Brief late summer trip to Wales

On Tuesday 31 August a trip to Wales primarily to see family including the usual (but always very welcome Red Kite sightings!) Along the M25 just before the Rickmansworth flyover, 2 Red Kites seen, plus a further 3 Red Kites seen along the M4 near where they filmed the external scenes to "The Office" passing through Slough on the M4. A Buzzard was seen near Swindon. On Wednesday 1st September, early evening a Red Kite flew low over Mum's house several times. On Thursday 2nd September, whilst waiting for the boat at New Quay, 3 boats all together and a few Gulls I saw 2 Bottlenose Dolphins break with surface of the sea and the back and fins seen briefly as they swam along, adult mother and her calf. The boat trip itself, although well organised and pleasing there were only 10 of us on board (whereas the other trips were completely full up 60+ people) was unfortunately unsuccessful wildlife spotting-wise with no Dolphins seen, which was very disappointing, the only birds of note seen included 3 Chough seen flying over the cliffs and a flying and cxalling Rock Pipit over the rocks, plus 2 Black- headed Gulls on the sea . Once back, viewing from the harbour again, I spied another boat going out briefly stopped on the sea and I saw a Guillemot on the water. Directly afterwards a late afternoon trip to Cymisfael stream revealed 1 Grey wagtail on ther stream heading west and another second Grey Wagtail on the stream by the road. By the bridge, a hirundine movement east included 18 Swallows, 3 Sand Martins and 2 House Martins, a Goldcrest was heard and Chiff- Chaff heard too whilst walking back to the stream as I was getting I heard the metallic "clink" of a Dipper and looking south I saw the Dipper perched in its usual spot.

RIP Keith

Very, very sad to hear of the passing of Keith D. I first met Keith, in his role as chairman of the Great Yarmouth Bird Club, a role he served with great distinction with his front of house role for many years. Keith was a true gent and 28 years ago I applied to join the GYBC, at that time it wasn't a given that I would be accepted but he kindly informed that I was eligible to join the Bird Club. I was welcomed by all the other members of the Club too, I greatly enjoyed attending the meetings. I had moved back to Suffolk (following 8 years at University then working at Chiswick then Hounslow Libraries) to take up my then new role in 1993 as Senior Librarian at Great Yarmouth Public Library. Keith was a passionate and very knowledgeable birder and a great field birder too, finding a Franklin's Gull on Breydon on 30th June 1991 being a superb find for the both site & county. I didn't see that bird (working in London at the time) but I finally caught up with one on Breydon 0n 5th August 2014, just before work. Keith led from the front and a wonderful feature of GYBC meetings, was Keith announcing at the start of each meeting talking about latest news and rarities seen. He was an excellent Chairman of GYBC. Keith was a great compiler of records too and I was honoured to visit him at his home office on a few occasions. He helped compile records for the Norfolk Bird & Mammal report and was meticulous in recording these and the GYBC Norfolk bird lists. It was always good to catch up with Keith when out and about in the field, he'd always give you a cheery greeting and alaways had time for you. Farewell @Chelseabirder, RIP Keith.

Bank Holiday Blues

Poor weather at the Bank Holiday and on Saturday an attempt to go seawatching at 11am was thwarted by an old dishelvelled tramp smoking profusely on the bench at Corton. I didn't feel like watching from elsewhere but returned home and found a Small Tortoiseshell on the Buddlea and the Red Admiral was still about too. On Sunday, a trip to Southwold revealed a Swift flying over just past the bridge.

