Vicarage Gardens Odonata

On Saturday 31st August, at the Vicarage Gardens at Happisburgh this afternoon, 2 Southern Hawkers seen including one by the entrance "Emperor Pond" patrolling the walkway and when we walked past on the way out it was hunting over the pond then briefly settled on a stem. A male Common Darter seen by the pond where several Newts seen previously although this now choked with invasive Parrots Feather. At the ornamental pond with concrete side several water Boatmen seen c8, and what looked like a Common Darter nymph.

Butterflies at the Paget

On Friday 30th August at the James Paget Hospital at 1pm and just after, I saw a Common Blue butterfly on the walk outside past Ward 17, a third of the way along (my first for the site). Also seen 20 minutes later were 2 Painted Ladies, a Small Tortoiseshell on the Buddlea outside Dermatology and 2 Small White flew outside the Sandra Chapman centre.

Wilbur(ina) the Whimbrel

On the evening of Thursday 29th August, a walk down to Kessingland sluice only revealed a Wheatear which suddenly popped on on the path just before the sluice. Going over to the Benacre side, there was no initial sign of the Whimbrel, I rang Jane F and she mentioned that could hide in the tall weeds along the Benacre sluice. A dog walker promptly disturbed it and it flew from the north- west corner of bencher Pit and right over my head I saw it settle on the path along the northern, Kessingland side of the river. I quickly ran round taking a circular anti- clockwise route around ensuring the sun was behind me and crawled on all fours round the side of the bushes to ensure the bird wasn't disturbed and the fine Whimbrel was busy feeding, it had an especial preference for probing the deep rabbit holes. It was usually around 30/ 40 metres away, but at one point it walked straight towards me and at its closest proximity was only 10 feet away and fed here away for several minutes before it suddenly took off and flew over to the other side again. Along the Benacre sluice I could see it feeding again, checking the Pit for potential migrants revealed little along its western side. A Little Grebe was seen on the Pit.

Bedstraw Hawkmoth at Hemsby

On Wednesday 29th August, I received a text from John H stating he had just trapped a Bedstraw Hawkmoth and I could pop over after work to see at 8.10pm. Only 3 days previously we had been talking about precisely this scenario and how keen I would be to see and get pictures of such a stunning moth! So at 8.10pm on the dot, I was outside John's house in Hemsby and John brought the stunning Bedstraw Hawkmoth into the kitchen. I t did not disappoint it was a real stunner. The kitchen worktop was the lightest source (always nbest photographing Moths in full daylight rather than artificial light)in the house and I managed to get a few pics of the Moth on an egg box and a special bit of wood I had brought until disaster, my 7D SLR camera electronics suddenly failed. John later released it outside, we thought it had flown but it was perched in the doorjam and John very carefully removed it to a safer area where it finally flew. I was extremely grateful to John for the shout on this one and a real privilege to see such a fine beastie!

Benacre evening

On Tuesday 28th August, an evening walk to Benacre Broad (nice to see Rob & Erin) first revealed 2 Barnacle Geese flying south, the eastern most one was escorted either side by a pair of Oystercatchers! On the Broad itself a nice flock of close Dunlin were seen. around 20 Black- tailed Godwit seen, plus in a more distant flock of an additional 30 Dunlin a fine clean slightly bigger, taller, longer legs and white rump of a fine Curlew Sandpiper, also a faded brick red plumage pointed out that it was a summer plumaged Knot.

Winterton & Corton woods

A walk up to the Northern most Toad pool with a nice surprise half way up. just beyond the tank traps failed to reveal either Scarce Blue- tailed or Southern Emerald Damselflies, instead 7 Emerald Damselflies and 7 Common Darter were seen. Half way up from the path, a female Dartford Warbler seen briefly by a bush. At the water filled Toad pool by the "Chinese Hills' a male Emperor Dragonfly was busily patrolling whilst a female was ovipositing in the water along the northern end. c400 Painted Lady seen and around 6 Graylings seen too. On the walk back, a fine male Yellowhammer was feeding on the path and was reasonably confiding but sadly not close enough for the 100-400mm lens I had with me! After the long walk back, I drove onto the grassy area just south of Corton woods entrance and had up to 5 mostly worn Brown Argos butterflies, my first confirmed ones in the UK fore several years, although I had seen one at the same spot earlier in the year which I suspected was one. The weedy areas were the most productive.

