Carlton Marshes & Hoopoe at Hazelwood Marshes

Looking around Carlton Marshes first thing, a very confiding female Teal was by the dyke walking down to Whitecast marshes. By the overflow wooden wall, but the reeds I saw male Bearded Tit and with it were 2 immature Bearded Tits. The male flew off almost instantaneously before the partially obscured immature birds feed from the reed tops. A tweet stating the Hoopoe was still there had me walking back but not before I saw a female and 2 male Common Darters. Plus a very confiding young Viviparous Common Lizard, which posed beautifully for the camera on the wooden overflow wall and was sheltered by some foliage.I left it there and I saw Chris M and gavin D too. At hazel wood Marshes, walking down by a path to the hide, on an island around 5 Little Egrets seen plus a larger yellow- billed Great White Egret. The path had two groups of people looking, I was looking at the first group looking ahead into the light and the excellent Hoopoe seen briefly feeding before they edged closed and forced the Hoopoe to fly into the tree. It flew further on and I joined the second group and eventually the Hoopoe was seen back at the path. Now looking back with the light behind me the bird was seen in mid distance. All the birds on the estuary scattered and the suspected culprit was seen perched along a thick branch of a distant Pine tree, a fine Peregrine. Meanwhile, the Hoopoe disappeared left into the reeds for a while around 20 minutes, before it re-appeared and showed well albeit in more cloudy conditions. It came out of the grass and reeds to the left and fed on the path, tossing up the occasional grub and catching it in its fine bill.We edged slowly closer and after an hour and a half the bird eventually flew into the trees. We walked past and left the bird in peace.

Waxwings at Rectory Road & Dusky again

At 9.30am I eventually reached Rectory road and immediately saw 1 Waxwing perched by a Rowan/ Mountain Ash tree. I parked up opposite the junction and joined a lady who was waiting by the hedge. I spotted the bird, 2 Waxwings were perched high at the very top of a massive Oak tree one of the biggest I've ever seen, another bird flew confirming the 3rd Waxwing, so all 3 Waxwings were there. 1 bird suddenly flew down and fed on berries although it was partially obscured. After 2 minutes it flew back to the Oak tree. As we were watching the 3 perched on top, I first heard trilling, the spotted another warm brown buff Waxwing flying past and north. I looked at the tree and all 3 Waxwings were still there, so this was a 4th bird, a singleton flypast. While the birds were at the top, 1 bird was surrounded by flying wasps and this bird often kept its mouth open maybe to entice a wasp to flying! However all 3 birds flew high up several metres in vertical flight and caught wasps and fed on them when back on their perch at the top of the Oak. I include a picture of one hungrily eying up a mass of wasps! A male Blackbird flew onto the tree and fed. Then later all 3 birds flew across, 1 was out in the open but sadly its lower body was covered in shadow. Around 20 minutes later all 3 birds again flew down this time one bird was perched high up on a twig. Another fed on berries right in front of us, giving outstanding views and bathed in warm sunshine too, perfect for a bird barely 30 feet away! A Kestrel flew past calling and the birds quickly hid within the Oak. Whilst further away 2 soaring Common Buzzards seen. Finally at around 12.15pm, just as some cloud covered the sun, all 3 birds flew down again. This time 2 of their number feeding on berries right in front of us. It was really good to see Charles G from Lowestoft RSPB and Roy & Ruth H who popped off following my tweet to Rob Wil. I was famished at 12.30pm, so I reluctantly pulled myself away from the Waxwings and after a hearty much I made my way to Warren Lane Hopton, where I joined Murray & Dick (and later Cliff W). The Dusky Warbler was again was seen very high up in the tree foliage of the trees bordering the western edge of the path. It "talked" regularly and showed well with bins, but was impossible to photograph with my lens mounted to a tripod, it was far too unwieldy! It flew to the east side before eventually flying back to the west side in the tops of the trees again.

