BTO Day

Had a great day at a BTO Young Conservationists day at Thetford yesterday run by the the BTO and Lucy McRobert - A Focus On Nature.

We got introduced to the BTO staff, and then got started on the workshop. I did Bird Ringing first with the ringer. I was enjoying this with Toby Carter, a great young birder. I handled my first ever bird - which was a Robin - which I released after being caught in the mist nets. other things we rung and released included 2 Blackbird, Great Tit, 2 Goldfinch, Wren and a Mallard! (which was quite amusing).

I then looked at Bird Surveys, which was more talking and less doing. Jim then turned up, and I completed a Better Birding workshop with him. I also met Ellis Lucas, another great young birder, and Findlay Wilde. Both superb young conservationists.

We then had lunch, and then we gave our speech's - nerve racking! All seven of ours went well, and then Jim and 2 other people gave their speech, while having a big talk about the future of birding.

It was a great day, and I'd love to do one again. I want to thank the BTO and Lucy for inviting me along and making the day really enjoyable.

Wednesdays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

Spoonbill, Spotted Redshank at Minsmere

Osprey over Orwell Bridge

Hen Harrier at North Warren

Shag at Lowestoft

Spotted Redshank at Walberswick

DUSKY WARBLER still at Oulton Marshes

Garganey at Boyton Marshes

Other News!

**MEGA** BAIKAL TEAL still at Pymoor, Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire

**MEGA** PIED-BILLED GREBE still at Co. Mayo, Ireland

Tuesdays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

ICELAND GULL, Caspian Gull, Yellow-legged Gull x 10 at Mickle Mere

Spotted Redshank x 2 still at Trimley

Little Gull at Thorpeness

Other News!

**MEGA** BAIKAL TEAL still at Pymoor, Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire

**MEGA** PIED-BILLED GREBE still at Balranald RSPB, North Uist, Western Isles

Mondays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

Redstart at Landguard

Garganey at Trimley

Spoonbill, Jack Snipe, Caspian Gull at Minsmere

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Brambling x 200 at Santon Downham

Other News!

**MEGA** BAIKAL TEAL again at Pymoor, Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire

**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

Sundays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

Spoonbill, Jack Snipe, Short-eared Owl at Minsmere

Shag at Stutton Mill

DUSKY WARBLER, Ring Ouzel still at Oulton Marshes

Shag, Black Redstart at Lowestoft
Great White Egret, White Wagtail at Landguard
Spotted Redshank x 2 at Trimley
Black Redstart at Dunwich
poss. WHITE-TAILED EAGLE over Beccles

Other News!
**MEGA** CRAG MARTIN still at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire (morning only) + TAWNY PIPIT
**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

Got a New Camera!!!!!!!!!

Canon 110D with 75-300mm lense!

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!

Saturdays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

Caspian Gull, Yellow-legged Gull x 14 at Mickle Mere

ICELAND GULL, Spoonbill, Hen Harrier, Jack Snipe at Minsmere RSPB

Garganey x 2, Hen Harrier at North Warren RSPB

Red-crested Pochard x 2 at Lackford Lakes

DUSKY WARBLER still at Oulton Marshes

Caspian Gull x 2, Spotted Redshank at Walberswick

Black Redstart at Landguard

Great Northern Diver at Southwold

Other News!

**MEGA** CRAG MARTIN at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire + Tawny Pipit

**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

Fridays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

Black-throated Diver, Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat at Kessingland

Hen Harrier, Jack Snipe at Minsmere

DUSKY WARBLER still at Oulton Marshes

Redstart x 2 at Minsmere

Redstart at Benacre

Ring Ouzel at Eastbridge

Mealy Redpoll, Lesser Whitethroat, Nightingale at Landguard

Nightingale at Westleton Heath

Other News!

**MEGA** CRAG MARTIN at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire + Tawny Pipit

**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

**MEGA** FORSTER'S TERN still at County Galway, Ireland

Thursdays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

Nightingale at Trimley Marshes

Raven, Spoonbill, Jack Snipe at Minsmere

Short-eared Owl still at Shingle Street

DUSKY WARBLER, Ring Ouzel at Oulton Marshes

Glossy Ibis, Whimbrel at Southwold

Slavonian Grebe at Holbrook Bay, Stour Estuary

Other News!

