Black-winged Kite and county Firecrests

Hello

I couldn't resist it any longer so today saw me drive over to the Norfolk Broads to see the wintering Black-winged Kite which showed well but distantly about a mile north of Stubbs Mill. The supporting cast included lots of harriers, Common Cranes and a smart male Merlin and we finished the day with a quick visit to Sheringham to see the very smart Eastern Black Redstart.

In the meantime the county was lively today with a host of good birds on offer.

At Thrapston Pits the Firecrest re-appeared in the south-west corner scrub of the Willowbrook Angling Pit probably best reached from Islip and at Islip Water Treatment Works there was an outstanding winter count of thirty-two Chiffchaffs! Two European White-fronted Geese were on the Titchmarsh reserve opposite North Hide and two Greater Scaup and two Red-crested Pochard continued to grace Town Lake. Other birds included the Black-tailed Godwit still, thirty-seven Golden Plovers over and a Peregrine.

Two Marsh Harriers were at Summer Leys LNR today with a Pink-footed Goose reported and ten European White-fronted Geese and an orange-tagged Marsh Harrier were at North Lake, Stanwick Pits.

A Firecrest was a great find in a roving tit flock on the west side of Wakerley Wood between the main track and the new quarry workings, twenty-five Crossbills were high up in larches at the main car park and small numbers of Crossbills and Siskins were mobile throughout the wood.

At Blatherwycke Lake the Tundra Bean Goose conveniently placed itself in front of the huge Greylag flock but there may have been more than the five European White-fronted Geese seen. A Marsh Harrier was attracted to the tiny phragmites bed and eight Egyptian Geese were present.

In the south of the county there were twenty Corn Buntings on power cables over a field between Deanshanger and Wicken, by a small building.

A drake Smew was in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon plus two Stonechats. Three Great White Egrets were at Stanford Reservoir today where there was also two Water Rails, a Cetti's Warbler and a Chiffchaff.

Regards

Neil M

In recent days there has been quite a
gathering of surface-feeding ducks
in the Scaldwell Bay, Pitsford Reservoir,
 the rising water levels releasing food
 from the margins.

Dunnock.

After a glut of berries in the
autumn there is still plenty on
the bushes for the winter thrushes
to consume like these sloe berries.

Image and video of the 
Black-winged Kite today
courtesy of Neil Hasdell.