Sentinel at the staithe

Looking back to last weekend, with the Penduline Tit still not pinned down at Strumpshaw I set out on my own search at Wheatfen, just across the river and of course on my patch. Treecreeper were probably the highlight of the visit, with 3 showing very well and 2 partaking in courtship chases. A close fly-by female Marsh Harrier, 2 Siskin, Mistle and Song Thrush and a couple of Reed Bunting made up the rest of the birds seen, and I retreated home just before 9 due to the onset of sleet turning to snow.

With the nights slowly pulling out, I was able to get down the marsh on Monday and take in the evening commute. 3 Barn Owl, Kestrel, Buzzard and 2 Marsh Harrier were an excellent but almost expected Raptor haul. A Shelduck had joined the gulls on the small flash that has recently opened up since the wet weather, and more of this species were across the river. Plenty of Wigeon remain loafing on the river and looking across the river at the array of Wildfowl and Waders (Dunlin and Golden Plover new for the year) I reminded myself to get across to Buckenham soon.

Yesterday, Connor and I spent most of the day in The Brecks. It was misty and murky all day, and my poor run here continued. We enjoyed views of singing Woodlark. At least 7 territories were recorded. Plenty of common species were seen well at feeding stations and various parts of the forest, Redpoll perhaps the scarcest of the common. Siskin were singing and accompanied us most of the day. We searched in vain for the likes of Goshawk and Golden Pheasant, the latter seen in a cage.

This morning I had the WeBs count to do at Rockland, Ben kindly offering to take the Surlingham leg which had slipped my mind after a difficult week with one thing and another. As follows:

Black-headed Gull 53

Common Gull 2

Tufted Duck 11

Gadwall 2

Mute Swan 1

Water Rail 1

Elsewhere, a pair of Bullfinch, Cetti's Warbler and 2 Grey Heron. Anyone into their photography, there is an excellent subject currently at Rockland Staithe. I'm sure you can do better than the shots below. He has been there for at least a week now.

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

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

Search This Blog