Eider and Early Purples

Leaving work at 2.15pm, on Wednesday 9th April, the closure of the A47 southbound at Hopton, I had to divert via Lound and this took me 3X as long to get back home. My plans to visit Minsmere were abandoned & instead I drove straight out to the South Pier where by Children's corner, people were on the beach and the female Eider seen earlier was on the sea 50 metres out with a couple of Gulls. Actively feeding just beyond the rocky breakwater. A trip further out to deepest Suffolk revealed 6 Early Purple Orchids, 5 just starting to flower but there were many more plants unseen that will flower over the coming weeks. A trip back to Children';s corner and the female Eider was still in the same area 50 metres out on the sea.

Early spring Migrants along the coast at Lowestoft

On Sunday 5th April, I started at Corton Old Sewage works, a female Blackcap popped up on a branch briefly and the male popped up slightly further along. I also heard the brief explosive song of a Cettis Warbler comong from the dyle just south of the compound. No sign of the Willow W but a Chiff- Chaff seen along the western edge. Nothing along the road by the Holiday parks. I heard Blackcaps singing at least 2 male along Corton ORT plus near the bridge a Firecrest was heard calling. A look oin the north end of Corton woods, I could heard a Great- spotted Woodpecker drumming nearby plus the laughing call of 2 Green Woodpeckers, dog walkers flushed one out of a tree and it flew left a little way. I parked up along Gunton Cliff and took the newly restored path down as I walked just north of the Oval, by the edge of the Oval, 3 Wrens heard including 1 briefly showy bird. I heard the Willow Warbler's song and one Willow Warbler was in a bush half way up the slope it gradually made its way to the right of the bush. A second Willow Warbler was heard singing further south. I saw Jon B. who said he'd seen a Wheatear at Ness Point park. I walked over and initially there was no sign until a rain shower had me sheltering under the wooden walkway up to the seawall, as it fnished I made my way out and the fantastic male Wheatear emerged just ahead of me and perched on a post on the right side of the walkway. I edged my way and took a few shots before it flew onto the fence off the fenced off area and I made my way along the fence and obrtained some shots before it flew on the grassy area to feed. Here I was able to get to within 4 metres of the bird without disturbing it and I managed a few pics before I was joined by Dale, just as the weather started to cloud over. I then walked to Ness Point, initially very little seen except for Josh walking down the road. But I did hear briefly the song of a Black Redstart and walking back just north of the point, I saw first 5 and then 6 Purple Sandpipers on rocks, on the inner ledge of the seawall 5 Turnstones were seen on the inner seaward side ledge too. Nice to see Julie & Rob Win seen here too. I walked back to Ness Point park and finally saw a Chiff-Chaff around the base of one chopped sycamore tree.

Kettle of Buzzards over the garden

On Saturday 4th April, in the morning we had 4 mewing Buzzard flying directly over the garden and spiralling upwads in a kettle.

First Chiff- Chaff in the garden for 2026

On Friday 3rd April, at 5pm in our garden by the Honeysuckle and Jasmine bushes by the wall just outside the kitchen window, a Chiff- Chaff was prospecting for food almost at ground level.

No April Fool kettle

On Wednesday April 1st after work I left late at 4pm driving along the A47 south approaching Hopton roundabout, over the wood just west of the road i saw a Red Kite and 3 Buzzards soaring around like a Kettle. Maybe the same birds James W had seen earlier at Gunton?

Red Kite in tree

On Monday 30th March at 8.15am driving to work along the A47, just past the Corton Long Lane large roundabout, a Red Kite sat in the usual Buzzard tree in the middle of the arable field just east of the road.

RIP Whooper & dipped Eagle

On Saturday 28th March I drove straight to Blythburgh on the strength of a resting WTE on the estuary, unlike some fortunate people, sadly by the time I got there it had flown west, another message from Brian B. stating it was circling over Reydon Church, by Station rd, Reydon, I saw a Red Kite, driving to Potter's Bridge I saw 2 female Marsh Harriers quartering the reeds and another/ or the same Red Kite. Very sad but not totally unexpected to hear the Whooper had been found washed up on the defence rocks at South Pier. RIP Whooper.