White stork
What are peoples' thoughts on the origin of the Aldeby white stork? I notice it's been around a couple of days now and I'm wondering if it's worth a punt
Birders present consider the bird to be a good candidate for a
wild individual. It was suggested that the Thrigby birds do not venture to this area.
I checked the RBA website for stork sightings this month. There is a strong case to suggest a bird seen at various places in Suffolk and beyond, during the week, which has settled at Aldeby, is a vagrant.
I saw it today, and waited in vain for it to cross into Suffolk. It is unringed and full-winged so in my view its as good as they get.
I started to head back to my car at Aldeby around 130. I realised the stork was not roosting, as it had been for some time but had disappeared. For some minutes I had no idea where the bird was. In fact it was circling over my head!
The bird then flew downriver and over the poplars into Castle Marshes Suffolk at 1.45pm. Suffolk and "Lizardland" tick for me. My patience was rewarded, I was on site soon after 9am!
Other sightings
Presumed yellow-legged gull, grey plover and five hobbies at the shooting pools. When the stork briefly flew out of sight, late am, I walked back up East End Lane and joined two birders watching the gulls in the ploughed field. Jammed a first summer Caspian Gull: my first in Norfolk for a few years. It soon flew off and did not return.
Cannot see them all or be lucky all the time
Justin Lansdell and Andy Wilkinson joined me at the stork am. They told me where the bar-tailed godwits had been at Buckenham. Birds I missed!
I dipped the barwit flock from the access track. Did not fancy the trek in the wind to the Mill. Flock only viewable from the Mill. I don't normally walk that far. Barwit still needed for Mid Yare Valley after more years than I can remember!