**MEGA** PIED-BILLED GREBE still at Rutland Water, Leicestershire

**MEGA** PIED-BILLED GREBE at North Uist, Western Isles

**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

**MEGA** SORA still at Lower Moors, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly

Cretingham

Played golf at Cretingham today, and had a great Woodlark over Hole 1, 2, 3 and 10 (its journey through the course). A superb find. Also had an Orange Tip butterfly with a Speckled Wood. A nest of Grass Snakes and another Swallow.

Wednesdays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

Black Brant at Trimley

Woodlark over Cretingham (BCM)

DUSKY WARBLER still at Oulton Marshes

ICELAND GULL, Raven at Minsmere

Purple Sandpiper at Bawdsey

Black-throated Diver x 2 at Thorpeness

Other News!
**MEGA** PIED-BILLED GREBE at Rutland Water, Leicestershire

Tuesdays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

Spotted Redshank at Minsmere

Black Redstart at Lowestoft still

DUSKY WARBLER still at Oulton Marshes

Raven at Minsmere

Other News!
No Megas

Mondays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

Black Redstart at Lowestoft still

DUSKY WARBLER still at Oulton Marshes

Little Gull at Landguard

Other News!
**MEGA** SORA at Lower Moors, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly
**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

Sundays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Black Brant at Levington Creek
Mealy Redpoll at Westleton Heath
Jack Snipe x 3, Caspian Gull at Minsmere
ICELAND GULL at Thorpeness
DUSKY WARBLER at Oulton Marshes still
Redstart, Bonxie at Landguard
Black Redstart at Lowestoft

Other News!
**MEGA** SORA at Lower Moors, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly
**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

An Afternoon at the Patch

Dad and I visited my patch yesterday afternoon, in hope of Little Ringed Plovers, Green Sandpiper and a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker that had been seen. We walked alongside the river, and got 3 Redwing. Surely they should be gone by now???

We then got singing Blackcap and Chiffchaff, and then a Great Spotted Woodpecker. We walked alongside the lake, and heard a Lesser Pecker drumming in the woods. We had no chance of seeing it though because of the foliage, so we had to settle with a heard tick. We then got Little Egret, 3 Tufted Duck, a brief Green Sandpiper and 3 displaying Little Ringed Plover. Great stuff....

But they were distant, and flying very quickly so it was hard to get a decent shot.

We then got a Swallow over before turning back to the van. When we got back to the van, we saw a second Green Sandpiper on a small lake, but after trying to get closer, there was no sign. Nevertheless a great afternoon stroll!

Happy Birding!

Swallows!!!

We all went to play golf yesterday at Cretingham, but while going through Earl Stonham, we got 2 Swallows flying over the road. Great stuff!!

Spring is here!

Yesterday, Dad and I went to Minsmere, in hope of some spring migrants. The day started off very well with our 2nd ever Blackcap singing and showing well in our garden.

We got to Minsmere, and the first birds were about 15 Sand Martins on the sand banks by the visitor center...

We then got a singing Willow Warbler outside North Hide which was a very early spring migrant for me. In North Hide, we got Avocet, Ruff and Common Snipe.

We saw a Stone-curlew in the usual place, but there was a heat haze and it wasn't moving, so not very exciting to watch. Out to sea, we got about 30 Red-throated Divers, which was a nice surprise, as we thought they would have gone by now. In East Hide, we got 3 Mediterranean Gull, Black-tailed Godwits, Oystercatchers, Ruff, Dunlin, Turnstone, Avocet, 3+ Caspian Gull, Pintail but no Spotted Redshank nor Grey Plover (as the were both reported)...

We then went up to South Levels, but didn't see the reported Short-eared Owl nor the Spoonbill. We carried on round the scrape, and didn't see Swallow nor House Martin (as the they were both reported too). We then got a very showy Cetti's Warbler outside South Hide.

We then went to Island Mere. But on the way, we got a few Adder in their usual place...

And a very showy Robin...

We got a cracking Jack Snipe by the hide, but not much else.

Dads

 Mine

In Bittern hide, we got a brief Bittern and Bearded Tit. Could have seen a lot more, but an enjoyable spring walk around the reserve.

Happy Birding!

Bird Quiz - Week 9

Last weeks mystery bird was a Common Tern, which I saw at Alton Water last year. Well done to Rob Stokes who go the correct answer. 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 answers next week.

Good Luck!