Goshawks and Kumlien's Gull

The weather forecast this morning was looking perfect for some Goshawk action. On route, we dropped into Lackford lakes hoping to connect with the Kumlien's Gull. Unfortunately, our timing was off and most of the gulls had already left the roost to feed in the surrounding fields.

The Sailing Lake at Lackford lakes

We headed North East along the A134 and stopped at the BTO's Nunnery Lakes reserve. We walked through the white gate at the side of the offices along Nunnery Place and onto the reserve. A scan from the bridge overlooking the 2nd lake failed to locate the Jack Snipe we were hoping for, but scanning from the bank by the fisherman's car park we managed to find not one but two Jack Snipe!

Nunnery lakes

The island hosting the Jack Snipe

It was now mid-morning and time to search for Goshawks. We headed for Cockley Cley and parked up at a suitable spot. It didn't take long before the first Goshawk appeared above the distant tree line. Soon a second bird joined the first and we watched them displaying. The weather was perfect and we counted nine Buzzards in the sky at one time. We also had scope views of one of the Goshawks perched in a distant tree. Eventually, the Goshawks disappeared and we moved on in search of Willow Tits. We walked the track for nearly a mile, only finding one likely looking candidate in the tree tops. But as the location holds both Willow and Marsh Tits we could not be sure. As we returned along the track luck was with us when the distinctive call of a Willow Tit rang out from within the trees. 

At Santon Downham we again failed to find any Woodlark but watched another Goshawk above the trees along with a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel.

Before heading for home we returned to Lackford lakes and our luck was in. Large numbers of gulls were already on the lake and more were returning every minute. A 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull was found and then two Caspian Gulls. The Kumlien's Gull had not been reported the previous evening but it had returned this evening and we enjoyed good scope views before leaving.