Shore Lark again and nasty encounter

This morning at first light I drove down and saw the Shore Lark perched along the top walkway, it then started singing briefly and then flew down to the gravel area, where I saw it well. Also finally seen was a female Black Redstart perched on the railings, a long overdue first sighting of this species for me in 2019. Directly after work, I returned after a fruitless quick visit to Gunton ORT where nothing was seen. The fine Shore Lark was seen again along the top walkway just north of the usual area. I noticed a person hanging around by the railings with a dog but when a woman walking her dog walked straight and deliberately at the bird (she didn't walk on she returned the railings) and scared it and hurling a load of expletives at both me and another birder with his young family (whatever his wife/ young children thought I don't know, but they soon left.) We were entirely innocent of any provocation. She is slim 30's with mousey or blond hair wearing a yellow fluorescent cagoule and walking a Golden Retriever type dog. I have unfortunately encountered her before, whilst photographing an immature Kittiwake on the sea wall by the Link's road car park and a load of abuse was hurled at me then, too. If it happens again, I will notify the Police. She doesn't like birders or photographers, so best to keep well clear of her. The bird flushed to the aerial mast area again. It fed around the concrete weedy edges and flew to the top part and even started singing which was lovely to hear. I also saw 2 Black Redstarts here and briefly heard the song of a male Black Redstart too. This couldn't be fully enjoyed because fearing my safety, the aforementioned woman was joined by a man/ partner they were conversing in a very loud turn her talking about the ******* birdwatchers and feeling a little trapped here, I decided to leave. The light was going anyway, so I left again having not improved on my shots from the previous evening in part due to the obnoxious dog walker.

Bramblings and Shore Lark

On Monday 7th October, first light birding I heard and saw 2 Bramblings flying west over the north end of Gunton Old Rail track plus what may have been the immature female Ring Ouzel flew into a bushy area, some cracking heard so may well have been the bird. At Corton Old Sewage works as I reached the lane running north west of the complex, a Fox was staring back at me from the vegetation sadly it moved as i got the camera out. I heard a rasping Brambling. After work, a trip to Hamilton road, because Rob Win had come up trumps yet again with a superb Shore Lark find at the old coastguards at the southern end of Ness Point. I saw James B. by the railings along, northern tip of the concreted area and he said the bird was just south of here. He'd also seen 2 Redstarts. After a few minutes the superb Shore Lark, was seen feeding by the gravel and puddles before it suddenly flew over to the old coastguards. James left and I used the radio mast tower to shield myself while I took a few shots as it ran and fed along the top walkway which headed south then west as the bird fed, I got a couple of nice shots albeit in poor light. Andrew E arrived and it then ran back along the top walkway, then it flew back to the gravel area.

Wonderful Ring Ouzel at Gunton ORT

At 5pm I saw 1 Redwing fly over the garden calling "steep" and a Song Thrush heard in the garden that was seen flying over to fallow fields. A Stock Dove was also seen flying south over the Parkhill Hotel wall at some some height too. This inspired me to check the local area. After all the rain that had fallen and with easterly winds and easing of the rain, meant I would go out with just the bins (should have taken the camera but it was still raining albeit lightly!) I looked around Gunton Old Rail track, Dip Farm, Hubbards Loke, Gunton Woodland Burial and then leeward side of the ORT hedge. Totals of 34 Song Thrush, 30 Robin, 12 Redwing, 10 Blackbird, 5 Goldcrest (all seen along the Gunton ORT bar 1 Goldcrest at Hubbards Loke, where I also saw 2 Chaffinch. Best of all as I was walking along the lea (inland side of the Gunton ORT bushes by the fence around 100 yards north of the Gunton Woodland burial. I saw an interesting Rouzel type Thrush fly into the second red- berried Hawthorne bush, It was only around 10 metres away and slightly obscured view in the bush. I looked at it, noting both the brown long bill chocolate brown head and mantle, distinctive white fringing to the wings and a very slight pale patch on the upper breast. I was so close, I could see the distinctive scalloping to the underparts (last seen on the other bird I saw really close the Oval bird- read on) and long wings extending beyond the rump, another good ID feature. It was a superb immature female Ring Ouzel and it was very confiding sitting on the same perch for around 10 minutes. I was really enjoying these views rarely seen this close as they are usually so skulking and secretive. It was "chacking" quite a bit too, which is as another aural ID feature, as I slowly edged round to get further views. It would have been to nice to photograph, but I hadn't brought my camera as it was still raining (albeit slightly when I left home) although the light was not great either and the bird was partially obscured but definitely my best views since the fine adult male I had seen on the Oval, one spring, several years ago. I really enjoyed watching this fine bird and it was ample reward for getting wet this afternoon and all of the dips yesterday! After 10 minutes it flew back to its original bush and out of sight where I decided to leave it go to roost without being disturbed.

Quintuple dip day

On Saturday 5th October, best birds of the day were the 4 adult- winter Mediterranean Gulls on Links road car park, missed the YBW and Ouzel along the North Denes slope, missed the Black Red at Hamilton road (still haven't seen one this year!), missed the Purple Sand at Ness Point and the RV Darter just N of Birds Eye in the weedy patch, a day to forget! Rob spotted a pale Buzzard flying north hassled by around 8 Carrion Crows. Best bit was seeing Barry W, Rob Will, Chris M. I did however hear at least 2 Redwings "tseeping" behind the southern section of the Oval in the tall trees at the back. Parties of 5 and 15 Brent Geese seen flying south over the sea. Later 2 Redwings were heard at Fallowfields, but not seen.

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.