Sparrowhawk and 3 more rosettes

On Tuesday 25th November, at 3.30pm I found a further 3 more Bee Orchid rosettes in the James Paget Burrage Centre garden as I was putting canes in to mark where they were, a female Sparrowhawk flew west directly overhead. Job for tonight will be to make up 3 cages to put in tomorrow! UPDATE job complete!

Hume's at Southwold Churchyard

Early morning on Saturday 22nd November I looked around Corton ORT hoping to find my own Hume's W., no luck or any birds really and when I was greeted by a dog walker with 2 massive Great Danes bounding down towards me off lead, although they were friendly enough (ie: they didn't bark/ bite me or leap onto me), such large dogs automatically instill a great fear in me, so definitely time to leave, especially as Jake G. had just tweeted stating the Hume's was still at Southwold Churchyard; although elusive and mobile. A visit to the genteel resort of Southold is always a pleasure (except when it is completely overcrowded) & after negotiating the usual flood pool at Potter's bridge, South Cove (any deeper and it will be impassable), I parked close to St Edmunds Churchyard. As I walked in, a calling Grey Wagtail flew directly overhead and south and over the church. I then observed a group of birders directly in front of me, just north- east of the church including Jake G, Dick W. & a few others. They were staring intently into a large bush, always a good sign! Incredibly, as I walked up, the Hume's Warbler was seen immediately it was showing reasonably well and was the first bird I laid eyes upon! The Hume's was in the large bush directly in front of us and good binocular views were obtained, it was around 20 foot off the ground and flitting in the bush vegetation, but it was mostly obscured, it was typically a subdued version of YBW, duller plumage with grey crown, it called a few times and I even managed a few record shots. It then flew to a bush closer to us, and the suddenly it was gone, seen for all of 5 minutes. Jake used his magic tape and a tit flock immediately came in together with a bright Yellow- browed Warbler, which was with around with 10 Long-tailed Tits and 3 Goldcrest. They then moved on and a looking at a Sycamore with an ivy covered trunk, (nearer the Church by the NE section), no sign of the Tawny Owl but a Tit flock flew in and what a probably a Whitethroat, sylvia warbler with brown back, grey head. But it was back on as it flew to the tree and just briefly perched but then it flew directly into the ivy. We looked around the Churchyard later on and heard the Hume's call once in bushes just north of Southwold Arts centre but we couldn't relocate it.

Late autumn goodies

On Sunday 17th November, after a tweet saying the Temminck's Stint was still at Minsmere, I drove straight over there in the early afternoon. Entering the hide Andrew E. was there and he had the Temminck's Stint & kindly directly mne onto the bird which was stright out (of the north part of the hide) at the very back of the East scrape. It was on an island right at the back and very distant but it was regualrly eeding, the fine diminutive Temminck's Stint (my first ever in November) walking by the edge of the island. It showed light fawn brown back, white underparts and straw yellow legs. A larger Dunlin and was bullying it and it actually flew closer to the grassy green island to the north of the east scrape right in front of post number 8 and a better view was obtained until 3 Dunlin here forced it to feed around the back of the island. Andrew E. later picked it up on its original island were it fed by the island edge and even once in the water. A male Goldeneye flew in and settled on the water directly in front of the East scrape hide even throwing its head back and giving its distinctive but brief calling display. John B. entered the hide & later on in the afternoon, I was pleased to be the first to pick up an in-flying fine male Goosander which flew in and again settled on the water directly in front of the East Scrape before it swam left and then stood on the edge of an island and started preeing before roostings. Its underparts were a magnificent sunset amber in colouration, quite striking. A little later Andrew called out 3 female Goosander flew in from the south and settled on the polder to the north of the east scrape. Several flocks of 10's of thousands of Starlings , a murmuration of Starlings, wheeled about impressively in the sky. Around 8 Avocet seen and when they flew looked really striking plus Pintail and Wigeon. There were lots of Gulls including c15 LBB Gulls and the odd 4 Great Black- backed Gulls but strangely no Caspians amongst them (especially given there were 33 seen the previous afternoon!).

Saturday birds

On Saturday 15th November, a persistant headache meant I was confined to the garden only in the morning, there were 2 Blue Tits, a Great Tit and a Goldcrest in the garden and a look around Corton area (where I saw Rob H0 revealed 2 calling Redpolls that flew over and west at the Corton Old Rail Track. Another Redpoll heard but this time it was not seen. An Egyptian Goose flew over the field south of Corton OSW and out to sea, a first for this site but there was little else.

