New Year's Day birding

On Monday 1st January 2024, a new year and first light I was down by Hamilton Dock, initially for 20 minutes I could not see the Diver but then it surfaced over the south- west side by the ships. I spent some time with the fine Great Northern Diver, although it was nearly always distant once swimming into the channel before swimming into the south- west corner of the harbour before fishing by the ships. I saw Andrew E, James B, Maurice B., Roger C. Andrew E kindly said he had seen the Black Redstart by the Bus station, but there was initially no sign for me. Wandering over to look for Purple Sands, I couldn't see any but Rog said there was one by the finger promentary and sure enough I saw a fine Purple Sandpiper perched on a reddish rock on the northern flank. I walked back to the Orbis Energy and Matthew D was watching the fine male Black Redstart . on the ground in the western section of Semblamarine SLP. I then drove to Asda, and initially saw a Peregrine perched on the eastern side of the Grain silo, I was joined by Matthew D and he spotted a second on the southern face preening and looking up at a Pigeon, the pair of Peregrines flew aound the Grain Silo then settled down again. I was scanning with my bins and I could see a distant Diver by the new Gullwing Bridge, Matthew D had his scope to hand and we could see it was a fine Red- throated Diver. This was the ideal Diver, to keep fit and get some exercise, as it was constantly on the move, a truly peripatetic Diver! We walked down to the back of Asda, but as soon as I got there it swam to the Gullwing Bridge dived and then was seen east of there and the bird swam very long distances underwater almost reaching the harbour bridge before resurfacing seen near the Grain Silo then dived and then was seen swimming by and under and west through the water underneath the Gullwing bridge, it swam so first underwater truly the Johnny Weissmuller (Champion Olympic swimmer and the best known for his role as Tarzan if the 1930s and 1940s) of Divers. I then drove down to Southwold by this time, by the outskirts of reydon, a Kestrel sen hovering, when I reached Southwold, it was just after 11am and it was truly hellish with cars and people everywhere. The road where cars park either side just before the water Tower was packed out and had to carefully negotiate all the cars and people, I saw Gus, Matthew D & other birders bu the side of th road half way down to the Harbour Inn, who had seen the legs but a Peregrine had spooked it and it had flown back. I managed to take Gus's parking space and I was very fortunately to pick up the super Lesser Yellowlegs, not great views but it was feeding beyond the reed fringes unfortunately directly against the light but the delicate bill, more slender proportions and yellow legs confirmed it was the bird. A quick look on the west side of the road, I saw 3 Curlew fly east, 15 Wigeon and Snipe, 2 Redshank on the marsh east of the road. That was enough for me, I needed to leave Southwold promptly. I then drove down to Thorpeness, saw some Ipswich birders, Matthew D again where walking down the road half way to the Golf Club, we looked out to the island by the Mere and saw a roosting redhead Goosander which later swam in the water and tucked in amongst the Mallard, the fine Ring- necked Duck was asleep, it woke up and the bill tip with the black and white band, bobble on head and greyish flanks preceded by the white side breast area was obvious. We also saw a Goldcrest in a tree in front of us and an overflying male Sparrowhawk flying north- east. Next stop was North Warren which was almost as bad as Southwold with cars and people everywhere, I had to drive down the road 3x before I could find somewhere to park but I did find at least 8 White- fronted Geese on the North marsh, together with 30 Greylag, 40 Canada and 120 Barnacle Geese in ever increasing numbers. After that again time to go. Would I brave the crowds with no doubt a packed hide at Minsmere for Hen H or go somewhere a lots less crowded, I plumped for the latter. So next stop, the Lower Waveney Valley, where before the Railway line, I parked and on the second field on the left 2 Short- eared Owls were hunting mostly at the far side of the field, they even grappled in flight briefly. A Barn Owl was also patrolling the field and nice to see a Great White Egret fly south- east and 2 single ton Little Egrets flying west and north.

