Birding in drizzle & N/E winds around Lowestoft

Saturday 17th October, at 8am an incredibly total of c1,0000 Pink- footed Geese flew in a very loose "v" formation as they called and flw right over the house flying due north incredible to witness from the bedroom window! hadn't seen much when Rene's tweet came through and went down to the North Denes, I saw rene on the sea wall and the bird had been seen by the western fence of Ting Dene caravan park but had been lost. I decided to check the Oval where 2 distant Fieldfares were seen. I walked back and saw Rene & Andrew E looking at the bushes bordering the northern edge of the Bird's Eye factory, I still couldnt see the bird but when joined by Chris M the bird suddenly popped up and perched by a bush where we watched the fine Great Grey Shrike. It then flew over to the net posts before perching on a post before Danny P walked right up to it, amazingly not seeing it and the bird flew back to Ting dene fence first perching in the silver sallow bush before eventually flying down the ground in front of the buoy near the sea wall it spent sometime feeding here. It was later seen by the western fence in bushes. Last thing on Gunton beach together with Nick B, we saw 6 Reed Buntings on the beach feeding amongst the marram grass or flying to the brambles near warren House wood. Another Bunting slightly larger longer bodied flew north silently was this the Lap Bunting? Walking up I saw another 2 Reed Buntings but suddenly the heavens opened and I was drenched! Sunday 18th October, very little seen save for Goldcrests seemingly in every bush and tree. A Brambling called and flew over unseen. Nothing along the old rail track, dip farm or putting green area (save for more Goldcrests). A look on the North Demes perched on the post by the railings of the North Caravan park, a fine male Redstart seen. By the north wall of the Oval by the bramble bush just north of there, first a male Stonechat perched on top the bush and the it 'chacked' and the pair of Stonechats seen flying up into the air together. walking with Rob we saw the excellent Great Grey Shrike perched on top of he trees including the one with a lot of brown foliage. back at the North Caravan park we saw the male Redstart flitting underneath the caravans and the wooden staging area but a walker flushed it south. Sometime later I walked back and the Great Grey Shrike flew past me and perched in the middle Pine where it reasonably confiding although the light was abysmal! A dog walker flushed it flying north.