Dusky Warbler saves the day

After a poor week for birding missing the Pallas' on Tuesday 25th October (leaving too early 7.50am at Corton ORT when I had to be at work to open up at 8am) not seeing anything after work either. On Wednesday 26th October, after leaving work at 12 noon, I had a look around the Links road area, seeing 3 adult winter Mediterranean Gulls on the car park ( including 1 ringed with E861 black lettering on a white ring) and a large group of LT Tits around the Links road area contained 1 Chiff- Chaff northing around Gunton Warren and checking the beach too revealed little. 1 adult winter Mediterreanean Gull with its right leg dangling seen fly over to Link's Road car park. After 3pm, hearing Ricky F had found a Dusky. I drove over to Hopton and walked up Warren Lane, around 30 metres past the cottages I saw OFB and Chris & Alison A, "takking" was heard and the bird, the excellent Dusky Warbler was around the other side of the hedge in bracken. It then flew into a bush in front of me and it then moved and flew right into another bush directly in front of me at the side of the track and the whole bird was seen well for around a minute, its face, dark eye stripe and cream supercilia as it moved through a bush. It then flew right again and we all moved over to the east golf course side and followed the bird as it flew down the hedge then flew a long way east by the hedgerow extending eastwards to the cliff where we lost it and didn't see again, despite some searching. This is the 5th Dusky Warbler I have seen this autumn, (1 at Corton, 2 at Spurn, 1 at Walsey Hills and now this one- quite unprecedented!) Further down the track, a group of 6 LT Tits included a Goldcrest. By the cottages were 3 Goldfinch and also 3 Goldfinch with their their "tinkering" calls perched on top a tree by the Holiday camp.

Lowestoft patchwork hard work!

On Sunday 23rd October, in the morning a Siskin was heard calling several times from a bush within the western edge of the garden. It flew out to Fallowfields. A Pied Wagtail flew north west calling over the garden. In the parks, a young Wood Pigeon seen along the top loop track. On the North Denes by the first shelter belt north of the Oval, 10 LT Tits included Goldcrest and Chiff- Chaff. A Redwing calling at the top loop track in Sparrows Nest. By the steps on from the Oval, another group of LT Tits included a Chiff- Chaff and Goldcrest. Nothing at Ness Point or the North Denes. Nothing at Gunton save a by the sunlight hedgerow by the field, LT Tits, Goldcrest and Chiff- Chaff. In the woods, Wren, 2 Great Tit, 2 Chaffinch and a Blue Tit by the Sallows, 2 Redwing calling by the fenced area by Gunton estate plus a male Muntjac deer first on the path on the circular reserve at Gunton Meadow.

Isabelline Wheatear at Burnham Overy Dunes

At 9.03 I saw a tweet stating there was an Issy wheatear at BOD, 5 minutes later John rang to see if I wanted a lift. Forty minutes later, I joined John & Bob B and we picked up Tim H and set on our way. We didn't get to Burnham Overy Dunes until 12.30pm. sadly we saw 2 dead Roe Deer on the road. We walked out towards Gun Hill and the long walk revealed skein of Pink- footed Geese flying across. After 20 minutes walk we reached the board walk and 10 minutes later reached the site. The bird wasn't on view but when it hopped out into view on the top ridge partially obscured by grass. The general sandy plumage, upright stance, thick black bill, thick black legs, general sandy appearance and isolated alula feather clearly showed this was the excellent Isabelline Wheatear. Over the next hour, the bird seen around the grassy area occasionally flying and perching on top of bushes. Unfortunately two over zealous photographers, I know them both- one from Suffolk and one from Essex went over the ridge and got too close to the bird pushing it some distance away and it disappeared for half an hour, when it flew and disappeared. Meanwhile, we looked in the nearby bushes for Pallas' warblers couldn't see any. I was walking back when the Isabelline Wheatear seen again, it preached on bushes and then seen on a grassy ridge in full sunlight. A small olive- green sprite bird called, sounding suspiciously like a Pallas' Warbler and ex- BBRC man Peter Col, a top class birder, called it instantly as a Pallas' and we saw it fly (complete with yellow rump) in to the group of bushes to the left into a berry laden bush. sadly, it didn't reappear. Walking back, we looked on the dune ride over right and could see the poor unfortunate carcass of the dead Fin Whale on the beach, cordoned off with a load of people around 15 looking at it. We tried for the Shore Lark, but couldn't see it. Walking back along the path, we saw a group of around 60 Brents and John spotted a hybrid Black Brant, with full white neck collar joining at the front and large white flash on the flanks but crucially dark bands in the white a mid grey (not black) back. also on the other side of the path, were around 90 Pink- footed Geese plus 2 Barnacle Geese at the back. We stopped off at Walsey Hills, walking along a ditch, we went in a little way and heard the "takking" of the excellent Dusky Warbler, a shape was seen high in a bush moving about and "takking"that was all I was to see of the bird.

