Lowestoft local patching

On Monday 28th September, I started out at Links road car park, where I soon saw 2 Purple Sandpipers on the beach, quite confiding, they were continually flushed by walkers, dogs, runners and cyclists and would often fly up to the seawall. One bird soon had enough, but the 2nd bird had a slightly dodgy left leg. It remained on the sea wall, the the groynes just north of there. Having to get my brake light changed as one was out, I was waiting at the North Quay Retail park, a Siskin flew over calling. Back out after that, Gunton ORT was very quiet with several groups of Siskin flying west overhead (45 & 30) and 3 Treecreepers in large elderberry bushes along the north end of the track. 1 tree was blown down by the path just east of the "Greenish" copse. James W had tweeted saying he had a YBW just north of the Oval, so parking back at Link's road car park, I was just heading out when the sceeching of Parakeets revealed 2 Ring- necked Parakeets flying north along Gunton Cliff then then flew south then north again heading back towards Hubbards' Loke. There were 3 Chiff- Chaffs calling and along with some LT Tits one Chiff- Chaff chased out a smaller Warbler, the excellent Yellow- browed Warbler into the large hawthorn, where all the ID features seen were in a minutes observation, creamy supercilia, double wing bar small size, olive above and white below. After lunch I viisted Ness Point and saw a female Stonechat by the posts by the funnel and aon a brief seawatch an adult Mediterranean Gull flying north. I finished seawatching at 3.30pm James W has sen a Ring Ouzel half way along the railway line at Gunton ORT, I went back initially no luck but bumping into Chris A we walked it again and in hawthorn bushes we heard a very soft 'chaking' initially no sign Chris A left but hoing back from the same area, a fine female Ring Ouzel flew up and perched briefly at the top of th bushes and then flew back and was heavily obscured. She then flew into the fieeld and started feeding and then made her way towards the Woodland burail northern grassy perimeter where she fed for sometime before being harried by a Magpie and she flew into the Woodland burial copse. At this point Gus H had amazingly tweeted to say he had seen a BBA fling south off Lowestoft at 3.47pm, how I wished I ghad contined seawatcing at Ness Point for a further twenty minutes, is the understatement of the day. After that I gave up.

A good day at Kessingland despite missing the Sabs Gull

On Sunday 27th September tweets from Chris D and Jane F, had me driving over to Kessingland. Still very grey and murky but the heavy rain had been replaced by a light mizzle. No sign of the much hoped for Sabs Gull either at the North beach shore pools or the pools opposite Rider Haggard Lane. I had walked back up the slope having seen nothing, I saw Alison, but decided to walk up the steps, a group of birders had stopped on the beach so I walked back down and joining Carl B, David W, Nick & co, saw a group of 7 fine Lapland Buntings (well found by Paul & Jane F, after Chris D had seen 2 earlier in the week) they flew slightly north, then fed behind a pile of seaweed. The bird on the extreme right was a well marked male by far the best plumaged Lapland I have ever seen, in the largest flock of Lapland Buntings. A fine Jack Snipe flew in and north. Walking along the beach, a Wheatear. Driving back, a messgae of a Grey Phalarope on pools south of the sluice had me drving back to the Kessingland caravan park and parking just outside, I trudged north to the Pits and saw Maurice and OFB scoping 2 birds along the northern shore line a Dunlin and the super confiding Grey Phalarope, it spent time feeding in the water but would regularly swim over and sit down on the pit edge for a snooze. Craig F, David W also joined us and we had super views of this confiding wader, it woke up stretched its wings and flew back onto the pit. It then swam over and settled on the pit edge again. Later when everyone had left, a further 3 Dunling flew in and all 5 birds (including the Grey Phalarope and the former lone Dunlin) flew round the pit and then out to sea. As I was walking back, I saw Paul & Jane F and was loath to give then the bad news, I looked back at the Pit and was amazed (but hardly surprised given the Ferguson luck!) to see the Grey Phalarope was back again and sitting on the northern edge of the Pit!

Soaked for little reward

On Saturday 26th September a tweet from James W just having found a YBW at Warren House wood, I ventured out, didn't see it and the heaven's opened and a rasping Brambling (heard only) was the best along the North denes slope in heavy driving rain, 5 Chiff- Chaffs seen including the one in full song that had now moved into Warren House wood seen when visibility improved, got an absolute soaking (only went out with my bins though!

