The highs and lows of February birding

To many, February can seem like an unappealing month. Still dark, certainly dreary and very much Winter. I can't disprove any of this, but I always look forward to the half term week and see it as an opportunity to get some seasonal birding done before the season begins to shift in mid-March.

Beginning on Monday 15th, amongst a few other typical half-term potterings I was keen to have a look at the Cattle Egret near Aldeby tip. The bird was frequenting a small paddock with cows not far from my friend John's house, so after a quick stroll along the track at Boon's Heath, he and I made our way towards the river. Passing the paddock, we stood on the river bank looking across at Castle and Carlton Marshes where a large Gull roost had assembled. A Barn Owl had begun to hunt on our side of the river, and a Redshank called before alighting on a small river side pool. The Cattle Egret then arrived from the south, giving us a fly-past before landing back with the cattle we had just walked past. We walked back and the bird allowed a close approach and we were able to observe the short-legged, hunched posture as the Egret fed around the feet of the cattle, picking up larvae and other grubs. I only had my phone on me, so took a few record shots.

On Tuesday, the weather looked perfect for a day in The Brecks. The conditions were indeed perfect, but I think this has to be my worst day of birding in and around the forest, ever. I saw very little of note, despite trying out 3 Goshawk sites, searching for Golden Pheasant, giving Hawfinch a go; the rewards just weren't there on this day. I did see the back end, quite literally, of a Firecrest disappear into a Holly bush at Thompson, which probably made me feel even more frustrated! Just one of those days. Instead of any birds, some nice Breckland scenery:

Yesterday, I was keen to actually see some birds, so headed to Breydon Water. Here, I enjoyed swirling flocks of Dunlin and Redshank, accompanied by Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Knot and Ringed-plover out on the mud flats. A superb spectacle. There were plenty of Wigeon and Teal, and a few Pintail too. I spent a while scanning for either the reported Spotted Redshank or Lesser Yellowlegs, found neither, and headed to Halvergate Marshes. I enjoyed a good stomp out along the Weaver's Way, and although Raptors weren't really in evidence I did see this flock of 23 Bewick's Swans, below. This was more my kind of birding, forget about The Brecks!

Driving home I saw 2 Barn Owl hunting the marshes alongside the A47. At least I saw some birds of prey over the last few days.

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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 the ho

A change is as good as a rest

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Foulden Common- Skippers and a Hairstreak

Been meaning to get to Foulden Common for what feels like years, and it probably is that in terms of timescale! I recall being poorly last Spring, and my days put aside for a Butterfly hunt there were postponed. Before long, the mid-summer doldrums had set in and all thought of Norfolk's scarce Skipper species were put on hold until 2019. And so despite the overcast conditions and lack of some Bird Therapy, I headed out this morning. Arriving from the direction of Mundford, travelling through Foulden village and approaching an S bend, I noticed a small bowl-shaped pull in. Doubling back I parked up, walked through two gates and began searching the common land. The first 45 minutes had me cursing the lack of sun and planning my next free morning before returning to work. A pair of Common Blue and Small Copper gave some hope, and a hoarse Cuckoo and 2+ Garden Warbler were clearly harbingers of warmer fronts moving in. As the sun threatened to bust through the clouds, I pic

Notes from the valley

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