Gunton woods and catch-up

Sun afternoon, a stroll up to the Sallows area of Gunton Woods, 5 Fieldfare flew west overhead whilst 2 Chiff- Chaff seen flitting around the bushes plus a Robin, A stroll up the path revealed a female Brambling perched high up in a bush but passers by meant the bird soon flew right unfortunately. 4 Long- tailed Tits & a single Yellow- browed Warbler heard calling several times and seen once high up in the canopy of the trees and cream super cilia and silky white underparts seen. walking back to the car a group of around 12 Long- tailed Tits included 2 briefly confiding Coal Tit. Mon 17th October, a Yellow- browed Warbler was heard calling 3Xh along the western hedgerow running north from the back of Corton OSW. at 8.10am. On Tues 18th a Grey Wagtail was heard calling flying over HEE HQ at Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire at 10.40am. On Friday 21st October, lunchtime, 4 calling Siskins flew over north- west, the Education & Training Centre, at the JPUH Hospital.

Siberian Accentor and a great fall at Spurn

Spurn yesterday prob best fall I have witnessed. Birds were showy too. having left at 4am picking up Rob Will, Rob Win and Andrew E, we arrived at Easington. The fluorescent jacketed volunteers directed us admirably to a car park in the field we walked back into the village and walked up, the now fabled Vicar's Lane. As we walked up the road, a magnificent Short- eared Owl, flew way above our heads, it was apparent there was a big fall of Thrushes as around 140 Redwing seen in the field to the right bordering the Lane. By the Easington Gas terminal, we only had to queue for 15 minutes. We were then ushered forward by one of the volunteers and walked to a small line of trees to a fence looking over what looked like a back garden, the area we looked over appeared to well mossed over tarmac, the absolutely magnificent Siberian Accentor was quickly seen, feeding, it had an obvious yellow- black markings on its head. A thick black stripe area running through the eye bordered above by a cream super cilia and below by yellow lower ear coverts. The yellow on the breast extended onto the underparts. with the rest of the plumage like a Dunnock's. It flew over to a Leylandii tree, then flew up and perched within it. Just minutes later, it flew over to the moss carpeted tarmac and was frequently feeding, Dunnock like not stopping at all. Until it stopped once looked around and then hopped so close tot he fence being barely 2 metres away. later it flew back and perched on a yellow skip. Before flying down and feeding by the left hand hedge line. having to the leave, we queued again for 5 minutes before led back. The situation was repeated 10 minutes later (when we met the newly arrived Paul & Jane F) and at the end of that session we were told we could remain as no one was waiting. On the walk back, a fine brown-backed Eastern type Lesser Whitethroat seen on the edge of a tree. A Firecrest showed well briefly in some other trees., 140 Redwings & a lone Fieldfare again could be seen in the fields. We then drove over to the field near the Pub and walked back hearing a Pallas' Warbler calling in the process, only problem was we couldn't get anywhere near it! At the Pub carpark, a showy Goldcrest seen plus a male Siskin feeding on alder seeds on a tree behind us. We then went to the churchyard and overlooking to gravestones to the right in some trees we initially saw a tailless Pallas' Warbler. This was joined by first 1 then another Pallas' Warbler flitting glimpses seen as they flitted about. First the tailless one flew past and into the left stand of trees. The other 2 Pallas' warbler seen flitting around. One Pallas' kept returning to a moss covered branch. The broad yellow super cilia and yellow rump seen clearly in flight. Walking down a ride bordering the shoreline, where we saw a somewhat bedraggled but confiding Redstart on the rocks. First a Dusky Warbler showed well, "takking" as it was seen in really close bushes and the edge of reeds and we followed it down as it moved down. Back at the pub, for a drink, I heard and saw 5 Tree Sparrows flying over. We walked down the ridge again and first a Jack Snipe flew left and then a Woodcock flew right. Nearing Spurn Point a Black Redstart seen in an enclosed area, near a Heligoland trap (complete with 4 Robins trapped within) , whilst amazingly a flock of 14 Yellowhammers flying down to Spurn Point itself. Robins were literally everywhere we must have seen over 100 during the day. A ringer was processing a Robin recently plucked from a mist netwalking around we saw some Meadow Pipits, a tame Goldcrest in a tiny bush plus a mystery Acro warbler which flew into a narrow strand of reeds bordering a field. It turned out to be a Reed Warbler, We could see a vast throng of birders assembled in a long line appeared to be staring into a hedge, we later found out from Dave W it was a Radde's! We walked along the cliff overlooking the beach and near another pub car park a small grassy area bordering the beach sported a very confiding Shore Lark, initially before it disappeared into the longer grass. Walking around to the group of people, they were looking into the base of the bush west of the road, a Warbler sitting at the base showed a cream super cilia and was the Radde's Warbler, unfortunately my birding companions had split up. But as I waled around the ridge by some reeds, the excellent Radde's Warbler flew out of an area of bushed calling "quip Quip quip" and it dived into a small bush at the end. Unfortunately it was disturbed from here as birders were standing right by it and hadn't even noticed the bird fly in! Some "takking" by the reeds just left of us revealed the same Dusky Warbler showing rally well it even flew into bushes and a stem of grass just 2 metres away! It flew right while incredibly another Dusky Warbler was seen by the reed edge to the left.

