22nd-27th April

22nd April

At Hollesley a good movement of Sand Martins through the site. Whimbrel, Yellow Wagtail and Bar tailed Godwit moving through also.  My First Reed Warbler of the year singing from one of the ditches and a Cuckoo distantly sat on a fence post opposite the river bank.

Back in the garden the Badger is putting in a great performance, Video taken with the phone and the torch mode on, wasn't bothered at all. 

23rd April 

Med Gull numbers are now increasing in the area with a few birds calling as they ventured over the garden for a garden tick.

Back on Hollelsey scrape a cracking Short eared owl was still around, 6 Whimbrel, a new Ruff dropped in and many many Sand Martins with a handful of Swallows had started to feed over the scrape, at least 3 yellow wagtails too.

24th April

The same 1st Summer Spoonbill was back on the scrape, the dirtiness of the bird made it easily distinguishable.

25th April

Walked the long way round to the patch today to see what was directly behind my house. 2 Lesser Whitethroats were a nice surprise along with the half dozen Common Whitethroats too.

Yellow and White Wagtails in the newly ploughed field.

On the main part of the reserve a Cuckoo showed really well as it was calling and eating Brown-tailed moths pity the heat hazed was so bad.

5 Swift were my first of the year. There must have been a fall of Yellow and White Wagtails as these were all over the place. My first Common Sandpiper of the year, a Bar tailed Godwit, 2 Ruff, and several Whimbrel were the pick of the Waders Several more Med gull flew over and seems to be a regular occurrence now. 2 Wheatear probably Greenland.  Many more Whitethroats and 2 more Lesser Whitethroats, Reed warbler again singing from the ditch and probably 3 or 4 Garden Warblers on my circular back to home.

26th April

Back in the garden Yellow, Pied and White Wagtail were seen in the field behind house, could just about make out Yellow Hammer, Lesser and Common Whitethroats singing from the hedge nearby. A few buzzards circling and a couple of Kestrel and Sparrowhawk passes. 4 Shelduck, and a Little Egret over too.

Back on the Marsh a Peregrine made a kill, poor Avocet.  Common Sandpiper was still on there and an Egyptian Goose was new in. Then i spotted a Russian White-fronted Goose either lingering or dropped in recently. 

27th April

Tonight a Dutch ringed Spoonbill dropped in with a 1st Summer bird, Seems its been a regular in the area for the last 3 years. 2 Sandwich Terns were a bonus also. A Willow Warbler was singing from the prison grounds. Little else really of note.

Thats it for now. 

Hollesley 16th-19th April

16th April

Hollesley this evening, 2 Whitethroats including one singing opposite my house on the green, must be fresh in. 2 Ruffwere still on the scrape but little else really. 2 Badgers now and Fox are still coming to the garden feeding station and the addition of some Fallow Deer was a surprise. 

18th April

Hollesley this am. Many Whimbrel over with 3 on deck. Many common migrants including a patch tick Lesser whitethroat, 1 Firecrest, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Wheatear. 1 Red throated diver.and  Gadwall, Mallard and Greylag with young. 5 Sand Martins passed through.

Turnstones are regular on the shore now, looking splendid in there summer dress. Swallows are now back too.

Well over 100 Linnet passed over the site in one big group.

19th April

Today a patch tick at Hollesley Upper Common with a nice singing Common Redstart. Firecrest too along side the usual Woodlarks and Dartford Warblers. 

Lockdown 7th-13th April

So no lock-down for me, i redeployed myself at work from Gardening leader to specialist cleaner for Older Persons homes and Delivery of important PPE to Orwells Care staff all over East Anglia. Just trying to do my bit and keep busy. I could however just sit in the garden all day birding as the time i have had after work has been brilliant. Patch has been pretty good too.
7th April
I've spoken about the badger i filmed a few hundred yards from home, well i set the camera up at the end of the garden really for the views of the Fox that's been visiting. So i set the feeding station up with crunchy peanut butter. On checking the camera this day a scraggy old badger has only gone and found it. I've been putting peanuts, peanut butter and chunks of lard out ever since and this old man has visited every day. On one occasion a female came in too and the Fox but the Badger scoffs the lot before anyone else gets a look in. Also visiting are Magpies, 2 Mice, Grey Squirrel 3 Cats and a Hedgehog.
A little Video below of the Badger

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A Little Video of the Fox

Right back to some birding. On Visiting one of my schemes for Delivering PPE i got to site and saw  my first House Martins of the year, they breed on site here in Reydon. I also noticed a Black Redstart on the roof too.
Got back home late afternoon and spent some time in the garden which then produced my first Sand Martin of the year too.
The night Sky was incredible so took a picture of the Moon and Venus and the Pleiades system.

8th April
Early finish from work today so again spent some time in the garden, incredible start was a singing Firecrest which held territory pretty much all day. Managed a crap record shot looking into the sun.

To add to this great bird was 2 Blackcaps, 2 Wheatears were in the potato field at the end of the garden. Night time was superb too with a Little Owl flying around calling, pretty close.

9th April
Garden tick 2 Mute Swans flew past when checking the Camera for the badgers.

10th April
Good Friday but work beckoned again luckily just for the morning so i was back by lunch. Rach took dogs for a walk so I was able to go out on the bike, dogs needed a rest, Sheps arthritis was playing him up. So Headed for the patch and things were starting to move, duck numbers were well down, Greylags had eggs and migrants were starting to turn up. 2 Whimbrel flew over, 3 Sedge Warbler were back on territory and 3 Swallows past. At the Boyton part of the reserve i got onto a Cattle Egret, a great bird for the patch. Only had my phone and Binoculars at this point so took some record shots with the phone through me bins

Back in the garden insects were playing there part, this Osmia bicornis was looking for nest sites.

April 11th
Work Beckoned again, and again just the morning so the afternoon was spent in the garden. Marsh Harrier, 3 Adult Med Gulls, Kestrel carrying a Slow worm, maybe 3 Sparrowhawks in the area and a distant possible Goshawk but the heat haze meant i couldn't be sure. Many many Buzzards probably double figure were going over. Local birds were mating in the field.

12th April.
First full day off in a while so i made the most of my time by doing the Hollesley to Boyton circular.
Highlights of the day were a movement of Med gulls probably 20+, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 85 Avocets one color ringed Yellow BL, rung at Orfordness in 2017 then wintered till now in Kent.
5 Brent Geese, Sand Martin, 2 Willow Warblers, many Chiffchaffs, 8 Sedge Warblers 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Green Sandpipers, 1 Greenshank and the Cattle Egret was still around. Lastly from today a Red Kite over. Cracking mornings walk.

13th April
Took a Walk to Upper Hollesley Common for a little bit of a change. Another great part of the patch. Walked the perimeter of the MOD land and had a nice surprise, singing Nightingale, get in!!! Other highlights were 3 Dartford Warblers and many Woodlarks. The Stonechats were singing there heads off even in the wind.

Back in the garden it was much quieter.

Thats it for now, back to work tomorrow.