Blyth's Reed amazingly gives itself up for me just before going to roost

On Sunday 29th September another fruitless search around the local patch this time at Corton Playing field and Corton OSW nothing wildlife of wise of note save for 8 winter plumaged Starlings singing away from pole at Corton OSW, nice to see Craig S and the Border Collies again though. I was tweeting my Beluga pictures out mid afternoon, when incredibly James B tweeted at 4.10pm, Rob Win had just found a Blyth's Reed Warbler in bracken just north of the Lowestoft Oval on the North Denes. I rushed down parking along North Parade and walking down the Oval steps to the Denes and joined Rob Win, James B, James W, Andrew E, Rob Will, Paul & Jane F, Chris M, Richard S, Rene B and others who later joined included Dick W, John H and Paul W. The bird was proving to be typically elusive mainly moving through the bracken, bramble and betraying its presence only by its distinctive "sic" call and at times bracken was seen moving and sometimes, a "Warbler" shape seen moving through. I had resigned myself to dipping this bird as I have done for most of the goodies seen in Lowestoft this Sept (although I was away in Jersey when the Booted warbler was present), save for the YBW. When at 6.35pm, the bird flew right and standing next to Dick W, who confirmed I was in the right area, I saw through my Zeiss Victory binoculars, which are known for giving outstanding visibility and clarity in poor light, and this time agin it was no exception, and I saw the bird hop onto a bit of bracken where it sat out in full view for me for around 5 to 10 seconds. I noted the following ID features: a pale grey- brown bird on the upperparts (not rusty brown or chestnut). The white super cilia was prominent and clearly noted extending just beyond the eye, pale flanks (not chestnut fringed) and importantly short tertial projection (ruling out normal Reed and Eastern Reed Warbler) The legs appeared dark. Before, the bird hopped out of view and then flew into a large bush, presumably to roost, where it continued to give its distinctive "zic" call. My last Blyth's Reed Warblers was one on Bryher, Scilly and I also saw 1 at West Runton in Norfolk on 27th September 2008. A really jammy observation, as I fully expected to dip or have untickable views, but that view gave me a super new Suffolk tick, a wonderful Blyth's Reed Warbler and yet another stunning find by Rob Win, who a regular patch worker and fully deserves the plaudits of this stunning find, especially as he had spent most of the day trying to ID it, the bird proving typically elusive and Rob seeing it only 7X in total. Thanks to James B for putting the news out as soon as the ID had been clinched.

Benny the Beluga Whale, a stunning Arctic visitor

On Saturday 29th September, after hearing of an incredible find of an Arctic Beluga Whale, nicknamed "Benny" or should it be called "Benita"? in the River Thames at Gravesend in Kent, and much talked about in the media making it to the Ten O'clock BBC News and articles in all the national newspapers. I drove down taking John H and James W with me. Using the Sat Nav, we eventually made our way Gravesend to Mark Lane and parked just off here at a very run down industrial estate, littered with rubbish everywhere and walked to the equally run down "Crown & Sepulchre" pub and joined a few potential whale watchers on a concrete platform, having a good and commanding view of the river. The Whale had been seen around 30 minutes earlier. A message 20 minutes later came on John H's pager, that it was being seen just west of our position and we walked along the footpath by the river and came to another good viewing point where the Whale, an excellent Beluga Whale was seen occasionally surfacing usually showing its mid back looking for all the world like a turning white tyre in the water. It was disturbed several times by boats and one time it swam close in very calm water and stuck its head out where we could the line of its mouth but not its eye. It would be seen usually every 5 minutes or so when it would then surface for 1-2 seconds for 3 separate times. When it was disturbed by boats, it would disappear for around 10 minutes. Walking back to the car, seeing Matt D, he said it was showing a fare closer from the Promenade, so we drove around parked by the much more salubrious Esplanade. The Promenade looked really nice and was a big improvement on the very run down industrial estate area where we had been! Around 110 people were around the promenade area peering over the railings, hoping for views of the Whale. Most were "birders" but other curious onlookers were noted too! The Whale was indeed a lot closer being around 500 yards out (instead of 1200 yards away when seen from viewing area we had walked to just west of the Pub) finally giving me a chance to get some photos of it. The Whale was seen mostly around the back of a moored barge, where it would surface every 10 minutes or so and on 2 occasions showed a lot more of its body (see pic. The Harbour Master's Pilot boat even came past and had a look, with a chap with a camera and mid zoom lens (see pic). However, the Whale was seen again. Unfortunately after 2 really massive large container ships went through we lost it from view and decided to leave, well satisfied with our views of this magnificent cetacean. Let us hope that this Arctic stray makes it back safely home.

