Curlew Sand, elusive Great White & Scaup still at Carlton Marshes

On Sunday 25th October, I walked up to the old scrape and saw a Great White Egret on Peto's Marsh, much further away thn yesterday but worth a few pics in the good afternoon light. Looking over the old scrape, unfortunately I was looking directly into the sun and could only make out the silhouette of a Knot and could not see the Curlew Sand. Rob H, kindly texted to say it was viewable from the other side (it was news to me that the Share Marsh track was open, I thought it was still closed!) Rob walked over and kindly pointed out the adult Curlew Sandpiper, the poor thing was hopping along but the distinctive down curved bill and elongated dhape could be seen and brick red rusty blotchy colouration could be seen at one stage. Walking over to Peto's Marsh, the Great White Egret was seen in a similar area to yesterday albeit more distantly but unfortunately a family walking further along the bank flushed it and it flew to the middle of the marsh. 2 Little Egrets flew in and were squaring up to each other flying up and attacking each other. A Buzzard was seen flying at the back and then seen flying over the Marsh. A female Marsh Harrier seen north- west of here and red wing tagged male seen on the marsh. We heard a Redpoll flying over and several Kingfisher calls from the river behind us and the squealing of a Water Rail. The Tufted Duck, Little Grebe and the female Scaup were again seen. Walking back, we saw Chris D and his wife and he pointed out a distant Short- eared Owl flying in the extreme south- east area of the reserve.

Scaup at Carlton Marshes

During the afternoon of Saturday 24th October, a long walk up to the Peto's Marsh meant I had left my camera at home with the windy conditions, big mistake! A close feeding yellow- billed Great White Egret feeding barely 50 metres away meant I would have frame filling photos. This is a large Egret species around Grey Heron sized, sporting a striking yellow bill (winter plumage) and typically long necked with the distinctive kink half way down, it fed in the nearest flooded pool and was totally fearless. Seeing Julie we then walked up past the first new n hide to half way over to the North hide and looking out I first saw a Tufted Duck and then up popped the female Scaup, with light "dirt" brown plumage and distinction white circular band at the base of the bill.

Hawfinch at Tar Works road allotments

On Friday at work, I received a tweet from Tommy C, a great field birder, who had found a Hawfinch in Great Yarmouth. On Saturday 24th March, early morning, following the excellent directions from both Tommy & John H. I parked neat the Lobec Fabrications Ltd building (sitated over the river) and located a lone Hawthorn intially I couldn't see the bird looking at the southern side of the bush by walking north a couple of metres, I then spotted the excellent Hawfinch, perched on the left hand side of the bush busily feeding. It looked like a young male to me, being a more 'faded'version of an adult male. A large finch with enormous bill, it spent the duration feeding on berries in the bush flying down at one stage before quickly flying up to its favoured spot. Sadly too far away to photograph and looking into the early morning sun meant photography wasn't an option. My third in the Great Yarmouth area, having seen one in Great Yarmouth Cemetary, one at Ormesby St Michael found by Peter C. Also seen a couple of times was a calling Grey Wagtail flying over the river several times. Around 3 Redwings seen flying south too. I then went to Corton and apart from the usual 4 Blackbirds and a Sparrowhawk flying over it was quiet in Corton Churchyard.

Great Viz-mig at the Paget

On Thursday 22nd November whilst eating my lunch outside the Burrage centre at 2pm an excellent Crossbill flew north- east calling "chip chip as it flew". On Friday 23rd October, a Grey Wagtail flew north- east over the Burrage centre at 12.45pm (loving these lunch breaks outside) Walking the south bushes I also saw a Grey Wagtail fly over going north- east at 2.45pm.

