randombirder

 A rare free day and an opportunity to head to The Brecks - only an hour up the road but a great place to visit at any time of year but particularly early spring. On arrival, Lynford Arboretum was heaving with people with numbers increasing further throughout the morning. A bit of a scamper round provided views of a single hawfinch perched up high in the paddocks. The feeding area by the gate was a flurry of activity with a couple of smart brambling accompanying marsh tit , nuthatch , yellowhammer , and coal tit continually and nervously dashing in for seed. Across the other side of Lynford, the lakes produced my first drake goosander for over a year. Five crossbill flew over. It was generally very quiet here and sadly there were no signs of woodlark. The next stop was at Weeting, a ten minute walk the track to the clearfell where the continuing great grey shrike was still present and showing really well as it moved between the scattered trees. At least two goshawk were seen fr...

An Arctic blast had enveloped the UK after a brief spell of unseasonal warmth that had momentarily lifted the spirits that summer was on its way.  Not today - it was bloody freezing.  As the horizontal snow came lashing down on the way to the Brecks, it did for a few moments feel like this wasn't going to be a good idea.  It didn't last long though, the sun shone for the majority of the day but the wind was bracing. It was tough going, spending a couple of hours until midday attempting to prize out the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker but without luck.  This species continues to elude me at this site after numerous attempts.  What did abound were crossbill and in good number, with plenty of gaudy males sitting high up in the woodland canopy.  Plenty of siskin were also passing by in decent flocks as were lesser redpoll , with around 25 hanging off the alders.  Six brambling flew over. A couple of woodlark were present alongside the main track as were two m...

A couple of days on a course in Peterborough so I decided to make the most of it and head up a day early.  The Brecks seemed a good choice but as it transpired, it turned out to be a grim day with persistent rain that made birding challenging. Highlights though were found at Lynford Arboretum with at least 60 Brambling many of which were transforming into their handsome summer colours. It was gloomy but making the most of things, I traipsed around, avoiding the showers and lengthier spells of rain, eeking out as much as I could. A couple of chaps alerted me to a roosting Tawny Owl , high up in a pine on the route down to the bridge.  This area held plenty of small birds including at least four Marsh Tit ,  Nuthatch , Treecreeper , and seven flyover Crossbill heading toward the pines. Small groups of Redwing were still present, dashing round the tops of the trees.  Siskin were a constant sound over the arboretum.  It felt more like winter ...

This is the Brecks and it's a great place for a birding day, well half-a-day as it happened. This Common Buzzard was spending a lazy Sunday morning around the woodland at Santon Warren. It took a while to pin down the Parrot Crossbill but around a dozen were showing high up in the conifers north-west of the railway crossing.  They looked conspicuously bull-necked, and that bill could cause some serious damage.  There were a few Common Crossbill here too. The woodland also held Siskin , and Redwing while a Kingfisher dashed along the river. Moving onto Lynford Arboretum, the place was alive with birds.  Best were three Hawfinch seen high up in the canopy in the gardens of Lynford Hall.  The trees along the river were particularly fruitful, titmice and finches were gorging on the alders with Siskin plentiful, and a few Lesser Redpoll .  A Kingfisher was seen here too. It was great standing by the feeders, watching five species of T...