Finally, the Ring Ouzel

On Sunday 26th April, having to wait 25 minutes for breakfast, I was slower getting to Kessingland Beach car park than anticipated, I rang Jane F. for precise directions of the RO and she said her and Paul were watching it now. I said I would be 20 minutes and they kindly agreed to stay. the 2 previous nights I had failed to see the bird despite extensive searching. Twenty minutes later, I walked to the top of the Dunes and could see Paul & jane F & another chap watching the bird in the south- west corner, I couldn't see it. Inevitably it had gone by the time I joined them just minutes later. As we walked round Jane spotted it on the path ahead of us, I raised my bins to be greeted with the gloriuous sight of a resplendent male Ring Ouzel, an elongated black bird with silvery wings, a gorget of white on its breast and lemon- yellow bill. Before I could take this all in the bird flew left and out of sight. TBC

Early Purple Orchids

On Saturday 25th April in the morning, I drove over to Wex, on the way I stopped off at a roadside location and spotted the fine Early Purple Orchids there were 9 spikes in a clump and a separte plant with a single spike so 10 in all. I couldn't park where I usually park as the farmer was ploughing the field so had to park elsewhere and walk the 0.4 of a mile to the spot, as I did so, I noticed a dead Mustelid, almost certainly a Ferret on the other side of the road, opposite a sign. I also heard at least 3 Whiethroats singing and saw one fly down.When I walked back there was a kettle of 4 Buzzard and a Red Kite circling overhead. An evening trip to Kessingland sluice revealed little save for 2 Wheatears, a Sand Martin, a Swallow and around 50 Linnets, no RO in sight.

First Lesser Whitethroat back

On Friday 24th April again parking up at 8.25am, at the gravel overflow staff car park at the back of James Paget Hospital I heard the scolding call of a Lesser Whitethroat in the only scrubby area remaining. My first of 2026 of this species.

Back to the Iberian Chiff- Chaff

On Sunday April, I headed back to the Iberian Chiff- Chaff and as I walked up I saw the excellent Nightingale moving in the roadside bushes. I walked up to the spit and the Iberian Chiff- Chaff was again singing again by the 3 trees by the track and again difficult to see, it even moved into the wood further south, where a Great- spotted Woodpecker seen and heard bu the Iberian Chiff- Chaff flew to the 3 trees where I saw it singing near the top of the 3 trees but once again the best and photographable views were from the northernmost tree where it sang near the very top right of the tree and good views were obtained. again, Wood Lark, Nightingale and another call heard here before I took the track east and over the field I saw 3 Wheatears2 males and a female and a pair of Stonechat. PHOTOS TBA

Iberian Chiff- Chaff at Westleton Heath

After work on Friday 17th April, I drove down to Westleton Heath parked in the car park. Some birders had parked just after me but there would have given Usain Bolt a good race as I thought I followed them out and they had completely disappeared disorienated I had great trouble finding the right location for the IBC, I tried the first metal swing gate (a swing gate was described in the rather vague directions) but it didn't look right. Fortunately Jane F. was able to literally direct me onto the right track, I walked up east along the road, hearing Nightingale from the roadside bushes and then found the wooden gate and the kissing gate beside it, so I walked directly south nearing the end of the southerly path at a crossroads heading either east or west, I took the path as directed west by some trees along the edge of a track and I immediately heard the song of the Iberian Chiff- Chaff. There were 3 trees in a line and the aforementioned birders were standing just south of the southernmost one looking in the tree but I couldn't see it at all. I walked over the short bracken area to join them but theree were off in Usain Bolt mode so there were no help whatsoever. Two other birders and a lady birder arrived and I saw a Warbler fly to the northern most tree. It was singing it was the fantastic Iberian Chiff- Chaff. With a supercilia yellower before the eye and thinner cream white after. It had a slight breast band and longer primaries. A Chiff- Chaff was also singing from this tree but I managed to get pictures of the super Iberian Chiff- Chaff too. I also heard Wood Lark and another call. PHOTOS TBA

First Whitethroat back

On Friday 17th April, whilst parking my car at the back of the Hospital, the first Whitethroat was heard singing at the back of the gravel overflow car park.

Two Shelduck over the garden

On Wednesday 15th April at 4pm, 2 Shelduck flew south- west directly over our back garden.