Flycatchers & Chats at a productive Gunton

On Sunday 24th August, a look around the Gunton area revealed 2 Pied Flycatcher along the Gunton ORT one on the track itself half way down in an Oak. One walking back along the Pitch & Putt 1/4 way along from the north, one flew up into tree. A fine Spotted Flycatcher was seen in trees either side of a "Dogs must be on lead" sign. It was perched near the very right top of a tree before flying across to another and out of sight. Joining James W along the Woodland burial, we eventually saw a pair of Whinchats, the smart male on the left and the female on the right of the park bench. At Chantry Park, Ipswich, whilst queuing to get into the Ed Sheeran concert, a Small Heath butterfly seen by a circular fenced off wild area with signs about Stag Beetles sadly none of these were seen though.

Black Guillemot off Cley

On Saturday 24th August a call from OFB early afternoon and we were off to Cley, after a relatively traffic free drive up there (apart from through Cley village) we joined a group of birders at 4pm staring at the excellent immature Black Guillemot clearly visible on the sea about 30 yards out just beyond the bathers!

Pied Fly early on in the Autumn for once!

In the evening of Friday 23rd August, I looked in Arnold's Walk not seeing much but along the top loop track of the Sparrow's Nest along the northern edge, I saw a movement and the spotted a fine Pied Flycatcher sat up for a couple of minutes before it was gone. A lady was feeding the Squirrels here too. Back at Link's road car park, no Gulls initially as they were all seen low over the Denes, maybe feasting on flying ants. On the groins, 5 Common Tern were seen including several that were little close, Rob H and Phil & his wife turned up and we enjoyed an immature Stonechat perched up on the "Greenfinch' bushes along the southern perimeter. Underneath the Chat, was a fine Lesser Whitethroat and a Whitethroat. Rob also saw a male Stonechat briefly too. 30 August 1998.

The Grayling

On Thursday 22nd August in the early evening whilst searching for our errant cat, Cosmo who had disappeared for 9 hours (he often does that in the very hot weather, although I get concerned if he is gone over 4 hours) I saw a Grayling butterfly near the wall (not seen one here before) on Fallowfields which had now reverted back to bush grassland. Glad to say in the south west corner, Cosmo came running up to me miaowing and I was able to pick him up and take him home, where he belongs!

A Cricket and a Chat

On Wednesday 21st August having the afternoon off I looked around North Denes, first thing I saw I had put my camera bag down and a Roesel's Bush Cricket (a first for me) hopped on the big camera bag, not being hasty enough in retrieving my macro lens, the Cricket had crawled down the side and I only obtained a poor reccrd shot. ( Will post the record shot later when I have freed some space on the computer as it choice a block at the moment) This was 15 metres north east of the northern most shelter belt. Rob Will had kindly said the Brown Argus butterflies were in the short grass in the southern most part of the Denes just north of the Oval, I searched there and saw a mel Emperor Dragonfly but that was all I saw. Walking back to the car park, a Whinchat was seen in the vegetation and it flew to vegetation near the sea wall. I was about to get a picture and a dog walker went passed and it disappeared. Around 30 BH Gulls in the car park and 5 Common Terns on the groynes too.

The Little Gull returns, hurrah!

