Cantley and Buckenham

A long and painful walk down to see the Lesser White-fronted Goose at Cantley on Sunday, now that I have torn other ligaments in my foot it just aches all over. The walk down was quiet not many birds about a lone Cetti's Warbler in the reeds and a few Tufted Duck on the river. The cold weather forcing the other birds to unfrozen pastures.

I arrived at the Goose site and it wasnt long before I was watching the Lesser White-fronted Goose with the 100+ Taiga Beans, I wasnt long after that when it flew behind the railway line just out of site.

Two Pink-footed Geese were in the flock along with 4 White-fronted, a Marsh Harrier or two coasted by and a Buzzard sat on the railway wires.

A Hooded Crow was picked out by Richard which wasnt the hybrid that had been reported earlier in the month, but a proper Hoody only my second in Norfolk.

We got a brief view of the Lesser White-front as it stuck its head up from beyond the railway before I then wondered back.

The way back I saw 36 White-Fronted Geese take off from Buckenham and around 800 Wigeon sat on the river, I scanned through these and the only different bird I found was a Tufted Duck.

More Garden Birds

A short spell at home this afternoon, and counted 23 chaffinch, 27 Greenfinch, only 5 Goldfinch, 4 Brambling, 4 Dunnocks, 15 Sparrow and a few tits,starling and pigeon. Also saw 2 Waxwing on the A149 nr Ludham/Catfield

Bringing things Up to Date

Its cold out there, and on Tuesday 30th November I was lucky enough to find my first 'flock' of Waxwings of the winter, to be honest I am still having foot trouble and am trying to rest it. But back to Tuesday doing my normal drive to work along the A149 at Stalham where I then saw the flock along the roadside I guestimate at 100+ but later reports suggested 210 which was quiet possible.

Sunday 28th November, had a day decorating the Nursery, birds feeding well in the Garden with a garden record of 16!! Blackbirds all of which were fighting to keep their own apple. A male Brambling was also showing well. Other birds (maximum visable counts) 43 Goldfinch, 27 Greenfinch, 14 Chaffinch, 13 Collard Dove, 9 Wood Pigeon, 7 House Sparrow, 4 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, 3 Coal Tit, 4 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 1 Wren, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Magpie and 1 Jay.

Saturday 27th November, A day out with Adam and James, we went to Thornham and got great views of the Northern Harrier inbetween snow showers, a quick stop at Titchwell and we had Brambling and Lesser Redpoll on the feeders, we also went to Wells where we had a cracking Male Northern Bullfinch and 4 Mealy Redpoll.

Sunday 14th November, Was up early and whislt filling up the bird feeders had a Waxwing over the Garden (which I saw on the Tuesday in next doors tree) and a Yellowhammer also flew over.

Saturday 13th November, I went with James to see the Pied-billed Grebe this was my unoffical 400th Bird (as this includes House Finch (innocent until proven guilty)) also my unoffical 15th Lifer this year and my also unoffical 310th BOU bird this year. We stopped at Titchwell on the way home and saw Twite. See the video at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0a0Jri6bWQ.

FriSatday 5/6th November, We left on Friday and arrived in Cornwall on the Saturday just before dawn and after watching the big fight live on the stairs of the hide (this was really sad and not the unhappy kinda sad) we finally saw the American Bittern.

30th October spent the day at Cley, after along time searching finally saw the Green-winged Teal before dashing off towards the beach to try and see the Albatross sp that was seen at Salthouse no sign of this on the sea was not quick enough, then went back to the hides to try for a better view of the Teal but I guess it remained asleep.