Friday 2 April 2010

Kessingland Swift-fest continues

Walking down the lane to the Kessingland sewage works, this morning at around 9.30am, it was very noticeable there were a lot of birders. All no doubt hoping to see the star of the show. Initially checking the Sewage beds I saw just 1 male White Wagtail & a Grey Wagtail. There were several Reed Buntings feeding here too.
Walking over to the bushes area, more birders were here including John H & Dick W, looking up we saw the star bird giving us an aerial extravagansa, an excellent Pallid Show flying around often right over our heads. Slightly smaller than a Common Swift, with cream white throat brown plumage with scalloping on the undersides only seen in good light. For a while it was joined by a Swallow, my first of the year.
The 2 Robs & Andrew E arrived and on a nearby bush perched a magnificent male Bullfinch which flew off right.
Andrew G, Paul W and finally Roger C arrived and we spent an hour or so admiring the overflying Pallid Swift.
2 Grey wagtail and a Great- Spotted Woodpecker flew east over our heads. Finally we walked back to the Sewage beds where I counted at least 7 White Wagtails (4 males, 3 females) feeding on the beds in the company of 1 Grey wagtail, about 6 Pied wagtails & 3 Reed Buntings. In the bushes by the fence, we could hear the sub-song of a male Blackcap which flitted down and out of the bush. A Chiff- Chaff could be head singing too.
Meanwhile a pair of Blue Tits are regularly visiting the nestbox in the garden which I put up on early last year the west side of the garage wall, they were seen regularly visiting the box in the early afternoon.

3 comments:

Paul Woolnough said...

Pallid swift my second Lizardland area tick in 2010.

To my surprise no local record of ring ouzel until my unexpected 24 March find from Breydon South Wall. Record and photo sent to Andrew G.

Peter Ransome said...

Great find Paul, first Ouzel of the year in Lizard land.
Great views of the Pallid yesterday!

Paul Woolnough said...

Showed better than the other four pallid swifts I have seen.

After trips down the A146:
Alpine Swift Monday
Lesser Kestrel Tuesday
and
Pallid Swift Friday
Local birding at Whitlingham Country Park, Buckenham and Strumsphaw today.

Summer migrants at Kessingland now seen near home.
Whitlingham bogey grey wagtail bagged (before most visitors arrived and bird left).
Garganey for the year at Buckenham.
Went home later than planned with a trip around Norwich southern bypass for my earliest common terns at Colney Gravel Pits from Bowthorpe.
Iberian chiffchaff confirmed when at home. Another day tomorrow!