Great North Beach birding

On Monday 12th August, I ventured down to Lowestoft North Beach, as I drove along the Links Road car park, an adult winter- plumaged Mediterranean Gull was amongst the 12 or so Black- headed Gulls there. I saw Phil and his wife & on the groynes we saw around 40 Common Terns seen plus 2 Sandwich Terns and 11 Sandwich Terns were counted on the groyne to the north. A calling Whimbrel flew north over the sea. Andrew & James W turned up and the eagle- eyed Andrew E spotted a distant juvenile Arctic Tern perched on the 3 groin in from the furthest south groin we could see. A smaller bird with shorter more dainty bill, tiny legs, slightly darker grey back and distinct black cap. We enjoyed it for a few minutes before walking up and getting slightly closer views until walking closer still it apparently flew before I could get a picture of it. walking back I saw a Stock Dove on the beach briefly and it also flew south. Rob H arrived and instantly spotted a juvenile Yellow- legged Gull flying south, I eventually picked it up. We must have seen around 8 separate adult winter plumage Mediterranean Gull fly singly north, plus a juvenile bird was seen sitting on the sea too. hearing of James W just seeing a Spotted Flycatcher in the bush in the north west corner of the car park, I walked around and sure enough it was there with 2 young Blackcaps keeping it company. Sea watching with Rob H, Rob spotted 2 Arctic Skuas flying just under the horizon and I spent some time watching these as they were my first for around 3 years! Great to see again. Finally a calling 7 note whistle of the Whimbrel as it flew over Links road and Warren House wood heralded the end of a fine evenings birding (which could only have been improved with a few pics but nothing posed for me!) with great birders and top company.

Batten down the hatches!

On Saturday 10th August, very strong winds meant a day inside except when I ventured outside in the back garden and 2 Migrant Hawkers flying around and a Painted Lady sheltering within the curled leaf of a bush. On Sunday, at Raveningham Hall sculpture trail around 10 Migrant Hawker including several fine adult males. sadly when we got back we saw a tatty Peacock butterfly fluttering against the window in the conservatory, I was able to catch it and release it unharmed outside.

Obliging Vagrant Emperor Dragonfly at Share Marsh scrape, Carlton Marshes

On Wednesday 7th August, Carlton Marshes was again opened up a plethora of Odonata enthusiasts who were keen to see the trio of rare Dragonflies that have set up shop on the newly constructed scrape at Carlton Marshes. We met at 5pm, and as I already had privileged access twice before I thought it best to walk and let others who hadn't seen the rare Odonata first crack at seeing them, especially as the cloud was coming in. As we got to the Scrape, we had 5 minutes, I had a brief flight view of a Vagrant Emperor plus several pairs of Black- tailed Skimmer and then that was it, it clouded over again! Typical! However, we were not to be disappointed because the ever sharp observer Andrew E spotted a male Vagrant Emperor on the ground we walked around had distant obscured views until it flew to upturned clod of grass and excellent views were had here until it flew again to another clod of earth, where it perched up beautifully and we all had great views and pics from here. A big thank you to Gavin, Cheryl, Andrew E, Chris Mutineer and the SWT team for this wonderful privileged access this newly created area is already producing big dividends nice to see around 40 people taking advantage including so many local birder/ naturalist friends.

Weekend wildlife watching

On Friday, a Brown Hawker got briefly stuck in the conservatory early evening but very pleased to report it soon flew out. On Saturday 3rd August at 10am, at short notice, Gavin kindly took me over in the buggy to the newly constructed scrapes on Share Marsh. Because Bam Nuttall are constructing the scrapes during the day access is not allowed due to public safety and access is only allowed at the discretion of the SWT Broads Manager and any one allowed access (only possible evenings and weekends) must be accompanied by SWT Warden. Gavin and I joined Andrew W over to the new Share Mash scrape. Sadly dark cloud meant we were really up against it. 2 calling Green Sandpiper flew over and we saw 3 male Red- veined Darters, the pick of the bunch, together with several male Black- tailed Skimmers and Emperor Dragonflies, but no sign of their rarer family members. Thanks to Gavin and Matt for their help. There were 3 Painted Ladies in the garden, one posed nicely for the camera. On Sunday, a tweet from Craig early morning and having replied to his tweet, I was kindly invited over to Craig's Corton home to view the fine Pine Hawkmoth, a first for me and it was posed nicely on a stump of wood, afterwards it was returned to the fridge ready to be released in the evening. Craig also showed me a fine Black Arches which was great too. Many thanks to Craig. I returned home and went over to a local wood where I saw and counted 11 Broad- leaved Helleborines. Back home, a Voicemail from Gavin originally sent at 11am said better to go earlier than 1pm, however I as I received the Voicemail message late and turned up at CM at 1pm. At the Scrape, the sun was still shining and immediately we saw our first 1 then 2 male Vagrant Emperors, 1 male flew out and settled in the grass, but flew as we approached. Going back to the Scrape over the far side, I spotted a fine male Lesser Emperor, green eyes, black body and blue saddle. It flew around and then disappeared, I later saw it fly down again. Up to 6 male Vagrant Emperors seen, 1 male seen flying around the western arm of the scrape. On the eastern side, a mating couple of Common Emperors were also seen, the female ovipositing in Mare's tail and the male Emperor flying around too. Up to 6 male Red- veined Darters seen flying around too. Plus the occasional flight by the brown bodied but blue saddled Vagrant Emperor. Also a Brown Hawker seen too. Back to the local wood, after Jane's pinpoint directions I located the rare red/ purple form of Broad- leaved Helleborine plus a further 14 normal coloured Broad leaves totalling 15 for me in total. Jane had counted 33 though, sadly I noted several Broad- leaves had been trimmed. I will e-mail The Gunton Community woodland to see if this could be eliminated in future.

North Beach

On Thursday 1st August, I tried again for Little Gull along North beach and it looked as if my photographic quest for one would be successful as there was an adult winter Little Gull bird perched on the groyne post 2 one in from the beach. Unfortunately as I parked my car on Links road car park it flew off out to sea! The Gulls on the car park, included a sitting adult winter Mediterranean Gull and an immature Mediterranean Gull which unlike the Little Gull posed well for the camera! On Friday tired again saw Rob H and we saw several fine looking Turnstones and around 30 Common Terns on the groynes.

Unable to use Twitter

Does anyone know why I am unable to use Twitter since the new revamp (which is awful) it shows a blue "whirring" circle sign as if its trying to load up, but never suceeds. I cannot access it at all from my computer? I am therefore unable to post messages onto Twitter or load any pics on Twitter so I will only be able to send messages via WhatsApp for the Thursday Nature Club and Suffolk BINS from now on. You will still be able to view pics on this blog. Totally mystified as to how to fix this current Twitter problem?

Garden wildlife

On Saturday 20th July, a Gatekeeper on the flowering Hebe bush was the firs t of the year for the garden, a Large White and Peacock butterflies also put in an appearance as did a clear winged Hawker (could only rule out Brown) as it flew quickly past the patio, abdomen not seen.