Great Northern Diver & Chedgrave/Haddiscoe Marshes goodies

A mid morning look at Hamilton Dock, on Sunday 13th January, revealed the Great Northern Diver again at mid- distance but it swam along towards the wooden pontoons and boats and was soon lost to view. A Shag swam along the northern edge of the dock also. Dick W was also present. a quick look at Lound lakes and around 100 or so Greylag Geese were asleep on the islands and as a result I couldn't pick out either the WF Goose or the neck- ringed Greylag on this brief visit. parking at the northern edge of Fritton woods, Tony B & I walked out to the mound, meeting Pete M on the way who'd just seen the Ross' and RLB. Just before the mound by the edge of the clearing by the conifers around 5 calling Goldcrest seen flying right here along the Conifer edge. As soon as we got to the mound, we looked straight out (as directed by PM) and scanned just right of Cantley Sugar Beet factory and just right of 3 distant houses together. In the far fields (Haddiscoe marshes) we saw several hundred 200 Pink- footed Geese and within ten minutes walking left of a mound with 6 Barnacle Geese was the excellent Ross' Goose, a small Goose all white with black primaries. After a while, it walked back right and disappeared behind the mound. After half an hour all the Pink- feet including the excellent Ross' Goose flew towards us, the Ross' Goose showing its black tipped primaries well in flight and settled much closer on Chedgrave marshes but the Ross's disappeared from view as soon as it landed. A Barn Owl hunted by the river, as did 3 female Marsh Harriers. Along the north of the marshes. More birders were arriving and a raptor was pointed out just right of a mill perched on a gate, it looked big but looked very dark brown on the back and tail (it sat back on) and had a light head. Initially we couldn't rule out female Marsh harrier or Buzzard, (it was very, very distant!) although its size to me seemed to weigh against the Harrier option. Sadly Tony B left before the "raptor" turned around. When it moved it showed white in the tail but only when it turned around showing pale head and upper breast and 2 diagnostic dark patches either side of the mid/ lower breast and white tail with black band at the tip proved conclusively it was the excellent Rough- legged Buzzard. Suddenly a birder yelled out male Hen Harrier, and straight out right at the back an excellent male Hen Harrier, pale silvery grey with white rump and black wing tips flew left and then flew in close towards us over the Haddiscoe cut and the footpath and then flew right much closer over the reeds just the other side of the river and right ie north and out of sight. Finally 2 Short- eared Owls seen one straight out at the back over Haddiscoe marshes and a second Short- eared Owl flying along the northern part of Chedgrave marshes. A great afternoon's birding, which finished with 300 Pink- footed Geese seen flying north- west over Somerleyton village green. A Jay was seen in the back south- west corner of the garden feeding on the remnants of the fat balls on the ground late afternoon.

Goosey Goosander

Looking east from Lound causeway, I noticed around 100 Greylag Geese asleep, as I scanned through the flock (all birds sat down and most asleep) I noticed a smaller bird with paler mouse brown back of head and what appeared to be a patch of orange where the leg was. A pale blue car, drove along the approach road and I could see Andrew E and Jane F on the offside of the car with presumably Rob Wil and Paul F on the nearside!) Eventually the bird woke and lifted its head up to reveal a pink bill and white band at the base of the bill, it was the White- fronted Goose. I rang Andrew E, and they hadn't spotted it but was eventually able to put them onto the bird which was in the middle of the flock. The bird was fast asleep but twice more briefly lifted its head before tucking it under again. The whole flock then stood up and walked south a few yards the thick black lower breast band seen on the White- front. At Ormesby Little Broad, disappointingly, shooting was taking place, but good to see Joan & Ken S, Ted & Neil M and regular correspondent Paul W. So no sign of the Smew and Scaup. Walking back, 3 female Goldeneye seen, they flew south and onto Filby Broad. On Filby broad, a total of 17 Goldeneye seen 8 resplendent male and 9 females seen including a flock of 11 (with 5 male in flight flying east! A Kingfisher flew east right in front of us by the bridge and the Norfolk visitor (would I be the Suffolk visitor today?) did really well to pick out a female Goosander swimming east by the far end reeds in front of a stand of poplars on the band just beyond the far edge of the broad. Later saw Ricky F briefly before heading back home for lunch. As I got out of the car I heard a Bullfinch flying west directly over the house and the seconds later heard a Redwing flying west over the house too.

