Lowestoft Roseate at last!

A tweet from Andrew E had me deserting my dinner this evening and rushing down to the North Beach, parking at the Links road car park I walked south 5 groynes along and saw a small group of people scoping something on the groynes. Seeing Andrew E, Chris M and Paul & Jane. Paul pointed out the bird perched on the posts on the northern side of the groyne, 4 birds back. It was a superb adult Roseate Tern, a personal first for Lowestoft! Nice ti finally see one after rushing down on many occasions (8?), to try and twitch one on the groynes or sitting on a buoy off Ness Point, all these birds had been found by Andrew E (great testimony to his skill, dedication and perseverance) but before today hadn't stayed long enough for me to successfully twitch them. I've often looked for them myself in july and August on the groynes, the one I found still remains the one I saw by Benacre Broad hide in the early 1980's, ancient history now! It had a long black bill, distinct pinkish flush to the chest and very white plumage. Both red legs were short with a tiny silver ring on each leg. It spent a lot of time preening, preening its back feathers especially. I walked over and took some more side-on shots and walked back when suddenly all the terns flew off and south, there must have been 15 Common Terns including 1 young bird and 1 Sandwich Tern. The Roseate Tern was then seen in flight looking very white and rosy below as it flew, over the green buoy and then flew north again before it flew south again. Other arrivals included Robert Win, good to see him again and Justin L. Checking other terns on groynes, a further 2 singleton Sandwich Terns were seen. Whilst 2 fine adult Kittiwakes were seen flying south low over bthe water. The adult Yellow- legged Gull was seen on a groyne. Whilst back at the car park, amongst 4 Black- headed gulls was 1 fine adult summer- plumaged Mediterranean Gull with a white ring with black lettering on it. back home, alarm calls of the 8 House Martins heralded a soaring male Sparrowhawk over Fallowfields road.