Isabelline success

On Wednesday 21st October, I was able to leave at 2.30pm so I drove stright to Kessingland Hollies, parked up and was fortunate to see Richard W., we met some other birders walking back giving us encouraging news that the bird was still showing and the sun had come out. We walked over to the weedy field and looked in the area by the 3 pillboxes, initially no sign but we were joined by 5 birders and immediately one of their number spotted the excellent 1st winter Isabelline Shrike perched up just north of the 3rd pillbox, It was perched at the very top of the bush. Typically pale sandy with russet tail. It was actively feeding and caught several wasps and dispatched them. The weather had changed and it was now very cloudy, I managed to get a few pics until a cliff top walker disturbed it and it flew right towards the 2nd pillbox. Literally a minute later it flew back to its original perch and continued hunting. We were joined by Dick W. However, a squally shower started and we decided to leave, I drove to Ashby to try for the GGS but the weather conditions were awful with squally showers and gale force winds so unsurprisingly no sign of the Shrike. 2 Magpies, a male Kestrel perched on the wires briefly whilst at the back 2 Red Kites jostled with each other and it was unusual to see a fine white male antlered Fallow Deer that walked along the hedge line before it disapeared. Finally, 2 Hares were seen in the field.

Isabelline dip

On Monday, Gavin found a Shrike along the northern cliffs of Kessingland, which was identified as an Isabelline Shrike, a first for the Lowestoft area. I was desperate to see it but could not go until after work. I drove straight there and arrived there at 5.35pm parking in the Hollies car park, walking straight to the beach and turning left or north (by the wooden steps), I walked a further 500 metres and was in a weedy field where I joined Matthew D. Unfortunately, the Shrike had not been seen since 4pm. I decided to check from the beach so we walked down the steps and walked where the pillbox jutted out of the cliffs. Matthew said he had it but the bird apparaently dropped down and didn't reappear. All I saw were 2 Song Thrushes flying around the bushes, by 6.10pm the light was going rapidly. Well done to matthew for seeing it, but I would now have to wait to try again. Tuesday the weather precluded another visit.

Ness Point seawatch

On Sunday 18th October, with a blustery north- east wind and trying to avoid the showers, I did a 90 minutes seawatch from Ness Point from 12.33pm to 2pm, I saw quite a few, 9 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 (12.33pm), 1 (12.58pm), a group of 4 (1.03pm), 3 (2+1 lagging behind 1.35pm) all flying north close to the horizon. All flap/ flap glide and arcing up on their soar. Groups of Brent Geese flew north, 5, 3, 3 (with a Cormorant), 2 and 1. Groups of Wigeon, 8 and 5, 3 Teal plus 3 Eider flew north (2 females leading with the adult male bring up the rear) plus a Porpoise seen going north at 1.35pm. No skuas or Petrels seen. Also a constant stream of Gannets heading north.

More Red-throated Diver pics

Here are some more Red- throated Diver pics from Wednesday.

Trio of Red- throated Divers still showing at Ness Point

On Wednesday 14th October, I was keen to see if the Divers were still at Ness Point, particularly as Nick B. had seen one close in the previous day. After work at just ater 3.30pm, I pulled up and looked out and could see one close Diver just north of the jetty. I drove slightly further north and made my way slowly to the lower ledge, I could see the fine partial summer plumaged Red- throated Diver swimming very close in swimming south and I was able to get into position without spooking the bird and gave some superlative views, the sun was rather hazy, I also noted a further 2 Red- throated Divers one more in winter plumage and one having just lost its Red- throat, the winter- plumaged bird came really close in just north of the Jetty whilst the partial summer plumage bird continued to show well. The winter plumage bird was constantly dving. Also 2 Turnstone seen too. Good to see Rob Win. who walked past with a brief greeting leaving me to the photography, cheers Rob! Checked the rest of the Point and the Net posts nothing further seen. POSTSCRIPT I measured the flower shoot of the garden old faithful Southern Marsh Orchid and it measured 68.5cm this year!

A trio of Red-throated Divers close in at Ness Point

Late afternoon on Sunday 11th October, (thanks to the tweet from Dale N.) I was delighted to see a trio of Red- throated Divers (2 partial summer plumaged birds and 1 winter plumaged bird) fishing very close close in by the jetty/ finger in the sea metres north of the rock (and just 5 metres from me!), the 2 partial summer-plumaged birds were the closest with the winter plumaged bird a little further out although it did come in close too. All 3 birds were regularly fishing/ diving for food although I didn't see any with fish in their mandibles! Good to see Jeremy G. seawatching from the Funnel. Nice to finally get pics of partially summer plumaged birds finally in sunshine rather than clody or overcast conditions.

Swamphen by the Power Station

On Thursday 8th October, in an utterly bizarre occurrance, a Grey- headed Swamphen had been discovered shared on social media apparently it had been seen and filmed in a compound with a suitable puddle by the junction of South Denes Road and Gate 6 of Hartmann Road. So without any optics, I travelled down, immediately after work, at 5.10pm I initially saw Jeremy G. by some rusty iron girders, this wasn't the right place, Jeremy was searching for the Black Redstarts nearby and I took Jeremy round the corner to the road immediately south of Great Yarmouth Power station and saw a gathering of people including Paul & Jane F., John H. Apparently Ferguson views had been seen at 5pm, as the Swamphen had been seen stalking around the grassy verge just by the road and both Jane and John had obtained some excellent pics (one reproduced below by kind permission of Jane) However, the bird was currently out of sight. Within 20 minutes returning to the Road, Paul picked up the bird in a fenced compound and the excellent Grey- headed Swamphen was seen just left of a pile of sticks, it then wandered left and the to the side of the compound, sometimes being partially obscured before it wandered a little closer before again disappearing back along the Road, Jeremy G. picked the bird up in the corner near a bush and this is where I had my closest views of the bird as it stood and carefully preened. Unlikely to be ever accepted, this resident of central Asia, in countries like India. This bird, most definitely, is not a long distance migrant and most previous sightings have been classed as escapees. But there were no rings on this bird and could it have been ship assisted possibly? Anyway a lovely bird to see, especially as it was only 10 minutes from work and a bizarre but amazing sighting, I always like seeing any birds or wildlife. Photo reproduced below by kind permission & copyright of J Ferguson.