Very quiet at Corton

On Thursday 25th September before work, I saw a Song Thrush perched on a bush on the north side of the old Corton Sewage works compound. Walking back a Buzzard flew over the copse. Little else seen.

Back to the Winterton Lesser Grey

On Wednesday 24th September, leaving off work at 2.20pm, I went back to Winterton for a second visit to the Shrike this time with plenty of sunshine. As I parked up Mark and his wife drew up behind and we walked up to the Toad pools together, witnessing a family of Stonechats, an adult male and 1 youngster seen in bushes just north of the Totem Pole. A line of 4 people by the posts heralded the rough location of the fine Lesser Grey Shrike, this time perched on a bush. But by the time we reached them the Shrike was on the posts and then spent plenty of time hunting from a bush behind the posts where it caught several insects including a beetle. later on it even coughed up a pellet. It then flew south and behind, before it flew to a bush just north. I was able to sneak up to it using several bushes as cover and it spent some time perched in this bush before eventually flying west right by the western most track. Later it returned to the same bush for around 30 minutes where again I went back using the bushes as cover and I was able to get several pictures, most of which are pictured here. It spent some time hunting from this bush flying down to the ground often catching beetles and Odonata.

Andrew to the rescue (again) with a last gasp Lesser Grey Shrike

On Tuesday 23rd September after missing the Shrike early morning, I tried again after work but didn't park up at Winterton until 5.40pm, so just an hour and ten minutes before sunset. Time was ticking! Directions were vague for the Shrike stating it was just north of the Totem Pole but I couldn't even find the Totem Pole, the Shrike or any birders! Obviously I know the general vicinity of the Totem Pole but no boird or birders! I met a birder coming back from north of the Dunes who said he couldn't find it and he was trying the Southern valley, I then met 2 other birders and I checked Bird Guides which had a new message saying the Shrike was up by the Toad Pool bushes, so we had another mile to walk, we saw a line of 4 birders including Andrew E who had relocated the Shrike and I saw the fine Lesser Grey Shrike, perched on a fence post. I had 10 minutes of reasonable light left seeing the Shrike on fence posts, using them as vantage points to periodically hunt for the ground and was succesful at least several times catching prey and then it then flew slightly south hunting from bushes again catching prey. It was sunlite very briefly but as soon as we arrived the sun went in! A female Stonechat also seen and it appears there are some water in the pools too.

Finally a 2025 Ibis

Early evening on Sunday 21st September, I drove down Marsh Lane and walked up the Share Marsh Track and by the pool west of the track, Mark spotted the excellent Glossy Ibis feeding, it then flew back a little and and out of sight.

Kettle of Buzzards

On Saturday 20th September, a kettle of 6 Buzzards were soaring over the garden spiralling upwards and then drifting eastwards towards Parkhill. A separate Buzzard flew west. Later on at Link's Road car park, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls were present including old faithful Stumpy and another (2 legged bird).

Brief Osprey at Carlton

On Saturday 13th September as I walked down to Peto's Marsh, a Sedge Warbler flew across the track from right to left right at the beginning of the walk. At 10.15am, By Peto's, I saw some Corvid Carron Crows mobbibg a large brown and white bird of Prey with long wings it was the fantastic Osprey but it flew down below the tree line and despite much searching wasn't seen again until just after I left at 2.25pm. As I walked along the main bank, I saw a small blue damselfly and my suspicions were confirmed when I got home to confirm it was a male Common Blue Damselfly. Meanwhile at the far end of Peto's a fantastic Bittern flew up and flew along the western part of Peto's and then dropped down in the north-west corner. Walking around I saw a long Black-tailed Godwit. I the n walked to the sluice and immeidately saw 2 male Wall Brown butterflies on the path. 3 'Noon' flies were on the wall and at one point a Common Lizard resting there too before suddenly dropping down I walked 800 metres further north and saw another 2 male Wall Browns mainly posing on the path. But then later I saw an Emerald resting on a piece of vegeation, it was extremely obliging and I waited for the sun to come to get some pics. When I got home i finally identified it as a male Willow Emerald Damselfly. Walking back by the cross path track to Share marsh, I heard the sub song of a Cetti's Warbler and the the bird was briefly completely out on show but became more elusive inevitably when I got the camera out, it did show briefly a few times before moving down the dyke. I also saw a couple of Reed Bunting too.

