Week in Pictures

Just a few pictures taken before work this week....

a good week.

Patch Catch Up

Sorry for the late posting of these but had a very ill family and have not had the time.

3rd Visit to Ebridge 21st February 

A brief Sunday morning at Ebridge was nice the unseasonable warmth had led to a large number or Reed Buntings singing on this part of the patch.

Early on the walk this Buzzard flew over being chased by Crow.

Just before reaching the end of the canal a Little Egret took off the river and a Barn Owl which was new for the year flew off the meadows.

Further along an amazing count of Herons with 6 in the same field all pictured below.

This Rook flew over.

And whilst watching the Rook I spotted this Peregrine flying high over the patch.

A couple of pictures of some of the Reed Buntings singing.

Last years young Swan nearly grown up.

Ebridge species seen this visit 34, total for the year 44

6th Visit to Gimingham 27th February 
     

It was a lovely crisp sunny afternoon, with birds sparkling in the sunshine, that is unless your this Kingfisher lurking through the undergrowth hiding in the shadows.

Grey Wagtail was also seen as well as Herring Gull which was the first for Gimingham this year.

This Canada Goose, Mallard and Swan showed better at least.

Nothing else really of note was seen.

Gimingham species seen this visit 25 total for the year 45.

6th Visit to Trimingham 27th February 

Gimingham was 'crisp' and sunny, Trimingham felt like the Arctic, a strong wind off the sea, bitterly cold.

The birds knew it to, with hardly any around, nothing special seen. The only unusual observation was the counts of Common Gulls which was 37....

.... and the count of 4 Kestrels.

Trimingham species seen this visit 22, total for the year 59

7th Visit to Pigneys 27th February

Arrived at Pigneys at 4.30 so it was a late evening visit. Was still cold but a lot less wind.

Bullfinch's were around calling to each other as I got out of the car.

Long-tailed Tits seem to be flocking up ready for roost, with a much more muted call than you get during the day.

A couple of Redwing flew over and this Jay sat quietly in the trees.

I then got down to the water meadows and was please to see that the Bearded Tits were still there. I then saw a Coot which was a first for the year at the site. Then a patch year tick flew over and this was a Curlew.

The rest of the walk around was nice, hearing two Water Rails, and seeing my second Kingfisher of the day.

Before leaving a Woodcock flew from the wood and headed to the fields.

Pigneys Wood species seen this visit 37 total for the year 60.

2nd Visit to Witton Woods 27th February 

It was late but the visit had a purpose, it was to add an additional species for the year.

The plan worked, after seeing Wren, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Crow, Blackbird and 3 Buzzards going to roost the Tawny Owls started to call. With at least 5 birds present.

Witton Woods species seen this visit 7 total for the year 20.

2nd Visit to Witton Church 28th February

I had the children on Sunday one poorly one fine, I dropped the fine one off at a group so had an hour to kill with the poorly one asleep in the car. I felt the best place for me to hang out would be the area around Witton Church, obviously limited to standing outside the car only.

Signs of Spring were clear in the church yard with these daffodils in full bloom.

But as for the birds, being only the second visit of the year I added many new species (12 in total).

The highlights were a Nuthatch and day singing Tawny Owl by the Church.

Also nearby a large flock of Finches were great to sift though, with 80 Chaffinch, 30 Yellowhammer, 30 Goldfinch, 20 Reed Bunting and 10 Brambling shame I could pick out anything else.

These four Magpies kept a close eye on the flock though.

Witton Church species seen this visit 26 total for the year 34

Total Species on the whole patch this year now at 98.

Also.....

Have been having fun watching the Peregrines from our new offices, although a bit distant they are visible by eye, especially when the male and female are chasing each other.  

The Brecks, a grand day out

The second trip out yesterday with my friend from work, she has always wanted to see a Goshawk so that was the target bird.

The forecast two weeks ago looked ideal to see them and even on Friday morning the forecast although not ideal looked good. But with all weather forecasts they seem to be 99% of the time wrong and as Friday progress the forecast worsened and rain was the main feature.

I wake up on Saturday to the roar of rain on the conservatory, I am generally a positive person when it comes to looking for birds but this did not look good.

We headed out anyway and a satellite picture on my phone suggested that the rain may ease/stop by around 11.

So with this we went to Bowthorpe Marshes first to look for the Great White Egret.

Luckily driving past the marsh on I saw the Great White Egret flying and land on the marshes to the east of the road.

We parked the car and walked down and were greeted with splendid view of the Great White Egret although in the pouring rain.

Other birds of note whilst at Bowthorpe was this Stonechat which as a nice surprise.

This Little Egret was also flying around.

A Green Woodpecker was continuously laughing although could not be seen.

We then headed to the Goshawk site and upon arrival the rain had stopped, we got out of the car and admired a field of Lapwing, Starling and various Gulls.

A Buzzard then flew through being chased by Crows and this spooked a few of the Lapwing off the field.

It then started to rain again and so I checked my phone and could see that in around another 30mins of so it should pass.

We sheltered in the car watching the Lapwings seemingly find food only to be chased by the Gulls and the Starlings for it.

The 30mins had past and the rain was just about stopping when all of a sudden every bird in the field and every pigeon in the tree scatted and were flying in a state of panic, I jumped out of the car and right in front of us was a huge female Goshawk. It quickly flew over both fields scaring more birds off their perches before circling around and was lost to view behind the trees.

We tried to view the bird though the trees but only saw the evidence of its presence as Crows and Shelduck scattered.

This pair landed close to us.

With the main target bird seen we headed for Grimes Grave to try see the Great Grey Shrike.

The area was fairly quite with only a few Coal Tits and Goldcrest around and no sign of the Shrike.

But just as we started to head back I spotted it in the distance, we got some views before it flew off.

We walked further along and then found that it had come much closer.

After this we went to Lynford Arboretum, first stop was the lakes where we saw Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe and this Oystercatcher.

When then headed around the arboretum we heard a Firecrest but could not find it. We then found a field of Thrushes that had around 20 Redwing, 9 Song Thrush and two Mistle Thrush.

The Song Thrush number at the arboretum were amazing with at least 15 birds seen, the most I have ever seen away from the Scilly Isles or on a Autumn migration site which is really good news for them.

On the bridge a fresh amount of food had been put out which allowed us to get great views of Siskin, Nuthatch and Marsh Tit along with commoner species.

The lake had a calling Little Grebe on it and a Water Rail called on the stream behind the lake.

We then walked around the paddock in the hope of seeing a Hawfinch but had no luck seeing one. Only a Stock Dove.

Walking along by the lake this Kestrel was showing well before we got to see a bird that we struggled for views with on the last outing a Treecreeper.

This bird showed well creeping up the nearby trees.

We continued around an then done the loop around next to the MOD site.

Around the back at the clearing we could hear a Bullfinch and another Green Woodpecker but couldn't see either. Then we got lucky and had 4/5 Crossbill flying around.

Upon completing the loop we headed back to the paddock for one last go at a Hawfinch, we got lucky but with a very distant view of a single bird in a pine tree.

We then got some better views of the Kestrel before heading home.

A total of 57 species seen for the day, not bad considering the weather.