Much better Richard III documentary on More4

I greatly enjoyed the "Richard III: the Unseen Story" which premiered tonight on More4, (this is repeated on Saturday 2 March on More4 at 9pm if you missed it!). Much of the programme was rehashed but it was almost as if they had taken on board my criticisms of the original programme, the histrionics of the President of the Richard III society, Phillippa Langley, had been cut right out this time and the programme correctly concentrated on the actual archaeology of the find. The same presenter, Simon Farnaby, came across better in this revised documentary, with the unfortunate intended (?) comedic elements (we are not presenting Horrible Histories now!) totally absent this time. It was fascinating to look in detail at the historic and archaeological research which led to them digging several trenches in the car park of Leicester's Social services department. The whole team are to be congratulated on a stunning magnificent find. I was fascinated hearing about the maternal mitocondrial DNA testing used, hand in hand, with historic genealogical research, confirming that Canadian born furniture maker Mr Michael Ibsen, was a greatX nephew of King Richard III. However, I was surprised to see the Osteo- Archaeologist, Dr Jo Appleby, use a pick axe to rather heavy handedly excavate the immediate site despite leg bones being found in close proximity to the area she was excavating, leading to a very unfortunate piecing of Richard III's skull, with the pick axe!! Surely a more careful approach was warranted?? Also, I thought it would have been far better not to reveal the suspected identity of the skull to a face reconstruction artist to counter any suggestions of bias in the facial results.

Great Grey Shrike & Hawfinch at last!

Arriving at the GG Shrike site turning west at Wrentham then turning south past the church at the crossroads. Driving south down Guildhall Lane for a mile, I saw several cars parked at the side of the road and I eventually walked across and joined the small throng of birders watching the Shrike on a distant tree. The excellent Great Grey Shrike was perched on top of a tree in the distance lining the hedgerow on the southern edge of a field. It then flew down and perched in the hedge. Going a little closer, but stiking to the public footpath, the bird flew up to the tall tree again. It later flew over the hedge and was seen perched on the other side of the hedge. It then flew over to the trees bordering the road before flying back to its original tree. There was some talk of the bird maybe being of the southern race as it appeared to have a white throat and greyish wash on the upper chest. Although I didn't observe these features in the field and was only visible from John R's pictures (who I met for the first time today) when he had gone really close to photograph it. Chris B also arrived. Seeing Paul & Jane F, Roger, Morris and later Chris B. I decided to follow Paul & Jane F to Sotterley. It was bitterly cold there and we also saw Tony B & Daphne. Roy & Ruth H also joined us and in the dell a Nuthatch showed well on a knarled tree 15 foot up on the middle of the thick trunk and briefly on the ground too. A Marsh Tit was seen here too. A visit to the church was notable for the bitterly cold wind and display of flowering Snowdrops at the churchyard. back at the Dell, we were informed the inevitable had happened, the Hawfinch had been seen during our walk to the church and I had missed this yet again. However, this disappointment didn't last long as we were walking along the eastern edge of the lodge by the dell, 2 Redwings were seen here briefly in flight. A very sharp eyed Jane said "What's this?" implying this could be the bird and it was! A fantastic male Hawfinch perched on top a tall tree on the west side of the road by the bungalow with bird feeders. What a bird, with a humongous bill and subtle chestnut, brown grey shades to its attractive plumage, a very welcome sight after 28 previous visits without success!! I was literally numb with shock with finally seeing this species here, I've only seen one in the Dell previously in the last century! It showed well here for several minutes before 2 bird photographers (but not me!) flushed it by walking over far too close to it and onto the road to photograph it. It then flew to a tall tree by the lodge beside us, but I couldn't see it, until it flew out and flew south- east and out of sight. Meanwhile by the feeders, a Marsh Tit flew in and showed well very briefly. Wren seen in the garden, later.

Waxwings still around

On Thursday 21st February, 13 Long- tailed Tits seen early morning in the garden. At 8.40am in the morning of the 22nd february, as I was preparing to leave for work, I heard a Redwing call and saw it fly north directly over the house. Back at work at Great Yarmouth Library today Friday 22nd February, initially I didn't see any Waxwings but some seen perched on a distant TV aerial near Tolhouse Strret and 3 flying over to the berry bush initially revealed 9 of their number. A load of Starlings around 150 were about too and when all the birds took to flight, the Waxwings flew too (appeared to go towards Nottingham way) a few minutes later at 12 noon, 14 Waxwings flew back perched on a distant tree and up to 5 at a time flew over to the Library berry bush. The didn't stay long and flew east again. A 5 minute look over Filby Broad revealed the high pitched squeeking of a very vocal Kingfisher perched on a white stained ledge by the bridge. It promptly flew left, while out on broad were 9 Goldeneye, (4 male and 5 female).

Waxwings & Fieldfare still at the Library

Arriving at Great Yarmouth Library today at around 9.15am, I was greeted by a wonderful flock of around 30 Waxwings in the trees by the edge of the car park and the talk trees by the Row 111 houses. Several of their number flew down to the berry bush feeding. The Fieldfare was around too. When children ran up a nearby staircase, all 30 Waxwings flew back to the trees by Row 111 houses and the Fieldfare also flew out and back to the tree too. My views of the birds were restricted to tea & lunch breaks, eventually the Waxwings were back with some of them, usually around 13 perched on the tree by the Library car park. Having to leave at 10.40am, the 13 were seen again and throughout the afternoon. This sub group of 13 Waxwings were in the near tree again and regularly flying to the berry bush but usually feeding just out of sight from the staff room window. My only photos of the Waxwings, were poor silhouetted shots from early morning (looking due east, not ideal!), this isn't really the best place for photography and is very difficult too with a blocks of flats so close by. At one time, the Fieldfare was feeding almost out in the open but disappeared into the middle of the bush when the camera came out! Finally, at 4.30pm when I left the 13 Waxwings were still around in the distant trees by the Row 111 houses put off by 2 loud talking hoodies loitering around the edge of the car park and the berry bush.

