Wagtails and Spoonbills.

The patch has been excellent again.... why.... cos it still holds lots of water. 

Spoonbills are up to 18 now regular, A Common Sand was my first of the year and a Dunlin, Dunlin numbers up to 2 4 Tundra Ringed plovers and a smart Channel Wagtail, which is a cross between a Blue headed and our yellow wagtail. Still a rare bird. 2 Cuckoo have been loud and finally found the Wood Sand people had been seeing on daily basis.  

Weirdest bird of the week however has been a White Cheeked Pintail, it was reported as a couple of things, Red Crested Pochard and a Red billed Teal but once i saw it i could make out it was an escaped White cheeked Pintail. all other ID's easy mistakes to make.

The Drake Garganey also showed better eventually. 

At work i still have the feeders going and bird of the year yesterday 23rd May was a Turtle dove feeding on the spilled Sunflower hearts. Gone before i could go get my cameras.

 

Local Stuff Red Backed Shrike

 So Im back from Lesvos, and once again feel a bit birded out, so much that ive not even looked at my photos yet, maybe this weekend. So since being back i have done some birding and picked up a few year ticks and even after today 2 Patch ticks. 

Ill start from MAY 5TH  with 6 Greenshank and 1 Wood Sand, A Spoonbill on the pool from Warren Hill which moved to the main flash. The swifts were putting on a fine display.

May 15TH Hollesley tonight. 7 Spoonbill, 2 Garganey male and female. Whimbrel, 3 Pochard 13 Tufties and a Cuckoo.

Onto yesterday on the Heath excellent evening with 2 Calling Juvenile Long eared owls and an adult flyby, Patch tick but one that is under recorded. Also Stone Curlews 2 Nightingale and a few Nightjars. What a Place....... turn up the volume for this phone vid. 

Onto today, another excellent day with Drake Garganey, 3 Spoonbill a Cattle Egret and 2nd Summer Caspian Gull on the flash at Hollesley RSPB.

Moved onto Boyton where a Turtle Dove has made the perilous journey back to us. 

Finally over at Shingle Street Dave and Margie made a great find in the form of a female Red Backed Shrike. Best bird of the day however was a singing Corn Bunting, which showed well but briefly, another patch tick, been searching for this bunting here for years. Try for pics maybe tomorrow. 

 Great finish to the day.