Pacific Golden Plover in the last hour of light along Breydon South wall fields

On Thursday 18th July, having seen Peter A's tweet at 6.35pm, (another great find from the Breydon birder), of no sign of the PG Plover he had sensationally found early in the morning. I decided to fill up the rather depleted wildlife find. When I got back at 7.40pm, I received a message that the bird had been refined at 6.40pm typical! I leapt in the car and without scope and bins, the old Zeiss Dialyt's were dug out and I decided to just go with that as I knew it was a mile and a half walk down to the Pump house. Arriving at the Herbert Barnes car park, I fortuitously met Matthew D and we walked down together, first dave Holman and then Justin L passed us saying the bird was still there in the field, passing a resting Paul W, we met a group of birders including Andrew E, James W, Dick W and Ali R. The bird, a magnificent slightly moulting adult Pacific Golden Plover was in the field immediately south- east of the wind pump along the east side where the stubble cut met the reeds at the back, initially only its head and shoulders seen but as it continued to run and then stop around 2 metres at a time we saw this slightly smaller slim plover with striking white "S" running down the side of the breast thickest on the curve and a lovely golden/ grey spangly back. At times it was almost totally obscured at other times it was right out in the open and eventually headed for the far corner of the field. My extensive thanks to Andrew E for letting me see some prolonged views through his scope. A Grey Heron fished in the ditch just left of the bird.

ad summer plumaged Purple Sandpier at Ness Point

On Sunday 14th July, in the early evening, following a tweet that Andrew E had seen a sp Purple Sand. I parked up and no sooner had I walked out that I could hear the wonderful call of a Purple Sandpiper and saw this fine bird, an adult in full summer plumage perched on one of the defence rocks and it was looking around and preening then went to sleep.

Low Road, Hellesdon

On Saturday 11th July, at a family party, at the far end of the garden at Low road, by the river around 7 Banded demoiselles seen plus I heard Ring- necked Parakeets but not seen.

Marsh Sandpiper at Minsmere

On Wednesday 10th July, exciting news of a Marsh Sandpiper discovered at Minsmere that afternoon had me heading straight down to Minsmere via a snack stop where I briefly saw Josh C. Walking down to east hide the good news was it was still there. I saw John R and Rob W and Josh C again. John & I entered the hide and we were greeted with the news that the bird had flown and disappeared behind an island. Whilst waiting I saw 3 dusky Spotted Redshanks, 2 Ruff, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a Sandwich Tern and Little Gull seen flying around the south scrape. Then suddenly, it was spotted the fine Marsh Sandpiper, slightly bigger than a nearby Green Sandpiper, slender like a miniature Greenshank with needle thin straight bill black beady eye and grey upper parts and white underpart, a wonderfully elegant wader constantly walking around and feeding.

3rd Emperor missed!

At Lound, having tried Friday 5th July evening after work and again on Saturday 6th July, no sign of the Lesser Emperor from the boardwalk. Norfolk Hawker and 2 Emperor Dragonflies seen. Close Greylag Geese and Mute swans with 2 cygnets seen.

Fritlllary at last (in Suffolk!)

On Friday 5th August at the usual Purple Emperor site, sadly none seen. Save for a Purple Emperor pupae brought along. The main gain was seeing my very belated Suffolk first, a Silver- washed Fritillary flying along the bushes from the usual spot flying right. Taking the path down both left and right 2 single Silver- washed Fritillarys seen. Nice to see over 100 Spotted Orchids growing around the edge of the usual observation site, plus by a gorse bush, a Southern Hawker seen.

Kessingland Beach

On Thursday 4th August, at Kessingland beach, just after midday, sadly no sign of any rare Dragonflies, Vagrant Emperor seen earlier sadly departed. Some consolation came in the form of an eventually obliging immature male Black- tailed Skimmer which initially skittish enabled me to get some pics, looking like a well marked female. On closer examination of the photos the secondary genital proved it was a male as I initially thought.