Valentine's Day Redpoll

A cracking adult Lesser Redpoll at the feeding station today - better than a rose or chocolates any day! Numbers of Redpoll and Siskin had increased again today. The 8 + Redpoll's came straight down to the feeders to gorge themselves but this rosy bird seemed totally confused by feeders, pecking at the lids, a piece of sellotape and staring at the others feasting. However he finally switched on to niger seed on the ground where he seemed most content with the Dunnocks and other bottom feeders.

Weekend 'Cabaret' . . .

Spent more time at the feeding station over the weekend but the weather has not been the best for photography with dark skies and intermittent rain. The Lesser Redpolls are still present in smaller numbers (6+) as are the pair of Siskin and good numbers of Coal, Blue and Great Tit.

Arctic Conditions bring in the Redpolls . . .Suffolk

Over the past week or so there have been a number of Lesser Redpoll visiting my local feeding/ringing station, an exciting new arrival and a much wanted one photographically! 20 or so have now been ringed and 2 birds caught were British controls so we look forward to hearing where these birds were first ringed. I do not think I have ever been so cold in my hide as today and the subzero wind off the estuary was bitter and very strong. However, the couple of hours I managed this morning paid off handsomely and I returned home upbeat and keen to return in less breezy conditions in the morning for more Redpoll shots and to try for more Siskin which have also started to arrive . . . .

Estonia for a Day . . . blog update in progress . . .

'Hogging all the Bread'

We had a really enjoyable long weekend up in Glasgow the weekend before last, visiting friends in their new abode in 'rural' north Glasgow. The journey up was a mere 7 1/2 hours! but with Costa Coffee & Burger King to keep us fat & entertained on the way up, as well as our cheesy music selection, time just flew by. As well as memorable wine sampling, 'wii' playing & meals out in a local pub (where we had our first ever taste of 'Haggis'), Indian Restaurant & a delicious Italian 'at home' we also managed to get out into the air occasionally . . .

I was amazed to see Goosander's scrapping for bread along with gulls & coots at Hogganfield (all pics shown) but not so amazed at dipping a Firecrest at Gosford Estate (great area though & we did see 2 nuthatch). We also briefly visited SOC HQ & had a very fresh walk along the coast at Musselburgh, where we spotted numerous Velvet Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, a couple of GC Grebe, 1 Slav Grebe, Barwits, Knot & flushed a smart Lapland Bunting along the path which we called through to birdline Scotland. After doubling our hosts 'house list' & enjoying his fine river & mountain window views it was time to depart south again! Where's the coffee . . . .

Blackcap Returns . . .
We have had a female Blackcap in the garden for the last few days, feasting on apples and oranges we have stuck on canes and guarding it's garden territory and food aggressively. We had a female Blackcap over wintering in the garden last year . . .wonder if it's the same one?! Two Song Thrush have also spent lengthy periods feeding in the garden, an unusual sight here and one of many different behavioural changes in the birding world we have noticed during this prolonged cold, snowy snap in our Suffolk patch.

Otter on Ice . . .

A superb sight caught my eye along the Deben Estuary today towards Martlesham Creek- an Otter came marching out of the reeds & padded out over a frozen pond in full view, allowing me to grab a few record shots! A beautiful, large animal & a pleasure to see along this part of the Suffolk coast . There were lots of Wigeon & Teal in the Creek at low tide, along with a Green Sandpiper, Sparrowhawk, Redwing & Fieldfare overhead & several Cetti's Warblers in the reedbed area.

A Snow-filled Sunday in Suffolk . . . .