Wild Goose Chase

On Saturday 12th September, I took a look around Ness Point, Hamilton Dock, Net posts and nothing of note seen, when Paul G. What's Ap stated a lone PBBG had landed at Children's corner, I was about to leave but a child chased it off, it was only when Jeremy What's Ap saying they were on the South Beach that I went down, parking was very difficult but I finally managed to find a place then I hurried down to the Beach area just south of the South Pier and Jeremy was watching the 2 fine Pale-bellied Geese swimming close to the line of coastal defence rocks, there was an adult and an immature and the adult eventually swam north and settled on the beach as did the immature before they finally swam out onto the sea again. A What's Ap from Rob Wil. to say the remaining flock of 13 was back at Ness Point, I drove around no sign, then a What's Ap from James W. to say they were on the North beach by Link's Road car park again not there. But I could see Rob Hol standing half way along, so I drove to Swimming Pool road and parked by the Sparrow's Nest car park. The impressive 13 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were all perched on a single seaweed encrusted ledge (part of the old sea wall) But as soon as I set up and taken just 1 picture they flew north and settled in Link's Road car park. Again, I drove around but they had been disturbed and were back on the beach actively walking and feeding along the seaweed encrusted rock and Rob, Jeremy I watched themm as they slowly walked south and the finally tpook to flight heading south over the sea.

Pale- bellies back at Ness Point

On Friday 11th September, a What's App from Andrew E, that the Pale-bellies were back at ness Point at 7.20am, I immediately left and was down there by 7.30pm I could see the fine 15 Pale- bellied Brent Geese very close on the rocks right at the point right next to the Compass railings. Initially I joined Julie just north of there but we were looking a bit into the sun and a better position was just south, so I crawled on my knees by the railing inching forward carefully not disturbing the geese and most remained feeding very close to me just feet away!

Relocated Pale-bellied Brent Geese

Having not seen the PBBGs the previous evening as I had to leave as I had a talk for the Waveney Bird Club, they had returned mid- morning to Ness Point but departed before I could do a lunchtime switch reports stated they may have landed in Lowestoft harbour. So directly after work on Thursday 10th September. I drove to the Promenade along South Beach and I initially parked up and walking out with just binoculars for optical aids. As the sea came into view, I could see a line of Pale- bellied Brent Gesese swimming left just in front of the rocky defence reef, by Children's corner. So I quickly walked back to the car retrieved my tripod and 2 cameras with 500mm lens & 1.4X converter plus the 100-400mm lens and then went back. There were some metal steps down to a small beach area and I walked slowly down initially counting 14 and then finally all 15 of the fabulous Pale-bellied Brent Geese, a race of Brent Goose that hails from Svalbard in the high Arctic with a population of only about 6,000- 8,000. Sobering to think that just days ago they were trying to avoid hunting Polar bears! They were initially swimming in a line right by the defence rocks but then they swam right to the corner and then stepped out of the water. They kept going further out to the rocky reef and then returning to the beach at one point several birds were just feet from me. Rob H. and a couple arrived. The Geese again swam right up to us, a couple flapped their wings as they reached shore and then they swam to a more weedy area of rocks just right of us, where 3 birds fed on the seaweed.

Quick trip to Minsmere

On Wednesday 9th September, I left work and in the afternoon, I travelled to Minmere in the hope of seeing the Pec Sand, good to see Mick on the walk down. From the East scrape hide I initially saw 3 Dunlin at the back and then I soon spotted the excellent Pectoral Sandpiper wanding around a stone rocky spit. Its larger size more elongated shape sharp division on breast and Snipe like streaking on the back give aways to its ID. Just behind and left of there was first 1 and then up to 3 Green Sandpipers, there were 3 Ringed Plovers too and then first 1 and then up to 3 Ruff too. I saw JP and he mentioned about the Temminck's too and jusr right of then 2/3 of the way back, I also spotted the Excellent Temmick's Stint on the left hand edge of an isand and muddy shore.

Finally, a Clifden Nonpareil!

On Monday 7th September, a tweet from Howard V. who runs the excellent Blue-eyed birder blog, he and Anthony W. had captured a fine Clifden Nonpareil Moth ( moth I had long wanted to see ever since one had been captured in North Walsham in the early 2000's) and Howard had kindly offered people on our local Whats App group the chance to view and photograph it. So just after 6pm, I arrived at Howard's house and he took me through to an area at the back where he released the Moth, a real beast of a Moth being about the length of the palm of my hand, It's mottled plumage was quite subtle until the distinctive blue showed and when it flopped over as a defensive mechanism it showed alternate creamy buff and dark baring as striking as the underwing of a zoothera Thrush and equally as stunning!

Sunday seawatch

Sunday 6 September, late afternoon/ early evening 2 distant Gannet S, 9 Teal on sea then south, wp Knot- S, c15 Sandwich Terns south, 1 pale phase Artic Skua flying high then zoomed down falcon-like onto the sea, a Dunlin south then 3 small waders, 2 Dunlin with the middle bird being a Sanderling, a Whimbrel flew north and a Spitfire flew north.

Last time with the Red- foot

On my visit to see the Red- footed Falcon on Saturday 5th September, this time people were gathered the other side of the road and I saw the fine juvenile Red- footed Falcon perched on a small wooden fence bordering a grassy area and pool, it then flew low over the road and periously close to traffic before settling on the roof of the house with the Norfolk Hawker logo on it. I then flew down to the fence line and memorably flew down to the grassy area at times 2 feet away looking for natural insects and invertebrates, giving some superb pics. A chap asked if he could put crickets out and I asked him not to. He didn't. After a while the Falcon flew north and disappeared, my cue to leave.