Yellow- browed first one of the autumn!

On the early evening of Thursday September 27th, met Joshua C staring at the bush where The "Ninja" Yellow-browed Warbler still in favoured bush just south of 1st shelter belt south of Links Rd car park along North Denes slope seeing off all Chiff- Chaffs straying into its vigorously defended territory! Seen well but briefly about 4 times and also seen in flight chasing off all the Chiff- Chaffs! Also the Barn Owl hunting behind us on the N. Denes as well. YBW called as well around 10 times.

Barn Owl on the North Denes

On the early evening of September 22nd, a Barn Owl again hunting over the Lowestoft's North Denes 6.40 - 7.10pm normally around the large bramble just north of the Oval this evening. It spent a lot of the time on the ground. An outstanding find by Julie, last I've seen in this area, was a Barn Owl flew over my parents garden at Corton Road (500 yds away) 1982 & Ricky & I had a pair a few years later on posts at Dip Farm before the shelter belt grew up.

Whinchat and Wheatears

On September 22nd September, 1 Whinchat was seen at Corton, seen by Corton OSW along the northern mostvfence, plus a female Whitethroat & Green Woodpecker + 3 Wheatear around the North Denes netposts & male Blackcap along the North Denes slope plus 5 Mediterranean Gulls (1 ad, 1 2nd Y & 3 imm's) at Links Road carpark, Lowestoft.

Devils Coach Horses

On Thursday, 2 small Devil's Coach Horse beetles found today, at the Burrage centre, James Paget Hospital, 1 in my colleagues office and 1 in the Burrage centre corridor, which were caught and released outside.

Fallowfields, save our orchids, save our wildlife!

Protect our Orchids! Protect our wildlife! Fallowfields proposed planning application meeting at the Waveney District Council offices, Conference room, Riverside, Lowestoft at 6pm on Tuesday 18th September 2018- I am speaking to object to the development of land that has had 2,967 Southern Marsh Orchids, 40 Bee Orchids etc, around 30 hybrid Spotted X Southern Marsh Orchids. The land also had breeding Blackcaps this summer, regular wintering Woodcock particularly in hard weather, Green Woodpeckers, Hobbies, Brambling, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat. I have seen a young female Blackcap visit the garden twice recently. The land also had Green Hairstreak butterflies, Small Copper butterflies, Broad- bodied Chasers, Grass Snake and Hedgehogs. Contact WDC Jane Murray if you wish to speak to object her e-mail is: jane.murray@waveney.gov.uk See you there! Pics follow of wildlife seen and much of it photographed on Fallowfields or the garden.

Dead Hornet

On Monday 17th September, in the morning, I found a freshly dead Hornet on the path bordering the Burrage Centre and the old bowling green at the James Paget Hospital.

Black Redstarts at Ness Point

On Sunday 16th September, It was great to see 4 Black Redstarts in the usual place at Ness Point mid morning, in the usual place at Ness Point this morning, I could hear the adult male singing as I arrived and there was a female bird just the other side of the fence. The male bird was seen around the tractor, what appeared to be 2 immature birds plus an immature male bird not as strikingly marked as the other male. Considering the plumage there could well have been 5 birds present? The 2 immature birds spent a lot of time by the northern fence area. I managed a few pictures but the arrival of the Lowestoft Bird Club chairman and his ringing gear, meant I decided to leave.

Return to usual Lowestoft fare

On Saturday 15th September early evening 5pm onwards, a look around "Flycatcher" (any Flycatcher seen here now would be a red letter day!) Alley, Lowestoft North Denes, Net posts, Ness Point and Corton OSW revealed precisely no sightings. Lowestoft North Denes can be honourably excepted as someone was flying a horrible inexcrable whining (sounding exactly like a Luftwaffe Stuka bomber) drone over the middle of the Denes scaring the wits out of the local 3 Greenfinches seen there. Drones are one of my pet hates, together with the totally unwanted predictive text on sites like this and twitter that converts Denes to Denies! That and dog excellent collected in bags and left on bushes/ floor make up my 3 choices for Room 101! The only reason I am writing this blog post is that I heard a lovely and wonderful Black Redstart sing briefly at the usual place at Ness Point.

