Snow Bunting at last!

On Saturday 30th December, as the sun started to shine mid morning, 10am I ventured out. Having driven down to Cornwall and then into West Wales over the past week for a great family Christmas (and having worked all day yesterday) I was loath to go very far. I revisited my old stomping ground the Lowestoft North Denes and as I parked up, the omens looked promising,as a small huddle of birders were peering intently at something by the yellow/ black buoy, just south of the fixed caravan park. Within 30 yards of reaching them, I could see the bird, a wonderful Snow Bunting feeding intently between the gap of the sloped western edge of the seawall. Always a delight to see them. It was very close to the area where I had seen a bird 3 years ago feeding even more confidingly (down to 3 feet!!!) by the blue fence barely 10 metres north of here. It fed mostly from him occasionally retreating to the drain when dog walkers went past along the diagonal walkway. Although all walkers/ dog walkers/ birders/ photographers were impeccably behaved this morning and the bird wasn't disturbed by anyone. Good to see Barry W here and to catch up with my other good friends Alan & Edwina too from the more bracing path along the seawall. The Snow Bunting spent a lot of time feeding and was oblivious to the people allowing a close approach down to around 10 feet (giving us all Ferguson views!!) perfect for photography too especially when the sun frequently poked its head through the clouds. Conditions were perfect to accumulate portfolio pics of a gorgeous bird. The Bunting suddenly seemed to tire of feeding and of its own accord, abruptly flew up at 12.10pm, called its wonderfully evocative "tinkling" festive call and then flew north- west, appearing to drop down somewhere along the northern part of the caravan site. My thanks to Craig, Rob & Phil for their directions for this bird, especially as I had struggled to see it over the last 2 occasions (admittedly in poor weather) that I had visited.

Again no sign of the Bunting

On Friday 29th December, I again failed to see the Snow Bunting (8.10- 8.45am) along the North Denes seawall, the place was devoid of people, but typically a dog walker was walking along the seawall and walked down the sloping path and past the buoy (a few minutes before I arrived at the spot) so the bird could have been flushed again before I arrived there. Checking the area just south of the caravan park by the yellow/ black buoy and checking the drain too, again no sign in very wet weather, first thing this morning. All I saw was a very wet Meadow Pipit fly up calling and obligingly walk along the sloping path (although I had left my camera at home given the conditions) and I also spied a Pied Wagtail in the caravan park.

No luck today

From 1pm to 4pm I tried to locate the Snow Bunting/s along Lowestoft North seawall. Not knowing exactly where it was, I tried all along the seawall and Ness Point seeing one fine Purple Sandpiper on the rocks near the compass but it was sadly all too brief before it flew south. I have yet to see a Snow B in 2017 having tried several times to see one/ several. On the North Denes, 18 Linnet flew about, I also checked near the bouy and met some birders who said 3 had been seen earlier just south of the caravan park. There were people dog walkers everywhere. I also met a dog walker (his dog was on a lead, good man) who said he'd just seen 2 near the boy but they'd just been flushed by a dog walker. Needless to say I didn't it/ them when I tried there again. Amongst the 18 BH Gulls were 2 Herring Gulls both adults and 1 Common Gull.

Christmas birding at Cymisfael stream

On Friday 22nd by Newbury by the M4 a Red Kite flew over the road. On Christmas day, early afternoon it was overcast and a windy but I did see a Sparrowhawk circling around the meadow, 3 Redwing flew from amn alder tree and heard Dipper by the stream. Boxing Day, was much better early morning, with up to 5 Nuthatches countering away, showing on branches by the stream but not quite well enough to photograph, 5 calling Redwings flew over the road and walking back a Buzzard spied perched in a distant tree. By the flooded meadow, I could hear a Water Rail squealing from a nearby dyke. Although the field was too flooded to investigate further. By the bridge by the stream, I heard Dippers again and was about to stalk them, when a lorry went roaring past along the road it flushed them and they 2 Dippers flew down stream and past me. A Goldcrest flitted around the vegetation by the bridge. Finally a Grey Wagtail was seen flitting around the sides of the stream.

Murky Diver

Late morning on Thursday 21 December, I braved the murky and foggy conditions and was back at Oulton Broad again, this time the excellent Great Northern Diver was swimming around the Southern Belle again, 10 metres away. It dived and then swam a little further out but still within 30 metres of the Wherry before it swam over towards the Maltings again.

Great Northern Diver showing wonderfully well!

On Saturday 16th December, I was back again at Oulton Broad, where I parked along the road leading up to the Commodore, a Grey Wagtail was seen and heard flying over the retirement home heading north. I could see the Diver by the Boulevard, so talking along the walkway by the Broad, half way along to the Yacht club, I could see the Diver swimming towards me incredibly close in really good light, I quickly knelt down and waited for it to dive before I could move into position. It divided and I ran into position and knelt down again hoping for some really close views but unfortunately I was thwarted by a bird photographer with a 300/400mm who wasn't following the same good fieldcraft and he unintentionally flushed the Diver so it swam vigorously away from a position where it was only 10 metres away, incredibly frustrating! I then made my way around to the Wherry and I spoke to the other photographer trying to impress on him the importance of good fieldcraft. he left and then I was rewarded with amazing views of the Great Northern Diver showing down to 10 metres from the Wherry and I had it all to myself it stayed here for some 20 minutes before swimming over towards the Maltings. Also see n were a Grey Wagtail flew over towards the Wherry and a Kingfisher flew across the Broad and over towards Mutford Lock basin.

Great Northern Diver at Oulton Broad

On Saturday 10th December, arriving at the Wherry at Oulton Broad, just watching from the south side, P & J, Andrew, later Chris M and Peter N. The fab Great Northern Diver seen up to 20 metres away constantly diving. It didn't seem to catch any fish, it would then frequently swim right over the Broad towards the Maltings before swimming back again. It always returned to around 20- 30 metres away fairly close but of course I would have liked to seen it even closer.

Coue's

Last Sunday 4 Dec trip to Aldeburgh Halewood common lit 50 yards from car park saw P & J at 10am a flock of 20 Redpolls c3 Mealy Redpoll & one whiter bird flew off pure white rump must have been Coue's Arctic Redpoll. 2 hours later at 12 noon the 20 flew in again and far side of the bushes by the track bird was one of 2 perched on a bush, it was the right hand bird.

Hawfinches at Sotterley

Having driven back from London on Friday November 18th at 5am from Redbridge, I got home loaded up with the optical gear and drove back To Sotterley I saw Eddie M, later John R, Hawfinches seen on return from Church. 3 seen 1 between thick branches. Just east of the copse at Sotterley. Also Nuthatch, Treecreeper and several Buzzards seen.

Please donate in memory of our dear friend Ricky Fairhead

Any birders who knew the wonderful Ricky Fairhead and who wish to donate to honour his memory. Donations will be split 50:50 between the RSPB & Bloodwise (Leukaemia only) charities. Please donate c/o Arthur Jary & Sons, 137 Beccles Rd, Bradwell, Gt Yarmouth, Norfolk NR31 8AB. You can also call into any branch of Arthur Jary & Sons to donate. Please help raise lots of money to help protect and conserve birds, wildlife and help fight leukaemia and provide funds to provide research into providing new innovative treatments to fight this terrible blood cancer.