50 Waxwings

Driving back from London on Tuesday 9th November morning, after seeing the excellent Irish dance extravaganza, "Lord of the Dance" at Wembley Arena with Michael Flatley in the title role giving an amazing and spectacular performance in his return to the role, just past Glemham hall on the A12 a Stoat (brown with a black tip to the tail clearly noted) darted across the road from right to left in front of the car and into cover.

Having to cover a colleague at Caister Library, today, Wednesday 10th November, I popped in for 10 minutes at lunchtime to view the Waxwings at Great Yarmouth perched on the large tree near the Mountain Ashes (opposite Pasta Foods factory) , 50 birds were seen with Richard W, and they fed briefly on the berries on the trees before cloud and rain intervened.

An eventful trip to Kessingland North Beach

A late morning foray to Link's Hill was too late to catch up with Snow Buntings seen earlier as the senses were assaulted by the very annoying sight and sound of a "whinning" radio controlled toy car was being "driven" around the grassy area by Warren House Wood. Noisy toy car = No birds.

But did see some tall Mushrooms (which I photo'd) on the North Denes, near Links rd car park, which I'll subsequently be able to ID next week when I get the field guide for my birthday!

Jenny & I then drove to Kessingland North Beach, Jenny elected to stay in the car being put off with the strong northerly breeze and brief rain shower.

I walked over to the Kessingland Shore Pools seeing Rob Wil, Andrew E and later on Chris D.

We first saw a single Snow Bunting around the Dunes and then Andrew E saw a flock of birds fly over a distant sand dune, they then flew south and flew past us, they turned out to be 22 Snow Buntings. 

Chris called us over and we saw the sad sight of a recently dead carcass of a Great Skua, its tail had separated from the body.

A more welcome sight were 4 calling Shore Larks that flew north along the beach and past us, they appeared to settle near the shore pools but later investigation failed to turn them up.

Meanwhile walking along the beach, the flock of Snow Buntings settled near me and were actively feeding, a birder walking his dog along the beach (was it Paul R?) kept his distance but considerately pushed the birds to within 20 feet of me and I took a few pics, albeit in poor light.

Finally, I thought I had seen 3 possible Mergansers flying north seen briefly through the bins I quickly swapped to my scope (set up on the steps going up the hill) but a dog crashed into the tripod and although the tripod and scope were OK it cost me a further view of the birds, that now remain unrecorded by me at least!

Covehithe Cliffs magic!

Saturday morning, I joined a small throng of birders including Chris M, Peter N and regular correspondent Paul W hoping for a sighting of the long staying (since Tuesday) Richard's Pipit in the field directly behind Covehithe Church. Initially our chances of seeing the bird didn't appear to be high, as no sign had been seen of it all morning, but at 10.35am it flew up from the middle of the field, typically a large long-tailed pipit which called an explosive rasping "shreep" and it flew south-east. I lost it behind the tale hedge bordering the eastern perimeter of Covehithe Church.

We met Jon E and others who decided to take the inland footpath, while we plumped for the seaward one. Phoning John H, who I could see across the field and by the metal gate on the inland path, we told him the updated news about the Pipit.

Taking the seaward path, winding south down to Covehithe Broad (or more accurately I should describe it as the remnants of it as much of the former path had fallen on the beach/ into the sea below due to erosion) we inadvertantly flushed it from the path, just 100 yards south of the end of Covehithe Church road.

It flew into a field and showed very well here for a couple of minutes (where I took a few pics) before unfortunately a Sky Lark flushed it and the Richard's Pipit flew back to the coastal path. It then proceeded to show well here often running up and down the path then changing tack and running across into the thicker grass either side of the path and even appearing by the edge of the field at one point.

A typical Richard's Pipit with large size and longer tail, clearly marking out as different from Meadow Pipit. It had a long more "dagger" thrush- like bill, pale lores, prominent a black sub- moustachial stripe, buff streaked upper breast but clean white underparts. I did not see the very long rear hind claw but another observer remarked on seeing it. This rarity from Siberia is a regular late autumn visitor to the east coast but we rarely see it in the Lowestoft area.

Suddenly, I saw 2 birds fly into the dead weeds at the very edge of the cliff, initially I thought they were Siskin, they were completely obscured to me by weeds in the foreground but when another observer said they were Redpoll, I moved round (they called a rasping sound) and could clearly see they were indeed Redpoll, and Mealy Redpoll to boot (a visitor from Scandinavia), one was a pale grey- white colour, an adult; and the other more obscured bird was grey-brown; a first winter.

They fed for a couple of minutes and I took a few pics at close range of the sdult and the immature before they flew due west.

Dark clouds and rain was our cue to leave, leaving Jon E still diligently trying to get the shots of the bird. especially as BINS and Rob Wil had texted me saying a Sibe Chiff- Chaff was showing well in Sparrow's Nest found by Andrew E.

Arriving at Sparrow's Nest, 2 birders (inc. Paul) at the top of Bowling Green said the birds hadn't been seen since 11.35. I decided to do my usual walk around, little was seen in Arnold's Walk save for a Starling try to throw me off the scent with a pitch perfect rendition of the Sibe Chiff- Chaff's "lost chick" call!

