A Norfolk Twitch

Now I dont twitch very often but I had not been birding for a week or so instead I have been building my model railway due to cold wet weather. Eileen and I finally visited Whitlingham Broad near Norwich to see some uncommon and one rare bird.

We met Rob M a Lounge Lizard member who put us onto a Red necked Grebe and Great Northern Diver. We walked further toward the Island an met with Yarmouth Birder "Bomber" Harris, He soon put us onto the female Ring-necked Duck and american vagrant and a lifer for Eileen and I. My last lifer was the Corton Hoopoe! in April 2009.

Next up were two Red-head Smew and an immature Male Scaup. Finally we saw two female Gooseander. Phew what a morning. Eileen saw a Weasel here as it crossed an icy dyke and ran ahead of us for me to get good views too.

a Marsh Harrier flew north west towards Norwich as we left to go to Surlingham Marshes.

Here we found Galanthus nivalis and Ruscus aculeatus in flower. along with lamium album and Corylus avellana

Sunny Day and Great Birding

Eileen and I visited three sites in Lothingland TM59 to search for January flowering plants. We at first visited Waveney Forest Fritton where we only found Poa annua (Annual Meadow Grass) and Ukex europeus (Gorse) but try as we might we could not find any more flowers to add to our Wild Flower Society (WFS)As we walked down along to the River we met with birding giant Malcolm F from the Saints near Bungay, he was in the wrong place for looking for the long staying Rough - legged Buzzard. We took him to the outer edge of the reedbed where we soon located this fine winter visitor perched on a gate pots c 1/2 mile from the Norfolk bank. As we shook hands with Malcolm we say three Bearded Tits fly over the reeds.

We were really on a wild flower walk so the Rough leg was a bonus. I had no idea we would see it so well from our vantage point.

Next stop was the very muddy Blocka Lane from the Fritton end. Again only Gorse was found in flower, not even a Common daisy could be found. We did see a nice flock of c30 Redwings.


Finally we reached Herringfleet Hills where we saw a flock of Siskins.

This fungus known as Phlebia radiata and has the odour of cheesy feet, this was on an Oak bough in Blocka Lane.

Harlequins

Early or late Harlequin Ladybird larva found today

Square Bashing

Took a walk along the northern boundary of TM48 in Beccles, to start recording for the Wild Flower Societies 10km square competition and add any more January flowering plants for the winter months hunt. Big surprise was a flowering Senecio viscosus (Sticky Groundsel) and some early flowering Primula vulgaris ( Primroses)

Blow it no Bewicks

Eileen and I decided to attempt the gloomy day and look for the reported Bewick Swans on Shipmeadow Marshes. we dipped and carried on around the Waveney Valley. Nothing notable except a few Norfolk and Suffolk year ticks.
This fungus Tremella mesentrica was found on Gorse at Broome Pits

Hurrah for Snowdrops

Finally Eileen and I found some Snowdrops at Ringsfield Churchyard. They are rather late this year, Also at Stockton Churchyard we found some flowering Primroses.

150 Redwings at Beccles Common and a Woodcock again.

A Glaucous day

Dipped on the Glaucous Gull at Aldeburgh but the snow was Glaucous in places. A Chinese water Deer crossed the road at Shadingfield and Three fallow Deer at Henham were of note. This Lapwing was seen on the marshes at Aldeburgh