Black-necked Grebe

Got great views of a full summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe at an undisclosed site in Suffolk. The bird wasn't seen today, and some of you readers may know where I have seen this bird if you look at other websites.

Happy Birding!

Catching Up!

Really sorry about the delay of blog updates. I shall start off when we all went to the Tesco in Stowmarket on the 19th April to see the wagtail roost, as up-to 3 of each Yellow and White had been included with the Pieds. We waited about 10 minutes, and in they came. We immediately spotted a Yellow Wagtail fairly close to the van. A couple of White Wagtails stayed distant.

We all then headed for a bit of local birding on Sunday, going to Bosmere and Alderson Lakes. The Great-crested Grebe was on the nest, and I have also found a Canada Goose and Blue Tit nest which seem active, so I'll keep an eye on them. Wildlife at Bosmere included 

Chiffchaff, 

Blackcap (new for the year),  

Treecreeper, 

2 Tufted Duck, 

2 Great-crested Grebe, 

Peacock Butterfly, 

House Martin, 

Grey Heron,

Sparrowhawk

Green Woodpecker

Goldcrest

Jay

A shy but vocal Blackcap

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

Jay

We then went to Alderson Lake, and we saw;

Willow Warbler x 4

Tufted Duck x 2

Great-crested Grebe x 2

Blackcap

There has been a vocal Lesser Whitethroat near my bustop for about 3 days now every morning when I get the bus, but I haven't had the chance to see it. So I went to go and see if I could find it this evening. I got decent views when it came out into the open, but not good enough views for a pic. Got Common Whitethroat this morning by the other bus top with my first Swift flying over.

Happy Birding!

Another New Hirundine!

A Bike ride around my nature trail produced 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Yellowhammer, and great views of a House Martin. Another House Martin was present over Edgecomb Road, Stowmarket.

Great to hear that a Black Kite was seen over Stowmarket yesterday, and a Red Kite was over stowupland hall today. I was about 300 yards fromthe hall, typical!

Happy Birding!

Swallows!

We all played golf at Cretingham yesterday, and on hole 13, I was greeted by a Swallow which flew over. We were all split up, so we all saw something different. Dad saw a Grass Snake, and I also saw a Buzzard, 2 Brimstone Butterfly's, Chiffchaffs and a calling Chiffchaff. Another Swallow flew over Foward Green on the way back.

Even better, another Swallow flew past the house this morning!

Happy Birding

Minsmere

Dad and I visited Minsmere yesterday, and what a day it was. We started off going to look at the scrape, and on the Sand Bank by the visitor center were a pair of Black Redstarts, both females I think. The birds were viewed from the bridge over the pond....

We then visited North Hide, and all the regular things were around. Common Snipe, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Redshank and Lapwing were all the waders present. Also, Black-headed, Great and Lesser Black-backed with Herring Gulls were all present. On the way out, I had a look in North Bushes, and a Muntjac wandered meters in front of me. I was a little scared because these deer can be very aggressive. He just carried on his walk though so I was fine. We continued up to the sea, and a pair of Sand Martins flew over the reedbed, with a Cetti's Warbler and Reed Bunting present. Out to sea, a pair of Pintails North, a Grey Seal, about 50 Red-throated Divers, with this Diver a possible Black-throated, only because the neck is a lot thicker and no upturned bill....

We then went to East Hide, and saw a redhead Smew, and the birds we saw in North Hide. 3 Linnets flew out of the gorse bushes, with a Goldcrest and Chaffinch present.

Then the distinctive call of Green Sandpiper alerted me as one flew over the sluice and onto the scrape, a great find. We then went down to the Konik field where a group of Tufted Duck were present with some Redshank and another Snipe, with a Little Grebe. 

The a white rumped passerine flew across the water and onto the bank. It was a Wheatear! Unfortunately, it wasn't there for long, as some noisy dog walkers flushed it. Nutters! 

We were then directed to another 10 Common Snipes and a Water Rail, when Dad spotted a Bittern out of nowhere skulking about in the open stubble field.

We went back and had lunch, then we went to Island Mere and Bittern Hide. On Island Mere, 2 Garganey, a Water Pipit, a Kingfisher, 2 Great-crested Grebes and Mute Swans....

A third Garganey then joined the group.

We then went to Bittern Hide, where another Bittern was stalking around in front of the hide....

Happy Birding!

Waxwings In Ipswich

I went to work with mum in the morning in Ipswich, and, as we were in Ipswich, I asked her if we could visit the flock of Waxwings on Heath Road. Well, here's what we got....

We played had a game of golf at Stonham on the nine hole course just to keep our hand in. Plenty of Yellowhammers, a Green Woodpecker and another Chiffchaff.

Happy Birding

My First Sign of Spring.....on the patch!

This morning Dad and I headed for the patch fairly early, hoping to get an early summer migrant. An incredible sight first thing was a Little Owl flying across the road along Church Road, Stowupland. Great! Then we got to Needham Lake, and not much on their, apart from 3 Great-crested Grebes and a couple of Common Gulls among the Black-heads. We then went to Bosmere, and I got record numbers of Tufted Duck, totaling 26, with the Great-crested Grebe pair already sitting on the nest. I then got my first Lesser Redpoll for Bosmere amongst some Goldfinch and Siskin, as a Little Egret flew over. We also got 3 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 20 of both Fieldfare and Redwing, with my first Chiffchaff of the year singing by the river. Looking over to Alderson Lake, about 11 Wigeon were on the lake, but soon departing. A few Cormorants were also about.

We then headed to a place where Dad used to work, called Thompson Joinery. There were a few lakes there, so we wandered down to them. We got 20 Gadwall, a brief Kingfisher, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper with another Cormorant.

A Great afternoons high tea at Ickworth rounded off the day really, celebrating an important birthday with the family. 3 Common Buzzards were by the A14.

Happy Birding