J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 8
January 12th - Holme
First opportunity since returning from Thailand to get out locally. I arrived later than intended following a lie in after a week back at work! I walked in from Thornham did a circuit of the shoreline and freshmarsh, returning to the village end late afternoon.
The sea produced few birds 2 Long-tailed Duck, 2 Red-throated Diver, 3 Goldeneye, 6 Common Scoter & 1 Red-breasted merganser. A wintering Chiff-chaff was a nice surprise along the river near the entrance gate. Plus more of a surprise was a Woodcock flushed from the entrance road verge whilst in the car.
Highlights in the morning were 7 Lapland Buntings along Thornham Bank, plus 2 Water Rail fighting in saltcreeks off Thornham bank, and a “cruising” Peregrine over the same area. I located a flock of 60 Snow Bunting in the saltings. Up at the Obs a Bramblin was being ringed, and both Marsh Harrier & Barn Owl were visible from here.
Finished the day nicely at dusk with 2 roosting Bitterns!
January 20th - Holme
Arrived at first light following Connor’s call on the Saturday - he had a 2nd winter Iceland Gull & a Twite (now becoming a sought after rarity!). I didn’t managed to locate either! Although I did manage 5 Pintail flying west just offshore, and searching through the Gulls constantly eventually rewarded me with a nice adult Med Gull. Other highlights were 16 Ruff on the NWT pools 3000 Pink-feet roosting out at Thornham flats first thing. Still 30 Snow Bunts in the saltings, and a single Eider offshore.
January 26th - Lynford Arboretum & Hickling Broad
Today was a daily tour for two people we started at Lynford and managed to locate 9 Hawfinches, plus we had a nice surprise with a male Merlin. Lots of Siskin around but no Brambling or Cross-bill. We did plenty more woodland birding at 3 Breckland sites and saw a good variety of species
By early afternoon we headed off for Hickling Broad where we finished the day with a spectacualr roost roost of 5 Hen Harrier incl 1 male, 60+ Marsh harrier & 1 Barn Owl We also had 9 Bewick’s Swan flew north, plus 2 Cranes just as the light was fading.
January 27th - Themelthorpe
In the garden, Nuthatch, 2 Great Sp. Woodpecker plus briefly 2 Common Redpoll feeding on Niger seed feeders!!
First opportunity since returning from Thailand to get out locally. I arrived later than intended following a lie in after a week back at work! I walked in from Thornham did a circuit of the shoreline and freshmarsh, returning to the village end late afternoon.
The sea produced few birds 2 Long-tailed Duck, 2 Red-throated Diver, 3 Goldeneye, 6 Common Scoter & 1 Red-breasted merganser. A wintering Chiff-chaff was a nice surprise along the river near the entrance gate. Plus more of a surprise was a Woodcock flushed from the entrance road verge whilst in the car.
Highlights in the morning were 7 Lapland Buntings along Thornham Bank, plus 2 Water Rail fighting in saltcreeks off Thornham bank, and a “cruising” Peregrine over the same area. I located a flock of 60 Snow Bunting in the saltings. Up at the Obs a Bramblin was being ringed, and both Marsh Harrier & Barn Owl were visible from here.
Finished the day nicely at dusk with 2 roosting Bitterns!
January 20th - Holme
Arrived at first light following Connor’s call on the Saturday - he had a 2nd winter Iceland Gull & a Twite (now becoming a sought after rarity!). I didn’t managed to locate either! Although I did manage 5 Pintail flying west just offshore, and searching through the Gulls constantly eventually rewarded me with a nice adult Med Gull. Other highlights were 16 Ruff on the NWT pools 3000 Pink-feet roosting out at Thornham flats first thing. Still 30 Snow Bunts in the saltings, and a single Eider offshore.
January 26th - Lynford Arboretum & Hickling Broad
Today was a daily tour for two people we started at Lynford and managed to locate 9 Hawfinches, plus we had a nice surprise with a male Merlin. Lots of Siskin around but no Brambling or Cross-bill. We did plenty more woodland birding at 3 Breckland sites and saw a good variety of species
By early afternoon we headed off for Hickling Broad where we finished the day with a spectacualr roost roost of 5 Hen Harrier incl 1 male, 60+ Marsh harrier & 1 Barn Owl We also had 9 Bewick’s Swan flew north, plus 2 Cranes just as the light was fading.
January 27th - Themelthorpe
In the garden, Nuthatch, 2 Great Sp. Woodpecker plus briefly 2 Common Redpoll feeding on Niger seed feeders!!