Beautiful Birds: Common Tern at Oulton Broad

Oulton Broad

During our day at the Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve near Lowestoft, we spent some time watching the boats on Oulton Broad. There were a few gulls about, but one of them looked a bit different. I reached for my binoculars and saw this Common Tern, resting on the covered boom of a sailing craft. Perhaps it had just arrived in the UK. I have seen Terns on the island of Skye, but this was a first East Anglian sighting for me, despite the fact that the Tern is the icon of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

A resting Tern

So I will add it to my 2013 list, along with some other birds that I have encountered since my list of 8 April. Other species of bird seen since that date include ...

• Common Tern (Oulton Broad)
• Hobby (RSPB Minsmere) - a first sighting
• Common Crane (Norfolk) - definitely a first sighting for me!
• Puffin (RSPB Bempton Cliffs)
• Gannet (ditto)
• Kittiwake (ditto)
• Fulmar (ditto)
• Guillemot (ditto)
• Razorbill (ditto)
• Cuckoo (Essex)
• Black-tailed Godwit (WWT Welney)
• Sedge Warbler (WWT Welney)
• Swallow (SWT Carlton Marshes)
• Bullfinch (home patch)
• Sparrowhawk (home patch)
• Lesser Redpoll (NT Wicken Fen)
• Reed Bunting (NT Wicken Fen)

2013 Wordle 1: Summary of Wildlife Sightings So Far

Wordle of Birds I have seen (UK, largely Suffolk) so far in 2013

I have seen Egyptian Geese, a new species for me, in two locations, Lackford Lakes and Ickworth. This quarter represents my best sighting to date of Goldcrests (at Minsmere) and Barn Owl (Orford and Flatford). 

My early sightings have included a number of strange, possibly hybrid, Mallards, including largely white ones. The Egyptian Goose is really a 'garden escape' as this species was brought to Britain as an ornamental bird for parks and estates.  

Egyptian Goose

Mammals seen to date: Red Deer, Muntjac, Rabbit, Hare, Grey Squirrel ... and Rat. 

Insects seen to date: Ladybirds (two Seven-spots at Minsmere), Gorse Shield Bug (two at Minsmere), Bumblebee (on the wing) ... and a few unidentified beetles and moths.

Wild Flowers to date: Daisy, Coltsfoot, Violet, Aconites, Periwinkle, Dog's Mercury 

'Fishy' things: Skate Eggs, Cuttlefish cuttle bones

Seasonal Splash: January Bird Count

This is my Wordle, listing birds I saw in January 2013. 

These were spotted in Suffolk and Essex. 

The white Pekin Ducks (which were swimming with Mallards) were probably 'farmyard escapes'.

Bird of the Month ~ Barn Owl near Flatford

Beautiful Birds (40): 2012 Species List Wordle

Wordle of birds spotted in January and February 2012. I was in Philadelphia and New York in January for two weeks, so one or two of the birds were seen in the USA.

Bird Count (4): May 2011 ... plus 'Best of the Rest'

Newts

It's time for my May 2011 update, and I'm ashamed to say that I spotted very few 'first in 2011' species of bird. It is for this reason that I have 'cheated' and combined my complement of living creatures for this month. The birds are all first sightings of the year: the others may not be. My thanks to those kind bloggers out there who helped every so often with an ID.  

WORDLE for JUNE 2011 ~ species seen

If you are interested in my wild flower count for 2011, you can find the current tally by clicking here. I wonder what new items will be added in June ... The Ram's Horn Snail was perhaps the most unusual sighting: it was rather camouflaged and I initially wondered if I had spotted a leech!

P.S. I have just realised that the Dock Beetle appears twice ~ sorry!

Bird Count (1): January-February 2011

Birds I have seen during January and February in South Wales

I wonder what species you have noted so far this year in your neck of the woods? I have also seen the following: -

Mammals
1) Grey Squirrel
2) Rabbit
3) Fox

Amphibians
1) Common Toad

Insects
1) Bumble Bee
2) Hover Fly
3) Ladybird (fluttered past without stopping)

Molluscs
1) Snails

I have yet to see my first Butterfly of 2011. I recall spotting my first one year on 14 February in the snow!

Postscript: you might enjoy this post about what birds can do in Israel ~ thanks, April!