Smart male Sparrowhawk

On Wednesday 30th January on the way to work, at 8.20am, I had just turned off the roundabout by the A47 when a smart male Sparrowhawk flew in from the south to perched in a small tree, it sported a slate grey back and chestnut red- barred breast.

Woodcock and Buzzard

On Tuesday 29th January, I looked out at the back garden and saw an excellent Woodcock flying low and left (east) over Fallowfields. Later on driving north along the A47, just before Hopton, at North Corton area, a Buzzard flew over the A12 and it perched in its usual tree in the middle of the field just east of the road.

Peregrines at the silo

Shopping at Asda on Sunday 27th January, as jenny drove in I was able to look through my binoculars at the 2 Peregrines that flew around the grain Silo. I looked at Hamilton Dock & Ness Point nothing seen save 2 Turnstone seen perched on a single rock at the Point.

Filby birds & a cruel 19th century anachronism

At Filby broad-no sign of Smew but a group 104 Teal & c40 Tufted Duck. From the Filby Boardwalk a female Goldeneye swam out from close in. At Ormesby Little Broad the Red- necked Grebe from lookout, initially seen swimming out from the reeds it swam right past us showing us the best views yet of a bird I first found on Rollesby Broad and it was then flushed to by boat it swam towards us and the the boat flushed the bird and it flew into the channel and was later seen by the channel by the by bridge to the east of the road, We later saw a buzzard and 20 Tufted Duck to the left of the boardwalk. Unfortunately shooting was heard in the woods just west of Filby Broad and in the woods just east of Ormsby Little Broad, 40 Tufted Duck disturbed by the shooting flew up from Lily Broad. Shooters everywhere & ones in boat that had flushed the RN Grebe, beaters were in the woods just beyond and a poor unfortunate Pheasant was shot by one of the unmentionables in the boat, feathers seen drifting on the air and the poor Pheasant fell into the water writhing in agony into Broad seen for several minutes before it died in obvious agony, the unmentionables in the boat rowed over and picked it out of the water- v.distressing events to see and I will not let this rest.

Iceland Gull at Sizewell & Shag in Hamilton Dock

On Sunday January 20th, I travelled down to Sizewell, Paul & Jane F drew up beside me and we walked down seeing our good friends, the Beccles contingent Carl, Dick & Ali they said it was still there. A 1st winter Iceland Gull was seen flying, by some but I missed it, but Justin L saw it perched on the dome of Sizewell B, where it disappear ed over the top. I decided to walk several hundred yards north and in amongst a group of around 40 Gulls, I could see a good candidate, it was slightly smaller than the Herring Gull with black bill, pinks legs and biscuit plumage. It was only when it stretched it wings showing pure white primaries I could confirm the sighting as a 1st winter Iceland Gull, I then rang Jane F & subsequently the crowd came down and saw the bird. It stood on the dome of Sizewell B at 2.15pm, we were then finally able to show a newly arrived David W the bird. Leaving I had to a fruitless trip to carlton Marshes birdies but bumping into Rob & Erin Will they gave me some info. No sign of any Shags at Riverside. Sure enough on arrival I saw a 1st winter Shag Hamilton dock on the sandy spit on the southern side at 4pm, (thanks to Rob Wil for the tip off seen there yesterday too).

Haddiscoe Marshes

On Saturday 19th January, at Waveney Forest Mound, the distant Rough- legged Buzzard perched on a mound up to 2.15pm, it then turned showing its white/ black tail (white at the base and black at the tip) as it tuned and hopped down and subsequently out of sight. Then 3 fine Short- eared Owl's flying around the marshy area, a female Peregrine sat on the ground over to the right, 4 Buzzard inc. 1 v.pale individual, plus a female Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk flew left, Kestrel plus c300 Golden Plover & 400 Pink-footed Geese on Haddiscoe Marshes seen too.

Trinity broads & Unseasonal butterfly

On Sunday 13th January, the Red- necked Grebe (it was the same bird seen a week earlier) seen on Ormesby Little Broad first seen swimming rapidly out from the reeds along the southern end chased out by 1 pair (1 of 3) Great Crested genes it swam to the middle of the Broad before disappearing again, saw neil and later peter C & diane and Ken S. Following Neil M, saw the Storks nest built in a garden just 20 foot off the ground opposite Thrigby Wildlife park and on a road towards Runham, in a distant field to the right 4 Whooper Swan (inc 1 immature bird) On Monday 14th January, at the James Paget Hospital, a Red Admiral seen just now flying around JPUH hospital around the southern side of the day theatre building is sadly unlikely to survive seen at 1.50pm.

Norfolk goodies

On Sunday January 6th I visited Ormesby Little Broad and Filby broad, no sign of the Smew so next stop, thanks to me following Richard, one of the Dereham lads was Thurne, where we saw 2 close and 3 (including 1 immature) more distant Cranes , staying in the card I managed a few pictures. Next it was my turn to lead as Richard followed me over to Barton Broad car park, where we walked the 800 yards to the boardwalk and overlooking the broad, the fine female Long- tailed Duck was seen over to the right in loose company of the 2 female Scaup and a large total of 70 Goldeneye with around 25 males. Paul & jane F turned up and we left soon after meeting Steve & dot who was just walking up. Driving back no sign of any Wild Swans at Catfield but I stopped off to look at Rollesby broad and just taking the bins, I had a brief glimpse of a Red- necked Grebe which had gone when I retrieved my scope from the car owing to a fisherman having crossed to fish on the Broad at the exactly the wrong time.

