Wally the Wandering Walrus now seen off France!

On Wednesday 26th May, a Walrus closely resembling and almost certainly Wally the wandering walrus, had been sighted resting on a slipway off Les Sables-d'Olonne, a seaside town in western France. Also closer to home, driving down the road again leaving for work 8.16am, lovely to see a male Linnet feeding on the gutter weeds!

Hobby over the garden

A fantastic very low flying Hobby flew up the Pastures (just 15 foot off the ground) I got a really good view of it as it whizzed by & then SW over the garden towards Parkhill Hotel, Lowestoft as I was leaving for work, this am, Wednesday 26th May at 8.17am.

Dinas RSPB = right time, right place

On Wednesday 19th May, at RSPB Dinas, on a lovely sunny day, although there was some cloud in the sky whilst driving up but by the time I reached the reserve proper at 10am, the sun was shining and the car park was almost full. Walking down the boardwalk, a group of photographers had gathered and I positioned myself at a spot would yield some good results and I wasn't disappointed! Several Pied Flycatchers were seen including 1 male visiting 2 nest boxes and up to 8 male Pied Flycatchers seen on the reserve and 3 females, totalling 11 Pied Flycatchers in all, a wonderful tally. A male Redstart seen further along and a total of 9 male Redstarts seen and 3 accompanying female Redstarts all mostly along the left hand side of the wooded hill. With several male Redstarts seen along the fence, some singing from trees in the woods, a pair of Redstarts by a scrubby bit along the hill, and a a female Redstart investigating a sunlit log at the end. 7 Nuthatches were also seen including one by a tree very close to the boardwalk, a Great- Spotted woodpecker was feeding on the grass and then flew up to a tree. Whilst the sun lit up the grass beyond revealing a hunting Song Thrush later joined by a second Song Thrush. A Spotted Flycatcher also seen by the boardwalk and another second Spotted Flycatcher seen around to the left edge of the hill. Up to golden 3 Bank Voles scurrelling about (1 by the boardwalk and 2 seen by the path on the left hand side of the woods. 3 Tree Pipits were heard and 1 Tree Pipit seen flew down to the ground at the end part of the wood too. 2 Wood Warbler trills heard only at the end of the wood just before the waterfall area. A ground beetle was seen on the path just before the boardwalk again and Marsh Tit was seen, the mournful "peuu" of Siskins heard and one Siskin seen atop a tree and almost back to the car park, 3 Garden Warblers were seen in a tree, one singing and one relatively showy bird too. Hearing at the feeding station, a Yellowhammer regularly visited. There was a big log and I viewed from the edge of the car park and regular visitors were Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, 5 Goldfinches, 2 House Sparrows, Dunnock, a Nuthatch, a Great- spotted Woodpecker, a Rat that ran through from the back and first a female Yellowhammer then a second Male Yellowhammer too. Finally on driving back, leaving at 5.30pm, I saw a fine Red Kite (a belated first seen in Wales for this trip) perched close in a field and driving back it had already flown up and circled around, a further 2 Red Kites seen on the wayback including one Red Kite over Llandovery, a female Bullfinch flew over the road just before the hilltop village of Rhamirdiryn too. A really great day, why do I find Wales is consistently better than my local patches back home???

Back to Cymisfael stream

On Tuesday 18th May, in the morning, back at Cymisfael stream I saw 2 Dippers on the stream a third of the way down from Llanddarg end but the white striped post, when the Dipper flew in with food to the near bank lots of squawking heard so confident there is a nest on the near bank. 2 Bullfinch seen flying over the road between the brdiges, a male Blackcap seen foraging by the weeds by the Dipper bridge and Whitethroat heard by the meadow opposite the second bridge. Drving back up the hill, a fantastic female Pied Flycatcher flew down from the wood and settled on the road for a second before flying back! A first record of the area for me. A look in the woods opposite Llethr Llestri Lodge (where Mum) used to live. Mum had said she had seen Early Purple Orchids in this wood years previously but I'd always been to late looking for them (usually going to Wales in July, May ws almost perfect timin to look for these) As I entered the wood from the first path leading through on the right, success as I refound Early Purple Orchids, 12 in total seen, 9 seen just by the edge of the path just as you go in and 3 they were slightly past the best and looking down a path bisecting down to the right a further 3, including a pale individual.

More Wally the Walrus at Tenby pics, by phenomenal popular demand!