Local patchwork

On Saturday 11th April after it had stopped raining early afternoon, I looked around Corton Old Sewage works, a male Blackcap was feeding near the entrance, as I walked up to the compound a fine Swallow flew low over and west (my first of the year). By the cliffs I saw up to 8 Sand Martins flying around. Back along the west path, 3 Greenfinches (1 male, 2 females) and 3 Chaffinches (1 male, 2 females). Around 3 Goldfinces seen too and the Cetti's Warbler also gave a quick exposive burst from the ditch. By the trees opposite a female Blackcap seen feeding. At Corton ORT, a Great- spotted Woodpecker flew across the track and up into the tree. 2 Chiff- Chaffs also heard singing and a scolding Wren flew up from the undergrowth near the copse.

Eider and Early Purples

Leaving work at 2.15pm, on Wednesday 9th April, the closure of the A47 southbound at Hopton, I had to divert via Lound and this took me 3X as long to get back home. My plans to visit Minsmere were abandoned & instead I drove straight out to the South Pier where by Children's corner, people were on the beach and the female Eider seen earlier was on the sea 50 metres out with a couple of Gulls. Actively feeding just beyond the rocky breakwater. A trip further out to deepest Suffolk revealed 6 Early Purple Orchids, 5 just starting to flower but there were many more plants unseen that will flower over the coming weeks. A trip back to Children';s corner and the female Eider was still in the same area 50 metres out on the sea.

Early spring Migrants along the coast at Lowestoft

On Sunday 5th April, I started at Corton Old Sewage works, a female Blackcap popped up on a branch briefly and the male popped up slightly further along. I also heard the brief explosive song of a Cettis Warbler comong from the dyle just south of the compound. No sign of the Willow W but a Chiff- Chaff seen along the western edge. Nothing along the road by the Holiday parks. I heard Blackcaps singing at least 2 male along Corton ORT plus near the bridge a Firecrest was heard calling. A look oin the north end of Corton woods, I could heard a Great- spotted Woodpecker drumming nearby plus the laughing call of 2 Green Woodpeckers, dog walkers flushed one out of a tree and it flew left a little way. I parked up along Gunton Cliff and took the newly restored path down as I walked just north of the Oval, by the edge of the Oval, 3 Wrens heard including 1 briefly showy bird. I heard the Willow Warbler's song and one Willow Warbler was in a bush half way up the slope it gradually made its way to the right of the bush. A second Willow Warbler was heard singing further south. I saw Jon B. who said he'd seen a Wheatear at Ness Point park. I walked over and initially there was no sign until a rain shower had me sheltering under the wooden walkway up to the seawall, as it fnished I made my way out and the fantastic male Wheatear emerged just ahead of me and perched on a post on the right side of the walkway. I edged my way and took a few shots before it flew onto the fence off the fenced off area and I made my way along the fence and obrtained some shots before it flew on the grassy area to feed. Here I was able to get to within 4 metres of the bird without disturbing it and I managed a few pics before I was joined by Dale, just as the weather started to cloud over. I then walked to Ness Point, initially very little seen except for Josh walking down the road. But I did hear briefly the song of a Black Redstart and walking back just north of the point, I saw first 5 and then 6 Purple Sandpipers on rocks, on the inner ledge of the seawall 5 Turnstones were seen on the inner seaward side ledge too. Nice to see Julie & Rob Win seen here too. I walked back to Ness Point park and finally saw a Chiff-Chaff around the base of one chopped sycamore tree.

Kettle of Buzzards over the garden

On Saturday 4th April, in the morning we had 4 mewing Buzzard flying directly over the garden and spiralling upwads in a kettle.

First Chiff- Chaff in the garden for 2026

On Friday 3rd April, at 5pm in our garden by the Honeysuckle and Jasmine bushes by the wall just outside the kitchen window, a Chiff- Chaff was prospecting for food almost at ground level.

No April Fool kettle

On Wednesday April 1st after work I left late at 4pm driving along the A47 south approaching Hopton roundabout, over the wood just west of the road i saw a Red Kite and 3 Buzzards soaring around like a Kettle. Maybe the same birds James W had seen earlier at Gunton?

Red Kite in tree

On Monday 30th March at 8.15am driving to work along the A47, just past the Corton Long Lane large roundabout, a Red Kite sat in the usual Buzzard tree in the middle of the arable field just east of the road.