2nd and 3rd November

 Finally some water on the scrape at Hollesley, also the sea-watching has been better. 

Water = gulls and a few Caspian gulls and Yellow legged gulls are now being seen, ive had a juv, 2nd winter and 2 Adult Caspian Gulls this weekend, and probably 4 or 5 Adult Yellow legged gulls.

Hawfinch invasion meant i found one by the screen today. Owls were good with Barn, Tawny and Short eared owls this weekend.

Sea watching was impressive with Sooty Shearwater, 3 Velvet Scoter, 4 Drake Eider, and a juv Kittiwake, also Gannets and plenty of Brent Geese on the move. Whilst seawatching 3 Shorelark came into view on the shingle ridge and a water pipit from the screen. 

Duck numbers on the scrape are coming along nicely with double figure Pintail now in.

From the garden, Grey wagtail, lots of Redwing overnight and my first Fieldfare of this winter. 

26th and 27th October

Been trying for weeks now to pick out a migrant or 2, first time in many years ive not found a Yellow Browed Warbler, Seen nothing decent for weeks.

The only decent stuff has been from the garden, October the 6th a fly over Hawfinch and 2 Cattle Egret. 3 Woodlark and some Song thrush on the move. 

October the 10th the Aurora Borealis finally over the garden too.  

October 13th

Hollesley tonight, small bit of water reappearing after the rains. Greenshank 2 Redshank and 90 teal on scrape.

October 18th

Hunter Moon and Comet A3 Digiscoped tonight. Comet not very bright though and could only bee seen through optics

Now to this weekend October 26th I had a Walk to Boyton and back, a dark juv Peregrine, male Merlin, great white egret, bar tailed godwit, a few Bearded tits. A few Grey Seal lounging on the river

27th October

Another day on patch i did find some thing nice this time a Juv Little Stint, a  Red kite too.

Met a few birders today including David Piotrowski who called me when he was on his way back to Boyton to tell me he had just found 2 Common Crane, so i nipped to go see them as well as 2 Pinkfooted geese mixed in with the Greylags. Extra stuff noted today were a few Migrant Hawkers and the Marsh Harrier with the orange tagged KS back for the winter. Good finish to the weekend.

Home Circular 07.09.24

 A fall of birds was happening, probably the best fall for a few years but work had got in the way until today, i was out checking the moth trap when the fall started, a Tree pipit buzzing as it flew south, so i stood down the bottom of the garden to do a short vis mig. 25 Tree Pipits few over in small numbers, mainly singles but up to 7 in one group, my best tree pipit vis mig in the UK to date. 

Whilst doing this a familiar call of the Spotted Flycatcher found in trees at the bottom of the garden, then a second, one flew off a bit later in the day 1 was still here. 2 Willow Warbler flitting around too in the garden. A Peregrine over, Hobby and a Cream crown Marsh Harrier. I took a walk up the field, where it seemed like there were birds everywhere, Tree Pipits still going over, 2 Whinchat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat and 6 to 8 Common Whitethroats. Finally a single Pied Flycatcher with 8 Yellowhammer on the bridleway.

I continued my circular to RSPB Hollesley where another 5 Whinchat were picked up and a single Wheatear on the boats at Simpsons salting. 2 Curlew on the dried up scrape.

At Boyton an Osprey was lingering in the area. At Bawdsey Quay another Pied Flycatcher. 

Patching Hollesley and Boyton July and August

July and August are always quiet periods for birding, so its usually just the breeding birds and a few returning waders that i can Blog about. 

The local Barn Owl showed daily and gave myself and too many toggers a show. Toggers are becoming a real problem. 

Waders are returning and i was lucky to have some water left in the pools at Hollesley although come mid August it was disappointing to see the pools dry up after 2 years with water all year. A mix of poor management from the RSPB and a dryer summer. I would blame the RSPB more though as the site is looking very poorly maintained with paths over grown, the screen almost unviewable from and all the fields uncut and no good for anything, including the geese come winter. Seems Boyton is more of a priority with lots of work going on there, Hollesley however is being forgotten about. 

Anyway rant over good numbers of Black tailed Godwit were on show, over 300 for me but others saw over 800. Some color ringed, i sent these off but as of yet no acknowledgment. I cant be arsed to chase.

On the River held 2 1st Summer Eiders, a rare sight other than on a seawatch. Common terns were knocking about as was a stunning looking Grey Plover.

Back on the pools, many Little Egrets, Greenshank, Green and Common Sandpipers with 2 Golden Plover. Pools now dried up.

One in off over the sea

Common Terns on the river and sea

Onto Boyton where this was the only place to have any water now. The pools at the start was looking great although most decent waders still don't want to stop here and the water levels dropped too late, more poor management, not sure what the RSPB are playing at. Anyway 11 Green Sand, 13 Snipe, 2 Greenshank and this stunning Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper with the 10 Ruff. 

On the river from here, Common and Sandwich Tern. 

Back on the pool at Boyton, a Spoonbill Water rail and more Snipe. Double Figure Yellow Wagtails

With Cattle 11 Cattle Egret visited just for the day.

Finally locally but more around Hollesley a Whimbrel with the local Curlew and Kestrel had a good year.

I did venture off patch to Sizewell, where the Black Redstart had bred and the Kittiwakes looked good.