Local Stuff Red Backed Shrike

 So Im back from Lesvos, and once again feel a bit birded out, so much that ive not even looked at my photos yet, maybe this weekend. So since being back i have done some birding and picked up a few year ticks and even after today 2 Patch ticks. 

Ill start from MAY 5TH  with 6 Greenshank and 1 Wood Sand, A Spoonbill on the pool from Warren Hill which moved to the main flash. The swifts were putting on a fine display.

May 15TH Hollesley tonight. 7 Spoonbill, 2 Garganey male and female. Whimbrel, 3 Pochard 13 Tufties and a Cuckoo.

Onto yesterday on the Heath excellent evening with 2 Calling Juvenile Long eared owls and an adult flyby, Patch tick but one that is under recorded. Also Stone Curlews 2 Nightingale and a few Nightjars. What a Place....... turn up the volume for this phone vid. 

Onto today, another excellent day with Drake Garganey, 3 Spoonbill a Cattle Egret and 2nd Summer Caspian Gull on the flash at Hollesley RSPB.

Moved onto Boyton where a Turtle Dove has made the perilous journey back to us. 

Finally over at Shingle Street Dave and Margie made a great find in the form of a female Red Backed Shrike. Best bird of the day however was a singing Corn Bunting, which showed well but briefly, another patch tick, been searching for this bunting here for years. Try for pics maybe tomorrow. 

 Great finish to the day.

April 2025

 30th March.

End of the month finished with a Willow Warbler at Hollesley RSPB. Pics of the Black Redstart and Moorhen that made it onto the garden list too.

Then from the 5th April, 3 Swallow and a Sand Martin, 4 whitefronts still. Little Ringed Plover and another Swallow, a Sedge warbler. Greensand, Red kite,  and  25 mute swan.

April 12th a cracking female Emperor Moth in the trap.

Nipped down to Bawdsey for a really nice White Stork. after this i nipped home to order a new camera, mine had stopped working today. Afterwards nipped down to the reserve to find  Greenshank, Wheatear and Spoonbill, amazingly the White Stork did the right thing and flew over the prison here at Hollesley, patch tick! 3 Caspian Gulls, 3 Little Ringed Plovers 3 Yellow wagtails over, more swallows, 2 barnacle geese and a Sandwich Tern.

Good day for me on the 13th April, finding a drake Garganey and Adult Little Gull at Hollesley. 9 Med gulls in a group over the river with smaller numbers passing over the next few hours. Greenshank, yellow wagtail over, and now loads of Sedge Warblers. My first Whitethroat of the year too.

Walked along the river wall to Boyton, seemed a little quiet until i reached the small pool by the farm where i found a Jack Snipe and 4cy Yellow legged gull. The Cattle egret was still here too.

Phonescoped shots today as my camera went caput... Watch this space for a new digiscoping set up.

Added Whimbrel to my list today. 

My new camera arrived today, more later but my first shot off was a record of the Little Gull. 

18th April Good friday, nipped to Hollesley but quiet so had a walk around Upper Hollesley Common, Loads of Dartfords, Woodlarks and a nice Cuckoo, at least 4 Common Redstart back on territory, practicing with my new camera on this Cuckoo, Kestrel and Great Spot Woodpecker.

Summer plumaged Spotted Redshank back at Hollesley which flew to the Warren hill pool, also 1st winter Caspian Gull and a House Martin with Swallows and Sand Martins. A Greensand from screen.

Patching in February and March

 February 13th to 28th 

Had a wonderful time in Spain but back to earth with a bump, although the patch hasnt been that bad recently. Whitefronts are always a highlight between Hollesley and Boyton with up to 350 on site, the bigger numbers being at Boyton. Other geese have been 25 Barnacles and a Single Pinkfoot. 

In the garden a Moorhen and Firecrest. 

Back at Hollesley many Caspian Gulls of all ages the same with Yellow legged gulls. The Cattle egret spent most of the month by the prison. 

MARCH 25

March is getting better with Merlin now on site, still big numbers of White fronted geese, the damn White tailed eagle that i keep missing. 

Ruff numbers are increasing to double figures.

A Dartford Warbler was a nice surprise by the screen at Hollelsey and Gulls were still thrilling me with more Caspians and Yellow legged.  The Cattle Egret is still present.

Spoonbills are ever increasing with a flock of 15 seen in flight and a few showing well on pools.

A nice owl fest with Little, Short and Tawny owls on site. Stock doves in the evening light were superb.

Rare birds for the site were a Common Crane and upto 6 Red kites. A great White Egret back for the winter but sporadic.

The end of the month found birds finally starting to move with Little Ringed plovers and over 15 White Wagtails with 80 Pied. A bittern, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps now in and 2 Sand martins over.  A Black Redstart then 2 came in with a big fall of birds. 29th a Singing Sedge warbler now in too from Hollesley Sluice.

Pintails and Chinese Water deer were good for photos. Green Sandpipers are starting to return in small numbers.

Had a day off patch to Minsmere with friends, Adders were about the best along side, Caspian Gulls, Yellow legged gulls, Med Gulls, and Great white egrets. 

3 Emperor moth to lure 29th. 2 Ravens over the garden on the same day. 30th my first Willow Warbler of the year. 

Thinks that's it for March