On Monday 19th August, another visit to Links Road car park at Lowestoft and the flock of 30 Black- headed and 1 Herring Gull also included the much sought after adult winter Little Gull which was standing in the middle of the flock, I very carefully manoeuvred into position, using the car as a mobile hide. The bird spent a lot of time preening but eventually sat down and showed really well. I was really pleased to finally spent some time with this bird and get some pics. Andrew E and Rob H then arrived and I drove to them and had a chat with them, we also saw 8 Common Terns and 5 Turnstones. Going back to the flock, as I sat in the car, a Stock Dove flew in and drank from the pool, the Little Gull was now sitting down, I took a few more pics and then went over to see Phil and his wife, before finally leaving the adult Little Gull was stated in the middle of the flock, it then then stretched its wings (showing the diagnostic black underwing) up called a slight but endearing rasping call twice then unexpectedly it suddenly took to flight, flying south at 7.05pm. Finally a white car (I don't think they were the youths from yesterday) drove towards the flock 5 minutes later scattering the flock again at 7.10pm, at which point I left.

Frustratingly brief Little Gull

On Sunday 18th August a trip to Fairhaven Water gardens revealed a fine Kingfisher that flew into a bush from the bird hide, it sat with its orange breast in full view albeit slightly obscured by a few branches and a Marsh Tit, an immature Blue Tit feeding from the bird feeder and Great Tit seen also. Many Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers seen plus a brief Southern Hawker. In the evening at Links Road car park, at around 6.10pm, amongst the 30 or so BH Gulls (and 2 Herring Gull) I finally I saw the adult winter Little Gull, after 6 attempts to photograph one here to no avail. But I had problems with the camera and focusing, only being able to focus on the right, eventually I managed to sort it out but only after the Little Gull had very sadly flown off. So I didn't get the photos I wanted, very frustrating. Around 40 Common Terns seen on the groynes plus a flock of 8 Turnstone. Very nice to see Phil and his wife and Rob H. Later an adult winter Mediterranean Gull bathed in the pool of water and a brief Stock Dove flew down and drank from the pool of water too. This lovely evening was also totally spoilt by some boy racers who arrived in the car park driving around at high speed in circles, creating dust crowds and deliberating driving at the Gulls on two occasions which was making me quite stressed and angry, so I promptly left.

Hobby and Stonechat

This evening, Saturday August 17th, at 6.10pm a Hobby flew over and went north-east as I drove out of the Pastures at Parkhill, Lowestoft. At Links Road car park around 30 BH gulls and 2 Herring Gulls seen only 8 Common Terns on the groins plus a male Stonechat on the North Denes. No sign of the Kittiwake tonight.

Southern Emerald at Winteron North Dunes

On probably my 4th visit over the years (since 2002) on Saturday 17th August, to twitch a Southern Emerald at the northern most pool at Winterton North Dunes, I followed Murray S's directions and around 150 yards past the concrete tank blocks (a 2 mile plus walk from the former telephone exchange on the northern end of Winterton village) I looked around the pool, then checked the gorse bush just north- west of pool and bingo! the fine female Southern Emerald Damselfly was perched on the northern side of the bush, a new Odonata species for me & she posed well for about 10 minutes. She then moved once then very sadly at 11.25am, when some cloud came over she flew off north- west. Despite searching nearby bushes and the poolside vegetation she wasn't very sadly seen again. She was slightly larger than the normal Emerald the diagnostic feature were the bi- coloured (black/ white) pterstigma on each upper-wing and the swollen rear anal end clearly differentiating from her commoner cousin. Sad to say the right lower wing is almost completely absent apart from its "base", a bird strike? Although I heard from Murray S that she got stuck on a spike (when he was watching her) and had to be set free, so with only 3 wings she may not fly away too far. Lets hope she returns. A great shame there is no male about. Also on the pond were several mating Emerald damselflies, a striking powder blue male Emperor and female Emperor mating at times and many Common Darter with several mating pairs. Also seen around here were 2 Viviparous Common Lizards, one going near the water, the other heading into a gorse bush. I was joined by Steve G from Cley & his wife and neither of us could relocate the Southern Emerald. walking back I checked the southern most Toad pools really good to see Chris L and his wife at the pool with the most water where I saw a Brown Hawker and I checked all the others but alas no Natterjacks were seen. Around 100+ Painted Ladies seen and around 30 Grayling and at times clouds of Migrant Hawkers, over 150+ seen.