Lunchtime Dusky

On Friday 14th October, at 1.30pm I arrived for a quick visit to Corton OSW, parking at the Church, I met Andrew E and we walked to the dyke where it had been seen, taking the southern entrance and standing on the pallets in the ditch. The hard "takking" revealed the bird, an excellent Dusky Warbler, seen flitting around a bush low down before showing off and on for around 5 occasions and all the salient features noted. It was often seen darting around the vegetation and its face and head seen clearly.

Elusive Yellow- browed warbler at Gunton

On Wednesday 12th October, after work I went straight to Gunton woods, the Yellow- browed Warbler was heard several times in the Sallows, but frustratingly eluded save for 1 shape moving in the canopy. A Robin obliged the camera and 3 Goldcrests seen too, but despite calling sometimes up to 15X constantly the YBW eluded both the Bins and the camera. A small flock of 6 LT Tits also flew through.

The migrantfest continues around Lowestoft today!

Starting at the North Denes, after yet more rain, it was nice to see Neville S briefly who went for the Ybw behind the Oval, I followed Craig & Danny P the digiscoping boys, we saw the fine Great Grey Shrike hunting for food from the top of dry Alexander stems, sadly it soon disappeared after a dog walker went past. I decided to check Gunton, and hoping i would see 1 or both of James's Mealy Redpolls. No sign of the one by the footballers carpark. On the ORT, I saw 3 Redwings, a fine male Blackcap in a bush and heard 2 Bramblings and their rasping call flying over the track and west. Further down the track, a male Ring Ouzel seen briefly gorging on Mountain Ash berries its cream crescent before it flew off. Down at the far northern end, in the tree shrouded part of the track, amongst 15 Goldcrests a very vocal Yellow- browed Warbler first heard (at times called about 24 X!) and seen at 11.40am as always hyperactive seen at the crown of the tree and also lower down behind some tree trunks. I saw it well briefly, on at least 7 occasions, noting with the cream super cilia wing bars and silky white underparts all clearly noted. After a spot of lunch at home I travelled to Oulton Broad and was pleased to see the Slavonian Grebe was really close but as I was setting up my camera 2 boats came in and moored at the jetty forcing the bird to swim strongly right to the southern end of the basin. However as I walked south along the wall, the bird was seen reasonably close down to around 35 feet at 1.15pm, it was reasonably still in this area, preening and I managed to get some pics but in differing light. As I walked back, a Common Sandpiper flew up and left. Following a text mid afternoon by Rob Win, I travelled back to the North denies and walking from the Oval where I saw a Wheatear, the Great Grey Shrike was showing well on north section of North Denes, flying and perching on an Alexander plant not far from the western most main path by the slope where I got some shots. With OFB coming over we walked back and managed to get some more shots as it perched up in another Alexander, catching some beetles. Later we were joined by Andrew and more shots followed, before it started to cloud over. I left it 4.10pm. No sign of the Ouzel at rembrandt Close for me at least. Drawing up at the drive 3 calling Redwings flew west over the garden. Following a tweet from Andrew E, I joined regular correspondent, Paul W and Nick B, hearing regular calling Ybw's led to us eventually seeing 2 fine individuals together in a Sallow bush plus a Chiff- Chaff and 5 LT Tits and a Great Tit, with one calling from further away at the same time I saw these 2 I can say I definite recorded at least 3+ Yellow- browed Warblers in Gunton wood, Lowestoft at 6pm. It was now starting to rain heavily.

Dripping migrants in Lowestoft

