Breydon Water

It was a nice day out with Danny Digiscoper at and around Breydon Water. We had a look along south wall firstly picking up loads of great waders. Best were 150 Avocet 100 Knot loads of Dunlin thousands of Golden plover and a few Ringed plover. Ducks again in there thousands with plenty of Wigeon, Teal and 60 Pintail. A cracking Peregrine kept putting everything up. Lastly a Great Crested Grebe and 15 Black tailed Godwit. Bearded Tits called from deep cover and a few Reed bunting gave themselves up. No sign of the 2 Richards Pipit reported. Best bird of the day however was the Ring tailed Hen Harrier which we spotted twice. (click pics to enlarge)

We spent quiet a lot of time on the south wall as it was so nice. On the return 3 Stonechats were an added bonus.

We Moved around to Halvergate Marsh's here we had nice but distant views of the Rough Legged Buzzard. and Chinese Water deer.

 

 

A few hundred yards along the road and an amazing number of 120 Bewick Swans gave nice views including a rung bird from Slimbridge.

 

We visited Breydon bridge on our way back hoping for Twite and whilst we waited we got some practice digiscoping on the Little Egrets and Redshank. We were then fortunate enough to see 17 Twite briefly as they landed on the marsh very well hidden.

Quiet a chilly day but a great day all the same.

Warming up nicely.

Its nice to see the days getting longer and actually managing some birding after work and its been good. 9 White Fronted Geese flew over my head on there way to there breeding grounds maybe. The regular Barn owl was showing superbly as it was getting dark. There's been some prat with his dog running all over the place though so if its not the hawk its the dog, im pretty sure its same bloke too, hunting Rabbits!?
Today I nipped out fairly early in the drizzle and mist it was fairly quiet for decent birds but all the common birds were very vocal it sounded like spring but still looked like winter. Got to the misty sea, 1 Cormorant passed and there were 2 Great Crested Grebes and a Red throated diver sat on the water but that was it.
The farmer was ploughing the cliff top field where lots of gulls had gathered, pick of the bunch 6 Adult Med Gulls.

 

Got to the Allotments loads of Goldfinch took off and left just a lonely Chiffchaff and 2 Song Thrush..

See what tomorrow brings..

Local stuff.

Started early on the patch with an hours seawatch 300 Wigeon in 4 largish groups also smaller numbers of Common Scoter. A distant Skua was probably an Arctic but hard to be sure. 5 Adult Med Gulls followed a Shipping Vessel.
Moved onto Ellough to look through the gulls but still no Glauc or Caspian. Met up with Danny to show him the lovely Little Owl at North Cove.

 

Moved onto Pakefield beach where the Snow Buntings were showing nicely although flighty.

 

 

Had a practice with the immaculately looking Med Gulls. Sorry took loads.

Finished at Ness point but the waves were splashing over the rocks so no Purple Sands.

3rd Time lucky

So I had some chores to do spending too much money as usual on pointless things such as van tyres n stuff. So only did a small bit of the patch didn't see much.
After having my tyres done I headed for Breydon Water south wall deep down hoping for the Richards Pipit id dipped twice now but knew it was unlikely. Had a slow walk along the wall with Rach n the dogs a Spotted Redshank flew over calling then landed on the water in front of us for a few seconds before flying off again. We Carried on walking then too my great delight the Richards Pipit flew up form the wall and landed again Yeeeeehaaaaaaa. Rushed to get the camera out and reeled out a few shots before it shot of over the ditch but showed well until we left. It was bloody freezing and me hands were shaking :-).

On the way back the Spotted Redshank flew over again. I scoped the far side and watched the mass of Ducks and Waders take flight, incredible spectacle. 10s of thousands including 90 Avocet were back for the winter.
We moved over to Halvergate Marsh's and scope the area to see a Peregrine and 25+ Bewick Swans.
A Barn owl was sat in an Ivy bush by the windmill but gone when I went back to take a picture.  Time for home.

Camera Trap

So at Work ive seen Green Sandpiper that was flushed from a ditch by someone and just by chance it flew over the van and a Short eared Owl, year ticks on the patch have been 8 Red Legged Partridge..

I Brought a 60 quid wildlife camera trap from Aldi a while back, it comes on when something triggers the sensor. Ive used it a few times but 3 days ago I set up a log with some seed and bits on. Blackbirds, Robin, Great Tits and the dogs had set it off until last night when I was very excited to see a Jay using it then in the night a wonderful Red Fox. So time to set up a fence to prevent the dogs going in and time for some cat or dog food to try encourage the fox much more often.

 

 

 

Patching....

During the week ive changed my routine a little, covering Corton Wood instead, just fancied a bit of a change. 2 Firecrest were still in the North end and decided to actually show well for a few minutes. The Great Spotted Woodpeckers are very vocal now.
Not been very far this weekend but the patch has been ok. Yesterday I started with another Woodcock in the Disused Railtrack, a poor young Red fox had died over night by the pond.
On a seawatch 107 Red Throated Diver with groups of 23 and 25, 1 Very nice Great Northern Diver. 3 Fulmar, 50 Common Scoter, couldn't pick out a Velvet unfortunately. 11 Gannet distantly and a few other bits that's weren't ide able. An Adult Med Gull was a patch year tick. Back in the clifftop field that has now been ploughed, 50 + Skylark, Meadow pipits and a single Reed Bunting. 2 Snipe gave them selves up.
I did nip up to Pakefield to go take a look at the 11 Snow Buntings but couldn't find them.

Today its windy and horrible with lots of heavy showers but I persevered on heading straight for the cliffs. I got set up and the first birds I picked up in the scope were incredibly 11 Snow Buntings in off and headed North. I thought these were gonna be the Pakefield birds moving but then Jane put them out as still being present. Gooood Start. Sea watching was difficult as the rain kept making visibility difficult and the strong wind buffeting the scope. So after seeing a few Red Throated Divers, loads of Cormorants a few Gannets 3 Fulmar, and a distant Skua I gave in and headed for the woods but the winds keeping everything down. So here I am back at home watching the Tennis. Come on Murray....

Well Murray soon lost so nipped upto Ellough to look through the gulls. Glaucous and an Adult Caspian had been reported today, but after 20 min search no sign, then a Peregrine with prey flew over calling and stopped the gulling as everything flew off.
Headed to North Cove for another look at the Little Owl.