Lesser Canada at North Warren & Smew duo at Minsmere

The tension was palpable, I was busy photographing churches exteriors and interior at first Blythburgh and then Aldeburgh for my forthcoming Cromwell talk and I was waiting desparately for news on what surely must be one of the ornithological sensations of 2014 in Suffolk. A "double beep" from the mobile and a tweet that it was still there "Lesser Canada Goose at North Marsh, North Warren". The relief was visible and elated I drove the short way to the marsh. Only problem was the parking area was full and cars parked on the other side of the road. I should have known such a fantastic bird such as this would attract a legion of birders who were already there watching it? Strangely no, only 3 birders including Dick & Chris B were viewing it. I eventually found a parking space and walked up to the gate and scanned the flock of Barnacle Geese totally around 100 and almost immediately I picked up the fantastic, absolutely superb, Lesser Canada Goose was seen sitting down at the back of the left hand end of the flock. A dream come true, and if accepted, my first Lesser Canada In Suffolk and what a bird! All "legitimate" records of Lesser Canada's arrive from Greenland with Barnacles. More experienced Lesser Canada watchers had told me what cracking birds these are when finally seen in the feather and I wasn't to be disappointed, if anything, the bird exceeded expectations. It was around the same size of the Barnacles, with a much shorter neck giving the classic smaller Goose profile rather than a Greater Canad Goose profile. It has a smaller proportionately black bill with black head and neck, interspersed with a thicker white chin strap on the face. The black neck finished abruptly just before the upper breast with a grey breast, muckier brown flanks and browner back with dark wing tips, white vent and white rear underparts with short grey legs. It then woke up and started walking about by the front of the flock along the left side and fed and I was delighted to run off a few shots with the camera of this exceptionally rare visitor for Suffolk (if accepted as a wild bird). After some minutes watching this fine bird, with time pressing, I very reluctantly tore myself away and headed to Minsmere. From East Hide, a Grey Plover was seen on an island with 100+ Wigeon and around 8 Pintail. From the public platform, slightly further along, the 2 fine redhead Smew were seen on the middle of the South scrape pool, frequently diving they nonetheless gave good scope views. After further Cromwell related photography at Yarmouth, I checked the Caister to Acle road for Cranes and saw the 2 fine Cranes in the usual spot near Billockby, they were feeding just beyond the edge of the field in a stubble field and slowly walked further back and eventually into the field beyond. A great day of birding and photography with the undoubted highlight being the Lesser Canada!

East Norfolk Goodies: Ibis Duo at Martham et al

A very enjoyable day's A/L today, Wednesday 29th January, a trip to East Norfolk. First stop was Cess road, Martham and I parked up and walk the 50 yards down to the end of the road and then carried on a further 50 yards east along the river bank. Looking west over some fields where amazingly the 2 Glossy Ibis were constantly feeding around 7 to 10 metres away. They were in a loose fenced enclosure, the 2 Ibis's fed here just metres away from 5 photographers stood by the fence gleefully snapping away, although the light could have been much better. They (The Ibis!) then walked over to the next door field through the open gate. There were two birds one was was around 10% smaller than the other with a light brown cast on its wings. They fed quite well and I even photographed one gorging on an unfortunate worm. Next stop was Horsey Mere and was unable to look from the usual southerly viewpoint due to the recent flood surge. I took the northerly route and from the path I could look over the Mere, seeing some birders they said they had seen the 3 Smew and the BT Diver was viewable apparently from the N Broad, the first of that species seen on the Mere since 1950's! I scanned and couldn't see any but another scan revealed a single redhead Smew on her own whilst over to the left were 2 long rafts of duck, the nearest one was half the length of the furthest one and scanning through these, I eventually spotted the second redhead Smew amongst this raft. I was walking back when I met when Geoff and his wife from Beccles and went back to show them where the female Smew were, having shown them the Smew on its own at the back, I suddenly spotted a Diver flying in from the west towards us, It had a very grey slightly bulging upper neck and it landed showing an extensive white rear flank patch and medium bill, it was the excellent Black- throated Diver which had flown in (presumably from the North Broad) and it started to swim towards the nearest Broad edge and was eventually totally obscured by the reeds and we didn't see it again. A great sighting and just reward for my good deed of the day! Drving back just past Brograve farm still around the Waxham end, I looked west and could see 3 Cranes in the distance flying north and they landed somewhere out of sight from the road. Whilst driving along the Horsey strait 500 yards south of the mill, I looked left/ east and saw 2 Cranes on the fields, I stopped the car and scanning there were another 2 Cranes behind them, I photographed the closer pair as they were feeding and walking right/ south all the time. 4 Cranes seen along the Horsey fields and 7 Cranes seen in total.Parking at Great Yarmouth opposite the Imperial Hotel, I was going to try and tackle the daunting task of searching for the Shore Larks in the Dunes or the beach, with a bitter raw moderate but bitterly cold east wind blowing. On the beach stood a small group of Gulls included several BH Gulls and 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls. Whilst flying north over the sea was another adult Mediterranean Gull. Walking further north along the beach, I heard the call of a wader and spotted a single Sanderling close by. I met 2 lady birders and we promised to let each other know if anyone spotted the Shore Larks. After around 20 minutes I was following them walking back resigned to not seeing the Larks when they waved me over, I walked over to the dunes very close to the Coffee Shack, which must have been around 300 yards north of the Imperial Hotel, really close to the road and concrete walkway. The 2 excellent Shore Larks were constantly feeding, the ladies eventually left and I was crouched down and amazingly the Shore Larks started running towards me and I managed to get a couple of reasonable shots (including the sub header shot above). They then ran eastwards along the side of the dune following the large sandy track towards the beach were I was happy to leave them. Walking back I noted a flock of 5 Sky Larks.

