Peregrine at Corton OSW

On Saturday 2nd May, I walked around the Corton OSW, at just after 7pm, I may have heard a brief snatch of Marsh Warbler song but it was only 5 seconds and inconclusive plus. a very pale bird flew up and settled for a second before darting into cover, only seen with the naked eye so again inconclusive. What I definitely did see was a very large Peregrine Falcon fly up from the edge of the grassy area by the wind turbines, obviously a female bird I later found a freshly killed Wood Pigeon which had been extensively gorged on, barely anything left of the carcass and the scatter of the feather spread for around 8 feet. As I walked past the dyke bushes I also saw a male Blackcap.

Woodchat, Iberian & other goodies

On Saturday 2nd May, I was waiting for news on the Tawny Pipit at Landguard but as usual it had done a weekend bunk, so another one I have missed out on (that and Lesser Yellowlegs also didn't stay for the weenend either). However, news on a Woodchat at Dunwich, as soon as the location was pinned down (200 yards east of the toilet blocks) and it said was showing well I thought I better take the big lens, I decided to park at Dunwich Heath car park, as I can't carry the lens very far these days. I looked on the website where the charge was £4.90 and it would take cash or card so I parked up and got a shock when it said £6 and cash only, I only had £5 in coins only. So I had to change some notes and the walk west of the toliet block where I saw Matthew D. walking back he siad it was still there but distant. I reached a small group of people looking south and easily picked the bird, the fine adult Woodchat Shrike, perched on a gorse bush just left of an obvious Pine. It was a textbook example being an adult bird with chestnut crown and black and white plumage. It spent its entite time perched in this gorse bush and occasionally dropping down and successfully catching insects. As we looked 2 Hobbys flew over from the left, too. Nearby, I then had a look at a fine Stone Curlew sat down behind an electric fence, whilst the male bird was walking around just this side of the fence. I also saw 3 Orange Tips flying around here too. I then drove over to Westleton Heath car park and I could hear the loud but very mellifluous song of Wood Lark and was delighted to see 3 birds, fly close and very low over the car park flying south- east. I then walked over to the IBCC site, as I walked up I saw 5 Small Copper butterflies mainly on the path up. the fine Iberian Chiff-Chaff could be heard singing constantly mainly from the wood at the end, it was incredibly difficult to see, I managed a few glimpses mainly at the very top of trees by the edge of the wood and I couldn't pick it out at all when it flew to the trees near the path so I didn't managed to get any pics with my big lens on a tripod. I have found this bird often quite elusive unlike other observers experiences. Just by the path to the wood I sadly found a dead but still beautiful female Emperor Moth, a species I still want to see the adult form alive. I saw 3 Painted Ladies, mainly on the walk up and back, 1 briefly settled on the ground near the IBCC trees but typically flew off when I got my 180mm macro lens camera out. As I walked back, a Dartford Warbler flew around 100 metres away over heather and a male Stonechat perched on a gorse bush.

Lesser Whitethroat seen along fence

On Thursday 30th April, parking up at the back gravel overflow car park James Paget, I heard and saw a fine Lesser Whitethroat singing its scolding call from a rear fence, it soon dropped down though. SAdly one of the Bee Orchids has disappeared, so 9 plants left and they were watered in the exceptionally dry spell.

Finally, the Ring Ouzel

On Sunday 26th April, having to wait 25 minutes for breakfast, I was slower getting to Kessingland Beach car park than anticipated, I rang Jane F. for precise directions of the RO and she said her and Paul were watching it now. I said I would be 20 minutes and they kindly agreed to stay. the 2 previous nights I had failed to see the bird despite extensive searching. Twenty minutes later, I walked to the top of the Dunes and could see Paul & jane F & another chap watching the bird in the south- west corner, I couldn't see it. Inevitably it had gone by the time I joined them just minutes later. As we walked round Jane spotted it on the path ahead of us, I raised my bins to be greeted with the gloriuous sight of a resplendent male Ring Ouzel, an elongated black bird with silvery wings, a gorget of white on its breast and lemon- yellow bill. Before I could take this all in the bird flew left and out of sight. TBC

Early Purple Orchids

On Saturday 25th April in the morning, I drove over to Wex, on the way I stopped off at a roadside location and spotted the fine Early Purple Orchids there were 9 spikes in a clump and a separte plant with a single spike so 10 in all. I couldn't park where I usually park as the farmer was ploughing the field so had to park elsewhere and walk the 0.4 of a mile to the spot, as I did so, I noticed a dead Mustelid, almost certainly a Ferret on the other side of the road, opposite a sign. I also heard at least 3 Whiethroats singing and saw one fly down.When I walked back there was a kettle of 4 Buzzard and a Red Kite circling overhead. An evening trip to Kessingland sluice revealed little save for 2 Wheatears, a Sand Martin, a Swallow and around 50 Linnets, no RO in sight.

First Lesser Whitethroat back

On Friday 24th April again parking up at 8.25am, at the gravel overflow staff car park at the back of James Paget Hospital I heard the scolding call of a Lesser Whitethroat in the only scrubby area remaining. My first of 2026 of this species.

Back to the Iberian Chiff- Chaff

On Sunday April, I headed back to the Iberian Chiff- Chaff and as I walked up I saw the excellent Nightingale moving in the roadside bushes. I walked up to the spit and the Iberian Chiff- Chaff was again singing again by the 3 trees by the track and again difficult to see, it even moved into the wood further south, where a Great- spotted Woodpecker seen and heard bu the Iberian Chiff- Chaff flew to the 3 trees where I saw it singing near the top of the 3 trees but once again the best and photographable views were from the northernmost tree where it sang near the very top right of the tree and good views were obtained. again, Wood Lark, Nightingale and another call heard here before I took the track east and over the field I saw 3 Wheatears2 males and a female and a pair of Stonechat. PHOTOS TBA