Please note that wildlifeAylmerton will not be blogging until further notice- thanks for visiting

Please note that wildlifeAylmerton will not be blogging until further notice- thanks for visiting

SUNDAY

SW 2-3 bright sunny but cool becoming cloudy 0700-1230

Took an early morning traipse down to the lake this morning hoping for a Rouzel or the like but no joy, only birds of note were Shelduck 6, Tufties 12, Gadwall pr, Dabchick 3 a screaming Water Rail and several singing Chiffchaffs. From 0900-1100 a watch from the High Point produced 2 female/2nd c/y Marsh Harrier moving west, single Common Buzzard and 40 Golden Plover. Best of all, a meet up at the Roman Camp pub with Rob and Nigel to discuss an up and coming birding trip resulted in a fine Red Kite from the beer garden, with pint in hand-heaven!!!

Nowt Doin'

Despite morning and post tea time walks, very little happening here at the moment. One of the bare fields had a convoy of tractors in it this morning setting potatos and immediately attracted the first Wheatear of the spring, as it disappeared over a ridge. Over the recent week or so I have been keeping an eye on a White-tailed Eagle-alas not a suppressed local bird, but via web cam from Norway.
http://www.smp.no/services/ornerede2008/viewer.asp?lang=1&viewertype=webtv

Missed!

Missed a nailed-on Black Kite today due to being at work some 15 miles away. I watched agonisingly as its movements were relayed via my bird pager. I could even 'see' it drifting along the ridge (in my minds eye, you see!) as it moved from Cromer towards Weybourne.

Moths

Had the trap on for a few hours last evening and got a few visitors, nothing unexpected though:
Hebrew Character 3
Common Quaker 3
Small Quaker 1
Oak Beauty 1
March Moth 1
Early Thorn 2
Engrailed 1
Shoulder-stripe 4
Early Grey 1
Clouded Drab 2

Small Quaker


Hebrew Character


Shoulder stripe


Engrailed...can you see it?!


Shoulder stripe tail up!


Wednesday, after work I popped down to a chilly Felbrigg Lake, where amoung the usual suspects were three Dabchick! Now I've been looking hard for Dabchick all year here with not a sniff, so where'd they come from? They must have taken the same flight path as those darn Coots I reckon! Yesterday morning, like music to the ears, a Swallow was on power lines in the street churruping away to his self, looking forward to the warm spring weather.... yeah right! Go back now pal, snow's on its way!!

Doesn't make a summer

What a difference a week makes! Seven days ago we were in the grip of a blizzard, today it was beautifully sunny and warm! A look from the garden late afternoon sighted a Swallow, obviously new in winging around the barns off the A148. Presumably a breeding bird rather than pasing through, this is my first March Swallow for many a year.

They're Coming!

SW Force 3-4 Mild Overcast then bright and sunny 0830-1330

First migration watch of the season from high point on the track (High Point). There was just one bird on the prediction list for the day and bang on cue it drifted through mid morning, I love it when that happens!

Fieldfare 11w
Sand Martin 5w
Grey Heron 3
Cormorant 1w
Common Buzzard 3 (resident)
Marsh Harrier 1w (old male along the ridge)
Red Kite 1e. Drifted high and at distance along the ridge at 1000.
Golden Plover 150
Mediterranean Gull. 2nd c/y flew north over fields towards pig fields north of A148
Peregrine 1 drifted in from the east along ridge before going away south east over the village.

All in all a classic early spring haul, whetting the appetite for more to come (hopefully!)


Common Buzzard (hope the wing damage isn't gun shot Mr Gamekeeper)

pair


Red Kite at a trillion miles!


Peregrine...not much closer!