An evening trip to Benacre

On Thursday 11th September, I drove straight to Covehithe after work and was there around 5.45pm, the evening sun was strong and I met Stuart R walking back as I walked along the cliff, he confirmed the waders (Stints & Curle sands) were still there (I needed both for the year). The shooting had started at the farm and I was glad I wasn't Stuart walking back at that point. I entered the hide, opening the hide viewing points, I could see there were a lot of birds on the Broad, a pre-roost of Gulls lots of waders including c30 Black- tailed Godwits, c30 Dunlin and amongst there number were a small feeding group of 7 Knot one in summer plumage still in the more distant pool, also 4 Sanderling seen distantlky. The evening side light made viewing a little difficult especially with some of the waders at extreme long range. So estimate are only on those I can definitely ID so likely to be more. I could see at least 4 excellent Curlew Sandpipers feeding, slim shape slightly longer legged and white below with distive longer down curved bill separated them from the smaller dumpier Dunlin, when the waders flew I could see at least 2 white- rumps amongst them. Also further back were 2 diminutive Little Stints distinctive in being so petite and small. Also seen was a wp Bar-tailed Godwit an assortment of ducks and then all the Barnacles flew in at least 450. It was apparaent that at 6.45pm, the light suddenly detiorated as if the sun was being operated with a dimmer switch, my cue to leave. I noticed in one field the farmer had harvested the onions left out in rows to dry out. More c12 flew in as I walked back along the cliff and finally by the field just east of Church farm, I saw 4 low flying Swift feeding on insects. An enjoyable walk.

Return to the Ruddy Duck

On Thursday 11th September, by 7.15am I was at Leathes Ham and Andrew E. had arrived too and we walked east of the Ham and looked out and I eventually picked up the female Ruddy Duck over the far side but at one point the Duck swam close and we walked to the old jetty area near the car park and the female Ruddy Duck was much closer. Initially partially obscured by a bit of weed, she suddenly swam left and I managed to get a few pics before she was out of sight behind the close island. I waited another 10 minutes and I saw again further back on the water, there were also 3 Little Grebes with 1 still in full summer plumage. Again the Kingfisher was seen and at one point perched on the bush.

Ruddy Duck at Leathes Ham

On Wednesday 10th September, a tweet from Andrew E. had me leaping into the car and at 7.40 I had arrived at Leathes Ham, I saw Robert Wil and Andrew E and the excellent female Ruddy Duck was on the middle of the water but seen mostly behind a bush on a small bit of island, about half way out. I managed to watch her for about ten minutes before I had to leave to go to work.

BW Kite stunner

On Sunday 7th September, I drove dowm to Hickling Broad, arriving at 5.15pm, I ran down to the mound overlooking Brendan's Marsh and a group of people were there including Justin L who very kindly let me look at the stunning Black- winged Kite perched in some bare bushes low down. It was an really striking bird with white head black around the eye. Initially it was perched very low just above reed hide but after some 20 minutes it flew to the top most branch protruding left of the bush and it displaced a Wood Pigeon off its perch, after a further 10 minutes it shoohk its wings and the flew right showing the glorious black shoulders of this species, it perched up further right and then it flew right again before flying back and perching near the same spot. After another 10 minutes it flew leisurely to the right, hovering occasionally and then finally seen flying out of sight.. In the closest dyke, a Mute Swan and a reasonably close Green Sandpiper was seen feeding. TBC

Netposts goodies

On Sunday 7th September, a look around the Netposts in the afternoon, a Wheatera was seen, a chap with binocular with a young boy looking north on the east path by the Netposts, I saw a Whinchat in the taller vegetation justeast of there. As I walked around, I saw 2 Whinchats on the fence posts, in the Netposts area, there were 2 Whinchats on one post were 2 perched Whinchats and a third bird on another post, 3 Whinchats in total. A chap with a camera and a small dog on lead who had been looking at the Whinchats was near the sea wall but he suddenly ran south 50 mmetres and I was curious to see what he was photographing, I eventually saw a female Sparrowhawk, on the ground at the western base of the seawall and I managed a few pics before she flew north to the Ting Denes campsite hedge.

No Flycatchers but Redstart instead

On Saturday 6th September, a look around Gunton Burial ground car park failed to located the Spot Fly however as I was walking parallel to Gunton ORT passing the north-east corner of the Burial ground a Robin was chasing ba smaller russet tailed bird cream white below and slightly smaller and slimmer, a super Redstart that flew into the vegetation not to be seen again. Also at Corton Churchyard an immature leucistic Carrion Crow with brown head and cream white leucistic wings fed among the graves but just eluded the camera.