Showy Purple Sandpipers at Ness Point

At about midday Monday 30th December, on the very fine sunny day, I drove down to Ness Point and immediately bumped into Gavin D, I was hoping to see the reported 9 Purple sands, initially there were none, but Gavin spotted 2 fine Purple Sandpipers on the defence rocks just south of the compass by the ledge. Walking down to the southern tip of Ness Point 3 Rock Pipits were seen, 2 flew over to the SLP yard. Nothing in Hamilton Dock, save for 1 Cormorant and 1 Black- headed Gull fishing. We walked over to the rocks just north of the finger and this new hot spot for the species revealed 2 very confiding individuals, so 4 Purple Sandpiper in all. As always great to photograph in this light where the purple iridescence in the plumage truly stood out. An incredible 5 Ringed Plovers (my largest number of this species at Ness Point) flew north very close in. Initially asleep on the rocks, our patience was rewarded when of another 2 Purple Sandpipers, first one then the second woke up and started feeding. The first individual even flew closer and fed around 10 feet away albeit in shadow.

5 Purple Sandpipers at Ness Point

Also on Saturday 28th December, I went down to Ness Point at 3pm on the rocks by the compass I saw 2 Purple Sandpipers and by the defence rocks just north of the finger, I saw first 3 Purple sandpipers all on one rock and 2 further Purple Sandpipers behind them, so 5 Purple Sandpipers in total was my highest tally of this winter to date (although 11 had been seen earlier in the day). Also a Rock Pipit seen here and 2 further Rock Pipit flying around the SLP yard and then onto the rocks by the sea.

North- west Norfolk trip for the Eastern Yellow Wagtail Alaskan Wagtail

On Saturday 28th December, I drove over to John H's at Hemsby and together with Tony S and Bob B, John drove us up to near Ringsfield so we could try for the Eastern Yellow Wagtail Alaskan Wagtail a new sub- species for the UK and a good bird to try and see. Arriving at john's at 7am, we went over to Acle and picked up Tony S and Bob B and within an hour a quarter we were approaching Docking then realising we needed to take the road between Ringsfield and Sedgeford, we turned and and off and along the country road we initially saw a load of cars parked on the left side of the road and a massive muck heap also on the left side of the road. The bird wasn't there sadly but was on view from a track to the right where we looked over a field and a kind birder enabled us all to look through his scope and see the excellent Eastern Yellow Alaskan Wagtail (EYWAW). It has been labelled Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Blue-headed Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Alaskan Yellow Wagtail, Tschutschensis Wagtail, a real mouthful! Anyway a great bird whatever it is called!It looked to me like what a blue- headed wagtail would look like in winter. Problem is the complete lack of literature on this type of bird. It was seen in the field and then flew south and was seen on the brow of the hill. It then flew further south and we walked 400 yards down the track to see 2 smaller Muck heaps on the right and the bird was initially seen between the 2 muck heaps in the company of a Pied Wagtail and then EYWAW flew away and perched in the top of some trees before returning and was on the ground in front of a large puddle then it returned to the left hand muck heap wandering around the left hand side before returning to the area between the muck heaps in grassy stems being then flying up to the left hand muck heap. An interesting bird it showed a grey head thick white square ended super cilia ending 2/3 of the way back along its head, darker black loves between the bill and eye, pale bill with a dark tip, grey brown mantle and white fringed dark flight feathers and dark slate grey legs log dark white edged tail which it constantly quivered as it walked about searching for food. It also had a distinctive, diagnostic sharp tshreep like a metallic "Richard's Pipit" type call. It had yellowy underparts with whitish throat. A super bird! Really difficult to photograph though as the light was abysmal and the distance involved from the bird, so I decided to gamble and lower the ISO to 1600 and hope the bird stayed still long enough to get a reasonable image I was quite pleased with the result! Next stop was just after the bridge, by Holkham fields a Buzzard seen perched. Heading to Wells and after 50 yards we parked on the left by the start of the footpath across the fields to Wells/ Holkham woods. Looking across 2 fields we had excellent views of a fine immature Rough- legged Buzzard perched on top of a bush by some huts. Also seen was a Buzzard perched on a post and a Grey Heron flew to a nearby dyke.