Diver and Waxwings

Early morning today, I saw the immature Great Northern Diver fishing in Hamilton Dock along the far side by the ships, continuing to swim and dive in a productive channel running parallel to said ships docked along the south end of the dock. The weather was perfect with plenty of sun and good light but sadly the Diver didn't come close during the period of observation. Driving around the Rigbourne Hill area of Beccles, initially failed to produce the sought after waxwings, until I drove over to St Paul's Close and saw 2 Waxwings sitting high up in a single tree. Walking into a green area of a child's plyground I managed to view them for 10 minutes before they flew east over the roofs of the houses.

First 2013 Bullfinch

A handsome male Bullfinch with peachy pink breast was perched in a bush just behind our currently flowering Mahonia bush which nicely framed this perched bird in the back right hand corner of the garden early this morning feeding on something presumably seeds or buds between 9.50am and 10am. Of course, he had disappeared by the time I retrieved my camera! At midday, I could see no sign of the GND in Hamilton Dock on a quick visit there.

Rough- leg at last!

On Friday 4th January, before work a quick drive along the B1074 vfailed to reveal the Waxwings Alison A had seen earlier but nice to see Rene B who promised to tweet news of the RLB if he saw it from Fritton. Rene did see it and duly sent text messages out just after 10am, I knew what I would be doing lunchtime! Arriving at Fritton Woods mound at exactly 12 noon, (it only takes 10 minutes drive from work on a good run), meeting Roy R & his wife as I arrived. I also met Chris M who'd just seen the RLB the omens were looking up! I arrived and the bird I was directed to initially, (post right of mill with no sails) I looked at and thought "this is no RLBuzzard its a female Marsh Harrier!", it was a dark bird with yellow cap slim body and perched with its body horizontal on a post A further 2 female Marsh Harriers were seen also. I expressed my doubts but eventually realised that I was looking at the wrong mill and post. I also saw a dark Common Buzzard fly right and out of sight. Meantime straight out, the Great White Egret was flying right or north and landed in the field in full view stretching its very long neck and its long dagger like yellow bill again obvious. Back to the raptors, I realised I had the wrong directions for the RLB and was patiently re-directed to a white topped mill with no sails and the gate just right of this. On the right of the gate were 2 posts on the left and 3 on the right, the 3rd most "post" was NOT a post but the RLB, it was really distant. Increasing the zoom to 60X on my new scope it really came into its own. The bird shifted around showing a greyish head, the subtle shaded of grey- brown on the back and body plus the darker black patch on the lower underparts area and also distinctively, the white at the base of the tail, it was indeed the excellent Rough- legged Buzzard. I had finally seen it on my 8th visit!! Later the Great White Egret appeared in the field right in front of the RLBuzzard and at one time through the scope I could see the Egret, the Rough- leg and a Short- eared Owl flying by, quality birds of the highest order! During the period of observation first 1, then 2 Short- eared Owls flew left and behind it 2 single Barn Owls flew past too. At this point Paul & Jane F suddenly appeared from nowhere! Later, the Rough- legged Buzzard flew left a short way and I saw the white base to the tail and the dark black band at the tip as it flew a few metres and disappeared below the ground level obviously flying down and landing into a dip. this was my cue to go as half an hour had elapsed since I first arrived and I was due back at work.

Great Northern

On Thursday 3rd January, a quick before work half hour visit to Hamilton Dock early morning, the immature Great Northern Diver was seen half way out in Hamilton Dock and it was seen around the jetty area and came close once feeding catching yet another crab, workmen who were arriving at SLP were keeping a little way back, one was curious what was out there and I eventually saw Rob Wil who'd just seen some WF Geese fly over.

New Year birding in and around Lowestoft

The Great Northern Diver was in Hamilton Dock again, initially very close, it then swam far out before disappearing for a while by the marina before once again coming quite close. 1 and then 2 Shag seen plus a Seal then a Guillemot seen far out. At Ness Point, first one then 3 Purple Sandpipers seen on the seaward edge of the sea defence rocks just south of Ness Point compass and viewed from the 200 yards to the south and looking back. In Link's Road car park initially few Gulls but several flew back including 1 adult Mediterranean Gull flying towards the car park, the flock returned and then I spotted 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls both ringed with white rings. Walking out from St Olaves Bridge, onto Chedgrave marshes, a close Barn Owl flew past me along the reeds running just east of the new cut, a further 2 Barn Owls seen. At 3.15pm the excellent Great White Egret flew around bigger than 300 Pink- footed Geese and then the Egret landed stretched its long neck with a kink in the middle and yellow bill, it stepped down and disappeared into a dyke. Finally, a female Marsh Harrier perched close by in a field, and 212 Greenfinch flocked by some trees by the house.