Back to the Wild Swans briefly

On Monday 19th the promise of a sunny start meant I went back to a Sutton field and the 41 Whoopers Swans were still by the roadside.

Dowitcher, Smew & Wild Swans

On Saturday 17th February, after rain all night, I walked in wellington boots down to the far end of Carlton marshes and saw the fine Long- billed Dowitcher amongst all the Black- tailed Godwit. I also saw the 3 male Pochards on an eastern pool on Petos too. 2 Smew flew east at the cafe hide, flew east looking to the left over Rollesby broad. 41 Whooper Swans and 5 Mutes at Sutton and 1 Bewick's Swan in a field by a pool, just north of a pub at Hickling.

Return to the LT Duck

On Monday 12th February, I returned to Benacre Broad and from the beach I saw 3 Ringed Plovers, were on the Broad edge and one was quite confiding, I was able to get pictures without disturbing it. The fine Long- tailed Duck was by the eastern side of the Broad but I had to wait a couple of hours before it came near to the beach edge after I had seen Carl B walk north along the beach. I had been looking from the hide, where I saw 2 female Marsh Harriers quartering the reeds at the back. 4 Goldeneye, a male and 3 females were seen straight out on the Broad as was a pair of Pintail (1 male & 1 female). Around 15 Teal and 10 Gadwall were also seen. Walking back to the beach, the fine Long- tailed Duck initially seen close in by the north- east corner of the Broad before it swam closer to the middle edge where I obtained a few pictures.

Dipped the Dowitcher

On Sunday 11th February, a trip to Burgh castle TBC

Bunting bonanza at Kessingland

On Saturday 10th February, I decided to visit Kessingland North beach, from the Heathlands steps I walked south to the reedy area and just east of there, I witnessed a fairly flighty flock of around 35 Snow Buntings flying around and briefly settled but they were very flighty and seen on several occasions and then I saw Chris D, who said he'd just seen the Laplands fly a little north and said I needed to work the triangular strip between the reedy area and the beach some 500 metres worth, saying check every bit of marram grass and particularly the laid flat deadd grassy tussocks and mounds. I then wandered north and saw the bird in flight, it called its distinctive dry soft rattling "prrrt" confirming it as the fantastic Lapland Bunting It then flew to a large Sea buckthorn bush and perched for a while, through the scope, it showed the 2 white wing bars and reddish brown wing coverts giving visual confirmation to my initial ID. It then disappeared and I only saw it when I walked and the bird flew from some marram grass as i walked back around 50 metres. It flew north and by carefully walking north it fed on some flattened dead grass and I watched it for some 15 minutes as it fed around the back of some marram grass, I managed a few pictures before it suddenly took to flight and flew south 50 metres again. Instead of wandering back to the main shore pool, I walked back up the steps and from the bench at the top, the lazy way out I scoped 2 fine Sanderling on the seaward side edge of the shore pool back in thr middle. I checked Heathlands copse nothing in there save for a couple of Wood Pigeons.

St Benet's Birds

On Wednesday 7th February, leaving work at 2.30pm, with Matthew back I decided to go to St Benet's to try for the Short-eared Owls. As soon as I arrived I saw one at the back hunting the field to the north, a fine but distant Short- eared Owl. Looking south from the car park, another distant Short- eared owl seen. Later a fine distant male Hen Harrier flew from left to right looking south from the car park. Meanwhile, looking north from the car park, the distant Short-eared Owl flew east and I followed it down the track and the Owl flew over the field and over the track sadly looking into the light. Then, I heard "whooping" calls and I saw a fine flock of 25 Whooper Swans flew west.

Spot the Carlton Dowitcher

On Friday 2nd February, I had the afternoon off after work to help look after Jenny after her total knee replacement op at the Paget and once she had been discharged and I made sure she was OK, I drove to Carlton at 3pm and walked down to Peto's Marsh. I met Carl B on the way back saying you'll get some great pictures, but as I arrived along the track to Turnpike Hide, it was immediately apparent the bird I was after had flown a little way. The excellent Long- billed Dowitcher was amongst 2 Dunlin, the 3rd from the right but slightly bigger, dumpier with greyish back, green legs but it was asleep. When it woke up its very long bills was noted. Suddenly all the Godwits took to flight including the Dowitcher and then settled slightly further back.