Stanwell Moor - 14 February 2015

The weather looked promising with low wind speed and very little in the way of gusts and as it turned out there was virtually no wind at all until 10.15am. Perfect conditions for pipits at Stanwell.

The nets went up like a dream and all the audioboxes were working well too. There was just one snag and that was a distinct lack of Meadow Pipits. The birds are usually found on Staines Moor or at Stanwell. Somedays they commute between the two - but today there was a definitely preference for Staines. It can't be helped, some days just go that way. It's surprising that we managed the single bird that we caught.

 Meadow Pipit aged 5

A small flock of Lapwing were on site as we arrived and a single Barnacle Goose flew over north.

Total: 1

Meadow Pipit - 1

Black Park Country Park - 11 February 2015

It's some time since this site was worked as catches have been rather low following groundwork for regeneration of the heathland. CL, ESA & RMA set nets in the area where ringing has taken place before. There were small roaming flocks of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll about and, despite further vegetation having been removed from the locality, a catch of 10 Lesser Redpoll was taken. No other species were captured.

5M Lesser Redpoll

Total: 10

Lesser Redpoll - 10

Broadwater - 10 February 2015

A team of CL, MRB, RMA, ESA and Margaret went along to monitor the site. Once again there was no sign of the local wintering Chiffchaffs that no doubt were sticking close to the River Colne at the other end of the lake. Just 14 birds today and most of these retrapped birds including three Goldcrests.

Totals: 6 (8)

Dunnock - 1
Robin - 1 (1)
Songthrush - 1
Goldcrest - 0 (3)
Blue Tit - 2
Great Tit - 1 (2)
Long-tailed Tit - 0 (1)

Broadwater - 2 February 2015

So, after a spell of uncertainly when it was unsure whose rings would be used on site, we now know that we are no longer ringing here under the Maple Cross umbrella. We shall,of course, continue to share data and Broadwater will become the first site covered by the newly formed Colne Valley Ringing Group.

Monitoring Broadwater in winter can be slow. Many birds move to the river and our nets are at the opposite end of the lake. We caught a total of 16 birds and 10 of these were retraps.

The two oldest retraps were Blue Tit Y386003 that was first seen when it was ringed as a juvenile on 15th September 2013. We also captured Long-tailed Tit EBN020 that was ringed on 22nd September 2011 and was then seen in the February of 2012 and 2013.

6M Goldfinch

Totals: 6 (10)

Wren - 0 (2)

Robin - 1 (1)

Dunnock - 0 (1)

Blue Tit - 3 (2)

Great Tit - 1 (3)

Long-tailed Tit - 0 (1)

Goldfinch - 1

Buckenham, Cantley and Broadlands revisited - 1 February 2015

Still on the lookout for Bean Geese we retraced our steps. The Wigeon were at Buckenham in even greater numbers and the water level had risen quite a bit since the previous day.

Cantley was just as devoid of Bean Goose as before although we saw some Golden Plover we then moved on to Horsey. There were Hundreds of Pink Feet spread over a large area. We gave it a good go but just couldn't locate any Bean Geese reported as being with the flock, but with 50% of the flock in the far field it was never going to be easy. An immature male Hen Harrier and Buzzard, together with several Marsh Harriers were seen, along with single Crane, Barnacle Goose, 12 Ruff and three Turnstone feeding in the same field as the Geese.

Pink Feet at Horsey

Buckenham, Cantley and the Broads - 31 January 2015

It was a very cold morning after snow after night, but the sight and sound of so many Wigeon made the walk well worthwhile. But, the Bean and Whitefronted Geese were absent, but there was a single Pink-foot and two Barnacle Geese. We didn't see any Bearded Tits that had been reported from a ditch there but while we were there was a group of Bewicks, followed by a smaller group of Whooper Swans passing overhead, and a Water Pipit on the marsh.

Wigeon

A look over the marshes at Cantley also brought no Bean or White-fronted Geese, just some Mute Swan, Lapwing and two Chinese Water Deer.

We spent some time at Halvergate Marshes where we managed to find two Rough Legged Buzzards, a Peregrine and saw a small group of Bewick Swans. It was disappointing to see a wing-tagged Marsh Harrier whihc failed to remain long enough on the ground to get the scope set up.

We then dropped in at Ludham were there was mixed flock of Bewick and Whoopers, possibly the same birds that had flown over Buckenham early morning. We did manage to find one white darvic, but just too far and muddy to read.

A look for the Smew at Ormesby Broad drew a blank but at least we saw a Bittern on top of the reeds at roost.

Record shot through the rain and failing light.

Lynford,Santon Downham & Stubb Mill - 30 January 2015

Just for a change we focussed on Broadlands this weekend, whereas we normally head for the North end of Norfolk. We dropped in at Lynford arboretum for a glimpse of the Hawfinch that have been so regular this winter. For us, they remained elusive and we never did manage to see them but did enjoy watching birds, mainly Marsh, Coal and Blue Tits, Nuthatch, Chaffinch and Blackbird using the feeding station at the bridge and the views around the park in general.

 

Lynford Arboretum lake

Next stop, Santon Downham with hopes of seeing the Great Grey Shrike, but that was no less elusive than the Hawfinch and although we took our time and walked the path along the river we had no luck. It was nice, however, to see a few Siskin and more Marsh Tits and Nuthatches.

Santon Downham

Last visit of the day was to Stubb Mill for the roost. We didn't get there until about 4.15pm but timed it just right as several Marsh Harriers and a couple of Hen Harriers came in. There was also a female Merlin and a sizeable flock of Pink-footed Geese, and the last to go over on their way to roost were 25 Cranes.

Stubb Mill roost site

Pink-feet dropping in

 Moon

The sky was clear and the temperature plummeted so that the puddles were icing over by the time we got back to the car.