A splash of Mediterranean colour behind Gapton Hall retail park

Sound a bit illegal and dodgy the title of this post but on Monday 21 June, incredibly Steve S had found an incredibly group of 9 Bee-eaters behind the Gapton Hall retail park, news broke late morning (This was flowing a report the previous Thursday of 2 near MacDonalds accompanied by a good pic of 2 birds sitting on power lines confirming this report) Obviously I had to go and a quickly covened lunchbreak, it was 12.30pm. I 'scooted' over and parked by TK Max and then took the rough road heading north turning left and left again past Docwra's. I joined a long 'throng' of birders scoping the birds in the distance in a bush roughly half way between us and Humblestone farm along Breydon south wall. Only problem was I had no optics with me whatsover, however I am indebted to the kind actions of good friends Carl B and Tony S who allowed me prolonged views of the birds, 9 fantastic Bee-eaters first in that bush and when they flew closer and settled on power lines and it was lovely to hear their chortling calls and view their outrageously colourful plumage, a real pick me up for those fortunate to see them. A real riot of colour with yellow, brown, turquoise, green all put into the mix to provide a real vision of pleasure! Also really good to see John H, Tommy, Peter A & Dick F. I didn't need optics however when they (the Bee-eaters not the esteemed company previously mentioned!) flew directly over us and towards the southern end of Gapton Hall retail disappeareing around where MacDoanlds is, sadly my time had elapsed and I had to get back from work, I joined Carl B but couldn't keep up with him as I was hobbling abit by this stage.

Dipped Rosie

Andrew E had found a RC Starling at Hamilton Dock and for 3 nights on the trot, I joined him, Julie, Rob H & Rob Wil to try and see it. First night, the bird had just dropped down from the harbour wall and out of sight, it flew west over to the ice house, spotted again by the ever vigilent Andrew but there were 2 groups of Starlings flying and I latched onto the wrong group of course! On all 3 nights several thousand usually in groups of 30- 50 would fly in. All 3 nights we heard a Black Redstart singing from across the dock, second night a fine male Black Redstart was seen in the dock along the harbour wall.

Collared Pratincole at Carlton Marshes

On day, June, for a change I went to Southwold and it was really nice to see Brian S and catch up with him a pleasant walk around the marshes revealed a couple of Sedge Warblers and a Yellowhammer. I should have looked around the Town marshes too as Brian S (bird magnet no.1) had a Collared Pratincole fly through. It was then incredibly picked up by bird magnets 2 & 3 Andrew ACE E and Carl B. They put the news out and it was yet another hobble down to the far western end of Peto's Marsh. I was joined by Steve and we walked down pausing only to see a male Scarce Chaser on the way down and a couple of Wall browns in the usual spot on the river walk past Peto's. Joining a small throng of birders including Carl B, Ali R, Andrew E, Phil D, Julie etc. and the "person" who had been so nasty and vindictive to me on social media at Kessingland recently spreading slanderous lies on my supposed actions (impossible with my current affliction) that person, seeing I was amongst friends, soon left. He even asked me where the Wall browns and I told him (I didn't realise it was him at the time because I probably wouldn't divulged any information to him whatsover). Back to the birds, the fantastic Collared Pratincole quickly flew up from around the middle of the scrape showing the chestnut secondaries and I got a glimpse of part of the white trailing edge. It flew around again then settling in the same area behind and island and just out of sight. At one point during one of its sorties it flew almost overhead and again part of the white secondaries seen. Through the gate a male Scarce Chaser seen. On another fly around the Collared Pratincole. I am very proud of the fact this is my second Collared Pratincole having discovered one on the drive up to Rackham's corner along the A1117 at Blundeston but also extremely sad that 2 dear friends the late Ricky F and the late Ian S, had seen this bird fly over their respective gardens a few days earlier, they are both very sadly missed. An honourable mention must be made of Andrew E and Rob Wil who had almost certainly heard this bird call in fields to the west of Corton NSW, so it is fitting that Andrew jointly found the second of Lowestoft and I proudly welcome Andrew and Carl to the Lowestoft Collared Pratincole finders club! Finally for me the Collared Pratincole had a big fly around the marsh and then flew north and disappeared over the bund only for it to eventually come back, which I saw when I finally left. I decided to walk to the sluice and saw some Damselflies and a Banded Demoiselle.

Walberswick Red- foot & 'Angels of the woods'

On Sunday 6 June, the fine immature male Red- footed Falcon (with sooty grey plumage & brick red around the thighs and slightly smaller an squatter than the more angular slightly larger Hobbies). The Red- foot was seen in flight along the west end of Westwood marshes reached from the path running west from the dilapidated wind pump plus at least 5 Hobbies, Buzzard and 2 Marsh Harrier, Bearded Tit, pothole between Walberwick & Hoist Covert. Towards the end of the observation the bird came much closer and goodviews were At a Suffolk wood, saw Sam who very kindly showed me where the 2 Butterfly Orchids were, plus 5 Birds Nest Orchids, further back. Back at Sotterley Chapel, it had clouded up & the Spotted Flycatchers were heard but not seen but 3 Common Twayblades seen at the back of the cemetery. Again no sign of the Turtle Doves nearby.

Spotted Flycatchers

On Saturday 5 June, a look at Carlton Marshes, predictably failed to see the Purple Heron, met Andrew E on the walk up and he pointed out an area were Wall Browns seen, 2 males spiralling up. Birds seen, a Common tern perched on the island plus a family of Coot with coot chicks and Avocets, plus an odd looking Buzzard which appeared slightly bigger than normal, holding its wings level (rather than raised in a "v" shape, with the primaries turned up at the tip, otherwise markings were Buzzard. Saw Ali, Phil D and the abusive/ aggressive 'person' from 28 May, although I didn't know it at the time (otherwise I wouldn't have told him about the Wall Browns which he missed on the way up and he saw on his way back). I saw one on the way there and the same 2 males spiralling up from the exact same spot. One of the males was regularly returning to the same spot or the yellow flower by the edge. Sad to see someone cycling along this path narrowly missed squashing the Wall Brown (it flew up just in the nick of time). Walking back near the another 2 Wall Brown seen. Spotted Flycatcher 3 at Sotterley Chapel, 1 where I parked and 2 along the eastern end of the Churchyard plus 2 Orange Tip, no sign of Turtle Dove nearby & no sign of RFFalcon from Westwood Lodge. Not sure where to go for the RBShrike nearby.

Wally the Walrus again at La Rochelle, Brittany, France

On Wednesday 2nd June, pictoral evidence of Wally the justifiably very popular wandering Walrus, sitting in a tiny boat in the the port of La Rochelle, Brittany, France, perhaps wanting to hitch a lift back north?!

Holly Blue again in the garden

Delighted to see the Holly Blue again in the garden today, Wednesday 2nd June.