Corton OSW finally produces the goods!

On Monday 10th September delighted to see the juvenile female Blackcap, with her chestnut cap a little more pronounced now, showing by the arch near the back bedroom window hawking for insects with a couple of Blue Tits and a Great Tit for company at around 7.45am. She'd gone a minute later so sadly no chance of a photo. On Friday 14th September, hearing that Steve J (the Scores birder) was back and had seen a few goodies at Corton OSW, I tried my luck, I personally hadn't seen anything here all autumn, arriving at 6pm and I immediately saw a Whinchat perched on the eastern most fence which was a great start. As the sun was shining brightly from the west, I decided to walk around the OSW in a clockwise direction taking the southern, then western and as I was walking along the northern fence, a fine and obliging Redstart was sat in a bramble bush, bathed in the lovely golden sun. I managed to get a few pics before it hopped deeper into the bush. Walking along the eastern side, 2 Whinchats seen on the fence whilst 1 Whinchat was seen in the compound, so 3 in total. A dog walker spooked 2 of them who flew to the weeds and perched on the weed tops by the eastern edge of the field just south of the sewage works. Finally a male Kestrel perched on the 30 mph sign by the road and only took flight when the car drew level.

The Legendary Earl Slick at Norwich

On Tuesday 11th September I attended an Earl Slick Q&A session at the Norwich Arts centre, St. Benedicts Street, Norwich. As a big Bowie fan and I also really liked his album with David Coverdale "Into the Light" plus his work with John Lennon on the "Double Fantasy" album, it was a must attend event for me. The format of the evening was a chap introduced him and would prompt him with recollections about his life. The chap made a joke about touring the country at Hull, Colchester they hadn't quite been to Ibiza but here they were at the Norfolk Broads, a nice pun taken from the very famous line from Bowie's seminal classic "Life on Mars!" He started he learnt the American version of "Tales of the Unexpected", he learnt on the guitar as a young lad. At the tender age of 20 he was invited to audition for a big star in New York, he worked out it was for David Bowie replacing the legendary Mick Ronson on guitar. He was asked to play along to some basic guitar tracks supplied by Bowie himself in a darkened room with red lights on the control panel. After about 20 mins Bowie walked in and he knew he had the gig. he joined Bowie for the Diamond Dogs tour. EL stated that Mick Ronson was Bowie's best guitarist. His two favourite licks were both David Bowie's tracks "Stay" & "Valentines day" on the Next day album. He helped compose the hit "Fame" with DB and John Lennon but was off his head for most of the time and when he came to meet John lennon again for the Double Fantasy sessions he arrived around an hour early at JL's house and was shown into a large room, he was a bit start struck at meeting his hero who walked in straight away, who said hi slick do nice to see you again & EL couldn't remember and JL ribbed him about this afterwards. At some stage he tired of rock and roll went into selling houses. Shortly after Bowie rang him to see if he could play with him again and was asked to audition again, this was to see if he still looked the part and could still play and EL stated he wasn't go through all that cr*p, so he was in again! EL said the "Reality tour was one of the best tours he had played on. Asked him why was the Reality tour such a happy time/ best tour he was on. Both he and DB had cleaned up by thenHe said there were no s stirrers in the band then and everyone got on really well. Another chap in the audience asked him about his work with David Coverdale on the "Into the Light" album, he said it was a really good but underrated album, nothing like his Whitesnake stuff and he wasn't going to see DC again soon when he visited Lake Tahoe. He was asked about his name, El said he came from an Italian immigrant family and his name wouldn't cut it in the business, so when he was cooking he put too much oil in the pan and it created an Oil Slick slightly changed to give him his iconic stage name! Finally we queued up to get his autograph and our picture taken with him, I asked him if was doing the Mike Garson Bowie celebration tour to which he replied he didn't know yet (despite his name being advertised as definitely appearing! let's hope he does).

The Benacre Wryneck & a nice sprinkling of Whinchat too, despite the dogs!

