Come in come out of the rain!

An excellent visit to the patch on Friday night. 3 Green Sandpiper flew over the lagoon calling, one belted off towards Wheatfen and the other 2 settled out of sight, so I was unable to age any individuals but these are my first returning birds of the year and a welcome sight on the patch once again. Another welcome return of sorts was a singing Grasshopper Warbler at the foot of the ruins. This bird has probably been present since May (when I last saw/heard it) but perhaps now is looking to breed again, after the wet weather put pay to an initial attempt? Who knows.
There are two male Marsh Harriers around now, one is a washed out individual and a little smaller than the smarter, older bird. The former was seen disturbing a nest, possibly of a Great-crested Grebe, bursting out of a small reed bed on the other side of the river. Thankfully for the Grebes, no chick in talons.
Still struggling for Butterflies, but a Comma was seen twice this week and a new for the year here was a Ringlet, pictured below. I was pleased to record Norfolk Hawker here at Surlingham; at least 2 dykes hold this species. A Hairy Dragonfly at rest was a nice find, again a picture to share below.
The much abused sightings board in the hide took a twist this week, the reserve being visited by not only two red data species but also conservation royalty. If you believe everything you read, that is.

That's my writing, above that of 'Dr. Mark Avery'.

Ringlet

Hairy Dragonfly

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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 th...

A weekend to live long in the memory

Saturday 12th, I picked up Connor around 6.30am and we headed to Waxham with migrant hunting in mind. It was clear that the NW blow and rain had dumped many common migrants. Every bush had a Robin, some more than one. There were also almost equal numbers of Song Thrush and Blackbird. As the sun rose, slowly more birds became active. Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Goldcrest and ticked and tacked from cover. Superb stuff! Overhead, Brambling and Redpoll were moving, and some did rest long enough for decent views. Heading out into the dunes towards the pipe dump, we encountered a female Redstart and a Woodcock on route. Still, birds were arriving including more Thrushes and even a few Skylark. Without much success around the pipe dump itself (a Robin with a sore throat gave us a headache for a while) we headed back to the car and onto Horsey. Although there were less birds around by mid morning, little clumps of cover were alive with activity. In the same patch of scrub and pines that last ...

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 ...

Notes from the valley

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