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Brecks stuff

Super trip to the Brecks yesterday morning, lasted until early afternoon but rain put pay to any serious Goshawk hunting. Began the morning at Santon Downham, the air punctuated by singing Brambling and Nuthatch, the former looking pristine in deep summer plumage. A pair of Sparrowhawk soared over the river, and an odd call alerted us to a pair of Mandarin Duck, which flew downriver before landing in trees. We searched briefly for Lesser-spot amongst the dead wood, and although this elusive bird was not seen an unlikely quarry was picked up in the shape of my first Cuckoo of the year.
Lynford next, and here Crossbill had replaced the Brambling in terms of sheer number of birds. Lesser Redpoll foraged in smaller groups at the tops of trees. A helpful birder pointed us in the direction of some feeders just outside the arboretum where Hawfinch sometimes fed. Sure enough, on arrival one bird was picked up in trees before she flew down and joined another on the ground. Best views I have had of Hawfinch, no doubt, cracking finches. Few pics below.





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