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Saturday, 11 January 2025

Travelling Back to the Midlands, Britain.

Travelling back to the Midlands.

After a great couple of days with Pam and John I had to head back to Mom's today, so Pam, John and I started the day by going for some breakfast at      which was very nice, later they took me to the railway station where we said our goodbyes and I headed for Peterborough on my first train of the day and then on wards to Birmingham New Street.
During the first stretch of the journey I didn't see as much as I did on the way over as it was very foggy, however I did see Black-headed (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), European Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Egyptian (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca), Canada (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta canadensis) and Pink-footed Geese (Ánsar Piquicorto / Anser brachyrhynchus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Mareca penelope), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Common Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris). 
On the run from Peterborough I added a Great Egret (Garceta Grande / Ardea alba) a East Midlands Floods near Lyndon.
The fog was bad between Birmingham and Albrighton so I didn't see anything new, later I went to the Crown Inn with Mom, John, Irene, Robert, Ann and Adam.

Friday, 10 January 2025

RSPB Buckenham and Cantley Marshes, Halvergate Marsh, St. Benet's Abbey near Ludham, Norfolk, Britain.

Out on the cold Marshes with John.
 
Buckenham.
The day started with a drive out to Buckenham Fen along some icy looking roads but they were surprising still no problem and the frost made everywhere look nice, during the drive we picked up European Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Common Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).
Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Mareca penelope) and Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).
Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Mareca penelope) and Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).
We reached Buckenham and after crossing the railway line we walked out onto the marsh and up as far as the bank along the River Yare, it was nice and sunny but it was absolutely freezing so large parts of the area were frozen which meant most of the birds we concentrated on the small open areas.
Chinese Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis).
Chinese Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis).
Chinese Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis).
As we walked we saw good numbers of
Chinese Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis), Rooks (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Mareca penelope), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).
Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).
Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).
We spent a while scanning the Marsh with the Scope from the bank along the river finding 50 or so Greater White-fronted Geese (Ánsar Careto / Anser albifrons) as well as a single Barnical (Barnacla Cariblanca / Branta leucopsis), several Greylag (Ansar Común / Anser anser) and Canada's (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta canadensis).
Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).
We decided not to continue on along the track below the bank as it was very icy so we walked back towards the car adding
European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii) and a calling Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax).
Buckenham from the bank near the River Yare.
Our next stop was not too far away near Cantley, on the way round we saw Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).
Pink-footed Geese (Ánsar Piquicorto / Anser brachyrhynchus) over Cantley.
From the gate just over the railway line near Cantley we had good numbers of Pink-footed Geese (Ánsar Piquicorto / Anser brachyrhynchus), Mute Swan Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), European Herring Gull, Western Marsh Harrier, Northern Lapwing, Carrion Crow, Rooks and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).
Cantley.
Our next stop was at Halvergate Marsh where we parked and had our very nice Pea, Potato and Rocket soup which warmed us through very nicely, we also added Egyptian Goose (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca) to the day list and had more Pink-footed Geese and another Little Egret. 
Whooper Swan's (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus Cygnus).
Bewick's (Cisne chico / Cygnus columbianus) and Whooper Swan's (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus Cygnus).
Bewick's (Cisne chico / Cygnus columbianus) and Whooper Swan's (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus Cygnus).
On our way to St. Benet's Abbey near Ludham we saw Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).
Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).
Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) with a Little Egret.
Once we reached the next site we stopped along the track out to the Abbey when we saw a flock of 30 or so 
Swan's which included at least 3 Bewick's (Cisne chico / Cygnus columbianus) and the rest were Whooper Swan's (Cisne Cantor / Cygnus Cygnus) of different ages.
St. Benet's Abbey.

St. Benet's Abbey.
Other species seen there included a couple of fly over
Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and down near the Abbey car park I was pleased to see 4 Western Cattle Egrets (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) around the feet of a couple of large Black Bulls with a single Little Egret.
The River Yare.
The Cross.
We went for a walk out to the Abbey which was a nice looking building and on to some more remains nearby where there is a large wooden cross, as we walked we saw
Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Gull (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus), Pink-footed Geese and a Western Marsh Harrier which flew right over our heads.
Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).
Western Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus).
We returned to the car and headed back to the house, later we went back to the Trafford Arms where we had a couple more Pints of Adnams Ghost Ship.

Thursday, 9 January 2025

Lyng Mill on the River Wensum, Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve and Lynford Arboretum, Norfolk, Britain.

A cool but good days woodland birding with John.
 
We started the day by dropping Pam off somewhere in the city for an appointment before John and I headed out towards Fakenham, on the way we picked up Common Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus) before we made a stop at Lyng Mill on the River Wensum hoping to find Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea).
The map of the reserve.
There was a lot of water flowing down the river so we failed to find the Wagtail but we did see Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Western Jackdaw, European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).
Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis).
Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis).
We moved on and went to the Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve, our first stop was at the Dragonfly hide where we had great views of a
Common Kingfisher (Martin Pescador Común / Alcedo atthis) but it unfortunately kept sitting on a wire fence, a really smart Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) which showed very well and a nice ♂ Eurasian Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula).
Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).
Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).
Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).
Other species included
Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Common Chaffinch, European Robin, Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Great and Eurasian Blue Tit, European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).
Eurasian Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula).
Eurasian Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula).
A ditch amongst the Alders.
John on one of the many boardwalks around the reserve.
We continued on around the reserve visiting a couple more woodland hides where we saw
Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), Muntjac Deer (Muntiacus reevesi), Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius), Long-tailed (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus) and Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre / Poecile palustris), Eurasian Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) and in a group of Alder trees between the hides we found several Eurasian Siskins (Jilguero Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), a couple of Lesser Redpoll (Pardillo norteño / Acanthis flammea) and in a nest box a sleepy Tawny Owl (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco).
Eurasian Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus).
Common Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus).
European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).
Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).
The hide over looking an area of water was birdless as it was totally frozen so we returned to the Dragonfly hide where we added Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) but nothing else so we moved on again and headed towards Lynford Arboretum, on the way adding a single Red Kite (Milano Real / Milvus milvus).
Muntjac Deer (Muntiacus reevesi).
Muntjac Deer (Muntiacus reevesi).
Tawny Owl (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco).
Part of the more open area of the reserve.
We parked and then did a short walk to a spot John calls the Tunnel where there is a line of over hanging trees and a small pool which attracts passerine species in for a drink but we didn't see anything on this pass so we dropped down to the river where there are several feeds, apart form a good number of Brown Rats (Rattus norvegicus) we also managed to see Coal, Great and Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Siskin, European Robin, Dunnock, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, Common Blackbird and we heard Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis).
Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).
Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).
European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).
Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).
We walked back up to the Tunnel but there was still nothing showing so we dropped down the other side of the car park to Lynford Lake and Lynford Water where we added Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Great Crested Grebe (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and another Little Egret.
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major).
Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre / Poecile palustris).
Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).
We walked back up to the car and decided to pop to the Shepherds Baa for a coffee and a cake which went down very nicely, just as we were leaving a very nice lady birder told us that a
Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes) had been showing at the Tunnel so we went back and after a short wait the bird returned and came down for a drink, a great way to finish the days birding. 
Hawfinch (Picogordo Común / Coccotraustes coccotrauetes).
Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus).
We made our way back to the house, on the way finding Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).