24th and 25th December Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all again.
Been a very long year waiting to move house to Hollesley, been very worth it though as the birds have been brilliant.
Im also glad Christmas is here as i now get to explore the area a little better.
Anyway back on patch yesterday and today Whooper swans are commuting between shingle street and Boyton on a regular basis and Egyptian Goose and Russian White-fronted Goose are making the flash there feeding area and a nice selection of the commoner stuff is great.
Patch tick/garden tick as i was fitting a garden light yesterday in the form of a calling Spotted Redshank. Buzzards, Kestrels and Sparrowhawk all good for the garden, Fieldfare, Miste Thrush, Linnet, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker too.

A Walk to Shingle Street and an added part of the patch with my new seawatching site started well with a Great Northern Diver and several Red throated divers. Ringed Plover and a Surprise Sanderling in a muddy pool in the middle of the shingle.

Did Some Digiscoping today as the sun was finally out.

Hollesley upto 22nd December

Dec 22

Egyptian Goose, Med Gull and Peregrine all on Patch today

Dec 22

On patch Avocets Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers. 6 common seal. 37 Dark Bellied Brent Geese, 30 Pintail. 50 linnet, 250 Golden Plover. 34 Dunlin. Lots Redshank. Flock of 27 Stock Dove. Few Rock Pipits.

Came Home to 10 long tailed tits on the feeders.

Hollesley to Boyton, fairly quiet. Shortie. 3 Egyptian geese, 1 adult med gull. Bar tailed godwit. Peregrine 12 barnacle geese. 9 stonechat.

Dec 21
White Fronted Goose and Whooper swans Hollesley this am.

Dec 21
Too blumin wet to tweet in field. So Eastern Stonechat still. 2 Whooper swan flew over then when I got back to Hollesley flash there were 3. 

2 Euro White-fronted Geese still. 2 Water Pipit with 4 Rock Pipit and 50 Meadow south of Stonechat field.

Dec 15
Short eared Owl hunting Simpson salting Hollesley

Just back from being away. Hollesley adult Caspian Gull and a 1st winter Yellow Legged Gull on flash. Water Rail heard, Kingfisher. Plenty of Lapwing and Ducks.

7th+8th December Hollesley

Patching this weekend hasn't been too bad at all. The probable Siberian Stonechat is still about and will be the 3rd record for Suffolk if accepted. The bird mainly showed distantly but did come closer on a few brief occasions. A poo sample was obtained so confirmation will be given soon enough im sure now.

The Weekend started off well with a patch tick Firecrest on both Saturday and Sunday morning, calling as i walked past on the way to the patch.
The Peregrine chose its usual tree. On a little sea watch from the river bank 16 Red-throated diver, 2 auk sp 6 Common Scoter 2 Great Crested Geese.

On the flash, usual ducks but today the two Bar headed geese from Boyton made a visit.

Lastly an Adult Caspian Gull and an Adult Yellow legged made a visit see pic. Gull numbers were down to single figures now.

Spent too much time with the chat this weekend so must explore a bit more of the site next week.

Hollesley Stonechat.

I didn't get out before half 8 this morning as it was pretty rubbish weather wise, pouring with rain. The dogs still needed walking however so thought id have an hour down the patch. Arrived at the screen to the usual Ducks but only a small amount of Gulls, 1 brief Yellow legged gull before the Marsh Harrier put everything up. The male peregrine was sat in its usual tree by the entrance to the reserve.

Anyway decided id check the flood for any new geese and luckily i just kept walking until i notice a pale bird perched distantly in the flood. On getting the scope on the bird it was a very pale Stonechat, much white in the wings. Immediately i though Siberian Boom.. So i put some pictures out initially as an unusual stone chat so not to sway peoples opinions.(thats my story anyway ;-) )It came back with the perfect result Eastern/Siberian Stonechat.... brilliant, a 1st winter Maurus. Not a bad start to the new patch.

  

Whilst watching the chat i could hear Pinkfooted geese over head, and on the walk back a cracking Red-throated Diver in one of the channels. 

An adult Caspian gull was sat with a few other gulls on the shingle bank. It was still raining and i was supposed to have been home ages ago to go to the Woodbridge Christmas Market for lunch so rushed home changed and called it a day.