Dragonflies at Waveney Forest

This morning I drove down to Waveney Forest, I had to pull in at a layby on the left hand side for a postman's van, as I pulled up I noticed a large dragonfly patrolling the woodland edge, it was a superb male Southern Hawker. Jumping out of the car I managed to obtain a few shots before it flew back a few yards and settled again, a great start!
From the car park, I walked down the northern most track following the pylons and it was immediately apparent there were loads of Common Darter, probably around 300 seen during the whole walk! There was a heavy dew on the vegetation and the flowering heather was completely covered in loads of spiders webs. A male Marsh Harrier flew over. Either side of the path, a variety of funghi seen including 5 Fly Agaric and a particularly fine and large Wood Mushroom (Agaricus silvicola) Thanks to Michael B for the ID. Three quarters of the way down I saw a Common or Viviparous Lizard which quickly scuttled off. By some sun drenched heather, 2 Small Coppers and a showy Comma butterfly were seen. Also seen flying through was yet another Southern Hawker dragonfly, this time a female, which briefly perched on some Silver birch, it flew again and I tracked it down again and managed a few further shots were obtained (see 2nd header picture).
A barking nearby Deer was probably either a Red or Fallow Deer, a large Deer was seen walking away through the wood. By the end covert, a mewing Buzzard was heard too. Several Siskins were heard too.

A Hobby welcome

It was very nice to see a lovely Hobby fly over The Pastures as I drove home tonight at 5.30pm it then followed me as I drove into The Close, I quickly stopped the car and with binoculars in hand I watched it as it flew into the direction of the sun where I lost it as it flew in a south- westerly direction.
The juvenile Lesser Black- backed Gull is still around on nearby rooftops frequently calling a plaintive wheezing call for its nearby parent.

Turtle Dove & Hobby lighten the gloom

On a distinctly gloomy afternoon, I was absolutely delighted to see my first Turtle Dove in Suffolk this year and this was then followed a minute later by a Hobby flying north, just east of Corton Old Rail track this evening. I had wandered across the track from the woody copse and decided to look in the field just east of there, when I saw the distinctive "clipped" flight of a Turtle Dove, it showed distinctive white outer tail feathers, brown mottled back and dark wing tips as it flew away in a north- east direction. No sooner had I enjoyed seeeing this bird when an excellent Hobby appeared in my vision from the right very close and just above hedge height and flew directly north just above the height of the bushes and flew over Stirrups Lane and north. The Hobby had lovely dark grey upperparts white throat and dark moustachial stripe. I also saw the red- brown trousers clearly as it flew left past me and eventually out of sight.
Also seen during the walk were up to 5 Chiff- Chaff and 3 male Migrant Hawkers.
It was also nice to see Danny P, Rene & James B birding along the track.
Earlier on in the garden I was pleased to see a Hornet buzzing around our compost bin at 2pm after going out to have a look when Jenny said she had seen a large Hornet thing buzzing around the bin. A House Martin flew over the garden today too.

Morning seawatch off Ness Point

It was nice to see so many friends seawatching off Ness point this morning. Sadly, the hoped- for Shearwater passage didn't materialise, the only candidate was a probable Sooty Shearwater shearing the waves spotted by Andrew E right on the horizon way out flying north at 9.10am.
Up to 50 Gannets seen most flying south today. Also groups of Teal, 15, 18, 8 flew south and 5 Wigeon also flew south. Whilst flying north were 3 singleton Red- throated Divers. Chris M picked one out flying towards us and we were treated to views of a fine summer- plumaged Red- throated Diver on the sea in full breeding plumage complete with grey head and neck and brick- red throat swimming south and constantly diving too on the sea, just a third of the way out.
groups of 4, 8, 15, 3 Dunlin flew south and an Oystercatcher fed at the end of the finger.
A Chiff- Chaff flew in off the sea and dived calling into the tamarisk bushes bordering birds eye. A look around Gunton Warren this afternoon failed to reveal any migrants although 3 Small Copper butterflies seen.
The young Lesser Black- backed Gull was on next door's roof (east) again today, it kept calling its thin wheezing plaintiff call again!

Evening seawatch off Ness Point

Things seemed to quieten down after I arrived at Ness point this evening at 5.15pm, typical! Around 40 Gannets seen in total flying north this evening mostly in groups of 2 to 4 with 2/3 being adults. An Oystercatcher fed on the nearby rocks by the compass point.
Flocks of Commic Terns flew south , 2 groups of 15 and 1 of 5 plus 3 Little terns also going south.
2 Arctic Skuas flew steadily south.
A largish "bird" was seen shearing over the water heading north it may have been a large Shearwater but it was seen on the very edge of the horizon it was too far away to tell.
A group of 15 Teal flew south finally.

A costly bag of chips!

This evening after work at 6.10pm, I joined a determined looking James B at Baker's Score, Corton Cliffs, he had just heard from Andrew E who had just seen a Fea's Petrel/ Soft- plumaged Petrel species flying north off Ness Point just 10 minutes ago and coming our way!
Sadly we didn't see it, it had probably flown past 5 minutes ago when James had been queuing for chips at the well- renowned Hopton fish and chip bar!! James was suitably gutted! Having missed a Sooty Tern by 10 minutes in July, I was resigned to missing it and brushed off the disappointment. Close in 3 Teal flew south and then settled close in on the sea.
I was pleased to see 3 Arctic Skuas, all singletons one flying south just over the sea and then it flew high up in the sky before, another flew north and then another south.
A group of Terns, several 4 Common Tern and at least 1 Little Tern flew south. we were then joined by Robert Hol and we saw 4 Gannets (3 immatures and 1 adult) flying low over the sea and south flying past a ship that appeared to be sucking sand, a sand dredger? An adult Mediterranean Gull flew north, whilst 3 Sky Lark called as they flew in over our heads off the sea.
Finally in the fading light a flock of 30 Common Scoter flew eventually north before settling on the sea.

Lowestoft Denes

A brief seawatch this afternoon at Ness Point was just that all sea and no birds! My usual type of seawatch I'm afraid.
I saw Robert Win in the distance, but sadly he quickly disappeared.
One Red Admiral seen by the Apple tree in Arnold's walk
On the groynes, 2 Common Tern and 2 Sandwich Tern perched on one groyne.
Walking along the seawall, 2 Wheatears flew onto western edge and then onto the Denes, one flew way over but one stood on a parallel path near the sea wall and I was able to creep closer and obtain a couple of good photos. A Red Admiral was seen on the bramble just north of the Oval.
I then saw Nick B on the North Beach and although we were unsuccessful in seeing sea slugs (although Nick had seen one earlier) we did see an adult winter- plumaged Mediterranean Gull flew south.