Lakenheath Fen

A bit early for the Orioles, but there was still plenty to see at Lakenheath Fen. We started off with a Cuckoo flying over the van in the village Lakenheath, adding another new one on the list. We got to Lakenheath Fen, and the car park was full - all because of that Red-footed Falcon. So we had to park near where the staff do. Another 2 species on the list immediately were Sedge Warbler and Hobby, the latter lying over the visitor center.

Reed Bunting and Warbler were also present

We then got to Joist Fen viewpoint, where a lot of people gathered to see the R-F Falcon. Minutes before we got there it was showing well over the hide, but when we got there it was quite distant. It did get closer, as did a Red Kite. One of the resident Cranes also took to the stage...

Red Kite

Red-footed Falcon

Crane

We then stumbled across a perching Sedge Warbler and one of plenty Whitethroat's

Then we went to the wash, and we got my first Common Tern of the year flying down stream, along with a smashing Red Kite.

WE then went to Lackford Lakes in the hope of a Turtle Dove. We got a singing Nightingale, but no Turtle Doves. We did however get a Kingfisher and my first Arctic Tern of the year. There were 3 Black Tern on the sailing lake, but they weren't there in the afternoon. We also saw a distant Cuckoo.

Mum and I went round my Aunties last night as she has got a pair of Turtle Doves in her garden. I got a flying bird which was great. Also a pair of Stock Dove feeding under the feeders. 

Blue Tit nest-box update:

9 eggs!!!!!!!

Happy Birding!

Barton Broad and Stubb Mill

Another 7 species was added to the year list after Dad and I visited Barton Broad and Stubb Mill (Hickling Broad) making the list total 110. By the 7th January last year, I had only 64 species! Anyway, we started off the day going to Barton Broad, and going through Repps we saw a Whooper Swan fly across the road which was a bit of a surprise. We got to Barton Broad, and were greeted with a flock of Siskin with a few Lesser Redpoll amongst them. We got to the viewing platform, and got onto the juvenile Scaup that has been lingering here.

There were also plenty of other birds here, like Goldeneye....

Canada Geese....

A couple of Pochard

Great-crested Grebes....

And plenty of Tufted Ducks...

We then moved on to Hickling Broad, at the raptor roost where it is known as Stubb Mill. We were the first to get there, and arriving at 2:30pm gave us plenty of time to scan. These are all videos because it was too dark for photos!

A male Hen Harrier

4 Common Crane coming into roost

And a delightful Barn Owl

We also picked up Grey Partridge, 3 Merlin, 2 Stonechat, 10,00+ Pink-footed Geese with 2 White-fronts, 25+ Marsh Harrier, a brief Woodcock and an Egyptian Goose.

It has been an active week in the garden. We have had regular Long-tailed Tits, the Common Gull and a Fieldfare in the tree - a first that has landed in the garden. This morning in fact, we had another Fieldfare in the garden, incredible.

School was closed yesterday, so I was working with Mum, but we did get a look in at the patch for 5 minutes at Needham Lakes, and shocked to see 5 Wigeon there. I never knew they came there in the winter. Brilliant. Bosmere was frozen, so nothing on there. Also some Common Gulls at Needham Lakes too.

2 of 5 Wigeon

Happy Birding