Funny thing, I don't seem to have the time these days. Not that I haven't been out this year, I have, but it was only today that I felt compelled to post. Hopefully this will kick-start the blog again for the year which, even if nobody reads it(!) I do find it useful to look back and use it as a retrospective diary.
Numerous trips with the pushchair down to the marsh in January got the year list ticking over, without anything in particular to raise the pulse. Infact, bar the usual Barn Owl, Claxton remained quiet until mid February. Bird of the month was most certainly the Woodcock, with birds at Wheatfen on the 7th (2) and Claxton on the 21st. Patch scarce in the form of Bearded Tit were heard pinging at Church Marsh on the 14th, and a foray away from home at Herringfleet Marshes on the 22nd had 9 Reedlings at dusk together.
Into February, and the WeBs count was a record breaker at Rockland Broad with highest ever counts of Tufted Duck (26), Coot (13) and interestingly Gadwall (11) and Teal (2), the latter pair not recorded on the broad before. This was no doubt off the back of some tough weather which resulted in snow flurries and icy conditions. A nice surprise on the 13th, when Debs and I were driving back from Norwich I spotted a Ringtail Hen Harrier quartering fields between Ashby and Hellington. Not quite on patch, but a notable record and a reminder that continental birds are not nearly as fussy when it comes to habitat out of the breeding season. Horse paddocks are quite a step from Warham Greens!
I managed to fit in an evening at Haddiscoe Marsh, twice actually, and the walk around the island on the 14th was the more productive visit. 3 Short-eared Owl, 2 Barn Owl, 5 Bearded Tit and over 20 Chinese Water Deer the highlights of a crisp Norfolk evening. the 100s of Geese seemed on constant alert, and with the presence 2 idiots driving onto the Marsh and wandering up to their quarry with big lenses, it was no wonder. I am pleased to have finally caught up with 'this end' of the island, as I always find views from the mound distant. You do at least get the bonus of walking through Fritton Forest if you look from the mound, though.
This morning I woke before my alarm and was at Church Marsh just after 7.30. I instantly heard the distinctive, but distant, call of a wild Swan, which I initially tweeted as a Whooper. I later had to blame my tiredness, for a quite remarkable sight unfolded soon afterwards- around 100 Bewick's Swans flew in a near-perfect V over my head, going South-East. I was completely in awe of this spectacle. Finally moving on after I lost the birds into the murky horizon, it dawned on me that I had not heard a Whooper earlier!
The rest of the reserve was finally coming to life. A Marsh Tit sang right in front of me, 2 Bullfinch barrelled overhead and landed out of sight. A Great-spotted Woodpecker was drumming, and its larger cousin the Green was calling. These were all year-ticks. They were here on January 1st, but only now as the sun warmed the earth did they reveal themselves. Yet another Woodcock was flushed from behind the hide, and Wildfowl were represented on the lagoon by just 3 Teal. The Swans have gone, nice to hang onto these guys for a little longer. On the river, I had one of those Sinensis Cormorants, I think. Head very white and grizzled looking. I do have a photo, will get that uploaded for some input soon.
This afternoon, Debs and I made the usual walk down to the river. Both Peregrine and Golden Plover have been ticked recently by looking across to Buckenham, but today the action was all on our side of the river. A Short-eared Owl drifted into view, high, for it was being harassed by a Crow. I really felt for the Owl, for it was pinned in the sky for at least 15 minutes and was clearly shattered by the time the Corvid finally let it land. Like buses- 2 super year ticks come at once! Last year, I did not record neither Bewick nor Shortie. I will undoubtedly be birding even more locally than usual this year, and if today is anything to go by, I am thrilled at the prospect.
Numerous trips with the pushchair down to the marsh in January got the year list ticking over, without anything in particular to raise the pulse. Infact, bar the usual Barn Owl, Claxton remained quiet until mid February. Bird of the month was most certainly the Woodcock, with birds at Wheatfen on the 7th (2) and Claxton on the 21st. Patch scarce in the form of Bearded Tit were heard pinging at Church Marsh on the 14th, and a foray away from home at Herringfleet Marshes on the 22nd had 9 Reedlings at dusk together.
Into February, and the WeBs count was a record breaker at Rockland Broad with highest ever counts of Tufted Duck (26), Coot (13) and interestingly Gadwall (11) and Teal (2), the latter pair not recorded on the broad before. This was no doubt off the back of some tough weather which resulted in snow flurries and icy conditions. A nice surprise on the 13th, when Debs and I were driving back from Norwich I spotted a Ringtail Hen Harrier quartering fields between Ashby and Hellington. Not quite on patch, but a notable record and a reminder that continental birds are not nearly as fussy when it comes to habitat out of the breeding season. Horse paddocks are quite a step from Warham Greens!
I managed to fit in an evening at Haddiscoe Marsh, twice actually, and the walk around the island on the 14th was the more productive visit. 3 Short-eared Owl, 2 Barn Owl, 5 Bearded Tit and over 20 Chinese Water Deer the highlights of a crisp Norfolk evening. the 100s of Geese seemed on constant alert, and with the presence 2 idiots driving onto the Marsh and wandering up to their quarry with big lenses, it was no wonder. I am pleased to have finally caught up with 'this end' of the island, as I always find views from the mound distant. You do at least get the bonus of walking through Fritton Forest if you look from the mound, though.
This morning I woke before my alarm and was at Church Marsh just after 7.30. I instantly heard the distinctive, but distant, call of a wild Swan, which I initially tweeted as a Whooper. I later had to blame my tiredness, for a quite remarkable sight unfolded soon afterwards- around 100 Bewick's Swans flew in a near-perfect V over my head, going South-East. I was completely in awe of this spectacle. Finally moving on after I lost the birds into the murky horizon, it dawned on me that I had not heard a Whooper earlier!
The rest of the reserve was finally coming to life. A Marsh Tit sang right in front of me, 2 Bullfinch barrelled overhead and landed out of sight. A Great-spotted Woodpecker was drumming, and its larger cousin the Green was calling. These were all year-ticks. They were here on January 1st, but only now as the sun warmed the earth did they reveal themselves. Yet another Woodcock was flushed from behind the hide, and Wildfowl were represented on the lagoon by just 3 Teal. The Swans have gone, nice to hang onto these guys for a little longer. On the river, I had one of those Sinensis Cormorants, I think. Head very white and grizzled looking. I do have a photo, will get that uploaded for some input soon.
This afternoon, Debs and I made the usual walk down to the river. Both Peregrine and Golden Plover have been ticked recently by looking across to Buckenham, but today the action was all on our side of the river. A Short-eared Owl drifted into view, high, for it was being harassed by a Crow. I really felt for the Owl, for it was pinned in the sky for at least 15 minutes and was clearly shattered by the time the Corvid finally let it land. Like buses- 2 super year ticks come at once! Last year, I did not record neither Bewick nor Shortie. I will undoubtedly be birding even more locally than usual this year, and if today is anything to go by, I am thrilled at the prospect.
I look at your blog every day, Jim! Beautifully written and packed with fascinating observations!
ReplyDeleteVery kind David, thanks. Must try to update it more. Just been reading up on your local happenings- glad to hear you are well and out and about again.
ReplyDelete