Notes from the valley

Had really hoped to catch up with the LWF at Cantley by now, but with foggy conditions forecast in Norfolk for the next few days, that would (hopefully) have to wait until the New Year. Debs and I began at Strumpshaw, relatively early, in search of Bitterns on ice. There had been Bitterns showing in front of Fen Hide, but not whilst we were present. I would tentatively suggest this may have had something to do with camera shutters clicking away when anything flew by/landed out front; 5 going off all at once makes for quite a racket! Luckily, this didn't put off the Water Rails too much, of which 4 individuals were counted. One brave individual made a dash across the ice, but he was quickly gunned down by the crowd of photographers, clearly spooked. Is there really any skill in just firing away like crazy, or am I being too harsh? Following the boardwalk, we could hear some Pink Footed Geese somewhere close, but the fog meant we couldn't see them. Other than that, Marsh Harrier,...

I could quite happily watch the garden birds from Mum's window all day. More often than not, with drink in hand, this is what I spent much of the festive period doing. Fieldfare and Redwing would sometimes stop to rest in the bare trees, whilst Song Thrush, 10+ Blackbird, Tits, Pheasant and Robin fed on or around the feeders provided. Star bird was spotted by my 10 year old cousin, a male Bullfinch feeding amongst Chaffinches. Leaving rural Suffolk and returning home today, of course I found time to stop off at Surlingham on route. For once, there were ducks on the river- Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Mallard. A group of Coot cracked on with some much needed weeding, and Wigeon were grazing on the opposite bank. Exciting stuff, for the patch. Further away, towards Postwick, 3 farmyard type geese fed amongst the Greylag. Without my scope, it was difficult to gauge size but they appeared a little cumbersome and nothing of real interest. A couple of Lapwing were out on the marsh. Carrying ...

Whilst I am giving a talk on STDs at school tomorrow, the heading of this blogpost has nothing to do with the nasty kind of Thrush. A lovely flock of c40Fieldfare on the hill at Surlingham held a Redwing and Mistle Thrush, enjoying the company of its visitors from the north. Apart from the usual Cettis and Reed Bunting, the reserve was quiet and therefore I have little to report! However,one mammalian highlight 'popped' up in the form of a Weasel, my second here at Surlingham. This little fellow slipped out of the river-bank undergrowth and trotted away down the path at the foot of the ruins, completely unaware of my presence. Ducks are in short supply right now, since much of the lagoon is still frozen over. Teal are again favouring the 'back garden area' of the reserve! A Little Grebe on the river is going on the list, thank-you.

A Water Rail, of course. My hoped for bird of the weekend, watched sliding around on an iced dyke at Buckenham Marshes today. Bitterly cold, lost all feeling in my hands after a while so the trip was cut a little shorter than planned. I did however manage to see a gaggle of 20+ White Fronted Geese and 15+ Barnacles, difficult to ascertain exact numbers due to the distance. Ducks were much closer though, Teal and Wigeon were feeding either side of the track.The noise was immense, it was like being in the middle of the flock. Plenty of Lapwing around, but no raptors. I popped into Strumpshaw Fen on the way back home, and much of the action was around the visitor centre. A reported Northern Bullfinch could not be located, but I did pick out a couple of Lesser Redpoll in amongst the Siskin flocks. Marsh Tits also in good number and vocal. Yesterday, I only had time for Surlingham. Other than the usual suspects it was a little quiet on the reserve, no doubt due to a frozen lagoon and visibi...