The last couple of weeks.....

Since the delights of the Bee-eaters at Theberton, there have still been some really successful trips in the last few weeks. For starters, the patch has provided me with 6 big fat year ticks, including 5 lifers:

• HONEY BUZZARD
• Common Crossbill
• BLACK-TAILED GODWIT
• NUTHATCH
• COMMON SANDPIPER
• OSPREY

The Honey Buzzard was actually way back on June 28th (well, not that far back really), with it going over my own house with the local pair of Common Buzzards doing their best to see it off. This also allowed me to compare the 2 species really well, and enjoy this 116th bird for my patch life list!

Similar to the Honey Buzzard, the Common Crossbills were also over my house, with 2 over on the evening of July 14th. The next bird was Common Sandpiper, another lifer. Over the past week or so now, I have seen about 6 birds on the patch, an increasing visitor in July/August...

The next bird to go on the list was Nuthatch, where we had tried 3 times for this elusive bird in Shrubland Wood this year and failed. Well, on July 23rd, we finally saw one, calling and moving around the wood with a tit flock. Odd company I know, but its on the list! A Red Kite was also present here too. 

When I realised I'd missed a flock of 17 Black-tailed Godwits on the patch, I was pretty miffed! But, I was notified on July 26th that there was one present, so in the pouring rain we went, and was rewarded!

The 5th lifer of the week was seen this morning, where we had an Osprey over Needham Market town centre! Incredible views but unfortunately no photos. It was seen yesterday morning down Pipps Ford, flying west at 9:30. This morning, it done exactly the same, but we picked it up at 10am on its way west! We're going to try again tomorrow morning.

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A couple of weeks ago, we went to twitch the Black-necked Grebe at Livermere, which is still there today, and although it was distant, we saw it, along with amazing views of a Barn Owl too. I took a video of both the species as I didn't have my camera lol!

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Last Thursday, we met up with David Walsh, and headed for a days birding on the Suffolk Coast. Minsmere was reasonably quiet with no Albatross being a real shock, but we did have Little Gulls, Spotted Redshank and Ruff...

Then, an afternoons Gulling with Brian Small at Walberswick taught me how to id young Yellow-legged Gulls, and we found a Caspian Gull to join in the fun!

Adult YLG

3cy YLG

2cy YLG

Caspian Gull

Happy Birding!

Nunnery Lakes and Lynford Arboretum + Bird Quiz - Week 10

On Thursday, Dad and I went back to Lynford Arboretum to try and get good pictures of the Two-barred Crossbills. First though, we visited Nunnery Lakes NR (permition only), to try and see the reported Ring ouzel. We got permission from the BTO HQ, and walked round. We didn't get the Ring Ouzel, but we did get Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Great-crested Grebes, common wildfowl and 2 collared Canada Geese. One was AA7, and the other was ACM.

Chiffchaff

 Cormorants

Hare

Holy Blue

Marsh Tit

Willow Warbler

We then went to Lynford. We got 3 Two-barred Crossbills, 2 males and 1 female. Also, 2 Hawfinch flew over, and a cracking Grey Wagtail was on the puddle, but no pics were taken of him/her.

Brimstone

Chaffinch

Common Crossbill

Orange Tip

Pied Wagtail

Siskin

Speckled Wood

Treecreeper

Two-barred Crossbills

Bird Quiz - Week 10

I tried to trick some of you guys with last weeks mystery bird by repeating it. It was indeed another Scaup, which I saw at Barton Broad a couple of years ago. Well done to Rob Stokes and Jim Bradley for getting the correct answers. Unlucky to those who got it wrong. Here's this weeks mystery bird.....

Just leave your answers in the comments, and I will reveal the correct entries next week.

Happy Birding and Good Luck!