Comet A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS spotted from the garden

On Wednesday 16th October, I went out as it was getting dark to set the Comet from Millenium Way but couldn't see it. Thanks to our Whats App group I checked again from the garden at 7.15pm and standing on a chair I could clearly see it, Comet A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS with an obvious flared tail stretching up above it, low down in the west. I had especially good views using my binoculars. First time sighted from earth in 80,000 years!! I couldn't get a pic of, (never very good at night time photography) so instead here's a picture of our much loved boy, Comet, our former lovely black and white cat, who we sadly lost all too early on 14th August 2023 last year, we miss him and of course we miss our also much loved, beloved and equally lovely Tabby cat Cosmo too, who we lost suddenly and unexpectedly on 1st February this year, we still miss both of them dreadfully.

Ospreys and Shore Larks!

After a series of dips it was good to see some birds today starting off at Thorpeness Meare where typically as I arrived the Osprey I had come to see had been flushed off its tree by boaters on Meare and it had flown off! But it came around again and I joined Paul & Jane F and others here and hunted over the Meare really low right in front of us, frequently flapping and 'hovering' performing beautifully, the only problem was the light was really hideous and it was near silhouette shots only. I dialled in a plus 1 and a quarter exposure setting rating but could have pushed it to over +2 really. The bird then settled on. large bare branched tree on the island at the back. It was disturbed once again when rowers approached it and it flew out the back. It flew back from hunting/ fishing at the back and perched up again feeding on fish. As we watched I haerd the wonderful distintive call of an Osprey close by (the first time I have heard this call in England!) and looked up and saw a wonderful second Osprey flying in from the right (north) I called it immediately and everyone was pleased to see the 2 Ospreys. They both then flew up and flew round island and the back and were both seen gaining hide and going south? Were they leaving, but it was our queue to leave and I followed Paul & Jane F to Kessingland where we parked up and after a short walk we were on the Kessingland Dunes/ beach opposite the southern most carvan by the caravan park. We could see at least 3 birders/ photographers (including Gavin) and we slowly crawled up and joined them to view the fine quartet of 4 Shore Larks busy feeding. They were reasonably confiding but they became even more so when a local lady made a bee-line for them and fortuitously for me pushed them in my direction where I managed a few shots. Otherwise, they held a respectful distance until again a dog walker heading for the beach pushed one even closer to us where I got a shot of the bird stretching its neck up. Otherwise the protective cordon of birders/ photographers kept the dog walkers away and most had their dogs on leads, great to see such responsible behaviour from both the dog walkers and birders/ photographers waiting for the birds to come to them whichj they did with a little patience. Around 8 Linnet also seen that flew north. Good to see Steve A. too and I even managed a brief chat with him as I drove through the beach village.

Desert Warbler at Winterton

On Sunday 6th October, a WhatsAp message stating there was a Desert Warbler at Winteron had me driving over and parking just north of the village. I walked out seeing Johnny and then a returning Rob H. I walked for around 3/4 mile north and saw a group of people by 2 bushes. The bird, a fine Asian Desert Warbler was initially incredibly elusive and I didn't even see it for the first 30 minutes. It did appear a lovely sandy colour being warmer brown on the tail and yellow eye and straw coloured legs. Glimpses of the bird was seen and then it flew to some bushes just east of there, 2 of the bushes it showed slightly better anbd I managed to get a few shots when it appeared in the gaps. Later on it even flew out flew within a foot of me and David B and perched by the side of the bush just 3 foot away. Meanwhile a juvenile Cuckoo flew right at the back of the dunes. A wonderful bird to see the last one I saw was on Blakeney Point, May 1993, over 31 years ago!

Corton OSW visit after work

On Friday 4th October, after work I looked around Corton, seeing little save for Robin in St. Bartholomew's Churchyard and hearing at least 2 Goldcrests from the eastern hedge. A look around the Corton OSW failed to reveal the OBP sensationally found by Rob H., this morning, I saw a fine Green Woodpecker fly out from the static Caravan Park just north of the OSW and into another one just west of there.

Redwings over the garden

After a weekend of back problems, I had recovered enough on Wednesday 2nd October to hear at least 2 fine Redwings, first returning winter migrants from Scandinavia flying south over our back garden with their evocative 'tseep' calls permeating the atmosphere of the fading light on this autumnal evening.

Corton patchwork

On Saturday 21st September, looking around Corton Churchyard and Old Sewage Works, walking down there was a charm of 5 Goldfinch, which flew off. I saw a really showy female Stonechat regularly returning to a stick and foliage perches on the eastern perimeter. At times the bird was really close and one occasion it was too close to photograph being only 3 feet away! A Robin flew up to the Broadland Sands fence line. Walking away I saw a juvenile Goldfinch. I walked down to Corton Old Rail Track, just before the bridge a Redstart flew across and disappeared into a dense bush.

Return to the Black- necked Grebe

On Friday 20th September, I left work a little earlier at 4pm, on a much brighter day I drove over to Kessingland and I parked up and walked down, the fine immature Black necked Grebe was still there and once it had dived I got into position and managed to get some shots. It spent time at the back but then started to flap its wings preen and and pop up on its haunches. It then swam closer over to the middle of the pool, one of the volunteer Little Tern wardens came over and stood a little way back, I spoke to her for a while, until the Grebe swam closer, once the Grebe dived again I got back into position and I obtained a few shots in the golden hour before sunset. As we walked back we saw Cliff W. on the steps scoping the bird from which still on the shore pool from a distance, the bird was still there at 6.20pm.