So I had this grand vision of walking all the way from my house to Needham Market, a distance of six miles, and taking in around ten lakes and all their birds. Unfortunately the recent rain had caused the river, which frames the walk, to swell over and swamp the footpath. So I was stuck with Barham Pits, the most southerly and most accessible lakes, which was just about passable.
If you read my blog you know that these pits are pretty poor for waterbirds, being fishing pits birds are not encouraged. However the reedbeds, swamps and waterside woodland attract a lot of smaller birds. There was a lot of small bird activity with large flocks of TITS and GOLDCRESTS, amongst whom were a few CHIFFCHAFFS, this sort of habitat is ideal for wintering birds, the water providing a warmer environment. In a different tit flock were a pair of TREECREEPERS. Over by Great Blakenham Lock, bursting over with water, there was a flock of around 20 SISKIN in the riverside alders.
On the way back I saw a party of three BULLFINCHES, the three suggests that it was a family party from last year, as the birds usually hang around in pairs.
Oh and the waterbirds...Barham Pit B had one TUFTED DUCK and one GREAT CRESTED GREBE, Barham Pit A had 13 TUFTED DUCK, while Meadlands Pit had just six COOT and three SWANS.
So as usual nothing out of the ordinary, but for a day in early in January offered some tricky birds for the new year list.
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