Garganey at Lakenheath

After a heavy cold endured over the weekend it was nice to get out this morning. We stopped first at Cavenham where we scoped five Stone Curlew and five Wheatear. A Woodlark sang behind us but stopped every time I tried to get Dad onto it. A single Lesser Redpoll was seen with Linnets and the heath held many Stonechat and Skylarks along with Red-legged Partridge and Lapwing. Red Kite, Buzzard and Kestrel flew over and the lake held Shoveler, Shelduck and Greylags.

Following the success at Cavenham we headed up the road to Lakenheath where whilst scanning for Water Pipit we picked out at least six Garganey which we think could be our highest single site count. Four Great Egrets were seen but little else of note.

Three Garganey (two drakes and a duck)

Three Garganey and a Greylag

Three Garganey to illustrate how difficult it can be to see them

Two Garganey

Great White

Stonechat

year list now 176

Ring Ouzel at KGV

I planned to walk the reservoir this morning but other commitments took over so I didn't make it until about 3.30pm. The Jims came with me and we scanned the causeway to find our first Wheatears of the year followed later by our first Sand Martins too. Jim picked out the wintering Slav Grebe and we met Simon W and John on the causeway too. As we scanned the reservoir Simon gave a loud shout to let us know he'd found a female Ring Ouzel and we walked down to the sailing club to enjoy nice views before leaving having bagged three nice early year ticks.

Year list now 174

Jack Snipe at Amwell

We were due to visit Walthamstow reservoir to sort out new permits for KGV but the guy their was having printer issues so asked us to delay the visit for a week or so and with that in mind we decided to use the short window we had to visit Amwell where Jim eventually located the Jack Snipe feeding with a Common Snipe in a puddle along the cut reed from James hide. Lot's of Chiffchaff gave the Jims a second year tick but we found little else of note in the limited time we had today.

Jack Snipe (left) Common Snipe (right)

Jack Snipe (centre) showing how well the camo works

Common Snipe (front) Jack Snipe (behind the Common)

Year list now 171

First Chiffchaffs of the year

Time has really been at a premium of late but I managed a brief walk along the sea wall at Rainham this week where I saw Spoonbill, Sparrowhawk and Marsh Harriers of note and then Thursday I had a quick walk over Sewardstone marsh where I found my first Chiffchaffs of the year and a single Cattle Egret before taking a walk out to the causeway and back at KGV where the only highlight was a drake Smew.

Cattle Egret

Drake Smew with a pair of Goldeneye

year list now 170

Frampton RSPB

I've walked the foreshore at Rainham twice this week as I was collecting my grandson from school close by and on the second walk located a single Water Pipit for my trouble. Following on from these short walks I visited Frampton today with Jim in the hope of adding another year tick or two in the limited time I now find for my hobby.

We arrived at 7.30 and found the Lesser Yellowlegs on the pool by the car park before it flew to the far corner of the marsh. Ruff and Redshank were present along with Pintail and Wigeon. A large herd of Whooper Swan flew over calling before we moved on down the track where we found the Green-winged Teal with surprising ease. Dunlin, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Oystercatchers, Ringed Plover, Avocet, Balckwit etc made up the bulk of the birds on the marsh but we did also find a few Med Gulls whilst searching in vain for Little Gulls to bring about a healthy day list total of 76 species.

Golden Plover

Goldeneye

Lapwing

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Ruff

Ruff

Ruff

Whooper Swans

Whoopers

Year list now 169 as we await the spring arrivals to nudge the list along further.

More Waxwings

I returned to the Loughton Waxwings this morning, being only half a mile from home I just had to do it and enjoyed a couple of hours watching these cracking winter visitors and bumped into a few local birders too which is always good.

Waxwings in Loughton again

I've seen Waxwings a couple of times this year and I've had Waxwings in Loughton before, in fact I've had them in the garden on a couple of occasions over the years but Waxwings haven't been seen in Loughton or at least haven't been reported as seen since 2013 so when reports came through of some by Roding Valley School on 10th February I took a look but couldn't find them. Again on 24th February "a flock" was reported on Vere Road so again I took a look around with no joy and I was starting to think they could be just mis ID'd Starlings but when a report came out today of 22 by the Wickes store in Loughton less than a mile from home I couldn't help but pop out for a look and this time I did find the birds, 24 of them sat in a tree opposite the junction between Wickes and Toolstation. The birds dropped to feed on some Cotoneaster berries but were spooked by an alarming Blackbird and flew off high over the Wickes building. 

Most of the birds reported in Loughton over the years are Waxwing. They account for 28 of the 36 reports on birdguides or almost 80% so we're not exactly on the mega highway here. The other reports for Loughton include possible Night Heron and possible Spoonbill along with Great Egret, Meally Redpoll, Red Kite and Hobby. Interestingly Hobby is now annual over my Loughton garden and Red Kite can now be seen almost daily.

I might have another go with these Waxwings if they hang around.

Great grey Shrike at Weeting

Having not been out birding since 16th February I decided yesterday that despite the horrible weather I'd give the wintering Great grey Shrike at Weeting a go and the Jims decided to join me. We arrived at Weeting late morning and parked up at ride 47 before walking into the forest for around half a mile or so to find the clearing that the Shrike has been favouring. It took a while to find the bird in the distant corner of the cleared triangle but I managed to get the other birders present onto it before leaving to walk the footpath to the east hoping the bird might eventually work its way closer and it did. It remained distant but came close enough for me to lift the camera for a record shot. Two Woodlark flushed from the footpath into the clearing and a Goshawk came up briefly with three Buzzard for company. Marsh Tit and Stonechat the only other birds of any note before the dark clouds delivered a heavy downpour that sent us and the Shrike heading for cover.

This is my first Great grey Shrike since January 2022 so having not seen one last year at all I was pleased to connect with this bird. They seem to be wintering locally in smaller numbers now which is sad as they're great birds to watch.

year list now 167