Ness Point Black Redstarts

On Sunday 18th October, late afternoon, a walk around Ness Point at very low tide revealed at 4.20pm, 3 Black Redstarts in the SLP yard opposite the Orbis Energy building. The resplendant male singing from the very top of the builsing joined by one female then another female when it flew down to the ground. I also heard a Rock Pipit too. By the fence a group of 8 Linnets fed with 7 Goldfinches and the Linnets were later seen feeding in the SLP dock complex. By Birds Eye a roost of around 20 House Sparrows and 2 calling Dunnocks calling to each other. 1 Dunnock also seen under the Tamarisk bushes along the northern edge of Birds Eye car park.

Back to local patching

On Sunday 18th October, it was a nice early jaunt around Corton, with a rasping Brambling perched high up in the south east corner of Corton churchyard bordering the road. 2 Redwings in the hedge and more heard around the churchyard, 4 Blackbirds in the hedge but no sign of the Ouzel. A Grey Wagtail called and flew over and headed south- east. A walk around Corton new sewage works was uneventful until a 1st winter female Ring Ouzel took exception to me walking past the western path just 30 metres south of the metal gate by Stirrups Lane. heavily obscured, I could she was brown and very scaly (hence 1st winter) and paler wings and cream white crescent on the breast then shew as gone! Immediately afterwards 20 calling Redpolls flew overhead and north.

Big day in Norfolk

On Saturday 17th October, I was keen to get some pictures of the Red- flanked Bluetail at Waxham, so I parked very early at first light by Shangri-La and walked the mile south following the footpath, one of the infamous the East Norfolk suppressors was hurriedly rushing back (I wondered if he as off to twitch a mega rarity but he didn't say anything to me) and past the RB Shrike area (I could have parked opp. Brograve Farm and walked down Penny Lane), around 24 Redpolls flew north west calling as they flew over, over the Dunes then inland to the area formerly known as the pipe dump, around 150 Pink- footed Geese seen in the field. The grass was flooded and we (5 other birders photographers present) looked back into the bushes and it wasn't long before the excellent Red- flanked Bluetail was seen flitting around in the trees and then it preceded to hunt for food from the fence giving good views albeit in poor light. It would occasionally disappear and iour attention shifted to the up to 5 Goldcrests flying down to the ground feeding on insects from the ground giving really confiding views. The Red- flanked Bluetail was then perched on the fence further north and as the photographers moved the bird moved further along. Having heard the amazing news that a Rufous Bush Chat had been seen at 7.28am at Stiffkey Campsite path by the salt marshes, I was in a dilemma of what to do. I decided to check out the Church and a chap was there, the magnificent well marked male Black Redstart was seen on the Church tower then the church roof and when he left, he flew down to the gravestones to feed. It was joined by a female Black Redstart by the tower. When 3 very loud talking toggers with 400mm lens turned up very noisily both birds flew up to the top of the tower, I decided to leave and as I approached the car 50 yards east of the church a female Black Redstart was seen on the fence opposite. I then drove up to North Norfolk and approaching Stiffkey I was unsure where to park or where to go but luckily Lee Evans was standing by the second road heading seawards at Stiffkey and I asked him where to park, he indicated 300 yards further along on the A149 on the left, another birder said some cars had left and I found a spot to park completely off the road but it was a tight fit, luckily birder directed me in and I walked back and down the road to the campsite, cars parked all along the side all sensibly and walked out onto a very and very muddy saltmarsh, luckily Carl B. had tweeted to take Wellingtons which I had on and I very nervously joined (with a mask on) a crowd of some 300 strong, 200 the seaward end and a 100 along another creek. I saw Gerald J. and Matthew D. and they directed to to be big clump or island of Sueda and bushes amongst the saltmarsh. After 20 minutes still no sign but excitement from left of where we were were I walked over and saw Jeremy G who had the bird in a dark hole on the ground along the right side of the island from where he was looking at, I got onto the bird straight away, a magnificent Rufous Bush Chat, one of my most wanted European birds having missed them in Lesvos (too early and Rhodes (too late) and also in other parts of Europe. It was initially stood on the ground facing left the dark eye- stripe and crown seen and longish bill, it appeared to be a pale creamish colour but when it moved round it showed its long rufous raggedy tail which was held low then characteristically cocked (RB Fly like) the whole bird could be seen facing right then it moved right and only the back and tail could be seen, before it moved around again and the head bill and mantle could be seen, after about 4 minutes it flew up showing a riot of rufous colouring specifically its long tail and it perched out on the open in vegtation if full view for an all too short 10 seconds before it flew over and left over the bushes and out of sight. An amazing sighting all seen through the scope, a little too far away for the camera. On the walk back I was joined by Richard from Bungay who had memorably found the calling Corncrake one summer and Jeremy G joined us. We met Matthew S and we walked the mile or so back past Stiffkey campside woods and to the far end just around the corner. In the wood hear, I immediately got onto the fine Pallas's Warbler that was immidiately above me, it helpfully called around 10X during the period of observation making easier to pick again away from the foraging 5 or so Golcrests also feeding in the wood. When I moved out to the field edge looking into the wood, it helpfully stopped and preened on a branch enabling some oictures to be taken. Walking back really good to see Justin L out and about, I told him so and then I bade my farewell to Matthew S and drove back to Waxham but the very sunny weather I had encountered back at Sheringham and all the way to North Walsham and Stalham led to incresing cloud and poorer light as I travelled through Sea Palling then Waxham so a return trip to the RFB was ruled out and I headed to Corton Churchyard where I saw Tim B. we had a female Sparrowhawk fly past and west. Around 3 Blackbirds were in the hedge and I thought heard some brief Ouzel like chacking, Tim left and by 5.15pm, a 4th Thrush was in the bush feeding albeit heavily obscured it a pale buffish crescent on its chest it was the fine female Ring Ouzel although always buried deep in the bush. Driving back along Station road by the playing field I heard a Grey Wagtail which appeared to be travelling south and last memorable encounter was an old American Police car (straight out of the "Dukes of Hazzard!") driving east half way down Corton Long Lane then turning down a rough track/ lane heading north!) FIRST PIC BY KIND COURTESY OF JOHN H (too far away when I saw it!)