Here are a few more pics of Wally the Walrus at Tenby, as requested by many of you! Thanks for all your kind comments and requests, happy to oblige! Including the gurning image at the end!

Wally the Walrus at Tenby

On Monday 17th May, after lunch, disappointed that I had missed the Walrus the previous day, after lunch I checked Bird Guides and it said the Walrus was back at Pembrokeshire, so guessing it was back at Tenby, I leapt in the car and drove back to Tenby parking again at the multi- storey car park again putting 4 hours in on the ticket machine. Wally the Walrus has become a bit of a media celebrity since he took up almost permanent residence at Tenby. First seen off County Kerry, Ireland in early March, he had continued his journey south ending up at Tenby, Pembrokeshore in South Wales on 19th March. He made his way south, being naturally curious, either to find food or mate (wrong direction, obviously for that!) There had even been a theory that he had drifted south on an iceberg! Probably immature wanderings as vagrancy in birds often have young birds wandering way of the normal range, this was the Wally the Walrus equivalent! Wally is often seen sleeping or basking on the RNLI slipway which had become a bit of a headache for the lifecrew who had to resort to spraying him with water and using klaxons to flush him off the slipway so they could launch the lifeboat! I hobbled back to the cliff top walk, as I walked down an encouraging crowd of around 50 people could be seen on the railings and raising my bins in the brilliant sunshine, a pale buff large lump at thge end of the RNLI slipway proved to be the absolutely fantastic immature male Walrus! About the size of a large cow, he had 3 inch tusks indicating his immaturity. He was slumped down asleep on the seaward end of the slipway near the water the head down on the slipway fast asleep. A few Black- headed Gulls were around and woke him up, he raised his head and showed the 9 inch or so tusks. He had a fat blubbery body reddish brown in colouration with and facially he had small eyes, a whiskery 'moustachle' white tusks about 9 inches long and substantital front flippers and slightly smaller back flippers. A fine creature! Several times he would ocasionally grin showing his gum line! He has been feeding on Razor Clams and Shellfish in the bay which were formerly plentiful but it is though that on Sunday he wasn't prsent because he was feeding further out to sea. I took over a thousand pics!!! He rose up and eased himself with his flippers before lying down again. He rolled on his back with his flippers in the air, he was actually sunbathing, enjoying the sun! He occasionally "stood up" then slumped again on his back again sunbathing. Occasionally he would put his flipper over his eyes/ head. Finally, an RNLI man came down and started spraying him with a hose of water that arked up and fell on the body of the sunbathing 'Wally' who got up again on his haunches but he wasn't moving. After about 20 minutes of his impromtu shower, the RNLI man swapped the hose for a metal post and started tapping it on the slipway, again no movement until he walked down to the Walrus and the finally Wally turned around and flopped into the water. Swimming gracefully away to the right, like a long misshapen log swimming in the water, he disappeared then raised his head twice showing his tasks before a turn a lst flip of the flipper and he was gone! Minutes later the Lifeboat emerged abruptly on the slipway and whooshed down the slip in a split second was in the sea and off away on their rescue! It was thrilling to witness all of this and an unprecedented observation of an Arctic mamal so far south, he should normally be in Svaalbad/ Greenland in Arctic waters and not in South Wales! Undoubtedly my most memorable wildlife sighting of the year, so far! Incidently the Beatles song "I am the Walrus" was inspired by a poem by Lewis Carroll from the famous book "Through the Looking Glass" and John Lennon was quite rightly concerned that the Walrus character was portrayed as the villain of the piece! Surely not! Wally (& other walruses too) was/ are very lovely and very gentle, too. He's made indelible impression on me, a new Walrus-phile!! Also seen were 3 Gannets fishing in the bay, aclose Fulmar that flew on stiff- wings north and an Oystercatcher also northbound. POSTSCRIPT: I was extremely lucky to see Wally, because after my visit (the last day (Monday 17th May) he was seen at Tenby, he had swum across the Bristol Channel and had been recently sighted on Wednesday 19th May off Padstow, in Padstow Bay, Cornwall!

Cymisfael stream

On Monday 17th May, Cymisfael stream revealed a fine singing Willow Warbler appropriately byt he Willows by the fertilizer heap just past the second bridge. Very nice to see my first male Orange Tip butterfly of the spring and back at the stream, a Dipper by the 2nd bridge and 2 Dipper were fishing much further along bythe white striped post (only 1/4 of the way along from LLandarrog end).