On Sunday 9th September, a walk to Kessingland/ Benacre sluice revealed 3 Whinchat and a pair of Stonechats being hassled by a group of people letting a group of Beagles run riot around the whole area even swimming in the river and hassling a poor fisherman. Over the Benacre side a group of people walking 20 labrador type dogs were running riot around there too. Disturbance on a hitherto industrial scale, this has surely got to stop on a nature reserve where dogs are supposed to be controlled on a lead. Hardly surprising the Wryneck couldn't be seen. Meeting the finders Paul & Jane, Jane informed me Mat D had refund seeking sanctuary along the western ridge of the one remaining pit and walking on the western ridge we saw the bird, the excellent Wryneck, on some thick branches and it hopped to the ground and then it disappeared. It was later seen perched on the branch and then hopped around it then fed on the ground. It then disappeared behind a bush before appeared again underneath it before it disappeared and seen feeding way off to the left.

Wildlife seen on Jersey trip (a non- birding trip)

From Tuesday 4th July to Saturday 8th July, Jenny & I had a mini break in Jersey. On Wednesday 4th July, a Buzzard flew over the entrance to the Jersey War Tunnels. By the west coast by the Nazi gun tower, an incredible tally of 18 Wheatears (a fall of birds?) were seen plus around 6 Linnets flew over. On Thursday 6th July, at Jersey zoo, a Red Squirrel was seen by some trees near the entrance Another 3 singletons Red Squirrels seen too. A Hummingbird Hawk Moth was also seen briefly too. On Thursday 7th July, at Qued dunes just before the nature reserve we stopped half way between car parks and in the dunes by some scrub, I spotted a Jersey Green Lizard, an excellent female Jersey Green Lizard, moved and then I spotted her. (Around Wall Lizard sized, green with bars down the back). For about 30 seconds, she stayed motionless before scuttling deeper into the scrub. On Friday 8th july, at Mont Orguel castle, 6 Wall Lizards seen and a Buzzard flew over distant hill top. On Saturday an interesting caterpillar seen on the Oued Dunes whilst searching for Lizard, plus a flying Wall Brown butterfly and several Sky Larks inadvertently disturbed whilst looking for Green Lizards, to no avail this time.

A half dozen Whinchat

On Monday 3rd September, directly after work, I headed down to the North denies, seeing Rob H, we walked 2/3 of the way south and first one Whinchat popped up and then by the weedy, Alexander planted area, 4 Whinchat perched up and a further 2 Whinchat perched up, proving there were 6 birds in total. They were very wary no doubt being constantly disturbed in this well walked spot. On the beach, 4 Turnstone seen including 1 very fine summer plumaged individual.

Weekend birds & social media problems

On Saturday 1st September hearing rather late of a Barred Warbler at Kessingland, (BINS news is now very erratic for me on the new Whats App format, sometimes it's great and I can send out messages too, other times I can't access it at all? I will try and find out how I can improve my access to this? Is it my phone, I still can't tweet out in the field?) I headed there. It took 40 minutes to get through Oulton Broad with both the rail crossing and the Mutford Lock bridge slowing my progress. I joined a small throng of birders overlooking the scrub on the south side of the river hundred. Almost immediately I saw the bird but it instantly flew behind a bush. Ninety minutes later, the fine Barred Warbler was seen on bushes by the distant ridge it was seen in elderflower bushes etc. Also a fine adult male Migrant Hawker and a Southern Hawker seen too. Dipped the Wryneck in field just west of the Hollies caravan park. In the garden Garden, 5 Migrant Hawkers seen too. Sunday garden Speckled Wood, Painted Lady, 5 Migrant Hawkers, In the afternoon- a Cattle Egret was seen over the far side of a field just west of the Scrape, remaining to 1 white faced black cattle. A Hare was running around the path at the western head of Carlton Marshes. Walking back I took the footpath through the field just west of the Scrape and the Cattle were directly had of me as was the excellent summer plumaged Cattle Egret and I got some nice views, took several pics at 100 yards range before double back to avoid disturbing the Egret or the cattle. Along the North Denes at 7pm I arrived just too late as the sun was setting over the North denies, in the large bush a female Whitethroat seen. Around 3 birds may have been Whinchats but they'd gone into roost and I didn't want to disturb them. In the garden, Speckled Wood butterfly, Painted Lady and again 5 Migrant Hawkers seen.