Red- footed Falcon at Carlton Marshes again

On 10 July initially no sign of the Red- footed Falcon was finally located west of Share Marsh track on a distant bare bush at 7.38pm, it flew left a little way and perched on another bush before it eventally returned to its original bush again at 7.45pm. A Muntjac Deer seen walking down the path in front of me near the Look Out hide.

Red Kite over Normanston Park

On 7 July, now recovered from a mild dose of Civid, a Red Kite, as I was being given a lift to Lowestoft Railway station, was seen going west over peto way near Normanston Park at 10.40am

Struck down with Covid!

I finally caught Covid, albeit a mild dose.

1st year Red- footed Falcon at Carlton Marshes!

On Sunday at 8.10am a Whats App message from the ever prolific rare bird finding machine that is Andrew E, stated there was a RFF Falcon down at Carlton Marshes, a Lowestoft proper tick for me. So I leapt in the car and by 8.40am I was walking down the main track in the company of Chris's M & D, we saw Andrew E and Maurice B looking across at a bush in the marsh just south of the main track and west of Tower hide. The excellent 1st summer male Red- footed Falcon was at at the top left of the bush. Perched and seemingly settled I noted the intersting plumage was usual uniform full grey plumage of the adult bird hadn't fully developed and there was an equally attractive orangy nape collar (whiter on the sides of the head) , white throat flecked with splodges of grey and orangy on the very rear flank and undertail coverts. Sadly, a couple of Magpies came over and flushed it as it flew first east then west and then south- west an perched on a distant elderberry bush. Later on in the afternoon, I joined Paul & Jane F & Gavin to see the Red- backed Shrike at the start of the Share Marsh track. It was perched to the left of a a large bramble bush and showed at mid distance. It was great to walk a few paces west and see the Red- footed Falcon perched on its favourite bush, if very distant. Apologies for the quality of the shots, these are record shots only as birds are usually so far away at Carlton Marshes & the Falcon today for me was no exception. At 10.16am, the immature Spoonbill was still asleep on the Turnpike Scrape, it did wake upo and have a feed too!

Orchids in deepest Suffolk & a trio of Little Owls

On Monday 24th June, I drove into deepest Suffolk on the trail of Fragrant Orchids and hopefully catching a few early Marsh orchids too. I arrived and parked up and walked to the Orchid area either side of the path, a boggy area, I was glad I had worn Wellington boots. I was pleased to soon see the newly out Fragrant Orchids either side of the path, with most on the right side of the path. I also saw 4 or 5 Early Marsh Orchids (all white- flowered individuals) too, with white flowers. I was also pleased to finally see some butterflies, a Meadow Brown and Small White butterflies. flying on the right side of the path. There was also around 5 Marsh Helleborines just starting to come out too. As I was driving back along the A143, the junction adjoining the A146 had closed so I was forced to divert but this proved to be very advantageous as at 9.08pm, I first saw one Little Owl on a telegraph post, it the flew over the road and onto wires on the other side of the road, a little further back from this I saw a second Little Owl perched on an another telegraph post at 9.10pm. As I was getting nearer home near some cottages at 9.28pm, a third Little Owl was also seen perched on a telegraph post. Incredible since before this year I hadn'd sen Little Owls for 2 years!

Broomrape around Riverside

On Thursday 18th June, I was keen to have a look at the Broomrape seen around Riverside, South Lowestoft. So directly after work, I headed there by the NSW building by the west side I was pleased to see several examples by the west side which hadn't been cut, sadly most were over but there were at least 3 Broomrape in good condition. I also had a look around Asda in the extreme east quadrant by the Buddlea bush area and there were quite a few Broomrape here including around 2 nice plants. sadly a load of youths were hanging around very close by in their cars, so as I had decent pics from the other location I decided to leave forthwith.

Rosie along Middleton Road, Gorleston

On Tuesday 18th June, news broke that the Rose- coloured Starling photographed in Gorleston was finally seen and pinned down to the vicinity of no.72 Middleton Road, just 5 minutes drive from the Hospital. So immediately after work I headed down there and drove back from the St.Andrew's Church roundabout and was fortunate enough to see both Rob Wil and Dave H. The only problem I had was I had no optics with me but Dave very kindly loaned me his bins as Rob directed me to the bird perched back onto roof tiles. later it did hop down and was by the lower front roof. sadly the bird was constantly 'hecking' coughing whether it had some parasite or tapeworm in it causing this constant 'coughing'. Otherwise it was a resplendent dault with alternate pink and black colouration with pink bill, mantle, rump and underparts and a shaggy black head crest and black wings lower flanks, wings, wing coverts and lower uppertail coverts and tail. It then flew to the top of the roof, before dropping down and disappearing, nice to see for around 20 minutes or so.