Paul Woolnough
Well-known member
Norwich birds
Not much to add to what has already been said.
Nuthatch the most likely species and at the quoted site.
Alders with siskin and goldfinch regularly and possible redpolls too.
Have a lesser pecker record from irregular visits in the past.
its a great area, it used to be my patch. The boggy area to the right of the path is very good for Woodcock + the really boggy areas were good for Snipe and supposedly Jack Snipe. Just finding birds such as Shoveler and Stonechat were real highlights. The Alders next to the path bring in finch flocks mostly Siskin and Goldfinch but also Redpoll, good to here Treecreepers still about they used to be very prevalent. As you say good for Woodpeckers and used to be a very reliable site for Lesser Spot. One of the features of the place is that it used to hold very late winter Thrushes, Redwings and Fieldfare still about in late April. Again Dolphin Bridge which is next to Gib Gardens is excellent for Daubentons Bats, absolutely amazing views can be got as they fly directly at you illuminated by the streetlights, i also once saw a Noctule flying about with Swifts at the end of my road, excellent for Dragon and Damselflies in the summer, could go on, real urban oasis. :t:
Anyone who finds themselves with a couple of hours to spare whilst to the north/west of Norwich city centre (as I did yesterday whilst Mrs. Frootshoots car had a new windscreen fitted) could do a lot worse than take a stroll along the riverside walk between the Gibraltar Gardens PH and Sweetbriar Road - the ring road. There's plenty of tree cover along the river, some with lots of established Ivy, and some Alder is mixed in too. Several areas close to the path are very boggy looking and the northern side, once away from the industrial area, consists of damp grazing marsh with patches of scrubby cover.There were 4 Little Grebes close to the road by the pub that would make a good photographic opportunity for a quick photographer and birds seen along the walk included Kingfisher, Water Rail and a very showy Treecreeper. A Stock Dove was in monotonous song and I also heard Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker plus a flyover Redpoll. Over the bridge behind the waterworks a Nuthatch was calling in the ribbon of woodland that runs through to the Dereham Road. A brief sojourn to the waterworks gate was pitifully rewarded with a few Gulls and 9 Tufted. It sure beat sitting in a dull waiting room...
James
Not much to add to what has already been said.
Nuthatch the most likely species and at the quoted site.
Alders with siskin and goldfinch regularly and possible redpolls too.
Have a lesser pecker record from irregular visits in the past.