A few goodies on the North Denes

On Thursday 24th September on the North Denes, there were 7 adult winter Mediterranean Gulls on the Link's road North Denes car park, 3 of their number were ringed. One adult Med Gull had a green ring on its right leg with "AKJ2" white lettering on its right leg, the 2nd ad Med Gull had a white ring on its right leg with the black lettering "E861" and the third bird had a small silver ring on its left leg, presumaby it has lost the ring on the right leg? By the bushes just west of the car park, several Greenfinches drank from the car park puddles, a singing Chiff- Chaff (unusual for the autumn!) and a female Stonechat showed well. Finally a calling Redpoll was seen in a flock of 27 flying birds (Greenfinches- 26).

Small Copper at the Paget

On Tuesday 22nd September, one of the advantages of fit testing (testing staff for (PPE = personal protective equipment- respiratory masks to protect against infectious diseases such as Coronavirus/ COVID-19, influenza etc) staff in the conservatory is you have a nice view of the green and hedge outside. So, in between fit tests at lunchtime, 12.05pm, I saw a fine Small Copper on the hedge that flew up and settled on the cut hedge just outside the conservatory, it then flew right and out of sight, my first sighting of this species at the Paget!

Dipped YBW but Parakeet seen

On Monday 21st September, I went to Gunton ORT to follow up a report of 2 YBW's yesterday, saw Rob Wil but we both missed the YBW (by minutes typical!) both James's had along the northern hedge of Dip Farm, as we were looking a female Sparrowhawk flushed an unfortunate Greenfinch out of the bushes both (the Greenfinch and the pursuing Hawk) flew south over the playing field with the Finch jinking to elude the Hawk 5X, but the superior aerial ability of the hawk proved decisive and she snatched the poor Finch in its talons and then flew back north. Andrew E joined us, despite checking several Tit flocks (mostly LT Tits) still no sign of the YBW. As I walked back, I heard the screech of a Parakeet, and a female Ring- necked Parakeet flew in at 6.20pm and perched in the sycamore, eating the sycamore seeds just along the NW edge of the Dip Farm playing field in the hedge bordering Gunton ORT, it then flew over the other side of the track to an Oak for a few minutes before flying off after 10 minutes later, I later heard it at 6.37pm by the Gunton ORT (slightly further north) but failed to relocate it.

Little at Ness Point

Nothing moving out to sea, (no change there then!) but in the compound just north of the Ting Dene Caravan site, a Wheatear perched on a barrel and another second Wheatear flew in from the sea wall making 2 Wheatears.

Brown Argus in the garden

On Sunday 20th September, Jenny pointed out a mystery butterfly in the garden which I think is a Brown Argus, as it was all brown with orange spots above and on the forewing there were not spots beyond the median spot near the base of the wing. It flew onto the Lavender and several plants in the central bed and the one in the north- east part of the garden, although late it is still within the last week of the flight period of the adult.

Brown Shrike at Warham Greens

John H had rung me the previous evening to say the Brown Shrike was really showy, so I drove up on Saturday 19th September to get some pics, taking the track half way between Wells & Stiffkey, I walked down the path heading seawards and then turned left at the end following the hedge of the field that it was in and then saw the people and joined them looking into the field, the excellent Brown Shrike was always distant but quite showy, moving up and down the hedgerow, it was joined by a Redstart and Robin. 5 Redpoll also flew west overhead. The Shrike spent a lot of time in the umbellifers and then flying down to the field to get prey items.

Redstarts at Gunton ORT

There were still at least 2 Redstarts during the early evening of Thursday 17 September, along the west side of Gunton ORT, the sunny side along the fence posts of the northern end, plus a Robin.

