Wheatears at Landguard Point

My 2nd day in suffolk started at Languard Point to see if anything had come through in the southerly winds. So had a nice walk round with at least 5 super looking Wheatears around the scrub and lots of linnets everywhere a few looked like they were collecting nest material along with a Goldfinches and Greenfinches,a few Meadow Pipits and a single yellowhammer.

Male Wheatear

Linnet in the bush

Dunwich Heath

After day at Lackford Lakes spent a evening around Dunwich Heath nice watching the Swallows and the Martins coming in on the coast. The main hightlight was watching the Birds on the heath with a pair of stones chat out the heath and 2 dartford Warblers trying to out sing each other a lovely end to a spring day.

Female Stonechat

Male Dartford Warbler

Lacksford Lakes

With a few days off last week spent a few days in the east anglia region first stop was a visit to Lackford Lakes my first visit to this site though won't be my last.

Even before i got to the reserve was quite productive as I drove down the country lanes quite a few Red-legged Partridges and Pheasants where showing well along with a few Brown hares as well.

Red-legged Partridge in one of the field

Started off well from the reserve centre with a singing Willow Warbler welcoming me as i got out the car. Walked around where I had plenty of warblers singing mainly Blackcaps and Chiff-chaffs with a few Sedge Warblers and Cetti's Warblers in song.

Singing Willow Warbler

Blacap in the treetops

 Then came to the woodland where i heard the sound of a pair of Marsh Tits forging in the wood which I then found out why as people had been placing food on a nearby log where a selection of birds where coming down to feed with Nuthatch, Blue Tits, Great Tits and Chaffinches some of the birds using it as well as a Treecreeper and Song Thrush nearby.

Feeding Marsh Tit

Great Tit

Dunnock

Then walked along to the second lake where a came across a Muntjac Deer having a good feed. On the second lake a few Swallows where around and four Oystercatchers overhead and Great Crested Grebes were out on the lake bonding and feeding with a few Teal still around.

Muntjac Deer

Trip to Paxton pits

The 2nd saturday of the month had a nice trip down to Paxton Pits with my local RSPB group the day started off quite damp so we started off in the hide where we had superb views of a Treecreeper and a Marsh Tit along with a few Reed Buntings and a few remaining winterfowl on the water mainly Teal.

After a while the sun came and so did the sing birding so headed down to the usual Nightingale spot where the first bird was a super Goldcrest flirting around in the tree before the sound of a few Blackcaps and Chiff-chaffs singing away before we came across 2  Nightingale singing away but despite waiting never showed themselves. Then walked further round where we heard more warblers inging with Willow warbler joining the singing birds.

Chiff-chaff

After lunch had a pleasant walk around the south lake where the highlight was a singing Cetti's Warbler which we actually saw which was first for many of the group. At the end of the walk we saw of group of Swallows with a odd House Martin showing spring was well on the way.

After the walk a few of us decided to head to Pegsdon Hills on the way home so had a nice walk to the top with singing Skylark and Meadow Pipits around and a few hunting Red Kites and Buzzard. From the top a male Ring Ouzel was seen feeding along the field edge a good end to the day.

Male Ring Ouzel

Easter saturday around oxfordshire

With a few days off work and the offer of a day out in oxfordshire I took the opportunity. The first stop was Farmoor Reservoir where the first Hirundinidaes of the year where seen with a flock of 11 Swallow and a single House Martin was seen before further round more swallows where seen. Out on the water a few pairs of Great-crested Grebes where out but smaller number than usual and one pair where doing a little bit of bonding. A little further round the Red-necked Grebe which had been around was spotted fishing but quite distance i suspect the same bird from last year. Then walked along the causeway where the highlight was a nice pair of Grey Wagtails where in with the local Pied wagtails before a nice Red-crested Pochard was seen by the boats. 

Red-necked Grebe (image from last year)

Then headed to Stanlake pit where a sight of 4 Ringed-necked ducks where showing quite well feeding with the tufted ducks along with a good supporting cast of 4 Goosanders and Ringed Plover and Redshank on the shore. 

Distance shot of the female Ringed-necked Duck

Last stop in Oxfordshire was a visit to Stratfield Brake where a Male Garganey was showing though had to wait for it show as it mainly low down in the grass but worth the wait and a added bonus with a few Swallows and a Sand Martin flying over.

Male Garganey

Then ended the day at the Tring Reservoirs where the highlights where a Peregrine over Wiltstone briefly along with a good number of Swallows in a tree which was a nice sight and the two Oystercatcher on the main bank and at Startops the two Redshank where still around