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

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

A Big Migration!

You would not believe the amount of Homework I am getting now that I'm in Year 8, its about 2 bits a day! This is why the Blog has been quiet. A lot to mention so I'll get on with it.

Some time ago, Mum was here on her own and got this having it's lunch on the garden!

Sparrowhawk

A pair of Yellow Wagtails over Bacton on Monday was a nice sight, and plenty of Jays around home and school - sightings probably reaching 15! 2 Sightings of the Great Spotted Woodpecker on Wednesday and Thursday. The Chiffchaff is still about but not so regular. A Skylark was over the bus stop also on Thursday, and the Coal Tit put in an appearance...

Past Picture of a Coal Tit in the Garden

An incredible surprise at Cretingham today was a flock of 5 Redwings seen several times going round the golf course with their bell like trill. The first for the autumn. Other birds of note included a Buzzard, a Jay, a Kingfisher, a Long-tailed Tit flock, Bullfinch, Kestrel and Goldcrest, plus several Chiffchaff. 

Going to Norfolk coast for a Birdwatching trip onto the coast, hopefully picking up some lifers. Only things that I think are about are a possible Blyth's Reed Warbler at Titchwell, Caspian Gull at Cley, and a Pectoral Sandpiper at Kelling. Anything else please let me no before tomorrow morning, thanks a lot.

Happy Birding.

Once Again

Having to have a bit of a wait to get into the house last night, I had a little migration count. I spotted a single Sparrowhawk drifting in the wind, along with several House Martins, numbers reaching probably 100. Another great sight was a flock of 5 Meadow Pipits going south with the hirundines. Dad had 2 Jays playing golf today, with a Kestrel and plenty of Chiffchaffs on the course. Happy Birding!

A Blog Post, at Last!

On Sunday afternoon, after coming back from Golf, I was in the garden hitting a tennis ball on the side of the house with a racket when I heard the alarming call of Meadow Pipit coming over my head. I looked up and saw 6 of them flying over towards Ipswich. These were firsts for the garden, so this will be updated on the Garden List page, so look out for that.

Then, I came home from school on Tuesday and Dad said that he had seen 6 Curlews fly over the house which I was absolutely gobsmacked at, and this is actually the first ever wader specie ever to be observed near the house. Superb!

Friday evening, we were watching the Masterchef Final, when a grey fury friend ran across the fence, followed by his mate. They were Grey Squirrels. 

The local sparrows weren't bothered at all.

Grey Squirrel Friday evening

Grey Squirrel Saturday Morning

Saturday was a golfing day, with a bit of birding in with it too. I got off to a good start when a couple of Jays came up from the roadside. A few Bullfinches were in the roadside bushes. I didn't get off to a good start with a double bogey, but followed that with a par regained myself. After being 4 and 3 over par at different points, I managed to regain myself both times to come level par. And I finished level handicap so that was great. Going round, a calling Little Owl was unusual, and a big passerine flock containing Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit and Bullfinch. The final action was a fantastic Buzzard that flew right over our heads and we got great views.

The Chiffchaff proving to be quite elusive in the garden now, but I reckon over 20 were at Cretingham yesterday, so they were good to watch. Always, I was checking for a Yellow-browed Warbler as there was over 70 in the British Isles yesterday. 

I also collected another egg shell yesterday, which dad thinks it could be a partridge or pheasant. I shall put a picture of this on next week. 

Weekly Catch Up

Because of the summer holidays, golf competitions have been flying out of the roof, so even on golf courses, some interesting wildlife can be viewed. We started off on Saturday, with a monthly medal at Cretingham Golf Club, which was Kingfisher full. I have seen these key fisherman before here, but not recently. We saw about 3 Kingfishers flying around ponds and over fairways. That was mainly it for that competition, which was made even better when I got a cut from 23,to 20, this being my handicap. As you may have gathered, I was quite a bit under my handicap (-4 to be exact).

The next competion was on Sunday, and it was a 9 hole course at Stonham Barns. I didn't play brilliant, but I went round in 37, with par being 29. My best round this course is about 32, so with a round like that, I would have won it. A nice sight though was a pair of Redpoll, mixed in with some Linnet, and Green Woodpecker families too.

On Monday, I was at Purdiss Golf Club, and another Kingfisher sparkled my round, but I still didn't play very well. Then, Tuesday was back at Stowmarket, and with the local Buzzard taking to the wing, it scared most of the other birds away. Another couple of Kingfisher at Ufford on Wednesday, and Rushmere produced plenty of Linnets and 2 more Buzzards. The next 4 days were all at Stowmarket, and a summary were Green Woodpecker, Buzzard, Linnet and Kestrel. In two of these rounds, I came in the top 5, incredible.

I took Mum to the patch on Thursday, and the Great-crested Grebe pair have still got their 3 young, followed by plenty of Black-headed Gulls.

Great-crested Grebe with young

Treecreeper

A few patch ticks were a Goldcrest, and 2 Treecreeper. We spent a bit of time looking for the Banded Damoseille too, and here's what I got.

Male Banded Damoseille

The last little thing is recently, I have been collecting egg shells, no, not eggs, just the shells. I have got 2 in my collection so far, one being a Woodpigeons, and the other one I need some help on readers. This ones the pigeons...

Quite glossy, a bit fatter than the other shell

Here's the other one, possibly a Collard Dove?

Please comment your suggestions. Thank you.

The day before this post was written, Dad and I went to Minsmere, so have a look at that to see how we got on, in a couple of days time. Happy Birding.