Where's Wally?

On Sunday 16th May, at about 4pm I arrived at Tenby, parked up in the multi-storey car park and with 4 hours of parking paid for hobbled off to the town centre and a kind soul took pity on a hopelessly lost English visitor and kindly pointed me in the direction of the Harbour. The southern end rose up to a fortified area and I walked up the hill past the bound stand lookout and took the anti- clockwise path cliff top walk overlooking the beach and the RNLI Lifeboat station. I saw the famous ramp and despite 3 hours of looking no sign of Wally the Walrus, bitterly disappointing but in between the rain showers I did spot, 2 Grey Seals on lying on its back gfeeding another with a great white flounder also feeding. Plus lone Gannets up to 3 seen fishing in the bay. But best of all 4 distant Manx Shearwaters flew together low over the sea late on going south, plus a Puffin flew north too. A Fulmar flew south too.

Garden goodies (heard only)

During the early evening of 12 May, a Cuckoo was heard calling briefly (heard 3X) from the south end of Parkhill Hotel grounds. A close Whimbrel flew north past our garden at 7.28pm calling 7 X 7 times (a 7X 7 note whitterer!) but I didn't see it, despite hobbling fast out to our front garden, because of all the building nearby (including 5 just beyond the back gardenb totally obscuring my view south.

Back to Peto's

During the evening of Tuesday 11 May, I hobbled down to Peto's Marsh, soon joined by Rob H, just before the old scrape we saw 2 Cuckoos fly over to the wooded area of Whitecast Marsh, whilst on Peto's itself a fine summer plumaged Grey Plover seen, where we were joined by Paul and Sara and we all saw at the north end of Peto's Marsh a fine adult Kittiwake rested until it flew off a little later. A few 5 Swift, 3 House Martin and 15 Sand Martins flew over too. Another Cuckoo seen rounding off a fine evening.

5 Swift over the garden

On Monday 10th May, out in the garden early evening, I heard some distant Swift calls, I looked up and saw 5 fairly high up Swifts milling around in thr sky above, unusual to see here in the sunshine, but very welcome nonetheless (first Swifts from the garden this year).

A 3X look around Ness Point , North Beach & North Denes today

This Sunday 9 May morning I looked around Ness Point no sign of the Whinchat but a calling Yellow Wagtail flew low over due south, no sign of any Wheatears at the Netposts, and again no sign of any Purple Sands at either Ness Point or along the North Beach. From the seawall I could seea birding copule scoping something in the SW corner of the Denes but I couldn't hobble over quickly to ask them what it was. I looked couldn't see anything (I only had my bins & a tweet at 11.45am probably proved it was a Whinchat which I didn't see) around 9 Whitethroats seen around the Denes and c30 Swallows flying south as did 2 House Martin flying south over the disputed fenced off area opposite the wreck of the Oval. I went back early afternoon and failed to relocate the Whinchat. Around 2pm in the garden, I spotted the larvae of a Brown- tail Moth on the supporting post for the Apple tree. However after a tweet from James W, I saw the fine 2 summer plumaged Purple Sandpipers with Turnstones mainly out of sight on the shelf immediately below the current sea wall but the 8 Turnstones (1 in fine summer pliumage) ventured onto the rocks and were briefly joined by the 2 fine summer plumaged Purple Sandpipers. One walked along the top of a rock towards me before flying further out where it ruffled its feathers and then joined Turnstone to fly south to Ness Point and beyond but not relocated there.

