100,000 views thank you

Wow, 100,000 views for the website and counting, thank you for taking the time to read the blog.

Glorious Spring day

Monday 3rd March whilst recuperating in the garden I was fortunate to see 2 Frogs copulating in the wildlife pond in the north western corner. Sunday the 9th March was a glorious Spring day with wall to wall sunshine and the temperature at almost 20 degrees celsius. 2 Small Tortoiseshells were feeding in the gardening and bathing on the concrete patio by the kitchen In the local wood, 3 superb Adders were seen in the nearby wood in the usual place. A fine Brimstone butterfly flew by and briefly settled on a discarded blue crisp packet discarded by a litter lout (take it home or put in the bin!) I met Andrew E and the 2 Robs who showed me where they were but as soon as they left the Adders left too so no pictures this time, I'm afraid. I met a third Rob (Rob M) and later I made my way to Ness Point and eventually picked up the female Black Redstart perched on top of the Gas blue tank in the compound thanks to the sharp eyes of Andrew E. At the local place I checked all 4 sides and eventually saw what I though was a female Peregrine on the North side. Up to 5 Frogs in the garden on Sunday too. Tuesday 12 March great news, (as a result of 3rd March, finally spotted some Frog spawn in the goldfish pond. I'll transfer this to the wildlife pond so that the Goldfish don't gorge themselves on the spawn!

Adders survive for now

I plucked up the courage to walk down and see for myself today, Sunday 2nd March, the devastation needlessly inflicted on one of the tracks down at a local wooded area, why prime habitat such as the glorious heather areas was trampled under the digger wheels I will never know? I guess its just ignorance. It highlights the importance of these areas being managed by wildlife organisations who know what they are doing. On the way in, no Crossbills of any description were seen either by the log piles or elsewhere in the Forest I was delighted to see a group of 5 early Adders, all males, (with thick black wavy band down the back and not brown) just out of their hibernation basking in the early March sun. They had miraculously escaped being squashed by the heavy machinery employed so recklessly in this area. They characteristically flattened their bodies on the ground therefore increasing the surface area to make the most of the warming sun's rays. It was a real joy to see them, but I fear for them over the coming few months. Where is the habitat (i.e. the thick swathes of heather and cover to hide in) where they can hunt, hide and thrive in? Only small swathes of heather survive from the brutal onslaught. The area is so much more open and they will be more prone to disturbance from walkers and especially their dogs, which should really be kept on a lead (for their own safety) in this area. For now, the Adders were lying together, blissfully unaware of the hardships they face during this coming season, 3 Adders were all coiled up together, their heads poking out in different directions and 2 others nearby. Looking back, I was surprised to see a Roe Deer run and hop across the wide area and it some woodland. Back at the car park, I noted 3 Coal Tits and a Blue Tit. Driving back to Ashby Dell, a fine male Bullfinch flew across the road from right to left.

Trio of Med Gulls

After the rain had stopped I drove down to Links Road car park today, Saturday 1st March, there was a distinct nip in the air. Amongst a large group of Gulls (mostly BH but also Herring Gulls and a Common Gull) were 3 Mediterranean Gulls. The most obvious was a black hooded adult which sat on the ground. It was in sufficiently advanced summer plumage with white eye half crescents bordering the eye. Whilst I also saw 2 standing 2nd winter (but starting the transition to summer plumage) These birds were quite jittery and I managed a few shots from the mobile hide that is my car, until 2 girls jumped around and spooked all the birds. Nearby at Warren House Wood I bumped into Paul & Jane F and together we heard and then saw a vociferous Chiff- Chaff fly into the wood. Despite checking the wood thoroughly and the Holm Oak copse just 50 yards north of here I was unable to find anything else.

Leathes Ham

A look at Leathes Ham this afternoon Friday 28th February revealed 7 male Pintail and 7 female Pintail on the small island close to the boardwalk plus a further 7 males and 7 females on the water, so 28 Pintails in total. Close male Wigeon and Gadwall seen too, plus a further 3 Wigeon (2 male and female) on the water.

Lowestoft Bits and Bobs

Checking Lake Lothing at the Railway Bridge no Shag seen or any around Oulton Broad. However at the Riverside waste ground one fine adult Shag in fine summer plumage perched by the edge and after a while flew onto Lake Lothing. Whilst at Ness Point 12 Purple Sandpipers feeding at the eastern edge, a wave of water brought them closer before they flew with the Turnstones onto the top defence rocks before they flew south to the rocks in front of the old coastguard lookout.

Waveney Forest Crossbills

Arriving at Waveney Forest at 10am by the log pile, we saw up to 5 Common Crossbils 3 males and 2 females, that flew in and perched and fed on or bar the top of the pines, 1 male Crossbill flew onto one of the Alders and was quite confiding. A look at Corton woods, Ness Point and Hamilton Dock failed to reveal any further noteworthy birds. However at 7.30pm in the evening I heard a Wigeon call "weeooo" as it flew over the house, garden heard tick!