Saturday saw me going solo down at Elmley while the Jims enjoyed Vange Marshes Stilts.
I had good but brief views of a day flying Barn Owl, a Peregrine hunting the marshes with several Buzzards and Marsh Harriers.
Hares were putting on a show and the mating rituals of Lapwing and Redshank were in full flow.
![Catching a few ticks in Tuddenham Redshank%2Bfight](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TcWao9wDh4E/WOqBNWwkndI/AAAAAAAAMJQ/WGZGaD3lDC8niSe95UOfAC5pmV_NRJWgQCLcB/s640/Redshank%2Bfight.jpg)
![Catching a few ticks in Tuddenham Redshank%2B2](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9zi2tElbv0/WOqB5POjYcI/AAAAAAAAMJY/MiwgHvKUcd4mgPxhwz3BGlfCFPMM9jS1gCLcB/s640/Redshank%2B2.jpg)
![Catching a few ticks in Tuddenham Hare%2B1](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1nI1DsCaCOE/WOqCh3iIPkI/AAAAAAAAMJg/SljK-mkBTZ8WcRIBMKvl13U8ED7t4OrvQCLcB/s1600/Hare%2B1.jpg)
On the drive home I picked up a year tick with three Swallows in Barking. Sunday morning saw an early meet up with the Jims and a short drive up the A11 to Tuddenham.
On the heath we enjoyed good scope views of a pair of Stone Curlew before picking out a couple of Wood Larks to give the boys a year tick. A surprise came when we first heard then enjoyed good views of an early Cuckoo and then on the drive out picked up decent views of a pair of Grey Partridge.
Another year tick came in the form of a couple of Willow Warblers singing their hearts out.
![Catching a few ticks in Tuddenham Cuckoo%2B1](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XMXskqC3jro/WOqC05WjqnI/AAAAAAAAMJk/_YGb9K-kb3sUzt2KCnEwCh6DnkrgIIY_wCLcB/s640/Cuckoo%2B1.jpg)
![Catching a few ticks in Tuddenham Cuckoo%2B2](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gpUU1n-g07Q/WOqC9R9bFkI/AAAAAAAAMJo/R6J9EtNsvowkW6ku4mwlcF4Zuq0XSb7MwCLcB/s640/Cuckoo%2B2.jpg)
![Catching a few ticks in Tuddenham Grey%2BPartridge%2B1](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ckPWrwokAc/WOqDILcsuUI/AAAAAAAAMJs/hn0vb8KIrvY_1Co6ZQ9RsHOh8HBJU4cQACLcB/s640/Grey%2BPartridge%2B1.jpg)
Whilst in the Brecks we made a short detour to Santon Downham where after a long walk down river we eventually heard a Lesser Spot call to add to the drumming heard on a previous visit and giving a “heard only” year tick.
The trees along the route held good numbers of Brambling, Redpoll and Siskin but a fly over Goshawk took top spot. Again Wood Larks displayed in the clearings and seem to be thriving in the Brecks.
![Catching a few ticks in Tuddenham Woodlark](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4E7Uf9leZdI/WOqDWblItlI/AAAAAAAAMJw/7qPNYa92I1sBv6_JwsAtvPTXKiJBQa-GACLcB/s640/Woodlark.jpg)
![Catching a few ticks in Tuddenham Skylark](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yk6pP9SERtI/WOqEiIvNbQI/AAAAAAAAMJ8/_W1TrIt30oYrKmhpjzfDNjO3uJOpFNUaQCLcB/s640/Skylark.jpg)
Year list now 190
![Catching a few ticks in Tuddenham Brian Anderson](https://focusingonwildlife.com/news/wp-content/uploads/brian_anderson.jpg)
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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