Little Owl at the flats.

I had a few hours spare on Wednesday before a visit from my youngest son. So I called Brian to see if he fancied a quick trip over Wanstead Flats to see if we could find one of the Little Owls that are over there for a year tick.

Brian is free so we meet up and it's only 15 minutes before we are walking the flats after getting the car parked, it's off to search.

We spent a little time in the first copse without any luck, as we walked to the next one we met Marko, he had just seen a pair and steered us in the right direction.

Knowing we have the right tree helps and after 10 minutes Jimmy spots one of the Owls and we are all getting a great view of it.

With only a limited time we never got to see the pair, which was a shame.

But a tick is a tick and nice to get out if only for a short time.

                                                               

The Little Owl

Nice trip to Breckland with the sun shinning, 5 year ticks.

We wanted to head off to Breckland on Wednesday. The weather forecast tells us that it is going to rain all day, so that put paid to that.

The next available day was Friday, and the weather was much better. We had a time restriction as I had to be home by 2pm to pick my grandchildren up for a weekend stay.

I left to meet Brian at 6am and arrived at Lynford Arboretum in Suffolk around 7.30.

We spend a fair amount of time at the gate, and the birds are coming in and out to feed on the floor and drink at the little puddle in the middle of the strip. Also, nuthatches and coal tit came to the feeder.

While watching, we see a massive flock of Chaffinch coming and going, and then, a single 

Brambling showed to give us all a year tick.

A nice walk down to the bridge was very pleasant, with the sun warming up.

It took a while before Jimmy and I got a second year tick when Marsh tit came to feed on the bridge pillar where we had put some food there for it. On the path down to the bridge, we spot a large flock of Siskin.

Brian walked over to the paddock to see if he could find any Crossbills. We stayed on the bridge and got another year tick as a Treecreeper climbed up the tree in front of us. I always love watching these funny little birds.

We think we hear Crossbill, but couldn't get onto them to confirm, so no tick there.

Off now to look for Goshawk, that is not too far away from Lynford. On arrival, we found the lay-by packed but did get parked up.

Jimmy and Brian get to see a Goshawk within minutes; I missed seeing it as I wanted to sit and have a snack in the car, a bad mistake as it took nearly 3 hours before my turn came. It's worth the wait when we see a single Goshawk give a great display to give me tick number 4.

The birders here got us onto a Woodlark, a short walk back up the road for tick number 5 for the day. This turned out to be a great day, just what we needed.

Marsh Tit

                                                      

                                                                 

Siskin

 

                                                                    

                                                                 

Treecreeper