karen's country calendar

Since yesterday I haven't noticed any activity in the front nest box but discovered it was another bluetit in the one on the garage.  This one has been extremely busy this morning. About 9am     12 noon

I happened to look out of my window this morning and spotted some birds on the feeders which I didn't immediately recognise.  Similar size to the goldfinch but colouring resembling a greenfinch but with black head,  I soon identified them as a pair of siskins - another tick for  my list!  Photos taken through window, hence not that clear.  Male siskin Female siskin   Also today I noticed a bluetit around the bird box to the front and then saw it pop in with a beakful of moss.  I quickly set up the camera monitor and saw there was already a layer covering the bottom of the box. Two weeks later than last year so hopefully may be more successful!    I also checked the  camera  in  the nest box on the garage and to my surprise noticed a couple of pieces of nesting  material on the floor of that so maybe we will have two nestcams to watch although I am not yet sure what bird is nesting in the garage...

The day promised to be one of blue skies and sunshine so at 9am we set off for the Suffolk Wildlife Trust nature reserve of Lackford Lakes hoping for a good day of birdwatching and photographs.  An hour later we parked and entered the visitor centre where we bought coffee and cake and sitting by the window we were immediately rewarded by sightings of Redpolls at the feeders - First tick off the list!  The warden told use where we might see various birds and what the routes were like- we were glad we bought our wellies! We decided to make a quick stop off to some feeders down the lane where it was reported tree sparrows had been seen but sadly not today although we were delighted to see a pair of Bullfinches in the hedge beside which was another new one for the year. Walking along the path we soon came across a photographer baiting a fallen tree stump with seed - he assured us that within minutes the log would be alive with little birds.  However two fairly tame mallar...

I don't often see woodpeckers in the garden so decided to record this great spotted woodpecker on video, strangely although taken through a window , the video came out clearer than the photos!

The morning dawned rather dull and cloudy with light rain forecast so I decided to keep an eye out over an hour in the morning  whilst carrying on with household chores.   I filled up  my feeders yesterday in the hope that might entice a few more species. First to arrive were a group of three long tailed tits which have started to visit the garden regularly.  Then a robin, bluetit and dunnock followed shortly after.   I noted three wood pigeons sitting up in the trees, with one venturing down to the  feeders later. Not much else  around for the rest of the hour except for a jackdaw that rather likes the  fat balls.  So a bit disappointing but  the dreary weather probably didn't help much. Anyway a  few species to enter on the birdwatch form so worth doing.

The weather didn't look very promising, misty and dull but at least not cold, wet or windy.  Being the only available day for a visit to the Wildfowl Reserve at Welney and the knowledge of a good meal available in the restaurant, we decided to make the trip anyway.  Our fears were realised when  the fog seemed to come down as we got nearer and we really wondered if we would see much at all but just as we approached Welney, it lifted into a mist and the visibility was reasonable. The heated Observatory provided a warm viewing spot though the glass in the windows did not allow for very clear photos.  However all the usual ducks were present (teal, mallard, tufted, shelduck, pochard, wigeon and pintail) together with Mute and the Whooper swans for which Welney is known and Canada and Greylag geese. We also managed to see a number of waders including black tailed godwits, dunlin, lapwing, snipe and a curlew which was the final species for this years list. A...

It was a sunny but slightly breezy  morning when we arrived at Frampton Marsh to check out the waders which had been widely advertised in the RSPB magazine!  We spotted a few butterflies on the walk  from the visitor centre to the main 360 hide and from there saw a good number and  variety of waders particularly large flocks of black tailed godwits and dunlins. Several new birds for this years list included the above plus spoonbills,  avocets and a sandpiper.    We had a good view of a little ringed plover from the hide which obligingly spent most of the time pecking about on a sand bank just in front of us.  A large number of sandmartins were also present flying around near the nest holes.  green veined white    peacock   common blue    large flock of black tailed godwits and dunlins    common sandpiper little ringed plover spoonbills    avo...