Local patch

Friday morning (18 Sept) birding on my local patch (well earned time off from work after working several late nights) kicked off with a 1/2 hour seawatch off Ness Point. The wind was now blowing due East and I was rewarded with sighting of over 100 Gannets flying north in small groups.

At about 8.40am, I saw a small skua flying North way out to sea on virtually on the horizon.

It was slim bodied, with slim pointed wings and a "cold" grey-brown appearance it flew quickly North and sometimes bounced up and down almost tern-like flight, this was probably an immature Long- tailed Skua but sadly a little too far out to sea to say for certain.

Much easier to identify was a flock of 8 Common Scoter flying south.

A look around the Bird's Eye net posts revealed 4 Wheatears, always nice to see. It was nice to bump into Jack W (who I'd not seen for a while) just outside the Lighthouse cafe.

The Sparrow's Nest Park and Arnold's walk appeared devoid of migrants. I was pleased to see a Wheatear on the North Denes Oval and a Redstart which flew out of the bushes bordering the North wall to feed on the ground momentarily before darting back into the bushes.

Walking along the North Denes, a Redstart briefly flew out of a shelter bely feeding on the ground briefly before darting back into cover.

Without a doubt the highlight of the day was meeting Don & Gwen near Gunton Beach Dunes, although we didn't see many birds, an overflying lone Sparrowhawk being the sole avian highlight, the time whizzed by as we were entertained by Don's regular humourous quips and asides!