I located the tit flock at the top of the steps behind the restaurant and after seeing a reasonably confiding Jay and a Goldcrest by the aforementioned steps, I searched through the 50 or so Long- tailed Tits, including several Blue and Great Tits too. High up in a Beech tree, I spotted the excellent Siberian Chiff- Chaff (at about 12.35pm) it had very grey plumage, whitish supercilia, dark legs and bill and it followed the tit flock moving first west and then south among the trees bordering the Ravine.

I lost it to view but had brief views of a fine male Brambling facing me, but high up in the Beech tree.

A Waxwing week!

On Tuesday 2nd November and before work foray at Corton ORT revealed a couple of Goldcrests and just east of the copse of trees, I heard the distinctive trilling of a Waxwing which flew east overhead.

On driving to Martham Library, I had a lovely flock of Waxwings fly and circle overhead over the car as I waited at the Haven Bridge traffic lights, the most pleasant wait I have had for the lights (I almost said something else but didn't want to be misconstrued!!!)

Arriving at Martham Library, an excellent flock of around 160 Pink- footed Geese flew north west overhead.

At lunchtime, 44 Waxwing seen in the usual spot at Great Yarmouth all by the Rowan trees.

On Friday 5 November, I heard one call by the King's centre, Great Yarmouth as I was walking into a meeting.

At lunchtime Friday, there must have been around 100 birds, a flock of 60 by the houses and Rowan trees opposite Pasta foods making lightening raids onto the trees, plus around 40 just west of there flying in the sky, perching on roof aerials and generally flying around.

Sunny & Wet Weekend.

A weekend of contrasts, a glorious sunny day on saturday and wet and miserable on Sunday.

Saturday morning I spent looking for Waxwings in Lowestoft I found and saw none.

But I had to work at Great Yarmouth Library in the afternoon and saw the usual flock of waxwings there, but now numbering just 16 Waxwings on the aerials. One regularly flew out catching insects in mid-air and nthen returning to it's perch and they all flew and briefly alighted on the middle Mountain Ash for a minute or so (I was viewing from the car park and was the only observer there) before flying back and then off south- west again just after 4pm.

Sunday, shopping at Lowestoft Asda I looked across at the Grain silo and the fine Peregrine was sitting on an air viaduct 3/4 of the way up the tower. It sat with his back to us and would occasionally look about showing it's yellow cere on the blue bill and piercing eyes and soot black crown. Nice to see again. It must have been impressive because even Jenny came and had a look! Lets hope it can find a mate.

A high pitched call revealed a fine Kingfisher flying past eastwards over the very long "Silver Sturgeon" boat and finally a Dunlin was heard too.

Waxwings!

Lunchtime saw me driving down Southtown road, Great Yarmouth and just before the western end on the southern side, I could see around 47 Waxwing perched in a large tree in the linear park. Parking again at Lidl's, 3 photographers were very close to the Mountain Ash trees. One of their number was Perry F who had I not spoken to or seen for for years, (first seen, but not to talk to, after a long absence at the River Warbler at Thorpe Haddiscoe in the summer) so it was good to catch up.

Being autumnal birds they were heading for Mountain Ash or Rowan trees packed with orange berries at this time of the year (rather than Cotoneater/ Pyrancantha bushes that berry in the winter), in particular they were attracted to 3 berry laden Mountain Ash trees bordering the back of a line of some houses opposite the Three Bears Hotel and the Cobholm and Lichfield Community Play centre.

Sadly the Waxwings, around 18 or so or sometimes a group of up 47, spent most of their time flying around and over us in the murky half light , we were also treated to a cacophany of trilling calls as they flew over, they only settled briefly on the Mountain Ash's to voraciously feed and then fly up to the aerials or away. It was patently clear to me, and a newly arrived Peter C, that the photographers were far to close to the trees that the Waxwings wanted to feed in and a strategic retreat would have allowed the Waxwings time to feed from the trees for a period.

Some of the photographers were having none of it despite me mentioning it would be best to fall back a little way. Perhaps they thought all Waxwings were confiding, these obviously weren't.

What was the point in photographing them in such abysmal light anyway? Fieldcraft and the interests of the bird seems to be lacking with some of today's bird photographers.

 

The Perils of Birding

After very belatedly hearing of Waxwings at Great Yarmouth, just after 5pm on Thursday 28th October, I made my way over to the Pasteur road opposite the Pasta foods factory and parked in Lidl's car park. I saw a small flock of approx 17 birds seen for a second, possibly waxwings disappear behind the roofs of some houses. The lovely trilling sound of a single Waxwing flying around, I viewed the bird flying around before it flew high in a south- westerly direction. 

Seeing a friend at the Library on Friday, he told me about an experience that a very well respected member (and finder of several rarities) of the Yarmouth Bird club was subjected to. He, too, was watching the Waxwings from Lidl car park and he was approached by Lidl's manager to say that he had complaints from people in the houses saying they had seen a person looking through people's windows with binoculars. Of course, he wasn't, he was just looking at the Waxwings feeding either on the Mountain Ash berries or perched on the aerials.

When he had explained what he was looking at, the embarrassed Lidl's manager apologised and bore a hasty retreat. 

Birding around housing estates and looking especially for waxwings can be a hazardous pursuit.

It reminded me of a time when I was looking at Waxwings at Tottenham  on a housing estate in London and I had rude words shouted at me by teenagers in the neighbourhood.