Nice show of migrants

On Tuesday 25th August, at 11.30am by the James Paget Hospital grounds, as I was walking up to the Endoscopy Admin staff Portacabin, a colleague pointed out a very low flying Hummingbird Hawk Moth flying just inches above the grass it meandered around a little then flew north. Tuesday evening directly after work no sign of anu migrants around Corton Sewage works old or new, nor the Churchyard either but a Wheatear was seen flying down the path ahead of me, as I traversed the cliff top path from Corton Old Sewage works to the northern edge of Corton Village. I saw Rob H. and he said the Redstart had been seen at Gunton Warren, just 100 metres north of the chicane. I drove over there, parked up and walked along the middle path, where I saw Jon B. who said he had just had the Redstart dive into the bracken a minute ago. After 10 minutes, I walked to the clear area just metres away and the fine Redstart flew up and flew into the sycamore just nearby. A further look along Gunton Warren failed to reveal any further migrants, so I drove to the Net Posts and again joined Rob H. where we enjoyed good views of first one and then 2 Wheatear in the area between the Net Posts and the seawall. The first Wheatear was relentlessly pursued by a Kestrel in flight, the Falcon was intent on capturing it as prey the Wheatear looped around and eventually evaded the Kestrel. Both were reasonably obliging especially a second bird until a Toddler drove down the track deliberately and spooked it, which was very annoying. Rob siad he though he hada Whinchat on the seewall briefly and we both inverstigated the weedy area just east of the Net Posts and sure enough a fine Whinchat was perched on the edge of weeds near the path. Rob pointed out a line of 4 immature Kittiwakes who were flying north directly over the sea. A 20 minute seawatch revealed nothing save for a lone Dakota aircraft flying south low over the sea.

Worlingham goodies

On Sunday 23rd August, I walked down to Worlingham again and was delighted to hear Spotted flycatcher and by the bush on a corner was a juvenile Spotted Flycatcher whilst by the tree just behind it a second Flycatcher, an adult Spotted Flycatcher was perced, I managed a few shots of this bird before they moved west down the track. A fine pre-mratory flock of 200+ House Martin seen over the field, a few Buzzard and then at 12 noon, a fine Clouded Yellow flew fast low over the field and due south. Meanwhile in the afternoon, a calling Chiff- Chaff in the garden eventually perched on the Pagoda bench.

Ness Point then Benacre

On Saturday 23rd August, first thing went to ness Point for seabirds, saw Jon and Rob H. a nice adult winter plumaged Little Gull was flying around near the jetty albeit into the light ( I finally caught up with this bird, plus a Teal north. The later in the morning, I drove to Covehithe and walked to Benacre Broad, Rob Wil and carl were just leaving the bird was still around. I went into the hide and 3 other boirders were there the bird was straight out at the back along a muddy spit but very distant and I eventually picked up the fine White- rumped Sandpiper loosely associating with a small group of Dunlin but weaving its way through Gulls and Godwits on the muddy spit.

Eventually a nice selection of waders

On the evening of the 17th August I walked down the Share Marsh track of Carlton Marshes, all I saw was a nice Hobby flying south low over the track and the only wader on the old Scrape that I could see was a Lapwing! On 18th August, I revisited Carlton Marshes in the evening, this time walking down the main track and this time from the central bund bench, I finally saw the waders, the 2 much sought after Wood Sandpipers (my first for 3 years!) were busy feeding , plus a buffy Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper stood at the back of the pool, plus 4 Avocets. They then suddenly took to flight and all waders appeared to fly west but minutes later they were back. Andrew E. joined and he pointed out a fine juvenile Spotted Redshank that had just joined them, very brown plumage underneath but on closer inspection the very fine barring noted on its chest plus the distinctive head and eye stripe, nice to see in this plumage not usually encountered. meanwhile the resident Barn Owl was busy bringing a Vole in and next I looked there were 3 magnificent Barn Owls hunting in the field just east of the old Scrape. A Hare was also seen behind the Pool. As I walked back a Barn Owl flew in fro the north screeching by some bushes but I carried on walking to avoid any disturbance. On Thursday evening 21st August, around the North beach and Link's Road car park. 44 Sandwich terns either seen on the groynes or flying around for me they were all too distant to photo and no Little Gull could be seen either.

No sign of the Goldie but a flying Caspo

On Tuesday 11th August, another look at Worlingham at 11am revealed a Mute Swan family in the dyke, with the lone male guarding the path plus a low flying Buzzard by the railway line. Thursday 13th August, a Golden Plover had been seen at Ness Park and the Gunton beach, I looked straight after work along Gunton beach and unsurprisingly it had gone proabbly spooked by all the activity on the beack. I did however seen an immature 1st year Caspian Gull flying low and south over the tideline.

Vapourer Moth larvae by our front garden kerbside

On Sunday 9th August, at around 8.40am, a Vapourer Moth larvae or caterpillar was seen crawling along the front kerbside of our garden and wanting into the road, I carefully picked it up and put it in a concealed location in our Rose bush. I was then going to have a look over at Worlingham Marshes when my car received a puncture, a carpet tack was firmly stuck in the tread of the nearside wheel and I had to slowly drive to Kwik Fit who informed me they couldn't look at it until 11.30am, Jenny picked me up and ferried me over to Worlingham. A few Buzzards and 3 Green Woodpeckers seen plus a Kingfisher too that wheezed by.

Finally the Black Stork seen at Horsey!

On Saturday 8th August, I was determined to see the Black Stork, having apppeared at Horsey early on it flew towards Martham so I checked martham Ferry (no luck) then Burgh castle where it was seen circling high. No luck there either, around c40 Curlew and c50 Avocet seen here. It was hot, so I went home had an ice cream and no sooner had I done so, then the Stork was seen at Horsey again at 1.26pm, so back I drove. At around 2pm I drove along the Horsey strait, good to see Chris S. again and we exchanged phone numbers as I drove further north, next stop along a load of people were looking in a grassy field suspecting they had Clouded Yellow, I was proved correct when a Clouded yellow was pointed out perched on a flower! Still no sign of the Stork but as we looked a ring tail Harrier with a white rump flew past, not enough to see which species but I suspected Hen. I rang Chris S at 2.21pm and he said the DStork had just been seen getting up from the Nelson Head track and flying north. I drove up to Waxham sands Holiday camp and from the car I could see the fantastic immature Black Stork gliding north over the camp, I parked by the Camp's entrance and immediately rang Chris to inform him. I had to move as a car was exiting, I had temporarirly lost the stork and drove up to Brograve Farm and looked back and saw it soaring over the road going eastwards towards Horsey Corner, it disappeared behind tall Leylandii, so I drove back to an area between walnut Farm and Waxham sands and parked up where 2 other cars had parked and we were very fortunately to see the Black Stork circle directly over us, it then appeared to settle in some trees just north of Waxham sands camp before it got again and soared over towards Horsey Corner again. I had probably been watching the Stork for around 30 minutes and I drove back and saw a group of birders parked up by Horsey gap, including Chris S. who was very grateful for the tip off, great to be able oblige when you re-find such a great bird and a Norfolk tick for me to boot! TBC