Covehithe Crackers

Sunday 13th December, another dull day but a very pleasant walk to Covehithe Broad where initially I saw a lot of Gulls by the first pig field including 1 adult winter Mediterranean Gull. By the straight "bushy track" bordering an arable field I saw several Goldfinches 5 and 3 Chaffinches and then I bumped into Dick W who said he'd seen a small flock of Lesser Redpolls. Dog walkers then went by and they flushed 3 Lesser Redpoll that perched on the edge of the bushes for a short time. Also 1 Chiff- Chaff was seen moving south low in the bushes too. A great start. Down at the Broad, again a lot of Gulls were seen. There were 3 close Mute Swans but 4 smaller Swans over the south side of the Broad proved to be a quartet of regular feeding Bewick's Swans continually upending in search of food. Along the far bank were around 400 Barnacle Geese, 2 Red- breasted Geese of escaped origin. We saw Rob M and he said the Slav was over the southern side of the Broad close to the beach and a the fine black and white Slavonian Grebe was seen, it was regularly diving too for food. Rob M told us he'd just seen a LEO fly in off the sea and settle exhausted on the beach but he had unavoidably flushed it further south beyond the breach and it was heading for Easton Broad. A look up there seeing a dog walker we decided to leave it. We were then joined by Gerald J suddenly 3 Bewick's Swan circled around and then continued flying south. and we then enjoyed views of the Slavonian Grebe now along the back of the Broad and the 4 Bewick's Swans feeding on the Broad. Also on the Braod were 5 Goldenye, 1 cracking male and 4 females. I then spotted 3 Brent Geese feeding at the back over to the left.

GND again and Cattle Egret

On Saturday 12th November, a look first thing from the railway bridge at Lake Lothing again revealed the fine Great Northern Diver swimming around the orange buoy again (often disappearing for a few minutes at a time in the southern islet. It even caught a crab and typically crouched low over the water after eating it. A Kingfisher also seen flying across the river east of where I was looking. I then drove up to sea Palling in the pouring rain and taking the road west- Hickling Lane, I eventually went past the Lound farm and then past the corner and parked by the Lound cottages and seeing Rene & Matthew, they pointed out the bird literally sheltering under legs of a cream Highland Cattle, it was asleep, a fine Cattle Egret. It was a like white oval blob on legs initially with a small white bobble for the head. After a while it woke and walked around feeding and moved from the far corner to the middle of the field by the feeding cattle trough. It showed its heavy yellow bill and white feathered cheek jowl extending onto the mid-section of the lower mandible. It would have made a good picture but with the persistant rain, a "consistant pitter- patter", it was too much of a risk so the photography gear was kept under wraps in the boot of the car. The rain was getting heavier and heavier and after the bird flew I headed for the drier climate of the car and home!

Great Northern

On Thursday 10th December, a look around Lake Lothing finally revealed the fine Great Northern Diver swim out of the islet to the south of the manin river, it spent time swimming and fishing around the orange buoy.

Another windy weekend

On Sunday 6th December, a look at Lake Lothing from the railway bridge revealed the Guillemot, a Kingfisher seen fly off a post and then catch a fish plus 6 Little Grebe. A Peregrine Falcon was perched on the south side of the Grain silo and 9 Purple Sandpipers seen on the ledge at Ness Point.

Lone Waxwing

A sole Waxwing was immediately seen feeding from the top berries of a tree just in The Drive at Reydon this afternoon, seen from 2-2.15pm. There are a lot of berries on these trees so hopefully more will join it. Seeing these birds just before Christmas always gets me in the festive mood but unfortunately a Sparrowhawk flew through and flushed it, it flew to another tree further along the Drive and the Sparrowhawk flew past again and this time to Waxwing flew east. 5 Goldfinch also flew over.

Purple Sandpiper & Med Gulls

On Saturday 28th November, a lone Purple Sandpiper was feeding along the narrow ledge just north of the groyne at the most easterly point. It would occasionally jump onto the flat ground just west of there when the sea whooshed in over the rocks. 14 Turnstone seen on the ledge just south of the eastern most point. A Rock Pipit heard but not seen. At the Link's road car park a nice selection of Gulls seen including a Common Gull, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull and one poor first winter bird which had fishing line protruding from its bill. why oh why don't fishermen collect up all their fishing line and dispose of it securely not leave it discarded on the beach/ sea. At 2ish a group of Black- headed Gulls were mobbing a Grey Heron that circled over the rear of the garden and the waste ground but it flew west.

Little Auk flew south at Ness Point

At around 10am I arrived at Ness Point and it was immediately evident with the very strong gale force NW winds, they were rocking the car from time to time and if the winds were any stronger I would have left, but there was a strong sea passage taking place with groups of Starlings groups of around 30, 40, 30, 100, 100, 120, 130 & 140 were seen either flying north or coming in off, All the other birds were flying north unless otherwise stated. Groups of 5, 5, 3, 10, 15, 5 and 3 Brent Geese flew by mostly close in, with the yellow buoy seen in the distance behind them. Groups of Dunlin were prevalent too including 20, 30, 12, 20, 15, 3, 10 (with 10 Sanderling), 30 and 3 all flying north, 1 Curlew flew north. Ducks included 3 female Goldeneye, 2 Goldeneye and 1 male, 3 male Goldeneye, Teal 1 with 5 Dunlin, Wigeon groups of 20, 30, 5, 3, 10 and 15, Pintail groups of 5, 10, 15, 8, 5, and 3. A group of 50 Common Scoter flying south. 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls flew by going south, Gannets seen all the time around 100 seen majority being adults 85 and 15 immatures or sub adults. All nice to see, but then finally in a brief sunny spell, the bird I really wanted to see, it appeared at 10.47am just ahead of a rain front when the heavens literally opened, it was a wonderful small and dumpy black and white close Little Auk which flew south close in, seen flying by on its distinctive 'whirring' wings, as always a real joy to see.