Covehithe magic & second encounter with the Great Grimpen Mire

On Saturday 5th December, I parked at Covehithe village (nice to see only 1 car and only 1 pair of dog walkers coming back) saw Carl B briefly and then I walked down to what was to prove to be a very enjoyable visit to the ever reliable Covehithe Broad, in the field north of there were some 400 Barnacle Geese with some closer birds so I took a couple of pics and then walked down to the Broad, I was able to walk through the flooded bit on the beach near the northern path as I was armed with wellies. I could see Maurice B, Clive N watching a bird along the north section, as I reached them I could see it was the excellent Long- tailed Duck. It started to swim towards us and swam north along the Broad giving some exceptional views barely 7 metres away, couple with the early morning sun pokings tts rays through the cloud giving perfect conditions for photography. The LT Duck would regularly dive, giving me an opportunity to run into position and kneel down befoe it resurfaced. It was giving very confiding views, once it resurfaced with a string of pond weed around its bill. It then swam further north along the Broad. A fine male Scaup, with dark green head, yellow eye and white scaly back. It kept further back but at one point it also swam a little north and slightly closer before swimming back to the southern section of the Broad again. Further back was a pair of Goldeneye. Talking to Clive N, first a Knot flew around us and then south and then 3 Dunlin followed the same route again. Walking back I got momentarily stuck in what was to be my second encounter of the Great Grimpen Mire this year (see 31 August entry for 2020 for my first encounter!), as the flooded area on the beach I got completely stuck for a few minutes before using a firmer section of the beach to release the tight grip it had on one of my wellington boots! I then went to Southwold parking in North road and walking to the Boating Lake, no sign of the female Scaup, but I saw Rob H and we saw 4 Bearded Tits in the reeds (bordering the back of the cafe) including 2 fine adult males. I had a quick look for Purple Sandpiper but didn't see it, the skies were looking leaden grey and about to burst with rain/ hail so I made my way back and just dodged the heavy hail storm that followed. Nice to obtain the Suffolk Bird Report for 2019 where I was very pleased to see 7 of my pictures published inc. Great Northern Diver, Razorbill, Purple Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Stock Dove, Darford Warbler and Pied Flycatcher. (A very fair selection).

No sign again

On a bitterly cold dull afternoon, on Wednesday 2nd December, I walked to the bund overlooking Peto's again, saw again, despite a good look only notable birds seen 4 Water Pipit, 10 Pied Wagtails and 100+ lapwing. A poor return, again no sign of the EYW.

Harbour & Ness Point goodies

On Sunday 29th November, a look in Hamilton Dock revealed the Red- throated Diver in the southern harbour area near the South Pier where it was joined by a second Red- throated Diver. Some calls revealed 2 excellent Russian White- fronted geese flying high over the Hamilton Dock and inland. OFB turned up and we drove over and walked over to the South Pier, we were joined by Steve from Norwich, initially no sign then I saw a single Red- throated Diver back in Hamilton Dock, so back to Hamilton road and we initially had mid distance views. Chris M joined and he walked over to Ness Point and called us over he had spotted a Guillemot but it was drifting quickly north with the tide and I ran to join him and eventually picked up the fine Guillemot just before it reached the "finger"! 2 calling Oystercatchers flew south over the sea. Later on typical to hear the EYW had turned up at CM again.

No sign of the EYW at Carlton Marshes

On Saturday 28th November, started when queuing in the car for the delicious breakfast meal at a well known fast food outlet, when a lady kindly told me I had a brake light out and went down to Halfords to soon have it replaced! Despite walking down to Peto's, no sign of the elusive EYW (a really good potential Lowestoft & Lizard tick) as expected it wasn't seen at all. 2 fine Glossy Ibis flew in however from west of where we were standing from the southern view point bund over Peto's and settled in the marshy reed area by the river bordering Fisher Row. 2 Great White Egrets were seen, one fishing just west of us it flew into the flooded field in front of us and showed well, whilst another flew south. Walking back and looking across north they were seen walking about and at around 3.40pm they flew north towards Somerleyton.