Fall of birds around Corton

With rain and north- easterly winds and the rain easing off Wednesday afternoon just nicely for me to have a quick look around the area, I started at Link's Road car park, no sign of the Brent Goose so I decided to go to the only area where news hadn't been forthcoming, Corton. It turned out to be a good choice but as drew into Corton Church carpark I could see both Rob M & his wife and Richard S looking in the far hedge they had beaten me to it! They had seen a LW and Goldcrests but little else, I decided to check the old sewage works where sadly the field just north of there was rapidly being developed, a flock of Herring Gulls in the field and little else so I walked back and in the hedge bordering the dyke. I was pleased to see a Lesser Redpoll (cabaret) moving about in the bush albeit heavily obscured. Back in the Churchyard, I saw the Lesser Whitethroat fly diagonally across the churchyard and it showed reasonably well in the back hedge. I could only see the head and the mantle, it was quite a sandy brown individual with no clear distinction between the crown and the mantle, from the picture afterwards I could see white in the tail, so James B's suggestion that it was a blythii Siberian Lesser Whitethroat seems entirely feasible, although I couldn't see any pale lores, the bird didn't call while I watched it moving about in the hedge and I only saw the head and mantle. Several Goldcrests were seen around 8. A tweet from Richard S. he struck the jackpot with finding a super Pallas's warbler along the western path of the new SW. Northing along the old Corton rail track, so I walked along the path heading west by the road and then took the western path south and joined Richard S in the south- west corner of the complex and LT Tits moved through and loosely associating with them I refound the excellent Pallas's Warbler with thick yellow supercilia, wing bars and lemon yellow rump, as I alaways a real gem of a bird. It moved wuickly right, around half way up the tree then see in the next tree then it disappeared. James B and Chris A arrived. I decided to check radar lodge road and the wooded walk along the edge of the Potters' field. Lots of Goldcrests seen including a flock of 8 flying in and several chacking Thrushes and "tseeping" Redwings, a mystery white underparted Warbler seen distantly along the north-west edge of Radar Lodge but it disappeared quickly.