Immature Kittiwake and Swift passage

On Thursday 15th August I raced down to Links Road in the fading light but the adult Little Gull had already departed. On Friday 16th August, perched on the sea wall was a fine immature Kittiwake, it stood up and then sat down again, before some unruly elements walked past and the bird moved but walked a little way and then sat down again. It then stood up and flew towards the groyne where it perched on one of the posts. I saw Rob H and we witnessed a remarkable 350+ Common Swift movement going south, some Swifts flew low over our heads, but the heaviest concentration of Swifts was over Warren House wood with around 60+ at any one time. Swifts could be seen anywhere from Belle Vue Park to Corton Cliffs. The bird sported a silver ring read upside down with the lettering EW72588 or 5. POSTSCRIPT: I have since learnt from Julie M that this bird ringed on it's right leg EW72585, she had rescued it from Haward Street, Lowestoft and the Marine & Wildlife rescue service had nursed it back to health and it had been released that morning (Friday August 16th, let's hope this bird continues to thrive). A massive big thank you to Julie and the Marine & wildlife rescue service.

Great North Beach birding

On Monday 12th August, I ventured down to Lowestoft North Beach, as I drove along the Links Road car park, an adult winter- plumaged Mediterranean Gull was amongst the 12 or so Black- headed Gulls there. I saw Phil and his wife & on the groynes we saw around 40 Common Terns seen plus 2 Sandwich Terns and 11 Sandwich Terns were counted on the groyne to the north. A calling Whimbrel flew north over the sea. Andrew & James W turned up and the eagle- eyed Andrew E spotted a distant juvenile Arctic Tern perched on the 3 groin in from the furthest south groin we could see. A smaller bird with shorter more dainty bill, tiny legs, slightly darker grey back and distinct black cap. We enjoyed it for a few minutes before walking up and getting slightly closer views until walking closer still it apparently flew before I could get a picture of it. walking back I saw a Stock Dove on the beach briefly and it also flew south. Rob H arrived and instantly spotted a juvenile Yellow- legged Gull flying south, I eventually picked it up. We must have seen around 8 separate adult winter plumage Mediterranean Gull fly singly north, plus a juvenile bird was seen sitting on the sea too. hearing of James W just seeing a Spotted Flycatcher in the bush in the north west corner of the car park, I walked around and sure enough it was there with 2 young Blackcaps keeping it company. Sea watching with Rob H, Rob spotted 2 Arctic Skuas flying just under the horizon and I spent some time watching these as they were my first for around 3 years! Great to see again. Finally a calling 7 note whistle of the Whimbrel as it flew over Links road and Warren House wood heralded the end of a fine evenings birding (which could only have been improved with a few pics but nothing posed for me!) with great birders and top company.

Batten down the hatches!

On Saturday 10th August, very strong winds meant a day inside except when I ventured outside in the back garden and 2 Migrant Hawkers flying around and a Painted Lady sheltering within the curled leaf of a bush. On Sunday, at Raveningham Hall sculpture trail around 10 Migrant Hawker including several fine adult males. sadly when we got back we saw a tatty Peacock butterfly fluttering against the window in the conservatory, I was able to catch it and release it unharmed outside.

Obliging Vagrant Emperor Dragonfly at Share Marsh scrape, Carlton Marshes

On Wednesday 7th August, Carlton Marshes was again opened up a plethora of Odonata enthusiasts who were keen to see the trio of rare Dragonflies that have set up shop on the newly constructed scrape at Carlton Marshes. We met at 5pm, and as I already had privileged access twice before I thought it best to walk and let others who hadn't seen the rare Odonata first crack at seeing them, especially as the cloud was coming in. As we got to the Scrape, we had 5 minutes, I had a brief flight view of a Vagrant Emperor plus several pairs of Black- tailed Skimmer and then that was it, it clouded over again! Typical! However, we were not to be disappointed because the ever sharp observer Andrew E spotted a male Vagrant Emperor on the ground we walked around had distant obscured views until it flew to upturned clod of grass and excellent views were had here until it flew again to another clod of earth, where it perched up beautifully and we all had great views and pics from here. A big thank you to Gavin, Cheryl, Andrew E, Chris Mutineer and the SWT team for this wonderful privileged access this newly created area is already producing big dividends nice to see around 40 people taking advantage including so many local birder/ naturalist friends.

