The Bagsy Blog: 01/03/14

Friday, 3 January 2014

Picture This - Blondie

After a night of heavy, persistent rain and near gale force wind there seemed little likelihood of much birding today. It's good to be wrong as by 08:30, full of Smoked Haddock, Poached Eggs and coffee there were already

c2 MUNTJAC

and the 'first winter'

GLAUCOUS GULL

at Edgefield in the log.

What this youngster should look like as an Adult.

Also among the 1000 or so other birds at the site were Black-headed,

Common, Herring and Great Black-backed Gull while just before leaving

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL

was also seen there the second addition to the 2014 List.

On the way there I had made a fourth bid for the Parrot Crossbills in the Holt Forest, and seemingly getting used to that now I dipped again on the way back after a hour of searching. The next part of the plan was to drive to Holkum and stop at the secondary (always locked) Park gate where historically I have been lucky 'scoping for Wildfowl in the valley opposite the long wall. Not to be disappointed, among the Pink-footed, Greylag and Egyptian Geese there were c4

(Eurasian) WHITE-FRONTED GEESE

the 'white-front' relating to the bar of white at the base of the bill.

At some time or other the 'birding' does have to come to a halt for mundane necessities such as 'victualling ship', so stopping at the Nisa Store in Brancaster Staithe a familiar 'rattling call' met my ear. It could only have been a

MISTLE THRUSH

which took quiet some time to break cover and perch in this tree-top.

With a bag full of sarnies, pies, apples and bananas the only realistic option that late in the day was to return to the Crossbill site (for the 7th time since I've been here) only to 'dip' again - this is becoming frustrating, but there's no giving up. Plodding the now well worn track, apart from there being no birds once again there were also no 'birders' - but what's that 'small dark dot' crossing the sky miles away.

RED KITE

I was told just yesterday that they were hereabouts and that

breeding in the county is confirmed.

This shot is just for illustration, one of those taken in France last year. Better say that before someone recognises the 'wing tags' and suggest the record is sent off. I did call into Titchwell about mid-morning hoping to see the c2 Twite that were reported from there yesterday without any luck. In fact lucky to see any birds at all as the water level has risen dramatically since yesterday with the many 100's of Lapwing now on the grassy areas, very few wildfowl and the Avocets along with most of the Ruff are gone. I did get this one shot of a remaining Ruff with a Mallard and was going to title it either

RUFF and READY

The RUFF with the SMOOTH

but decided not to!

Finally, as suggested at the beginning of the trip, a sequence of photos of birds already seen here and on the 2014 Year List. It is hoped to complete this as the days go by.