On Saturday October 8th, with light easterly winds and rain of caring intensity for most of the day, dawn was overcast and damp outside. First thing, I looked in the garden before we let the our cats out and was amazed to find a recently dead Yellow- browed Warbler on the edge of the lawn/ flowerbed. The corpse was still warm and the eyes were still black so recently died either from neighbours' cats (which are left out overnight) or maybe from a Sprawk? I then looked out and amazingly head a "pssst" of a Redwing flew west and then the chackle of a Ring Ouzel flying west too. The white gorget on the beast clearly seen as it flew. I looked around Fallowfields and got absolutely soaked as the rain came lashing down, I saw a flock of LT Tits with a Chiff- Chaff. and a lone Redwing seen too. Next stop was Links road car park where 1 adult winter Mediterranean Gull was seen in Warren House Wood, saw several Goldcrests, 4 at the east end of the wood and 6 in the garden. Met James W, we heard a Grey Wagtail calling overhead but couldn't see it. Back at Links road, the adult winter Mediterranean Gull flock had increased to 4. Walking along the dense several Meadow Pipits seen and behind the Oval, I saw Richard S sheltering under a tree in the increasing precipitation of the rain. I joined him and he told me he had found a Ybw by the sycamores by the wall just minutes earlier. When the rain had stopped, we walked along and I refound the excellent Yellow- browed Warbler because it called about 14X from the White Poplar tree that the late Jimmy R always used to say was like a magnet for this species. I was delighted to find it flitting around at the very top canopy of the tree showing silky white underparts, cream super cilia and 2 yellow wing bars. I pointed it out to Richard and we literally had back and neck breaking views. Whilst on the Oval, an incredible total of at times, really close 55 Meadow Pipits. 2 Robins seen flying down from the Oval wall. A male Blackcap was seen at the back of the southern end of the Oval. Not much in Belle Vue Park, save for a flock of 15 Goldcrests. As soon as we entered Sparrows Nest, from the steps from Yarmouth road, from the second steps down, I spotted an excellent Firecrest flitting around near the top of a tree, it was even chased by a Goldcrest. By the top part, 15 Goldcrests seen plus a Song Thrush and Redwing. walking back to the car at links road car park, more birds seen along the east side of the Oval including yet more Goldcrests, 2 Great Tits, the 55 Meadow Pipits were joined by 2 Wheatears, 1 adults and 1 immature bird. On the Denes itself by the weedy part, a Stonechat seen, 2 Meadow Pipits and 2 Reed Buntings seen. At Ness point, 5 Goldcrests seen in 1 low bush, 5 Meadow Pipits around the area south of the Orbis centre. With news of a Rosefinch seen in a seaside arable field off Lane, Reydon (opposite St. Felix school), I picked up Maurice B by Heathlands and we parked at the Drive and walked up Keens Lane seeing the Norfolk Visitor, and our men on the spot Chris M & Peter N plus Ali R. At Reydon, the sun had belatedly appeared, but still no sign of the Rosefinch but 3 fine Bramblings flew in and 2 perched on the top of a tall fir tree in someone's garden. They were fine males in summer-winter transitional plumage, they sadly flew off before the camera could be fully utilised. With Andrew finding a GG Shrike on the North Denes, which I had already checked 3X today (albeit in light rain), I raced back but was delayed horribly through Oulton Broad looking over to the basin as I drove past, from Mutford Lock bridge, it looked as if the Slavonian Grebe was still there, but it can only be marked down as a probable, as it was seen briefly from the car. Finally, after an interminable wait through Oulton Broad, I pulled up at the Oval seeing Rob Wil and Andrew E watching and photo'ing the excellent Great Grey Shrike perched in he second pine from the eastern end of the northern wall of the Oval, it perched here for 5 minutes before a well known Norfolk photographer and his wife appeared, the Shrike immediately dropped down, then seen flying low and east over the Denes towards the slope.

