188

Just tallied up my Year list and pretty much patch list for 2020 and have to say not a bad 188 total. highlights being the Siberian Stonechat, Great Grey Shrike, Red backed Shrike, Golden Oriol, Black Winged Stilt, Serin, Yellow Browed Warbler, Red Breasted Flycatcher the recent Hooded Merganser but im sure that will have to come off, Black Tern, plenty of Spoonbills and a few Cattle egrets.

When i look back actually quite amazing, missed a few bits too. Wood Warbler, Corn Bunting Purple Sandpiper and what hurts is Radde's Warbler and Richards Pipits.  

I hope next years just as good. 

Couple of bits from last few days male and female Velvet scoter (record shots) from East lane as well as 180 Golden plover. I managed a few local walks but nothing added to my list really. All the Geese are still at Hollesley. Local Dartford warblers 1 mile from home and Bullfinch was nice .

Happy 2021 and thanks all for reading. 

Christmas Day and Boxing Day Hooded Merganser

 MERRRRY CHRISTMASSSSS 

Great couple of days at home on the patch down at the RSPB Hollesley the 12 Bean Geese were still there and about 180 Russian White-fronts still. An Adult Caspian Gull was again on the flash, 

Over on Hollesley Upper Common we were surrounded by Dartford Warblers and the wintering Great Grey Shrike. A great finish to a really nice day.

The Moon put on a show to.

Boxing day we headed for Staverton Thicks and pools again near Boyton, the 700 year pollarded Oak Woodland.  2 Firecrest were in hollies as we left the main rd. On the pools i started looking for the Great White egret which wasn't there but i did spot a small duck with the Gadwall.

Boom a Female Hooded Merganser, I kept an eye on it to check it wasn't clipped which it didn't and to see if it had any rings on the legs. One leg certainly had nothing, i never did get to check the other one as it never came out the water and only scratched with one leg. 

The Great White Egret flew over eventually and then after a while showed itself distantly.

A host of other birds were Marsh Tit, loads of Siskin, Redpoll and a few Crossbill. A Kingfisher was in the area too. 

A nice couple of days so close to home.

Geese

Work as usual gets in the way through the week so i have to make the most of Weekends.

19th December 

Geese are now in full swing in the area. After checking the fields around the Prison there were just Greylags and Canada's.  I moved around to fields half way along to Boyton where most of the Greylags were, distant sounds of White-fronted geese as a family party of 5 joined them. 27 Barnacle geese too. 

Barn Owl gave great views from the Riverbank. 

Back to Hollesley RSPB and 2 Bar headed Geese, the Barnacle Geese had now moved to hear, 14 Bean Geese dropped into fields by the prison as well as now 130+ White-fronted Geese. 

Caspian and Yellow legged Gulls on the flash again. Lapwings always in good numbers. 

Moved onto Hollesley upper common for a look around. The Great Grey Shrike was still about. A couple of Dartfords about and a Crossbill calling as it flew over.

December 20th

Now Over 200 European White fronted Geese and the 12 Bean Geese on the fields around Hollesley's Warren Prison.

December 22nd 

Made our way to North Norfolk to watch the Thursford Light Spectacular. Very good it was too. 

Just a couple of pics to wet the appetite.

Did some birding on the way. 10 Bewicks and 27 Whoopers at Sea Palling with a few pinks and an Iceland Gull at Weybourne being the 2 Highlights.   

On the way back on the 23rd Fog hit hard so saw nothing but a Pale Bellied Brent at Cley. 

Christmas EVE Merry Christmas

From a wet cold Hollesley this morning until 1pm Highlights were a first Water Pipit for a good while on winter flood. 12 Bean Geese took off from fields by the Prison mid morning. 150 White-Fronted Geese were again in the usual field. A Peregrine was sat on the shingle ridge and 3 Caspian Gulls on the flash, Adult 1st and 2nd Winters. A 1st Winter Yellow legged gull put in a very brief appearance. Time to go warm up and enjoy the festivities. Have a Great Christmas readers and thanks for stopping by.

Gulls Gulls Gulls Hollesley

 Not sure why i bother with gulls but i do and i guess i must love the challenge. I occasionally think ive got it nailed then i look through so many i go gull blind..... This weekend was no exception.

Found a simple Adult  Larus cachinnans Or Caspian gull on the pools .

A nice easy bird. Then a second what i thought was a Larus cachinnans but something doesn't really ring true, does this bird have a Herring Influence or is it just an odd looking Yellow Legged Gull. The wing pattern seems fine but head and structure don't, Im confused again. Last picture shows it with the Adult Caspian behind. 

Onto a First winter Larus cachinnans which i hope is ok and has a ring from Central Poland so hope to get more info back soon. 

On the Shingle ridge by the sea another Larus cachinnans this time a 2nd Winter a little more distant so I didnt grill this one too much but the under wing looked spot on.

Onto a Yellow Legged Gull, this one very dainty but hopefully these are a little more straight forward. Wing formula looked good.

Over to Herring Gulls and this 1st Winter brute i think has to Argentatus or Northern Herring Gull.

I need to speak about Lesser Blacked Backed Gulls i suppose and the further away birds are, the harder it is to spot the small differences to separate them but i took a pic of what i think is a Lesser.  Dainty small head but seems very pale so now confused again. Bird in center

Gone Gull blind now so this easy Lesser Black Back Gull or is it a Herring Gull ;-)

 Lastly a Polish rung Black Headed Gull. wow an easy one phew.

So it wasnt all about the Gulls 160 Russian White-fronted geese were int he area of Boyton and small groups flew over Hollesley (93). 40 Barnacles too mixed in 

On the Sea and Shingle 1300 Cormorants. 

Barn Owl and Short Eared Owl at Boyton. 

Ducks were plentiful with numbers of Pintail now up to 30.

100 Common Scoter on sea no Velvets unfortunately. 

Think thats it for this weekend.