NORWICH AREA: Ringland Ruddy Shelduck hybrid

18^th February 2017

During the week I had heard that several Tundra Bean Geese had been seen at Ringland with a flock of Greylag Geese, so having been given directions to the area they had frequented I headed off for a look. I spent a pleasant morning walking footpaths in the area, but didn’t come across the Bean Geese or the large Greylag flock, so it appears that they have moved on. Whilst looking over the floodplain the most interesting bird superficially resembled a Ruddy Shelduck, but on closer inspection appears to be a Ruddy Shelduck x Egyptian Goose hybrid, a conclusion that others online had also reached having seen it earlier in the week. It was calling and displaying to an Egyptian Goose.

Also in the area were at least three Bullfinches, a Little Egret and a Red Kite.

NORTH NORFOLK: Felbrigg park

13^th February 2017

I met Adam in North Walsham, and with no particular plans we went to Felbrigg for a look round. We parked up in the Lion’s Mouth car park and headed out across the parkland. A flock of Fieldfares and two Mistle Thrushes were feeding along the woodland edge, and a bit further round a Treecreeper worked its way up a small tree. We were keeping an eye out for Nuthatches, and soon two flew past us before landing on separate trees and calling loudly. A Bullfinch and a Buzzard were both seen before we reached the stream.

Scanning the flooded meadows either side of the stream we noticed lots of Wigeon and Teal, plus a pair of Shoveler. As we crossed the bridge a commotion amongst the Jackdaws alerted us to a Tawny Owl being mobbed. Eventually it flew up to a broken off tree and the Jackdaws lost interest. We scanned the lake, but failed to see any Mandarin. There were around 60 Gadwall, including a raft of 30+ birds, plus some Tufted Ducks and Greylag Geese. 

We moved on to Sheringham seafront for lunch, hoping to see Purple Sandpipers and/or Glaucous Gulls, but failing on both counts.

NORWICH: Catton Park galls & fungi

12^th February 2017

In January I had visited Catton Park and checked out the eastern woodland edge, so with a bit of time free I popped in and checked out the western parts. Of interest were a few plants of Butcher’s Broom and Oregon Grape that appear to have naturalised. Robert Maidstone had recently highlighted some galls that he had seen on Box bushes, so I checked out the areas of Box and found two different galls, Spanioneura buxi and Monarthropalpus flavus, both species that I’ve not recorded before.

Further round I arrived at the pond, which was covered in a duckweed sp, either Lemna minor or L. minuta. Fungal highlights included some nice specimens of Yellow Brain (Tremella sp, probably T. mesenterica) and Black Bulgar (Bulgaria inquinans). There was a bit more birdsong than on my previous visit, but only common woodland species were seen.