Corton patchwork

On Saturday 21st September, looking around Corton Churchyard and Old Sewage Works, walking down there was a charm of 5 Goldfinch, which flew off. I saw a really showy female Stonechat regularly returning to a stick and foliage perches on the eastern perimeter. At times the bird was really close and one occasion it was too close to photograph being only 3 feet away! A Robin flew up to the Broadland Sands fence line. Walking away I saw a juvenile Goldfinch. I walked down to Corton Old Rail Track, just before the bridge a Redstart flew across and disappeared into a dense bush.

Return to the Black- necked Grebe

On Friday 20th September, I left work a little earlier at 4pm, on a much brighter day I drove over to Kessingland and I parked up and walked down, the fine immature Black necked Grebe was still there and once it had dived I got into position and managed to get some shots. It spent time at the back but then started to flap its wings preen and and pop up on its haunches. It then swam closer over to the middle of the pool, one of the volunteer Little Tern wardens came over and stood a little way back, I spoke to her for a while, until the Grebe swam closer, once the Grebe dived again I got back into position and I obtained a few shots in the golden hour before sunset. As we walked back we saw Cliff W. on the steps scoping the bird from which still on the shore pool from a distance, the bird was still there at 6.20pm.

BN Grebe at Kessingland Shore Pool

On Thursday 19th September, directly after work, I drove over to Kessingland from work and the new bridge cut my time crossing Lowestoft in half which was great. At about 6pm, I parked up and Andrew E. also drew up too and we walked over to the cliff top to descend the steep steps, stopping to view the much reduced shore pool where the fine immature winter Black- necked Grebe could be seen albeit distantly, but Andrew then mentioned "Peregrine!", and a fine Peregrine flew north low over the beack fortunately not going for the Grebe. We walked across the beach and we viewed the Grebe at closer quarters, it spent a lot of the time diving. I managed a few pics but the weather was quite overcast and cloudy.

RIP Tony Soper

Yesterday I was saddened to hear that Tony Soper had died at the age of 95. Personally, Tony did so much to engender a love of birds and wildlife for me which endures to this day and this is still a personal life long passion. Tony was a founder of the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, he was a cameraman initially but seemlessly took to presenting his smooth, calm, suarth yet authoritative presnting style was ideally suited to wildlife programmes of the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. He was initially on 'Animal Magic', but Johnny Morris's anthopomorphic take on animals was not Tony's style and he presented programmes such as 'Discovering Birds', 'Go Birding with Tony Soper' and the 'Birdwatches' which had such an impact. I vividly remember 'Birdwatch' at Minsmere and especially the Farne Islands when panning through a Sandwich Tern colony, the camer briefly stopped on an orange billed Term, a Lesser Crested Tern, yet Tony didn't mention it. He later explained he couldn't as the colony was on an inaccessible island where landing for twitchers would be impossible! The series 'Discovering Birds', was iconic and I particularly liked the programme on autumn migration, which featured the Scillies and the episode where he visited the Camargue in France! 'Go Birding', followed a similar pattern and Tony again visited Scilly. I never met Tony in person, which is a regret but his programmes instilled a great love of nature in me, he will be sadly missed, rest in peace, Tony.

Return to Benacre

On Wednesday 18th September, I returned to Benacre Broad, quite a bright day and good to see Dick as I walked down. Still in front of the hide was the Greenshank and also the Redshank and a Green Sandpiper. Again there were lots of birds on the Broad with 43 Pochards, 218 Coot and good numbers of Wigeon and Gadwall too.

Benacre

On Sunday 15th September, in the afternoon, I drove over to Covehithe and walked down to Benacre Broad, where I counted 44 Large White on the walk down. On the Broad itself, there were lots of duck including many Wigeon, Gadwall and around 5 Pochard but intially I couldn't see the RC Pochard. After an hour of searching, I finally saw the eclipse male Red- crested Pochard at mid distance roughly NNW of the hide, with an obvious bright bubble gum pink bill, gre- brown dark cap and nape contrasting with pale cream white cheekd and a browner body. Meanwhile in front of the hide, the Greenshank was constantly sometimes close to the hide, closely followed by a Redshank. Later on a fine Green Sandpiper flew and and fed by the side of the pool. later on a large flock of 244 Barnacle Geese flew in and settled by the beach, Broad edge.