Flightly Lesser Yellowlegs at Runham

My old friend & colleague Peter C had found a fine Lesser Yellowlegs at Dunham swim. and on Wednesday 16th September, I finally decided to visit. he had helpfully given a grid reference and directions to the bird. So this meant, I had absolutely no trouble finding the place. There was even a road sign to Dunham swim, so parking considerately at the barns, I walked west to the mill and Chris & Alison & Chris Allen joined me and by the sink flood pools by the side of the river, I saw a medium sized wader fly up, which I though was a Greenshank but a little later on I spotted the fine Lesser Yellowlegs. Tony S was walking back and walked on the grass beneath the slope. As soon as we saw the Lesser Yellowlegs it flew off! We walked nearer the mill and looking back we saw it with a Little Egret. It fed for a quite a while and we watched it being joined by Steve S & Dot. Later it flew and we saw a Green sandpiper in flight and later on it was joined by a Greenshank (the bird I initially saw).The bird was very lightly and only allowed us getting within 80 metres of it.

Siskin over the Paget

at 12.30pm having lunch at the newly acquired picnic tables put outside the Burrage centre, I heard a Siskin calling as it flew west.

Meadow Pipits over the Paget

On Tuesday 14th September, at least 3 Meadow Pipits flew west over the Burrage Centre at the Paget during the morning/ lunchtime.

Little along North Beach

During the evening of Sunday 13 September, I saw 7 Common Terns, Oystercatcher, and a few BH Gulls, sadly no sign of the Little Gull on the groynes, however.

Little Stint at Easton Broad

On Sunday 13th September, I drove to Covehithe, as I was parking up by the flowering Ivy, I was really pleased to note 3 Ivy Bees, sadly I had too leave my macro camera at home as I knew I was facing an exhausting 3 mile walk and in any case I wanted to beat the dog walkers to the Broad, 2 had already gone ahead of me and it was still before 9am! Reaching Easton broad there were around 40 Greylag Geese and 40 Mallard, all by the edge and I had to be very careful not to spook them, I eventually saw the 2 waders running along the Broad edge, the excellent Little Stint and a Dunlin along the extreme north- eastern edge of the Broad, I went over and planted myself behind some Marram grass but the Stint was running around like a Sanderling (or an avian version of Usain Bolt!), Paul & Jane F joined me and when both waders came back of course we enjoyed Ferguson views with the Fergusons! We were able to get some shots especially when they settled in the north- eastern corner.

Wasp Spiders at Kessingland-

Driving back on Saturday 12th September, I drove into Kessingland Heritage Green and parked by the Wildlife Refuge, initially I couldn't see any Wasp Spiders, a Muntjac Deer ran out of the hollow and both Small Copper and female Common Blue butterflies seen but by the central reservation amongst the grass and dead Alexanders I counted 11 Wasp Spiders along the eastern side/ edgeincluding 4 big impressive females, problem was they were all facing into the light although I did get a couple of shots.

Hen Reedbeds Osprey

On Saturday 12th September I drove over to Hen Reedbeds & at the usual site I saw Grass Snake, a Roesel's Bush Cricket & 2 Wood Mice, plus a shed snakeskin! Walking out a reasonably showy Little Egret in the channel and on the estuary itself looking back west, the fine Osprey was seen on the post in the Bulcamp Farm area, same as last year. It spent the whole time on the post. On the estuary itself 3 Curlew and 18 asleep on the far bank plus a Greenshank. On the walk back, a Shield Bug (Verlusia rhombea) was seen on the bramble (Still unable to use anything other than the post header can't get into the post itself or post any pics for the post really frustrating or add a sub-header! Just worked out how to post a new header & footer, which is one good thing!)

Problems with new Blogger

I cannot use the new Blogger, any help or tips in getting back all the old features, getting into the text function, adding pictures, editing and adding headers? I had no trouble using the much better "Legacy edition" I have tried both my AppleMac and Windows 10 computer & have the same issues, i.e. can only type titles?

A Study in Scarlet

on Thursday 9th September after I had finished work at 2.30pm, I went to John H's at Hemsby and saw the Large Red Underwing he had caught, next stop Waxham, walking half way down Penny Lane the row of bushes leading off to the left eventually revealed the brighter more timid Red- backed Shrike and a female Yellowhammer and a couple of Whitethroats. The confiding one was nowhere to be seen. By the old area where the confiding bird had been (apparently spooked by a Sparrowhawk), a confiding Wheatear sat in a bush, obviously very tired after its long journey.

