Frustrating Day

On Friday 15th January I tried to get to Oulton Broad to view the Goosander but being stuck in traffic (traffic light on the main road) for 20 minutes I had to turn back in order to get to work for 9am. At lunchtime (1.15- 2.15pm it was sleeting most of the time!) I checked Beaconsfield road Recreation Ground the best thing I saw was a Fieldfare along the southern edge. There was no sign of the Glaucous Gull, I checked Wellesley Road Yarmouth FC. I also looked along Waterways and the Seafront but no sign there either.

Memories of David Bowie music superstar, fashion guru and cultural icon

It was a massive shock to hear of the death of David Bowie this morning especially after only just ordering his latest album "Black Star" off the internet. A true pop genius, style and cultural icon constantly changing his style and persona, his influence on popular culture is enormous only rivalled I would argue by Elvis Presley & the Beatles. He also did much to extend boundaries and contribute greatly to the values and freedoms that we value today. A true innovator, he was a beacon of artistic/ cultural/pop music light against the grey power-starved days of the early 1970's. I first heard David Bowie when "Space Oddity" was played on the Top 40 and also on "Top of the Pops" and his records played I attended at parties in the late 1970's, the album "Hunky Dory" was a particular favourite. Of course, when you hear songs like "Jean Genie", "Life on Mars" "Changes", "Suffragette City", "Young Americans", "Heroes", "Ashes to Ashes", Fashion", "Let's Dance", "Hello Spaceboy" they defined not just one generation but several. I was lucky enough to see David Bowie perform live with his band at Wembley Stadium in 1987 on the "Glass Spider Tour" to support the "Never Let Me Down" album, the stage set was impressive where a large glass arachnid towered over and encompassed the stage, really impressive. He sang most of his latter day songs and I was a little disappointed that he didn't see a few more of his classic songs from the 1970's but he was still excellent and I particularly remember the circular stage had lots of dancers on it. I also remember Bowie was changing his costume every 3/4 songs into different coloured suits green, red, blue, yellow were some of colours worn! RIP David Bowie.

Covehithe saves the weekend

On Saturday 9th January, The Great Northern Diver from seen from the brick rail bridge and Riverside but sadly very distant from both vantage points for me. No birds seen at all at either Hamilton Dock or Ness Point bar 1 Turnstone at both locations. On Sunday 10th Fish Dock 12.45pm no Caspian, Walking down to Covehithe Broad- a male Scaup was seen on the northern section of the broad showing greyish back , 2 Tufted Ducks, male Goldeneye and 4 females. The Slavonian Grebe was back at the far end south- west section of the Broad. 15 Brent Geese were seen feeding in a far field. Out to sea, 15 Brent Geese flew south, 20 Pintail flew south, 100 Wigeon flew south, 5 Gadwall flew south. I tried for Big boogy bird Bean Geese not seen on the very long track down to Dingle marshes from Dunwich tea rooms, walked around 2 miles & I couldn't find any double gates seen or any geese. As dusk approached at the Harrier roost at Cove Bottom, 15 Marsh Harriers seen 7 male but no hoped for Hen.

Covehithe Broad again

Walking down to the Broad on Sunday 3rd January, I saw 5 Mutes on the west end of the Broad and most gratifying the 9 Bewick's Swans seen along the south- western section mostly feeding with the rear ends sticking up above the waterline and their head neck and upper body submerged. The Slavonian Grebe was swimming along the southern section of the Broad close to the beach again showing well. There were 4 Goldeneye, 2 males and 2 females were seen. Turning my attention to the sea, 2 Red- throated Divers flew south, the several groups of Little Gulls seen 34 in total. Around 8 single adult Kittiwakes flew past going south. First a group of 8 Little Gull flew south getting closer and closer until they were over the beach and then they flew over the back of the Broad then flying south. Another group of 6 Little Gull flew south, did exactly the same. Further groups of 5, 5, 2, 1, 4, 1 and 2 Little Gulls flew south. The a dark small cigar shaped bird flew (flap flap glide) the arcs and shearing down and then up again, it was a fine Sooty Shearwater flying north. groups 30 and 5 Teal> flew south. a group of 30 Wigeon including 1 male Pintail at the back flew south. 15, 5 Dunlin flew south whilst another 5 Dunlin flew in off and over the Broad.

