Hunting, Hallowed Ground and a Hoopoe.

Firstly, a few patch visits to update (that's the hallowed bit, for those wanting to keep track).

The evening of the 9th was marred by drizzle and a slight drop in the temperature to around 9 degrees C, and although the reserve was a little quiet, I did pick up a year tick in the form of a pair of Red-legged Partridge, viewed from the ruins. Rarer than Redpoll at Surlingham! Also of interest here was a mixed Thrush roost, including Redwing, Fieldfare, Song and Mistle. The majority of the birds were Redwing, and it was a delight to hear their beautiful song in the evening light, the first time I have heard this here in England.
Back on the main reserve, 2 Green Sandpiper now frequent the lagoon and muddy margins. One less skittish bird allowed good views as it sat calling, preening and generally looking rather smart in breeding plumage.

Yesterday, the 10th, was undoubtedly one of the best visits of the year so far. Wrapped up for Winter again, we began the circuit with brief views of the Kingfisher before I almost trod on a Water Rail! The bushes were settling for the night but Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff all sang. On the river bend, Debs shouted 'Hirundine' (she is getting a little too good at this) and sure enough, 2 Sand Martins were hawking for bugs!
Another year tick was again picked up by Debs in the scope, this time a welcome return for a Little-ringed Plover. Two had been reported on the board, but this evening we could only find one. No sign of any Sandpiper, but a pair of Shovelor were new in.
One dyke in particular appears to be home to at least one Water Vole, and up until now only noises have betrayed their presence. A patient wait yesterday evening and we did see one plop into the water. Continuing the mammal theme, walking back adjacent to the church and the pinewoods a few small Bats were out hunting. Using the detector, we picked up both Common and Soprano Pipistrelles, the latter seemingly flying higher and appeared more wary of us.

Before this super patch visit, I had been out at Hemsby and Caister on my first real migrant hunt of the year. Saw nothing. Might give up Hemsby. To say I was disappointed would have been an understatement, so much so infact that I decided I had earnt myself a twitch,so called in at Waxham for decent if brief views of the Hoopoe on the way home. Well, you can't argue with a Hoopoe, can you? Also here a Swallow moved through.

Comments

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

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

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

Notes from the valley

Search This Blog