Fieldfare over

On Saturday 23rd January, whilst replenishing the bird feeders a Fieldfare flew west over the garden at 12.10pm.

Sad demise of a young Minke Whale

On Thursday 21st January, my lunchtime exercise walk was along the Lowestoft south beach and just south of Claremont Pier and just south of the Coastguard lookout was the unfortunate and sad sight of a young dead Minke Whale washed up on the beach, obviously got into difficulty the previous evening when the there had been high winds. Around 20 foot long obviously a young Minke Whale.

Male Sparrowhawk new for LKD3 list

On Friday 15th January, My partner Jenny saw a very close male Sparrowhawk at 7.30am on the roof of next doors garage for several minutes, typically it had flown just before I got there and didn't see it sadly (header picture is of a female Sparrowhawk perched on the back fence bfore they started building the Empire State Building 2 just over the fence!)

Iceland Gull in Hamilton Dock

On Sunday 10th January, in the afternoon at 3pm, I took my permitted local exercise cycle ride down to Ness Point, 2 Turnstones on the finger (but soon scared off by 2 youngsters walking down) and a Meadow Pipit wandering around the grass fringes of the concrete car park area by the old Coastguard look out area. At 3.45pm, looking in Hamilton Dock, I saw Andrew E (who left) before I arrived and Maurice B and Rob H, not a planned meet and we were 5 metres apart. Maurice & Rob said the Iceland Gull was over the far side beyond the beach (only viewed with bins) and along the eastern edge of the channel the bird standing in the water just to the left of a post, it was the excellent 1st winter Iceland Gull, pale biscuit colouration which made it stand out from the other Gulls even at the distance we viewed from. When it flapped it wings, I could see the pure white primaries, it flew up a few feet several times only to fly down again and stand on the rocky edge or the stand in the water again. Finally at 4.02pm it flew off south with other Gulls and we soon lost sight of this fine bird. As I cycled back, but sadly no sign of any Rock Pipits.

Garden birding

On Saturday 9th January, Wood Pigeon, Blue Tit, Robin and a heard Grey Wagtail were recorded in or from the garden. My mobile phone died on Thursday (wouldn't power up, Vodafone promised me an upgrade, ie. a new phone to be delivered on Friday) then very frustratingly received an e-mail to say it was out of stock- Brexit shortages already?, this is appalling "service!" Rang up to complain and they said that one (miraculously back in stock (??!) would be sent out on Monday, I believe that when I see it! So no access to What's App for the weekend, not that we can go very far at the moment anyway and of course there are far bigger things to worry about of course, currently. Found out far too late about the Gull, on Twitter sadly about the Iceland Gull in Hamilton Dock, but will try late afternoon tomorrow.

Woodcock, a great start to the LD3 list

On Wednesday afternoon on 6th January, my first bird either in/ from the garden since lockdown LD3 was an excellent Woodcock that flew out from Parkhill Hotel grounds and flew north, a great bird to start on! Unfortunately, the building site beyond the garden a large house is being constructed & definitely not a bungalow I was expecting.

Purple Sands at Ness Point, little else

On Sunday 3rd January, a rather overcast day with frequent rain showers, I limited my birding activity to popping down to Ness Point (only just escaping a shower) and saw 4 fine Purple Sandpipers feeding on the narrow ledge at the edge of the Point walkway just north of the finger. I checked Hamilton Dock, early afternoon, nothing there. A calling Meadow Pipit fed in between the Turbine yard and sea wall, I had the usual success with a quick seawatch nothing seen, the "Sotterley of the sea?"

EYW saves the day after another Sotterley hoodoo

On Saturday 2nd January, after visiting Wrentham old cemetary seeing a few Redwing and the hedgerows behind Wrentham still held a Redwing and Fieldfare I decided to call in at Sotterley, Carl, Paul & Jane F and Neville L had all just seen at least 1 of 3 of the Hawfinches 2 minutes ago with one showing brilliantly. I also missed Crossbills & a Bullfinch too. I of course didn't see any despite spending 2 hours there, a vocal Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, a Goldcrest in the Dell and Coal Tit by the feeders and 2 Buzzard over the northern wood were the best I could manage, yet another dip at my hoodoo place. From 2pm, I walked out to carlton Marshes sans camera and saw Robert H & Paul & Sara. We walked out and at 3.05pm, with only 2 Pied Wagtails present Rob picked up the excellent Eastern Yellow Wagtail at the back. It was rather inconspicuous routing around the grass fringes at the back and I was grayeful the super sharp Rob was there to pick it out. Also, now virtually ever present was a fishing Great White Egret. We walked around to the hides passing Phil D, who hadn't seen the wagtail but rather fortuitously, I saw it fly in much closer to the 38 strong flock of Pied Wagtails and it showed really well here. We checked the Ducks at the back and apart from Wigeon, 2 Tufted Duck, Shovelor & Teal we could't pick out anything more unusual. A male Marsh harrier also quartered the scrape and up to 2 Barn Owls were hunting at the back.

Winter fayre during New Year birding

On Friday January 1st, sticking solely to the local patch, I started at Covehithe, following Kevin B from Mutford (not a pre-arranged meet!), I reached Covehithe Broad and where the reeds met the beach was a very immature Bearded Tit, mostly remaining out of sight before it was disturbed by other walkers and it flew over to the reeds. The northern section of the Broad was totally frozen and walking over to the southern section was a group of ducks 20 Gadwall, 15 Shovelor and in front of them was the excellent Long- tailed Duck which swam gradually to the side and back. Out to sea, was a Grey Seal and and 11 Wigeon. Next stop was the road to wenhaston and the 25 Bean Geese were in the usual spot on the field at the back, whilst in nearby bushes was a Long- tailed Tit and a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker flew in and pecked at a bare piece of wood along the central stem of a tree close by. Kevin had mentioned several winter Thrishes in Wrentham old cemetary, but drving along the back roads of Wrentham I spied several 5 Fieldfares and 3 Redwing feeding on berries by the roadside hedgerows. I parked on the verge opposite, the sun emerged and I managed to photograph the Fieldfares opposite (really pleased with the pics I obtained!) that stayed put (whilst staying within the car) but sadly the Redwings flew off. At the Old Cemetary, several groups of Redwings were flying around perching on the high trees at the back and small groups of Fieldfares flying around but never settling. I then visited Lake Lothing and saw a Shag on the water just right of the concrete jetty and Kingfisher wizzed by, but no sign of the RBM. A quick visit to Ness Point revealed 5 Turnstones feeding on the weed encrusted rocks by the compass (but no Purp Sands). By a few Gulls just right of the finger was a Guillemot slowly swimming north. Back home a tweet by Cheryl D saying the RBM was back I went down and parked by the harbour car park but alas no sign of the RBM for 2 hours but up to 2 Shag seen in front of the concrete pier and by the Cruising Club, 2 Kingfishers one chasing the other and another 3rd Kingfisher seen over to the left of them too. An Oystercatcher flew off and 3 Redshanks seen. Finally at 2.20pm, a small boat chugged west through the cruising club and probably flushed the female Red- breasted Merganser finally flew out and settled on the water between the rail bridge and the pier.