Early morning dip

On Friday 30th November, I was able to drive over to Oulton Broad for a quick look for the Goosanders, at 7.40am I walked through Nicholas Everett Park, I heard the Ring- necked Parakeet but couldn't see it when I quickly searched for it. I walked over to the Yacht club and scanned Oulton Broad no sign whatsoever of the Goosanders, I checked around by the boats and looked at the Promenade & Wherry too, after 15 all too short minutes I had to leave at 7.55am to get to work for 8.30am (and allowing for the train coming through- caught on the way over but not on the way back). I looked over at Mutford Locke the water was very low so nothing there and no time to drive over to the "Dead end" part of O>B> The dipping sequence continues. I'll try again tomorrow and I'll have more time.

Quintuple dip day

On Sunday 25th November, I raised new standards (definitely unwanted) in dipping 5 different species in a winter's birding day. In the car park I heard 2 Bullfinches and saw a couple of Curlew but no sign of Hooded Merganser (Blythburgh), there was also no sign of Bewick's Swans (Covehithe Broad), Scaup (Benacre Broad or Cattle Egrets (Carlton Marshes this am. I bumped into Peter N at the car park who hadn't seen the sole remaining individual this morning- my cue to leave!) Walking from Covehithe Broad due north in the field taking the coastal footpath, just north of Smuggler's Lane at Covehithe, 300 Barnacle Geese seen. They were close and they slowly walked back but were not unduly disturbed by my presence. Benacre Broad was better by also no sign of the Scaup although there were females of Red- breasted Merganser (behind the GBB Gulls out to the north- west area of the Broad) & a female Common Scoter (straight out at Benacre Broad plus an ad winter Mediterranean Gull at least I saw something this morning! Also no sign of the Purple Sandpipers at Ness Point in the afternoon. Nothing at Hamilton Dock either. A very poor weekend birding for me.

Brief Hoodie

Back at Blythburgh on Saturday 24th November, the male Hooded Merganser was seen briefly on the river before being disturbed by a dog and it flew into Blythburgh estuary.

Hooded Merganser on the estuary

Another early start at 8.30am on Sunday 18th November, the Merganser was nowhere to be seen on the river but the fine male Hooded Merganser was seen looking due east from the bridge and was swimming around the area by the line of submerged posts. It swam round and came a little closer just south of where I was looking before it flew out to the water by the submerged sticks again. Also c300 Black- tailed Godwit and 188 Avocets seen too.

Hooded Merganser briefly

On Saturday 17th November, walking along the northern back walking west sadly the Hooded Merganser took off further up the river and flew onto the very low tide estuary and again it could't be seen. Compensation came in the form of 20 White- fronted Geese that flew that over my head and east over the Blythburgh estuary, as I was looking for the Merganser on the estaury at 9.30am. A look in Corton woods and around Dip farm failed to turn up any of the Firecrests seen earlier.

Hooded Merganser on Blythburgh estuary

On Thursday 15th November, I drove down to Blythburgh and taking the footpath north of the river heading west, I was joined by Phil H and to quote Chris S I spotted "the rakishly handsome" male Hooded Merganser which stood on distant mudflats south of the river. On the left leg sadly was a big orange ring which would indicate that this was an escaped bird rather than a transatlantic vagrant. After 10 minutes watching it, it promptly flew off and flew east in a circle arc but it flew to estuary at 9.30am when lost to view as it landed on the Blythburgh estuary. On the estuary itself, at very low tide the Merganser couldn't be seen despite extensive searching. However 12 Grey Plover seen. Despite checking North denies, Ness Point and Hamilton Dock nothing else of note seen.

Parakeet & Brent Goose

On Sunday 11th November, the Ring- necked Parakeet was initially not at Nicholas Everett Park seeing Neville L & Tony B apparently it flew over towards the Wherry but it flew back calling s it came. It kept mostly in the shade, mainly in the evergreen tree feeding on berries. Later, I drove to Links road car park, with an immature Brent Goose feeding by the eastern edge. It flew up briefly when an uncontrolled dog went for it and it ran towards the car where I could see it just 20 feet away whilst I stayed within the car using it as a mobile hide. Later on back at Nicholas Everett Park, the bird was seen in the Oak tree and joined by Rene we obtained some shots albeit in bad light.

Bitterns and Ring- necked Parakeet

On Saturday November 10th, after initially seeing a Bittern fly off at 9.30am from the Island Mere hide, viewed from underneath the hide. Eventually had great views of another Bittern at Island Mere, Minsmere. After one was spotted at 9.50am hiding in the reeds to the right, unfortunately noise from the hide and people looking and talking from the ramp, it was only when the noise subsided and the walkway loiterers eventually left that the Bittern eventually walked along the edge of the reeds and then finally walked over to the dyke near the hide giving superlative views at eye level down to 20 feet away! The reeds by the dye did obscure the bird for 50% of the time. It eventually walked back into the reeds. Driving over to Nicholas Everett Park at Oulton Broad, the RNP had gone missing watching with Derek M his wife and son, we heard the bird and I saw it, the excellent female Ring- necked Parakeet in the Oak by the toilet block and it was seen well in the setting sun and showed really well just before dusk.

Grey Phalarope at Winterton

On Sunday 4th November, the fine Grey Phalarope seen back at Winterton it was seen by the sea by the yellow sign. In an area of water between a sandbank just out to sea. The Phalarope was seen feeding and then regularly flying short distances and feeding then it flew south before reappearing again where it would repeat the process.

King Eider, Eastern Stonechat & Winterton goodies

On November 3rd, a great day in Norfolk with John H & Bob B, at Sheringham, parking by the seawatching shelters, we saw the immature male King Eider from the cliffs by the golf course- Sheringham. Moving onto Salthouse, taking the track back we saw the probable Eastern/ Stejneger's Stonechat. The back at Winteron walking up to past the toad pools we saw a Peregrine fly in off the sea and over the dunes. Whilst looking over the woods & scrub, a Rough- legged Buzzard flew back and south over. Whilst out to sea Seals, on the beach up to 4 separate Sanderling seen. Back at the Yellow sign, a fine Red- necked Grebe and a Great Northern Diver seen together join the sea, a Pink-footed Goose seen sitting on the sea & Snow Buntings heard (but not seen)- all at Winterton, great to see Tim, Mick & Dick F too.

Vagrant Emperor at the Paget

At about 12.30pm I had call from Rob H, saying he had just found a female Vagrant Emperor at the Paget, I met him a few minutes later and sure enough a stunning female Vagrant was perched on an outside wall. It was very overcast, cloudy with some light rain but I managed to get a few shots using flash. The female Vagrant Emperor was perched against the wall, around 4 feet above the ground. At one pint it shimmered its wings as if it was about to fly. But it remained perched and when I walked past later at 3.30pm it was still perched there.