Lowestoft Net posts

On the afternoon of Sunday 30th August, I drove to the Lowestoft netposts, Is aw Richard W. We saw 4 wheatears in and around the fenced off Netposts area. Plus when I walked up to the tamarisks, I saw a fine lemony- yellow Willow Warbler with noticable yellow supercilia fly across and disappear into the Tamarisk. I walked back and just after richard left, I was the west side of the Posts and whilst photographing the Wheatears, I saw the fine Whinchat distantly perched half way up a weed stem by the middle edge of the weedy area. I rushed around but could not relocate it. At Corton OSW, 18 Swallows were flying low over the compound plus I heard a Yellow Wagtail call.

Hen reedbeds trip

On Saturday 29th August, I drove to Hen reedbeds, nothing under the corregated iron but I then walked out and as I walked along I heard and the saw a Common Sandpiper which flew right over the far bank. I walked on and saw 3 Redshank on the small muddy pool by the hide, I then discovered 2 fine Little Stints and joined by Richard D. he found a third Little Stint, at one point they flew around and were briefly joined in flight by a Greenshank which then flew north- east. The birds were then joined by a Green Sandpiper which fed in the middle of the pool. Richard had the Osprey, it was by a telegpah pool, I then looked west and by the edge of the estuary, the fine Osprey was perched on a post. Meanwhile looking east, 11 Spoonbills were seen. I then explored the north- east corner of the Wangford Quarry and by the dead tree , 20 foot up, I saw around 12 Hornets flying by the hole.

Friday Night birds

On Friday 28th August, directly after work, I looked in Corton Churchyard and the Pied Flycatcher was still about it flew into the tree by the eastern hedge. Meanwhile at the back of the churchyard, the Redstart briefly perched on the gravestone at the back before flying to the tree by the northern hedge. As IO nwalked around it flew out again. By the west side of the vchurchyard, I saw a second Redstart which flew out of one tree into another and then back again.

Muggy migrants

On Thursday 27th September, on a very muggy and humid day, an early morning dash to see a Wryneck on Gunton Warren was unsuccessful, a Wheatear flew onto a path directly in front of me, though. After work, I drove staright to Stirrups Lane and joined Jeremy and Jon B. in the south- west corner of the field to view a second fine Wryneck initially feeding on the edge of the field between the stubble and the fence. The Wryneck would occasionally fly up and seen perching on the fence and a bramble bush as well as a dead tree. Also in the field, initially by the edge, a fine Tree Pipit walked out, its larger size, strong bill proved it to be an immature Tree Pipiit. Just right of there, a fine Pied Flycatcher perched on the fence for quite a while. It was later seen perched here again. At Corton Churchyard, the Pied Flycatcher was seen briefly in the birch tree and the Redstart appeared on the back gravestone and as I walked around south-west corner, I could hear another redstart calling and it flew into a bush, a definite second Redstart. I then joined Rob Wil, Erin, Andrew and Rob H. We sytematically walked the denes first southj, where I disturbed another Tree Pipit that flew out and we all saw a second Tree Pipit which flew up and setlled by a path near the Oval. (Pics to be added).

Benacre & Corton bonus

On Wednesday, I drove to benacre after my half day and it was really nice to catch up with Dick W. along the cliff top. Dick told me what he had seen and I saw exactly the same. From the hide there was a lot pf birds, ducks, waders and gulls. First of all the White- rumped Sandpiper was showing slightly better, a dimunitive small greyish brown wader with elongated body feeding around the dumpier Dunlin and 8 Curlew Sandpipers, a Ruff, orange Knot and c30 Black- tailed Godwits seen. meanwhile an 1st year Caspain Gull seen whilst at the back of the Broad neater the bush stood a lone Spoonbill, which woke up and its bill proved it was an immature bird. As I walked back between the hedge, suddenly 3 Wheatears popped in and then late flew south. A trip to Hen Reedbeds was very poor nothing really seen, it was extremely low tide with 3 Little Egrets, 5 Curlew and 3 Black-tailed Godwits. Hearing of showy Pied Fly and Redstart, I raced back to Corton Churchyard and parked up at 6.50pm. Standing by the car park, a fine P<b>ied Flycatcher perched in the Birch tree along the eastern hedge and even perched on nrearby gravestones hunting for food, a fine Redstart joined it on gravestones further back.

Early morning goodies

On Wednesday 26th August, I heard the harsh 'tschakking' of a Blackcap in the garden but sadly couldn't see it. As I walked to work at around 8.25am, just outside the Burrage Centre at James Paget Hospital, I noticed a Western Seed Conifer Bug on the pavement, I picked it up and put it within bushes of the Burrage Centre garden.

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.