Sunday, 25 December 2022

25th of Decemeber.... Merry Christmas everyone

Almost another year over. been a rubbish one for me with one thing or another but finishing birding on a high. Thanks to everyone that reads my blog again. 

Today nipped to the patch in-between the lunch being prepared by the wife. 

From the Screen 1st Winter Caspian gull, and Adult type Caspian gull and an Adult Yellow legged gull. Counted 32 White-fronted geese as they came in to feed. No sign of the Great white egret today. It was showing quiet well yesterday. Plenty of ducks have returned. 

Once again MERRY CHRISTMAS










Thursday, 22 December 2022

December 2022

December 3rd 
Hollesley. The Gulls are returning in numbers, 6 Caspian gull, 4 adults 2 1st winter. 3 Yellow Legged Gulls, 2 Adult 1 2nd winter. 1 Russian white-fronted 1 Barnacle that I could see.

December 4th 
Hollesley 4 Caspian Gulls again

December 10th
Hollesley today. Woodcock and 25 white-fronted geese. 20 Common Snipe 1 Jack Snipe, and a Dunlin. Most of the water is now frozen solid.







December 11th  
East Lane car park. Dartford warbler calling. North of car park on pool by first martello tower 2 Goldeneye and a Purple sand which is finally a patch tick.



December 17th
1 of 30 Russian White-fronted Geese from Hollesley today.






December 19th
A Redpoll and Brambling in the garden today. Few pics from the garden feeders.





December 20th
Hollesley 2nd winter Caspian gull. 28 white-fronted geese, 2 barnacle geese flew in with them. 22 black tailed godwit. Little grebe on main pool. Spotted Redshank flew in to the main pool then a walk to Boyton had myself finding the Drake Green Winged teal again. 1000 teal and 100 Black tailed Godwit.





December 21st
Things are hotting up, well Im off work now so i can get out more. Highlights 7 Snow Bunting on the shingle ridge and an Adult Caspian Gull on the pool. Couple of nice Marsh Harriers.






December 22nd
Another good day today, Great White Egret, Pochard, 35 Red Throated divers, a Goosander flew along the river and a strange Caspian x Herring gull. Guillemot on the sea is another patch year tick. 
All in all a good few days. The patch aint bad is it.









Sunday, 20 November 2022

Green winged Teal and Hollesley in November

 5th November  Hollesley to Boyton

A Short eared owl in off the sea being harassed by gulls, 1 Adult Caspian Gull and 2 Adult Yellow Legged Gulls, the gulls are slowly returning to the scrape. Frustratingly i caught the back end of a Wader which was flying down the river, it had a white rump, either Curlew sand (likely) or White Rumped Sandpiper.


Otter in the ditch.

13th November 

Had the day to North Norfolk for Rachels birthday, no birding really done but did spot some Whooper Swans at Ingham Corner.



Single Purple Sandpiper in its usual spot in Sherringham.

19th November
Great day on patch at Hollesley RSPB, started with a 2nd Winter Caspian Gull on the shingle ridge, i was sea watching from the river at the time, a Peregrine was hunting the scrape and then a nice surprise was a Tundra Bean Goose close going North. On the sea watch Little Gulls were the highlight with at least 23 birds south, Sea watching is never easy from Hollesley but it is do-able.
On the Winter Flood were 5 Rock Pipit, a good spot for other people seeing Water pipits. Back on the scrape were 3 Yellow legged Gulls and 4 Caspian Gulls, all adults. Excellent day.

20th November
Another good day, although it did start wet and quiet, a female type Long-tailed duck was the highlight of a short Seawatch, whilst seawatching the familiar call of a Raven, then a couple minutes later a second.  Back on the flash another adult Caspian, then bird of the weekend, a Drake Green Winged Teal. Moved to the screen where the bird had moved to and showed a little better. A 3rd Raven of the day flew past, super finish to the wet but good weekend. 







Monday, 31 October 2022

Cley 29th October

Had a brilliant day out with good friends, Started in the 3 hides at Cley, highlights being 2 Water Pipit, one classic individual and one trickier with some Rock Pipit Vibes. A Little Stint, 4 Ruff, plenty of Black tailed godwits and ducks such as Wigeon and Teal with 2 Pintail.


After lunch East Bank had 2 more Little Stint, 12 Ruff  10 Dunlin, a few Avocet and then 6 Snow Bunting on the shingle ridge. The sea was quiet with a few Gannets 6 Razorbill and a Red throated diver.

Finished on the Iron road at Salthouse where the Long Billed Dowitcher was showing, as well as 3 Jack Snipe and i could see 3 Shorelark hiding in the long grass.






Pink footed geese were few and far between but 100 or so dropped into the pool at North Hide. 


I couldn't resist buying a nice piece of metal art for my joint birthday and Christmas present. A lovely Spoonbill.


A great day