January local stuff Hollelsey

2nd January

I Didnt do Hollesley today, I decided to have a walk over to East Lane instead. Lots of people about but i did still manage a single Purple Sandpiper. A bird i struggled to get last year until late on. 

Whilst chatting to other birders i rough counted the Red Throated Divers that were streaming past, maybe 1000+, 2 Great Crested Grebe, Guillemot and a Shag. 

January 3rd

Started my Hollesley year list with an Adult Caspian Gull, Tufted Duck and Great White Egret. Further along the river wall 70+ Russian White-fronted Geese and 108 Brent Geese. It was a wet and miserable day but 68 species noted. The Hares were boxing away.

January 9th

A Spoonbill was a nice surprise so early in the year, 2 Great White Egrets now on site, a Pinkfoot with the Greylags and White-fronts. A Bean Goose Reported and an Orange legged unusual Goose was on site that looked to have an orange bill at distant. could be just a Juvenile White-front. Originally looked good for Bean Goose but needs to be seen a little closer. 

1st Winter Yellow Legged Gull was a nice addition to the year list.

January 12th

65 White-fronted Geese, 3 Yellow Legged Gulls, 2 Caspian Gulls and 1 Great white Egret.

14th January

Spoonbill and Great White Egret still, the Whitefronted geese turned up mid afternoon with the single Pink footed goose, the muted Bean goose (juv Whitefront or hybrid maybe) was also here and showing closer. Its fooled a lot of people so far including myself. The bill sometimes looks orange but today maybe pink. A confusing individual. 

2 Adult Caspian Gull and a first winter, also a first winter Yellow legged Gull again. 

The Orange legged, orange or pink billed Goose seems im better at gulls than i am geese. 

Back to Work Monday

 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023

2023 has begun but for me i wasn't going to do the patch, i was gonna have a look around the Yarmouth area.  Started at Reydon for the single Waxwing that had been about for a few days, i wasn't going to be disappointment as the bird showed nicely. 

Didnt actually make it to Yarmouth as i detoured to Filby broad for the 2 Ring necked Duck and 3 Scaup, managed to find all the birds but they were a bit distant and looking into the sun so the pics are awful. 

Had lunch at Potter Heigham hoping for some winter swans in the Ludham area but couldn't find any. 

5 Tundra Bean Geese were found at Corton early on in the day, my OLD patch so i just had to go and get them on me Corton patch list. It was getting late but nice to see and photograph.

Lastly had a walk through Corton wood where a Firecrest was showing and calling in the west section  of the wood. To dark for photos now but good views had. Excellent start to the New Year birding list.