Frustrating day

Before work, on Wednesday 16th April, I arrived at 7.15pm but just missed the Hoopoe in the field opposite Broadland Sands, it flew north and I missed it again when the Hoopoe was seen by Paul & Jane. However, I did see my first Swallow, of the year. On the field by Radar Lodge in the middle of the field, a line of 42 Golden Plovers, most in very smart breeding plumgae but als no time to photo them as I had to be in work by 8.30am. At 3.10pm, I went over to the field opposite Broadland Sands but unfortunately birders were standing on the site right next to the Hoopoe's feeding area, this is also a private site and meant we didn't see the Hoopoe, although I had a brief glimpse of a bird that could have been it, but another camouflage jacketed birder walked down and flushed it. Erring on the side of caution, I dscounted it.

2 second Hoopoe

On Tuesday 14th April, a look around Gunton Warren I failed to find the female Ring Ouzel, so I then went to Corton parked up by the church, where I saw Rob H, at the pond by the old Sewage works an incredible tally of 3 Moorhen seen plus the pair of Mallard. A walk around the Corton New Sewage Works, revealed a singing male Blackcap by the Corton ORT plus a calling Bullfinch, heard but not seen. As we walked back to churchyard, I suggested checking the churchyard and we walked around the back of St. Bartholomew's Church, at 7.25pm Rob raised his bins and said there's a Hoopoe and I latched onto the bird flying as it flew just beneath the height of the Church tower which then obscured the bird which appeared to be dropping into roost around Church farm. despite an extensive search and a Pipistrelle bat flying east from the church little else seen. [PIC COURTESY OF ROB HOLMES, MY ESPECIAL THANKS TAKEN BY ROB THE FOLLOWING DAY WED 15th APRIL]

Corton, Benacre and Dunwich

On Saturday 12th April at Corton St. Bartholomew's Church, early morning, a male Blackcap was seen singing from the top of the Walnut tree. There was another male Blackcap singing in the Churchyard too. At the pond, I briefly saw the Water Rail scoot off again. Plus the Moorhen was seen and a pair of Mallards. I then drove to Benacre and walked down to the Broad, it was apparent there were around 40 Mute Swans dotted around the Broad. Straining my eyes and in heat haze I did finally make out the male Garganey really distant but in the north-west corner. I then drove to Dunwich and parking at the Roman road car park, I walked back along the road towards the Dunwich NT road and after 3/4 mile I turned right down a track (signed to Mount Pleasant farm), and walked a further 3/4 mile and tuned right to a gate where an assembled throng of birders and scopes we looked out over a heathy area with a large gorse bush to the left and bushes, first one male Ring Ouzel . Perched under the gorse bush perched on a branch. Then a second male Ring Ouzel hopped out and the a third and then a fourth, joined by 2 Song Thrushes, 4 male Ring Ouzels wwere on show. Finally, the female type Black Redstart popped out from the gorse bush. Later on, on the way back 2 Stone Curlews were seen the far side of a ploughed field.

Redwings over

On Thursday April, as I was getting into the car to go to work, I heard c5 Redwings flying north-east over the garden at Bosquet Close at 8am, I tried to see the rail at Corton ORT but again no show, there was a Moorhen and a pair of Mallards seen. On Thursday evening, at 6.50 I arrived and saw the mega elusive Water Rail scamper away from the pond. The Moorhen and the pair of Mallard were still there.

Rail-less at Corton

I tried twice today to see the Water Rail (tried 3X previously with no luck) at my local patch at Corton OSW, first thing this morning before work 8.10am , I did at least see a Moorhen along the west side of the pond, which is my first for this locality this year, but yet again no sign of the Rail. Little else. Directly after work (5.20pm) and again no sign although there were 70 Wood Pigeon on the Coastal field along the south- eastern edge which were higher numbers than I usually see.

No Glauc at Ness Point

On Sunday 6th April, hearing of a Glaucous Gull, I drove down at 11.30 seeing James W. and Jon B. who had both seen it but sadly it didn't appear for me. Rob H. arrived and immediately spotted a Red- throated Diver flying south over the sea, then a Sandwich Tern flying south over the sea. Then finally inland just past the Bird's Eye Factory, a Red Kite soaring slowly south over the town. I checked the rocks on the northern tip of Ness Point and was very pleased to spot 8 Purple Sandpipers roosting birds, a big tidal wave forced them to fly a little south to the finger/ jetty where they were busy feeding.

Blue-headed Wagtail at Carlton Marshes

On Saturday 5th April, I had a look at Carlton Marshes after the BH Wagtail had been seen earlier morning, I looked along the cross track and couldn't see anything, other people had looked up by the cattle and the news was negative, so I decided to check Ness Point but first I heard a House Martin call and I looked up to see a low flying House Martin flying north, my first of the year. At Ness Point & the Net posts nothing was seen. I drove back to CM after the BH Wagtail had been seen again and decided to visit the Marsh Lane end, as the light would be behind me. I ddin't realise everyone had taken the other route! From past the Old Scrape, I located the cattle flock unfortunately they were on the north side of the field, but I quickly picked up the fine Blue- headed Wagtail feeding close to the cattle. It's been a while since I saw my last so good to catch up with this one. It was constantly feeding and seen very distantly at one point the cattle grazed close to the assembled crowd on the north side of the field and they must have seen it reasonably close albeit against the light. Later on I saw a second Yellow Wagtail, a male British Flavissima race which was a gleaming yellow. Also present were 2 Pied Wagtails and 1 male White Wagtail. First Carl B. walked over then Paul and Jane F. walke over. First one then a second Cattle Egret flew up from a dyke and fed amongst the cattle. Meanwhile, overhead a flock of 30 Sand Martin included 2 House Martins. The cattle moved over to our side, at one point, both the Cattle Egrets flew past us and settled in a dyke along the west side of the field. Both wagtails flew closer feeding amongsgt the legs of the Cattle. but still at the far range of my lenses capabilities. (See heavily cropped record shot below)