Rain shower birding!

Sunday 1st February, a day of bright sunshine then followed quickly by a rain shower this weather pattern was prevalent all day I tried dodging the rain showers, albeit unsuccessfully as I got wet on each time I stepped out of the car! First stop was Pakefield beach by the Jolly Sailors pub (doing a roaring line in Sunday lunches as a whole host of people were going in!) and I met Derek B who just put out some more seed out within minutes the fine flock of Snow Buntings flew in, 11 strong they frequented the marram grass area before building up courage to feed on the seen put out in a line in the grassy area. 3 whiter males were seen among the flock and they fed for some 10 minutes before a few, 4 Feral Pigeons flew in and spooked them flying east and onto the beach. Also around 12 Turnstone flew past plus a winter plumaged adult Mediterranean Gull flew over the beach and southwards. Next stop Oulton Broad, the heavy rain shower shortened my visit here but I failed yet again to connect with either the Rail of the 'Fisher! (showy for others but definitely not me). At Ness Point 10 Purple Sandpipers fed on the area just east of the compass and a further 2 fed a few yards further north under a rock overhang, totalling 12 Purple Sandpipers in total, my highest tally this winter. The birds fed on the seaweeds encrusted rocks flying a little closer when a wave threatened to engulf them, as always charmingly endearing birds especially when they are just a few feet away from you!

More Bullfinch visits

Having to wait in this am Saturday 31st January, for the electrician (who arrived duly on time), I saw 3 Bullfinches in the garden (2 males and a female) at 9.53 and then at 10.57 the 2 males again visited the Cherry tree in the garden feeding on the buds at the front. A search of Fallowfields, I heard Bullfinches again but no sightings of a hoped for Woodcock. From Morton Peto Way retail park I looked across at the west end of the grain silo and the Peregrine was again perched on the top of the extractor fan hood near the top of the building.

Bewick's Swans at Blythburgh

On Thursday 28th January, on a day off work on a trip down to Colchester. I stopped at the lay-by just south of Blythburgh and viewable through the hedge, I was delighted to see the 19 Bewick's Swans, albeit they were quite distant over the far north east end of the field, feeding in a line. Having seen Trumpeter Swans late last year, now I just need Black Swan (or a Black- necked!) for 5 Swan species this winter 2014/15. OK, I know only 3 of the species are tickable!

A Quintet of Bullfinches in the garden

This morning, Tuesday 27th January, I noted that there were 5 excellent Bullfinches all feeding off buds in the Cherry tree at the back of the garden (backing onto fallow fields rough ground.) They spend time mainly at the back of the tree and were noted from 8.50- 8.55am.

1 Turtle Dove, 14 Twite, 2 Med Gulls and a Tawny Owl in an Ivy clad tree

To totally misquote the "on the first day of Christmas" Christmas Carol I had a really good day today with first port of call the Turtle Dove along the N end of the bushes bordering hub bard's Loke, viewable from Dip Farm playing field standing by the southern most goal. The excellent Turtle Dove was perched in a short spindly tree just by some ivy clad trees. It stayed here for some 40 minutes before it flew back and south into gardens and out of sight. Next stop was Corton wood, we met James B who had heard Firecrest in the northern section, we didn't hear or see anything on this visit though. Next port of call was Breydon water, no sign of the Twite when I got there but joined by Paul & Jane F, the Ferguson luck rubbed off on me and we saw 8/9 small birds fly east past the bridge either Twite or Linnet. It was very disappointing to see that the area just west of Asda (not owned by Asda- so we can't blame Asda/Walmart) the site been completely tarmacked over and heavy machinery lies on what was a very vibrant Bee Orchid colony with over 300 plant strong (always a highlight in June and I visited the site every year to look at the plants, now sadly wiped out by the total ignorance and greed of the landowners, disgraceful. When joined by Keith D and Ginge, just west of the bridge we saw 14 excellent Twite, my first for over a year, fly into a dyke dip along the salt marsh and then jane spotted them first as they flew up and we watched them as they flew all the way over the estuary and onto the South wall/ Suffolk side, hurrah! Next stop, back at Links road and initial check of the Gulls failed to find any Meds, Paul & Jane arrived and we went into Warrenhouse wood by the south east path and up the concrete steps, just 30 feet in, looking out over the clearing to the west (before the Holm oak trees), the superb Tawny Owl was sitting right out in the open, in an ivy clad tree. It fell asleep but woke up when there was anybody going free and you would see the head effortlessly swivel round to look back at the cause of the disturbance. We were joined by Jon E just as some people got too close it hopped close into the canopy and wasn't fully out in the open. Back at Links road and joined by Andrew, I spotted first one adult Mediterranean Gull (with a silver ring) first seen around Andrew's car when he threw bread out and the Hungarian red-ringed bird adult Mediterranean Gull, a second bird, with the white letter/ numbers H1N1 on it!) was spotted by Andrew, It frequented the puddle area by the eastern end (no pun intended!), but didn't stay long enough to get its picture taken by me, sadly!

Scaup at Beccles Quay

On Saturday 24th January, Jenny & I travelled to Beccles Quay parking at the car park at the end of Fen Lane. I walked along the "canal" to the Quay where 4 birders were present. The 2 Scaup were on the far side of the river. More distant than I was expecting, both appeared to be female birds, one bird with a thick white band near the bill and the other bird an immature bird. But after feeding for sometime, they eventually swam much closer and promptly went to sleep, their head tugged under the wing. Eventually first one then the other bird woke up swam back a little way then a boat forced them to swim very quickly south along the river where they hung around the boats before another boat heading directly foxed the birds to fly up high in a complete circle then they landed on the far northern section of the river. A Kingfisher was also heard but not seen.

Peregrine at the Silo

I was really pleased to spot a Peregrine perched on the air duct near the top of the western face of the grain silo on Thursday 22nd Jan mid afternoon, a female Sparrowhawk also flew through the garden late afternoon too.