Bluetail

With the forecast reasonable for saturday spent at pleasent morning down at marshside on the gloucester border spent watching the Red-flanked Bluetail which has been wintering a beautiful bird but a very speedy bird also great to see closeup in the beautiful settings of the cotwolds. It felt springlike as above were raverns performing and buzzards overhead and a added bonus of a pair of stonechats along the farm road.

Red-flanked Bluetail

Showing why its called a Bluetail

Buzzard which was hunting overhead

Winter walk at Therfield Heath

Last sunday led a RSPB walk up at Therfield Heath a very enjoyable day started well with Siskins and a Linnet in with the finch flock feeding around the bushes by the car park. Then walking up to the Icknield Way we had great views of Skylarks singing all around us and a good views of a kestrel hunting overhead. Near the top of the heath we had distance views of a Buzzard and a kestrel showed well on the wires.

Walking down the Icknield Way we had nice views of a few Browns Hares and a few of us had a Flyby Sparrowhawk where we saw Red-legged Partridge and Grey Partridge feeding around the field edges before stopping at the field near greys Farm where we came across a group of over 300 Golden Plovers then we headed back where we had a super view of a Green Woopecker feeding a good morning walk.

The many Golden Plovers

Feeding Greenwoodpecker

Suffolk and Welney

At the start of the month had a nice day out first to suffolk first stop was to Christchurch Park in Ipswich where a Goosander and had been showing well recently but on this morning it decided to just sleep on the bank!!! but had a lovely walk around the park with a great view of a Tawny Owl sleeping in the tree and a few Manadrins out on the lake and a few Jays and Green Woodpeckers calling along with Finch and Tit Flocks in the trees.

Sleeping Owl

Feeding Blue Tit

Resting Goosander

Next stop was to Languard point where Snow Bunting had been for the last week but no sight but was happy to find a few Mediterranean Gulls out on the water which was a nice bonus as I did't see any last year.

Flyby Mediterranean Gull

Then headed to Welney for the Swan feed which I always enjoy with the Whooper Swans coming in for the food that help them get through winter with lots of waterfowl closeup with hundreds of Pochards looking great in the afternoon sunshine and a few flocks of Whooper Swans coming in along with Wigeon and other Waterfowl flying in for the free dinner a superb winter spectacular with the sounds of the birds coming in can not be missed. Walking back was lucky enough to see a lovely Barn Owl fly across the reeds in the evening a great end to a wonderful day out.

Whooper Swans coming in

The Mass of Waterfowl

Male Pochard

Wigeon Flying in

Showing the water depth, this is usually by the footpath

Chiff-chaffs at Stockers

Last week at stockers finally managed to connect with 3 of the wintering Chiff-chaffs along the River Colne by the metal bridge with a yellow coloured bird showing features that look to me like the birds we get during the spring and summer which shows how tough this birds can be and a more darker looking bird which was showing features of the more Siberian style bird. Also around on site of note were Red-crested Pochards, Goldeneye, Treecreepers and a Goldcrest both in with the tit and finch flock around the wet woodland area.

Collybita form of Chiff-chaff

Possible form of Siberian Chiffchaff 

Male Red-crested Pochard

Chaffinch singing for a mate