Sotterley lacking the star birds

On Sunday 22nd November, I had my exercise walk at Sotterley, looking carefully around the Dell, just north and south and along the field margin to the west of there very little seen. Walking over to the church, checking the weir, a fine Grey Wagtail flew off. Nothing by the church either. Walking back past the lake, a chattering Nuthatch, revealed said bird scaling up down and a thick trunk of tree, where at the very apex, a Mistle Thrush perched and it was soon joined by its mate, a second Mistle Thrush. A group of 5 Long- tailed Tits, included 4 Blue Tits and 2 Goldcrests. 7 Redwings were seen flying north- west overhead. Walking back along the meadow to the Dell, a mewing Buzzard was heard. Again, checking the Dell, nothing here but 14 Redwings flew east. Walking back to the car, through the trees I could see a Carrion Crow mobbing a Red Kite. Not bad, however my Sotterley hoodo continues as just 20 minutes after I left 1 Hawfinch was seen flying north and later in the afternoon, 4 were seen along the northern edge of the Dell, Sotterley almost matches my seawatching exploits to equal, an epic fail!

Greenfinch in garden

On Saturday 21st November in the morning, a Greenfinch was seen perched in the Cherry tree briefly.

Shore Lark (the highlight) the low light complete lack of fieldcraft X2

On Monday 16th November, I walked along the Lowestoft North Denes and in between the 2 shelter belts I was astounded to see a so called 'birder' standing slap bang in the Dusky W territory amongst the bracken in front of the large bush. What utter stupidity, I called him back and he apologised saying he didn't know about it's territory but surely common sense would override this apparently not! I heard a Firecrest but not seen, unsurprisingly no sight nor sound of the Dusky, I waited half an hour and then walked back and in Link's Road car park, 6 adult winter Mediterranean Gulls including one ringed individual (white ring black letters E861- one I've seen several times before, an old friend, first seen as an adult winter 20 September 2013, 26 October 2016 and 24 September 2020)) and 2 Common Gulls. Walking down to Heathlands, a LT Tit flock comprised a couple of Goldcrest and a calling Chiff- Chaff, by the pool nearest the sea, I saw 2 feeding Sanderling and also Tony B and we walked north along the beach and I checked the bit where the water kinks inland and sure enough an excellent Shore Lark flew up and onto the beach shore line where it gave good views and posed nicely for the camera for 10 minutes before it suddenly flew across the water and landed along the inland edge somewhere. We saw Nick M he tried elsewhere, as Tony and I walked back around half way along, a Shore Lark suddenly flew in and settled along the shore edge before feeding by the marram grass in front of us, I tweeted it out and after some gesturing Nick who was walking back from the inland side saw it. Walking back, I looked back and 4 Sanderling flew south along the pool. I was dismayed to see 9 large dogs not under control with 5 people laughing they were splashing in the pools. They were heading in the direction of the Shore Lark pool and i tweeted out a warning to the birders present there and sure enough they were disturbed but did eventually conme back. A walk from Walberswick Hoist covert car park revealed a calling redpoll flying inland just I got to the marshes, nice to see Dick W, we had a catch up and Dick said have a look at the really confiding Snow B's. So when I reached the beach, I walked left or north for 30 yards and then on my knees I got within 30 feet of the super confiding 6 Snow Buntings (2 males and 4 females) feeding in the green patch by the post leaning at a 90 degree angle seawards. Light was very poor sadly but before I could get more than a couple of shots, another complete idiot walked straight up to me and bellowed "Where are they mate?" He still couldn't see them still them (should have gone to Specsavers! Other optical retailers are available too!) when I politely asked him to lower his voice, he didn't resulting in 4 of the birds running back soon to be joined by the other 2. By the pool just north of the path, I heard an EYW plus 8 Teal, 3 males and 5 females. Plus a Great White Egret flew past right over the path ahead of us, the second seen after one flying over the reeds further south. Walking back by the planked walkway srcub area, a flock of LT Tits included a Marsh Tit (heard only, 2 Goldcrest and a briefly confiding Lesser Redpoll. Does my current age of 56 mean I am turning into a Victor Meldrew??