Quail and GBOs

A walk around the North denes early morning for Rob's quail was initially not very successful although singing Whitethroat and Blackcap seen, then walking towards the compound, in a thick swathe of Alexanders, the Quail called 3X its famous wet my lips call, I stood near a path through them in the hope it would through it didn't. But it must have run through to a patch behind me later on when Paul & Jane F arrived it was even louder coming from an area and of course we didn't see it. Later on in deepest Suffolk Paul & jane F showed me 3 fine Greater Butterfly Orchid plants 2 close together and one close by, with one non- flowering one. Close by we saw another 2 flowering plants plus another 2 non- flowering ones totally 8 in total.

Bee Orchid found at the Paget

On Friday 27th May, as I was walking over from the Library to the Hospital I found the stem of a Bee orchid. Obviously in danger of being cut down by the Grounds Maintenance Team, I put wooden kitchen utensils around it in the interim I rang and then e-mailed our fantastic Estates department and within the hour paul came over and put a circular over it attached to a concrete post.

Cuckoo heard from bedroom

On Thursday 26th May, from my bedroom at home, I heard a Cuckoo call its double "cuckoo- cuckoo" call 3X in fairly quick succession at 7.10am but not seen. It appeared to come from the direction of Parkhill Hotel grounds.

Hickling once more

On Wednesday 25th May, I went back to Hickling slightly earlier and as I walked up just after 6pm, the fine Caspian Tern with enormous orange red bill was seen sat on an island, bigger than BH Gulls nearby. It flapped its wings. Also there was a fine 1st year Little Gull, swimming in the water near BH Gulls. By some lumps of mud, the superb Male Chestnut coloured Ruff was in all his finery with an almost herringbone pattern on his back, an absultely superb bird, looking like a distinguished Tudor nobleman! A Greenshank was seen at the back. Again, several 4 Little Ringed Plovers and 6 Ringed Plovers seen.

Hickling again

On Tuesday 24th May, after work a lovely sunny evening, I drove to Hickling and walked along the northern perimeter of Brendon's Marsh, unfortunately I just missed a Caspian Tern that was seen 2 minutes before I got there, it flew off at 6.20pm just as I was starting my walk up. Not much seen from the viewing platform, so I walked to the end and looking south in a gap to a marsh behind the excellent White- tailed Plover was seen in the gap between an island and reeds, it fed and then walked behind the island, before it was again seen standing on one leg sleeping for a while. meanwhile a cacophony of bugling led to a Crane flying up from the reeds and then down again and the 3 fine Cranes flew in and settled in the reedbed. Several 4 Little Ringed Plovers and 6 Ringed Plovers seen. neil M said there was a Red Kite behind us and sure enough a Red Kite flew past. A fine Chestnut ruffed male Ruff seen.

Brief Roseate Tern saves the day after missing Orchids & Adders

On Friday 20 May, I had a look in deepest Suffolk for GBOs and BNOs but couldn't find any, a What's App message stated there was a Roseate Tern at Minsmere, so I drove the short distance and from the South Hide a small strip of mud bordering the south scrape and running parallel to the hide albeit at the back proved the fine Roseate Tern (my first at Minsmere for over 10 years as I have dipped many since) was still there. With vert white plumage, pinkish flush on the chest tiny legs and virtually all black bill wonderful to see. I watched it for a few minutes and I looked awy and it was gone!

Beautiful day few birds though

On Saturday 14 May 2022, a lovely day with nice golden light, at Rollesby Broad I failed to see the Goosander, although 7 male Pochard & 2 female Pochard was a nice tally of this locally rare duck these days. Several 3 pairs of Great crested Grebe were courting and 2 Common Tern flew over the Broads. A Common Sandpiper also flew out. No luck elsewhere.