Saturday, February 16, 2008

Bits and Bobs

Cold, bright ESE 2-3

A very chilly walk up the track at about 0830, with the ground hard with frost and a biting breeze. Good count of 430 Golden Plover included a single black bellied bird but little else. At least 3 Brambling remain in the cover crop, along with my first Linnet of the year (!) The Brown Hares seem to be sorting themselves out with mates!








Late morning took a walk over to the lake, couldn't see any Mandarin but a pair of Wigeon were recently new. What was interesting was the rise in Coot numbers with 10 now present after starting with 3 at the start of the year. Why do I never see them arrive (or depart for that matter) thinking back, I have never ever seen a Coot not on a body of water, be it the sea, a lake or a pond, you just never see them anywhere else, but the must fly/walk over fields and stuff if only to get to Felbrigg! Anyway not alot else to report from here, the male Stonechat continues to feed in the orchid bog and, as usual for this species, has become rather bold.

Stonechat





Another fairly close body of water (and where Coots also occur!) to us is Blickling Lake near Aylsham, and with a report of a Great Northern Diver there this afternoon me and Dad took a drive over there and got some good views of this master swimmer.

Great Northern Diver


"ooh its murder getting shoes that fit!"


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