Redwings calling over the garden

On Monday- Tuesday 12 & 13 October Redwings were heard a group of 4 one night and then 8 flew over during the early morning of the 13th all over the garden.

Pink-footed Geese over the Paget

On Monday 12th October 54 Pink- footed Geese flew in a "V" formation calling as they flew WNW low over the Burrage Centre at James Paget Hospital where I was sitting outside by the new picnic tables having my lunch.

Really disappointing weekend

On Saturday 10th October, I was hoping to twitch the Lammergeier in Lincolnshire but not sure exactly where to go I opted to leave it to Sunday and travel with John H, it showed really well so that was a big mistake that I bitterly regret as the bird had gone Saturday. Instead, I travelled to Southwold campsite and saw the Radde's Warbler briefly in the low right- hand branch of a pine tree for all of 5 seconds at 10.40am that's all I saw and no pics, which was very disappointing. Twitchers standing in the area where it frequented didn't help. A Redpoll flew over calling too. Little seen on Sunday.

Second try to photograph the Steppe Grey Shrike

On Wednesday 7 October, at 4pm I parked again at Kessingland Caravan park and walked through although no sign of the GGS Shrike on the levels by the JVC digger, it wasn't showing as I walked past. Likewise for the SGS viewing from the cliff top, I was staring into the sun, so I took the track leading inland from Beach farm. 3 birders were intently staring at the bush line running south past 2 pillboxes either side. Trouble was that they were too far away to ask and when I saw a female Sparrowhawk fly down the line of bushes, I feared the worst and they immediately turned and started walking back down the road and inland, I couldn't ask them if they had seen the Shrike fly off, hide up or been caught by the Hawk? I went back to the cliff top and viewing from a safe area, I still couldn't see the Shrike, so again I went back inland. This time I heard a familiar voice greet me, and ace field birder, James B turned up and another birder was there too. Immediatelt, James B called a calling Lapland Bunting that flew north west over a field, a heavier bunting seen, a great spot! 10 Redpolls were also calling flew south too. Matthew D then arrived and informed us he had bumped into the birders as they were walking back along the track and the Shrike had flown up high and flown north. Armed with this info, we walked north along the back of Benacre Pit and at 5.28pm, Matthew D brilliantly relocated the superb Steppe Grey Shrike just on top of some bushes at the back of the Pit, bordering the field to the west (where the GGS had been seen on Monday). A more buff tinged grey bird with noticably horn coloured (ie. not black bill as in GGS). It stayed here for a while and the best views were had standing just inside the field (just west of the pillbox) to the south west of the bird, where I managed to obrtain the following shot (see below), tricky light conditions so I had to use an exposure of +1. After 20 minutes it hopped and sat on top of the bush for a further 5 minutes before it flew up and flew over the thicket/ large area of scrub to the south west of the pit presumably flying ack to its favoured area. On the Pit, 2 Little Grebe were seen constantly diving. A flock of 12 Linnet were seen also. Mission accomplished, reasonably pleased with the record shot obtained, albeit in difficult light.

Redwings over the garden

On Tuesday 6th october, at 7.20pm I heard at least 4+ Redwings flying south over the garden

