Alton Water Suffolk

I took the day off work to go birding with Danny Digiscoper today, and what a day it was too.
I picked Danny up at half seven and headed for Alton water near Ipswich.
We arrived onsite to find a really good hide with feeders next to it so sat here for a good while taking pics of the birds coming to the feeders.
Pick of the bunch were the 6 Lesser Redpoll.

2 or 3 Common Redpoll

 

 

A really nice Male Brambling.

 

Long tailed tit

 

Chaffinch

From the hide next door our first target bird was found a winter plumaged Red Necked Grebe.

We continued walking along the shore towards the damn, a nice 1st winter Male Bullfinch was our next good bird but then soon after our 2nd target bird was found 2 damn fine Black Necked Grebes.

Finally made our way opposite the damn and our last target species a very nice Great Northern Diver.

 

Kingfishers were continually on the move up and down the waters edge.
We Returned the same way and spent the rest of the afternoon back in the hides practicing digiscoping.
The Red Necked Grebe was still around and we added Siskin to the ever growing list.
Took a couple of shots of the local Tufties too

On the way home we had a quick stop at Iken for the Cattle Egret but it had already gone to roost.
It was a cracking day with all the target species hit! Cheers Danny digiscoper



Today the afternoon was spent at Oulton Marsh watching Barn and Short eared Owls.

Sperm Whale, BN Grebe and Pallid Harrier

Headed out early hoping for the Serin at Downham Market, seems it had done a bunk however (Dipped). It was still nice to visit the place Rach n I got Married. Or maybe its just a place I keep getting bad luck ;-).
Anyway Headed to Tottenhill GPs for a Black Necked Grebe which showed really nicely through the trees. The trees made pictures tricky.

 

Moved onto Hunstanton for lunch and a trip down to Hunstanton Beach for the very unfortunate Sperm Whale that had washed up. Amazing size and attracted far too many people.

 

Time just ran away from us so finished the day hoping for the Pallid Harrier at Flitcham. Started with the many Brambling and a handful of Tree Sparrows.

 

Then id just moved further down the field when the Pallid Harrier flew across the field in front of us and across the road out of site. Much better views than last year and what a little stunner.

 

 

Finished with a few Redwings and nearly 300 Fieldfare. So Minus the Serin it was a Very successful day and a great weekend.