New Year's Eve birding

On Sunday 31st December, the fine Great Northern Diver in Hamilton Dock initially close in by the east wall of the harbour but sadly it promptly dived then swam west in the dock then spent most of its time bu the boats. At the Orbis Energy building, a male Black Redstart flew from the building into the corner of the container yard. Later on, in the Lower Waveney Valley, a fine Short- eared Owl seen quartering a large field, once it came close flying along the edge of the field near the river then towards us and away.

Boxing Day walk

On Boxing day, Tuesday 26th December, in the afternoon, I walked along the seawall along the North Beach directly opposite Swimming Pool road and was delighted to see a small flock of Purple Sandpipers fly onto the low seaweed encrusted ledge to feed, there were 6 in number and I scanned over to the further ledge 200 metres further south and saw a further 2 Purple Sandpipers amongst 7 Turnstone and 2 Oystercatchers, totalling 8 Purple Sandpipers, easily my highest tally this winter. Nothing at Ness Point or Hamilton Dock.

Christmas Treats

A slightly delayed start to Christmas Day, I started at Hamilton Dock where again the GND had done a bunk but looking from the old Coastguards I could see a Duck on the sea by the rocks area, I saw Andrew E & we both made our way to ness Point proper and indeed it was female Common Scoter close in but against the light seen just off the sea defence rocks just south of the compass. Sad to see 5 plates had been vandalised and removed hopefully for full restoration. Groups of 4, 3 and 2 Brent Geese flew south close in too. I decided to follow the Scoter as I knew if it swum north the light would impove and indeed it did as I photogphed from the NE tip of Ness Point. As I followed the Scoter, I saw a lone Purple Sandpiper stood on the defence rocks near the north- eastern tip and I paid homage to this bird, my first Purple sand seen this winter. I also checked around Lake lothing and Oulton Broad area but apart from a sheltering Little Egret in the alcove in the lee of a bay and 2 Little Grebes on Oulton Broad viewed from the Wherry, little else was seen. I did however take a few pics of the Bee Orchid rosettes at the Lowestoft Cruising Club grassy area. Mid afternoon following a tweet from Jane F, I drove immediately down to Hamilton Dock and initially couldn't see the GND but then I saw it, the fine Great Northern Diver swimming out of Waveney Dock and it slowly swam closing, diving many times, twice catching fish including 1 large flounder it had difficulty initially swallowing. It then came even closer but by this time the light was fading and it started raining, time to go but a great end to the festive treats for the day!

Disappointing day for birds

On Saturday 23rd december, the forecast was for sunny intervals, so I was keen to get out and about and get some pics of the Divers in sunny weather,, I tried Hamilton Dock, Ness Point and then Lake Lothing and Oulton Broad, but no birds were seen. At the Cruising Club along Lake Lothing I saw 2 newly emerged rosettes of Bee Orchids. Travelling back from Yarmouth along the A47 nacreous clouds, which was a new cloud formation for me, were seen. later in the afternoon, I tried Hamilton Dock but the Diver had disappeared again. The sunset though was really good looking south- east. Back home, the sunset was even better.

Kites over the M25 and M4

Travelling to Wales on Sunday 17th December am, I saw 4 Red Kites over the M25 just before Rickmansworth and along the M4 by Reading/ Newbury area a further 4 Red Kites seen.

Cattle Egret at Breydon

Also on Saturday 16th, around late lunchtime, following a tip off from John h he had just relocated the Cattle Egret with the Horses in a field just before the farmI drove over to Breydon South wall car park and walked south along the estuary path towards the farm, I found the aforementioned field just before the farm but the only Egret I saw initially was a Little Egret walking in the ditch and around the south- east corner. A male Reed Bunting flew up and over the pathway and briefly settled on a close reed. I could hear shooting on marshes just east of the farm and then I saw it, the excellent Cattle Egret was in a ditch in a field immediately south of the farm near the path, but it then flew east and out of sight.