Christmas Day Great Northern

On Christmas Day, I visited Benacre, parking at Covehithe at just after 9am there was not a soul about and I made my way down the cliffs, viewing a group of 5 Brent Geese in the approach field, 2 were immature birds with barring on the wings. 4 Linnets flew over the cliffs (where about another 2 metres had fallen into the sea) At the Broad, the fine i<b>mmature Great Northern Diver was straight out about half way out showing well, diving occasionally it sometimes fed on food and it even swam up to some BH Gulls nearby. Also seen at the very back of the Broad straight across were 3 Goldeneye, 2 males and a female. A walk down to Covehithe Broad along the cliff top, revealed lots of walkers and dog walkers down at Covehithe and the beach (now 11.30am) more than I've ever seen on Xmas Day before. There were 4 Goldeneye on the Broad, a male and female at the far southern western end and distant plus 2 further females by the northern end, one would have been quite close but was flushed by a dog walker. Nothing at Asda Lake Lothing, save for 1 adult Cormorant on the near post and nothing at Ness Point, but at Link's road there were 3 adult winter Mediterranean Gulls one was ringed (sadly I couldn't read the ring. It either started with a B or an 8 silver ring.

Horsey Grey Seals

On 24th December, at 12 noon I parked opposite the Nelson Head track and took the long walk along the rrack to the back to the roped of seal viewing area. Around 30 baby seals seen and around 40 adult Seals seen on the beach. Around 15 were pale cream. 2 were very close to the viewing area but in shadow. There were even 2 on the main path through the viewing area one at the back and one heaving itself along so we stepped back several metres to view.

Stunning Black- throated Thrush at Whipsnade zoo

On Sunday 22nd December, John H and I travelled across to Whipsnade zoo, 3 hours after we set off we arrived at the zoo, under leaden skies and constant rain and John kindly did the driving. As we arrived, the rain stopped and the skies brightened and the sun came out! I had a feeling this was going to be a very special day! Once we had both paid our £26 zoo admission fee, at 10am after a short wait, we were allowed in and what appeared to be near Hullabalo Play area. We assembled on grass in front of a concrete walkway, we overlooked a grassy green area complete with a couple of berry trees and our immediate focus was a fenced off pond area, a large elder bush just left of the pond had the bird in question perched right in the middle. Apparently it was the superb male Black- throated Thrush. This would be my first since one twitched at Werrington, Peterborough in February 1996 (again another smart male) and a 1st winter female seen at Hangman's wood, Sheringham 31 Oct 1993, decades ago, last century! By this point a crowd of about 50 had gathered, mostly encircling the bush, far too close. We all backed off considerably and sensibly to give the bird space to come out and hopefully fly to the berry laden tree on the green area, in front of where we were gathered. The only problem was the bird was initially almost totally obscured, but slowly the salient features became apparent. The pale grey back, the tail and then the bill with its obvious yellow lower mandible, then when it moved slightly part of the black- throat. After some 20 minutes it shifted position a little and moved up, enabling the head, face, bill and part of the throat seen. It then flew to the top of the bush where this magnificent bird could be seen in all its glory. A quite simply stunning individual with pale grey back, in sunlight a superb glossy iridescent black face and throat, the greyer crown had black 'freckles' it it. It was white below and dark bill with extensive yellow at the base. It hopped to the top and then flew over to the berry laden tree, perched in full view tearing off and eating the berries. The only problem for me was the light so when the bird had flown back to its original bush, I repositioned myself in a more favourable spot with the sun directly behind and before too long the bird had flown back, although the head was totally obscured by berries, initially. I diverted my attentions to a a fine Redwing that was also in the tree and it it showed well briefly feeding on berries in the full sunlight. The Black- throated Thush then retreated to the middle of the tree and seen hopping down the sloping horizontal bow of the tree at one point. It then hopped out again feeding in full view and finally managed to get my shots out in the sun. It flew back to its original bush again and then flew back once more to the tree where I was finally able to get it with a berry in its bill. It then flew down to the ground, initially behind the tree in shadow before it briefly hopped around to the front. Then it flew over to the area where pigs had been kept and perched initially on a fence before flying down into an enclosure where it sat for some 20 minutes in the corner before commencing feeding. On examining the pictures, it confirmed what people had been stating some of its right tertials were missing, it was said this bird had survived a Sparrowhawk strike. Finally it flew back to its original bush and sat in full obscured view. Superb views of a wonderfully photogenic bird, definitely bird of the year and easily one of the best birds of the decade!

