Hollesley and Minsmere again March

14th March

Light is getting better after work giving me at least an hours birding on patch at Hollesley. Bat species one of the pipistrelles i think. Also minimum of 10 Caspian Gulls and 3 Yellow legged gulls. 116 Pintail is my highest total and just shy of the site record of 118. 

19th March 

Hollesley a second winter Caspian gull from the river wall. 

Bird of the morning though was actually a 1st winter Kittiwake.  

After doing the patch i had another trip to Minsmere. The Lesser Yellowlegs was my target and i managed to see this in the Konik field, Distant but good scope views.

Garganey was also a highlight as were the 2 Smew, Adders and a 2nd winter Caspian gull and 2 Adult Yellow legged gulls.

A Great White egret flew in front of Bittern hide as did a Bittern. Chiffchaffs were a highlight as was my first Sandwich Tern of the year.

Today the 26th of March 

Nipped back onto the patch and spent pretty much all day here at Hollesley. 4 Fieldfare over the garden to start, the the Fallow Deer showed well. 

Chiffchaffs 4 as i walked down to the flash, then a nice surprise were 3 Garganey 2 Drakes and a female. 74 Whitefronts, 24 Barnacles geese 100+ Pintail a Green Sandpiper, 2 White Wagtail also a highlight. 

 The sun brought out the Stonechats.

6 Dunlin showed some sign of the long billed sub species.

 Finally a sleepy Bar-tailed godwit on the flash was a year tick.

Minsmere and Hollesley

Saturday we had a great day out with friends from Derby at Minsmere, started by showing them the Birds nest Fungi on the pond boardwalk, Only 2 left now so unless there is another area for this fabulous fungi i fear it wont last. 

Nipped up onto the wildlife lookout platform for the male and female Smew. 

Our first for the year Chiffchaff singing from here too.

Nipped around to the Sand Martin bank to find 3 Adders a Normal one copper one and the famous Black Adder. Only one worth a picture.

 Onto North hide where i managed to find us Common and Jack Snipe. A Great White Egret made a flypast.

Around to the Sea and East Hide 100 Common Scoter in the Sea and cracking Med Gulls on the Scrape.

Circular back to the VC for lunch then Bittern hide to finish our day. No Bittern though 54 Species for the day.

 Managed a quick visits to the Hollesley patch. Gull numbers were great with at least 9 Caspian and 4 Yellow legged gull. 9 Ruff and 60 Whitefronts.

Last weekend 2 Pochard were a highlight.

Today Still numbers of Ruff, Barnacle Geese and White-fronted Geese.