Drake Ring- necked Duck at Carlton Marshes

Hearing the RND was back at Carlton, I divertedf from my intended destination for SSBlues and drove to carlton. Parking up as I walked down I met ali R leaving and then Andrew E but there were still 4 birders scoping Cormorant island from a 1/3 of the way down the bund. I picked up the fine male Ring- necked Duck asleep then swimming on the water showing slightly smaller size than nearby Tufties, with black bobble on its head, white/ black tipped bill and rear flanks grey looking compared to the white flank area bordering the black breast, it then swam to the water's edge and walked out on dry land showing the legs were unringed, it flapped its wings showing a full compliment of flight feathers and then settled down and fell asleep between 2 Tufted Ducks and a Little Egret was directly behind it to.

More Bee Orchids!

On a work visit to Hellesdon Hospital on Friday 23rd June, on a tour of the Grounds, I spotted 13 Bee Orchids on a grassy verge opposite the W building at the back.

Chlorantha Bee Orchids are back!

On Monday 19th June, directly after work, I showed Izzie where the Clorantha Bee Orchids were at a site north of Lowestoft, there were some 318 Bee Orchids and incredibly 8 Chlorantha Bee orchids with 68 Pyramidal Orchids.

AGP at Cley

Also on Sunday 18th June, I joined John H at hemsby at 1.15pm and John drove up to Cley Beach car park and we walked along the sandy pebbles to the North hide area an open hide where we looked over the North marsh. The fine summer plumaged American Golden Plover was seen close in but was obscured by long grass just before it.

Turtle Doves in deepest Suffolk

On Sunday 18th June, I had arranged via Barry W. to visit a farm and go in a specially constructed hide to hopefully view and photograph Turtle Doves and other farmland birds. I met Barry W. at the prearranged spot at the very early start of 5.15pm and he indicated to drive up and turn left and park. He had some seed and put it out in 3 areas in front of the hide. Barry wasn't joining me as he had some ringing to do but I was able to use the porto loo and went into the hide. basically a small shed converted to a bird hide with netting over and Barry pointed the camera to the relevant the light was awful area. The sky was very overcast and the light was awful with rain showers but after about 20 minutes the birds arrived Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves and 2 Turtle Doves. Later a pair of Yellowhammers also arrived plus the odd Carrion Crow. Even a family of Moorhens with an adult and 2 youngsters. By around 9.30am, the first shafts of sunlight broke through and the Turtle Doves were back, 2 then 3 birds, 1 male was courting the female puffing himself up and chasing the female. Suddenly, they flew off as Swallows started alarm calling overhead,

RFF at Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe

On Saturday 18th June, a text from Alison revealed they had a Red- foot on their marsh, so at around 5.20pm I left and the sat nav got me to the Lane but I initially couldn't find the farm, fortunately Paul & Jane F drew up and said follow them, a sign on the left which I had missed simply spelt "RFF" and we parked by the farm and then walked down to the gate down again and then left and followed the marsh around a fenced area with plenty of Southern Marsh Orchids and over to the gate where Alison was standing and the fine 1st summer male Red- footed Falcon was on the telegraph wires very closely before it flew over to the wood and then perched in a tree. It then flew around again and caught a Norfolk Hawker eating the head and thorx with the wings being jettisoned and followed by the abdomen being dropped. It repeated these actions many time, having devoured at least 10 Norfolk hawkers, it then perched further away to the left before flying further right beforte once again perched fairly close on the wires. Later on a Red Kite flew past too.

Carlton Marshes go around

On Wednesday 14th June afternoonn/ early evening, I visited Carlton Marshes and was disappointed a chap had blocked the temporary car park and he refused to budge rather than confront him as I could have done I parked the far end but had to immediately divert around as the Mute Swan family wiuth 6 cygnets were on the Spratts Water path. I tried to get past giving them a wide berth but the male lunged at me and I made a hasty retreat! Others had successfully bypassed them but not me! By the dyke area, yet again no sign of the Fen Raft Spiders, I have tried seeing them but haven't seen them for 5 long years! 5 young Swallows were perched in low hanging branches and the adults were coming in to feed them. I managed to sneak up on one (just with my 180mm macro lens and take a few pics without disturbing them.