The middle weekend of March was spent up in Norfolk visiting my younger brother and some of the north coast.
Saturday 12th I visited Cley.A fantastic reserve and whilst there wasn't anything rare about I watched the sea for a while and found a Black -Throated Diver amongst the many Red -Throats and had a single Eider.I also had my first Chiffchaff of the spring (still none on the patch).
I took the opportunity to go to Blakeney to see some Lapland Buntings and try to get some shots of them.

Lapland Buntings

Back to the patch and not a lot has changed but Fieldfares and Redwings remain in decent numbers. On 19th two Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers were displaying in the alderwood at the southern end and the feeder was still attracting several Tit species including the Marsh Tits.

The lake was quiet as usual with 6 Mandarins and a Cormorant being the highlite.

In the afternoon we had a walk and had a flock of about 130 Redpolls fly over us at Bassetts farm, definately the largest flock i've ever seen!

On 20th there was the welcome sight of a Reed Bunting singing in the ditch at the bottom of the lake and 2 Kingfishers were present with 2 Grey Wagtails on the stream.

At lunch time I picked up a large raptor going over the house which turned out to be my first Red Kite(68) of the year and later in the afternoon we were treated to 6 Buzzards circling over the village.

On the morning of the 21st I popped in to the lake on my way to work to find two Reed Buntings singing and on the way home a drake Teal was on the lake plus a Grey Heron.

On the loop round past the sheep pasture I found a cracking male White Wagtail(69) in amongst the sheep but unfortunately I could refind it when I returned with my camera.

STILL NO CHIFFCHAFF but I'm sure it will be any day now. 

As I left the house at 07:00 on Sunday 06/03/16 Siskins were on the feeders in the garden.
Walking down through Kirkins and 2 Bullfinches were in the brambles at the top.As Iwalked down the track some Redpolls flew over and a Green Woodpecker took off from the small orchard.Into the paddock and Redwings and Fieldfares were in abundance.
Onto the lake where there were 4 Great-crested Grebes,a Kingfisher, Mallard and Moorhen viewable from the dam end.
Next down the lane past the pumping station and Grey Wagtail was on the stream and a Pied Wagtail was in amongst the sheep.Siskins and Goldfinches were feeding in the poplars.
 I have put up a feeder at the southern end of the lake and was delighted to find at least 2 Marsh Tits coming in with Great,Blue and Coal Tits plus a couple of Nuthatches and a Water Rail scurried away from under it.

Marsh Tit on the feeder.

Around on the Shirrenden side and three Kestrels were dislaying over the paddock.

The stock pond held a Grey Heron but still no Little Owl was found.As I left, the local pair of Buzzards came out of the wood calling loudly.

I spent some time watching the garden feeders and counted 18 Siskins plus 3 Redpolls amongst the Goldfinches,House Sparrows,Chaffinches and pair of Greenfinches.

Lesser Redpoll in the garden

I was very pleased with the 50 species seen durng the day even though no new species were added to the year total. 

 The patch has been a bit in the doldrums for the last couple of weeks.Around the orchards both Fieldfare and Redwing remain in good numbers but the lake is still quiet. The highlite was a second pair of  Great-crested Grebes on the 19th which stayed for a week before the first pair bullied them into leaving.
The local pair of Buzzards have become a bit more noticable of late and on the 27th a pair of Sparrowhawks were displaying over the lake.
On the 25th a pair of Kestrels were on the dead tree in Shirrenden and on the same day three Grey Wagtails were on the stream and a Little Grebe was hiding under some lakeside branches.
It's been great to have the Siskins in the garden with a dozen there on Sunday 28th joined by a couple of Redpolls.

 Siskins in the garden.

Cracking male Redpoll in the garden

With spring just around the corner I'm hoping that things will pick up on the patch.

Mid February Update

The year seems to be racing along.January passed in a flash with nothing more to add to the years tally.
However the 3rd of February produced the first Reed Bunting(66) of the year with one at the southern end of the lake during a walk on my way home.
The 6th produced a small movement of gulls with five species seen,including Great Black-backed (67).There were good numbers of winter thrushes around the orchards at the lake(Fieldfare(100+) and 70 Redwings).
The lake itself held 2 pairs of Mandarins and a Coot of note.

One of the many Fieldfares.

A walk in the afternoon up to the orchard at Haymans Hill was greeted by over 1000 winter thrushes mostly Fieldfares but probably a third of them were Redwings.There was also a decent flock of Chaffinches with a cracking male Brambling with them.

Sunday 14th and the lake had a prospecting pair of Canada Geese,a pair of Mandarins,a Great-crested Grebe ,a Coot and 14 Moorhens. 