North Cove and back at Burgh Castle

On Saturday 2nd January, a 1st winter Shag was seen in Hamilton Dock seen with Danny P, initially we saw it swimming very close to the edge when we were on the phone to Jane F to get directions for the Grey P at North Cove. By the time we had finished the call the Shag had swum a little further away. Taking Jane's directions travelling along the A146 Lowestoft to Beccles road and just passing Barnby Garden centre taking the second left turning off the main road after 20 yards taking the sharp left up a hill we initially parked and then drove little further near a white building farm and taking the steep track beside it. We parked and what initially looked like clods of earth turned out to be 10 fine Grey Partridge. The group were all together a male to the left was keeping alert while the other birds seen regularly feeding. a tweet from Craig had me over at Burgh Castle again. Overlooking Berney Marshes by the same gate where a female Sparrowhawk had perched just 24 hours earlier, the excellent Rough- legged Buzzard was on the ground slightly obscured by the downward slope of the gate but it soon flew up onto the fence post showing really well. The waders on the marsh below revealed many Redshank, Black- tailed Godwits, an Avocet, Dunlin. A wait till Dusk revealed around 35 Marsh Harriers coming into roost but no hoped for Hen. The Rough- legged Buzzard was seen distantly flying west. 1 very distant Barn Owl also seen hunting.

New Year's Day birding

Friday 1st January, first stop at the brick bridge overlooking a very low tide Lake Lothing revealed precisely nothing! No GNDiver in half hour look, no Kingfisher, no Little Grebe. However I did see male Pintail, c10 Gadwall, 3 Wigeon on Leathes Ham. A stop at the "fly-tip" to look at some Swans flying over the road- 3 Mutes revealed a Chiff- Chaff in bushes along the right field entrance. The approach road to Covehithe just past the corner revealed several Chaffinches and up to 5 Yellowhammers including 2 smart males. perched on the hedgerow intersecting 2 fields and leading to the corner of the road. I met Maurice B. who'd just been down to the Broad. A walk down to Covehithe Broad revealed 8 Goldeneye along the northern bit of the broad, 3 smart males and 5 females. Later the males and 2 females flew over to the southern section of the Broad. Another photographer was on the beach and right in front of him by the edge of the northern broad swimming vigorously left was the close fine Slavonian Grebe. It then swam left by the edge of the reeds and I managed to get a few pics before it swam through the gap of the reeds and did a loop around and swam in front of the reeds right in front of us barely a few feet away giving superlative views and showing well for the camera too although it was continuously on the move. I then started to fish right in front of us but frustratingly most of the time it fished it had it's back to us whilst fishing and devouring the fish, but a couple of good shots were obtained. We also had a rogue pig, a sow, lolloping through the Dunes, on the beach ripping up the Marram grass vigorously. Back at the Brick rail bridge overlooking Lake Lothing the Great Northern Diver was mid distance and as if to apologise for its earlier absence it caught a fish and promptly devoured it. 2 Little Grebe also seen and a Kingfisher flew over the river. Going straight up to Burgh Castle, the water was in and at the viewpoint there were 2 groups of Redshank on the far bank the bird had disappeared but I picked it up again a smaller greyer bird, the fine Lesser Yellowlegs with fine pencil thin bill, it sat behind some Redshanks and when it stood up it showed its yellow legs. There were also 1 Spotted Redshank seen too. A Sparrowhawk was seen perched on a distant fence on Berney marshes left of the farm.

Lesser Yellowlegs at Burgh Castle (again!)

A tweet from Steve P on Thursday 31st December, had me driving over to Burgh Castle and I bumped into Peter A who told me to go over to the viewpoint right along the middle "front" section and I saw James B & Steve P. Sure enough the Lesser Yellowlegs was in the middle of the Redshank flock stood on the far muddy bank. A smaller greyer bird with obvious yellow legs. Also 2 winter- plumaged Spotted Redshanks too.