Elusive Wryneck at Benacre

On the morning of Saturday 3rd September, I parked at the entrance to Beach farm, behind the Ferguson mobile and phoning jane I was instruced to walk past the farm and carry onto the beach rather than take the track south by the turnstyle by the Farm. I first saw Ali, who said the Wryneck had flown towards the Paddocks filed but it had buried itself in a hawthorn bush by the side pof the path. Walking down halfway I joined Jane & Paul F and we looked at the bush, albeit against the light and the fine Wryneck hopped up to the top left of the bush where views were obtained before it flew north past the Paddocks field and buried itself in the copse. We walked to the Sluice area and spotted 5 Wheatear. We were joined by Carl B & Kevin also spotted a fine winter plumaged Knot flying south and it settled on the beach by the south side of the Pit but unfortunately a dog walker put the bird up and it continued flying south. We went back to the paddocks field where we were joined by David saw a Pied Flycatcher along the hedgerow in a large tree flick about plus 3 immature Goldfinches perched in the tree. taking the track south by the turnsyle we walked past the 2 pillboxes and going in na field west of the bush, we saw the Wryneck tenetaively venture out on a large trunk running parallel to the ground barely a foot above it. I walked the other side and the fine Wryneck flew up from the track and again disappeared into the bush.

Friday evening at the Netposts

On Friday evening, straight after work, I looked at the Net posts and 4 Wheatear and 2 Whinchat seen, The fine male Redstart seen only fleetingly mainly at the end occasionally perched in one of the small trees planted by the Birds Eye bushes. Nice to see Derek & Gillian M arrived and I pointed out some of the birds, as we lookeds a small feeding flock of Gulls was in the sky above the netposts area and I picked the excellent adult Winter Little Gulls that continued feeding before flying north.

Confiding Barwit along Gunton beach

On BH Monday 29th August, just after 1pm after a tweet from James W, I parked up along North Parade cliff and together with Rob h we made our way down Link's Road and it was immediately apparent that there was along pool on the beach and we soon picked up the excellent immature Bar- tailed Godwit was constantly feeding in the sand, presumably feeding on Sand Hoppers. There was a little raised shelf that Rob and I could to look over the beach and the pool and the Godwit would often walk up and down constantly feeding. Dog walkers around 8, a detectorist all veered out of the way when they could see us photographing the bird, others walking by enquired about the bird and Rob was on hand to give an explanation, whilst I still photographed the bird particularly when the light and improved from the rather cloudy we had been experieincing even culminating in a brief burst of sunlight. Also by the far side of the pool were several Gulls including an immature Mediterranean Gull, which also posed well for the camera. Until after an hour or so, a couple walked with dogs either side of the pool and forced the bird to fly a hundred yards north and it settled on the beach by a groyne where we left it.

Little Gull in Link's rd compound

On Wednesday 24th August evening, I saw the 2nd year/ winter Little Gull asleep in the middle of Link's road compound. It flew west but then seen flying south over the sea, before flying back and landing in Link's road compound presumably to roost, nice to see Chris a too.

Little Gull duo at North beach

On Tuesday 23 August, at around 7.15pm, I spied an adult winter Little Gull on the sea from North Parade cliff, walkers along the beach shoreline disturbed and it flew south and settled on the sea by a distant groyne. I saw jeremy A 2nd winter Little Gull flew back, a second bird and eventually settled on the Link's road compound, again eluding the camera sadly. Several 5 Common Terns seen and 2 Sandwich Terns settled on a groyne but sadly no Black Terns seen.

Ness Point August goodies

On Sunday 21 August in the early afternoon I drove down to Ness Point and parked near the Wind Turbine compound, getting out of the car, I saw the excellent immature Cuckoo fly across from the right (north) and settled on one of the perimeter fence posts. I hastily assembled my camera gear onto the tripod but as luck would have it a van drove out of the storage park behind the compound and flushed the Cuckoo, it flew into the storage compound by fortunately soon settled on a verticle metal bar and I was able to get some shots and on a container too, before something in the compound spooked it again and it was gone, despite a thorough search around the area several times (and Rob H appearing too) It was not seen. We did however see a showy Painted Lady that spent a lot of her time resting on the pavement on the NE tip of the old Gas compound. I went back and wwas able to get a few shots of her. From the compass at ness Point on the rocks were 2 exquisitely summer plumaged Turnstones and I got a few photos of these too. Whilst out to see, 2 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls settled on the sea and then flew south. Nothing at the Net posts whilst on the Oval were another 2 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls. Looking from the south end of North Parage looking into the Link's road compound (formerly car park were 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls and a fine adult winter Little Gull all on its own bang in the middle of the car park. It showed a smudges black crown hread spot behind the eye, thin black bill and legs. The Little Gull was initially asleep and the woke up and also flew off south. It hadn't been disturbed as I was viewing from the top of North Parade cliff, scoping it.

Little Gull in the compound

On Saturday 20th August, I drove down to Link's Road in the early evening 6pm and saw the very fine adult winter Little Gull in the compound not far from Link's road, it was looking around and looking nervous and sadly soon took to flight flying south over the sea, so no chance of any pics although the wire mesh of the fencing would have spoiled the pic anyway, plus I have no way of showing them while the computer is in for repair.