Wagtail Ahoy!

Non stop rain since Friday has meant we have had a few inches of rain, and the golfing situations were a bit different than normal. Yes, alright I was playing golf again this morning, but it was only a skills challenge, so no 18 holes today.

I wasn't the only one sheltering from the rain, as a very energetic Muntjac running around the woods. It then cut across the practice field, into someones garden and back into the trees. Obviously it was afraid of the water, just like me! When chipping, a wagtail flew over my head. The limited conditions disallowed me to see the colours underneath, but certain identifications shew this was a Yellow Wagtail. I have now seen all 4 Wagtail species this year, including the White Wagtails I saw in France earlier in March. Hope to speak to you soon.

TOTAL BIRD SPECIES OF 2012 = 137

Hide from the Rain!

It's a bit early in the week for me to do a post, but the title of this post suggests what I am writing this about. This morning, about 5 Goldfinches were feeding on the neighbour's lawn, which is quite a good sighting for our area, but are getting more regular in our garden. Our Blue Tits did go 3 days without laying an egg, but at last, the fourth egg was laid. The delay was probably because of the weather. But this torrential weather has obviously not stopped the birds popping out at the East Anglian sites, as Bitterns, Ring Ouzels and Cuckoos are all being brave.

As normal, not a great amount of birds has been seen on the way up to school, or even back from school. Hope the weather improves and speak to you soon.

TOTAL OF BIRDS FOR 2012 = 136

You've brought some birds I see, Mr Rain!

Suffolk coaching today, and some glorious hail and thunder to come with it. when the shiny yellow thing did wake up, around 15 Swallows were dotted all over the place, but no House Martins, even though some present. Lots of the commoner raptors were seen in the local village, including Kestrels and Sparrowhawks. Goshawks have now sort have come to the end of their display time, so there will not be many strays around our area.

Saturday was another Golfing day, and produced Swallows, but a bit more numerous, and the local Chiffchaff, Treecreeper and Goldcrest. A general week at school, not much to provide, but a few Stock Dove have been seen in the woodland areas, accompanied by the yaffling Green Woodpeckers. 

Most days when I come home from school, one of the local Stock Doves pokes itself up in the garden, and on the rare occasion the pair are seen together. We now have 3 eggs in our local Blue Tit Nest Box, and will be keeping a close eye with our camera linked to the TV.

TOTAL OF BIRDS FOR 2012 = 136

Hirundine Spectacular

Another game of playing 18 holes of golf at on one the local courses, but unfortunately not a brilliant round, golf wise. Reaching the 10th holes green, 3 House Martin's flew over, catching insects in every possible breath. The local Tawny Owl was hooting amongst the wet hail that was falling from the heavens, but sounded very drowsy. At the clubhouse, a Pied Wagtail was feeding, with the commoner species (Chaffinch, Woodpidgeon etc.). Coming down the lane leading up to the Golf course, 3 Swallows were on the telephone wire low to the roadside, a great end to a Hirundine day.

TOTAL OF BIRDS FOR 2012 = 136

Fore!

Having a lesson at my local golf course this morning meant that I couldn't look for birds as much as I could on the course. I could have gone round the 18 hole course, but we had to go and get a curtain rail for our living room so that was a no-no. A few weeks back, I realized that there were a Common Buzzard pair that have been nesting in the broad-leafed woodland area. I have been looking over towards the woods every golfing day, but today it did not show. Rattling of Mistle Thrush's were putting me off my golf shots, and the puewing of a Nuthatch didn't help, but I still hit some good shots.

After me having my part done, and the other boys still to go, a Goldcrest was singing it's sibling song in the bushes behind me, and a chiffchaff was in the woods too, but both staying hidden. No proper birds to report, but hopefully tomorrow.

While driving to get are curtain rail, locally, a Sand Martin flew past the road and over towards the stream, and shortly after, a Grey Wagtail, (first of the year, same with the Sand Martin) sat on a roadside barn roof, then flew over our van, incredible. Lots of Kestrels on the A14, and a pair of Buzzards too.

TOTAL OF BIRDS FOR 2012 = 136

Summer has come early!

The first day of this spring that my Cousin, Dad and I went bird watching in Norfolk. I have already got 130 species of birds this year, and we're not even halfway through April. We first headed to Santon Downham in the Thetford area, looking for the elusive Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, where we parked by the side of a small track for a while. Unfortunately, it didn't show for us, but we did see Nuthatch and Coal Tits in this area. We then moved on to park at St Helen's picnic area further down the track. We walked around the church looking for Firecrest that we were told were more reliably seen here, but not today. My first Willow Warbler of the year was singing in a dense Hawthorn, and shew well on the top of it. The soft churring with a trill was being produced at the top of some bare trees, where Brambling's were feeding in small double figures (10-15).  We walked through the wood through to the river and alongside the trees. A nasally whistle of a pair of Mandarin Ducks flew over our heads and into the trees, lost from our view. As much as we used the 10 minutes to search for the pair of ducks, just a distant call indicated their disappearance. After hearing a drumming noise from the wood, we drove down the road in luck for the Lesser-spotted Woodpecker. we didn't see that, but I then spotted a very early male Cuckoo, hopping from tree to tree, superb. We then drove to Lynford Arboreretum, still within the Thetford area. On arrival we walked around the accessible path around the Paddocks to the bridge. Many small flocks of Crossbill were flying over our heads, but sadly not showing perched. We then tweaked on to a pair of Lesser Redpoll over the bridge at a medium level, but soon disappeared. We then got told by a man that by the Folley area we may be lucky to view Hawfinch feeding on the ground bellow the feeder. He also shew us a picture that he took about 5 minutes ago from that point, so we headed straight there. Within reaching their, a flock of about 10 Crossbill were in the tops of trees, a majority of them were males. After taking a few looks and pictures, we moved on to the Hawfinch, where I first found a female in a short ivy-covered tree. We were then fortunate enough to see 2 females feeding where we were told. Brilliant. A fantastic day.

My cousins link is www.jimsbirdingblog.blogspot.com

TOTAL OF BIRDS FOR 2012 = 134

Foreign Glory with Birds!

This was a school organised trip by my School, where about 40 Pupils were to go to France, La boulboule to be exact, and a weeks trip of Volcanoes. I did take a lot of interest, but I was always keeping an eye out for the birds.

I am not going to read out the hole list because I will be here all day. Black Redstart was a common feature to the French hills, and were very perky to our presence. White Wagtail replaced the Pied Wagtail in abundance, but the Pied's still breed. The same applies to the Treecreepers, with Short-toed being seen more than the Common. House Martin were very common, but Swallows were a bit late to show. This Female Serin (pictured top) was near a Castle we visited. Also a passage Osprey was flying low over a lake. Near this Osprey, a Great-Grey Shrike was sitting in the top of a Pine Tree, but then flew off. On a farm where cheese was made, a Cirl Bunting, (pictured middle) was singing in a tree.

Overall, about 3 Firecrests were dotted about, including 2 out of our Bedroom Window. A few Black Kites, Short-toed Eagles and Raven were all showing too, and Chiffchaff were present as well.