Weekend wildlife watching

On Friday, a Brown Hawker got briefly stuck in the conservatory early evening but very pleased to report it soon flew out. On Saturday 3rd August at 10am, at short notice, Gavin kindly took me over in the buggy to the newly constructed scrapes on Share Marsh. Because Bam Nuttall are constructing the scrapes during the day access is not allowed due to public safety and access is only allowed at the discretion of the SWT Broads Manager and any one allowed access (only possible evenings and weekends) must be accompanied by SWT Warden. Gavin and I joined Andrew W over to the new Share Mash scrape. Sadly dark cloud meant we were really up against it. 2 calling Green Sandpiper flew over and we saw 3 male Red- veined Darters, the pick of the bunch, together with several male Black- tailed Skimmers and Emperor Dragonflies, but no sign of their rarer family members. Thanks to Gavin and Matt for their help. There were 3 Painted Ladies in the garden, one posed nicely for the camera. On Sunday, a tweet from Craig early morning and having replied to his tweet, I was kindly invited over to Craig's Corton home to view the fine Pine Hawkmoth, a first for me and it was posed nicely on a stump of wood, afterwards it was returned to the fridge ready to be released in the evening. Craig also showed me a fine Black Arches which was great too. Many thanks to Craig. I returned home and went over to a local wood where I saw and counted 11 Broad- leaved Helleborines. Back home, a Voicemail from Gavin originally sent at 11am said better to go earlier than 1pm, however I as I received the Voicemail message late and turned up at CM at 1pm. At the Scrape, the sun was still shining and immediately we saw our first 1 then 2 male Vagrant Emperors, 1 male flew out and settled in the grass, but flew as we approached. Going back to the Scrape over the far side, I spotted a fine male Lesser Emperor, green eyes, black body and blue saddle. It flew around and then disappeared, I later saw it fly down again. Up to 6 male Vagrant Emperors seen, 1 male seen flying around the western arm of the scrape. On the eastern side, a mating couple of Common Emperors were also seen, the female ovipositing in Mare's tail and the male Emperor flying around too. Up to 6 male Red- veined Darters seen flying around too. Plus the occasional flight by the brown bodied but blue saddled Vagrant Emperor. Also a Brown Hawker seen too. Back to the local wood, after Jane's pinpoint directions I located the rare red/ purple form of Broad- leaved Helleborine plus a further 14 normal coloured Broad leaves totalling 15 for me in total. Jane had counted 33 though, sadly I noted several Broad- leaves had been trimmed. I will e-mail The Gunton Community woodland to see if this could be eliminated in future.

North Beach

On Thursday 1st August, I tried again for Little Gull along North beach and it looked as if my photographic quest for one would be successful as there was an adult winter Little Gull bird perched on the groyne post 2 one in from the beach. Unfortunately as I parked my car on Links road car park it flew off out to sea! The Gulls on the car park, included a sitting adult winter Mediterranean Gull and an immature Mediterranean Gull which unlike the Little Gull posed well for the camera! On Friday tired again saw Rob H and we saw several fine looking Turnstones and around 30 Common Terns on the groynes.

Unable to use Twitter

Does anyone know why I am unable to use Twitter since the new revamp (which is awful) it shows a blue "whirring" circle sign as if its trying to load up, but never suceeds. I cannot access it at all from my computer? I am therefore unable to post messages onto Twitter or load any pics on Twitter so I will only be able to send messages via WhatsApp for the Thursday Nature Club and Suffolk BINS from now on. You will still be able to view pics on this blog. Totally mystified as to how to fix this current Twitter problem?