Garden & Fallowfields birds

On Sunday October 14, a Yellow- browed Warbler calling & moving west along hedgerow Fallowfields, Oulton, Lowestoft- bordering back gardens of Bosquet Close also a Grey Wagtail flew out from no 8 Bosquet Close, and a Buzzard & a female Sparrowhawk flew over. 5 Redwing flew south west over the garden at 10.45am also.

Visitors from the East and North

On Saturday 13th October, a typically brief view of a calling Yellow- browed Warbler flew into hedge on west side of Corton ORT along the west walk way at 12.10pm still 30 yds south from Stirrups Lane Bridge it flew into the sycamores in the middle where it was seen on a few occasions before it disappeared. Later on driving to Links road car park, SWT had organised a beach clean and I saw Chris M, Andrew E and others as I walked north to the enclosed areas just north of Tramps Alley where the 3 Snow Buntings were still on Gunton Warren beach initially just outside the fenced off area feeding by sprigs of Marram grass and weeds in fenced off area the 3rd one along just N of Tramps Alley, mid to late morning. The constant procession of dogs pushed the birds over to the beach and then they a flew a few yards south and then flew back to the fenced off areas before hopping through into the fenced off areas where they remained for the rest of the time they were there as they were not being disturbed by dogs.

Yellow- browed at the Paget

On Wednesday October 10th driving out of the James Paget at 1pm I heard a Yellow- browed Warbler by the southern most hedge bordering the James Paget Hospital at 1.40pm at least. It was seen briefly as it moved quickly through the hedge moving west all the time. No sign of any YBWs around Gunton & v.quiet birdwise his afternoon, best was a Brambling heard and seen flying west over the Gunton ORT, 3 Stock Dove feeding in the south- west corner of the field just north of the Gunton burial ground, Blackcap in the hedge by Gunton ORT, 3 GSW & 1 v. confiding juvenile Wood Pigeon (sadly suspected Trichonomad virus victim)in the Holm Oak wood bowl at Gunton warren.

Elusive evening Yellow- browed

On Tuesday October 9, still 2-3 Yellow- browed Warblers at Gunton, Lowestoft area this eve -5.15-6pm but all very elusive, 1 Yellow- browed Warbler by entrance to Gunton Meadows on the north side heard calling only, 1 Yellow- browed Warbler heard only by the track 300 yds north of of Sallows at Gunton wood and 1 Yellow- browed Warbler, typically hyperactive seen flitting through the bushes by the Sallows at Gunton wood but they wouldn't pose for the camera at all!

Yellow- browed City

Deciding to look at Corton this morning, Sunday 7th October, it was sunny and struck gold when half way down the ORT by the southern end of the Holm Oaks I heard the distinctive call of a YBW, I spun round and saw a bright bird a wonderful Yellow- browed Warbler, which showed well in the top foliage of the tree twice before flying over the track to the eastern perimeter belt. I rang James B and met him on the west side where we heard another YBW call and saw one showing briefly at the topof a sycamore, this time a pale bird, a second Yellow- browed Warbler. Jame went onto check the pond, whilst I walked back to the bridge and taking the west track heard and saw a Yellow- browed Warbler in a sycamore. As I was watching this bird one called behind me and seen in the trees in the middle of the track, a second Yellow- browed Warbler. I was joined by Derek M and James B and we watched a bird the other side of the road calling frequently. Checking out Corton Churchyard, a Mistle Thrush flew east walking over the the start of the Corton old SW track, I heard the rasping call of a Brambling and saw the bird with white rump fly off and walking back a Green Woodpecker also flew east from Corton churchyard. Mid afternoon, I walked round Gunton woods not hearing/ seeing any YBWs but walking past the woodland burial area the cleared path running parallel with the Gunton ORT, I could see a Fieldfare perched on the track, a walker disturbed it before I could get a photo. Turning my attention to Gunton ORT, 2/3 of the way down, a calling Yellow- browed Warbler (my 4th of 5th bird self found today a personal record for me in one day!) showed itself in an Oak and I walked 100 yards further north saw the calling bird again in a Sycamore tree where I was able to get some record shots. I saw the bird from 4.40-5pm. Walking back a heard the 'pssst' call of Redwing and in the field just north of the woodland burial, in the south- west corner amongst c30 Chaffinches feeding here revealed 4 Bramblings including 2 smart males. At Gunton woods Sallows, a Chiff- Chaff heard, at Gunton Meadow south, I heard another Brambling.

Ness Point in the rain

On Saturday 6 October, I was unable to get out birding until the early afternoon, when I met with Andrew E, Rob Will & James W, no sign for me of the Little Bunting which is still a big Suffolk blocker, having never seen one in the county despite several attempts. On the sea, 2 immature Gannets flew south, 5 Brent Geese flew North, 24 Chaffinches flew north and around 18 Chaffinch plus an unseen Brambling heard called its distinctive rasping call flew in off. 4 Rock Pipits flying in off were joined by a further 2, a flock of 6 in total, as we searched around the Ness Point carpark site for the Bunting in the rain and to no avail.

2 Redwing heard flying over the house

Leaving work early afternoon on Wednesday 3rd October, arriving home I heard 2 Redwing (not seen) appeared to be flying south over the house at 1pm.