Red Kite and Golden Plover

On Thursday 13th November, travelling back from training at Kirkeley Mill I was driving north along the A47 at Millenium Way just about to reach the Corton Long Lane roundabout, at 12.25pm a fine Red Kite flew over. (I later learned that James W. had just tweeted 2 had flown north- west from Gunton, surely this was one of his birds). It soared over Corton Long Lane roundabout then drifted west towards Blundeston. As I was leaving the Paget walking to the back car park, at 5.23pm I heard 7 mournful plaintive 'peuu' calls of a Golden Plover flying east directly overhead but I couldn't see it (it was pitch dark!).

Last gasp Isabelline

On Wednesday 12 November, continuing the incredibly tally of late autumn mega Shrikes in Suffolk, Turkestan Shrike at Dunwich Heath then Brown Shrike at Upper Hollesley Common and now Isabelline Shrike at North Warren. I had a chance to try for the Isabelline Shrike at North Warren, as I left work at 1.15pm with some hours owed to me for extra work. I drove down to North Warren, going via Westleton and Thorpeness to cut some of the continuous roadworks around this area. The Sizewell C plans are really ruining the countryside particularly around Leiston but concerned to see another vdevelopment on the road down to Thorpeness too. My plan worked as I parked up opposite Sluice Cottage at 2.30pm precisely but had to walk about a mile along the crosstrack west and then 500 metres south along the old railway line now a footpath bordered by very large Pine trees, I noted a few Toggers as well as Tim O. who indicated that the excellent 1st winter Isabelline Shrike was perched on top of a bush in front of us, but it flew before I could get the camera set up. Fortunately, it then showed exceptionally well on top of a bush the other side of the path, first breast on and then when it flew to an adjacent bush more side on views. It was only here for around 5 minutes but Tim, myself and a Togger took full advantage. It then flew to a bush by the path down to the Northern Viewing Platform, it could be seen well with bins but not really photographable here as it was obscured by parts of the bush. It then flew to the top of another bush and I watched it here for some 20 minutes, it seemed settled here until 3.15pm as the sun was setting, it flew down deep into bushes presumably going to roost. The last pic in the sequence below shows it in this area (and further away). Later I even heard the hoot of a Tawny Owl from the Pines plus a calling Coal Tit, too. As I walked back 3 Greylag Geese flew north over the path and in a particularly scrubby bit by the path the mournful 'peuu' call hearalded a close flying male Bullfinch flying away but just in front of me, its slate grey back and white rump clearly seen plus a glimpse of its vivid peach-red breast.

Elusive Dunwich crossbills

At 7.30am, I was at Dunwich, nice and early I parked up by Westleton Heath car park, a puddle was at car park entrance plus a couple of photographers were lying down concealed within the verge opposite. I decided to first walk to the Archers car park and I immediately had a male Crossbill chipping at it flew east alas it flew into the Archers archery range wood. So I couldn't access. As I walked back along the path 4 very low Crossbills flew right over my head again chipping showing dumpy bodies and neatly forked tails but alas they kept flying east. These are my first Crossbill sightings of this year. Having heard them on two occasions recently flying overhead but not locating them as they flew over. A Tit flock by the road included Blue and Great Tit, 4 LT Tits, plus a Treecreeper. I also heard a Wood Lark. A 3 hour vigil with the Toggers revealed a further Wood Lark singing overhead and a Dartford Warbler seen flying into a nearby bush, a necessary comfort break and visit back at the Archers car revealed a further 4 Crossbills flying overhead again, plus 1 Crossbill, a male flying west. I joined the Toggers 10 m inutes later to hear the male Crossbill had sat in the trees opposite for 5 minutes and it had only just flown. We did see 2 male Crossbills fly over the road and west. News of a Sibe Chiff- Chaff at the Buddlea bushes back at Dunelm & Asda I travelled back and despite walking round 3X all I saw were 2 Robins and a Blue Tit. I bumped into Derek M and his wife and it was now 1.15pm they said was an Issy Shrike down at North Warren, surely too late to travel down as it now takes 90 minutes to get down there and parking is always extremely difficult at North Warren as there would have been just 30 minutes of daylight left, and it was very distant I didn't go, which was a great shame, will try Wednesday if it is still about. Again no pics. I later heard the Sibe Chiff- Chaff was seen again at 2.45pm, so a very frustrating day all round.

