Ness Point goodies

On Sunday 1st February, I drove to Ness Point and I saw Brian & Janet, who were gazing intently at the ledge, they pointed out the fine Rock Pipit, the blue- ringed bird but it was looking into the sun. I walked over and it was feeding intently, it then flew over to the rocks, where it perched for several minutes before flying south. A walk further south to Hamilton road, failed to reveal anything. So I walked north along the seawall and re-joined Brian and Janet by the sewall just opposite the Caravan park, we saw 1 Purple Sandpiper on the seaward side of the sewall. I then saw a second Purple Sandpiper flying north. Meanwhile back at Ness Point, 2 Oystercatchers were feeding on the rocks just the seaward side of the compass. Later on a message from Brian and Janet, stating they had seen the Grey's by ZCF at Ellough, I drove up and saw Nick C. and Neville. There was no sign of the Grey's, just 5 RL Partidges and 2 female Common Pheasants. A dog walked walking round the side of the field didn't help. The others left, I checked this large field nearer Beccles and then checked by the bypass the first turning, I parked up and from the gate, I spotted 2 fine Grey Partridges.

Ringtail Harrier at Carlton Marshes

On Saturday 31st January, I drove to Carlton Marshes, at the Tower Hide Ivan L joined us. At 3pm, Ivan was locking up so we had to vacate the hide, I walked along the path to Share Marsh. From the Octagon Platform, I saw 2 Marsh Harriers, I then saw a third bird it was the superb ringtail Hen Harrier was hunting low just this side of the Peto's Marsh bund and then it flew south along the field. Later on I saw it just south of Share Marsh.

Firecrest at Fisher Row

On Wednesday 28th January, after work I drove to Asda but saw nothing there. Parking at the SWT car park by St.Michael's Church walking down the hill on the fields to the left, a Song Thrush, 2 Blackbirds and a Redwing seen in the field. Onto the Oulton marshes to the left, I heard and then saw a Cetti's Warbler that flew by some reeds. Over the railway line, I saw a perched Buzzard near the railway line. Whilst over the river, 2 Marsh Harriers hunted, 1 male and 1 female. At Fisher Row, walking down towards the railway line, half way down by the group of Holly trees, I first heard and then saw a fine Firecrest hunting and hovering around the Hollies just before dusk. Meanwhile nearby at least 1600+ Jackdaws were roosting. A grand total of 6 Muntjac Deer seen (all singles bar 2 together).

Scant reward

On Sunday 25th January, a look at Ness Point revealed little save for the waves breaking over the defence rocks, 3 Oystercatchers on the walking ledge and 2 Turnstones which soon flew off when a wave came crashing over. A look at Worlingham marshes, 9 Moorhen seen as I walked over the rialway line. no sign of the Hen H. but it was good to see Dick W. and we had a fine calling Green Sandpiper flew north over the track behind us. I also spotted a distant Barn Owl flying in the far south corner of the main field. Around 20 Mute Swans seen a kestrel and a Buzzard. A look around Ellough only revealed 3 Red- legged Partridges close to the road, no sign of any Grey.

Gulls galore at Sea Palling

On Saturday 24th January, I waited until news that the Iceland was still there and rather belatedly at midday I left and I parked up by the roadside and walked down to Sea Palling Lifeboat station walking just north where the rocky reefs were, it has been some time since I was last here. It was immediately apparent there were a lot of Gulls, estimated 3,000 on the sea/ beach. Lots of c1500 Herring Gulls, c1500 Black- headed Gulls with c5 Common Gulls and a Kittiwake seen too. Also on the beach was a charming flock of c100 Sanderling, with fieldcraft they proved confiding and I managed a few shots of these bird. Sadly, I rarely see them these days. It is a hard bird to see in Suffolk currently, the Lowestoft birds around the South pier having disappeared years ago and the former reliable site of North Kessingland they have been absent this year, I suspect this is due to the increased disturbance of both areas. Sadly, Sea Palling beach this Saturday afternoon, had a lot of dog walkers which was occasionally disturbing these flock. I saw a couple I recognised and they kindly pointed out the excellent 1st winter Iceland Gull which was perched just left of the third green sign on the rocky reefs reef just offshore although it was hard to spot initially as it was almost totally obscured by a Herring Gull which had stood right in front of it, but the head, wings and tail could be seen. I then walked back onto the beach took some more sanderling pics and then a Purple Sandpiper appeared amongst them, late on 6 extra Purple Sandpipers appeared, totalling 7 in total plus around 5 Turnstones and 3 Oystercatchers. The couple had said they had seen Little Gull but try as I might I just couldn't see one. The Iceland then flew towards us and settled onto the sea when it promptly disappeared. The Iceland Gull was later seen south of its original position where it was stood on the shore. I quickly walked over but very annoyingly a dog walker was just in front of me and I missed what would have been good pics when the dog flushed all the birds perched on the beach edge. Looking out to sea, I could occasionally pick out the Iceland Gull us but with the deep rolling waves it was soon frequently lost from view. I did however pick up an adult winter Mediterranean Gull flying just over the waves crashing by the shore. After the dog walker had thankfully departed, Gull started assembling on the beach again and I picked out a fine retarded juvenile/ 1st winter Caspian Gull, this is a belated first for Norfolk for me! Typically an elegant slim bird with long wings primaries, a long slender bill deep pear shaped head with the peak of the crown behind the eye. The head was strikingly white. Long slender pink legs. Features included a very pale underwing, classic pear shaped head with long slender bill, streaked neck collar on the nape, anchor markings on the scapulars. Black tail terminal band contrasting on a white basal tail. Unusually I didn't see a single Seal! At Horsey, I saw a flock of c40 Lapwings and 2 female Marsh Harriers. Plus a few Pink-footed Geese flying over, skeins of 30 & 2. A big flock of 60 Greylag Geese and 30 Mute Swans also seen.

