Osprey at Blythburgh

On Thurs 14 September during the early evening after , I drove to Hen Reedbeds and saw a young curled up Grass Snake under the corregated iron and walking down to the hide and looking back looking west, the fine white-backed Osprey was on its usual post on the estuary at 6.45pm, always nice to see. I also saw a Great Egret fly past, a Kingfisher on post near the hide, 20 Barnacle Geese flew east, c30 Curlew, also a calling Yellow Wagtail flew east and around 50 Black- tailed Godwits, the Osprey was gone by 6.55pm. As I walked back a Great Egret flew west followed by 3 Little Egrets in formation!

Buff- breasted Sandpiper at Minsmere

On Wednesday 13th September, after my visit to North Norfolk, mid afternoon, I drove to Minsmere and walked out to the public platform overlooking the South Scrape, the excellent Buff- breasted Sandpiper was feeding just beyond the dyke, it was on the grass readily feeding almost Golden Plover- like. It continued feeding here although against the light with sun going down. It then flew to one of the bunds stretching back before once again flying top the grassy area. 3 Little Stint, 3 Spotted Redshank, 2 Spoonbill, 3 Little Stint, 2 Green Sandpipers and 2 Common Sandpipers flew north past the East Scrape hide.

Autumn Ladies Tresses finally in Norfolk

On Wednesday 13th September I took A/L and I had arranged with Gresham's to visit at 10am, on the dot of 10am I called into reception, showed my ID and after a 20 minute, Andrew from Estates walked me over to the area where I immediately saw a flowering Autumn Ladies Tresses in the middle of 4 canes marked out. The top 5 flowers & the 7th flower were still out in flower. sadly the lower flowers had turned brown.

Minsmere Dip but another new Minsmere bird seen nonetheless

On Tuesday 11th September, directly after work, I arrived at Minsmere at 6.10pm, walking to South Hide, I joined Matthew D and we saw a Grey Plover, but little else and no sign of the Buff- breast. Walking back, we saw a Cetti's Warbler briefly in a bush. From the West Hide, it was surprising to see it was almost completely dry. Looking over to the east, 2 fine Cattle Egrets flew up, my first for Minsmere and for 2023!

Hornet and House Sparrow

During Sunday evening 10 September, a Hornet was briefly seen in the back garden by the Pagoda then the Mountain Ash at 7.10pm before flying off. meanwhile a House Sparrow (locally rare) flew from the front garden to my neighbours garden opposite.

Ness Point, North Beach & Netposts goodies

On Saturday 9th September, I drove to ness point and walked up to the platform and immediately saw an immature Razorbill around 150 metres out on the sea, it appeared to be swimming south, later I saw a Guillemot about 100 metres out but that swam strongly north. I walked down to the Wind Turbine yard and saw a male Sparrowhawk perched on the seawall opposite the yard, I retrived my camera but after that the bird was gone so I walked over to the SLp yard and saw a Peregrine flying away south, unsurprisingly no sign of any Black Reds. Roger drewup and then we resaw the Razorbill this time a lot closer in but it soon disappeared too. Checking the Netposts from the ridge, I saw 2 Whinchat a rusty one and a pale bird. I did a good scan but couldn't see anything else. I then drove to Swimming pool road, parked up and saw the Razorbill again swimming north along the sea a groyne's length out. At 2.30pm news broke that Rob H had found an RB Shrike at the Netposts, so I drove down and the bird, a fine immature Red- backed Shrike, was seen perched in the thistle amongst the ragwort and then it flew over to the fence line near the seawall. TBC

Yellow Wagtail heard over the garden

On Thursday 7th September at 7pm, I heard a Yellow Wagtail call several times flying south over the back garden.

Interesting Moths

On 4 September, I saw a Dewick's Plusia at Rob H's, on the evening of the 5th September in our bathroom this Boxtree Moth was rescued from flying around the flame of the bathroom light bulb and a rather scary and massive House Spider the size of my hand, seen too.

Wryneck in flight

On Friday 1st September at around 6pm, now having to park what is euphemistically called Kessingland Beach car park (actually its 1/4 mile from the beach as there is no closer parking I walked the full mile south of Kessingland sluice and was dismayed to see a dog walker just further ahead. The dog was completely out of control racing here there and everywhere, diving into the River Hundred, and then when I arrived it flushed a family of Stonechats and the Wryneck off the path which dived into a bramble bush just 30 metres north west of the Pumping station. Unsurprisingly it didn't reappear which was extremely disappointing. A family of 5 Stonechats, 2 adults and 3 immatureswas nice as was a Whinchat that was seen briefly perched up too.

Dunlin flew over the A47

On Friday 1st september, I was very surprised to see a Dunlin fly very low south over the A47 jkust south of the Capt Manby's Gorleston roundabout whilst driving home.

Bernie Marsden RIP

Very saddened to hear of the untimely passing of former Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden, a very sad day.

Welsh trip

A trip to Wales recently, maily seeing family but some photogenic Grasshoppers seen at Llanstadwell church but bitterly disappointed not to see any of the much sought after Autumn Ladies Tresses at Kenfig in Wales, especially as I had missed them here last year due to the summer drought. Missed my chance for another year. Previously seen 18 yaers ago, far too long to wait and still counting.