Carlton Buff- breasted Sandpiper & other goodies

Thursday 6th May was a fine sunny evening, I arrived at Carlton Marshes at 5.30pm and an hour later I managed to hobble up with difficulty to Peto's Marsh and joined Andrew E, Rob H, Gavin, Paul, Sara and Chris D overlooking the marsh, Gavin kindly pointed out the superb Buff- breasted Sandpiper, loosely associating with around 12 Ringed Plovers and initially with a summer pluamged Dunlin. The warm buff colouration was distinctive and it walked arounf the grassy area feeding a little like a Lapwing, it even displayed several times (to a Ringed Plover!) when it raised its wings and cupped them forward. It repeated this action singly about 3X every twenty minutes or so. Also nearby was a lovely partially summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper, showing the ruseet reb-brown scallops on its breast and chest. Also by the water's edge were 2 fine (yellow eye- ringed) Little Ringed Plovers. The Buff- breasted Sandpiper spent a lot of time hunting for food in the grassy area, but would often fly with the Ringed Plovers going from one side of the marsh to the other. The ever observant Andrew E, spotted a Spoonbill flying high north which I would have missed without Andrew E and Chris D's help. Rob had scoped a calling Cuckoo perched in a tree by the river and nice views seen of this grey bird. Rob, Paul & Sara went off for more Cuckoos & Gropper searching I couldn't keep up with my aching foot. Something I regretted as they found a brown hepatic Cuckoo, a form I have never seen. Walking back slowly, a Whimbrel and Greenshank were seen at the back. The "chiff-if-if" calls alerted me to not 1 but 5 Wood Sandpiers along a water margin at the side. Several Avocets seen too. Grasshopper Warbler (heard too) and several Sedge Warblers heard.

Goosander gone?

On Tuesday 4th May no sign of the Goosander at Oulton Broad on a very windy but bright early morning, again no sign on Wednesday 5th May, another bright morning still no Goosander but a Common Tern flew by and a calling Common Sandpiper flew onto the wooden jetty by the Sailing club only flying when the camera came out (typically!), but I did find out the Kingfisher spot although no sign when I looked. UPDATE: Probably still around hiding Richard S saw it the previous evening near Dead end or the extreme north part of Oulton Broad

Goosander, seawatch (seeing some birds for a change!) & trio of Wheatears

On Bank Holiday Mayday Monday 3rd, I ventured to Oulton Broad first thing keen to get shots of the male Goosander which was lying on the concrete jetty just south of the Oulton Broad sailing club, unfortunately just as I hobbled over, a chap was cutting the grass and it flopped down into the water. The bird was showing well swimming just off shore it swam to the sailing club, I tweeted the news out and within 20 minutes Rob H and David B & his wife appeared, it swam really close into the slipway just south of the sailing club giving great views but the light still wasn't great. Rob spotted a Common Sandpiper flying west over the far side and I spotted a Common Tern flying on Oulton Broad by the Yacht jetty wooden pontoon area in the southern corner. Unfortunately the hour was up and I had to move my car (bad mistake photography wise but I would have definitely got a ticket If I had left it, knowing my luck) and surprise, surprise the sun came out just as I had left and Rob had the bird back on the concrete jetty, but it was back on the water when I hobbled back and the wonderful sun lasted all of 3 minutes for me before it clouded over again. Although the bird was around 15 metres out on the water giving great views the cloudy weather meant no further pics, sadly. Walking back I heard a Common Sandpiper calling but failed to see it. I then joined James B at Baker's Score at Corton and saw around 35 Sandwich Tern flying south in total. Plus 2 very brief Common Scoter on the sea. A Whimbrel flying south was also another nice spot. Finally 2 Shelduck flew south. Best seawatch for years! A look around the North Denes, the caravan parks, Oval, fenced in compound and Netposts was typically almost birdless with 3 Stock Dove on the Oval, 4 Ringed Plovers flew north from the beack over the seawall, 3 Linnet at Netposts and a Muntjac Deer nonchalently walking east along the path (which runs parallel with Bird's Eye) being the only birds/ animal of note. A brief look at Gunton woodland burial before rain stopped play included 3 Wheatears amongst the graves in the middle.

Sotterley, Oulton Broad (dangerous dog) & Westleton Health

On Sunday 2nd May, a second look at the Early Purple Orchids at Sotterley, I managed to secure extra shots but had to drive back to Oulton Broad again as Kevin B. had seen the Goosander back at Oulton Broad. As I arrived I witnessed a horrific attack dog on dog (both dogs were on leads but both sets of owners seemed oblivious to it and the attacking dog drew blood from the other, the owner of the attacking dog said "he's only drawn a little blood, no apologies!!) I continued on shaken but my mood soon improved when I immediately spotted the fine male Goosander, (I'd missed twice the previous day) whose glossy velvety green hood positively glistened in the mid morning sun, only problem was it was far over the other side of Oulton Broad just west of the maltings end, it spent quite a bit of time by a wooden jetty. I watched this fine bird for 30 minutes but incrasing boat traffic meant it wouln't come any closer so I drove to Westleton and took the path to the quarry, by the usual spot I was delighted to hear 3 Nightingales, 2 were perched high up in hawthorn bushes although obscured. I was told about Little Owls further along although they didn't show for me. I did see 2 Red Deer sitting just to the left of some bushes on the ridge. I also hear the "churr" of Dartford Warblers a couple of times and even a singing male in song but they escaped observation too. A singing male Stonechat seen a couple of times by the gorse bushes. The heather had 3 Vivaparous Lizards moving about and then I heard the wonderful song of a Wood Lark and one perched on the fence line at the top of the "hill" for a few short minutes. Up to 3 Buzzard flew over too. Plus 2 Shelduck flying north slightly later. Walking back by the usual spot 2 Nightingales heard, one in a large bush near the path and one bird singing right from the top of a hawthorn but sadly the light was all wrong for photography as the weather was detioriorating rapidly, so my cue to leave.

