What a cracker!

On Sunday 25th October, an early start was in order as Rob H. had kindly offered to give me a lift up to Mundesley for the Nutcracker. He arrived at 6am (GMT) following the hour change. As we were passing Ormesby St. Margaret, rather bizarrely, we saw a young fawn Muntjac deer running around the middle of the road in circles. Rob stopped the car on hazard lights and ran out to rescue it but its strength meant it leapt out of his arms and continued to run in circles in the middle of the road. I popped out and managed with difficulty to herd it to the side of the road, Rob aided me and we finally managed to see it go onto the verge. This ultimately succeeded as we didn't see it as a road casualty when we drove back. We arrived at Mundesley just as the sun was starting to rise and the cars were all again parked along Trunch Road with the birders gathered by the garden we drove onto a side road and parked down there and walked the half mile back but Rob was jogging along and as we reached the garden nobody was there, Rob was disappearing into the distance, I had no signal on my phone to find out any updated BirdGuides message but obviously the bird had relocated elsewhere, by the school I bumped into another birder who said as he just drove in he saw all the birders running down another lane, Water Lane (Rob had kindly texted me this too) so I quickly walked down the lane and in a small wooded copse area, a group of birders were all looking in the same spot, half way up a horse chestnut tree perched the excellent Northern Slender- billed Nutcracker! As soon as I saw it, it almost instantly flew right. It flew into a meadow area and around 300 birders were here, it flew up into a tree and excellent views were obtained of the Nutcracker was seen here, perched half way up, it then flew into a Pine and perched here too, before flying onto the ground and catching and devouring a wasp! It then flew to the trees by Water lane and I had the bird 4 feet away but photos were too dark sadly. PHOTOS TO BE ADDED TAKING AGES TO LOAD!

Kessingland then a major dip

I started off early at Kessingland, no sign of the Shrike from the cliff top so I walked down the cliff northwards to the Coastwatch tower and went onto the beach from there. From the cliff there was initially no sign of the Geese but they had emerged from the reeds in a much expanded watery area, following all the wind and rain from the day before. I slowly made my way and set up on the beach on my knees and they were still quite happy feeding, the 2 immature White- fronted Geese accompanied by the immature Brent Goose and I was about to get some nice relaxed shots of them feeding as I had positiuoned myself beehing a large bit of seagrass but a dog walker crossed just north and quite close to them and started to spook them so they started walking south along the pool edge and I managed about 7 pics as they walked south with increasing urgency (just my luck!) before they disappeared from sight and then the trio of Geese then flew south. At the bottom of the steps I heard a Nutcracker had been seen at Mundesley I drove straight there picking up James W. on the way but we were 3 minutes too late 11.20am and I stayed until 3.50pm, no sign of it during that time, we saw a Grey Wagtail feeding on th ground to the right of us and it had flew over the bungalow cxalling several times earlier. Other than that 2 Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, 7 Wood Pigeons and 2 Magpies seen. when the wind was picking up and it was raining, I drove to Happisburgh Lighthouse but didn't see the RCS either.

Double dip day then a few Kessingland goodies

On Thursday 22nd October, no luck at Winterton for the Isabelline Wheatear down the south valley and at Ashby there was no sign of the Great Grey Shrike at Ashby either but there were 20 Pink-footed Geese that flew south over brook/ Beech House. I then drove to kessingland as the Isabelline Shrike had been showing very well but from the cliff top it was very elusive. just north of the bushes, a Merlin flew in from the sea and flew south over the beach, By the North Pools, there were 2 immature White- fronted Geese joined by an immature Brent Goose. At 1.15pm a mid distance Lapland Bunting 'churr' call heard, but not seen. I then walked down the steps to the beach and the 1st winter Isabelline Shrike was almost constantly showing from the beach mainly hunting from exposed bare branches right on the cliff edge not viewable from the cliff side.

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.