'Double Dutch' on the Deben

I spotted a Dutch colour ringed Turnstone on the Deben Estuary, Woodbridge today whilst out birding. This is the first time this Winter that I have seen this bird which I first spotted last Winter (see earlier Turnstone post). I sent the details off to the BTO and a Dutch ringing contact I was given in March 2009 and had the following info back about this individual YYCCT Z044951 :

Ringed 27.08.2008 at Leihoek, Hazepolder, Petten, Netherlands.

29.08.2008: Sighted Hondsbossche, Netherlands.

30.08.2008: Sighted Hondsbossche, Netherlands.

19.10.2008: Sighted at Titchwell Beach, Norfolk, UK (J.Toomer).

10.03.2009: Sighted on Deben Estuary, Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK (R.Nason).

15.02.2010: Sighted on Deben Estuary, Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK (R.Nason).

I look forward to hearing whether this bird has been spotted anywhere else since last March! It is ringed with an aluminium ring on it's right leg, has a yellow ring above this and a further yellow flag tag above the tarsus with CCT written in black.

Dutch on the Deben . . . 

A very high tide late morning combined with stormy grey skies and broken sunshine tempted me down to the Deben estuary in Woodbridge this morning. I enjoyed photographing Turnstone at very close range and noted one bird sporting a metal ring, colour ring and coloured ring tag on its right leg! On closer inspection, and using my photographs I was able to read the metal ring number (Z044951) and tag (CCT) and see that the bird was from Holland! I have now forwarded on the details through the BTO website and look forward to learning more of this controlled individual in weeks to come.

Eastern Promise ? . . .

A calm & bright start to the day with light North-easterly winds, distinctly different conditions than the last ten days or so. Spirits were raised by the sighting of 3 Waxwing over at first light & the realization as the morning developed that there were a lot more 'birds in'. There were a few Blackcap, Redpoll sp, a Garden Warbler, a few Chiffchaff, good numbers of Goldcrest, a Greenfinch & a Yellowhammer. I walked down to the Havens after breakfast & had my first Waxwing of the Autumn/Winter calling overhead. On reaching the Havens a 1st year Glaucous Gull passed through North Haven & I had an adult Glaucous Gull from Buness. There were a lot more Fulmar around both out at sea & on the cliffs. I spent part of the day searching for rares & the rest chasing & photographing Fair Isle Wrens on South Haven beach as well as more Wader photography.

Monday Madness . . . 

The day was spent, rather like the Turnstone below -  bracing the elements once again -  I will have to get used to these endless gales & driving rain when I live on Shetland! Can't wait!  Photographed something a 'little different' this morning,  a smart adult female Tufted Duck which showed well in the Havens. It was later trapped & ringed. Also spent time sifting through gulls in the north for an elusive Glaucous Gull which had been seen earlier in the day. No sign of the Glauc but good numbers of gulls gathering near the airstrip & Golden Water throughout the day, so a gull dazzling session has been mentioned for later tonight. The plane was cancelled this afternoon & the boat is cancelled tomorrow, we just need the winds to come from somewhere a little further afield . . . . .