Suffolk winter goodies

On Saturday Jan 5th, a very early start before first light I walked half way down the main track and joined Andrew E, Rob Will & Josh C from the roost site over on Carlton Marshes, a Cattle Egret flew out and settled on fields just before the scrape. 3 Little Egret also flew out. Meanwhile 5 Goosander (1 male 4 female) flew south and a Peregrine flew north, Driving to Benacre, fortunately I had only got to Cotmer road and had a call from Rob to say there just seen Waxwings. Sure enough, 2 Waxwing were seen in trees just north of the junction between Beccles rd/ Hollow grove way. 2 Cattle Egret were seen from The Street looking north at Benacre. Around 15 Sky Larks seen along the beach. A fine male Green- winged Teal eventually came out of a reedy island, just about the last Teal to emerge from the island after a long and very cold 2 hour wait with Paul & Jane F amongst others. The bird then flew and swam left followed by 3 admiring female birds. Meanwhile out to sea, a great single sex flock of 70 Common Scoter seen (all female). Back on the marshes, 2 Great White Egrets seen mainly in flight, Plus a distant Kingfisher seen perched on a gate. Back at Leiston, 11 Bewick's (2 immatues) and 2 Tundra Bean Geese Leiston Leisure Cente I rang Paul & Jane who promptly turned up and enjoyed the views of the swans and geese and was glad to have my steps ready to enable Jane to get good views over the high fence!, Back at Ness Point, 3 Purple Sandpiper & 13 Turnstone seen on the finger at Ness Point as the light was fading at 3.40pm.

Scoters & Divers off Gorleston Cliffs

On Friday 4th January, a lunchtime twitch I managed to see the fine group of 5 Velvet Scoters, from off the south end of Gorleston cliffs. The Velvets were with a female Common Scoter just to the left of them in front of a large container ship on the sea. Also on the sea were 5 Red- throated Divers in the same area and an additional 3 singleton Red- throated Divers flew south just past the flock too. All these Divers seen within the space of 3 minutes, a great 30 minute lunchtime excursion!

New Year's Day birding

On January 1st, a new start to a new year, not sure entirely where to view the roosting Cattle Egrets so as I was there at first light I stayed at the main car park and didn't see a lot! Met Danny P further down the main track and we saw a hunting Barn Owl, but that was it. Next stop was The Drive at redone, where a Mistle Thrush perched in a tree caught my attention initially I managed a couple of pics, I saw the 2 fine Waxwing in trees opposite and a crouching danny getting ready to get his dig- shots, a bonus was 5 Redwing that flew in and showed reasonably well too. Enjoyed a phenomenal lunch courtesy of Danny P as the Walberswick tea rooms and then at Leiston Leisure centre followed Danny as I was again not sure where that was exactly although I could have found it easily as it was very well signed from Leiston (not always the case in Suffolk or Norfolk!), I wonder if the signs were done by Carlsberg??! 9(2imm) Bewick's Swan stood in the middle of a ploughed flied just south of the Leisure centre and the ominous construction of a yet another housing plot. At RSPB North Warren the 2 Spoonbill showed well viewed from the second new Northerly hide, Craig S joined us and we also saw 9 White- fronted Geese seen at North Warren, where we also added several Pintail and Black- tailed Godwit as well as Wigeon, Teal to the day's tally. No sign of anything at Ness Point late on. Thanks to Danny, Emma L & Gary L for their company today, too- but dipped Cattle Egrets, Shag & Purple Sand early & late at Lowestoft.

Scoter flocks

On Saturday December 29th, 5 Velvet Scoter (which looked like 3 males and 2 females) in a separate flock just in front of the larger 90+ Common Scoter flock still 3.30pm, but distant from the end of the Coast rd, Hopton. Thanks to James B for directions of where to park.

Boxing day birds

On Wednesday December 26th, on the journey over Llanstadwell, up to 4 Red Kite flew over the A48. A trip down to Llanstadwell near Pembroke, sitting in the sitting room I overlooked the estuary and this overlooked the river and a Diver, a large Diver swam past, I thought it was a Great Northern, in retrieving my tripod I scoped and it was indeed an excellent Great Northern Diver, which then dived. Also on the shoreline was a Greenshank, Shelduck and around 6 Dunlin also a Curlew. 15 Mute Swan were seen in a marshy bit too.

Cymisfael stream

On 24th December a Kingfisher seen flying away from the second bridge, 4(2male and 2female) Bullfinches all perched briefly on one bush before flying off, male Sparrowhawk, Nuthatch(h) and Treecreeper seen. On 25th December quite with a group of Long- tailed Tits, 2 Wren (individuals) seen by the Cymisfael stream by the "Dipper" (no sign of Dippers though) bridge, Grey Wagtail seen later over Llandarrog church & female Sparrowhawk flew low over rd. Raven seen on journey too and 230 Starling seen at Brodawel field, Llanddarog + 7 Song Thrush, 6 Robin & Goldcrest on disappointing Xmas day visit to Cymisfael stream.

Quintet of Purple Sands & Minsmere visit for bird report

On December 20th, 5 Purple Sandpiper (my highest tally this winter so far- not difficult when I'd only seen 1 before!) on the finger at Ness Point this afternoon then 3 of their number on rocks just south of there. On Dec 22nd, at Minsmere, a look around the reserve after purchasing the Suffolk Birds report for 2017 included no Whoopers sadly behind the south hide. Birds seen from East scrape included a 1st winter Caspian Gull, 4 Pink- footed Geese over the far side on the extreme left hand of the island almost obscured by the Greylags, around 4 Dunlin seen too. A Female Sparrowhawk flying low and south over the scrape scattered most of the birds. In the North bushes, 4 Redwing, a Song Thrush and Blackbird.