2 Days of Cracking Migrants!

On Wednesday, Dad took me up to Winterton Dunes, to see if we could connect with some Autumn migrants. We parked in the car park, and headed North. We were hoping to get the Wryneck which was up by the Totem Pole. We joined the throng of birders who were waiting for the Wryneck, but having no luck.

I had a walk around the scrub the Wryneck was favouring, and found a lovely little Redstart, which was a welcome year tick, but the sun was in the wrong place for a decent photo...

Things were looking promising early on, so we decided to head north to see the cracking male Red-backed Shrike. On the way, I was walking through some dunes on the western side, and came across a small row of low trees. I saw a bird fly out of the right hand side of the trees, and then back up again. The bird had something about it that made it feel different. I walked to the bushes, and found myself looking at my first ever PIED FLYCATCHER! I called over Dad, and we got decent views of a superb bird!

We carried on North with a LIFER and a year tick, and got to the Red-backed Shrike, where it showed fantastically in the scrub about 20 yards from the path....

We also got several Stonechat and Whinchat at this site with a few Whitethroat and Garden Warbler. We moved back South towards the beach car park, and went via where we saw the Pied Flycatcher. We reached the group of trees, and the bird was still in the trees. Great stuff!

We got back to the scrub near the Totem Pole, and a very kind man showed me the Wryneck through his scope. It was in a dark spot in some trees. How someone spotted in there was incredible. Well done to them!

We then went to see the Barred Warbler at Eccles, which was another LIFER for me. It was a tough place to find, but the chap that showed me the Wryneck in his scope led us to the venue. What a man! We then had to scan the brambles, and walked a bit further south and found the juv. Barred Warbler in the brambles, though it was elusive...

Thursday - Minsmere

I was volunteering at Minsmere on Thursday, and I was with the Waveney Bird Club doing the Ringing demonstration. We caught several birds, including Garden Warbler, but the highlight had to be a cracking Kingfisher...

I then wanted to go and see the Wryneck in North Bushes, as I had missed it being ringed in the morning, I was determined to see it, and I wasn't disappointed. It showed well from North Wall looking back towards the visitor centre. We also saw a Whinchat and a Wheatear.

 Spot the Wryneck???

Happy Birding!!

Lackford Area

Mum, Dad and I went around the Lackford area yesterday. As I was on 90 for the British Year List, my target for the day was to get to 100. Day started off well with a Green Woodpecker in Norton, and a flock of Grey Partridge at Stowlangtoft. We then arrived at our first destination, at West Stow CP. We parked up, and asked a birder for directions for the Crossbills that have been showing extremely well in the puddles. He said "they're right behind you!" I said "it's not a panto mate!" LOL. Anyway, got all the optics set up, and waited for the Crossbills to come to the puddle. Loads of noise and traffic, so its surprising that they a re this tame. We got some great pictures of them in the trees....

They then came down to the puddle...

We then moved on to Lackford Lakes. As it is winter, the Bitterns should have returned to the reserve. I have never seen a Bittern here before, so it would have been great if we were to see one here. We started off with Marsh Tit, Shoveler on the year list, and a cracking male Goldeneye....

We then got a superb Kingfisher in the double decker hide...

We then got a flyover Grey Wagtail as we headed to Steggals Hide. On the way we got a pair of Egyptian Geese on the golf course

We arrived at Steggals and found 4 Red-crested Pochards showing incredibly close!

I then started scanning the reedbeds at the back, and blow me down I spotted a distant Bittern sitting in the reeds!!!!!!!!! OMG! A bit distant for photos, but the digiscope got some decent pics....

An incredible first for the reserve from my perspective. We didn't think the reserve had much else to offer, but we got 6 very distant Goosanders, including 3 drakes.

Finally, we went to Bess' Hide, to see the gull roost, and the hope of picking up something rare. We got in there and had the hide to ourselves. There was about 100 Lesser-black Backed Gulls on the lake, with a lone Barnacle Goose, 3 Goldeneyes and several other common water birds. I started scanning through the gulls and picked up about 3 Yellow-legged Gulls, and a adult gull that looked very suspicious. Either Herring or another Yellow-legged Gull. Maybe a hybrid????

What a great day. Reached 100 species!!!! We never have a bad day. So lucky!

Happy Birding!

A Good Choice

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JIM BRADLEY!

Just like to say a Happy Birthday to my cousin Jim Bradley (jimsbirdingblog.blogspot.com) I know his Birthday was on Sunday, but I haven't had time to do a post earlier than this. Hope you had a great day Jim!

Anyway, on Sunday just gone, Dad and I wanted to go birding. Dad wanted to go and see the Two-barred Crossbills at Lynford, but I wanted to see the Lesser Grey Shrike near Leiston. So we decided that the Shrike was first. It took a while to find the place, but with some directions we were there in no time. We walked down the bridleway with the big camera, and located the bird with other people. The bird was a bit distant at times, but other times it showed pretty well.

We then went to Sizewell, and we had a cracking time there. Dad wanted to see the Arctic Skua that's been lingering of the rigs, so we had a sharp look, and within 5 seconds, we picked it up about 50 yards offshore. My camera was playing up, so we had to rely on the digiscope.

My Camera - poor

Cracking Digiscope!

That wasn't it though, I picked up a flock of 20+ Common Scoter, a Caspian Gull, a flock of Little Gull and a juv. Black Tern! But the pity was, we missed a Pomarine Skua by 10 mins :( 

We then moved on to Minsmere, and straight to Island Mere. We picked up the 3 GWE in no time. Hard to miss really.

Other birds seen were Bittern, Marsh Harrier and a distant Kingfisher.

Happy Birding!