Turtle Surprise

Off to The Haven at 1pm but a text from SH (The Guvnor) informed me of a Turtle Dove at Big Waters so time for a detour.

The bird had flown off before I arrived and was with a flock of Collared Doves near the radio mast of the access road.

Whilst searching, Sir Crammy of Northburn, who was also there with Mr Wanderings of Prestwick, Lord Cowell of Kingston, Howdon's top (only?) blogger and others gave me a call to say the bird was back and voila, what would have been a Lifer pre-Suffolk was a welcome County tick.

Off to Northumberland Park to see the Mandarin:

On a roll, time to chance my arm yet again with the Y-b Warbler at The Haven.  On to a winner when not only was the ticket machine kapput, but it gave me back 15p more than I put in, my luck continued as, on climbing the muddy bank to the back of Prior's Park, the tit flock (plus Goldcrests) were moving from the large tree in the NW corner of the car park to the tree in the SW corner.  And in the former tree, and last to leave, the quarry.

And most welcome, and typically, having waited a full 30 seconds to see it, plenty more views were had, all be they brief, as the flock flew west along the sea buckthorn.

Dogs bollocks!