Cold but still the grebes are nesting

A trip down to my local grebe site where i still yet to see them dance seem quite an early pair where i was there last week there were already nest building and a even some mating though intresting because of the water levels this year moved there nest away from there usual area.

 

Showing the conflict between man and nature

Bonaparte's Gull

Had a nice day out with the Bonaparte's Gull in eastbourne showing very well down at one of the local parks and with a the sun out felt almost spring like and the joy of a nice walk back along the seafront to the station definetly an added bonus.

Otters and Dippers

On friday when up to Thetford for the wintering Black-bellied Dipper but what I did not see expect to see was my first wild European Otter  which was giving some good views in the shady areas of the river happy feeding at wondering experience.

After the otter had moved upstream decided to look for the dipper in the side pools which was where I found it again giving great views often down to 10 feet or less often just watching the water before having a hunt every so often never had this much luck with our usual dippers.

Day out in norfolk

Had a trip arranged with the northeast herts group for a trip out to norfolk so had been watching the weather forcast all last week luckly snow was not forget till last afternoon so headed at first to Cley first sighting of the day were the flocks of Brent Geese with up to 600 feeding together a sight when one of the four Marsh Harriers brought them up. On the main pool had Wigeon numbering over 1000 though not many waders with just Knot and Dunlin on the Lagoons with Shelduck, Avocet and a odd Shoveler. Then headed along the east wall where only birds of note was a Wren and Reed Bunting calling. Then at the Lagoon at the top had close encounters with a adult Little Egret and on the pool found the waders with Redshank, Curlew, Lapwings, Oystercatcher and Grey Plover feeding. Then with a bit of seawatch from the top with up to 6 Red-throated Divers, Grey Seal and a Harbour Porpoise out a sea. Then headed back to the centre where I had Chaffinch, Greenfinch on the feeder and a few Hares in the field.

Next we headed to Hockham where we had lots more Wigeon a few thousand feeding with a few curlwes and redshanks with them. In the distance field had Brent Geese and Pink-footed Geese i suspect over 10 Thousand combined a impressive view. Then headed down to the beach to hunt for the smaller bird though only found Meadow Pipit and Skylark but had great views on the beach of Dunlin, Sanderling and a mixed gull flock of over 5 thousand mainly of Black-headed and Herring Gulls before heading back with the day ending with a view of a male Sparrowhawk trying to hunt a flock of Linnets

Hyde park

After the snow and for a change a sunny day on a day off headed to Hyde to ctach up with the wintering pair of Beared Tits in Hyde Park showing very close though not quite in macro range happy feeding in the windy conditions which for a bird well know for hiding down when it windy was intresting to see.

Then after a few hours with the beauties had a hunt for the owls though no luck headed down to the round pond where the Common Gulls were showing really well along with the Starlings and a pair of Shovelers along with the other waterfowl.

Greylag Goose in flight

Tufted Duck

Pochard

Common Gull

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Starling

 

 

Shoveler