Waxwing Bonus!

A trip to Norwich today, Sunday 23rd February revealed a fine bonus in the form of a Waxwing seen along Ber Street feeding on apples in a tree in a disused yard formerly used by "The Pot Company" I didn't have any optical aids with me, although the Waxwing was quite close, shielded by a metal fence the bird appeared to be a female or immature as it lacked the waxy red in the wing giving its name. It was quite content to sit there and then start feeding from the apples. It might remain here for a while yet as there were still around at least 8 apples left. Great to see, particularly this winter, when they have been so scarce.

Parrot Crossbills (& Crossbill) at Waveney Forest

This afternoon Saturday 22nd February, I parked at the end of the track from Fritton village walked down to Forest Lodge I didn't see very much so I walked across the clearing towards the carpark by the pylons and the log piles and saw a group of birders comprising Andrew E, Rob Wil, Ricky F, Paul & Jane F & OFB. Amazingly they were watching some very close Parrot Crossbills and Crossbills all perched up in a very close larch. At the very top was a male Common Crossbill and another male Common Crossbill nearby, these were brick red in plumage colour with smaller bills and slightly smaller slimmer bodies than the rest of Parrot Crossbills. In contrast the "Parrots" looked more puffed up, with thicker bills greyer less vivid plumage and larger bills. A pale female Parrot Crossbill perched well down in the Larch and showed well, whilst several male Parrot Crossbills were near the top. Occasionally, some would fly to drink water from puddle on the muddy ground below, several male flew to the tops of the Pines and fed on the Pines. I estimated I saw 8 Parrot Crossbills in total 6 males and 2 females. With the tally of Common Crossbills the 2 males. A little later on at the mound, after a pit stop the Decoy pub for a well earned Coffee and Chips, we saw the excellent Rough- legged Buzzard perched on a gate, it later flew back to a further fence post. Whilst, a closer Barn Owl hunted over to the right. A very distant Short- eared Owl patrolling the back margins of the fields was well picked out by Andrew, it was later mobbed by a crow and flew up into the air for a while.

Ibis duo at Oulton Marshes

On Saturday 22nd February, I walked down Fisher Row and onto the Oulton Marshes via the tea gardens path, initially, I could only see just the usual birds such as Wigeon etc. I then met Don & Gwen who hadn't seen the Ibis' yet. I walked over to the platform, still no sign and I the walked over to the railway line, still no sign but a text from Gwen (many thanks!) they had just seen both the Ibis'. I walked back I still couldn't see them but I met a lady who said they were in the south west corner and close to the path. I looked and there they were! I walked back seeing Don & Gwen again and sure enough both Ibis' were just around some 40 feet away feeding, stretching and resting, I quickly see up my camera gear and I spent a very pleasant hour photographing them. The sun was in the perfect position and reflected the subtle purple and greenish sheen in the plumage to a tee. The birds spent the whole time feeding, resting and generally within 40 - 50 feet of the path.

Filby Broad Goodies

I had an hour and a half TOIL at lunchtime I drove over to Filby Broad and from the boardwalk, I first saw the redhead Smew swimming at the back with Tufted Ducks roughly in front of the big tree. In the far western end, a very distant Slavonian Grebe was seen in the water just in front of a square chapel like building seen through the trees, swimming right in front of the building along its right hand end before it swam left. A female Goldeneye was also seen.

Very Windy Day

On Wednesday 12th February having TOIL from work, I decided to go North Warren, unfortunately there wasn't any sign of any White- fronts let along Greenlands. The 50 Barnacles and 40 Greylags behind them were very distant in the extreme north west corner of North Warren. Scanning through the flock with great difficulty due to the wind and half the flock being obscured by bushes, I couldn't even see the Lesser Canada either. Subsequent trips to Oulton Broad, Asda, Lake Lothing railway Bridge failed to reveal any Shag and at Ness Point , no Purple Sands either but a flock of 7 Turnstone flew past together with a white Sanderling. Sadly, very poor birding day today.

When two became one

Today, Saturday 8th February, it was initially very sunny but it soon became very windy. I wanted to go back for a return trip back to the end of Cess road to visit the lone remaining Glossy Ibis. I was hoping for some more shots this time in better light. The Ibis was quickly seen sheltering by the fence in the field. It was very windy and the bird stood by the fence, the only available cover from the wind, it stood virtually motionless during the period of observation, it looked around, craned its neck up and yawned and opened its bill and that was it! The sun was soon obscured by clouds which was better for photography, as I was looking directly into the sun with the camera giving a totally unacceptable silhouetted view of the bird. Whilst, on the river behind me, an almost full summer plumaged Great Crested Grebe swam close by but was constantly diving, no Cranes were seen at Billockby.

Little Ormesby Broad birds

Arriving at Filby broad car park at lunchtime today, Monday 3rd February at 12.45pm, having failed to see the Cranes near Billockby (the farmer was digging in a field just behind the usual spot), a tweet from John H and meeting him a few minutes later we walked to the viewpoint to look for 2 birds John had just found, a fine redhead Smew at the back which dived occasionally seen mainly right of the cut in front of the end of the long line of reeds on the water at the back. Left of us in mid- distance were several 8 Tufted Ducks and on the left of them asleep was a female Scaup-like duck, she work up sporting a thick white band at the base of the bill darker brown head and mucky brown back, but the possibility of hybrid origin cannot b ruled out. She eventually swam back a little way. meanwhile in front of the hide was a line of 6 Great crested Grebes.