Weekend of of Little reward

On Saturday 28th October a look around Corton revealed 4 Redwings around the churchyards several heard around the old SW. On Sunday 29th October, at Ness point, with strong northerlies, a watch with Derek M revealed a Bonxie going north and 8 Little Gull (around 6 ads 2imms) plus 2 very small dark birds with very fluttery flight flying north, flying very low over the waves, from memory the jizz was exactly right for Petrel, that would have been my guess, but they were obscured by waves, not everything seen on them least of all the white rumps and only seen for 2-3 seconds and therefore not seen at all well.

Corton seawatch

Wed 27th October, a watch along Corton from the Corton benches with the irrepressible James B early afternoon, revealed 3 Little Gulls flying north 2 ads 1 1st W imm. flying distantly but recognisable.

Ring Ouzels eventually along Kessingland cliffs

On Sunday 22nd October, Coal Tit in garden again on feeders, saw along the Kessingland North Paul W beach and he kindly pointed out the lone Lapland Bunting feeding slightly further along the beach and I enjoyed this bird for around 3 minutes before it suddenly took to flight flew past us and disappeared behind tussocks around 100 yards north. We failed to find it but saw a Sky Lark along the beach instead. I was keen to see the Ring Ouzels that had been along Kessingland cliffs, I met Jeremy, and we scanned the cliffs, a dog walker flushed a brief view of a male Ring Ouzel that flew up the cliff and into the busgh at the top. No further sign, so I was walking off back when 2 pale faded male Ring Ouzels flew past me and right. I gestured for Jeremy to join me and after 10 minutes he joined me and one was seen perched on a tiny bit of vegetation just just a bit of sand.

Lapland Bunting on Kessingland beach

On Saturday 21st October, at 9.05am a calling Treecreeper flew into garden from Fallowfields (whilst I was in the garden) & climbed up 2 the Apple Tree and the middle tree (on what was only my second garden 2nd Garden record) Parkhill, Lowestoft. Having to stay in until 10am, I finally got out just after 10am and parking at Rider Haggard Lane, I walked down to Kessingland North beach. A Meadow Pipit flew up and several c5 Gannets seen flying south over the sea. I met up with Richard D & Paul and Jane F, they had just seen the Lap bunting fly north, I had been searching around the red post to no avail. After a search, where we saw 4 Brent Geese flying south close in, Paul said he had a bird and it flew down to 3 tussocks of Marram grass. A little further south, we picked up the fine Lapland Bunting feeding by the first of the 3 tussocks of Maram grass where it then flew to the middle one and then the first one it then showed really well but often obscured, in shadow or always on the move so it was very difficult to photograph.

Garden sightings

On Thursday October 19th, there was heavy Redwing passage south during the evening over Bosquet Close, Parkill, N.Lowestoft at 7.40pm, when calls were heard every 5-10 seconds, 1 first heard a Redwing call this evening this after work at 5.45pm. On Friday 19th October, a Coal Tit was seen again in the garden feeding on the left hand sunflower seeds at 8.10am plus Redwing flocks on Fallowfields at least 8 & 12 strong early am too.

Exhausted Brent Goose along North Beach

On Sunday 15th October, a Grey Wagtail flew over the garden at 11am calling but not seen. walking north from Ness Point at about half way along I saw a Brent Goose on the sea along the rocks on the North Beach, it was swimming around the rocks even standing on the rock and flapping its wings it kept trying to search for something to eat. I took a few pics but it looked exhausted, it was swimming dangerously close to the rocks of the original seawall (the last picture accompanying this text clearly shows the strong eddies and waves) something had to be done to save the poor bird getting injured or worse. So after seeing the poor bird being buffeted by the sea around the rocks, I stood up and gently coaxed the poor bird out to sea and it then swam north for around hundred yards towards the groyne, which I knew was seaweed encrusted, and like a homing beacon, it headed for one of the groynes northern wooden supports, which had copious amounts of seaweed on it. The hungry bird then spent a long time voraciously feeding on the seaweed. I left it in peace still feeding, lets hope it gives it the strength to move down onto its wintering grounds. At Ness Point, by the compass, I saw an adult Mediterranean Gull flying south close in. The male Eider was in Hamilton Dock over the far side in the south western corner, after eluding both Neville S and I yesterday. Checking both Crown (where a Grey Wagtail heard flying over) and Maltsters score I failed to see any YBWs although it was late in the afternoon. Between 10.25 and 10.35pm I heard first one and then another Redwing, newly arrived Scandinavian immigrants, calling in quick succession and flying south over the house.

Porpoise and Bramblings

On Saturday 14th October, a look around Hamilton Dock, it was good to see Neville S, but little did I know at the time I should have been looking seaward as a WBD was flying past around that time, I took some scenic shots of Ness Point for my forthcoming talk and Andrew broke the news. As Andrew was leaving just north of the finger I spotted a fine Harbour Porpoise with its characteristic "rolling over" motion. It surfaced about 4X. A look around Warren House Wood and Gunton Dunes failed to reveal much save for a Parasol Mushroom on the green just south of the Wood and a Migrant Hawker flying around too. Look around Lake Lothing later revealed 1 Little Grebe on the water and looking from the bay just beyond the railway bridge, a Little Egret feeding by the side of the rocky edge was a new one at this site. As I was about to leave, I heard the rasping call of a Brambling from a tall tree just south of the bridge and 5 Finches flew out the last one calling the rasping call, a Brambling as it flew. I heard another rasping call from the tall tree just north of the bridge, and another calling Brambling flew out from the tree flying north. at 1.20pm in the garden, I heard the call of a Coal Tit, it was in the left hand tree, it called again before flying over to Fallowfields.