Great birding in and around Great Yarmouth

On Saturday 3rd February there was 'great' Great Yarmouth/ East Norfolk birding to be had this am with Glossy Ibis- Bure Park, from the second car park, I walked south 400 yards (thanks to Tony S- part of the crack Scottish birding team- for precise directions) and good to see him again) and by the flooded field by the building could clearly see the fine Glossy Ibis feeding by the pool. It walked over to a large bush and taking care walking out by the trees we got a little closer without disturbing the bird. It huddled down by the bushes before it eventually and nonchalantly walked back to the puddle to resume feeding. From the road down to the tip looking south towards the Greyhound stadium, the fine Great White Egret could actually be seen from the car but stopping I had reasonable if distant scope views it stalked the field feeding. Driving to Halvergate, down the Halvergate road the wonderful Whooper Swan seen with around 20 Mutes looking west with the Norfolk correspondent. Seeing a big flock of c170 Swans 1 mile west Hindu temple, I remembered my good friend Ricky finding some Bewick's amongst this flock the previous winter and I wanted to repeat this. Parking by the southern lay-by I scanned the flock and sure enough there were 2 adult Bewick's Swans feeding bang in the middle of the flock. Behind them in the background you could see Stokesby's Ferry Inn. With Matthew S joining me, good to see him too it was fine end to the day, especially as I was able to pick up the Whooper again distantly from the same lay-by and point this out to Matthew, too.

Super Moon

Last night Wednesday 31st Janaury, was a super Moon, and a blue moon being the second full moon in the month of January and its orbit meant it was closer to Earth than normal. The Moon appeared 10% bigger than usual (it always appear bigger nearer the horizon and looked positively huge when I returned home from work yesterday. Here's my photographic effort (using TV mode on 5.6 aperture and 100 ISO rating).

Rough- legged Buzzard comes in to roost

On Monday 29th January, hoping to see the RLB, I was able to leave work at 3.50pm TOIL for working extra hours and by 4.10pm I was parking at the road at the end of Fritton woods. Ten minutes later, I was joining Dick on the mound overlooking Haddiscoe Marshes, but not before I had already seen a wonderful Short- eared Owl flying over the Pines bordering the clearing near the mound. Dick pointed out the superb Rough- legged Buzzard perched on a distant gate post. It initially showed a greyish head, as it scratched its tail later the white base and black tip seen. Then when it moved position it showed the darker lower breast patch. 2 Short- eared Owls were seen flying around it and must have been in addition to the bird I had seen walking up. Eventually, one of the Short- eared Owls started mobbing the Rough- legged Buzzard and it stood side on facing left before getting up and flying towards us and then flew into Fritton woods in the corner tree where it briefly perched before swooping down. A Barn Owl was also seen flying too. Suddenly a Green Sandpiper got up and flew right, it looked a very back and white bird in the fading light.

The Ibis and the Redpoll

On Sunday 28th January my first stop was early on at Dunwich hoping to see the Glauc on the beach, alas it was not there, early on (second time I have dipped it). I drove onto Eastbridge and was pleased to see the Glossy Ibis was in the usual flooded field flashes and even better it flew even closer and was feeding at perfect range for my set up, to improve matters further, the early morning sun has just come out bathing the scene in a lovely golden glow and it lit the bird up nicely and it showed well as it fed. It was great to see the Dereham boys here too. Not having a lot of time, after 20 minutes and the sun had waned somewhat I drove down to Hazlewood Marshes near Aldeburgh and initially saw Matt D and gerlad had arrived. In the now ploughed field opposite the entrance track. The flock of some 20 Redpolls fed in the field and the Coues' Arctic Redpoll showed well if distantly from here. Several times they flew into the bushes but the Arctic Redpoll was always obscured although a Mealy Redpoll was seen here too. After 2 hours the flock finally flew into the bushes and the Coues' Arctic Redpoll showed really well feet away in a small bush just left of the main bushes and posed perfectly for the camera!

Hawfinches at Wrentham cemetery

On Saturday 27th January, An early morning trip to Wrentham cemetery, initially I walked around and saw nothing. Then I heard Paul & Jane F and Jane pointing out a distant Hawfinch to Paul. Sure enough there were 2 Hawfinches, then 3 in the tall trees at the back. Then all 3 flew off to the right. Later 4 Hawfinches flew in and then 3 disappeared and 1 Hawfinch flew over the cemetery and perched in a tree the other side of the road. Later on they flew back to the tall trees at the back and by using the Yew trees I sneaked up and got some mid distant shots. Later on 1 Hawfinch flew to a bush (which meant there were 5 Hawfinches in total) near us albeit in poor light as the early morning sun had by now long since faded. In the afternoon in there rain I decided to do the RSPB Garden Birdwatch as soon as I saw 2 fabulous Bullfinch, a male and female on the Cherry tree, 3 Goldfinch were also seen here and 2 Jackdaw on the fatal feeders were the stars of this afternoon 1 hour garden birdwatch but some common species absent! (Greenfinch, Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin!)

Great Suffolk birding

On Sunday 21st January, Walking over to the Dell, I could hear a Nuthatch calling and 1 flew back from the large tree towards the trees by the road. As I approached the pool by the Dell, a Woodcock suddenly got up and also flew towards the road. Walking over towards the Church, around 18 Fieldfare seen in the field to the left. Paul & Jane F were in the Churchyard along the westside looking east. Initially no Hawfinches were seen but Paul picked up 3 Hawfinches partially obscured in a distant tree. Then we saw some fly to the top of a Yew tree, 2 seen here well briefly. Then 6 flew and perched in a tree in the south- east corner of the churchyard, as we were watching them a further 12 Hawfinches flew over and north, totalling a magnificent 18 Hawfinches. 2 Nuthatch were at the Dell & c30 Fieldfare in bushes skirting the arable field. Joining Paul & Jane at Easton Bavents we walked up a track and 3 Tree Sparrow, 30 Yellowhammer seen flying from a set aside field and seen sat up in bushes bordering the field. I then drove to Lymballs Lane near Westleton, 10 Bewick's Swan (inc 3 immatures) were seen in a field right of the road just past a large barn. From Eastridge just past the bridge, in the rain, overlooking flashes to the left of the road the Glossy Ibis was seen feeding. A Long- tailed Duck with a group of c20 Common Scoter on sea viewable from NE corner Dunwich car park. Finally in Hamilton Dock, a fine adult male Eider at Lowestoft rounds off a good birding day in Suffolk, pity about the weather!

Trio of Bullfinches in the garden

On Saturday 20th January, 3 Bullfinch in the garden just at 1.20pm heralded by the female (2 males, 1 female) feeding on Cherry tree buds, with the 2 males feeding in the Cherry tree.