I’ve spent some time this week looking for the Epping Harrier without any joy but still had plenty of action with Red Kites, Buzzards and Sparrowhawks all showing in good numbers. A male Goshawk and a pair of Raven added to the drama as did a day calling Tawny Owl, lots of Deer and a few Hares.
A day at Lakenheath gave me a couple of year ticks in the week with a couple of Little-ringed Plover on Hockwold washland and a pair of Garganey on New Fen. The number of Marsh Harriers displaying from Joist Fen was a real spectacle with at least fourteen birds in the air together. A couple of Bittern called and Kingfishers came and went as I waited in vain for any sign of the breeding Cranes.
At Dunge we landed another year tick with a single Sandwich Tern and again found the Cattle Egrets by Boulderwell Farm.
A Peregrine and Black Redstart by the power station along with a few Wheatear on the shingle made up the best of the day but we also jammed on one of Britains two colonies of Grey-backed mining Bee on the walk to Denis’s Hide almost in the car park at Dunge.
A decent few days but I’m still waiting for the real spring migrants to start pouring in.
Brian Anderson
Essex Birder using the blog as a diary of my trips around the country chasing birds. Enjoying the places it takes me and the people I meet along the way. Great to spend time with my Dad and brother as we chase our year lists and grow our life list in the process.
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