Low flying quintet of House Martins

On the evening of Wednesday 11th September, as the light was fading, a quintet of House Martins were flying low over the garden and even under the eaves of the house. On Thursday 12th September in the morning as I was leaving for work, the same 5 House Martins were still flying low over the house eaves, alas I couldn't take any pictures as I had to leave for work.

At last a day full of migrants!

On Saturday 7th September, I parked near Gunton Church and walked around the Gunton Burial site again seeing very little. But saw James W. heard a strange "quip" call eminating from the bushes Icky or Radde's possibly??? But we couldn't locate the bird. I then turned my attention to Dip Farm. I walked along the northern perimeter fence line and bushes which is often productive, as I turned to take the eastern most path north around 100 metres north to my left I could see an immature Spotted Flycatcher on a bare tree, it flew back and then I skirted back to Dip Farm where I saw 2 Spotted Flycatchers perched up together, an adult and the immature. The adult soon flew a little way west but retracing my steps in a small open area by the bushes, the immature posed reasonably well for photos. When the sun came out I heard the unmistakable sound of a Great Green Bush Cricket but I couldn't see it. I walked down to the Pleasurewood Hills southern perimeter fence and saw first Neville L. and Tony B., I then joined Chris M and later Peter N. Amazingly we saw a pale faded Painted Lady fly west about 2 metres above the ground. I finally saw a Redstart flying into the bush on 3 occasions showing its reddish tail. Chris M had seen a Garden Warbler, and I briefly saw the bird on blackberries before lumbered back into the hedge. Peter N. has seen a Lesser Whitethroat and I had a good brief flight view of this bird, too. I then checked a meadow just west of Corton woods and saw around 35 Red Admirals, 5 Large Whites, 2 Commas and a Holly Blue. There was also a pristine Painted Lady constantly feeding on the yellow flowers. Walking back to the car parked along Gunton Church Lane, James W told me about a Redstart he had seen on the approach road back to the car park and following that road, I saw first a Wheatear fly out and then the Redstart, thanks James! I had to go back home to retrieve my 180mm macro lens and I managed to get a few pics of this butterfly although it was constantly feeding and not resting up at all. Once when it briefly disappeared, I latched onto what I thought was the same individual but looking at th pics its lower wing was slightly tatty at the edges. When I saw the pristine indiidual again, it proved there were 2 Painted Lady butterflies here. I then went home, had a drink and was abouit to relax when news broke James W. had seen a Wryneck, I immediately drove back and parked up along Gunton Warren just behind Rene by the roadside, who was intently watching a tree. Jon B and Phil D. joined us but the bird hadn't shown subsequently since James's initial sighting. I looked around Gunton Warren checking the original area where the Wryneck had been sighted a heather clearing, where a Redstart flew up and away! and the beach area and saw 3 Wheatears, 2 of which flew up to the cliff top. I then saw Paul & Jane F. who were going to see if they could relocate the Wryneck. I went home to get a squash drink and refreshments and no sooner had I arrived of course, when I recived a Whats app message stating they had just seen it. So back I go and parking again by the side of the road, I walk through to join them, with Andrew E. and Rob Wil. arriving on his bike, we were discussing when they had last seen it when Andrew announced there it sitting in the right hand V branch of that bare tree over there. I was soon on this excellent Wryneck and obtained a few pictures before it flew to the next branch and gradually hopped up the branch, within 10 minutes it flew left and behind over the tree presumably to disappear into the thick of it. Alison and Chris A. then arrived and they said they had seen a showy Redstart at Corton Churchyard so I drove there and immediately saw Rob H. who had the same idea. The Redstart was soon seen at the back before flying closer and onto gravestones where I obtained a few mid distance shots. We then walked around Corton OSW but as we walked backjust going along the northern edge we heard what initially we though was a Pied Wagtail call and a bird, which was clearly a large Pipit was flying south it called a shrill "tshree" a number of times 4X and we soon tentatively identified it as a Tawny Pipit but it flew directly south and out of sight! We put the news out on the local group Whats app just in case anyone could get on to it, further south. We then walked around Corton New Sewage works around the southern section by the bushes bordering the southside of the road, we saw an incredible 9 Whinchats.

