Some half-term birding to blog about

On Saturday 14th, I had some old uni friends staying with me for the weekend. It was a glorious day so we headed to Horsey on the east coast so that they could be introduced to the Grey Seal colony. The seals appeared to be enjoying the sunshine and many were hauled out on the beach. A few pups remained but I doubt many were taking milk and indeed a range of colours and markings were present. Walking back down the Nelson's Head track, I heard the bugling of Cranes and was able to show the group a pair grazing in the field. We enjoyed a few pints in the pub before heading back to Surlingham for dinner. I was of course disappointed to see that a Great White Egret had been reported whilst we were dining, but then at least someone had seen it if not me!

I took to Church Marsh on Sunday to blow the cobwebs out. Of note were a pair of Marsh Tit and 4 Grey Herons, the latter making use of the exceptionally low water levels in the river, wading at knee height and catching small fish with some success. Back home in the garden, 3 Bullfinch were stonking!

Yesterday, I was a little put off by the foggy start but stuck to my original plan of Carlton Marshes. It was difficult to see anything at first, but as the Winter light cut through small flocks of both Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit were revealed to me. The scrape held 4 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, plenty of Lapwing and a Shelduck. Black-headed, Common, Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls were using the site, many passing through, but another white-winger here is surely only a matter of time. Other bits and pieces today included a Kestrel and Golden Plover over.

Early in the mornings, we are being treated to both Song and Mistle Thrush singing. Interestingly, they seem to take turns: The Mistle belts out his sombre tune, and when resting the Song Thrush kicks in. Two lovely sounds to awaken to.

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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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