Before and after work birding

Tuesday 31st August Corton OSW today the Wryneck seen briefly when I was along the north side it flew outside the compound to the weedy area bordering the track running alongside it. It flew west. 2 confiding Whinchat were seen along the eastern fence and in he compound one posed beautifully for the camera. Several rats seen. Evening didn't see the Wryneck but Whinchats, Rats were still present plus female Blackcap and 4 Chiff- Chaffs. Along Lowestoft N Beach a fine juvenile Purple Sandpiper kept itself in the shadows under the seawall & finally Sandwich Tern seen fly onto the groins plus around 20 Common Terns, saw Andrew E too, who kindly pointed out the PS.

Wryneck at Corton old sewage works

I arrived early today on Monday 29th August, Along the southern ridge of the Corton old sewage works compound the excellent Wryneck was seen briefly by ragwort and then in the south- eat corner by a gap between 2 clumps of grass. In the north -east corner a Whinchat flew up the bramble bush and corner fence briefly. walking around the other side I saw the Wryneck fly over to the south section, I saw it out in full view and it flew up to a broken alexander stem and it showed here for all of 3 minutes. Before James B walked up. At Bakers Score, I saw 2 Gannets flying south over the sea. A look around the North Denes revealed a male Blackcap feeding on elders on an elder bush behind the Oval (south side), a male Whitethroat by the first shelter belt. In the garden, nice to see 2 Small Tortoiseshells on the Buddlea one of which frequently alighted on some clothes on the washing line but was very wary and was off on the 2 occasions I tried to gert a pic of it! This evening I watched 8 adult Common terns feeding c15 young on the groins several flying close by and 3 immature Kittiwakes flew south but still no Sandwich Tern!

Wales trip

Wales trip: 3 trips down to the stream, first (saturday 26th August) time revealed a Dipper by the Penybanc wooden bridge. Second trip (saturday 27th August) as I parked up amazingly an American Mink (a 1st for me!) sloped down the bank to the water half way in size between a Polecat and Otter with jet black coat saw me getting out of the car and scarpered!, 2 Dipper seen by the Penybanc bridge, whilst a Grey Wagtail flew towards me under the bridge and up the stream, & 2 Raven Cymisfael stream nr Llanddarog, Carmarthenshire.

Carlton Marshes in the evening

On the evening of August 23rd Carlton Marshes eve- Wood Sandpiper, 6 Green Sandpiper, Ruff, 2 Dunlin, 2 Greenshank, 2 Black- tailed Godwit, 4 Snipe, Kingfisher seen on its usual perch briefly & 4 Linnet on the wires.

Aug 22

No sign of Wryneck in birdless Great Yarmouth south Cem evening, Muntjac a 1st for me here, Curlew Sandpiper, & several Knot Breydon N.flats, 3 Wheatear seen on pill box by Corton MOD.

Red Kite and Clouded Yellows

On Saturday August 20th a visit to Sudbury with Jenny saw us spotting a Red Kite again flying very close and high over and to Kentwell Hall near Bury St. Edmunds at around midday. On Sunday 21st August, a visit to Riverside near asda revealed not a lot. However checking the disused area by the new Waveney District Council HQ was more productive. A Wheatear flew right with the distinctive white rump showing. The people from BOB Education, really nice to meet them and they alerted me to not only 2 Painted Ladies but first a female Clouded Yellow and then a second Clouded Yellow a male. Both were reasonably showy. They were often flying a small way before perched on a frond of foliage. After a few false starts the male showed well and I was able to get my best ever shots of this species.

Local patch and garden update for July & August

Extreme lethargy and mid- summer doldrums on my part has led to a lack of updates, here's what I have been seeing (ie. not a lot!) 31 July- Lowestoft North Beach- Tern lite this eve- only 1 Common Tern on groynes and 5 flying out to sea still yet to see my Sandwich Tern for 2016! Sun 3rd Aug This fine Southern Hawker currently in the garden + Red Admiral & Digger Wasps Aug 7-Painted Lady, Comma, Red Admiral, Peacocks, Large White, Gatekeepers + Brown Hawker again in the garden this afternoon Aug 10- This Migrant Hawker posed well for the camera in our garden in Lowestoft this evening! Aug 10- Lowestoft North Beach quiet this eve with 15 Common Terns inc 3 juveniles, 7 Turnstone & 5 imm Pied Wagtail & 5 Wood Pigeon on the north beach Aug 10- This Comma also posed well for the camera in our Lowestoft garden this evening! Sunday Aug14- During the day a fine total of 7 juvenile Little Stint seen on the flash just east of the old rail way line on the same area where the Greater Yellowlegs seen plus 2 Black- tailed Godwit. during this evening bathed in sun a juvenile or 1st winter Caspian Gull first found by Craig was relocated on groins further along, unfortunately my camera setting was set erroneously to TV until I realised the fault and took pictures when the sun had just gone in!