Buckenham

 Monday March 17

We haven't been to Buckenham since early January.  It's ideal for a half day excursion from home, despite it often being rather disappointing due to the lack of birds and the distance of those present from the tracks. It's a large flat expanse across to the chimneys of Cantley Beet Factory, usually hard at work in the background. Today we had men at work too.

I'd hardly finished saying, 'there used to be Mistle Thrushes here' ,as we drove along the entrance road, when two birds, well separated, came into view.

 


 


The highlight on the way to the Fishermen's car park was a Merlin, perched on a gatepost and then, dropping low and flying away, never to be seen again. Amazingly, Canada Geese were our first of the year, not many, paired off and well apart. A flock of restless Lapwings, reacted to the workmen. Bigger flocks of whistling Wigeon, swam the creeks and grazed the fresh grass.

A white blob in front of the beet factory turned out to be our first Great Egret of the year.  A record shot for th folder.

 


 

The large pool in front of the car park hide had more Wigeon, half a dozen Avocets, and a few Shoveller amongst even more Wigeon and Teal. Careful scoping added our first Ruff of the year, two on the pool and one on the marsh.

A thoroughly enjoyable outing.

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