Half a day out with my family around Thetford Forest. With Michelle, Tom, and Sam, met my parents and my brother's family at Lynford Arboretum for an hour and a half's walk. Was fortunate to get a female Hawfinch at the paddocks that just happened to fly in to the top of the tree at the moment I arrived there. Also a pair of Nuthatches, and lots of Siskins. Then a long lunch at a nearby hotel.
We then went our separate ways, with my family heading down to Grimes Graves where a Great Grey Shrike had been overwintering. Parking on the approach road and walking towards the entrance, we were fortunate enough to stumble on a Goshawk. Brief views but seen well by myself and Tom. The Shrike took some finding, but gave itself up eventually, though at some distance.
A quick stopover at Foxhole Heath produced a single Stone Curlew.
Last thing I had a quick look around for the Short-eared Owl. I'm convinced it's not around (it's roost has been abandoned), but has been reported a couple of times. c250 Fieldfare seemed like a large number for the time of year. Also six Grey Partridges.
03 April 2016 11:40 - 12:58
Patchy cloud 14C 9SE
Mute Swan, Mallard, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove,
Grimes Graves
03 April 2016 15:01 - 16:02
Sunny 16C 9SE
Goshawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Woodpigeon,
Foxhole Heath
03 April 2016 16:12 - 16:27
Sunny 14C 9SE
Stone-curlew, Woodpigeon, Rook, Rabbit
Fowlmere Road
03 April 2016 19:15 - 19:42
Overcast 10C 7SE
Red-legged Partridge, Buzzard, Woodpigeon, Rook, Carrion Crow,