Fan- tailed Warblers at Walberswick & an incredible quartet of Whoopers very low over the house!!!

On Sunday 18th January, not being able to use the Walberswick Pay & Display car park as there is no reception on my phone. I parked along the road to Westwood Lodge at Hoist Covert, hearing Wood Lark singing, I couldn't see it though. A walk through the woods and I could hear, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Bullfinch and Long- tailed Tits. All escaped my vision, save for the family party of 12 Long-tailed Tits flying through. and walked to Hoist Covert then took the footpath east where the woods opened out to the marsh. As soon as I was walking along the boardwalk, I heard a load of Bearded Tits either side of the path, at least 8 seen closeby but heavily obscured by the reeds. I took the path east and into a wooded mound, then past a pill box and then east again over a boardwalk by teeds, I saw a chap who had just seen the FTWs just over the river just 10 minutes ago. 50 minutes past and no sign so I decided to walk towards the beach ridge and stopping on the ridge just 100 metres north of the Buckthorn bush. There were 5 other birders present further down on the ridge which I thought was a mistake as heightwould be the key. This proved to be the case as I soon picked up an excellent Fan- tailed Warbler or Zitting Cisticola perched high up on a reed at mid distance just this side of the river, in between 3 posts. It was perched up for several minutes, and showed lovely dark streaks quite thick on its mantle, streaked head and fanned tail with white tail terminal bar, quite a striking bird, I was able to get most of the other birders onto it before it dropped down again. Another birder spotted a second bird. not so well marked with closed tail. A wader calling "chew-it" flew by and right/north proved to be an excellent winter plumaged Spotted Redshank that vigorously fed over the far side of the pool just north of us. A Little Egret flew over the marsh just south of us. As I walked back I saw a fine Avocet on the pool. On the way home, I parked at Wrentham cemetary, and I saw a female Goldcrest in one of the near bushes. As I parked my car on the drive, at 16.08 hours, I heard an odd 'Kree kloo kloo" calls and saw a group of 4 superb Whooper Swans, absolutely huge birds very vocal with a triangular wedge of yellow on the bills, long necks flying in a tight formation, incredibly low just over the roof of out house and they flew right overhead and flew in a north- east direction towards the coast, absolutely incredible and a superb new garden record, wonderful!

Fieldfares on the Oval

On Saturday 17th January from first light I drove to th Oval and walked across and could see no Fiedlfares on the Oval although there were 2 cock Pheasants and Oystercatcher and 1 Herring and 8 Black- Headed Gulls. I walked over to the seawall from Swimming Pool road and as I peered over the seawall, 2 Purple Sandpipers flew a little way north. I walked up and saw another birder sitting on the sewall photographing 2 birds sat on the rocks. I managed a few pics. Rob H. walked up and he said the Fieldfares were back on the Oval, I looked on the Denes and saw a female Stonechat, perched on top of the weeds near the fenced off area. Walking over to the Oval, I saw 8 Fieldfares in the north west corner plus a Redwing and a Song Thrush and a Jay. They flew up to trees along the northern edge and then along the western edge. 20 Greenfinches flew up and into the Pines plus a male and female Chaffinch too When they flew down their number had increased to an increased tally of 13 Fieldfares, which was wonderful to see. No chance of getting any pics, the header pic is a Library photo. I walked back to the sewall and saw David B and his wife, they had seen * Purple Sands, I looked up and the seaward side I saw an incresed tally of 5 Purple Sandpipers.