25th February:
A poodle out into the Broads taking in some country
‘shopping’ included lunch at between Sea Palling and Hickling where 26 Cranes
were feeding in the field opposite the concrete pad we stopped on while a large
flock of Pink-feet grazed beyond.
Back in Lowestoft there were Purple Sandpipers and
Turnstones at Links Road and adult Med Gulls there and at Ness Point. Back in town the first Kittiwakes were back
on the ledges and proclaiming their exuberance.
28th February:
A day out in the Brecks with some of the North-east London
RSPB group that began at Mayday Farm. It
was a fine start to the day but it was not especially warm and there were no
insects despite the Cherry Plum blossom.
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| Cherry Plum |
Woodlarks were singing high above and spiralled around us
and Yellowhammers wheezed from the younger pine plantations. The expected assortment of woodland birds
included Siskins, Nuthatches and Coal Tits but there were no Bramblings,
Crossbills or even Marsh Tits.
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Hazel flowers |
On to the Goshawks which put on a fine display within just a
few minutes of arrival. It was rammed
with birders there so we had to park up the road but our chosen spot proved
very fruitful. A pair were up with a
spiral of Buzzards for over 20 minutes and two more were seen afterwards
including a male that got a thrashing from a male Peregrine.
Red Kite and Kestrel were also seen and there were
Red-legged Partridges, Lapwings and Shelduck in the very active pig
fields. Mistle Thrushes, Woodlarks and
Skylarks were in song but we could not find any Stone-Curlews. Two Brown Hares lolloped.
Pleased with our quick success we headed back to Lynford Arboretum for lunch in the sunshine. We had a good figure of eight walk afterwards, seeing a couple of Brambling in the ally but no Hawfinches. Marsh Tits were coming down to the bridge with the other Tits and Nuthatches and Treecreepers were encountered. The Snowdrops looked fabulous.
The track was taken out onto the heathy area above the lake
passing two Firecrests (that refused to show) on the way. Woodlarks were quietly calling and took to
the wing and sounded beautiful in the clear air. They will always be one of my favourite
sounds. A pair of Stonechats were in the
same Broom area and a Sparrowhawk flew through.
Down at the lake the Great Crested Grebes were contemplating
summer together and a Little Egret was sat up in the Willows. It was a peaceful
way to end a fine day out with friends.
1st March:
A drive out locally produced Brown Hares and a Red Kite near
Sotherton.
2nd March:
A trip to Kent began with a stop on the way down at Track 42 on Westleton where Dartford Warblers sang half-heartedly and a solitary Woodlark flew
over but was unusually silent. The Gorse
was blooming and there was just enough warmth to release some of those wondrous
coconut smelling oils. I looked for
Adders as it felt like that sort of day but as usual I failed! The pig fields were full of gulls and corvids
and I heard both Raven and Med Gull in the throng. Southbound now to spend the
night in Meopham via lunch with Annie on the way.
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| Gorse |
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| Dartford Warbler |
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| Grey Squirrel feeding stump |
3rd March:
Four west Kent ladies had recruited me for the day for a
tour around Dungeness and with a 10.30am start time it gave me a chance to pop down to the Fishing Boats first. I
pulled over not far past Prospect Cottage and was greeted by four Stonechats
and a female Black Redstart flitting around the buildings and Skylarks singing
above.
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| Stonechat |
Down at the sea it was amazingly quiet with just a few Great
Crested Grebes and two Red-throated Divers and the best bird was in fact a
dinky female Merlin sitting on the beach watching the world go by.
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| Hazy Merlin |
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| Winter Heliotrope |
I met the ladies at the Hanson car park and spent a very
pleasant day wandering around the ARC and reserve. They were a hoot and we all got along very
well indeed – the humour level was set early on. They were all beginners but knew more than
they realised and it was a pleasure to show them some of the expected species
including Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal and Shoveler through to amorous Dunnocks (stop
sniggering), Great Tits, Pied Wagtails and Reed Buntings. It was a back to school day.
A female Smew was found out back and Goldeneye were head
throwing and Pochards heads gleamed chestnut in the sunshine. Great Egrets waded around the edges with Grey
Herons and Curlews and Lapwings were two of the species they hoped to see. Oystercatchers
were already staking their claim on the tern rafts. A full adult Mediterranean Gull was on the
closest island on Denge Marsh with some Black-heads.
