Whitethroat & Swifts

On Saturday 27th June, the Whitethroat tenaciously clings on at Fallowfields around the 10 metre strip left untouched for noe by the developers it was and occasionally singing from our Copper Beech tree, later on a nice flock of 25 Swifts was seen flying low over the house and south.

More goodies in the garden

At 5.50am this morning Tuesday 23rd June, a Common Gull flew west over the garden (new lockdown list no.58) and the male Whitethroat was still singing just over the back. At 3.30pm, a Meadow Brown paid a brief in flight view of the garden flying north and south back over the garden fence over to Fallowfields building site.

Kessingland Eider & Terns

On Monday 22nd June, Jane F kindly told me exactly where the Male Eider was on Kessingland beach and at around 3.30pm, Jenny I drove down to Kessingland and walked out to the North beach area and just north of the shoreside pool, there were 2 roped off areas with plenty of Little Terns, c.150 present. The fine male Eider was along on the shoreline just 50 yards north of here and I managed to get quite a few pics of this obliging bird.

Early morning

On Monday 22nd June, at 6.20am a fine Treecreeper crept up the main trunk of our middle tree at the back of the garden. Only the second ever garden record and lockdown species no.57. Meanwhile the Whitethroat was still singing just over the fence on a small strip of grass and bushes mercifully spared for now by the builders. The fine male Whitethroat even flew to the top of our Copper Beech tree and started singing reprising its former favoured song perch.

Ringlet & Pale Spotted Orchid

On Sunday 21st June still recovering from tiredness, at least I was able to enjoy a very brief Ringlet butterfly in the back garden central flower bed at 2.40pm although it sadly flew over to Fallowfields. The 2 Spotted Orchids flowering at the wooded back of the garden included a fine pure pale Spotted Orchid, which has naturally sprung up in the garden, I will do all I can to encourage them to flourish. The other 5 Southern Marsh Orchids naturally flowering in the garden (the last of the Fallowfields thousands of Orchids, which were destroyed in the name of "progress") continue to thrive, although I am awaiting 3 plants to flower. Really weird that 4 of them have sprung up in large pots when Jenny took soil from the central flowerbed, a few years ago. Old faithful has sprung up again for its sixth year. Again 15 Frogs seen around the fishpond today.

A creche of Starlings!

On Wednesday 17th June at 7.50am, as I was leaving for work, I was delighted to see a creche of 12 juvenile Starlings feeding on the front lawn together with an adult Starling before they flew off in north-east direction. (No sign of a Rosy Pastor with them yet but I am keeping an eye out)! At 5.20pm, a male Chaffinch (sadly a rare visitor since the building work started) seen in the middle tree at the back of the garden.

Garden goodies

Not being very well following a tooth extraction a few weeks ago, I have confined my activities to work and the garden recently, except for an excursion out to the marvellous Blyth's Reed Warbler at Southwold. On Sunday 14th June afternoon/ evening, the Whitethroat was heard 4X afternoon/ evening despite the ongoing building work. A Chiff- Chaff was calling too. Disappointing to see big sewage pipes being put in with no protection for small animals falling in and getting trapped. On Tuesday 16th June, at 7am, I heard the sadly rare sound locally of the wonderful chirruping of a Sparrow heard and a female House Sparrow was seen perched on next door's (no.7) roof, it flew over the road. Only the 4th garden record ever and the second lockdown record of this species. Late afternoon and evening, an amazing tally of 7 Frogs was seen huddled in a group together on the southern edge of the fish pond, 2 were next to the pond and 6 were seen in the water. Tallying 15 adult Frogs in total, it was a new record tally of adult frogs for this species. In the evening at around 7pm, 3 Linnets flew east calling over the front garden, perhaps displaced birds from the Fallowfields building works?

Blyth's Reed Warbler at Southwold

On Sunday 7th June, I drove over to Southwold and taking the gravel tracked road just north of the Pier I joined a throng of people not all were really socially distanced. Dick, Ali R, Rob H and later Steve P were among the birders present. The excellent Blyth's Reed Warbler bird was soon singing near the tops of nearby reeds. It was showing really well and perching near the tops of reeds and even flew closer. Ali departed and I took his place at the extreme left and watched the bird, the only problem was it was often obscured, but singing constantly, it then flew even closer briefly before flying back. It then flew back towards a tree and ditch further back, after 15 minutes it hadn't reappeared and with get leaden clouds creeping ever closer it was at this point I left.

Iberian Chiff- Chaff at Minsmere

On Saturday 6th June, a very early start had me parking at the Eastridge to Minsmere approach road at 6am. Several Chiff- Chaffs were heard and a Cuckoo but no sign of the Iberian. Until 7.50am when it suddenly started singing its distinctive song, just past the cliff field on the right by the first bit of woods, I parked on the right and looking south (left) of the road. I could hear the bird but frustratingly couldn't see it. Another chap joined me and the bird came closer in nearer trees and I saw it fly down from one tree to the next, after it flew from where it sang and then flew to another area where it flew too and started singing again. The bird was then seen to fly into a clearer area and it was seen to fly again but then it flew back towards the further bushy area at the back. Driving back walking along a public footpath, a singing male Yellowhammer briefly showed an absolutely gorgeous golden yellow coloured bird briefly. Further along 2 Nightingales sang, typically from deep within scrub. Whilst in the field opposite 22 Red Deer seen on the edge of a field.

Great Reed Warbler at Carlton Marshes

On the evening of Tuesday 2nd June, a fine sunny evening I walked up to the extreme western end of Carlton Marshes. Along the far western bank was Dick and he said the Great Reed had been sining from a bush by the reeds. After just 20 minutes, we could hear the distinctive "arra arra chee chee" song Dick walked back and motioned to me said he had just seen the bird singing from the edge of the bush near the path. Looking within the bush I could see the large rufus brown shape of this fine Great Reed Warbler and again it flew back a little way and was moving deeper down in the bush. A little later on where were were joined by Rob Will and a bearded Andrew E, At the back of the bushes, I saw this fine Great Reed Warbler fly out to the right and pitched in some reeds just before bushes on the left hand side.

Grey Wagtail

On 30th May at 9.57am, a calling Grey Wagtail flew due south over the garden.