Carlton Purple Patch

On Sunday 21st April, after a rest following 10 miles of walking yesterday, I decided to do a mere 3 miles today by walking down to Carlton Marshes, Peto's Marsh, first stop, Turnpike marsh where the first one from the main track I saw the Green- winged Teal at the back. Swimming left by some tussocks. Meanwhile by the closest water's edge, there were 4 summer plumaged Black- tailed Godwits and with them was a fine Spotted Redshank in grey plumage going into summer plumage. Try as I might, I could not see either a Green Sand (earlier not on Cormorant island or Wood Sand) At Turnpike hide, I saw an Egyptian Goose on its nest. Plus 2 Swallows and 3 Sand Martins flying over the Scrape. By North hide, I saw 3 Pochard (2 males and a female) swimming on the water. Up to 4 Marsh Harriers, 3 males and a cream headed female quartered the reeds at the back and it was pleasing to see areas had been cut for Bitterns. As I walked back, I saw the Spotted Redshank and the 4 Black- tailed Godwits but they soon flew north-east I stopped by Turnpike hide and saw Rob H and Rhiannon stroll up, I hadn't relocated any of the birds. But as I scanned I refound the GW Teal again and looing over to Turnpike Scrape, I saw the group of waders, the 4 Black- tailed Godwits and the Spotted Redshank and pointed out to Rob & Rhianna. Rob picked out the fine pair of Garganey (male and female) just in front of them (male and female) and as I scanned further I finally saw the fine Wood Sandpiper feeding in Mare's Tail at the back.

Patch and then Benacre for Summer plumaged Slav Grebe

A look around Corton revealed a calling Chiff- Chaff low down in Corton Churchyard and another Chiff- Chaff at Corton New Sewage works. 2 Blackcap heard too. Nothing at ness Point or the Netposts. A tweet from Carl had me driving straight to Covehithe. I parked and walked down to the Broad, where Carl B and Maurice B were in the hide watching the bird. A fine summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe. It was reasonably close just beyong the hide inlet it was swimming left and diving, I only saw it for around 3 minutes before it disappeared. The light was awful. Meanwhile by the side of the inlet a Male Gadwall seen. On the beach edge, Ringed Plover, 2 amorous Oystercatchers (later seen copulating and a lone Avocet , stood the farside of the beach edge. A male Marsh Harrier quartered the reeds by the back. Richard D came into the hide and soon picked up the Slavonian Grebe, which had amazingly swam right well over to the right and some distance away on the Broad. Paul & Jane F arrived and after a while we walked down to the beach and saw the Slavonian Grebe. It was by the beach edge but still quite distant. Carl mentioned he had seen 3 Wheatears on Kessingland inland dune, so parking at the rather euphemistically called Beach car park which around a quater of a mile from the beach, I walked down to the beach and then half a mile over to the Kessingland inland dune. I saw a male and female Wheatear briefly then again along the southern end. A pair of Stonechats were feeding very low on the ground. It was also very noticable the number of small flocks of Linnets seen on the dunes path and also on the walk back, probably 7 groups of around 15- 20 birds seen (around 110 in total) and 1 male Linnet briefly on the fence as I walked north back along the coastal path. Itis rare to see such a proliferation of Linnets, they are always nice to see. All 3 Wheatears (2 males and a female) seen along the northern end, thwen along the western side, I managed to sneak up on 2 birds before first one and then 2 dog walkers flushed the birds.

Return to the Surf Scoter

On Friday 19th April after work, I drove down to Walberswick village and parked in the free parking bay by the green at 6pm. I walked out first 200 yards south of the beach huts and the 400 yards and the 1600 yards south by Corporation Marshes. At first I copuld only see 1 pair of Common Scoter close in. But I spied a group of around 32 Common Scoters way out in Sole Bay and it included the Surf Scoter. Fortunately, iot included the 1st wintrer Surf Scoter. Too far out to photograph, as I was walking back to around just 400 yards south of the huts 2 groups of Scoters flew in a little closer, they totalled 72 Common Scoter in 2 equal groups. The one on the left included the fine 1st winter Surf Scoter and I managed to get a few shots before the groups merged.

Green- Winged Teal at Peto's, Carlton

On Thursday 18th April, this time after work, I finished at 2.15pm, I walked down the main track to just before the Turnpike Hide, where I joined Mark E. to view a distant (as always) American Green- Winged Teal, slightly larger than the other Teal with distinctive white verticle stripe on its front flanks. It spent a little time hising behind tussocks before walking left and then swimming right where finally it stood and preened. Also seen were Yellow Wagtail. Around 6 Swallows were skimming the water in front of us and a Sedge Warbler could clearly be heard too. The last 3 species all new for the year for me.

Surf Scoter at Walberswick

On Tuesday 16th April, a look around the Denes and the Netposts failed to reveal any W'ears, just c30 Wood Pigeon on the Oval and a sheltering male Pied Wagtail around the caravans. Wednesday 17th April, I drove to Walberswick and was rather taken aback that the car parks didn't sccept cash and you needed to download an app that wouldn't download. Fortunately there was free parking at the green after 6pm. So I parked there and walked out past the beach huts and walked around 200 yards south to join Andrew E watching from the bank and the fine 1st winter Surf Scoter was seen in the middle of the flock with swollen bill and very distinctive white square nape patch, amongst the 30 or so Common Scoter. The sun was shining but as soon as I set up the camera for distant record shots the cloud rolled in and it became very overcast.

Garden Orange Tip

On Saturday 13th April, mid afternoon I saw a fine male Orange Tip in the garden at 3pm, which was welcome relief from a very nasty headache I experienced all weekend.

Purple Heron at Carlton Marshes

On Thursday 11th April, after the poor weather the previous evening, I coolly waited until the fine spring-like evening and directly after work, 5.45pm I was walking down the main track (seing a Grey Heron fly north over the track) from Carlton Marshes and pleased to see Paul & Sara scoping the Heron in the dyke. It was distant and initially obscured by the reeds with just its head poking out, but eventually and over the course of the following hour we had excellent prologed if distant view of the very fine adult Purple Heron , with a fine tassel drooping down from the crown of his head. The Heron was was fishing in the dyke. Jeremy G joined us and we had fine distant views of it before abruptlky at 7.03pm it flew up into the sky initially heading south and towards the Visitors centre, it veered around to the north and then veered westwards eventualy it flew north west and disappeared behind trees on Jenson's island. A male Marsh harrier also seen and walking back by the Vistor's centre, I heard both a Bittern boom and a Grasshopper warbler reeling.