Carlton stars Garganey & Ibis

On Saturday 2nd April, walking down to Peto's it was especially nice have nice weather (a rarity on my days off recently) to bump into both Will P (who I haven't seen for several years) and Paul & Jane F (back from their hols), after a catch-up I joined the some birders looking over the old scrape, it was wonderful to see 3 Garganey (2 males and 1 female). Later saw Andrew E too. They were swimming right over and nearer to us on the scrape, being about a third of the way out. Just past the Kissing Gate, I saw 2 fine Little Grebes (approaching summer plumage). Reaching the river path, lots of ducks included around 20 Wigeon, 5 Pintail (3 males, 2 females) and 5 Pochard (3 males, 2 females), plus a female White Wagtail feeding around the water margin. Walking over to North Marsh, a female Marsh Harrier seen quartering the marsh at the back. Suddenly, the Glossy Ibis appeared from nowhere and flew right and appeared to land on Turnpike Marsh. Walking back, the Glossy Ibis was indeed on the marsh on an island half way back but the bird walked and flew closer ultimately appearing on the grass just beyond the dyke in front of me, Rob H rather fortuitously joined me at exactly the right time and we had superb views of this bird in full sunlight feeding close by us, great for photography! Finally, after lots of constant feeding the Ibis flew to the back of the marsh. Walking back, great to see Steve B and Ivan L, where I put them onto the Garganey which were still on the old scrape but much closer, close to the grassy edge so often out of view but occasional glimpses of a fine male Garganey, a female Garganey and finally all3 Garganey (2 males & 1 female) which flew up and to the back western edge of the old scrape. A great trip out.

Garden goodies

On Monday 28th March, whilst creosoting the Pagoda in the garden, I saw a fine kettle of 5 Buzzards circling right over the garden at 1.40pm, 2 birds were constantly mewing and later on a good movement of Redwings with groups of 6, 36, 12, 5, 1 & 6 (a total of 66) flying low over the garden (up to 5.22pm) and heading east back to Scandinavia. The fine Yellow- tipped Darwin wasp (Digger wasp) again seen near the garage too.

Minsmere reserve too busy for me!

On Friday 25th March 4 Fieldfare flew south -east seen from the front garden and the brief trill of a Redpoll heard too. Saturday 26th March a rather late trip to Minsmere 11am, I failed to see any Adders beneath the Sand Martin bank but a fine male Black Redstart was seen around the posts at the top of the cliff. With the reserve bustling with people, and Covid going through the roof at the moment I decided to try Westleton Common and despite an extensive search no Adders seen but I did see one Slow Worm and heard a Wood Lark. I also saw a very brief Small Tortoiseshell in this area too. on Sunday, 26th March ding extensive garden work, I saw 2 Buzzards over Parkhill just south- east from the garden at 2.25pm.

A successful trip to the Brecks

On Wednesday 23rd March, an early start and I picked John H from Great Yarmouth at 7am and we were the first site by 8.30am, parking up we could here Siskins and a singing Wood Lark and walking down we saw a rasping Brambling, Siskin and a pair of calling Mandarins regularly flying down the river. Around 500 yards down we stopped and immediately saw a fine female Lesser- spotted Woodpecker, my first for at least 23 years! It was on a pale dead trunk and then flew off. Around 20 inutes later the "kek kee kee" call of the male Lesser spotted Woodpecker was seen and it flew in onto some fine branches before flying down to the right hand side of a tree where it excavated a nest hole before eventually flying off. Lovely to see these Starling sized birds with black and white distinctive stripes on its back and the mnale sporting a fine red cap. Over the course of the next hour both birds were seen and the male returning 3X to the same nest hole to excavate it further. A shout went up and a magnificent large female Goshawk flew over and behind us. Meanwhile the pair of Mandarin duck flew first down and then up the stream hearalded by their distinctive call. Walking back a fine Yellowhammer and Cetti's Warbler were heard but not seen. The little rattle of a Lesser Redpoll had us looking by a row of bushes and finally saw it briefly fly behind a bush. Butterflies seen included Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and 3 Brimstones. With 25 separate Brimstones seen on the drive north. We left to go to the Goshawk site, we saw up to 5 Buzzards here, including a very pale bird plus a Kestrel and we saw a female Goshawk over the distant trees being harassed by a Sparrowhawk and she was later seen flying left low over the trees. Wood Lark was again heard here and one Wood Lark flew onto the field diagonally behind us and seen walking around on the ground. A Pied Wagtail seen in a bush by the road plus up to 4 Hares seen in the fields. A tip off returning to the main road turning right and then first left to LC, by the pig field, we stopped and just in front of the green bin, 2 fine reasonably close Stone Curlews seen, sadly looking directly into sunlight but we enjoyed views of these fine birds with the right hand bird having a brief walkabout before settling down again. Next stop was Lynford Arboretum, where we heard of a roosting Tawny Owl seen in one of ther trees near the end, getting great directions we saw the bird back on near the very top of the tree (15 foot from the top) on the left hand side of the main trunk. Looking in the wood to the left, we heard Firecrest and 2 birds seen near a tall tree plus a Goldcrest. Walking back by the tunnel up to 4 Yellowhammers seen fedding including 3 males (1 male a very smart butter yellow bird and a female), 2 Nuthatch and a Coal Tit. Concluding a fine trip out our most successful Brecks trip to date.

Finally Fieldfares

On Tuesday 22nd March, travelling back at around 4.45pm travelling back from Fritton to Ashby, a flock of 25 Fieldfares flew east.

Monday's wildlife

On Monday 21st March, a fine Red Kite was seen flying north just east of the road along the A47 (former A12) just past Stirrups Lane and aat work a Small Tortoiseshell was seen by the former bowling green plus a Chiff- Chaff singing from the southern hedge.

Kessingland North Beach

On Sunday 20th March at Kessingland North Beach Looking at the pool by the cliff initially not a lot seen by the pool by the sea by the extreme north east end by the wet mud, the fine Shore Lark was seen plus 5 White Wagtails plus Ringed Plovers and then back at the pool by the cliff, 3 White Wagtails and finally a Scandinavian Rock Pipit flew in. 3 Chiff- Chaffs seen one by the start of the track, one Chiff- Chaff by the copse. In the afternoon, Pleased to see this 'Sceliphron destillatorium' I shall call it Yellow- legged Digger Wasp in our Parkhill garden, North Lowestoft just now (still some biodiversity in the garden despite the 80% drop in species to the housing estate being built over the fence seen in the conservatory and I put it outside and it was seen frequenting the ledge underneath the conservatory. It was seen again the next day too.