Glaucous Gull on groyne no.25 Waxham Beach

On Wednesday 25th February, after I finished work at 2pm I drove straight to Money Lane at Waxham parked up and took the path to the beach, entering the concrete steps, I walked right (south) for 3/4 of a mile going through groynes 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 & 25. But initially there was no sign of the Glaucous Gull. The groynes were made up of large rocks extending out to sea and these barriers were attractive to a large number of Grey Seals, at least 500+ , in groups of 50-80, who had gathered on the beach. I checked all the groynes and the beach and I couldn't yet see the Glaucous. I met another chap who walked up from the south and as we were talking, I could see a large very pale biscuit coloured Gull, the excellent second winter Glaucous Gull flying south and it settled on the end of groyne number 25. It had a large pink bill with black at the tip. A immature bird but the pale iris and paler bill indicates second winter/ 3rd calendar year bird. I can only assume it was on the beach as I walked up and perhaps concealed by the Seals. It perched on a rock right at the end of groyne 25 and spent the nexr hour here before it eventually flew north and onto the beach by the shoreline. It probably had plenty of food to feast on as I saw at least 1 dead Seal pup carcass. On the wayback walking in the dunes, I saw 30 Linnet, gathering on some gorse, a female Stonechat and walking back along Money Lane, I saw another female Stonechat and heard the 'tic' of a Yellowhammer but the bird was not seen.

Back to the muddy quagmire

On Sunday 22nd february, having just returned from a very successful trip to Georgia, in the early afternoon I made my way to Carlton Marshes and took the long walk down to the North hide (1 and a half miles). Checking the Geese at the west end of Share Marsh, amongst the Greylag, I could see 2 White- fronted Geese, 1 sitting down and 1 feeding. Unfortunately they were against the sun. I carried on and just before the first hide, they were lots of ducks very close to the path, mainly Wigeon and Teal but no sign of the American Wigeon or GW teal, at the North Hide Pool there were very few ducks so I walked back to the first hide before I reached there I spotted the excellent American Wigeon at mid distance amongst some duck but it swam behind a 30 metre line of reeds and I temporarily lost it. walking back half way towards the first hide, I potentially spotted it again, a very grey headed Wigeon asleep. I kept the scope on it and sure enough when it woke up and looked around it confirmed itself as thye fine male American Wigeon.

Georgia Day 8

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Georgia Day 7

Georgia Day 7

Georgia Day 6

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Georgia Day 5

5

Georgia day 4

4

Georgia day 3

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Georgia Day 2

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Georgia day 1

On day 1 Friday 13th I was kindly picked up by Rob H. at the house and he drove down to Stansted where we had "Meet and Greet" parking, parking close to the airport this was really convenient and highly recommended! Meeting Oli for the first time and seeing Johnny P. again I had feeling this was going to be a really good trip. Check in was straight forward and we went through passport control OK and all the scans and checks and were called onto the Pegasus Flight an Airbus A300, we had initially got seated when we were asked if we could move to the extra we had a 3 hour and 40 minute flight to Istanbul airport landing on a new runway, so there was about 20 minute taxing until the plane stopped. Getting off the plane and especially in the airport felt like high summer, very crowded and hot and stuffy (no air conditioning) I couldn't wait to catch the next flight to Iblisi, georgia. Before that we had a Burger King Meal which we needed. Then we took the 2nd 2 hour flight to Tiblisi. Passport control was interesting at Tiblisi with a stony faced operative (even oblivious to the charm of Rob H!) barking orders at you, "take your glasses off!", "step back and face the camera" having survived that ordeal (all 4 of us had the same treatment) we were meant outside the airport building by a friendlier (not difficult) car hire represntative. He walked us to the car and kindly wheeled my luggage bag for me.

Mudbath at Carlton & finally a Lowestoft American Wigeon!

On sunday 8th February in the afternoon, after some much needed sustanance, I took the long walk out to the south- western corner of Peto's, as I was walking along the bund, it was really good to have a brief catch up with Paul & Sara, who kindly showed me the Rossicus Bean, the Tundra Bean Goose in their scope, a lovely bird. It was with around 20 Greylag and 10 Canada Geese plus 2 Egyptian Geese. I carried on reaching the end and then walking north for 50 metres until I joined the throng of people, as usual Paul & Jane F were leaving, Carl b. very kindly let me see the bird, a fine American Wigeon, asleep amongst some Wigeon behind a clumpy wisp of grass. 2 Great white Egrets, 5 Little Egrets and 5 Black- tailed Godwits seen around the Wigeon and the lapwing. TBC

