North Denes quest

A thorough look around Lowestoft's North Denes yesterday Saturday 12 March, following another unsuccessful quest at Sotterley revealed the Iceland Gull on the third groyne south of the car park. A trio of bird photographers were on the beach and I scoured the Denes thoroughly for any sign of a Wheatear but failed miserably to see one. On the rocks of the old sea wall, a group of 4 Purple Sandpipers flew in before all flying to the area just east of the compass at the point. I then turned my attention to 2 Rock Pipit which flew in quite close on the rocks just to the right of me, before flying off again. By the compass at the Point, I counted 5 Purple Sandpipers and 16 Turnstone, whilst 2 elegant Kittiwake flew south close inshore. 

Walking back along the Denes, having checked both the Netposts and the Oval, I saw the 1st winter Iceland Gull flying its slow languid flight flying south in very good light, along the seawall, sadly I was 50 yards away on the Denes to take full photographic advantage. Back at the groynes near the car park, the Iceland Gull was seen initially on the third groyne, busy preening itself before flying south along the sea and then back again, where it settled on the 2nd groyne south of the car park at a slightly closer range. Finally a second spring Mediterranean Gull with 2 black wing markings near each the primary tip and a black hood (but with white around the base of it's bill) was seen wheeling around some fishermen on the beach just north of the end of Link's road.

Also a male House Sparrow on the far left fatball feeders at the end of the garden today, plus a Stock Dove that flew west over the garden towards Parkhill hotel grounds.

Links Road CP Gulls & Firecrest in the Wood

A somewhat belated foray in the field today (another A/L day to use up and waiting for my camera battery to charge up, a silly mistake should have checked this the night before!) and eventually at 10.30am, I was watching the Gull flock with Mike P at the Link's road car park. Mike P, together with Danny P are in my opinion, the best digi-scopers in Suffolk and get some excellent shots between them. It is harder to get good shots through the scope rather than using a camera and lens. 

The 1st winter Iceland Gull was initially sitting amongst the flock but soon got up and flew over to the puddle where I obtained further shots.

I then left Mike to it and decided to explore Warren House Wood, some crests calling around the western edge; where it adjoins some back gardens warranted further investigation. This was immediately rewarded with views of a Firecrest perched on a branch just off the main trunk of an ivy clad tree. The Firecrest then flew to bushes behind and further fleeting views of the Firecrest were seen here too. Gunton Warren revealed just 1 Linnet, whilst back at the car apek I could see a Med Gull, with some white around the base of it's bill, otherwise in full summer plumage. Further investigation revealed it to be another old Lowestoft regular "Stumpy" an adult Mediterranean Gull, who as its name implies has half its right leg missing, just below the "knee joint" of the tibia, ie. most of the tarsus was missing. The bird was obviously an adult with almost full black hood, with a little white around the base of the bill, red eye liner and white half crescent bordering above and below the eye.

It then sat down and I managed a few shots. Also present were 1st, 2nd winter and adult Common Gulls plus around 90 Black- headed Gulls. The Iceland Gull then flew in briefly before the whole flock was spooked by something and flew around the car park with most birds electing to settle again, except the Iceland Gull that flew west and back over the car aprk towards the sea.