The walk down produced three Great Spotted Woodpeckers arguing at the top of an oak.In the alder wood at the southern end of the lake a Lesser Spot was again heard drumming. One of the local Buzzards was seen chasing off an interloper which flew off hurriedly to the north.

The Kingfisher was in lakeside trees but nothing new was on the water.A flock of Siskins also contained a single Lesser Redpoll.

A single Yellowhammer flew over me as I walked back up the road and the field at Kirkins held a small flock of Meadow Pipits.

Back at home and as I looked out of the kitchen window I noticed a Siskin on the feeders.Brilliant! I tried to get some shots from the window and eventually got some from the lounge.

Siskins in the garden

Male Greenfinch

Male Blackbird

In January a pair of Wood Pigeons nested at the rear of our garden and have taken to feeding on the spilt seed so I've attached a shot of the surviving fledgling.

Saturday was a bit of a non-entity as after walking for half an hour heavy mist descended. However a couple of Buzzards were seen and a flock of  Siskins were in the alders.I was unable to make out birds on the lake but returned to find two Little Grebes(64) in the far margin. I took a record shot in the grey conditions:-

Two Little Grebes

Today wasn't much better but it was good to find a flock of Redwings plus 3 Yellowhammers in the horse paddock.The alder wood at the north of the paddock held three species of woodpecker.Both Great -spotted and Lesser-Spotted(65) were drumming and I eventually caught sight of the Lesser-spot as it flitted from one drumming post to another.

I'm always made up when the Lesser spots appear on the patch.

The lake still held the Little Grebes and two Coots but not a lot else.So the struggle for species continues. 

On the 3rd of the month there were good numbers of birds in the orchardswith some 1000+ Redwings and 600+ Fieldfaresplus 20 Meadow Pipits and a similar number of Chaffinch.
A Marsh Tit (55)was seen behind Lake Cottage and 6 Mandarins (56) were on the lake. Four species of gull flew over:- Common, Black-headed,Herring and Lesser Black-backed (57) were noted.
On the 8th a Water Rail(58) was heard then glimpsed at the southern end and amazingly another Raven (59) went over north west the following day.
On the 10th a Grey Heron(60) flew over the house and dropped into gardens opposite and down at the lake I foound one of the previous years Reed Warblers nest in the reeds.

old Reed Warblers nest

On the way home from work on the13th my first Common Buzzard (61).

Saturday 16th started really well with a juvenile Peregrine (62) carrying prey which flew over me in Kirkins.

The following morning I was greeted by a dusting of snow and two Skylarks (63) were in field in Kirkins.

Early snow in Kirkins on the 17th.

Happy New Year

December 2015 passed with no new species for the year list but did turn up my first winter Blackcap and second December Chiffchaff so the list finished on 104(the lowest I can remember).
Looking back on the year and the highlite was probably the Osprey which stayed around for three days in September

juvenile Osprey in Shirrenden.

Sadly, Goosander and Pochard were both missing and Barn Owl seems to have disappeared.The month ended on a a pleasing note when ,on 29th,Egytian Goose,Brambling and the second Raven of the year were seen with a Marsh Tit seen the next day,

Marsh Tit

2016 started at 06:45 when I ventured out into the garden to hear a Tawny Owl calling.After breakfast I left for my walk adding House Sparrow,Robin,Starling Fieldfare,Carrion Crow,Chaffinch  and Robin before I left the garden.As I walked through the village I added Magpie,Collared Dove, Blue Tit,Redwing and Wood Pigeon.
Down through Kirkins and Dunnock and Great Spotted woodpecker were seen plus a flyover Yellowhammer.A Pheasant called from the wood at the bottom where a Song Thrush was singing.
Into the horse paddock where a Grey wagtail then Stock Dove went over followed by a Brambling calling loudly as it flew north.At the bottom of the field a Wren called in alarm as I stepped into Furnace Lane.
I added Green Woodpecker and Siskin as I walked onto Hononten Farm.Along the track I saw Black headed Gull,Canada Goose,Jay,Goldfinch,Meadow Pipit and Herring Gull.
Down at the lake Mallard,Moorhen,Kingfisher,Great crested Grebe,Coot and a female Teal were on the water.Both Common Gull and Cormorant flew over as did a Lesser Redpoll and a Linnet.
Around at Shirrenden Bullfinch, Mistle Thrush,Coal Tit,Nuthatch,Jackdaw,Long tailed Tit,Goldcrest and finally Tree Creeper were added.
On the walk back up Furnace lane a Sparrowhawk was seen bringing the total to 51.A terrific three hours birding.
In the garden and Greenfinches were on the feeders.During the afternoon,on a walk with my wife,Kestrel and Rook were seen bringing the days total to 54,