Another good day in Suffolk

This morning I met up with David Walsh, who taught me at school, for a catch up and a quick spin around Alton Water. We began at the dam and quickly had the Great Northern Diver, and then moved on the Lemon's Hill Bridge where the Great White Egret showed extremely well with a few Little Egrets. Finishing off the morning at Larch Wood, we located the 4 redhead Smew and a redhead Goosander.



Great White Egret at Alton Water from Lemon's Hill Bridge

2 (of 4) redhead Smew at Alton Water from Larch Wood

Goosander at Alton Water from Larch Wood

After lunch, I headed out from home down onto the Orwell Estuary, walking from the Clamp downriver towards Shotley. Off the Clamp, a Long-tailed Duck was no doubt yesterday's bird drifting downriver on the falling tide, but more unexpected was my second Great Northern Diver of the day off Levington Marina.

The Orwell looking upriver towards the Clamp

Long-tailed Duck on the Orwell off the Clamp

Great Northern Diver on the Orwell off Levington Marina

Other nice birds included at least 8 Red-breasted Mergansers, several Bar-wits, 2 Med Gulls, a flock of Avocet, and two groups of Dark-bellied Brents on the marshes. Having found 2 Black Brants here in the past I scanned through hopefully for any birds with snowy white flanks, but not today... Beaten by the rapidly fading light I curtailed my walk at Crane's Hill.



Looking towards Felixstowe Docks from Crane's Hill