Sunday walk round Minsmere from Eastbridge

ice
ice

After breakfast packed and loaded up the cars, and then headed off down the foot path to Minsmere sluice. Always on the look out for Bittern flying up out of the reed beds. The weathewr was bright but not as sunny as saturday. Spotted some black ducks out at sea we claimed them as Common Scoter. Visited East Hide where we saw a Smew and a a bloke in the hide (new to bird watching) got very excited about a duck we could not figure out, turned out to be a female Smew.
Headed round and along the Northwall back to the visitors center where we had the obligatory coffee and cake. Then headed back to the pub via Bittern Hide (no sign of Bittern). All things considered a fantastic weekend.
On the way back we stopped at Auntie Anne’s and had more cakes and coffee, all home made and yummy. Had to depart all too soon and head  up the A12 followed by M25.

Final list for the weekend: Robin, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, GS Woodpecker, Dunnock, Stonechat, GC Grebe, Herring Gull, Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Jackdaw, Green Woodpecker, Wren, Kestrel, Magpie, Siskin, BH Gull, Song Thrush, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Cormorant, Lapwing, Shelduck, Mallard, Dunlin, Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon, Pheasant, Marsh Harrier, LBB Gull, Shoveller, Starling, Curlew, Rook, Bearded Tit, Canada Goose, Moorhen, Collared Dove, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Crow, Little Egret, Coot, Common Scoter, Smew, Pintail, Sanderling, Marsh Tit, Greenfinch, Redwing, Long-tailed Tit, Jay. (60 YTD 68)


A picture of the ice. makes a good desktop back ground.

A walk by the sea

view-across-reeds-at-minsmere

Got up for breakfast at 9, excellent fry the landlord had got up early to get us some Quorn sausages, we had mentioned the previous evening we are all veggies. Drove to Minsmere RSPB reserve then walked over to Dunwich Heath via the north wall. Saw a suspected Osprey that turned out to be a Marsh Harrier, but no Dartford Warbler. After coffee at the coast guard cottages we headed back down to the East hide where there was not much to see the usual ducks, lots of Lapwings, and just a couple of waders (Dunlin). On the way back to the visitors centre we got superb views of 5 Bearded Tits. Back to the pub to change then off to Southwold shopping. We saw a field of Curlew on the way. Bought some almonds and a Heidi Pie from the foodies shop then back to our accommodation to watch the rugby. Ireland won and as I write I we are in the pub drinking best bitter!

The Old Swan, Swan Bottom

the-old-swan

Walked starting and ending at the Old Swan. Yellowhammer then saw a large flock Redwing and Fieldfare feeding in a field. They were spooked by a Sparrowhawk. Later saw a couple of Crows. As we got close to The Lee, saw 20ish Meadow Pipit in a field with horse and possible a couple of Mistle Thrush. Ended the walk with a pint of Weary Banker (The Marlow Brewery), and a Veggie burger and chips, mine Mexican style. Beer was excellent nice light real ale. Burgers were great. (4 YTD 55)

A winters walk

Frosted trees

Went for a walk with Helen up around St Leonards and The Lee. Saw a mixed flock with Yellowhammer, Bullfinch and a Common Buzzard. It was very cold, but well worth the effort to see the winter spectacle. There were no muddy paths just uneven ground because the mud was like concrete.

PS Saw a Green Woodpecker from the window at work on Friday (4 YTD 51).

Three new birds for the 2009 list

Went out early this morning (10am!), to Ivinghoe. it was really cold -3 C. Spotted a Stonechat. Soon got fed up with temperature and went to Hillside for coffee and biscuits, where we got Greenfinch and Greater Spotted Woodpecker. (3 YTD 46)

Wilstone to pick up a few ticks

Late afternoon and getting cold. Gulls flyinging by the 10’s to roost.

Tufted Duck, Common Cormorant, Common Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Common Gull, Common Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Mute Swan, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Grey Wagtail (13 YTD 43)

Some more birds

Walk with Helens folks, along canal then up into the woods:

Song Thrush, Coal Tit, Wren, Moorhen, Mallard, Little Grebe, Goldcrest, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Robin (10 YTD 21)