Waxwings & Fieldfare at the Library again!

At 10am today, I arrived at Great Yarmouth Library and I could immediately see 26 Waxwings, perched on the large tree by the car park, 5 or 6 of their number flew down to the berry bush to feed on the berries at any one time. This is the fifth time I have found Waxwings this winter! Once before at Great Yarmouth Library, by the Rackham's corner roundabout along the A12, by the Kessingland bypass roundabout, and a singleton flying over the house. It was wonderful to hear their trilling calls as I walked through the first floor of the Library, as I was informing a group about the Library's local history resources. By 12 o'clock, lunchtime, their numbers had swelled to 31 Waxwings, with the larger group perched on the large trees just east by the Row 111 houses, with just a few in the tree bordering the Library the car park. Up to 8 Waxwings flew in at anytime feeding on the berry bush. Often in full view, just a couple of feet away from the staff room window. The Waxwings flew around the estate, sometimes perching on distant TV aerials. Also there, partially obscured on a thick horizontal branch was a fine Fieldfare, which fed on berries too and when I left at 12.40pm, it was feeding out in full view (but I had no camera, alas!). The birds then became a little elusive initially in the afternoon but Peter C confirmed that c30 Waxwings were feeding on the berry bush at 4.30pm.

Mist & Fog equals few birds!

After the fog had slightly dispersed early afternoon today, I arrived at Lound and I didn't see any of Dickens' Bitterns today (I could prevaricate by stating I was thinking of Shakespeare's "A Winter's tale" but that would be untrue, thanks Paul for the correction, what was I thinking!!?), seeing Jane & Paul they had seen one showing just to the west of the causeway, but it had disappeared into the reeds by the time I arrived. A very poor show at Benacre (Bramblings honourably excepted) revealed 10 Chaffinches, and both male and female Reed Bunting by the maize (?) strip just past the bends and a Marsh Tit by the farm track. Best of all were 2 superb Bramblings perched in the bushes amongst 15 Chaffinches and a pair of Reed Buntings, bordering the southern edge of the Churchyard along the western edge, one a female and a smart winter male who perched in the middle of the bush for several minutes. He had a dark tipped yellow bill, grey and black notched head and nape, a rich orange on the breast and a white rump that showed well in flight when it eventually flew to the adjacent field to the west. Down at Benacre Broad, it was misty, but you could just about see to the back of the Broad, little seen, save for 2 male and 9 female Goldeneye and certainly none of the hoped for Beans seen. Walking back, it was somewhat disconcerting to see a dead Piglet slung on the sludge heap, whilst 4 Linnets were seen feeding on the clifftop path ahead. A walk down to Covehithe Broad, revealed in places at least 2 metres of the edge of the cliff and path had fallen into the sea since last autumn when I had been watching last November's Richard's Pipit, some parts where it had been feeding have now gone into the sea). Looking seawards there was nothing going past or even sat on the sea but the northern edge of the Broad, revealed a hunting female Marsh Harrier, 20 Tufted Duck and 2 Pochard. A check of some 60 Greylags on the fields on the way back did not reveal any of the hoped for Beans either. I didn't have the heart to call in at Sotterley later for my 29th consecutive dip there of Hawfinch, that will have to wait for another day!

A Tale of 2 Bitterns

To paraphrase Dickens, it was a tale of 2 Bitterns today. Early morning, I walked up the hill to overlook the large lake by the water treatment works at Lound, I looked in at one look out point and couldn't see anything, so carried on and saw Ricky F overlooking the lake at the back. I was glad Ricky was watching the Bittern and he kindly pointed it out to me. It was initially difficult to see as it crouched in the reeds along the far bank opposite. It was really good to see this excellent Bittern, my first for Lizard land. The nearest one I'd seen previously was one along a dyke bordering the north end of Bure Park at Great Yarmouth and I had heard one booming years ago in the 1980's at Fisher Row/ Carlton Marshes. It was great to spend some time seeing this Bittern hunting, as it spent time motionless or stealthily moving forward, often with its neck outstretched very low over the water and I could even see its beady eye looking for any movement in the water, on a couple of occasions it caught small fish. As we watched the Bittern, I observed a dark brown stripe on the head and neck. It suddenly burst into activity running back past and up the bank into some bushes before eventually walking down to the reeds before it flew a little way right. Meanwhile, a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew to a close tree. Walking back, we saw a rattling Mistle Thrush fly up to a distant tree and a singing Song Thrush atop another tree bordering an arable field. In the afternoon, looking from the causeway, seeing maurice B. after half an hour revealed no Bitterns (one had been perched atop reeds minutes earlier!) although there were 2 Barnacle Geese amongst the Greylags and an incredible 62 Common Gulls (including 5 immatures) amongst a flock of BH Gulls. Eventually by the distant reeds, I saw a reed swing back suddenly, and we saw a second Bittern of the day fly over the scrub towards us and right over the causeway and indeed right our heads (an aewsome sight!) as it flew west.