Poor weather = elusive birds

On Monday 23rd August, early morning heard a flapping in the bathroom and released unharmed outside a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly that some how got in. In the afternoon at work, a Migrant Hawker dragonfly seen flying around at the back SE corner of the Burrage Centre where it settled on a hedge. After finishing work 30 minutes late, I was finally out in the field at 6pm, checking Corton churchyard, Corton Old Sewage works (where more trees have been taken out of the entrance path to the left) and the static carvan site has exponentially grown right up to the northern edge of the old sewage works site, I wonder how many people staying there they are camping right next to an old sewage works? So much so that you can't walk around the edge of the old sewage works anymore. The sunny weather had been replaced by thick grey coud and gloomy conditions. Corton new sewage works I walked around too plus the North Denes, the enclosed area and the car park opposite Sparrow's Nest. No sign of any birds whatsover save for a Whimbrel calling over the Sparrow's Nest. As I walked the edge of the car park trees for the twentieth time a tweet from Alison saying the Redstart was still at the car park was a rather surrel moment. Alison got out of the car and explained the bird had been very low down in the bushes on the southern end of the car park edge. A dog walker walked past and the dog went into the bush and I immediately heard the alarm call of the Redstart from the bush just south by the hedge, I still couldn't see it and then from the next bush along, I still couldn't see it. OFB drew up and unilaterally decided to go into the bush and I saw the Redstart very briefly fly up to the bush by the fence where it disappeared never to be seen again. Persuading OFB to leave the bird in peace to go to roost, that was it. best birding of the evening was when I got back home and a calling mewing Buzzard had 2 of these birds circling the skies just to the north of the house. On Tuesday 24th August, at about 5.45pm again after work, I was down on the North Denes, this time the sunny weather earlier had again been replaced by thick cloud and a stiff breeze, despite doing 2 circuits again no sign of the Whinchats and nothing in the enclosed compound or Netposts. No sign of the redstart either. A tweet from James W and I drove stright there and parked opposite the NE corner of Dip Farm seeing James we viewed the area from different viewpoints and saw the Pied Flycatcher flitting very briefly in the Hawthorne bush, Great Tit and Robin also seen. Plus a couple of Muntjac Deer on the path and my first Stoat of the year too.

Wryneck kicks off the autumn in style

On Sunday 22nd August, Rob Wil had found a Wryneck along Gunton Warren, so late afternoon, I parked up opposite Dip farm and made my way to the small assembled throng, taking in a Small Copper butterfly on the way down. With Rob saying the bird had been seen a few times. No sign for an hour before Kevin B, spotted it from the beach and the fine Wryneck was seen on the path (looking into the sunlight so no pics) hopping along feeding for a couple of minutes before it flew up into the gorse. The plaintive call heralded the fine Golden Plover fly in of fthe sea. Plus processions of Mediterreanean Gulls, flying north, adults (9) and immatures (3) c12 seen. In the evening around Rob Hol's we saw a fine Hobby flying west at 7.30pm, over the back of his back garden.

At last! Ternfest along Lowestoft North beach & garden records

On 20 August, at 6.09pm, a very vocal "twitter-emitter" or the 7 note Whimbrel heard flying low over the garden flying south (not seen though). On Saturday 21 August, Lowestoft North beach this morning at around 7.30am, I drove down following a tweet from James B regarding a juvenile Black Tern. When I arrived James B was already there & Andrew E had just arrived. It was immediately apparaent there were a lot more Terns than usual I counted c240 Common Terns. James informed me the Black tern had flown off but fortunately I picked it out, the fine juvenile Black Tern perched on a post, 2 groynes south of the car park. When James B was testing on me on which bird was the juvenile Arctic on the groyne (easy James!) in front of us, I was delighted to pick out 2! Another was on a post (same groyne) opposite south of the other one so there were 2 juvenile Arctic terns in all, 2 Sandwich Terns, a Yellow wagtail flew over calling, 4 Swift seen flew south, and up to 7 Mediterenean Gulls, 2 winter adults and up to 5 immatures , 2 were hanging around and using the car as a mobile hide I got a few pics but the light wasn't as good as I thought it was!(inc. the one pictured underneath, plus record shots only of juveniles of both Black & Arctic Tern, sadly but inevitably the birds flew before I could get closer; scared off by dog walkers shouting along the shoreline). Plus John L pointed out a Carrion Crow and Magpie harrying a female Sparrowhawk along the Cliffe. Good to meet John L & his wife, John recently spotted a Booted E at Carlton fame, a fabulous record, also good to see Kevin B, David B & his wife too. at 9.55am a calling yellow Wagtail flew over the house and south. At 5.55pm just as the rain was starting, I saw a superb Great Spotted Woodpecker fly in to the tree on the far right, It was heavily obcured hopped up one of the branches and then it flew south calling "tschiick" First record of one seen in the garden.

Terns on groynes & defaced Banksy

A check of the Lowestoft North Beach this evening, Wednedsay 18 August, revealed 37 Common Terns (my highest tally this summer) on groynes (north and south of Links road car apark) this evening with 8 immatures, little else. A perspex cover now put over the Banksy artwork, even though it has been completely defaced. A case of slamming the stable door after the horse has bolted? Pics show before (the 'inevitable' vandalism) and after (being daubed over with white paint & perspex covered) shots.