Slav Grebe (at last!) & Ring Ouzel

Another before work trip this morning on Friday 7th October, only having time to look in the bowl at Oulton Broad, just east of the Mutford Lock Bridge, the Slavonian Grebe was seen over the far side, diving frequently it swam towards the jetty and then into the patch of water nearer the bridge. But as I made my way around it swam back past the jetty and over to the far side again (losing its previously confiding nature) I managed a few record shots in extremely poor light the camera was registering ISO 5000! Also send was a Kingfisher flying left and a posse of 15 Long- tailed Tits flew by. After work a look at Gunton Cliffs revealed few birds other than calling Goldcrests, seeing Nick B, I gave him a lift back to his home and I was rewarded for my good deed with reasonable views of a Ring Ouzel feeding on Mountain Ash berries on a Rowan tree in the back garden of Rembrandt Close. We watched it for 15 minutes before it flew at 6.15pm low and left presumably going to roost? Matt G drew up and saw it too plus a colleagues from the JPH who lived nearby.

Red- eyed Vireo 6 Oct 1991: 25th anniversary!!!

Twenty- five years ago on the 6th October 1991, Rob Wil and I found a Red- eyed Vireo in Sparrow's Nest Park, Lowestoft. Seems like an eternity ago, but I remember as if it were yesterday. It was a sunny morning with a light westerly wind and the area had seen recent good birds including Siberian Stonechat and Icterine Warbler. Rob will and I were walking through the Sparrow's Nest Park, didn't seem to a lot about we passed the restaurant and was approaching the bowling green as we passed the large stand of Holm oaks the last one had a long hanging branch, a bird flitting about there bathed in sunshine was a Spotted Flycatcher, first spotted by Rob, but the bird next to it I picked up on and said to Rob, "Good grief, its a Vireo, a Red-eyed Vireo!" In an era long before mobile yet alone smart phones, Rob wanted, commendably, to rush off and phone everyone from the public call box then situated between Belle Vue Park and the High Street Surgery. But I advised Rob to stay and look at the bird and get as much details, so we could get a detailed description. Notebook out the details were duly compiled (albeit with very shaky hands trembling with excitement!) and then the bird disappeared after 10 minutes. Rob then went off running to Warren House wood where he knew several birders would be trying to look for an Icterine Warbler found there the day before. With people arriving from all directions within 30 minutes, we had an anxious hour wait before the bird reappeared at the top loop track in Sparrows Nest showing well for everyone except JHG and a certain Mr Brown who was yet to move into the area. I remember having lunch with all my family around the table (Mum, Dad, brother & sister) and then coming back in the afternoon for more views of the bird which was now being seen in Arnold's walk, but then I had to get a train in the evening back to London, where I was living and working, after graduating.

