30th November Hollesley

So the dark nights are still here so no birding during the week but i did manage a few owls. 3 Around the Village were Tawny Owl and whilst Rach was just walking the dogs in the back fields she rang to say Barn owl hunting the fields and on looking through the bedroom window sure enough there it was, brilliant.
Another 2 Tawny Owls calling from the RSPB area of Hollesley. Good population here.
Onto today i started from home and walked the reserve then headed towards Boyton along the riverbank. it was a nice day which hosted lots of goodies. On the pools an Adult and 1st Winter Caspian Gulls, 1 Adult Yellow legged Gull and a Color ringed Black tailed Godwit.

Usual Wildfowl on the pools and the Peregrine over again. Checked the rest of the reserve 3 pairs of Stonechat, Cettis Warbler 2 Common Buzzard and 2 Kestrel. My first site Bearded Tits. A Walk along the River wall was brilliant. Started with all the geese from Boyton flying over head before heading to Havergate Island due to shooters. 2 Bar Headed Geese were a surprise as were 14 Barnacle Geese but the best were 3 Whitefronted Geese.

Linnets were everywhere and then boom 2 Short Eared Owls.

Onwards to Boyton Little Egret showed well and Havergate island hosted lots of gulls and Cormorants. Caspian Gull was notable.

Almost forgot 4 Chinese Water Deer enjoying the sun and weren't bothered until some fools came along with an out of control dog.

In the River mouth 5 Common Seals was a bonus, 50+ Avocets and smaller numbers of Dunlin Redshank and Curlew. 4 Brent Geese. The shooters had disturbed everything else.

The walk back home was surprisingly quiet and nothing new was added.
Once home however i recorded 2 Stock Dove in the trees and a Great Spotted Woodpecker to the feeders. What a great day.

Hollesley patching

Didnt get any birding done until this Friday when i managed half hour of daylight down on the marsh. Barn Owl was great at least i know there about locally.
Saturday and Sunday on the new patch hosted a cracking Peregrine.

Highest counts from the gulls were 3 Caspian and 6 Yellow Legged. 210 Canada Geese 16 Pintail, 4 Brent Geese 2 Green Sandpipers over the house and 4 Yellow Hammer. 43 Golden Plover, 2 Stonechat, 2 Kestrel, 2 Common Buzzard, Kingfisher, 2 Ringed Plover, finally 2 Snipe.

Visited Upper Hollesley Common but nothing really to tell.
Pin Mill on the River Orwell was a nice walk in the afternoon today but Bar-tailed Godwit, Avocet, 6 Red Breasted Merganser, 12 Great Crested Grebe 1 Little Grebe and lots of waders was about it.

15th November is finally moving day.

So after a long 13 months travelling and working out of Ipswich we finally moved today. 3 Truck loads of stuff and with a little help we were packed up and moved within about half a day. Unpacking at the other end has taken 4 days however.
So we've moved to Hollesley near Woodbridge, walking distance of Hollesley Marsh RSPB. Friday was spent unpacking but i have managed a few hours here and there on the new patch with the dogs.
Not a bad start with a flyby Great White Egret, 7 Pintail, hundreds of Wigeon and Teal, a few Gadwall, 1 Stonechat, Kingfisher, 2 Dunlin and 3 Redshank. Roost time hosted thousands of Cormorants. Cettis Warblers were heard but the Gulls provided the most excitement. Challenging to say the least searching the hundreds of larger gulls, probably made a little easier by mostly being adults. Final counts of 2 Adult Caspian gulls and 7 Yellow Legged Gulls.

After almost finishing getting sorted we had a trip to Felixstowe just for cake and coffee and to get out the house really. Sat on the pier with coffee and cake where i could scrutinize the gulls rooting. 1 Adult Caspian gull was great, i must have my eye in now.
On the way home the Cormorants were off to roost south to Loompit lakes but the best was a Ring Tailed Hen Harrier as we drove past Upper Hollesley Common.
I think its gonna be good here. Enjoying the garden too. with plenty of birds already visiting the feeders. Coal Tit and Great spotted Woodpecker mixed in with all the Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch and various Tits. The end of the garden is a large area of waste land, could be good for something. 3 Little Egrets and 2 Common Buzzard 1 Mistle Thrush best so far.

All i need now is a better work life balance so i have more time this year for birding.

Gulls are starting

Had the day meeting up with friends Peter and Maureen. It wasn't the nicest day to be out but we were going to make the most of it. We searched through all the birds from the 3 main hides. It was hard going but nice views of the common stuff. Gulls started to appear so thought id have a good scan through them whilst the others were enjoying the common stuff. Alas i managed to pick out a First winter Caspian Gull, a lifer for both Peter and Maureen.

We had lunch then at natural surroundings and watched the Marsh Tits and heard a Brambling.
Back to Cley and finished our day on east bank. A peregrine was nice as was a Long Tailed duck and Greenshank. Nothing on the sea unfortunately.

Nice day had by all.

Catch up

Catching up on a few bits since returning from Majorca.
In October Bitten, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint at Minsmere from East Hide.

In the Garden False Black widow, Dunnock, Blackcap and Blue tit.

On patch Pied Flycatcher and Spotted Flycatcher.

A Walk to Stiffkey fen Norfolk had Spoonbill, Brent Geese and a Greenshank.

Kelling quags hosted Common Scoter over the sea and Snipe in the Marsh.

A trip to the new patch at Hollesley Woodbridge where i shall be moving too very soon hopefully. 8 Whinchat were great.

Lastly a nice Osprey at Blythburgh.

Click pics to make them bigger.