Return of the Rock Pipits and Yellow- Brow show

On Friday 4th October, I arrived at the North Denes and saw 4 winter Mediterranean Gulls (3 adult birds and 1 second- winter). At around 9.30am a wonderful Hobby flew in off the sea flew over Links Road and then over the Denes and Gunton cliff disappearing going inland over Corton road. The YBW had been seen early morning but no sign for me. I met David B and his wife and we spied a Rock Pipit on the seaward side ledge of the seawall wanting to move past and photograph it looking south so the sun was on the bird, we did an arc around the bird but as we approached the steps it was directly by the steps right by us and it flew north towards Ness Point. Leaving david B and his wife, I immediately spotted another Rock Pipit on the seaward side ledge just north and it flew north. 30 Linnet seen by the fenced off area. I then checked Gunton cliff and 100 yards north of the Holm Oak copse (300 yards north of Warren House wood), I heard the distinctive strident call of a YBW at 11.20am, it flew into a Mountain Ash and showed the Yellow- browed Warbler reasonably well where I noted both wing- bars and the super cilia from behind before it disappeared and out of sight.

Tricky Yellow- brows

On Thursday 3rd September after work, I went to Gunton cliff, saw around 15 Long- tailed Tits but no YBW for me. Intriguingly, I heard a distant "tsuip" strident call from the Dip Farm shelter belt, a quick search failed to reveal the Yellow- browed Warbler here. belthearing of 4 then 5 on the North Denes, I raced over there, sprinted to where Rob and Andrew was watching one bird zipping around in some tamarisk in the southern most shelter belt just north of the Oval, unfortunately my glasses steamed over and I saw a tiny olive both and white below warbler, which was the Yellow- browed Warbler, but unnoticeable for me as I didn't see any wing bars or super cilia because of my fogged glasses, it was obviously the bird and it flew to the cliff and called the distinctive sharp/ loud "tsp" which clinched it but not satisfactory views at all. I checked north along the Denes and Warren House wood, nothing so I went back. I heard 2 different "tsuip" calls from 2 separate area almost calling in unison meaning there were still 2 Yellow- browed Warblers on the Gunton cliff going to roost, but it was almost dark (approaching 6.30pm).

Ness Point goodies

On Wednesday 2nd October, in the afternoon, I took a look around the local area. At the Links road car park, were 4 adult winter Mediterranean Gulls including the one- legged individual. At Ness Point, I spied a Guillemot on the sea fairly close in directly opposite the wind turbine. A few waders including 5 Turnstone flew up and included the fine Purple Sandpiper, but it then disappeared and settled on the defence rocks again opposite the wind turbine but unfortunately out of sight.

Grey Wagtail over the River Yare

On Tuesday October 1st at 8.30am, I saw a Grey Wagtail flying due south over the River are at Gorleston Riverside, whilst delivering my car for its MOT, (it passed with flying colours by the way!). A singing immature Pied Wagtail was feeding on the "bowling green lawn" behind the Burrage Centre at work.

All quiet on the eastern front

On Friday 27th September walking over to the Education & Training centre at the James Paget Hospital, Gorleston, I saw a wonderfully large Devil's Coach Horse (2 inches) crossing the path. In the evening of 27th September, 5 House Martins were flying over the house. Very little at Ness Point on Sunday 29th September, 5 Turnstone and 1 Pied Wagtail were the only birds seen. On Monday 30th September, 3 House Martins flying south over the house at 5.30pm.

Four Frogs on the patio

On Sunday 22nd September, in the early evening around 7pm during a rain shower, 4 adult Frogs were seen on the patio in the back garden. They all looked quite brown in colouration.

Minsmere again

On Sunday 22 September, a drive down to Minsmere in the morning and a very fine male Migrant Hawker flew around at the back of the West Hide (no Wildlife lookout for me!) and settled in good light and posed beautifully for the camera. Back again for the Pec in the morning, great light but surprise, surprise the fine juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was feeding at the back of the Konik field and still really distant, 2 Little Egret flew in closer and showed well. Seeing Matt S we went and checked the Sluice bushes, little seen bird wise but by the side of the southern most path into the bushes just by the right of the path I discovered a fine Garden Tiger Moth caterpillar, very brown and furry I moved it and put it into a safer spot. Whilst looking for the Bush Crickets a female Dartford warbler flew out and settled to the left side of a bramble bush and was feeding on blackberries! It flew very close into a bare bush right in front of us. A male Dartford Warbler was also seen on the top a tall bush between the East hide and the Public hide. 8 Wigeon flew in of the sea and onto the Scrape. From the East hide, a single Dunlin, Black- tailed Godwit and around 100 Wigeon seen. back at the Pec field, the Pectoral sandpiper was at the back and then it walked forward being much closer this side of the pool but unfortunately the light was all wrong.