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Friday 26 February 2016

24-02-16 Woodoaks Farm

Red Kite (1), Common Buzzard (2), Black-headed Gull (c250), Feral Rock Dove (3), Stock Dove (95), Woodpigeon, Collared Dove (12), Little Owl (pair in old orchard), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Pied Wagtail (c30), Meadow Pipit (2), Wren, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Mistle Thrush (pair), Firecrest (2+), Goldcrest (1), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Jay (1), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch.
 


                                    One of a possible three Firecrest at Ladywalk Wood.

Other observers have now confirmed that three birds were present with the most recent sighting noted on the 25th Feb at 17:00 in the vicinity of the dump area at Ladywalk Wood.

Saturday 20 February 2016

19-02-16 North Norfolk


An early morning start began at Snettisham in cold but very sunny conditions. Frost was still present on the footpaths which made walking easy considering their wet, muddy condition at this time of year. I made my way from the main car park towards the gravel pits and then up along the shore visiting the hides. A full list of species observed as follows:-

RSPB Snettisham
Little Grebe (4), Great Cormorant, Little Egret (1), Greylag Goose (c200), Canada Goose (6), Egyptian Goose (3), Pink-footed Goose (c1000), Brent Goose (c500 dark-bellied), Common Shelduck (c1000 on the wash), Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye (10), Red-breasted Merganser (1), Common Pheasant, Grey Partridge (2), Red-legged Partridge, Western Marsh Harrier (2), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (1), Peregrine Falcon (1), Merlin (1), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Ringed Plover (1), European Golden Plover (c1000 on the wash), Northern Lapwing, Common Redshank, Eurasian Curlew, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon (c1000 flushed from fields behind pits), Collared Dove, Pied Wagtail, Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Common Reed Bunting (9).

I then drove north passing Hunstanton to reach RSPB Titchwell mid-morning. Due to the school holidays the reserve was very busy but despite this, and the fact active shooting was taking place just off the reserve, there was plenty of avifauna to see.
A full list of species as follows:-

RSPB Titchwell
Little Grebe (4), Great Crested Grebe (3 on sea), Great Cormorant, Little Egret (2), Greylag Goose (pair), Brent Goose (55 dark-bellied), Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail (5), Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye (on reserve and on sea), Red-breasted Merganser (on sea), Common Scoter (5 on sea), Common Pheasant, Western Marsh Harrier (3), Common Kestrel (1), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Pied Avocet (43), Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Northern Lapwing, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Dunlin, Common Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit (150 on beach), Eurasian Curlew, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake (2), Woodpigeon, Goldcrest, Pied Wagtail, Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit (2), Water Pipit (1), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Cetti's Warbler (1), European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Common Reed Bunting.


 
                                                                    Sanderling

                                                                   Grey Plover
                                                                  Brent Goose

After a fantastic morning and early afternoon I decided to head south to the WWT Welney. On arrival the weather was still sunny but the wind had picked up a bit. Before entering the visitor centre I noticed a large gathering of House Sparrow feeding on spilt grain and amongst them was a single Tree Sparrow. I then headed off through the new visitor centre, well new to me anyway as I hadn't been here for many years, and onto the reserve. A full list of species observed as follows:-

WWT Welney
Great Crested Grebe (1), Great Cormorant, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan (32), Greylag Goose, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail (4), Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Smew (1 redhead), Common Pheasant, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Common Buzzard (2), Common Kestrel (1), Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe (1), Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler (2), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow (1), Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting (8).

                                                              Whooper Swan



                                                     Mating pair of Whooper Swan

Tuesday 16 February 2016

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm

An afternoon visit in sunny but cold conditions provided the following species:-
Little Grebe (1), Great Crested Grebe (pair), Great Cormorant (1), Grey Heron (1), Mute Swan (pair), Greylag Goose (12 Lynsters Farm), Canada Goose (69 Lynsters Farm), Egyptian Goose (2), Eurasian Wigeon (2 Lynsters Farm), Common Teal (2), Mallard (9), Northern Shoveler (1), Common Pochard (4), Tufted Duck (5), Common Moorhen (16), Eurasian Coot (11), Red Kite (4), Common Buzzard (2), Black-headed Gull, Feral Rock Dove (4 Lynsters Farm), Stock Dove (6 Lynsters Farm), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (2), Green Woodpecker (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (2), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Redwing (35), Fieldfare (3), Common Chiffchaff (3), Goldcrest (2), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (1), Eurasian Jay (1), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw (22 Lynsters Farm), Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch (9).

                                             Redwing viewed from the Clubhouse Hide.

Tuesday 9 February 2016

WWT London Wetland Centre

An afternoon visit in bright conditions provided the following species:-
Little Grebe (1), Great Crested Grebe (1), Great Cormorant (28), Grey Heron (3), Canada Goose (4 pairs), Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Water Rail (4), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Feral Rock Dove (1), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (2), Green Woodpecker (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler (4 singing male), Goldcrest (3), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw (4), Carrion Crow, Common Starling, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch (1), Eurasian Siskin (15).


                                                            Green Woodpecker (male).



                                                          European Robin.



                                                         Eurasian Siskin (female).



                                                          Eurasian Siskin (male).

                                                            Common Teal (male).



                                                           Tufted Duck (female).

Monday 1 February 2016

Scotsbridge Mill water meadow & Stockers Lake

An early morning visit to Scotsbridge Mill in mild but windy conditions provided the following species:-
Little Egret (2), Grey Heron (1), Mallard (2), Common Moorhen (1), Red Kite (2), Common Buzzard (2), Common Kestrel (1), Woodcock (1), Common Pheasant (1), Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush (4), Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (1), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch.
A Woodcock was flushed near the old water cress beds and was my second sighting in a week from this site.
I then visited Stockers Lake where the following species of interest were seen:- 
Little Egret (1), Red-crested Pochard (8), Common Goldeneye (6), Goosander (male), Red Kite (2), Peregrine Falcon (1), Northern Lapwing (71), Common Kingfisher (1), Great Black-backed Gull (1), Common Magpie (nest building), Eurasian Siskin (c50).
While at the Tern Hide I spotted a Peregrine Falcon in flight over the far side of the lake. On the water a group of eight Red-crested Pochard were busily diving for weed and a single male Goosander was observed below the heronry.