a Two Shrike afrenoon

On Monday 5th October, I was able to take my deferred early leave off, so by 3pm I was driving home and collecting the optical gear. Closer to 4pm, I parked in the car park of the Kessingland caravan park, bumping into Dick on the way and armed fresh directions and seeing Kevin B at the Pit, walked further south and along the first part of the cliff bordering the field and the excellent Steppe Shrike was seen at 180 metres distance. It was perched a top a field hedge and moved a little nearer to within 150 metres where the pale plumage, horn coloured bill and more white on the wings marked it out from GGShrike. Nice to see Nathaniel C after so long. Once it flew over the hedge and disappeared before re-appearing perched in the hedge. People could get slightly closer by walking along the cliff edge and literally taking their life in their hands as their cracks along the path and when one chap walked past he made it but a section of the cliff fell around the 60 metres to the beach! I walked back to the field directly behind the Pit and seeing Rene B, he kindly pointed out the fine Great Grey Shrike, a much more striking bird with black bill and steel grey plumage and black on the wings. It was perched on top a rough hedge direcly left of a telegraph pole and it too flew behind the hedge. Walking back to show Rene the Steppe Shrike, he braved the cliff edge at his own risk and fortunately made it, the Steppe Shrike was still showing within a hedge but soon disappeared. My queue to leave and I checked Benacre sluice bushes where several Robins and a fine Redstart flew up from the grass. Checking the western end of the Kessingland sluice bushes a fine chacking male Ring Ouzel flew up from the gorse and in the fading light flew into a large bush presumably to roost. Walking northfirst a male Stonechat showed lightly albeit in fading light and his mate a female Stonechat also perched up and around 14 Linnets perched on a bush, concluded a fine afternoons birding but very poor on the photography front.

Radde's to the rescue!

On Sunday 4th October, Eastern Mange started to set in... a condition where you don't know where to go first to twitch eastern goodies. The Rustic was still around but thick dark cloud and heavy rain meant I would defer further homage until later. The Booted was still at Sizewell so I drove down there parked just by the village and walked up with Matthew S joining others where rather fortuitously, the "Booted" had just been refound in front of the sycamores in front of Sizewell A. It was raining steadily, so I took my glasses off (can't see so well without them!) and started taking pictures of the warbler which was busy feeding mainly making its way in the front fronds of the sycamores. Later when I looked at the pics (in the dry) it was obviously it was not a Booted but a Garden Warbler! Next stop was Souhwold Camp site and walking into the south- east corner, Matthew and I almost immediately heard then saw 2 & then 3 fabulous Firecrests which showed reasonably well, a Goldcrest was also seen, Matthew said he had the Radded's Warbler and I got a back view showing the rusty undertails coverts then the creamy supercilia. All in all a rather big heavish looking warbler. Later it flew and perched in dead Alexander right in front of us for a milli- second then flew right. Later on it was seen further right by a bank where good views were seen albeit always on the move and joining Chris L we saw again amongst the Alexander and then briefly perched up 5 feet up in a pine. Driving back to Lowestoft I was keen to do some local patch birding (sadly the Rustic had departed flying south at 8.30am earlier) and walking past Warren House Wood, a House Martin flew overhead and south, around 3 Chiff- Chaffs seen by the Shrike bushes further north and looking around the NE corner of the wwood, I again failed to see the tame Brambling. But fortunately I found another Brambling (which was quite wary feeding along the green area just south of the wood at the western end, I walked on my knees and it allowed an approach only to 15 metres, but it fed onstantly first in a dip and then it flew to the edge of the wood, before again flying down and feeding. It was only when I got back home that a further example of camera blindness occurred I hadn't noticed it didn't have a tail, it was (to quote Rob H) a rudderless Brambling!