Ibis and Sibes at Oulton Marshes

A look down Oulton Marshes on saturday 25th January from 10.30am revealed little initially but a good scan of the reeds for some 30 minutes and willow scrub just behind and slightly left of the viewing platform eventually revealed first one then 2 suddenly materialised as if from nowhere, they were the 2 excellent Siberian Chiff- Chaffs, they moved through the lower margins of the Willow Scrub, with one working itself to the top whilst another worked its way too the base and was seen in full view here at the base showing well for several minutes. Very grey looking birds without a hint of olive or green in the plumage. They disappeared as quickly as they had appeared and one was seen ten minutes later for a few seconds only. Great to finally see these birds especially as I had probably seen one the previous weekend but not enough to conclusively ID it and a personal first on my old patch. Meanwhile on the marshes, I couldn't initially see the Glossy Ibis but it was seen half way out with some Wigeon, and I counted 239 Wigeon in total. The Glossy Ibis flew lot closer and fed a while before the Wigeon it was accompanying took flight and the Ibis flew to the back of the marshes again. By the fence line a Pipit flew out and I checked this and it proved to be a Meadow Pipit it showed well in the grass just beyond the fence line. Whilst walking back a Grey Heron walked right across the middle of a field. Checking the avenue of alders, as the sun came out a big group of birds included Long- tailed Tits, Goldfinches, Tits including 1 Coal Tit and then on the corner I spotted first 3 and later 5 Lesser Redpoll feeding on the Alder seeds at the very top of the Alder trees. walking further down the avenue, a Treecreeper spiralled around the trunk of a tree. A look in Corton Woods in the afternoon failed to reveal the Nuthatch or Firecrests, a Great- spotted Woodpecker seen at the northern end but bumping into regular correspondent Paul W and Paul & Jane in the north of the woods, a fine Woodcock suddenly got up at about 2.30pm and flew past us and north west past the woods and the north facing gardens. A minute later Andrew E joined us and it was good to get all the latest news and catch up with a fine group of birders.

RSPB Garden Birdwatch 25th January

A look between 9 and 10am in the garden revealed 2 fine male Bullfinches again feeding on the buds of the cherry tree, again visiting to take advantage of the tree budding. a lone male visited again throughout the day at 10, 1 and 1.15pm. Also seen were 3 Chaffinces (2 males and a female), 3 Greenfinches, Robin, 2 hedge Sparrow, 3 LT Tits, 3 Great Tit and 2 Blue Tit also seen were 2 Blackbird and Wood Pigeon asleep on the pagoda top with Collared Dove flying over the garden.

Unlucky for some!

On Saturday 18th January a record tally of 5 Bullfinch (3 males, 2 females) seen on Cherry tree in garden just after midday feeding on emerging buds, (they only usually visit in Jan)! On Sunday 19th January just after midday I walked down to Oulton Marshes, a very poor visit as I failed to see the Glossy Ibis this time, although it may have been feeding in a ditch out of sight. I also saw a dark grey- looking Chiff- Chaff type (but did not see it well enough to conclusively identify it) which may have been the Siberian Chiff- Chaff?, fly up from the reeds behind the viewing platform and appeared to fly over the river was the only other bird seen. Walking back up the entrance hill, I heard tapping in stereo and saw 2 Great- spotted Woodpeckers perched high up along the side of the trunks of 2 adjacent trees. On Wednesday 22nd January, around midday, a female Bullfinch again seen in the garden feeding on the buds of the Cherry tree. Around 2pm, on a brief visit to Ness Point, at high tide a tally of 13 Purple Sandpipers, my highest of the winter so far, were seen feeding on the finger at Ness Point, initially 3 of their number were asleep and were incredibly close being only 2 metres away, they eventually woke up and flew over and joined the other 10.

Mistle Thrush

On Thursday 16th January at lunchtime, a rattling Mistle Thrush flew north across the track down to Forest Lodge.

Iceland Gull at Sizewell

Having to visit Broomfield Hospital at Chelmsford on Monday 13th January. I was able to quickly visit Sizewell early on, as I walked onto the beach by the rig not, a lot was seen but at the second southerly post with a yellow triangle on it and several Cormorants perched on the top, loads of Gulls were wheeling around here c120 and amongst them I spotted the excellent pale biscuit coloured immature 1st winter Iceland Gull all seemingly flying around anti- clockwise around the post, the Iceland Gull was showing its white primaries. The Iceland Gull then settled onto the sea on the left hand/ northern end of the group that settled on the sea. It then flew towards me and flew right over the beach and south at around 9.20am.