Morocco – Agadir and beyond – 22nd to 29th March 2010

Apologies for a prolonged period of absence but we’ve been on our hols! 

Based in Agadir we spent a week travelling and birding in Morocco, including a three day stay in the Northern Sahara.  So now we are back I’ll be writing the next few entries to cover the species and notes on the trip. 

In the mean time whilst I get the photographs sorted through and confirm some sightings, here’s a taster of the region. 

Life bird count: 389    Year bird count: 117   Month bird count: 74 

Photo: Camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Suffolk – Ickworth House (NT) – 7th March 2010

Regular readers will know that we had visited this site this January in the hope of seeing Lesser-spotted Woodpecker and that at that time no spring flowers had appeared. On this visit, we are glad to report that the large covering of Snowdrops were out in their glory and that the distinct leaves of the Spotted Orchid were also visible. Bird wise, alas, only Greater-spotted Woodpecker, mega disappointment as lesser in these woods has been a sure bet over the last 10 years. We also saw Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Redwing and Goldcrest.

Life bird count: 389 Year bird count: 115 Month bird count: 42

Photo: Snowdrops (galanthus)

Suffolk – The Strand – 5th March 2010

I could not resist a quick stop over here on the way home from work as the weather was so good compared to what we had been enduring of late. The tide was at its highest, therefore there were no waders to be seen, but on the water were a few Gulls; Herring, Common & Black-headed. Grazing on the field opposite was a large number of Greylag Geese and on the immediate verge Meadow Pipits flew up and down finding what food they could.

Life bird count: 389 Year bird count: 115 Month bird count: 30

Photo: Common Gull (larus canus)

Suffolk – The Strand – 21st February 2010

This was our final site of the day and to be honest our most productive, at least count wise. The tide had just turned and the shore line mud was just being revealed again, so the birds were gathering quite close to start feeding. Waders included Knot, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Dunlin & Oystercatcher. Amongst the wildfowl there were Brent Geese, Wigeon and Shelduck, then our in the estuary we saw a Slavonian Grebe, several Great-crested Grebes & Merganser.

Life bird count: 389 Year bird count: 115 Month bird count: 89

Photo: Great Knot (calidris tenuirostris)