A Big Day in Lowestoft

The last few autumns especailly the September/ October months over the past few years have been very disappointing. Not so this one, after an excellent September, October is shaping up to be even better and at last with promising wether conditions the fall finally delivered. I was about to have my breakfast at 7.45am a tweet from Rob H that he had found a Rustic Bunting had me scrambling to get my gear and 10 minutes later I was drawing into Links Road car park. Paul & Jane F (do they have teleport, they always seem to get there before me & they live in Oulton Broad!), Andrew E & Rob H were there. We were looking in the Marram grass in the north- east corner of the car park, Andrew got onto the bird and they I did, it was feeding just in the Marram grass and obscured, I saw it, the magnificent Rustic Bunting, which looked like a first year male to me) a few times before a jogger flushed it and it flew to the Marram grass just north of Links road, a false alarm with a Goldcrest moving through the Marram grass & here it was seen from the edge of Links road, by now a sizable crowd had appeared, the Bunting was by a sandy path sloping upwards a couple of times before it disappeared and they I saw it come out right at the front. Steve J shouted "Honey Buzzard going south!" over the sea and sure enough at 9.39am a superb Honey Buzzard was seen flying relatively low over the sea flying south. The structure was spot on with pointy cuckoo like head slender wings and longish narrow tail. Great to see! A dog flushed the bird back to the vegetation running along the north border of Links road car park, it was seen in a bush half way down then feeding by the vegetation before feeding on the road often along the double yellow lines! It then flew up to the concrete block and then gave stunning views around the vegetation of the north east corner of the car park at one stage feeding barely ten feet from me! After this I left it to have an early lunch after missing breakfast. As I was preparing it, the "tsuiip" call of a Yellow- browed Warbler, was clearly heard and the Warbler seen briefly in the garden hedge before flying south, wow! After lunch, I walked around Corton, it was apparaent there were lots of Thrushes in the hedge just west of the sewage works, a Redwing perched and looked at me. Another Redwing heard, 17 Song Thrushes, 14 Blackbirds and a flighty Ring Ouzel (female or immature) seen briefly in flight with silvery wings and chacking call heard around 4X but it was very elusive. On the fields were around 50 Herring Gulls mostly adults, there were no other larid species present. Walking back past the sewage works, a pair of Siskin (male & female) were feeding on a weed and were very confiding and I dashed back and retrieved my camera and managed a few shots. Little along Corton ORT and James B had tweeted the Rustic was back, so thinking the light was better I dashed back, the Rustic had gone to ground but amazingly James B had found a Wryneck and walking halfway along the North Denes the super Wryneck sat in a Rowan bush for 20 miniures before hopping up and out of sight. Another tweet James B had found a Radde's Warbler (some people have all the luck) along the northern end of Gunton ORT. I had a narrow miss at the Gunton Links Road car park when OFB inexplicably started reversing quickly (after a queue had formed to exit the car park) I was able to reverse quickly myself (and safely) to avoid the collision, otherwise he would have definitely reversed/ crashed into me! At Gunton ORT walking around from the pitch and putt viewing from the Greenish copse no sign but I did hear a Yellow- browed warbler here later on. James W joined us and we saw a super Hobby flying low over the Gunton ORT flying south barely just above the tree line. In the Orchid meadow just west of Corton wood, I was amazed to see a Migrant Hawker flying around in the middle of the meadow in the rain. I went back to Gunton/ Links road in the fading light, I failed to see Nick B's confiding Brambling around the NE corner of Warren House wood, but the Rustic Bunting was stll showing very well down to 15 feet (the light had gone for any further photography) in the Marram grass just north of Links road, it then fed by the wall then by the side of the road before finally flying up to the vegetation in the north- east corner of the car park.

Little at Corton

On Wednesday 30 September, a long walk around Corton ORT, Drudge wood and the fields nearby plus Corton OSW revealed a Buzzard flying into Drudge wood and I heard some Goldcrests in Corton churchyard and that was it.

Birds in the Nest

On Tuesday 29th September, at around 2pm, in a rain soaked Sparrows Nest with mizzly rain, birds were hard to come by, a Pied Flycatcher suddenly appeared in the sycamores above the bowling green and perched in full view for sometime albeit in appalling light, it flicked right and then by the top loop track a Chiff- Chaff was seen and what was almsot certainly the Yellow- browed Warbler flew in smaller and white below, it then started calling continuosly for about a minute but we couldn't see it was in the very top of a tree which couldn't quite be viewed either from the top loop track or the sloping path cutting through underneath. It or the same bird briefly called from behind the museum but we couldn't see that either. Walking up to the very top of the park, by the entrance just to the right, a fine Redstart flew up showing its reddish tail in all its finery before it was gone. No other birds seen in the rapidly dafling light.