Incessant Easterlies

If this was the Autumn we would be praying for Easterly winds !
Unfortunately its been another non event this weekend on the ringing front with near hurricane winds, bitterly cold and sandstorms on the beach at Caister.
However this has lead to more birdwatching, a check on the beach at Caister Saturday saw at least 25 forlorn looking Linnet on the food.

Juv Glaucous Gull

From hear a scan on the beach revealed the juvenile Glaucous Gull, mentioned in the last post, loafing on the beach and no camera ! 
I beat a hasty retreat home to get the camera but had gone by the time I got back.
Another look Sunday morning saw the bird hunkered down in a field nearby, I had the camera this time but too far away !
Another trek down Sunday afternoon on an almost deserted beach saw the bird again in its usual place feeding on the beach, where these photo's were taken. It was quite settled until a beachcomber came along and spooked it, he was looking for Jet.

Juv Glaucous Gull

There was also a strong Southerly passage of Kittiwakes and Gannets, 18 Sanderling were also on the beach.

In the fields nearby a flock of 21 Skylark revealed themselves.

Snow Bunting gone

We have been trying to get  to Caister for Snow Bunting for several weeks now,unfortunately the weather has been awful.
Its been a quiet Winter here for them with a flock of around 40 most of the time, 54 birds have been ringed in just 2 visits. It did peak at 63 in November, recently numbers have dwindled and finally disappearing on Wednesday 13th when the last 2 were seen.
We finally made it there too late on Saturday 16th !
However a few Linnet had started using the area with around 25 birds there.

Adult (6) male Linnet

The same bird , not really in it's Summer finery yet.

 (5) Female Linnet.

15 Linnet were caught plus 2 retraps, these both originally ringed on 06/04/2012.

While waiting for the Linnets to turn up a 1st Winter Glaucous Gull flew north at 06.10 then was seen on the beach at 07.00 to 07.10.

There has been large numbers of Gulls at Caister recently due to a wreck of Razor fish,also present were 3 Med Gulls.

Offshore 3 Gannet and a Brent Goose flew north with a Red T Diver on the sea.

In other news Dave has had some success in catching a few Siskin in his garden at Rollesby.

While in mine at Ormesby they are an infrequent visitor, so when 3 were seen on the feeders it was quite a surprise. One male was caught on Sunday, see below.  

Male Siskin.

Still quiet !

Saturday 2nd March saw another visit to the cover crop at Ludham. We were joined by a new ringer to the area , Jason.
James has continued feeding the site ,Wood Pigeons are still a problem and continue to gorge themselves, however a feeder has been placed in the hedge and this has enticed a few birds back. The idea was to take this away when we used the whoosh net to get them back on the ground, they seemed quite reluctant to do this with only a few taking the plunge.
14 birds were caught with 8 new and 5 retrap Reed Bunting and a single new Brambling.
About 200 Bewicks and 15 Whooper Swan were seen flying in during the morning and a Common Buzzard flew over.

When we were last here Nathan had found this half eaten Weasel impaled macabrely in a Hawthorn bush. 

The afternoon was spent at another duck pond in Hickling, John had kindly invited us along and had continued to feed there. 

About 30 Shelduck, 20 Mallard and 10 Teal were seen near the pond, so we had high hopes. Unfortunately the pond had been stirred up quite a bit by the ducks so had made the bottom quite muddy and gooey !
This made it very hard going.

Dave hauling himself out

Kev stuck !

Mick and team contemplating where to put the nets,  with 4 Cranes(use your imagination !) flying overhead having a look.

Several birds came in but luck wasn't on our side and we only caught 3 new Teal, we did have 2 Shelduck 'in' but they escaped before we could get to them , never mind !

Good birds were everywhere with at least 10 Marsh Harrier, Merlin, 2 Barn Owls, 3 Snipe and 4 Cranes being seen and good number of Bewicks and Whooper Swans flying overhead. Large numbers of Pinkfeet could be heard in the dark.