Nice day watching Goshawks.

We have been waiting for the weather to get a bit warmer to head off to the Brecks in the hope of seeing Goshawks. 

Setting off at 6 am we have the added bonus of Robert coming with us as he really wants to watch these birds again.

The first port of call is Santon Downham, with the car parked we walk down to the tunnel and hear several Woodlark in full song and get to watch some flying about. A good start to the day. It's a bit frosty underfoot but getting warmer as we head off to head down alongside the river to look for the reported Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers.

We didn't have to wait too long before a single bird flew onto a bare tree and works its way up to the top of the tree to give us all some great views before flying off only to return with a male bird. we get several views & hear them drumming when out of sight.

There is no sign of the Otters but the river was very high I don't know if that makes any difference to them.

Now off to watch for Goshawk, on arrival at the spot we need to be another 5 cars already there. We see plenty of Buzzards and 3 Sparrowhawks before after 20 minutes the first Goshawk shows and soon followed by another and that one lands at the top of a pine tree and stays for a while and as the sunlight shines on it we get fantastic views of the yellow legs and body colour.

The bird hangs about for a while then it's off but we get a few more birds flying over the top of the pines, what a day such great birds to watch, a few hours spent here before we jump in the car to head off, but before we go a fellow birder starts calling us so we jump out off the car to be told a White-tailed Eagle was over the pines, we all got onto it for a great view.

The bird had the number G463. when we got home Brian did some homework on the number and found out that it was the first Isle of White bird to fly over the sea to France & Denmark before we see it flying over the becks today.

On the way home, we pop into Lynford for a visit. as we park the car we see a small group watching a Hollybush, so we think they maybe they are watching a Firecrest.

That was the right and we are soon ticking a lovely-looking Firecrest.,

Down by the gate, the place is full of birds. Only one Hawfinch but a dozen Brambling, some Yellowhammer, Siskin,Nuthatch, Coal Tit, and a single Marsh Tit to round off one of the really good days birding.

One of the Lesser Peckers

Marsh Tit