An incredible flock of Waxwings at Rectory road

On Saturday 21st December, a look around Lowestoft initially failed to reveal anything Lake Lothing at the Bridge was quiet and there was a fine pair of Pintail seen on Leathes Ham, but a look out at Rectory road for any Waxwings failed to reveal any. Just as I was about to leave 4 Waxwings flew east then 10 minutes later, a large flock of "trilling" Waxwings flew over my head, their buff plumage and shimmering wings distinctive as they flew directly overhead, a real evocative Christmas experience! Try as I might I failed to locate them settles anyway but a t road further west, I saw the flock again and counted exactly 31 Waxwings as they flew east towards Rectory road again. Heading back, I again failed to locate them. I then looked at Corton, on Corton Playing field I saw 5 Mediterranean Gulls (4 adults and 1 1st winter) plus 37 Common Gulls eventually counted (36 adults and 1st winter). Colton woods was very quiet with just 2-3 Redwings heard calling. At Links road car park, amongst a few Black- headed Gulls, 1 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull (unsigned) seen.

Great Northern & Waxwing

On Thursday 19th December, on a cloudy morning, I drove to Covehithe, only 1 car there, a Jay flew to the cottage and walked down to the Braod seeing Peter N, who passed on the welcome news that the GN was still there. Walking down around 20 Linnet flew inland and I also passed Cliff W and friend who were walking down to. I had time to enter the hide and immediately pick out the Great Northern Diver, an immature bird with scaling on its back, also near it behind it were 3 Goldeneye, a smart adult male, sub-adult male and a female. A female Marsh harrier quartered the reeds at the back. Later I walked up to the fence just before the Broad edge and got a few record pics of the Diver which had swum a little closer. I then tried to drive to Southward but the Wrentham to Southward road was flooded with a foot and a half of water at Potter's Bridge so I abandoned the drive to Southward for the Ibis and instead drove to Minsmere to purchase a copy of the new Suffolk Bird report for 2018, I had been successful in getting 3 pictures published Mandarin, Penduline Tit and Bittern. It is getting increasingly difficult to get pictures in with quite a few new people moved into the area and submitting (admittedly excellent pics). I drove back to Lowestoft and decided to call in at Rectory road, Carlton Collie where I didn't see the bird initial;ly as the bin men were collecting refuse but as I walked back to the junction with The Street, I spied the Waxwing in the big tree and it flew down to the small Berry tree by the junction and fed on berries here where I left it.

Back to Felixstowe Ferry

On Saturday 14th December with the 'promise' of sunny weather initially, I made my way down to Felixstowe Ferry to get hopefully fully lit pics of the confiding Black- necked Grebe. The sun was rising nicely at Lowestoft, but the only problem was clouding over rapidly as I approached Felixstowe, so no such luck! I parked up at the cliff top car park, paid my 2 hour car parking levy and walked down onto the beach where I could Lee W, Tim O and another chap. The fine Black- necked Grebe was still on the pool and showing well, a few rays of sun poked through the cloud but soon it was totally covered by ashy clouds. We were joined by John R and after Lee had walked around we shifted our position onto the beach side and the bird swam even closer to us showing down to a few metres, albeit with grey leaden skies behind us. It then eventually started raining so we beat a hasty retreat to our cars and John R kindly used his star alan key to do up the mount from my lens to the tripod clamp grip which was starting to get a little loose, really grateful for John for this. A trip to Minsmere revealed no 2018 Bird reports as yet (they are on sale at Ipswich Museum but didn't fancy the trip into town on a busy Saturday before Christmas) but the promise of copies coming in next week.

