Little Owl 'on the patch'

I think Linda and I have been part of the rota for unlocking / locking Hemblington Church for around eight years now: while this can be a bit of a pain on cold, wet mornings, it's often a real delight on days like today... With bright sunshine and clear skies we were thrilled to see our local Little Owl in its nesting tree and then on nearby farm buildings, while the Heath's resident flock of Guinea Fowl were roosting in their favourite tree. At the Church the inevitable appears to have happened: it looks like Stock Doves have moved into the new Barn Owl box!

Tundra Beans at Buckenham

Linda and I had stuff to do in Brundall, so we drove home via Buckenham, where a large flock of Pink-footed Geese had roosted overnight. We pulled over behind a tree and scanned the flock for a few minutes before locating at least four Tundra Bean Geese. I carefully wound down the window to take some pictures when a Red Kite flew low over the flock, putting the whole lot up. Although they only moved a hundred metres or so, the birds were now behind a rise in the ground, and it was much harder to pick out the Beans: nevertheless, I reckon I managed to find a couple.

Grand Annual Music Quiz!

It's that time again! Great prizes, live guitar rounds, classical and modern music rounds... Always a popular event, so get your tickets NOW! (In aid of local charities)

The night sky and International Space Station in February

Unfortunately Jules has had to postpone this month's 'Suffolk Sound': chat - hopefully it can be rearranged. Here are the astronomy highlights for the month ahead. (Worth pointing out that the February 24th pass of the ISS at magnitude -3.9 is brighter than Venus, Jupiter, Mercury and any star: Sirius, the brightest, is 'just' -1.4. Only the Moon and Sun are brighter!)

Despite a Dipper-dip, a great day on the North Coast

Brian and thought we'd head north west, starting at Bintree Mill before taking a walk around Sculthorpe H&O T reserve. In the event we failed to see any of our targets! No Dipper, no Bullfinch and no Tawny Owl! We thoroughly enjoyed close-ups of some beautiful woodland birds: Marsh Tits, Long-tailed Tits and Blue Tits especially: a Great Egret was good to see...

A move to Titchwell added a handful of year ticks - albeit either distant or buried in the foliage! These included Long-tailed Duck (4), Scaup, Red-breasted Merganser, Tawny Owl and Woodcock: a confiding (but mobile) Goldcrest was a bonus. Two Pipits were feeding on the edge of the Tidal Marsh: both (despite the coloration differences) seem to be Rock Pipits

Iceland Gull at Sea Palling

Following our bird survey at the Church yesterday, I hadn't intended another trip out, but the lure of an Iceland Gull just twenty minutes away proved too strong! Sea Palling can be a little bleak this time of year: the persistent drizzle and cold wind made the half-mile trudge along the beach somewhat gruelling! Returning birders reported that dog walkers had flushed the bird, but I nevertheless spent an hour checking out the hundreds of gulls on the tideline, being rewarded by Mediterranean, Caspian and Little Gulls. I eventually found an immature gull that looked right: the photos later confirmed it! Nice to meet Lowestoft birders Jane and Paul Ferguson...

On the way home I stopped at Martham to scan a vast flock of Pink-footed Geese. I may have picked out the reported Tundra Beans, but not conclusively. However, the pair of White-fronted Geese and a lone Barnacle were some reward..

Hemblington Church bird survey

It's that time again! Another monthly survey under the belt: Linda, Sue, Peter and I resolutely braved the chill wind to log a reasonable total...