Waiting in

Waiting for a sofa to be delivered on Friday March 31st was eventful as I heard 2 Chiff- Chaffs calling from Fallowfields, a Song Thrush plus a Small White and 1 Peacock seen in the garden briefly. In the wildlife pond, I was delighted to see 4 Caddis Fly larvae. One was crawling up a twig and I managed to secure some pics. Having visited the dump twice to dispose of the old sofa sawn up and dismantled the previous night, I visited the Netposts and unforunatelt Maritime College students were cuprinoling some boat sails all over the net posts area so no Black reds here. A look on the Oval revealed 1 White Wagtail (the far side) and 1 Pied Wagtail. A look at Corton old SW and the holiday park revealed little save for 5 super returning Sand Martins flying over the north end of Sunrise caravan park.

Scarce spring migrants around the net posts

On Thursday 30th March, at 5.50pm, I parked up by the net posts, just north of the Birds eye factory on the North Denies and as I got out of the car I could see an ash- grey female type Black Redstart perched on the nearest post it stayed there for a few short minutes but just flew as I was setting up my camera a dog walker had stopped and was looking with his dog at heel around 40 yards away but even at this range it had spooked the bird. Apparently it had flown to the bushes by the Birds Eye factory as I was informed by another birder from the big lens brigade (exact replica of mine!) It then flew onto the net posts again and was actively feeding at one time it caught a large caterpillar and being around 30 yards away we got some middling shots. As I was photographing this I heard the scratchy song of a male and what must be a male, albeit first year bird in ash grey plumage, the second Black Redstart, of the evening, was seeing on top of the middle of a horizontal post behind us. This birder promptly left, I was soon joined by another this time with a Sigma 150-600mm lens set up his only optical aid (what no bins!) and we saw a Wagtail flock actively feeding and moving initially by the grassy area just north- east of the net posts, various dog walkers were pushing them north- west from here. At least 3 were fine White Wagtails, 2 of them males.

Eider and Godwit breaks the week's duck

Having missed for the second weekend running White Wags at Corton, a Wheatear at Corton ORT (Mon after work), Waxwings at Gorleston (Tues after work), I was wondering when my luck would change. It certainly didn't when I took a look at the Netposts late afternoon on Wednesday 29th March, I failed to see the Black Redstart (probably given the runaround by the multitude of visitors here both 2 legged and 4 legged) seen earlier. A look in Hamilton Dock for the Eider that I have missed 4X since it was first seen finally gave itself up and incredibly it was showing really close to Hamilton road, at one point it was on the very edge of the dock. Initially I looked west and saw it albeit against the light slightly but moving down to the fenced part of the car park the sun rays briefly lit up the area and I was able to get some reasonable shots of the bird with the sun behind me. It was a fine male immature Eider, a wonderful bird to see especially as it afforded me very close, even "Ferguson" views, so named because of some friends of mine, really good birders, often get jammy close views! But this reflects the time they spend out in the field which is probably more than I do. I gave OFB a ring and he said he would come straight away! As I looked back at the muddy spit, waders included 4 Turnstone, 3 Oystercatchers and a fine but unexpected Bar- tailed Godwit moulting into summer plumage. I saw on the concrete step and the bird was constantly feeding just in the water as it fed ever closer until it turned and started walking back constantly feeding. It was later seen on the mud in the eastern corner. As Roger arrived literally a minute after I had seen it was gone and the male Eider was bony rapidly swimming away and poor Roger saw it feeding by the sand bank over the far side of the dock.

Weekend catch up

On Saturday 25th March, in the garden, a Peacock butterfly settled briefly on the ground before flying off. I walked down to the scrape at Carlton Marshes, the fine male Garganey was swimming on the scrape in the distance and joined Teal, when they were spooked and it flew to the right around 20 yards. Later a Water Pipit flew up and calling flew towards Oulton marshes. Walking back I counted 15 Small Tortoiseshells and 1 Peacock all settled on the north path by Whitecast marsh. By the east wood, 3 Chiff- Chaffs were singing from the alders plus 2 Goldfinches seen and a female Siskin. On Sunday 26th Marsh by the old Coastguards garden, opposite Battery green and the multi- storey car park, a fine female Firecrest was seen flitting in a bush in the south east corner.

