"Habeas Corpus": dead Whooper Swan on Covehithe beach dune

On Monday 8th March, having A/L, I was determined to get away from the building site over the fence and the "6 Empire State Buildings" being built (where we will be completely overlooked- luckli I have 4 mature trees along the back fence) just beyond the fence and try and get out despite my gammy foot. So I hobbled down rather painfully on my exercise walk to Covehithe broad and was delighted to see the Long- tailed Duck although it was at the back of the Broad and never showed that close apart from when I saw Carl and he pointed out a dead Whooper Swan in the sand dunes that I had missed and it swam in the narrow channel travelling north where it spent a lot of its time along the north western section of the Broad. After Carl had gone a Water Pipit flew south over the Broad calling. A female Goldeneye was also seen along the south west section of the Broad. I knew my limitations abnd decided not to stretch my luck with hobbling down to Benacre Broad.

"Unaccustomed as We Are": Ness Point waders

On Sunday 7th March, I was suffering quite badly with bursitis of the heal of the foot or "Policeman's heel" its painful when you put any weight on the heel of your foot, so I was limited to just going to Ness Point for a brief exercise walk. I immediately saw 1, 2 and then up to 4 Purple Sandpipers and also an amazing 9 Oystercatchers on the finger at Ness Point (the highest tally of Oystercatchers I have seen there ever!) I also saw Tony B who'd seen up to 6 Purple Sandpipers, but the other 2 didn't reappear for me.

"Tit for Tat": Benacre Broad hide badly vandalised

On Saturday 6th March a rather disappointing exercise walk to Covehithe Broad, despite being very early having got onto the beach immediately after dog walkers with 5 dogs unsurprisingly the LT Duck had disappeared. However, there was 1 male Goldeneye and 2 females at the south west corner of the Broad. Also disapppointingly, the boat wreck had been covered by cloth so despite bringing the right lens I couldn't get any pics. There were 2 fine male Scaup along the extreme north east tip of the Broad, they weren't photogenic though and they swam out to the middle of the Broad. Even worse, It was also very disappointing and upsetting to see the beloved Benacre hide had been badly vandalised by mindless idiot/s & the door had been kicked in and thrown down and was resting by the supporting legs by the beach and south west section had been kicked in with several planks splinted and showing the inside of the hide. This could and should be repaired and then the whole hide moved around 300 yards inland to save it being claimed by the sea, why isn't something done to save our beloved and much loved hide?

"Duck Soup": new plumage for the LT Duck

On a very fine day on Saturday 27th February, a particularly long exercise walk to Covehithe then Benacre Broad revealed the fine adult male Long- tailed Duck on Covehithe Broad, sat just behind a stone in the water it was very close but sadly flew to the back of Broad, occasionally it swam out. A male Goldeneye swam right behind the island, just long enough to get a few pics before it swam left again. The Long- tailed Duck swam left of the island too. Meanwhile, a Water Pipit fed by the Broad edge but just too far away from the camera. Maurice B arrived & we saw Clive N in the distance too. We also saw Kevin B and told us the boat wreck was on the beach just north of there were the pipe stuck out from the exposed cliff. Carl B briefly joined us and the Long-tailed Duck swam out from behind the island and showed well briefly before swimming to the northern end of the Broad. We walked over and it was impressive managed to get a few phone shots. Walking over to Benacre Broad, a male Scaup was over the far northern side fairly near the beach.

Whoopers at Barsham

On Wednesday afternoon 24th February following an after work trip to Beccles as I was passing Barsham marshes and stopped for a few minutes, an obvious large flooded area west of the road eventually revealed at least 8 fine Whooper Swans (and about 15 Mute Swans) although observation was obscured by trees, in the short time I was scanning I also saw a male Pintail.

"Thicker than Water": Another visit to the Ness Point Park pool

On Wednesday 17th February, another afternoon visit to the Ness Point park pool, which has now reduced by about 10% from Monday. The Bar-tailed Godwit was still about, as was 1 Knot, just 1 Dunlin and 7 Redshank. feeding mainly at the back of the pool. Returning home on the roof of the house opposite a male Sparrowhawk perched for a few minutes face on and then he turned facing right.

"Brats or Scram!": Too many people!

Keeping up the Laurel and Hardy analogy, I had an A/L day on Monday 15th february, to use up today as we won't allowed to carry over 5 days into the next leave year, surprisingly. So I ambled around on my exercise walk at Oulton Broad this morning, best was a Kingfisher that alighted on the cruise boat in front of the cream & red liveried one that had seen better days, the Kingfisher stayed several minutes but alas no camera. From the Yacht club, a Great- crested Grebe was seen. Going back for lunch as soon as the sun came out just after 2pm, I went down to Ness Point park to photograph the waders. Sadly children were playing by the waters edge by the path and the pool appeared deserted but on close inspection all the waders, well, the Bar- tailed Godwit, joined by a Knot, 7 Dunlin and 10 Redshank were down along the far southern end. Eventually they flew out onto the pool again and I obtained a few pictures. Next stop, Hamilton Dock, nothing there and at Ness Point it appeared birdless as well, except for an Oystercatcher that was on the "finger" so I retrieved the camera and the Oystercatcher fed on whelks and Oysters chiselling them off the ground and eating the juicy morsel inside. A huge wave had it running almost down to the beginning of the finger where I was and showed really well (at times too close for the camera) before walking back. I decided to return to the Ness Point park and as I got out I was dismayed to see a photographer (standard lens) walking around the edge of the pool flushing everything in sight. I suddenly saw a magnificent pair of Pintail, resplendent in the sun, fly around and settle on the pool. No sooner had they done so that the photographer marched off towards them and seconds later they flew off. She also flushed the Bar- tailed Godwit which flew to the north end of the pool but another "adult" walked into the pool wading about in the middle and flushed the Godwit to the southern section of the Pool again. The Knot was still there feeding by the fence but I had had enough of the crass and sheer stupidity of the people so I left (hence the title of this post).