RBF again

On Wednesday 31st October, I returned to Southwold campsite for a second look at the RBF and spent an hour at the site, although for most of the time it wasn't present showing on only 3 specific occasions, the last time the fine Red- breasted Flycatcher perched out in the open and I obtained a couple of shots. I decided to check Southwold Churchyard nothing seen, nothing seen at Easton Bavents either and very little at Kessingland Sewage works, 3 Pied Wagtails on the sewage beds and by the common area 3 Redwing seen to fly out. a Group of 4 Moorhen also seen 2 adults and 2 older youngsters.

Great photo day!

On Sunday 28th October, seawatching with James B on Gunton cliff, 2 distant Skua sp. seen flying north, plus 3 Red- breasted Mergansers flew north and 2 groups of 6 Eider flew north (3 males & 3 females) in each group. A tweet about a Mandarin at Kensington Gardens and I drove straight over there and the Mandarin was on the watery area by the bridge with Mallards, it was a fine drake Mandarin and spent some time hiding in the vegetation and occasionally swimming out. A lady came to throw out some bread and upon her first throw, the male Mandarin took off and flew north- east over towards the beach. Upon hearing from another birder that a Brent Goose had been seen near the Pier I walked down to the second beach just south of the Pier and an immature Brent Goose was there but quickly flew to the "Sanderling" beach just as I was walking along the Prom. It was feeding from the rocks and then swam south to the second beach again and walked along the beach had a snooze by the sea edge and then fed again on the seaweed by the rocks where I left it. A tweet about an RBF at Southwold campsite and I drove down there parking in the 30 minute bay and walked across and in the extreme north- west corner of the campsite, in area of 3 trees the excellent Red- breasted Flycatcher flew in. It was typically large eyed with the distinctive white basal outer- tail feather and occasional flicking its tail and drooping its wings. It flew to different perched often sitting still for a minute or more. It would often fly to the bushes at the back but within minutes would fly back. Often the views were slightly obscured but patience meant occasional unobscured views seen. It would often fly to the back foraging on the ground and a middle height area and higher up in the trees too. On to the Southward Churchyard, along the northside, I saw Paul & Jane F just inside the churchyard looking intently at a Mountain Ash/ Rowan tree. Of course they had the excellent Waxwing in their sights. It spent most of the time perched within the tree with only obscured views being seen but as the sun went in, it hopped out in full view and started feeding on the Rowan berries we walked out and watched it from the side and I merged to get a few record shots, one of which surprisingly got 168 likes on Twitter, at the time of writing!

Shore Larks & seabirds

On Saturday 27th October I drove over to Kessingland and immediately saw Paul & Jane F, walking up to the Shore Larks, I heard a calling Brambling and saw it perched on a curved bramble on the hill, would have made a nice photo but dog walkers put paid to that when it flew off. Rob Wils was there but soon left and I had the 2 Shore Larks to myself, being remarkably confiding, they expertly dodged the numerous dogs until one charged straight at them and they flew out to sea, 12 Lapwings flew in off the sea, but when visiting birders arrived and I told they had flown off they came back and settled in front of us. Around 3 Sky Larks and one was photographed feeding on the middle of the dunes. Looking at Ness Point in the afternoon, around 100 Gannets seen flying north, at 2.30pm a fine Little Auk flew north.

Rare Odonata; Vagrant Emperors & Red- veined Darters

On Wednesday October 24th, at Kessingland in the afternoon, I drove over to Kessingland, walking down Coastguards Lane there was a stretch of beach just north of the seawall. I was hoping to see the Vagrant Emperor Dragonflies spotted by Andrew E. I joined a group of people including Carl B, Dave H & others. One had been seen in flight 3o minutes earlier. After an hour no sign, a general exodus north before a weedy area, where a group of people were gathering raised hopes of a rare dragonfly sighted. It was fine female Red- veined Darter which posed well for the camera. Then a shout of an Odonata been seen flying over the end of the sea wall. It was a Migrant Hawker, but then a larger Dragonfly with straight abdomen and brownish body joined it and then flew north, it was the fine female Vagrant Emperor. Andrew E and Rob Will joined us and they immediately picked up the male Vagrant Emperor flying around the Dunes brown bodied but with a gleaming blue notch on the abdomen. Birds seen included Red Kite flying over the cliff & 2 single Fieldfares in off. Good to see old friends from both Norfolk & Suffolk too.

Shore Larks then pandemonium!

