Migrants Hollesley

 

22nd April

Absolutely brilliant day had on the patch, started with a nice Drake Garganey that flew in from somewhere.

A Reed Warbler was singing along side a Sedge Warbler from the screen. I walked up towards the river bank and onto the Sluice, Wheatear and a Whinchat were evident,  as were 20+ Whimbrel flying up the river, Med Gulls were moving in small numbers with maybe 50 birds during the day. I walked back to the screen when 3 Spoonbill dropped in on the winter flash, so i went to take a look at them. The Great white egret was present with them as was a Greenshank.

A group of 10 Whimbrel and 5 Bar tailed Godwits dropped in to roost on the shingle ridge, the Little Egrets were now coming into summer plumage. 

Walking back to the sea wall, i refound the Garganey a bit closer in and the Whinchat showed better too. 

Bird of the day however had to be a Drake Mandarin Duck which flew in as we were all looking at the Whinchats and Garganey. I rushed back to the screen for better views of the Duck. 

 

It had been a great so headed for home, i did pick out a Green Sandpiper before i left. The total for the day was 92 Species. 

23 April

Didn't get on the patch until 6pm today, but im glad i did go even though it was tipping down, arrived to a nice Cattle Egret. 

2 Cuckoo were new in with good views had. Further round to the winter flood 2 Summer plumage Great white egret. Waited till dark for Tawny and Barn Owl. 15 Yellow wagtails came in to roost just to finish a nice evening.

A fabulous weekend.

Green winged Teal Boyton

So ive been in the garden most of the day, a peregrine and 2 Raven were both garden tricks, 3 Emperor Moths to lure. 

Then news came out of a Green winged teal again at Boyton, id found the same bird (probably) there last winter, both at Hollelsey and here at Boyton. 

It was getting late in the evening and it seemed the Yellow wagtails were now starting to drop in, with at least 12 seen but the more i checked the more i saw. 

2 Coot are always unusual as was a Red Deer (i think).

 

On the way back  a 1st winter Caspian gull was on the small pool by the farm. It took off before i could get any better pics and it was getting dark.

 

Updated Hollesley

March 19th

Second trip of the day, Spoonbill a Red Headed Goosander and 2 Adult Med Gulls and 1 1st Winter on site. 

 March 21st 

Migrants slowly coming through with 3 White wagtails, still 45 Whitefronts, the Great white egret is still here as is the hybrid Fudge duck. The Handful of Tufted ducks are still here and showing well from the screen.

March 25th

Highlights, 150 white-fronted geese. 1 1st winter bean goose. 11 barnacles. 1 Pinkfoot. Great White Egret. 1 white wag. Fudge x pochard. 5 pochard 16 tufted.

April 1st 

Willow warbler singing inside the prison grounds and a Yellow Wagtail over were firsts for the year. A Whitefront still knocking around as is the Great white egret. Red Kite over my Hollesley garden. and a female Brambling visited my feeders. 

April 2nd

A cracking Drake Goosander was in the ditch north of sluice. 2 Spoonbill visited the flash, the Great White Egret still. Blackcap now in and singing. 15 Whitefronts again.

April 5th

More Migrants slowly turning up a Drake Garganey on main scrape was a great find, also 2 Great Crested Grebe was unusual, normally only seen on a seawatch. 2 Swallow and a Sedge Warbler was great. The pink-footed goose and C50 white fronts still. A nice 1st winter Caspian gull.

The sunny day attracted some Butterflies with Comma and Peacock in the garden also an Emperor Moth to Lure.

April 9th

Not great quality but 92 species seen Hollesley to Boyton, at Boyton a Firecrest by farm again. Yellow and white wagtails, swallow and spoonbill over. Red kite. Hollesley Great White Egret, now a few sedge warblers in and the regular 2 Swallow and a Sand Martin.

Some Firebugs on the footpath outside home were unusual.

April 10th

Rain brought down 25 Swallows

April 15th

A Common Crane was tracked coming down the coast and i managed to get it from Hollesley before it turned back North.  Terrible record shots. A Greenshank was new in.

Then headed for Hollesley upper common to get my fix of Nightingale, Woodlarks and Dartfords. A Red Kite was a nice surprise. 

End.