November goodies

On Saturday 8th November, I was planning to look for the Crossbills at Dunwich but news of a Palls' found by Andrew E at the back of the Crop Shop had me driving down and parking just off Hamilton Road, access to the trees behind Crop Shop is now severly limited and a fence bars access, nothing here but we moved to a former walkway just north of here and Rob Wil spotted the excellent Pallas's Warbler which was flitting around the tree and its base before it flew underneath the ivy at its base and it disappeared meanwhile a fine Acredula Willow Warbler seen around this tree and then it flew to a bush right in front of us before it flew off. Then we had news of the Pallas' being seen by Norton Peskett Soloicitors so I drove the car to Police Station rd and walked around and joined a small throng of birders looking in a large Sycamore where the Pallas's Warbler was showing quite well with the riot of 7 stripes lemon yellow rump and often hovering. It showed well until I got my camera out and then it flew off! I then drove to kessingland and joined Paul and Jane F for a Marathon walk walking around Heathlands where we saw 2 Chiff- Chaffs, Goldcrests and LT Tits. Walking to kessingland village and then the steps, we walked back along the beack where little was seen save we reached to large amount of pools, when we met Gavin , who had seen the 5 Shore Larks, we walked further north and Jane spotted first one the 3 then 4 Shore Larks with another one just left of this group which were busy feeding. As we watched the group of 5 Jane and I exclaimed in unison there was a sixth bird as another bird walked in from the left to join the quintet, my first ever Shore Lark find! So 6 Shore Larks in total. As i was resting at home, I checked the messages to say there was a LEO on the N Denes by the first shelter belt south of Link's Road car park where I joined a small throng of people (Abndrew E. Rob Wil, Paul & Jane F and Howard V et al) and we viewed the fine Long- eared Owl perched deep in and partially obscured it was set between 2 parallel trunks of a Holly tree. It opened its orange eyes and looked around. As Howard took the path towards the sea, he shouted Dartford and below a perched male Stonechat was the fine Dartford Warbler it flew left. Sadly no pics again.

Redwings over!

On Wednesday 5 November at 9pm there were several Redwings flying over the garden calling.

Second helpings of the Brown Shrike at Upper Hollesley Common

On Saturday 1st November hearing the bridges were open again for the Hollesley/ Sutton/ Bawdsey peninsula, and it was Wednesday before last on the day it was first found (my only previous visit), I was keen to go again to see the Brown Shrike and try and get some better pics of the bird. I took a drive early afternoon to Upper Hollesley Common (when I knew the sun would be perfectly situated for pics along the fence line), parking off the road on the left at the start of the Heath. My heart sank a little when I saw a Camo-jacketed Togger and he went through a path through bushes which followed the fence line. I could see the 1st winter Brown Shrike straight away perched on the outer fence, but would it stay there. I joined the crowd of people standing commendably 60 metres from the fence line, some taking cover under some Silver Birch trees and as suspected the Camouflaged Togger was walking along the fence and not joining the group of people. At one stage the bird flew to the inner fence line and even flew towards the Togger before it realised he was there and then it flew deep into the compound. This was what I was afraid of, I walked further along spotting a male Stonechat perched on the fence further down. Joy of joys I could see the Brown Shrike perched on the fence lower down so I carefully made my way down and I must have been around 80- 100 metres from the bird, and I managed to get a few distant shots albeit in very good light. The excellent light and cropping and sharpening tool were necessary to imrove these rather distantly taken pics. At one time the Shrike flew down caught a wasp and started devouring it. It then flew to the inner fence line and almost everybody went to the fence to get shots. I then drove to Minsmere but was too late for the RNG reported at Island Mere (it later turned out to be an erroneius report) as the sun was setting, I then went to Westleton Heath car park, there were plenty of puddles especially around the entrance to the car park but no Crossbills came down or flew in during the 20 minutes I was there. A much earlier start, at first light and a longer wait would no doubt reap dividends. But I did see some Starling murmurations with big flocks of Starlings flying east in pre-roost groups of 1500, 1000, 150, 350, and 100 strong as I drove along the road from Dunwich (around the pig fields and water tower) area.

Firecrest & Coal Tits along the Hospital perimeter bushes

On Friday 31st October, after receiving a text the previous day from Rob H to say that he had seen a Firecrest along the perimeter fence, I couldn't go at the time as I was doing some Literature search training for a GP trainee. But on Friday, in the morning as I walked around the southern side of the James Paget Hospital, just east of the Portacabin, I heard a scratchy 'crest call which alerted me to a fine Firecrest flitting about in the tree beside me. It then flew to the southern perimeter fence. At lunchtime, I investigated further and although I heard it again I could't locate it. 2 Goldcrests were in the bushes and showed well and the mournful 'peuu' of a Coal Tit revealed 2 delightful Coal Tits at the top of a Pine along the southern side of the path just outside the southern perimeter fence.