Worked Saturday so today was my only option to get out. Cold wind but lovely in the sunny shelter spots. Dartford warblers, Woodlarks and a Raven were the highlights. No pictures unfortunately.
13th and 19th February
50 white-fronted Geese, 3 Ruff and a Northern Herring Gull being the highlights.
Nipped down the patch twice today early morning and late afternoon. Highlights were a 1st Winter Caspian Gull, A female Peregrine in its usual tree in the morning and a male in the afternoon. 35 European white fronted geese mixed in with the Greylangs and Canadas. 75 Pintail is a good count and 30 Shelduck is also a high count. Otherwise cold and windy but the light was great.
Nipped out of the area today, visiting Iken as a White Tailed eagle had roosted here overnight. No sign of it but i did find a really good bird in the form of a Red Headed Smew. 2 Goosander and 15 Goldeneye were also a nice surprise. Iken was good for waders with 350+ Avocet, 40 Bar tailed godwits with 1 summer plumage bird.
Carried on to Hen Reedbed where a Great White Egret flew over and a Bittern flypast.
On the mud an Adult Med Gull. Travelling home there was an accident blocking the A12 at Limeball lane, so we cut accross here and spotted the 8 Whooper Swans that had been here a while now.
As we were passing Minsmere i though it rude not to nip in for the 2 Bewick Swans on Island Mere. Winter Swans ticked.
Not a bad day and very much needed.
Finished the patch year list for Hollesley and Boyton on 177 for 2021.
I was supposed to start my new job this week but i was asked to go in 2 weeks before Christmas as the my new employer got a large contract to sort. So i called time on my leave and went back to work so i only got a few days off between Christmas and new year and was even in work day after new year. Since then its been manic busy and birding has taken a back sea entirely especially due to the dark nights and working some Saturdays.
So since New year ive been out a handful of times and the patch has been quiet so only Highlight from Hollesley to Boyton have been a Canalag, White-front look alike, Ruff, 300 Avocet, 200 Black-tailed godwit, 1 Barwit and lots of Golden Plover on th move. Peregrine was in its usual tree but 2 Bearded tits were surprise. This was a my new year day list and a total of 71 birds.
15th January my first Whitefronts of the year 8 Barnacles and a 2nd Winter Yellow legged Gull.
29th January
A quick patch visit but lots of work has been going on clearing ditches so i wasnt surprised to not see much. Duck numbers re still good mind with 40+ Pintail a highlight.
Tomorrow i must get out further a field.
Originally i was off until New year but back at work tomorrow (20th Dec) instead so no more birding until Christmas eve.
Anyway this week has been ok but the winter is slow. When i said slow actually i meant its been pretty good looking back on twitter. A Great Northern Diver was off the Ness fishing with Cormorants,
The 5 Shorelarks were still on the Ness too but really really elusive feeding in long grass. Walked to Boyton and spotted 2 Raven doing there upside down flight thingy and then i had a single over my Garden a day later. Garden Tick
On pools were 20+ Meadow Pipit with 1 Rock Pipit, still no Water pipit yet.
November 28th
So ive now broken up for Christmas so im on holiday now until i start a new job in January. So its nice to have some spare time on patch. It started pretty good to with 5 Shorelark making it onto my patch list. I was sea watching when some people flushed 5 birds from the shingle in front of me. They called and flew to the ness over the river and disappeared, i new id just seen Shorelark. The next day i was in the same are and found them still on the ness but very distant.
So no pics taken on the patch today as nothing to photograph, i did get to see 5 Shorelark, patch tick however these were flushed by walkers from under my nose and i didnt see them until they were flushed Doh.
Couple of last weeks 2nd Winter Caspian gulls though one color ringed from Germany.
