Fantastic day at Holme
Highlights: 1st Wheatear & Chiffchaff, Male Ring Ouzel & Female Merlin
Got up earlish this morning and arrived at Holme Golf Course by 8am.
Freezing cold, south west wind.
Gore Point Area - walked along the path landward side of dunes towards Gore Point. 2 grey wagtails flying west, 27 redshank in marshy pools, along with 10 avocets, 17 dunlin, 3 curlew, 4 pairs of Shelduck, 2 bar tailed godwits, 3 grey plover, loads of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits, greenfinches, 1 spotted redshank, pair of teal, 2 little egrets, 7 greylags flew west, 24 brent geese on shore, 10 avocets, pair of reed bunting, 1 song thrush (singing), 1 carrion crow (more seen later), 7 ringed plover at Gore Point, 3 linnets in sueda bushes, 4 oystercatchers and my first Wheatear bounded in off the sea, dived in behind a tuft of marram and I didn't see it again and neither did anyone else I don't think!!!! - that was 9.45am. A pied wagtail appeared in the muddy edges shortly after. Phoned through wheatear to HBO, NWT and Birdline. HBO informed me that they had seen a Ring Ouzel at Redwell marsh and it was seen again by golfcourse!!! Walked over dunes to 'Forestry' area, nothing much here, walked back along Firs Road (had left car at public loos) and near Pay Hut saw a pair of mistle thrushes. Started to walk back behind the back of the bungalows (in the old days, this area was red backed shrike territory!!!) in hope of seeing the Ring Ouzel. 60 redwings flew over going south. I could not believe my luck, in a hawthorn bush just to the right of the path sat the Ring Ouzel!!!!! It smiled nicely for me!!! and then up and left, flying across the path cackling into the bushes next to a narrow little path that links with the back of the village carpark - I walked down here to see if I could see it again, but no luck. Wow I was really pleased with that, and the sun had started to come out now aswell, about time, it was freezing!
After getting back to car I decided before going down to HBO to go to Holme Marsh Reserve for a while. 12pm now. 2 Jays along path to 1st hide, pair of bullfinch by 1st hide. From Hide, pair of tufted duck, pair of shelduck, curlew, 1st Chiffchaff singing and seen. Nothing much from 2nd hide. Along path to 3rd hide on the fields to right, 350+ woodpigeons, 100+ starlings and 45+ redwings all feeding together, took me ages to count that lot!!!! From 3rd hide, 1 redshank, a short eared owl being mobbed by carrion crows and black headed gulls, 1 long tailed tit 1 egyptian goose and my best ever view of a female Merlin coming straight for me!!!!!, it just skimmed past the hide and looked like it landed, I opened door of hide and there it was (well for a second!) sitting on the fence post and then up and went as it saw me!! Back to where car was parked, great, coal and blue tit flitting about in the trees and heard a green woodpecker.
Drove down to Holme Bird Observatory, a cetti's warbler was singing by NOA carpark, really beautiful sunny weather now. Ruddy duck on broad water opposite Firs House, 2 gold finches on feeders, plus 8 more at HBO. Tawny Owl calling in the pines, 2 goldcrests round the back of the pines, chaffinchs. The sea was coming in again, there was nobody really on the beach, lovely and the sun was going down, beautiful. A heron flew over the marsh, going back down the Firs Road. Back to mother's for scones and butter!!! and home again to Lynn.
Best Wishes Penny :girl:
P.S Apparently there is a Green Winged Teal, seen from Parrinder Hide at Titchwell RSPB, but I didn't bother to go down, maybe on Monday when there will be less people or probably no one if its snowing!!! (I have booked a day off :t: )
