Little Paxton Gravel Pits is a good place to see Nightingales in April.
Nightingale
Author Archives: pnbrown13blog
Iberian Chiffchaff
Singing and showing well at Granville Nature Reserve near Telford today.
The West Country
A birding trip to the south west. The Somerset Levels was the first destination but I did not see the White Stork, a Little Owl and a Garganey were present here. On the way to Penzance I stopped off at Dozmary Pool but the regular Lesser Scaup was nowhere to be seen. I then went to Grumbla near Sancreed where I saw a Hoopoe in the worsening weather. Saturday morning at first light I was at Perranuthnoe looking for the Hudsonian Whimbrel and Pacific Diver. Having checked Boat Cove and Trenow Cove for the Hudsonian Whimbrel and the sea for the diver with no luck I was making my way back to the car to go for breakfast when a dog walker told me the bird was in the cove. The Hudsonian Whimbrel was showing well in Boat Cove just as the sun came out. After breakfast I went back looking for the Pacific Diver with no luck. I then went to Porthgwarra and had a long walk without seeing any Chough. Spent the night near Exeter and got up early on Sunday morning to go to Labrador Bay near Teignmouth where I saw a few Cirl Buntings. It was then off to Ham Walls RSPB where I saw a Glossy Ibis and Ring Necked Duck.
Hudsonian Whimbrel
Little Owl
Hoopoe
Cirl Bunting
Lakenheath RSPB & Cavenham Heath
An enjoyable day at these two reserves. It was good to see a Willow Tit at Lakenheath, not a common bird these days in the south of the country. There was also at least one Marsh Tit here to confuse matters. The willow Tit had been ringed on its left leg whereas the commoner Marsh Tits had been rung on their right legs, which aided identification. There were also 2 Common Crane, an early House Martin and a Great White Egret here. I then went to Cavenham Heath for the first time and although the weather had started to deteriorate I still managed to see a Stone Curlew.
Willow Tit
Marsh Tit
Common Crane
Great White Egret
Stone Curlew
Buzzards and Kites
Lots of Common Buzzards and Red Kites displaying around Wilstone Reservoir this morning. Little ringed Plover at College Lake.
Red Kite
Common Buzzard
Moorhen
Suffolk 19/3/2016
I started at North Cove where I saw the Cattle Egret that has been frequenting the area for a while., it was in a field of Highland Cattle. Whilst walking along the River Waveney here, 2 American Mink swam across the river and climbed onto the bank in front of me. They then proceeded to have fight, presumably not noticing me as they were only a few feet away. Also went to Lowestoft where there were a few Purple Sandpiper and a Mediterranean Gull and Minsmere RSPB where I saw a Firecrest.
Cattle Egret
American Mink
Med Gull
Rutland Water 5/3/2016
A visit to Rutland Water for Long-billed Dowitcher and Red-necked Grebe. Both were seen as well as a couple of Smew.
Long-billed Dowitcher
Norfolk 27/2/2016
A nice day out in Norfolk. Started the day in Thetford Forest where I saw Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Goshawk at one site and then a Great Grey Shrike at Grimes Graves. I then went up to the coast and saw Lapland Buntings at Blakeney and Snow Buntings at Cley.
Hawfinch & Green-winged Teal
Started the day at Bramfield a nice little village in Hertfordshire where I saw a Hawfinch in the churchyard. It was then of to Daventry Country Park for a Green-winged Teal which was in the Grit Trap area.
Norfolk
Great day in Norfolk. Best bird was the Pallid Harrier seen at Roydon Common late afternoon, my 4th attempt to see this bird. Also saw the Golden Pheasant at Wolferton, Water Rail and 3 Shorelark at Titchwell and the Ferruginous Duck at Holkham. The dead Sperm Whale was still at Old Hunstanton.
Brunsblog 