Eleonora's & Red- foot plus 'worthy" bonus of Marsh frog

On Sunday 29th May, I had arranged to go with John H & Tony S for GRW at Snettisham, but the twitchable Eleonora's had changed things and John & Tony picked me up at half past midnight and just after 4 we were at Worth Marsh, taking the country lane to a field where there were already 6 cars, we walked up the track for about 3/4 of a mile hearing the very audible Marsh Frogs along the way. From a gate overlooking hedgerow in bushes at the very back at 4.30am, 2 Welsh borders thought they had the bird and yes it was the incredible 1st summer male Eleonora's Falcon, which sat there larger and more elongated than Peregrine with dark black back and white the brownish belly, I watched it for a few minutes before it suddenly took to flight, it showed a distinctive and fantastic slow languid almost Nightjar-like flight as it flew towards us and then directly over our heads and just 10 foot above us and it flew behind the great wood and then I saw it flying very low above a field flying over to right where I lost it to view at 4.45am and not seen again by us. Despite 3 and half hours of waiting we didn't see it again. Too quick and poor light and too distant when perched for any pics, story of this year really! We saw a Cuckoo fly into the wood, plus 2 Red Kites and walking around to the river wall, we caught up with JP again and saw distantly but briefly the fine very white-headed female Red- footed Falcon. Always a pleasure to see, but again after a few minutes it disappeared from view! Whilst walking back, a Great White Egret seen in a field, Avocets on the marsh and a brief close Redshank through the hedge. I could hear more Marsh frogs, again very audible I was about to get picture when the tripod and telescope toppled into the dyke. I managed to retrieve before it got emersed and only the fabric was fortunately, but the formerly posing Marsh Frog in the middle of the dtke beautifully lit by the sun had now long gone, it showed an orange stripe down the middle of its green back! LIBRARY PIC

Quail and GBOs

A walk around the North denes early morning for Rob's quail was initially not very successful although singing Whitethroat and Blackcap seen, then walking towards the compound, in a thick swathe of Alexanders, the Quail called 3X its famous wet my lips call, I stood near a path through them in the hope it would through it didn't. But it must have run through to a patch behind me later on when Paul & Jane F arrived it was even louder coming from an area and of course we didn't see it. Later on in deepest Suffolk Paul & jane F showed me 3 fine Greater Butterfly Orchid plants 2 close together and one close by, with one non- flowering one. Close by we saw another 2 flowering plants plus another 2 non- flowering ones totally 8 in total.

Bee Orchid found at the Paget

On Friday 27th May, as I was walking over from the Library to the Hospital I found the stem of a Bee orchid. Obviously in danger of being cut down by the Grounds Maintenance Team, I put wooden kitchen utensils around it in the interim I rang and then e-mailed our fantastic Estates department and within the hour paul came over and put a circular over it attached to a concrete post.

Cuckoo heard from bedroom

On Thursday 26th May, from my bedroom at home, I heard a Cuckoo call its double "cuckoo- cuckoo" call 3X in fairly quick succession at 7.10am but not seen. It appeared to come from the direction of Parkhill Hotel grounds.

Hickling once more

On Wednesday 25th May, I went back to Hickling slightly earlier and as I walked up just after 6pm, the fine Caspian Tern with enormous orange red bill was seen sat on an island, bigger than BH Gulls nearby. It flapped its wings. Also there was a fine 1st year Little Gull, swimming in the water near BH Gulls. By some lumps of mud, the superb Male Chestnut coloured Ruff was in all his finery with an almost herringbone pattern on his back, an absultely superb bird, looking like a distinguished Tudor nobleman! A Greenshank was seen at the back. Again, several 4 Little Ringed Plovers and 6 Ringed Plovers seen.

Hickling again

On Tuesday 24th May, after work a lovely sunny evening, I drove to Hickling and walked along the northern perimeter of Brendon's Marsh, unfortunately I just missed a Caspian Tern that was seen 2 minutes before I got there, it flew off at 6.20pm just as I was starting my walk up. Not much seen from the viewing platform, so I walked to the end and looking south in a gap to a marsh behind the excellent White- tailed Plover was seen in the gap between an island and reeds, it fed and then walked behind the island, before it was again seen standing on one leg sleeping for a while. meanwhile a cacophony of bugling led to a Crane flying up from the reeds and then down again and the 3 fine Cranes flew in and settled in the reedbed. Several 4 Little Ringed Plovers and 6 Ringed Plovers seen. neil M said there was a Red Kite behind us and sure enough a Red Kite flew past. A fine Chestnut ruffed male Ruff seen.

Brief Roseate Tern saves the day after missing Orchids & Adders

On Friday 20 May, I had a look in deepest Suffolk for GBOs and BNOs but couldn't find any, a What's App message stated there was a Roseate Tern at Minsmere, so I drove the short distance and from the South Hide a small strip of mud bordering the south scrape and running parallel to the hide albeit at the back proved the fine Roseate Tern (my first at Minsmere for over 10 years as I have dipped many since) was still there. With vert white plumage, pinkish flush on the chest tiny legs and virtually all black bill wonderful to see. I watched it for a few minutes and I looked awy and it was gone!

