Daily Diary: April 2006
1st April 2006
At Whitlingham this morning, three Chiffchafs, a pair of Oystercatchers and a singing Meadow Pipit along the NE shore (don't recall hearing them here before in spring?). Small Tortoiseshell also.
2nd April 2006
In Eaton Park this morning, concerted sky-watching because an Alpine Swift had been reported over Norwich the previous evening. No such luck but did find at least three Common Buzzards, all going north and one very close being mobbed by a crow. Returned home for lunch, to get a frantic phonecall from Dawn saying she was watching an Alpine Swift at Whitlingham then. Broke the landspeed record to get there but missed the thing by about two minutes, as did most regulars. Particularly irritating as we'd driven past the end of the lane on the way home from Norwich. Arse! A distant view of the first Swallow of the year, plus two Sand Martins and yet another high-flying Buzzard for the day were little compensation.
In the afternoon, went to Surlingham in the vain hope it might have drifted off there but again no such luck. Highlights were Water Rail, Marsh Harrier and about ten each of Teal and Shoveler, plus a pair of Shelducks and a Little Grebe.
3rd April 2006
Drove to Whitlingham before work, via a Barn Owl over the fields near Caistor. No swifts, but the first Willow Warbler of the year and a female Marsh Harrier flew over to the west. At Thetford, two female Goosander were still on the flood at lunchtime, joined by three Swallows.
4th April 2006
Another look at Whitlingham but the highlight was a pair of Redshank. In Thetford, the first juvenile Mallards of the year were noted.
5th April 2006
Went around the East Harling area doing a very perfunctory search again for the Woodlark survey, again without success although I did finally hear a Blackcap for the year.
6th April 2006
Nothing of note
7th April 2006
Walked around the Nunnery Lakes at lunchtime, finding a Stoat, Willow Warbler, pairs of Curlew, Oystercatcher and Great Crested Grebe and a single Little Ringed Plover on E lake.
Ran the moth trap in the evening, trapping the grand total of eight moths: three Small Quakers, two Clouded Drabs, Hebrew Character, Dotted Border and Grey Shoulder-knot.
8th April 2006
At Whitlingham in the morning, where the first two House Martins of the year plus 20 each of Swallow and House Martin. Still 10 Gadwall and four Teal. In the afternoon, a trip to Woodbastwick produced a ringtail Hen Harrier (not a Monty's unfortunately!)
9th April 2006
Went to Hickling where Common Tern was the only new one for the year, along with 46 Avocets, eight Ruff, seven Blackwits, ten Dunlin, a Ringed Plover and a Pintail. A quick look at Horsey Gap later produced just single Red-throated Diver and Great Crested Grebe.
10th April 2006
Went to a Breckland site where a pair of Stone-curlews present as last year, one colour-ringed.
11th April 2006
Took the day off as Mark was over from Guernsey. Walked around Strumpshaw with three junior BUBO boys in tow; first Sedge Warbler of the year, plus Blackcap and plenty of hirundines. Then over to Buckenham where we picked out at least three Water Pipits, still not particularly brightly plumaged, plus a Yellow Wagtail and four Blackwits.
12th April 2006
At Barnhamcross Common in the morning, a Stoat seen on the flood, plus at least three Siskin still about and a Blackcap singing. Another singing by the river later, with Small Tortoiseshell also present.
13th April 2006
Nothing of note.
14th April 2006
In the garden, the first Small White of the year was initially found by Duncan. Went to Rockland Broad later where Brimstone, and Small Tort in flight, and Marsh Harriers and Cetti's much in evidence. Back home, the first Peacock of the year (v late) in the garden plus a Swallow over. Ran the trap in garden catching 43 moths of eight species: Diurnea fagella, Dotted Border, Red Chestnut, Common Quaker (8), Small Quaker (11), Clouded Drab (5), Hebrew Character (13) and Early Grey (3).
15th April 2006
Big walk at Walberswick with the boys, from Hoist Covert, down to the reeds and back through the whole reedbed, then back along the track to the car park. A good morning, with a booming Bittern near to us at one stage, at least ten Marsh Harriers, three Woodlarks, Little Owl, six Cetti's, two adult Med Gulls over, 20+ Bearded Tits, two Little Egrets, two Water Rails, five Brambling and ten Lesser Redpolls.
16th April 2006
Up early to do a Norfolk atlas square at Hethel. Recorded 45 species (plus fly-over Barnacle Goose and LBB Gull), including 8 Blackcap, 12 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, Marsh Tit, Siskin (unlikely breeder) and Bullfinch, plus Muntjac, Roe, Hare and Rabbit.