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| Great Egret |
Oystercatcher
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| Gulls and Lapwing |
Marsh Harriers hunted the reedbeds and Sparrowhawks and
Kestrel were found although Kingfisher eluded everyone but me. We ended the day down at the beach by the
power station. Cormorants passed up and
down the coast and a Great Northern Diver was a surprise flying close in shore.
I even showed them a young Caspian Gull on the beach – never
too new to be shown gulls!
We walked back to the cars and bid our farewells just as the
local Foxes appeared to await their regular feeder.
4th March:
I spent the night at Nicole and Jason’s house in Harbledown
and after breakfast I walked up the road and into the woods in search of Lesser
Spotted Woodpeckers. It was very muddy
but I had a pleasant walk through the frosty and misty trees. I found four singing Firecrests as well as
Nuthatches and Treecreepers and plenty of Tits but it took me an age to
eventually hear a drumming LSW although it was a fare way off and I did not
pursue it.
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| Wood Spurge |
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| Coptotriche marginea |
On to Oare Marshes which was quiet with little on the pools
bar a few duck. The tide was well out
and Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank were on the mud and scanning picked up
Bar-tailed Godwit, Ringed and Grey Plovers and a couple of Turnstones. Marsh Harriers were on both sides of the
Swale and a Barn Owl was perched up on the far side before disappearing off
towards Harty Church.
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| Black-tailed Godwits |
On again and despite saying I was not going onto Sheppey that is exactly where I went. I parked up by said church after navigating the roller coaster that is the Harty Ferry Road. I walked down to the view out over the marshes towards Shellness but the haze was appalling and I only picked up the Russian White-fronts when small groups of the took flight. Marsh Harriers were the only raptors out there but a pair of Red Kites circled over my head
The marshes were full of Lapwings, Greylags, duck and vast
flocks of Starlings and a party of 11 Corn Buntings were in the hedge below my
adding to my recent world Bunting tally!
A farmer drove out into his ploughed field, shot a Rook, stopped and
retrieved it, strung it up and ten walked it 100m out into the field to poke
the stick in the ground. I suspect he
caused more damage driving and walking over his field than the local Rooks but
what do I know. I am sure the Rooks
would not be put off by one dead comrade in a vast desolate field.
I stopped at the Capel Fleet viewpoint on the way out where
an adult female Hen Harrier was trying her best to catch Red-legged Partridges
and they were noisily shooting off in all directions. She was magnificent in the afternoon
light. There was little else bar the
numerous Marsh Harriers and two heavily barred Russian White-fronts flew over
me calling.
I bumped my way back out and took myself for a walk at
Crabbles Bottom. The Bluebells were
pushing through in their millions and along the edges the first Moschatel was
visible and spotty Lords and Ladies were unfurling. I veered off and checked on the Early Purple
Orchids and was pleased to find some fine rosettes showing.
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| Early Purple Orchid |
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| Cherry Plum or Damson - not sure here |
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| Old Man's Beard |
Goldcrest and Nuthatch were seen and my first Red Admiral
was on the wing but there the only bees were a couple of large Buff-tailed
Bumblebees.
Strood had not changed in the 20 months I have been gone and my old road was still strewn with piles of dumped rubbish and dead cars. The same idiots with no helmets on off road bikes tore up the road and kids on mopeds wheelied in and out of the traffic while the all pervading smell of cannabis and fruity vapes wafted on the air. Sorry to those I know there but just how I lived there for over twenty years I do not know. I visited The Boys before dark to reclaim the last
of my garden gear I had stashed in their garden and was pleased
to see that my old garden had not been razed to the ground and in fact was
still green. I was particularly pleased
to see the Wild Service Tree still doing well.
After a look through the scope at the parade of planets I bid my
farewell and headed for home.
5th March:
A day spent in the garden after unloading the car of all the
‘important stuff’ I had brought with me and the new plants I had accidentally
rescued from various garden emporiums.
It actually warmed up enough to get down to t-shirt and a Peacock and
male Anthophora plumipes also suggested that warmer days may be coming. Antony came round to help with some work on
the catio and to create the supports for the various climbing things along the
fence and ended up getting roped into putting up an ancient Starling box and
new Bat box under the eaves.
It had felt like a raptor day and surprisingly there were no
Buzzards seen but the Herring Gulls did find us a female Peregrine and at long
last my first garden Red Kite.