Hoopoe at Carlton Marshes

On Saturday 1st May a drive back to Lowestoft after news that the Hoopoe had been refound at Carlton Marshes on the rough ground behind the Visitors centre and Spratt's water, I saw Paul & Jane F walking back with Andrew E who'd seen it. I walked over on a slight hill overlooking a new path that transected the eastern edge of the alder trees and the fine Hoopoe was seen by the bend of the new path on the new path and feeding on the verges, a train went past and it flew up to the alder trees before going back to the same area. We watched it again before another train this time flushed it over our heads where we where joined by Rob H and Dick F amongst others, it appeared to drop down in the horse paddocks the other side of the Lane leading to the reserve, time to walk the new path and it must be this time where I missed the Cranes that flew over as I was in woodland, bitterly disappointing to miss this, as I have frequently missed seeing this species in Lowestoft (bit like WTE's in the 21st century) the disappointment continued as we missed both the Wood Sands on Share marsh and the BH wagtail. Both ere seen slightly later, no sign when I looked. What was nice to see was a calling Yellow Wagtial flew north over the old scrape and 3 House Martins seen, rapidly forming grey cloud revealed an overflying Swift, my earliest ever and on the walk back a close reeling Grasshopper warbler was briefly seen in a small piece of scrub amongst the reeds, plus 1 Cuckoo of 3 calling Cuckoo's flew over the track and settled in a bush but disappeared before I could set the camera up, finally a brief close Chinese Water Deer. Walking back along the new track east of the alders I spotted a fine Glow Worm larvae crossing the track (sadly the macro lens was in the car), a small group of people (Rob H, Chris D, Paul & Sara) watching the Hoopoe at half the previous distance would have seen an improvement on the record shot taken earlier as it was feeding on the grassy verge by the kink in the new path but a sudden sharp shower/ hail put paid to that sadly. No sign of the Goosander on OB.

The Long Purples!

With excellent directions from Jane F., I parked south of Sotterley, a nice confiding Red- legged Partidge was seen in the field which I photographed and I then walked down a track to be greeting with the wonderous site of around 15 Early Purple Orchids, my first flower plants of this species for 8 long years (the long gone over ones from Winks Meadow from 2019 doesn't count!). Famously called the "long purples by Shakespeare in a "little known" play called Hamlet! Always nice to see Orchids in good sunlight after a drop of rain, but after a few minutes it was rapidly clouding over and the Hoopoe had been refound at carlton Marshes and a drive back to Carlton Marshes. I will be back!

Cattle Egrets at Oulton Marshes

On Saturday 24th April, I cycled down to Oulton Marshes (no problem with hobbling around and big camera giving me back ache), I heard a Grasshopper Warbler reeling from the marsh at the bottom of the entrance hill and later by the railway line I was fortunate enough to bump into Carlton regular Phil D who pointed me in the direction of the dyke where both birds had disappeared into. One soon popped its head out and then the second of 2 Cattle Egrets (my first for Fisher Row/ Oulton Marshes) walked out showing a lovely bright buff colouration on the crown and neck denoting breeding plumage, they busily carried on feeding in front of the fence line before flying over to join the cattle a little further away, as we crossed the railway line Phil spotted an excellent male Wheatear in the field just north of the track. I bade my farewell to Phil and cycled along the river wall, I watched the Cattle Egrets feeding amongst the cattle and in the dyke again I continued cycling along the path seeing 2 Great White Egrets fly up briefly from the far end of Peto's marsh. A few 3 Chiff- Chaffs, a Sedge Warbler and Blackcap were all heard only birds but a tame Robin by the gate opposite the church entrance tried to make up for it sadly no camera with me to take advanatage of it.