Braughing Hertfordshire

Friday 14th November, after finishing work at Stansted Airport, I drove to Braughing hoping to see the Rough-legged Buzzard. I found Hay street and joined some other birders also waiting for the RLB, We watched a Kestrel hunting over the field, and just after 17:00 it was joined by a Short-eared Owl, which gave nice close views as it hunted. No RLB and as the light was going fast I made my way home.

A week working near Croxley Moor Common

From Monday 3^rd October, to Friday 7^th October I was working on a customer site on Croxley Green Business Park, right on the doorstep of Croxley Common Moor. So I had 5 lunchtime walks, seeing 33 bird species.
Monday 3^rd

Mallard, Black-headed gull, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Green woodpecker, Grey wagtail, Blackbird, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Blue tit, Jay, Magpie, Carrion crow, Goldfinch, Bullfinch.

Tuesday 4^th

Cormorant, Moorhen, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Starling.

Wednesday 5^th

Herring gull, Great spotted woodpecker, Pied wagtail, Song thrush, Redwing, Long-tailed tit, Great tit, Chaffinch.

Thursday 6^th

Little egret, Mute swan, Greenfinch. 

Friday 7^th

Canada goose.

Three days in Norwich

Early on Wednesday 29^th October I headed to a customer site near Norwich airport, for  three days. Monday lunch time I went and found the B&B I would staying in for two nights, Moorsticks near Spixworth, very modern and very nice, Full Monty breakfast in the morning.

Wednesday night I went to the White Horse Crostwick, and had Fish pie, washed down by a pint of local ale.

Thursday lunch time I went for a walk around a wood near Horsford called The Wilderness, seeing:Buzzard, Black-headed gull, Common gull, Woodpigeon, Wren, Robin, Goldcrest, Long-tailed tit, Marsh tit, Coal tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Treecreeper, Carrion crow, Chaffinch & a small herd of Fallow deer.

Thursday evening I went to the Recruitment Sergeant in Horstead and had Liver & bacon with a different pint of local ale this time..

Friday morning I got up early and drove to RSPB Buckenham marsh.

I arrived when it was still dark, heard a TAWNY OWL calling, and could hear calling geese out on the marsh.

The nearby corvid roost was slowly getting louder and louder as the was sun was rising. Then pretty much on sunrise all the Rooks and Jackdaws left the roost, there were 1000’s of them, what a great site.

I then started to walk up the track to the raised bank on the river Yare. On the way was a flooded area in the field near a hide, on which were Waders: Lapwing, Dunlin, Ruff, Snipe & Black-tailed godwit. A small skein of Pink-footed geese flew in to join the other geese on the marsh, 5 geese species seen: Pink-footed goose, Greylag goose, Canada goose, Barnacle goose, Egyptian goose. A Cattleman checked on the cattle out on the marsh flushed a lot of the geese, other birds seen: Little grebe, Cormorant, :Little egret, Grey heron, Mute swan, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Pheasant, Black-headed gull, Common gull, Great black-backed gull, Feral pigeon, Woodpigean, Kingfisher, Skylark, Meadow pipit, Pied wagtail, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Cetti;s warbler, Blue tit. Jackdaw, Rook, Starling & Goldfinch.

Then all to soon it was time to return to B&B, for breakfast then a shower and change of clothes then of the work.
2014 Year List = 230

Beachy Head Red-breasted flycatcher

Friday 24^th October, I had a call in Redhill, which I completed without any issues, and no more calls in, so I headed down to Beachy Head for the Red-breasted flycatcher. As I neared the coast road it became very foggy, with rain showers. I parked up at the Beachy Head pub / Countryside centre car park.

I then started to walk to the area where the Red-breasted flycatcher had been seen, as I walked along I came across a small group of birders looking into a small clump of bushes near another car park. In here was the Red-breasted flycatcher, and I spent some time watching and trying to take a photo, but it was very foggy and wet,

I then received a call from work so had to leave, but left happy as another new bird on my UK life list.
2014 Year List = 229

Lunch time walk at Hatch Pond Poole

Working near Fleet's Corner Poole, Wednesday 22^nd October, so at lunchtime had a walk around Hatch Pond, seeing:Great crested grebe, Mute swan, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted duck, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Snipe, Black-headed gull, Common gull, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Great tit, Jay, Magpie, Carrion crow, Starling, House sparrow & Goldfinch.

RSPB Wallasea Island

Tuesday 21^st October, Two calls today the first in Redhill, and the second in Romford, and when  had finish I drove to RSPB Wallasea Island,hoping to see the reported Rough-legged buzzard.

There is a lot of work being done at the moment by the RSPB, but still a good number of birds around.

The highlight was a female Hen Harrier, that came close as I used the car as a hide. Later while by the white gate  she was seen again giving a Marsh Harrier a hard time when it got to close, great views and was able to see the size difference between the two harriers. In the cereal field were Golden Plovers, Lapwings & Starlings, it was very windy with heavy rain showers going through.

Lunchtime walk around Lodge Hill

Friday 17th October and went to Lodge Hill, Saunderton Lee for my lunchtime walk, not to much around, had some red-legged partridges in the field on the way to the hill, and I always enjoy watching Red kites.