Tuesday 19 November 2013

Rudding enthusiasts

The succession of westerly winds seem to have made for an unremarkable end to autumn with only limited numbers of geese and very few small birds present.  We just about scraped the stars together for the winter thrush walk over the weekend, but none were abundant like last years locust like experience in South Scrub.  It falls to the old faithful to be the stars of the week - thanks to Steve Hines for these of the otters in North Marsh:
Darren Smith also got these belters:
Rudd? - no doubt I'll be corrected if not!:
We'll be looking at tracks and field signs on the mammal safari event on the 15th of December - book in advance on 01377 270690 - more details on the events page.
Jack snipe on Watton with three commons on the 9th was nice by Dave Ware. 
Both Marsh and Willow tit have been seen in the D woods around the feeders.
Water rail on South Marsh West
Greens sandpiper on the 9th
3 Cetti's warblers on the South Marsh East (great write up on Steve's blog here) on the 9th.
2 Whoopers on Watton on the 13th and O res on the 17th
Marsh harrier on the 15th
100 brambling seen by Hull RSPB group on the 17th on Watton Carrs
12 linnets 17th
And a single drake pintail on the 17th on D and Watton.

Even if the bird life is steady there's always plenty to see if you look hard enough. Thanks to Doug Fairweather Ascobolus stercorarius - growing on rabbit droppings:
And a pin mould sp. growing on walnut shells:
Loads more great shots on Martin's site as ever here.