will be using my new computer and digital projector. Please note all pictures shown were taken on Lesvos with my Sigma 50mm- 500mm and not my current canon 500mm lens.

New Year's day birding

A crack of dawn start on New Year's day and like Christmas day, I travelled to Covehithe and whilst walking down to the Broad, a flock of 28 Barnacle Geese flew south overhead. On the Broad itself, the female Long- tailed Duck was at the back in the south west corner again with 3 Goldeneye. Next stop pakefield Beach by the Jolly sailors where I followed Lowestoft Bird Club chairman Derek B as he put seed out for the Snow Buntings along the mid part of the beach. Initially only 14 Snow Buntings flew in but were later joined by another flock of 28 Snow Buntings totalling 42 Snow Buntings. An adult Mediterranean Gull flew north. Next stop Oulton marshes, I bumped into first Chris S who told me he had spotted 2 Bewick's on Peto's Marsh and then a returning James b on a rare trip out. I was then joined by regular correspondent paul W and we took the usual route down to Fisher Row and then took the intersecting tea gardens path along the western bank. By the green sign I looked across to Peto's marsh and saw the 2 fine Bewick's Swans feeding on this side of the pool in the middle of the field. Meanwhile from the lookout, we joined Neville S and watched the excellent Glossy Ibis feeding along a pool and dyke just north of the lookout. It followed the dyke east whilst feeding. Next and final stop was Fritton woods or should that be waste ground with the increasing number of trees being chopped down, a look out from the mound revealed a dark Common Buzzard and 3 hunting female Marsh Harriers. A flock of 60 Pink- footed Geese flew distantly over a wood at the back and several 18 Curlew seen and a Chinese Water Deer seen also but no RLB's in worsening weather conditions (wind and rain).

Post Christmas birding in South Wales

On Sunday 29th December, an early morning walk down to Cymisfael stream was atmospheric and cold with extensive hoar frost shaping the landscape like white icing on a cake. By the woods, just down from Mum's house, a Marsh Tit called "pitchou" and was seen briefly high up in the trees. Not many birds seen with just a female Grey Wagtail along the stream by the cottage right of the walk down hill. Walking back up the hill to Mum's house, a fine male Bullfinch flew towards me into the hedge bordering the road then eventually up into the tree canopy of the woods. Whilst walking along the drive, a Nuthatch was seen creeping down along the branch. Monday 30th visit was much better, the weather was milder but much wetter, with extensive rain overnight, water was running down the road side, running down from the roads. By the brook, male and then female Grey Wagtail were seen, the male perched briefly on a gate in the field by the brook end. Incredibly, opposite was a flooded field and in the north west corner swimming around was a fine female Goosander. My first sighting on my Welsh patch! Also 30 Redwing flew up from the field and into the hedge. sadly as soon as she saw me she took off flew towards me and over the road and eventually out of sight. Walking along the road to the two bridges. The road was completely flooded. Later investigating with Wellington boots the water was 14 inches deep and even though I waved at 3 cars not to attempt the crossing (risk of flooding the engine) 2 drove through with seemingly no ill effects. As I walked back to the brook, I heard the distinctive call of the Willow Tit and sure enough 2 birds moved through moving west along the hedge. One was definitely a Willow Tit, bull- necked with white cheeks, but I didn't see the other bird well enough. The Redwings were again in the field. A Raven was heard its deep croaking call somewhere in the distance but unfortunately not seen. Whilst walking back up the hill to Mum's house about half way along 2 fine male Bullfinches, fine birds with peach red breasts were seen and heard moving through the fence bushes bordering the road, before they too flew over the road and up into the tree canopy. On Tuesday 31st in the gloom at Reading East a fine Red Kite flew over the M4. Single Buzzards seen along the A12 at Kelveden & Capel St Mary.