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.

Fisher Row goodies

Walking down the entrance hill, I had the good fortune to meet Don & Gwen who gave very good directions for the Green Sand and after an enjoyable conversation, I took the right most path, over the fields and the railway line and looked north along the dyke running parallel and just west of the railway line. Sure enough, I spotted the excellent Green Sandpiper walking away and up to the bend before it changed its mind and started walking back sometimes venturing out a metre or so into the dyke, I was hoping it would continue feeding closer and closer but it then retraced its steps. This Green sandpiper was my first ever sighting of this species at Fisher Row, my first for Lowestoft and a 2nd for the Lizard area following a sighting of a Green Sandpiper at Fritton marshes in January 2009. Walking along the dyke wall I spotted 90 Wigeon in the fields and by then a Little Egret flew south over the fields over my head and settled in the overflow area sandwiched between the dyke path and the river, I scouted round and was hopeful of getting some shots of it in the pit but sadly it saw me as I crawled down to the fence and it flew east again.

In the lagoon at Horseshoe point I spotted the Ferruginous Duck with a pair of Tufted Duck and around 5 Coot. They were on the far (southern) side and then swam and promptly fell asleep by the far western side. I managed a few shots from the river path and then walked east to the main Fisher Row path. From the wooded area, a total 21 Redwings called and flew north.

At the sloping field 53 Jackdaws were seen and a pair of Bullfinches were heard calling their mournful "peuu" calls. Just before the entrance path, I looked east and perched near the top a large bush was a fine Redwing. Finally, a Jackdaw was seen in the horse field opposite the church car park.

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.

Sorry Sotterley saga continues

A visit this morning to Sotterley revealed 2 sightings of calling Nuthatches one by the Dell and 1 north- west of the church. Whilst a flock of 9 Fieldfare flew north over the Dell. It was nice to see a few Primroses flowering around the Dell. Hearing reports of up to 5 Hawfinches being seen at the Dell, I'd settle for just 1, but rather predictably again I struggled to see any Hawfinches (what a surprise!). I've only ever seen 1 bird in about 30 attempts and I never did get to see the Woodpeckers here either. This site has taken over from Breydon Water (where I have done rather well recently) as the site where I have dipped the most (ie. not seen the birds I was expecting to see ie. in this case Hawfinches). I could never be year lister rushing after different species to see in one year,with my luck I just wouldn't see some of the birds I was expected to see.

Gulls on the catwalk!

An extremely productive and satisfying photo shoot on Link's road car park this morning, with the stars of the catwalk or should that be the car park showing really well. The 1st winter Iceland Gull was in the south east corner of the car park on the edge of the flock of Gulls, mainly Black- headed but there was a 1st winter Common Gull amongst them too. The Iceland Gull was very obliging and was even walking around to within 10 feet of the car, which I used as a mobile hide. The light was very good so I was able to manually select low ISO setting such as 160 and 200 ISO.

The Iceland Gull posed really well and by the side of a puddle too. As I looked back at the flock I could see 2 Mediterranean Gulls, both adults, one in stunning full summer plumage and the other almost in full summer garb with a just a little white by the base of its bill.

The full sp one was having ago at the other which flew off. As I looked at the remaining adult Mediterranean Gull, I noted it had a green ring on its right leg, the number was 3XA9 it was the bird I have seen on 2 previous occasions for the last 3 years at this site. Originally ringed in Belgium on 17 May 2004 as a 3rd calendar year bird by Renaud F (so it will be 10 years old this year! See my post for 23 Nov 2009 for a fuller history of the bird) ) the Med Gull tends to alternate sites spending the winters at Lowestoft and the summer at Belgium and I will be e-mailing him and Camille D (in France who are conducting this excellent ringing scheme) tonight with the latest sighting!

It was really great to be re-acquainted with this Gull, (I had seen 3XA9 on 2 previous occasions 28 Dec 2007 and 15 Nov 2009) and it is just like seeing an old friend after a long absence and it obliged beautifully for a couple of shots at just 10 feet away (again using the car as a hide) before it ran back a couple of paces (see the result at the header to this blog!)

POSTSCRIPT 13/2/11 Just checked my pictures and the near full sp Med Gull is Stumpy, no wonder it was a little unsteady on its one foot!

Mole Hills

Just back from a trip to London (Monday) to see Jenny's brother's family and to take loads of digital shots of artefacts in the British Museum and I was surprised to discover 5 mole hills at the back of the garden just behind the bird bath.

Bullfinches and Coal Tit

The Bullfinches were back in the garden, in the usual tree at 9am on Saturday 26th february livening up a dismal rain sodden day. This time the female Bullfinch was to the fore but always slightly obscured by branches, the male Bullfinch was right at the back. The Coal Tit was again feeding on the peanuts on both days and it was even singing from the Buddlea Globusa bush at the back on Sunday morning. The 4 Long- tailed Tits (a family party?) again visited the fatballs on both days.

Sunday afternoon 27th February, a walk along Gorleston seafront revealed a Yellow- legged Gull on the Yarmouth side of the quay, viewed from the Pier and an indeterminate Seal seen out at sea (only viewed through binoculars at long range).