Kessingland Blues & first 2011 Orchids

An early morning look at Kessingland, the first surprise were 2 wind turbines and big ones too that have suddenly sprung up just south of Kessingland Wildlife Park/ African Safari park either side of the A12! A look at the sluice and the beach area sluice yet again failed to reveal any Shore Lark, and I met someone who claimed a Pallid Swift sitting on the Pillbox at Benacre! Was this the notorious stringer/ wind-up merchant who has been claiming birds such as the Rustic Bunting at Southwold recently and maybe the Rufous Turtle Dove at Barsham yesterday?? Anyway he was tall slim (6 ft 2) short dark hair and in his thirties, so watch out! I didn't see anything there save for a House Martin flying south.

For the fifth time of asking I have missed the Shore Lark at the Sluice (rapidly becoming my hoodoo like the infamous Hawfinch at Sotterley) , whenever I go the place is overrun by people and dogs!

Absolutely nothing else noted save for a calling Whitethroat, heard only.

A trip to a local tourist attraction revealed up to 5 spikes of Early Purple Orchid just starting to come into flower.

An afternoon visit with Jenny to Hillcrest garden nursery revaled my first Orange- tip, a glorious male that briefly alighted on a flower. Nearby in Haddiscoe woods, I briefly saw a Holly Blue butterfly by a cottage and we were treated to a glorious blue carpet display of Bluebells, flowering unfeasably early this year and almost at their best.