17th April 2006
Went to Thorpe Marsh opposite Whitlingham. Not much of note; three Cetti's, two Chiffchaffs, two Willow Warblers, two Sedge, two Blackcap, two pairs of Gadwall, etc. In the afternoon, met Trudy's parents on their boat at Womack Water, where Cetti's also present plus a pair of closely watched Marsh Tits in what looked like classic Willow Tit habitat!
18th April 2006
At Caistor Fort, a Little Owl was watching the boys and their friends playing football from one of the big ashes in the middle of the field. Later, a Chiffchaff was present in our garden birch, whilst a Willow Warbler was singing across the road.
19th April 2006
The first Swift of the year was seen over the Nunnery Lakes at lunchtime, with pairs of Teal and Gadwall also present on the flood.
20th April 2006
At the usual Brecks site, now two pairs of Stone-curlews, plus Woodlark and the first Whitethroat of the year. At lunchtime, a Yellow Wagtail flew over at the Nunnery Lakes.
21st April 2006
Woodlark and a pair of Shelduck at Brettenham Heath in the morning, with a Curlew and Sedge Warbler by the Nunnery Flood at lunchtime. In the evening, a feeble catch in the garden trap with just a Brindled Beauty, 12 Common Quakers and six Hebrew Characters.
22nd April 2006
A routine trip to Eaton Park to take Tom to play football resulted in Duncan and I walking down to the UEA Broad. We'd just heard our first Cuckoo of the year, and seen the first Orange-tip, when a large shape appeared over the trees and we had superb views of an Osprey. It flew downstream over us, then back up over us, circled the lake a few times being mobbed by crows and LBBs and drifted off to the north after being in view for about ten minutes.
23rd April 2006
A good walk north from Horsey Gap in the morning with the boys. Loads of migrants about, including three singing Grasshopper Warblers, two Tree Pipits flushed near the car park, three Ring Ouzels in the playground field, a singing Lesser Whitethroat, at least 27 Yellow Wagtails on the holiday park along with two White Wagtails and four Wheatears, a Black Redstart at the pipe dump, seven Common Scoter south over the sea, a Whimbrel north, three soaring Cranes and about 30 Common Seals on the beach.
24th April 2006
At Barnhamcross, just Peacock and Small Tort. A Buzzard soaring at Kilverstone later.
25th April 2006
Lesser Whitethroat singing at Barnhamcross pumping station.
26th April 2006
Walked down to the Nunnery Lakes at lunchtime where a Grasshopper Warbler was singing on the marsh. Put the trap out in the evening and finally had a decent night, with 47 moths of 13 species. The highlight was my first-ever Early Tooth-striped. Not the most visually exciting moth ever but an overdue one. Other new ones for the year were Brindled and Double-striped Pugs, Purple Thorn, Scarce Tissue, Twin-spotted Quaker and Caloptilia syringella.
Early Tooth-striped, 26/4/06, Stoke Holy Cross
27th April 2006
At Barnhamcross, Green-veined White on the wing, along with Brimstone, Peacock and Speckled Wood. Ran the trap again, with fewer moths than last night, just 28 of eight species.
28th April 2006
Nothing of note.
29th April 2006
Went camping to Kelling Heath. Had a Marsh Harrier over as we pitched up the tent. In the afternoon, went down Cley East Bank where about 50 Sandwich Terns, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Hobby, an adult Ross's Goose and a single Pink-footed Goose I initially misidentified as a Tundra Bean before common-sense (and a view of its legs) prevailed! After dark, Tawny Owl heard on the campsite.
30th April 2006
Walked around Kelling Heath in the morning, where Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Woodlark, Common Heath and Comma were seen. In the toilet block, both Brindled Beauty and Engrailed were present. Then, whilst eating our lunch, a flock of 12 Cranes (previously found coming in over Cley by Dawn and Pete) flew over our heads, thermalled then headed off eastward, probably in view for over ten minutes.
Cranes, Kelling Heath, 30/4/06
We then headed down to Salthouse where a gull on a post caused a heart-stopping moment when I momentarily thought it might be a Bonaparte's. It was rapidly then seen to be just a Little Gull, but gave cracking views at extremely close range and I think it remained it for several days after this. Also present were three Whimbrel, a late Golden Plover in full plumage, Greenshank, Little Egret and Wheatear. More annoying though was that a Dotterel was found just as we left and I only heard about it upon arriving home - darn.
Little Gull, Salthouse, 30/4/06