Eastern Stonechat and confiding Black- necked Grebe

Having suffered with bad toothache the previous weekend, I had written off going to see the Eastern or Siberian Stonechat as I had seen one previously in Suffolk in 1993. Having heard that that a potential DNA sample had been obtained, I looked in Steve Piotrowski's excellent "Birds of Suffolk expecting the Lowestoft bird to be have been accepted as a "Maura" but it stated "Stejneger's" or "Maura", so the opportunity to go and see an Eastern Stonechat was very tempting. Having been fully dosed up with anti-biotics, of course I was keen to see a bird I hadn't seen either at all in Suffolk or for 26 years! The trip was on with hastily arranged leave undetaken on Mon 9th December with the best day of the week booked and fingers crossed the bird would stay and it wouldn't be flooded out Monday night (high tides and flood alerts for the south Norfolk and East Suffolk coasts). As the morning dawned I had done my homework and checked the RSPB directions sadly they didn't give a grid ref which I was find helpful, (I am always wary of going to new locations as I usually get lost or can't find the place! See my Tenerife trip report where all the sites for rare bird bar 1 I couldn't find!!!) the directions stated follow the signs for HMP Prison from Woodbridge. I drove to Woodbridge and went around twice around the town and Melton village too, no signs whatsoever! I then had a brainwave and remembered seeing a sign to Hollesley opposite the Sutton Hoo entrance so I drove there followed the sign through Sutton Heath and then found HMP Colony signs that I followed. First problem, there were 2 prisons, Warren Hill YOI which I tried no RSPB reserve signs (despite being directed there by the "workmen") there and then I followed the road to the main prison, it was closed "workmen" were clearing the road of a fallen tree, there were very helpful and let me through as it was only a temporary closure (I think they must have been some of the open prisoners) and I then approached the main prison with some trepidation. But before I thought I would have to speak with one of the warders, there was an RSPB reserve car park sign to the left and I followed the slightly muddy and pitted track, just adjacent to a high fence, but with a door left open. So I parked up (made sure there was nothing tempting on show in the car) and then took the track first to a hide on the left where an impressive array of wildfowl seen, including around 60 really close Wigeon that soon walked off. I knew I had to head for the river bank so I took the main path and saw a birder scoping same said marsh. he said I needed to walk right along the reversal path some 500 yards where 3 birders were looking intently at the bird. As I reached within 100 yards they all broke up and one walked towards me it was Ali R and he said the bird had just disappeared. I joined the other 2 birders one of which was John R. I spent the next 20 minutes looking for the bird in vain until John R who had walked further right came back and said the bird was by the fared of the field perched on a bent yellow marker, sure enough I saw the excellent and stunning Siberian Stonechat, strikingly very pale below and as it came closer I noted a faint peachy breast colour and rump. Also at this closer viewpoint, we could see a subtle combination of brownish black above with white fringed black tortillas and a deeper peach on its rump.It would fly very minute or so onto a grass stem then perched in the hedge at the back and then back on the bent yellow marker and then it flew closer half way back and then closer still. As I got my camera out the bird promptly disappeared not to beset again by me on this visit. A Redshank flew over the field and over to the river behind us. 2 Curlew and then 1 Curlew flew south over the field. I noticed a problem with the scope the tripod bush strap had broken meaning the scope could not be secured to the tripod. having received excellent directions from John, I walked back the car was fine and hadn't been broken into. Driving to felixstowe Ferry, which was a little difficult to find as the main sign had been taken down and I tried "Golf road", "Links road" to no avail and I even found another Golf club but not the right one. Following the OS map, I soon got back on the right route and I parked at a very sunny the clifftop pay and display car park at Felixstowe Ferry (just before the Felixstowe ferry Golf club), a very fine and confiding male Pied Wagtail fed just by the side of the car and then posed on a fence rail so I took a few pics of this obliging individual and then walked down to the beach and a 100 yards left or north to 2 shore pools by the beach just abutting a concrete promenade walkway. The southern pool was only a quarter size of the one remaining Benacre Pit and I quickly spotted the excellent Black- necked Grebe. A textbook winter plumaged individual withe bright red eye and dainty upturned bill. It was diving frequently which meant I was able to get into position (when it was underwater) and I managed to get some nice shots albeit in the fading light as the bright sun was enveloped by a very unwelcome cloud. The bird dived and caught a small fish which it promptly devoured. By 3.30pm I decided to leave (sadly no time for the RLB at Bawdsey picnic site) and go to Viking Optical to get my telescope sent off and repaired, the service and expertise there was as always excellent and I was told the scope would have to be sent to the Leica factory in Portugal it would close down for Christmas but I would get it back repaired and fully serviced/ cleaned early in January, perfect! Now time to dig out the old drawtube Optolyth 30X75GA scope, but still optically excellent! (Pics of the Grebe to be posted when I free up space on my computer).

