Sunday 8th June - A MEGA DAY!!!

I WILL BE NOT UPDATING THE BLOG AS MUCH AT THE MOMENT DUE TO SCHOOL WORK. I HAVE 4 TESTS NEXT WEEK, 2 HOMEWORK PROJECTS AND 3 OTHER PIECES OF HOMEWORK. I HOPE YOU WILL AGREE WITH ME TO SAY THAT I AM BUSY!

With me trying really hard to get my first MEGA of my career this year, Dad and I couldn't resist not going up to Burnham Overy Staithe to see the Spectacled Warbler!!!

On the way we got a Barn Owl and Marsh Harrier at Fakenham Magna, which was nice to see.

When we arrived at Burnham Overy Staithe, and parked in the layby, you could see the hundreds of birders on Gun Hill from at least a mile away maybe more. We were on a bit of mission to get down there, and then wandering back to see what else we could see. On the way up though, we (intentionally) walked past the obliging Little Terns and a Spoonbill.

We got up to Gun Hill, and joined the throng of birders....

When we arrived in the group of birders on the left of the picture, the Spectacled Warbler was a bit distant, but very vocal, so pictures were hard to obtain. After watching its behavior from a distance, we joined the group of birders at the bottom right of the picture.

After a little while of sitting down getting sun burnt (LOL), the bird appeared quite close to us. We got amazing views of this MEGA bird, and to my relief, we got some decent photo's to look back on. Awesome little fella!

We then started to wonder back. We got great views of Sedge Warblers that tried to steal the show...

We also got the Spoonbill again, the obliging Little Terns, a Bittern and a several Whitethroats...

We then went looking for a Montagu's Harrier that had been seen earlier in the day but failed miserably! We then went to Salthouse to look for 3 reported Garganey off Iron Road, but we didn't know where Iron Road was so we left it there.

We finished the day at Holme where we got a Cuckoo.

A very good day to remember for when I get older, and hopefully this will be my first of many MEGA's to come????

Happy Birding!!

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!