Beautiful day few birds though

On Saturday 14 May 2022, a lovely day with nice golden light, at Rollesby Broad I failed to see the Goosander, although 7 male Pochard & 2 female Pochard was a nice tally of this locally rare duck these days. Several 3 pairs of Great crested Grebe were courting and 2 Common Tern flew over the Broads. A Common Sandpiper also flew out. No luck elsewhere.

Hickling 2

On Monday 9th May, after work, from the Platform, 2 fine Temminck's Stints seen, one a typically grey adult summer plumaged bird the other a browner bird but both showing the distinctive crouching posture whilst feeding and straw coloured legs. From the marsh in front of the raised platform, a female Ruff, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, and fine Chestnut-ruffed male Ruff reminds me of a Tudor nobleperson in all their customed finery!

Finally a Swift

On Thursday 12th May, 3pm, at work, I heard a screaming Swift, at long last flying north over the Mound car park by the Burrage Centre car park, at James Paget hospital.

Hickling 1

On Sunday 8th May, a fine Grass Snake sled away from the verge as I walked along the path, initially the BWS's were elusive but then 1 Black winged Stilt a female seen in a creek flew up briefly led to 4 Black- winged Stilts at the end, a pair (a male and female) on the mud not too far away and another 2(both females) feeding on the distant marsh behind. A Wood Sandpiper fed on the stick weedy area in front of the raised platform and first one joined by another 2, totalled 3 Greenshanks which flew up over the path and flew north before circling around again.

Sotterley & Hulver

On Saturday 7th May, Sotterley back at the Early Purple Orchids now most are past their best, Paul & Jane F dropped in and we counted 100 spikes of Early Purple Orchids, great to see. At Hulver we parked at the Village Hall walked down Hulver Lane, the residents didn't appear too happy we walking down the Lane as we saw a briefly close Mistle Thrush down the Lane, as curtians twitched and one chap told us where the public footpath, so we walked down to the end and turning right, the Mistle Thrush was in the field and showed well and I managed a few shots suddenly to the left we could hear the purring of a fine Turtle Dove. Walking down to where Paul & Jane were we could see one obscured bird a long a large branch extending out to the right and then 2 Turtle Doves flew further back. As they flew another third Turtle Dove, heard from across the field looking west in a smaller tree next to a large Oak. walking back to the road, we saw Nick C who kindly invited us into hios back garden where we could see the very distant Turtle Dove still perched in the tree!

Green- winged Orchids

On Sunday 1st, Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd May, in the early evening, I visited a local meadow, where I found only 4 very stunted Green- winged Orchids, lack of rain the culprit, pictured is the best one.

Carlton Marshes trio of Ring Ouzels & record 7 Shore Larks

On Saturday 30 April, Walking out to the Lookout Hide from Carlton Marshes again I couldn't see any Ring Ouzels in the bushes behind the Wildlife look Out hide, I could see Andrew E and some people by the Elms so I joined them and almost immediately a female Ring Ouzel flew up and perched on a distant bush, later 2 female Ring Ouzels flew and perched on the loser bush. Andrew saw a female Large Red Damselfly on some vegetaion and I took some shots. After everyone had left, some irresponsible dog walkers with a British Bulldog flushed all 3 Ring Ouzels up from the field, the 2 female Ring Ouzels perched on in the nearest bush one female showed well. Finally walking back a male Orange Tip showed well briefly by the path in front of Spratt's Water. Later at Kessingland by the shore pool just south I saw the fine group of 7 Shore Lark (a record flock for me as I have not seen more than 3 together before!) feeding and gradually flying south I also saw a brief female Wheatear, over the ridge on the beach but when I went to investigate and get some pics, she had disappeared!

Dipped More Ring Ouzels

27 & 29 April 2 evening visits to Carlton Marshes, both times heard a Willow warbler second time a reeling Grasshopper warbler heard behind reception.

White Stork at Corton Long Lane

On Saturday 24 April reports of a White Stork flying north from Suffolk had me initially statioed along Gunton Cliff, when it was then seen from Carlton Marshes I travelled to Somerleyton before it was seen at Corton, so I joined James B at Stirrups Lane where I just missed it, walking down to check a field south east from the Sewage works where the Stork may have landed It hadn't) revealed 2 singing Lesser Whitethroats. A tweet from Rob H that it was flying over his house towards ours had me driving back home no sign there but at 12.48pm whilst travelling north along seen from Millenium Way I could seen the excellent White Stork circling very low just above tree top height at Corton Long Lane and it appeared to go north. I drove to Corton long lane and rang James W saying it was heading towards in fact the bird flew north.

Dipped Ring Ouzels

23 April no parking for RO at Kessingland Sluice,

Sun 18 April

North denes Whinchat and 2 Wheatear, Westleton Common, 2 Nightingale, 1 on top of bushes briefly and eluded camera, saw barry b Little Owl on fallen log. Plus2 Speckled Woods saw Paul & Jane F after their fantastic Black kite find