On Sunday October 21st, both Shore Larks were seen at Kessingland before 'headless chicken mode' for the 1st time this autumn. walking up to the Kessingland Sluice I met a birder saying they were still there and saw 2 birder watching them half way along the beach in the area bordering the grassy area and the sandy beach. I approached from the beach and kneeling made my way to within a respectable distance. Some dog walkers pushed the birds a little closer and both of the 2 wonderful Shore Larks fed on the seeds of a small weed, which made some nice pictures. Another dog forced them to run over to the beach. There were feeding along the margins of the beach and the grassy area. A BINS message, revealed a Vagrant Emperor had been sighed by the last 5 static caravans of the caravan park, a very vague message I walked around the scrubby area bordering the southern perimeter in th vain hope one might be spotted or fly up but it didn't, I looked & failed to see Vagrant Emperor. A call from OFB and an offer of a lift to Weybourne for the 2 Norfolk goodies was difficult to resit and after picking up James W from Gunton then mad dash up to Norfolk. Parking at the end of Beach road, meeting Rob Will & Andrew E at the pay and display machine, we walked west for around 500 yards to an round hollow area full of scrub but we had to negotiate the fence first and walk through the gate. The massed crowd encircling the hollow and the bird hadn't been seen for 30 minutes. Seeing Dave & Pauline next door they picked up the bird deep in a large bramble bush and brilliant direction from them, directed to a foot left of a large teasel I could see obscured views of the bird that appeared to be a Shrike, the the mask and bill and part of the back seen confirming it was a Shrike. It flew a couple of times into small Sallows but when it flew left it flew in what appeared to be a Buddlea bush and the bird hopped out in almost full view for 2 minutes. A branch obscured its mid section but the head mantle wings and tail could be clearly seen, it was indeed a superb Brown Shrike and a first for Norfolk and my 2nd UK bird. It showed a mask, hooked bill and browner back. We left to have a look for the probable Stejneger's Stonechat at Salthouse.

Grey Wagtail at the Paget

Leaving work on Monday October 15th just outside the Burrage centre, a Grey Wagtail flew low & north over the Burrage Centre, James Paget Hospital and my head at 5.05pm!

Garden & Fallowfields birds

On Sunday October 14, a Yellow- browed Warbler calling & moving west along hedgerow Fallowfields, Oulton, Lowestoft- bordering back gardens of Bosquet Close also a Grey Wagtail flew out from no 8 Bosquet Close, and a Buzzard & a female Sparrowhawk flew over. 5 Redwing flew south west over the garden at 10.45am also.

Visitors from the East and North

On Saturday 13th October, a typically brief view of a calling Yellow- browed Warbler flew into hedge on west side of Corton ORT along the west walk way at 12.10pm still 30 yds south from Stirrups Lane Bridge it flew into the sycamores in the middle where it was seen on a few occasions before it disappeared. Later on driving to Links road car park, SWT had organised a beach clean and I saw Chris M, Andrew E and others as I walked north to the enclosed areas just north of Tramps Alley where the 3 Snow Buntings were still on Gunton Warren beach initially just outside the fenced off area feeding by sprigs of Marram grass and weeds in fenced off area the 3rd one along just N of Tramps Alley, mid to late morning. The constant procession of dogs pushed the birds over to the beach and then they a flew a few yards south and then flew back to the fenced off areas before hopping through into the fenced off areas where they remained for the rest of the time they were there as they were not being disturbed by dogs.

Yellow- browed at the Paget

On Wednesday October 10th driving out of the James Paget at 1pm I heard a Yellow- browed Warbler by the southern most hedge bordering the James Paget Hospital at 1.40pm at least. It was seen briefly as it moved quickly through the hedge moving west all the time. No sign of any YBWs around Gunton & v.quiet birdwise his afternoon, best was a Brambling heard and seen flying west over the Gunton ORT, 3 Stock Dove feeding in the south- west corner of the field just north of the Gunton burial ground, Blackcap in the hedge by Gunton ORT, 3 GSW & 1 v. confiding juvenile Wood Pigeon (sadly suspected Trichonomad virus victim)in the Holm Oak wood bowl at Gunton warren.

Elusive evening Yellow- browed

On Tuesday October 9, still 2-3 Yellow- browed Warblers at Gunton, Lowestoft area this eve -5.15-6pm but all very elusive, 1 Yellow- browed Warbler by entrance to Gunton Meadows on the north side heard calling only, 1 Yellow- browed Warbler heard only by the track 300 yds north of of Sallows at Gunton wood and 1 Yellow- browed Warbler, typically hyperactive seen flitting through the bushes by the Sallows at Gunton wood but they wouldn't pose for the camera at all!

