Skip to main content

Last outing of the year, 30th December

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, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit and Chinese Water Deer were the other bits and bobs of note.

Went to Surlingham after lunch; seemed fitting my last visit anywhere this year should be here.
The fog had by now worsened and views across the river were non-existant. Some Coot were still on the river, along with Gadwall and Mallard. As before, the reedbed itself was silent; haven't heard the Cettis for a few weeks. An odd highlight came in the form of a flyover flock of Goldfinch and Linnet, unseen; the Linnet was a very late patch tick for me!

With the day's action all but over, this got me thinking about targets for the year. Having only begun birding Surlingham Church Marsh seriously since August, I am finding it difficult to set a species total target. I would guess at 130 (although once I have set up my BUBO account, I may adjust this total next week). I also need to set those patch boundaries out more clearly. Highlights so far have been Hen Harrier, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Brambling and Green Sandpiper.
My individual targets for the site are as follows: Spotted Flycatcher, Marsh Tit, Garganey, Little Egret, Lesser Redpoll. I think these are all well within reach. An outside bet would be Lesser Pecker....and who knows what waders! In terms of potential rarities, the scrub and reedbed is crying out for a Marsh or even Savi's Warbler, and Red Footed Falcon would go down well.
I have not decided on 'bigger picture' targets yet, although finding something decent on the east coast goes without saying.
Best decision I have made since moving to Norfolk was to start birding a local patch. Thoroughly enjoyable few months here and another year in Norfolk. Thanks for reading, and heres to a cracking 2011! That Steller's Eider in Estonia is a little bit closer.........
(Oh, and a New Year's resolution will be to take more pictures, I know the blog needs brightening up. Now, wheres that Whiskey bottle........).

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Grey Phalarope- a new patch bird

The 7th of April was another bitterly cold Spring day, hats and gloves in prime position on pegs and in bags ready to be deployed. A few brave Garganey have been reported north of the river, but it was a bird from the north itself that had me rushing for the thermals and the telescope late in the day.  I was thankful for the local Whatsapp group who were quick to report that a Grey Phalarope had been seen on Rockland Broad. This tiny Wader would have come in on the northerlies over the last few days, although to grace one of the broads is a real surprise, since most stick pretty close to the coast before moving on. Indeed, my experience of the birds has usually been on a sea watch in the Autumn, waves crashing and foam flying, my eyes straining to pick them out as they fly low just above the surf. They are fantastic birds, and now one was here on the patch. I had a brief panic when I realised my scope was in my car at the garage (thankfully I do have a much older spare) but once the ho

Claxton-on-sea!

 Although it was not quite the Christmas we wanted here in the valley, the rain has bought its own gift. A grim vision of the future, perhaps. But right now, the patch is peaking and is alive with birds, and for that I am thankful. On Christmas eve, it was a job to navigate away from the village due to standing water that had left abandoned cars and undelivered presents in its wake. The rain had been persistent and unforgiving, the ground, saturated. Over on the marsh, where there had once been a muddy puddle amongst the pasture, a city had sprung from the leak, with a plethora of new occupants noisily laying claim to a patch of sodden marsh. Wigeon and Black-headed Gulls in their thousands now wheeled and whistled over and amongst the newly formed pools, accompanied by smaller numbers of Teal and Shoveler. A flock of two hundred-strong Lapwing enjoyed feeding on the less damp spots where green grass was still exposed, and thrown in for good measure have been a couple of Ruff, the firs

A change is as good as a rest

Casting my mind back to February 14th, survival rather than love was in the air for the birds of the Yare Valley. Tramping across the Surlingham corner of the patch, I recorded 8 Woodcock within 2 hours. These Cryptic Waders had been forced out of hiding, and even amongst the woodland floor they were easier than usual to spot against a backdrop of snow. The small pine wood opposite the church and adjacent to the parking area held at least 2 birds, creeping around and huddled up low to the ground. A further investigation of likely habitat around Church Marsh and I was presented with 6 more, a record count for me in a single day. I hope they made it through the trial sent from the north in the form of ice and snow. A Great Egret exploring a dyke at Postwick must've been thinking twice about the whole range expansion thing. However, a small Squadron of Bewick's Swan and a single Goosander over Claxton fitted the mise en scene nicely during this period.  That image and that day fee