At last a decent seawatch!

On Sunday 20th September, just after 5pm I drove to Ness Point, Andrew E., Rob H., and Jon B. were by the funnel seawatching, over the course of a near 2 hour watch I saw a total of 15 Sooty Shearwaters, some singles but groups of 3, 4 and 3 also seen. Also a fine Razorbill was seen half way out on the sea, then a second more distant Razorbill. A fine but distant black/ white Manx Shearwater also sheared over the sea and north, my first since 2021. A couple of Gannets flew north an adult and an immature. Also several Mediterranean Gulls, 2 adults and an immature plus 3 Sandwich Tern flying south. No sign of the Redstart for me.

Benacre bound again!

On Sunday 20th September, I made my way down to the Broad, no Clouded Yellows were seen on the way down, but Rob H. had beaten me to it and already seen the Pec. By the time I got into the hide, Rob was there with Carl B. The Pec was again out of view and again the Scaup wasn't being seen but we made our way down to the Beach. Quickly we saw both the Pectoral Sandpiper and a Curlew Sandpiper on a small island with Gull and the odd Duck (Teal) on it. Meanwhile, we looked north and saw the fine female Scaup just beyond 2 Tufted Duck and a couple of Canada Geese. Carl went back to the Hide and Rob walked south, whilst I remained on the beach, 2 Sandwich Tern flew past over the beach and out to sea whilst 1 Sandwich Tern was on the far muddy bank, left of the hide. 2 Ruff were seen at the far west back of the Broad. I also saw the female Pintail and an eclipse male Pintail too. As I walked back in the grassy area just south of the Broad 2 Clouded Yellows were flying mostly constantly on the move. 1 would often disrupt the other more restful one and I eventually located this fine Butterfly and managed a few pics, albeit with the shadow of a grass stem on it. It was quite tatty on closer inspection.

Very humid at Benacre

I then drove to Benacre as a Scaup had been seen on the Braod. I joined Paul & Jane F. in the walk down, immediately by the top cliff we saw a Clouded Yellow. Walking further down by the grassy area just before the Broad which the path down dissects. We saw an incredible 3 Clouded Yellows, on the grassy area and we managed to get a few pics with the Nikon lens. In the hide, we saw Neville L. who had seen the Scaup and found a Pectoral Sand. but it had flown onto the closer bank, totally obscured by the reeds so it couldn't be seen. The humidity meant it was incredibly humid and very difficult to view anything. Chasing after the Clouded Yellows meant I was already hot & all I could see were around 300 Black- tailed Godwits and a female Pintail. Paul did well to pick up 2 Garganey which he kindly let me see through his scope. I had to leave to cool down and because I had to prepare to see the band King King at thge waterfront at Norwich.

Glossy Ibis at Peto's

On Saturday 19th September, I drove to Carlton Marshes and walked down and past the Moorings Hide, I saw Paul & Jane F. at the end, all I had seen so far was a Great White Egret by the pool. Suddenly Paul said the Glossy Ibis as flying and I soon spotted the Glossy Ibis flying left and it settled on the far muddy bank of the pool. It fed here for a while before flying slightly left and then out of sight.

Westleton Heath bound

I had heard that Westleton Heath the walk to the quarry had reopened at the weekend, so on Wednesday after leaving work at 1.15pm, I left it too late to visit as there were a lot of people about and unsurprisingly no Juvenile Cuckoos were seen despite a thorough search. A few Small Heath butterflies and several Graylings seen plus a reasonably obliging Grasshopper. A male Stonechat also seen.

Great-Spot 2nd Garden record

On Monday 14th September, late evening a Box tree Moth flew into the bathroom and I released it the following morning when I found it. evening Tuesday 15th September at 7.10am, I heard the chip of a fine Great- spotted Woodpecker from the back garden and I looked up and saw the aforementioned bird fly south-west directly over the back garden with its undulating flight, second garden record.

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.