Early morning dip

On Friday 30th November, I was able to drive over to Oulton Broad for a quick look for the Goosanders, at 7.40am I walked through Nicholas Everett Park, I heard the Ring- necked Parakeet but couldn't see it when I quickly searched for it. I walked over to the Yacht club and scanned Oulton Broad no sign whatsoever of the Goosanders, I checked around by the boats and looked at the Promenade & Wherry too, after 15 all too short minutes I had to leave at 7.55am to get to work for 8.30am (and allowing for the train coming through- caught on the way over but not on the way back). I looked over at Mutford Locke the water was very low so nothing there and no time to drive over to the "Dead end" part of O>B> The dipping sequence continues. I'll try again tomorrow and I'll have more time.

Quintuple dip day

On Sunday 25th November, I raised new standards (definitely unwanted) in dipping 5 different species in a winter's birding day. In the car park I heard 2 Bullfinches and saw a couple of Curlew but no sign of Hooded Merganser (Blythburgh), there was also no sign of Bewick's Swans (Covehithe Broad), Scaup (Benacre Broad or Cattle Egrets (Carlton Marshes this am. I bumped into Peter N at the car park who hadn't seen the sole remaining individual this morning- my cue to leave!) Walking from Covehithe Broad due north in the field taking the coastal footpath, just north of Smuggler's Lane at Covehithe, 300 Barnacle Geese seen. They were close and they slowly walked back but were not unduly disturbed by my presence. Benacre Broad was better by also no sign of the Scaup although there were females of Red- breasted Merganser (behind the GBB Gulls out to the north- west area of the Broad) & a female Common Scoter (straight out at Benacre Broad plus an ad winter Mediterranean Gull at least I saw something this morning! Also no sign of the Purple Sandpipers at Ness Point in the afternoon. Nothing at Hamilton Dock either. A very poor weekend birding for me.

Brief Hoodie

Back at Blythburgh on Saturday 24th November, the male Hooded Merganser was seen briefly on the river before being disturbed by a dog and it flew into Blythburgh estuary.

Hooded Merganser on the estuary

Another early start at 8.30am on Sunday 18th November, the Merganser was nowhere to be seen on the river but the fine male Hooded Merganser was seen looking due east from the bridge and was swimming around the area by the line of submerged posts. It swam round and came a little closer just south of where I was looking before it flew out to the water by the submerged sticks again. Also c300 Black- tailed Godwit and 188 Avocets seen too.

Hooded Merganser briefly

On Saturday 17th November, walking along the northern back walking west sadly the Hooded Merganser took off further up the river and flew onto the very low tide estuary and again it could't be seen. Compensation came in the form of 20 White- fronted Geese that flew that over my head and east over the Blythburgh estuary, as I was looking for the Merganser on the estaury at 9.30am. A look in Corton woods and around Dip farm failed to turn up any of the Firecrests seen earlier.

Hooded Merganser on Blythburgh estuary

On Thursday 15th November, I drove down to Blythburgh and taking the footpath north of the river heading west, I was joined by Phil H and to quote Chris S I spotted "the rakishly handsome" male Hooded Merganser which stood on distant mudflats south of the river. On the left leg sadly was a big orange ring which would indicate that this was an escaped bird rather than a transatlantic vagrant. After 10 minutes watching it, it promptly flew off and flew east in a circle arc but it flew to estuary at 9.30am when lost to view as it landed on the Blythburgh estuary. On the estuary itself, at very low tide the Merganser couldn't be seen despite extensive searching. However 12 Grey Plover seen. Despite checking North denies, Ness Point and Hamilton Dock nothing else of note seen.

Parakeet & Brent Goose

On Sunday 11th November, the Ring- necked Parakeet was initially not at Nicholas Everett Park seeing Neville L & Tony B apparently it flew over towards the Wherry but it flew back calling s it came. It kept mostly in the shade, mainly in the evergreen tree feeding on berries. Later, I drove to Links road car park, with an immature Brent Goose feeding by the eastern edge. It flew up briefly when an uncontrolled dog went for it and it ran towards the car where I could see it just 20 feet away whilst I stayed within the car using it as a mobile hide. Later on back at Nicholas Everett Park, the bird was seen in the Oak tree and joined by Rene we obtained some shots albeit in bad light.