Virtually nothing

On Friday 24th March, a quick look around Hamilton Dock, Ness Point, Oval, Netposts & North Denes produced virtually nothing only notable bird seen was a female Sparrowhawk flew out of a small pine opposite the entrance to the Oval and flew towards the entrance.

Eclectic mix of Garganey, Parakeet, Frogs & Purple Sands

On Sunday 19th March, I headed down to Minsmere and on entering the North hide, on first scan across I picked up the male Garganey asleep on the bank to the west of the hide in the foreground looking right just left of the West hide. Typically in resplendent plumage. On closer inspection I could also see the female Garganey also asleep sat just right of a male Teal. Nice to see after missing this species repeatedly last year on several unsuccessful trips to Minsmere in the spring. As the female stood on the bank, it was striking that she had a really pale cream underbelly. Constant scans of the marshy area to the east of the hide failed to pick up any of yesterdays quartet of Jack Snipe the best I could find were 3 Snipe. I also tried in vain to catch sight of an early sand M all to no avail. A Buzzard flew over the trees in the distance leading inland of Sizewell Power station. Sawbills were elusive for me, as I failed to see the Smew or the Goosanders at Island Mere. Little else seen there. With time pressing, I headed back home and was delighted to see 2 adult Frogs in the fish pond sat guarding the frogspawn. Heading just round the corner to Oulton Community centre, only a minute after I arrived, I heard the distinctive "kee-kee-kee" screeching of a Ring- necked Parakeet and the female Ring- necked Parakeet flew in from the east at 5.20pm right past me, I could see the bird was a female (no neck collar) and she perched up in trees just west of 20 (Woodlands) Oulton Street, the tree with 3 Rooks nests in it. She perched on the right hand side, a green bird with very long tail. I quickly set up my scope but then looked again and she had gone! Nofurther sign for me. At Ness Point in fading light, I saw 5 Purple Sandpipers on the far rocks just opposite the compass, 1 flew north before I left and later 6 Purple Sandpipers on the rocks by the NE corner of Ness Point, as I couldn't rule out the birds seen later flying a little way north after I had left the compass viewing area, I had to conclude I had seen a total of 6 Purple Sandpipers rather than 10!

Another showy diver in 2017!

On Saturday 18th March, at 4am I could hear the rhythmic 'purring" of courting frogs coming from the fish pond, on investigation later in the day 2 adult Frogs seen plus an athletic smaller one that lept away when I approached the pond. This purring was a lovely sound and I'm sure its the result of counting frogs, it was very therapeutic. At 8am, I was walking around the south side of Carlton Marshes, hoping to see the Diver, I initially saw little on the Scrape although 3 Lapwings were in display flight on fields to the left (south). As I took the path to walk around the west side of the scrape and join the irrigation ditches by the sluice, passing a Mute swan, on a soke dyke, I noticed the fine Red- throated Diver showing well and I crawled slowly along but when the bird had dived and was able to run quickly into position without disturbing the bird. The bird was fishing around 20- 30 feet away but in my crouched position the reeds were obscuring most views but patience enable me to get some shots when it swam into some unobscured areas of the dyke. I also noticed Andrew E crouch down along the northern bank path. We had some superlative views of the bird that spent most of its time in the western corner of the dyke, but it would make occasional forays into the middle of the dyke occasional fishing and catching the odd Stickleback. It was noticeable overtime dog walkers went past even if the dogs were on lead or close at heel (pleased to report most were) it unsettled the Diver and it had been asleep on the bank it woke up and rather ungainly scrambled down to the water. If it was in he water it would swim to the furthest eastern part of the dyke and giving us superlative views down to 9 feet at times! We viewed at these times from the iron fence where I was joined by Andrew E and Rob Will who had just arrived. With Lowestoft's finest here (Andrew & Rob not me!) it wasn't long before Andrew spotted a Red Kite (with a primary missing) flying over it flew past the scrape and then hanging over Share Marsh, being fairly low (just above or below the distant telegraph lines) we had prolonged views and ecven saw it later over a south- west wood at 10.50am, Rob spotted one, a distant second Red Kite, an immaculate bird (no primaries missing) flying in from the west. It flew right over us and then flew over the Scrape and then over Share marsh. Other raptors included 6+ Buzzard flying around including 3 together, a female Marsh Harrier and Kestrel. 2 Water Pipits flew singly to the scrape with a higher pitched 'seep" call. Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron (flying around) and Redshank also seen on the scrape.