Eagle Owl spectacular part 2

On Wednesday 4th December, I couldn't resist another look at the magnificent Eagle Owl at Winterton. I particularly wanted to try for some pics of this bird, as I hadn't taken my camera last time regrettably, a real "bubo, bubo!" As I walked up Bulmers Lane from the Church at Black street, around 20 yards south of 10 Bulmers Lane, opposite The Cobbleways, we could see the magnificent Eagle Owl perched half way up, this time in a deciduous tree (devoid of its leaves) as the 2 birders walked off. I heard some very familiar "trilling" and a lovely Waxwing, with raised crest perched in a lone tall tree just beyond an open cul-de-sac entrance, seen from 3.15pm for all of 2 minutes, I shouted to the 2 birders to come back. They were 2 slow as the Waxwing then flew low north (behind the Bulmers Lane houses) and was lost as around 7 Starling decided to fly at the same time. The Waxwing was heading in a northerly direction towards the Church. Always nice to find a waxwing & my first self find of this species this winter. As I walked following Somerton road around, I could see Peter C and Diane parked up at the playing field car park and we walked around and then took the road going south from Somerton road up to the Council houses opposite a nice woodland copse area. I instantly spied the magnificent Eagle Owl perched up in the same tree, this time in a bough left of the main trunk around half way up. I put Peter C & Diane onto it. Joined a couple of birders at the top of the road, they suggested I could get closer views and pics by going through the gap in the hedge and walking east along the field edge I joined 2 birders who were within 50 yards of the bird. I managed to get some magnificent views of the bird and close pics of the bird despite the fading light and ISO 6400 ( I also had to lighten the pic by 3/4 exposure too). It was quite unperturbed by us. It was ever vigilant as the head turned revealing the magnificent orange eyes and even preening its left leg (revealing no rings). It even stretched its wing several times. As we watched the bird we heard a Tawny Owl hooting but try as I might I could not see it. It also stretched its left leg out clearly seeing the whole leg and I couldn't see a ring on it. After I took a few shots. I walked back to join Peter & Diane along the road and then the bird flew and sat out in the open on the low roof of a house, before incredibly we saw it fly towards us and directly over our heads and then south- west and out of sight.

Around the Trinity Broads & Eagle Owl spectacular

On Saturday 30th November, I visited the trinity Broads which is always a very pleasant trip out. At Filby, I could see 15 Goldeneye with around 3 males seen. Also 20 Pochard seen too but scan as I might for around 30 minutes from the Boardwalk I could not see the BN Grebe. Around 20 Pochard seen from Ormesby Little Broad too. Walking back 2 charming Marsh Tits seen low down with a Coal Tit and female Siskin seen too. I drove over to Billockby barn and saw Justin L. and his family, no sign of the Cranes but Justin said they had flown to the far side of the field I drove back around 100 yards then took the road north and after 100 yards parked in a space just off the road to the left and spied a nice total of 20 Cranes feeding in the fields. A look at Ormesby broad was instantly successful with the Long- tailed Duck seen often diving. A quick pop home and then it was back out again to travel to Winterton, as I was travelling along Bulmers Lane, I could see some birders looking across, so I parked at the Church and walked back and saw Steve S, Tim H and other birders and they had their scopes trained on the magnificent Eagle Owl perched 2/3 of the way up a Pine tree, viewed from 10 Bulmers Lane and next door to birder's Patrick G's house. The bird was initially partially obscured so only half the face and body could be seen but it leapt onto another branch right out in the open, we marvelled at its piercing orange eye, magnificent talons as it preened and wing stretching. Justin spotted a Sparrowhawk male which swooped down Bulmer Lane, weaved around the bushes bordering garden on the east side of the road before it perched on Winterton church tower. We walked around to and from here a much bigger crowd of birders marvelled at this magnificent bird.At around 4pm it suddenly leapt of its per and flew around on a magnificently broad wings and then flew right over out heads and then perching on Church Tower roof. from here it perched for a while before it leapt down onto the roof and out of sight presumably after Pigeons which had been present here minutes previously. On Sunday 1st December, a look at Filby Broad, this time with the Boardwalk to myself and I instantly spied the fine Black Necked Grebe really distant but swimming just to the left of the wooden platform.