Very few migrants

On Friday 6th September, directly after work it was sunny but everything clouded over as I walked up Radar Lodge approach rd seeing nothing, no quartet of r'strts for me. Next looking around Dip Farm and the Gunton Burial field again saw nothing save for 2 calling Chiff- Chaffs. There were 2 Wheatear on the fence along the southern end of Gunton warren clifftop.

Corton Churchyard

On Thursday 5th September, I went to corton Churchyard and at 5.20pm, a pair of calling Grey Wagtails flew north. Also around the Churchyard were 5 Red Admiral, Large White, Speckled Wood and a female Common Darter resting on a gravestone.

No luck with the Redstart X2

On Monday and Tuesday September, both nights I went after work for the Redstart in the Tamarisks by the NE corner both nights I missed it, second night dulled over and heavy rain I had to abandon the trip.

At last a Pied Fly!

On Monday 2nd September, With Andrew E Whats Ap'ing about 3 Pied Fly around Battery Green R'bout, we were up very early as we are having the exterior of the house painted. So I nipped down and parked along Police Station Rd, I could not see any Pied Flys initially but walking around I heard then saw a fine Pied Flycatcher in the Sycamore trees by the Old Crop Shop site only problem was, access was severely restricted as there was a large tall fence barring access, but the bird did eventually fly out and perched on bare twigs at 7.25pm flycatching then it flew deep into the tree again.

Another seawatch from Baker's Score

On Sunday 1st September at Baker's Score, Corton, I settled down and at 9.20am a fantastic Sooty Shearwater was flying south. Probable LT Skua TBC. I also checked Ness Point waling north from the Coastguards where I saw a Linnet flock c15 Linnets, couple of their numberb perched on the seawall as did a Wheatear, 3 seen in the former Semblamarine SLP yard. Later on I checked Corton OSW, 2 Wheatear were around the Broadland Sands Holiday Camp area, 1 on the cliff fence and 1 in the actual Holiday camp.

Usual seawatch success then turned on its head

On Saturday 31st August, I had a disastrous seawatch at Ness Point missing 2 X Cory's & LT Skuas, all I saw was a female type Black Redstart in the now de-fenced turbine yard by the concrete cross panels (at the time the Cory's went by). All I saw moving out to see was 1 Common Scoter south, with apologies to the Scoter a pitiful return especially with the riches being seen a few hundred metres south of me and few hundred metres to the north of me. I gave up and decided to go to Corton Baker's Score, this turned out to be an inspired choice!!! TBC

Single Autumn Ladies Tress(es) in Norfolk

On Friday 30th August, I arranged to drive up to a location in Norfolk, where for the final time this yearb the last flowering Orchid of the year is the Autumn Ladies Tresses. I met up with Paul & Jane F. at 10.40am, they had already seen it but I went to see a single Autumn Ladies Tresses, a cane was next to it on the upper ledge of the grassy site on the right hand edge. Sadly the plant was in a poor state with the main stem very thin and kinked and it was very floppy so I had to rest it against the cane, not good for photography but this was best for the plant.

Whinchat & Greenshank at the North Denes

On Thursday 29th August directly after work, I looked around the North Denes, where there is a lot of tall vegetation, by the usual spot where the Alexanders are (the south- east part) I soon spotted the trio of Whinchats that showed well when the sun was out and went to ground when the cloud blocked the sun. As I walked back to the car, I checked the sea for Terns but didn't see any. A succession of Mediterranean Gulls flew north, 11 in total, 9 adults, 1 2nd winter and 1 immature. I heard a "chew- chew- chew" and was looking for the Greenshank but initially I couldn't see it and then I suddenly saw it flying low north- east over the car park and out to sea.

Neighbourly Bush Cricket

On Wednesday 28th August on a particularly sunny early evening, I was talking to Leon our neighbour and he said he had a 'large Grasshopper' which he picked off his side of the fence and handed it to me and I said "Oh, its a Conehead" and I put in our garden for a few pics and here they are. It is of course, a Speckled Bush Cricket, and not a Conehead & I put it on some Clematis where it soon crawled out of sight. POSTSCRIPT: My thanks to Rob J. who kindly corrected my rather senior moment, of course its a Speckled Bush Cricket and not a Conehead! We have them regularly on a bush in our garden in the late summer