Yellow- browed City

Deciding to look at Corton this morning, Sunday 7th October, it was sunny and struck gold when half way down the ORT by the southern end of the Holm Oaks I heard the distinctive call of a YBW, I spun round and saw a bright bird a wonderful Yellow- browed Warbler, which showed well in the top foliage of the tree twice before flying over the track to the eastern perimeter belt. I rang James B and met him on the west side where we heard another YBW call and saw one showing briefly at the topof a sycamore, this time a pale bird, a second Yellow- browed Warbler. Jame went onto check the pond, whilst I walked back to the bridge and taking the west track heard and saw a Yellow- browed Warbler in a sycamore. As I was watching this bird one called behind me and seen in the trees in the middle of the track, a second Yellow- browed Warbler. I was joined by Derek M and James B and we watched a bird the other side of the road calling frequently. Checking out Corton Churchyard, a Mistle Thrush flew east walking over the the start of the Corton old SW track, I heard the rasping call of a Brambling and saw the bird with white rump fly off and walking back a Green Woodpecker also flew east from Corton churchyard. Mid afternoon, I walked round Gunton woods not hearing/ seeing any YBWs but walking past the woodland burial area the cleared path running parallel with the Gunton ORT, I could see a Fieldfare perched on the track, a walker disturbed it before I could get a photo. Turning my attention to Gunton ORT, 2/3 of the way down, a calling Yellow- browed Warbler (my 4th of 5th bird self found today a personal record for me in one day!) showed itself in an Oak and I walked 100 yards further north saw the calling bird again in a Sycamore tree where I was able to get some record shots. I saw the bird from 4.40-5pm. Walking back a heard the 'pssst' call of Redwing and in the field just north of the woodland burial, in the south- west corner amongst c30 Chaffinches feeding here revealed 4 Bramblings including 2 smart males. At Gunton woods Sallows, a Chiff- Chaff heard, at Gunton Meadow south, I heard another Brambling.

Ness Point in the rain

On Saturday 6 October, I was unable to get out birding until the early afternoon, when I met with Andrew E, Rob Will & James W, no sign for me of the Little Bunting which is still a big Suffolk blocker, having never seen one in the county despite several attempts. On the sea, 2 immature Gannets flew south, 5 Brent Geese flew North, 24 Chaffinches flew north and around 18 Chaffinch plus an unseen Brambling heard called its distinctive rasping call flew in off. 4 Rock Pipits flying in off were joined by a further 2, a flock of 6 in total, as we searched around the Ness Point carpark site for the Bunting in the rain and to no avail.

2 Redwing heard flying over the house

Leaving work early afternoon on Wednesday 3rd October, arriving home I heard 2 Redwing (not seen) appeared to be flying south over the house at 1pm.

Buzzard low over A47 near Corton roundabout

On Tuesday October 2nd at 5.25pm a Buzzard flew low over the road travelling back from work along the A47 just before the Corton Long Lane roundabout.

Buckenham Pectoral Sandpiper duo

Having seen visitors from the Arctic and the east (Finland) in recent days I was now hoping to see some American visitors. I drove over to Buckingham RSPB on the evening of Monday 1st October, initially I couldn't see any waders. Walking down I heard the pink-pink of Pink-footed Geese a small flock of 8 flew in, A Buzzard was also seen perched on a distant gate. I later counted 160+ in this area. but as I scanned past the 150 or so Black- headed Gulls, 5 Lapwing were seen to the left of the Gulls, whilst walking right of them were the excellent duo of 2 Pectoral Sandpipers feeding on the muddy edge, (slightly bigger than Dunlin) with Snipe-like backs and the very distinctive brown breast cut off on the mid breast with whitish underparts below. The were hunched over constantly feeding and one was following the other they were still at Buckenham RSPB but flew off at 6.15pm, when the whole flock was disturbed by a female Marsh Harrier (they'll probably come back though), in front of the Gulls an incredible 34 Ruff flew in. Over to the right, 1 Snipe and 12 Wigeon were on the grass, Finally 1000's of Jackdaws were amassing on the grass right at the back, then they all flew into an isolated copse and then an incredible 5000+ Jackdaws flew over me their collection calls sounding like a high pitched machine gun. Also 300 Rook pre- roost gatherings completed the corvid-fest equalling a great evening!