burhinus56 Out and about

At home most of the day today. Breezy but lots of sunshine, so nice and clear.

Not  much activity at the bird table just Starling, Blue and Great Tit, Dunnock, Blackbird. Plenty of Lesser Black-backed Gull flying over and several Black Headed. 3 Raptors seen from the garden, frequent views of a Kestrel, a female Sparrowhawk and a quick sighting of a Common Buzzard being chased by Carrion Crows.

Went for a walk very close to the village, plenty of Blackbirds eating the remnants of Crab Apples on the floor, also saw a small party of Long-tailed Tits. Spindle berries have just about dropped off the bushes or been eaten.  Back home now to wait for the International Space Station to fly over.

Merry Christmas

Started the day garden bird watching at home in west Suffolk from 06.20 to 09.00.

House Martin 3, Collared Dove 2m singing, Woodpigeon 1m singing plus 4 over, House Sparrow 5 in garden, Blue Tit 1 feeding in garden, Dunnock 1 feeding in garden, Blackbird 1 f drinking, Starling 3 adults and 3 juv feeding on fat balls, Swallow 6 over, Robin 1 feeding in garden, Jackdaw 1 flew over, Lesser Black-backed Gull 2 over, Greenfinch 1 calling fro  garden, Goldfinch 1 calling in garden.

Then set off for Stowmarket to pick up a friend on Rickinghall road a Kestrel was perched on a roadside pole.

Arrived at Sutton Hoo at 10.00 and had a brisk walk around the estate.

Chaffinch 4 around picnic tables, Jay 1 calling in woods, Magpie 2 in fields, Pied Wagtail 2 juvs on burial mounds. Mute Swan 2 seen on River Deben, 1 Cormorant flew over.

Over the Deben to Woodbridge from Sutton Hoo

It was then  off to Shingle street but there was a lot of disturbance on the sea, only had 1 juv Kestrel, Herring Gull 5, Meadow Pipit 3 Mute Swan 2, Starling 5 and 2 House Sparrow.

From here we drove to the Tide Mill in Woodbridge, 1 Cormorant flew along the river which held 8 Mallard, 3 Black-headed Gull and 4 Black-tailed Godwit.

Our next port of call was Aldeburgh were we walked along the beach and past the Moot Hall.

Aldeburgh Moot Hall

Alot of Herring Gulls waiting for the crowds to offer them scraps from fish and chips a few Black-headed Gulls and 2 juv Pied Wagatails.

It was home from here managing to see a Little Owl perched on a roadside pole in Clopton.

Started the day in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk at the towns first Food Festival. Not too bad for a first but they need a few more exhibitors.  On the way back noticed two Common Buzzard circling high over a wood near Great Barton.

From here we paid our first visit to the Walsham-le Willows Open Gardens weekend.  Wow this was seriously good and worth every penny of the £6.00 entrance.  34 gardens, and a free bus if you did not want to walk all through the village, plus several plant stalls and a couple of sites offering refreshments.  Some fabulous gardens and some fantastic houses and cottages.

Then it was back home to cut the hedge at the back of the garden and do a spot of garden birding.

Today’s sightings included:

Collared Dove 5, House Martin 12, we still have young in the nest.  House Sparrow 12, several sunning themselves in the hedge, Wren 1, Woodpigeon 8 flew over, Green Woodpecker 1 heard calling, Carrion Crow 1 heard calling, Chaffinch 1 flew over calling, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 flew over, Greenfinch 3 flew over, Jackdaw 4 flying over calling, Goldfinch 3 flew over, Blackbird 1 adult male and 1 juvenile male around bird table, Grey Heron 1 flew over garden while I was hedge cutting.

Walked 13 miles around Ladybower Reservoir last Sunday, including Derwent Edge.

Saw evidence of Meadow Pipits on the move. Two Ravens were seen as well as 6 Red Grouse. Although hot and stuffy it was a great day.  Ladybower was like a mill pond with great reflections.