Ness Point wander

In the early afternoon of Sunday 9th February, I drove down to Ness Point, there were 16 Turnstones feeding on the finger promentary. I walked 500 metres further north along the seawall, to the sea ledge just opposite the south end of the Ting Dene static caravan park, on the seaweed encrusted ledge by the sea, I first saw 2 Oystercatchers and a Rock Pipit which stood facing the sea, momentarily frozen, before it suddenly walked back actively feeding before flying into a hole half way up and along the seawall. Slightly further back, were 4 then 5 Purple Sandpipers, actively feeding their number totalling 9 birds. Walking back, I saw the resident male Kestrel flying back from the seawall towards the Netposts. There was nothing in Hamilton Dock and no sign either of the BRs, despite checking their regular haunts.

Female RBM on Ormesby Broad

On Sunday 9th February, I spoke to John H who had published some great shots of the RBM at Ormesby Broad on Twitter (I can't bring myself to call it "X"!) & I mentioned that it might have gone, as David had not seen it when he visted yesterday afternoon. John advised that the bird can hide up for a short time but then it potentially fly in close. On that advice, I drove over to Ormesby Broad, parked up and crossed the road and from the bridge, I scanned and immediately saw the fine female Red- breasted Merganser swim right to left and then she disappeared. I then saw her briefly in an inlet in the reeds over to the left. She then swam left to right mid distance back on the Broad, whilst a group of 5 Goldeneye included 3 males and 2 females. It started to rain so I sheltered under a bush. I then saw the female Red- breasted Merganser swim closer by the reeds to the extreme left, she then swam straight over to the bridge and was feeding by the reeds just in front of the bridge and me! It was triple Ferguson views, this in reference to my friends Paul & Jane F. who usually get really good views of birds whilst if I see any birds at all, they are really distant! It was such a pity the light was so poor as they would have been portfolio shots with any sort of reasonable light, oh well, it won't be a hardship to visit again on a brighter day.

Down to the Brick Dock

On Saturday, after hearing the GND was still at brick Dock, Aldeburth, and getting directions from Jane F, I drove down to Aldeburgh, just outside the main town, I parked by a woodland/ heath area and heard a Coal Tit calling from a Pine tree opposite, after a few minute the Coal Tit popped up briefly. parked at the far end of Linden Road crossed the main road turning left and took the first road down to Brick Dock, a grety tarmaced road with Holm Oaks flanking the left hand side. It led to a slit in the road, to the left the road led to small brick bungalow type building and the right went past Brick Dock house and some other salubrious looking houses, just left opf them further on a field, I went throgh the gate and past a square brick and small 'chapel like building past a black wooden cladded building this led to an estuary with upturned boats. Almsot immediately I saw up to 3 Rock Pipits by the foreshore, one frequently perching on a post and even one of the boats. I scanned the estuary and I could see Wigeon, Redshank, the odd Curlew , 5 Avocet but no sign of the GND or Grey P. Then I could see it far out over to the right hand side of the estuary, a fine Great Northern Diver which spent the next 20 minutes preening itself, after it finished it dived and I didn't pick it up again for another 20 minutes, I was joined by 2 birders and the Great Northern Diver after quite an absence and had resurfaced even further back from the estuary. Where I had initially seen it a gap in the bank way out to the right revealed the estuary hide at Hazlewood Marshes. One birder left and the older one remained with me, I pointed a Knot that had just flown in and settled just right of us by the foreshore. The birder who had been striding along the river bank way out to the right where in the far distance I could see the Martello Tower were some fields, in one field with 2 large pools to the left of them I saw 4 fine White- fronted Geese. I assume this is the Aledburgh Marshes area. As I walked back between the 'chapel' and the brick square in the field on the way back, I spotted a fine Bee Orchid rosette. A great trip to a new location.

Clean up at Haddiscoe Marshes

On Sunday 2nd February at about 3.30pm, I walked down to the Mound reaching there around 3.30pm , I saw Aryun and he said he had a Short- eared Owl flying left, over the closest reeds, it then flew over to the grassy field just left and the Suffolk side of the border where it was joined by a second Short- eared Owl. A few minutes later, a striking Male Hen Harrier flew left again spotted by Aryun, as it flew to the same grassy field where the SEOs had been earlier I could incredibly see a second male Hen Harrier with it iand they then flew back and right over at the back. A Peregrine flew over right to left at the back in the distance whilst much closer, a female Sparrowhawk then flew left. Perched on a post near a back gate was a fine Merlin. A Great White Egret was also seen at the back. A Barn Owl seen over to the right at the back and as the light was fading 9 singleton Buzzards and 2 male Marsh Harriers flew into roost over Waveney Forest. As the light was fading and at dusk, the first of 5 singleton Woodcocks flew out of the woods and onto the marsh. Finally, 2 Male Marsh Harriers were seen to fly in and over the wood into roost. A great trip out late on!

Walberswick

On Sunday 2nd February, walking down by Hoist Covert Marshes a flying male Marsh harrier quartered the reedbed by the mill, the feedind station on the beach attracted a flock of 75+ Snow Buntings , with one very smart male was almost in full summer plumage with half of his back a striking coal black. Saw Matthew D. A look out to sea from Dunwich revealed 2 flocks of Common Scoter one around 80 strong the other nearer Southwold 70 strong with 2/3 of birds being females. Also out to sea were 8 Wigeon and 1 GC Grebe. The odd RT Diver seen too flying past north.

Somerleyton

On Saturday 1st February, I then drove to Flixton, the track was too muddy and too pot holed to I then drive then onto Somerleyton, saw Andrew E stuck fast, managed to eventally get the car freed, then onto Maggot's Lane, Somerleyton when first 2 Cattle Egret seen with Black cattle first field north of the pub and then they flew north to the next feiled aloso with Black cattle where there were 3 Cattle Egrets. Also in the nearby trees a nice flock of 110+ Fieldfare flew in and perched in the trees they were joined by a trio of Redwings.

Hopton no show (again!)

On Saturday 1st February, I was out just after 9am and driving back to Beach road, Hopton I walked to the cliff and again saw a group of around 5 Common Scoter on the sea and around 8 Wigeon but no sign of the Velvets.