Missed the Slav again

Early morning Little Grebe on Lake Lothing and heard a Grey Wagtail, no sign of the Slav along Lake Lothing no time to check Oulton Broad and guess what it was at the basin at Mutford Lock at 5.15pm. After work at Baker's score saw more Lowestoft birders than birds with Rob Will, James B, Rob H, Craig S and Paul & Jane F. However, we did see a smart male Common Scoter that flew flew south under the radar and conversely a Brent Goose flew north.

Redstart 1 Slav Grebe 0 (2nd night running)

On Tuesday 4th October, just after 6pm I rushed down after work to to Oulton Broad checking round the Mutford Lock rail bridge and Oulton Broad itself around the Wherry all I saw where 5 Mallard in the basin, a Rat on the Jetty and a Devil's Coach Horse Beetle on the pavement, no chance to check the rest of Lake Lothing as dusk had fallen. On Wednesday 5th October, having to be in at work at 7.45am no chance for a pre-work look & with no news on the Slav by the late afternoon at 4pm when I left work, I checked Corton OSW & ORT, plus Gunton Woods and ORT first, saw a Redstart fly out from the bushes and dive into a tree a third of the way down from the south end. Presumably the same bird Rob Win had seen earlier. Also a group of LT Tits, 2 Goldcrests, Chiff- Chaff & Robin. I also checked lake Lothing from 6-6.30pm it was getting dusk and all I saw was a wp Little Grebe. I will try again tomorrow morning (don't have to be in work until 9am again giving more training).

A trio of Redwings over

A Redwing flew low & W over the Burrage Centre behind the James Paget Hospital, calling twice at 3.15pm as I was walking over for a meeting. After work I had about half an hour in fading light checking Corton old SW, no sign of the Sibe Chiff but 2 Redwings fl W over Corton OSW 5.50pm nothing else there except the usual chap throwing his ball for his dog, he comes from the new campsite, on the north side of the OSW so nothing on the fence or the compound due to disturbance. A couple of Rats still surviving the deadly bait too.

Yellow- browed Warbler in Corton woods

Looking around Gunton this morning saw Rob, Andew & Rob M and his wife along a path by the tree line north of Dip Farm playing fields. Andrew & Rob had just seen a brief Ybw fly in to the thick copse but try as we might Rob M and later James W and myself couldn'tt see it! I decided to check Corton woods and by the pond, I thought I heard a distant Ybw call twice but couldn't be sure. I joined Rob M and his wife and we struggled to see anything. We parted company at 1pm. At around 1.15pm, just north of the pond, I was suddenly surrounded by a LT Tit flock and I heard the distinctive "tsuip" call of a Yellow- Browed Warbler, a small warbler with silky white underparts flew and then called again where it alighted just right of its original position then disappeared. I sorted through around 20 LT Tits, 4 4 Great & 3 Blue Tits and then just west of the pond, I heard the "tsuip" call of the Yellow- browed Warbler then I saw it fly, a vision of olive green above and a plethora of wingbars with cream supercilia, 2 white wing- bars then it disappeared as abruptly as it had first appeared. Also seen in the Tit flock were 2 Coal Tits and by the vegetation by the pond, a Chiff- Chaff. Whilst walking along the northern section of Gunton ORT, first 1, then 2,3,4,5,6 and 7 small Thrushes flew up individually and then all started calling "tseeet" 7 Redwings.

Birdless Scores & Gunton

On Saturday October 1st, I looked around the Lowestoft Scores this afternoon, one female Sparrowhawk flew up the steps of Mariner's Score, I also heard a Goldcrest and that was it, nothing else! October has continued in September's vein. After the rain I checked Gunton Woods and ORT apart from seeing Paul W, the highlight was a flock of 8 Greenfinch along Gunton ORT, no sign of the Tit flock or YBW seen earlier.