Hume's Warbler again along Sparrows Nest/ Flycatcher Alley

After the rain early on Sunday 8th february, as I was walking up to the Oval, I heard frequent calls of the Hume's Warbler and it was in the north- eastern most Pine by the Wall in Sparrow's Nest, a look in the Nest itself saw the bird in a bush in the far north eastern corner and then feeding for several minutes on bark mulch put on the flower beds, I daren't get any closer as i didn't want to disturb it. meanwhile Phil D. found a male Common Scoter close in just off Swimming Pool road, on the sea, it was preening a lot sadly indicating it was probaly oiled but a smart bird nonetheless. Looking over the seawall I saw a lone Purple Sandpiper briefly along the ledge. TBC

North Swansea Premier Inn and journey birds

On late Friday 6th February, a quick family visit to Wales included at North Swansea Premier Inn, a Song Thrush was singing in late into the night and on early saturday, 2 calling Siskins flew into the Alder trees then flew off again. Again the usual Red Kites c15 seen, the occasional one along the M25 and several seen around the Newberry Reading area.

Hume's Warbler along Flycatcher Alley but no luck with SEOs (again!)

On Wednesday 4 February, it was good day to have A/L, as a message about a Hume's Warbler was What's App'd and I made my way there but no sign initially. Once James W and Jon B who had initially looked from along the cliff top joined me, the bird was soon picked up. The excellent Hume's Warbler, it moved quickly through ivy clad trees along the south end of Flycatcher Alley and then along the trees by the Oval wall and then disappeared in bushes just the other side of the wall. It repeated this circuit 3X although went missing for long periods. It never showed that well for me. 2 Treecreepers recorded 1 seen, hopping up a tree by the Oval wall and another bird heard just west of the path. A Firecrest was seen aroundd the trees along the slope. meanwhile in the north- east corner of the Oval, the fine flock of 13 Fieldfares, 2 Redwing and a Song Thrush seen in the corner near the cricket nets. They eventually flew to trees bordering the Oval north wall. I then went to a site for SEOs which was incredibly difficult to find, a verge cutting tractor also hampered my drive down for 20 minutes, when I got to the Church, I viewed from the field as there appeared to be no footpath leading out to the marshes. A chackling Fieldfare was heard and Song Thrush seen plus a female Marsh Harrier quartering the marshes. I have now had no luck with SEOs at 5 sites this year.

Ness Point goodies

On Sunday 1st February, I drove to Ness Point and I saw Brian & Janet, who were gazing intently at the ledge, they pointed out the fine Rock Pipit, the blue- ringed bird but it was looking into the sun. I walked over and it was feeding intently, it then flew over to the rocks, where it perched for several minutes before flying south. A walk further south to Hamilton road, failed to reveal anything. So I walked north along the seawall and re-joined Brian and Janet by the sewall just opposite the Caravan park, we saw 1 Purple Sandpiper on the seaward side of the sewall. I then saw a second Purple Sandpiper flying north. Meanwhile back at Ness Point, 2 Oystercatchers were feeding on the rocks just the seaward side of the compass. Later on a message from Brian and Janet, stating they had seen the Grey's by the field opposite PCE Automation at Ellough (just off the roundabout), I drove up and saw Nick C. and Neville. There was no sign of the Grey's, just 5 Red-legged Partidges and 2 female Common Pheasants. A dog walked walking round the side of the field didn't help. The others left, I checked this large field nearer Beccles and then checked by the bypass the first turning, I parked up and from the gate, I spotted 2 fine Grey Partridges, not too far away but unfortunately the rain was increasing. I quickly What-app'd a messgae on the Lounge Lizards group as I knew Nick & maybe some Beccles birders would probably pop back if they had been refound. There was a male and female Grey Partidge crouched close together with the female walking over to the male. I spotted a cyclist heading my way from along the bypass it was Carl B. and Nick soon arrived back and fortunately I was able to get both onto these elusive birds.

Ringtail Harrier at Carlton Marshes

On Saturday 31st January, I drove to Carlton Marshes, at the Tower Hide Ivan L joined us. At 3pm, Ivan was locking up so we had to vacate the hide, I walked along the path to Share Marsh. From the Octagon Platform, I saw 2 Marsh Harriers, I then saw a third bird it was the superb ringtail Hen Harrier was hunting low just this side of the Peto's Marsh bund and then it flew south along the field. Later on I saw it just south of Share Marsh, the fine female Hen Harrier was flying away, the white rump prominent it flew over some tall reeds athen behind a large bush and I didn't see it again. A Great White Egret was in the pool by the top platform along the Share Marsh trail.