On the way to work

[Tursiops]

Great start to the day today.

My walk to work crosses Stoke Bridge, where the River Gipping becomes tidal and is renamed the Orwell, at the head of Ipswich docks. Immediately below the bridge, the river forms a small basin of deep water when the tide is in. A couple of winters ago, I had a red-throated diver here for an afternoon, so I always cast an eye over it when I cross the bridge. I did so this morning, and spotted another diver, only this one was a Great Northern! The first I've seen since I was in the Hebrides in 1980, and a new tick for my River list.

I wasn't totally surprised, as BirdGuides has been reporting one in the area for the last couple of days, but I wasn't expecting to see it on the way to work. That's what I love about birds, you never know what's going to turn up next.

Tursiops

[pheonix]

good spot!
im planning a trip to draycote reservoir, there are reports of a GND, smew and a hawfinch at the moment, and even if i dont see those i'll enjoy the walk and spotting the ducks!

[Tursiops]

Good luck with the Hawfinch, Phoenix, I haven't seen one of those for about 35 years! I'll be down on the River at some point this weekend. Wrap up warm, it's going to be cold.
T

[nightshade]

Driving to a farm to do a maintainence check on the farmers generator my electrician asked me what the big birds were,in the middle of afield was a pine of some type with 4buzzards sitting looking miserable.
I said they are buzzards,no not those, those ! in the field below the buzzards
was a flock of around 30 lapwings I had not seen so many for an awfully
long time