No show (for me) Barred Warbler

On Tuesday 8th September, Robert Win found a super Barred Warbler in the north- east corner of the Denes, the area behind the Link's Road car park. Directly after work at 5.35pm, it was very nice to catch up with (written in the order I saw them) Robert Win, OFB, Rob H, Rob Will, Paul & Jane F & Andrew E (not forgetting another chap I know by his face but sadly don't know his name) but sadly the Barred remained well and truly hidden for me. Indeed it had only shown briefly 3X for Robert Win and briefly in flight for the Fergusons (Ferguson luck but not quite Ferguson views!) Although up to 4 Chiff- Chaffs were active in the area, the young Goldfinch was seen again, Dunnock, Robin and 3 Greenfinches also seen plus the female Stonechat perched on top of the bushes by Links road car park (western end).

Red- backed Shrike at Waxham

On Monday 7th September, I finally cracked and went after work for the Red- backed Shrikes. I was let down by the weather but definitely not the birds. As I parked the car, I could hear a Whitethroat calling. Thanks to very good and detailed directions from Jane F and I was also very fortunate enough to meet Robin C. (good to see him again after quite a while) walking back (as I arrived) and both Jane and now Robin gave me very good directions for both birds. The 'timid' bird remained true to form and didn't show for me (although I only spent a few minutes looking for it and prioritised the showy bird as any light was limited, the days are pulling in all too quickly) Sadly, this was hastened by grey leaden skies rolling in, reducing any chance of portfolio photography. I walked around the area for the first 30 minutes initially not seeing anything and then as I walked back, the fine Red- backed Shrike popped up on a bush just by the edge of the path ahead of me and showed "reasonably" well, it flew to another bush where I got some pictures before it flew to the scrub on the edge of the field. I saw the Red- backed Shrike for around 10 minutes in total duration. I could then hear the "buggling" of Cranes, and I could see 3 flying birds. I walked back and then went to a site which has been a good traditional site and I spied an amazing 18 Cranes (including 2 immatures) all in a line at the very back of the site. At about 6.30pm "mizzly" rain started. Finally, as I was driving back just past Brograve Farm to my left, a female Sparrowhawk was maintaining my speed flying along the border of the hedge on the left hand side of the verge.

When South is KNOT North!

On Sunday 6th September, Rob Wil had kindly tweeted me this morning and I read this in a rush and I thought the Knot was around the north end of the sea wall. However, it was along the southern end not the northern end so when I realised my mistake at 5.30pm, I drove back down again. Unfortunately, just driving past the Foxborough, encountered 4 youths on mopeds all with "L" plates following directly behind me, who were blatently trying to force me off the road, driving up really close then braking (quite scary), so I indicated and turned off at the earliest opportunity, they beeped me and I beeped them back, as they turned off in the direction of Hollingsworth road. I then drove to the southern end of the sea wall, and initially I couldn't see the Knot but by the steps down to the beach opposite the Ting Dene caravan site (southern end) I could see it, the super winter plumaged Knot, feeding along the ledge in the distance towards Ness Point, I walked back to where it was and had to wait until it flew from the ledge (just underneath the current sea wall) onto a rocky spur of the old wreck of the sea wall, where the light was a lot better in the fading evening light. I limited the ISO to 1600 on the camera to make sure the pic wasn't too grainy. The bird liked this spur and spent sometime feeding here until flying onto the broken old sea wall. At this point, unbelievably, the 4 teenagers on "L" plates arrived along the car park by Birds Eye and settled on the sea wall. I thought it wise and the best course to beat a hasty retreat at this stage.

Normal service resumed

A rare morning away from birding as I took Jenny to Africa Alive, I suppose we did see Demoiselle Crane, Greater Flamingo, White Stork, African Eagle Owl, Egyptian Vulture etc. We did see a few native birds including 2 Buzzards wheeling over the southern end, a late nesting Moorhen, several Robins and a Dunnock, plus a Chiff- Chaff calling. Dragonflies were well represented with 10 Common Darters seen, 2 Brown Hawkers and an Emperor dragonfly. A look mid afternoon along Lowestoft's North beach, Ness Point and the Netposts and it was evident there had been a mass clear out of all birds: no sign of Knot (disappointingly 2nd time I have dipped this "confiding" [not for me] individual), Caspian Gulls, Spotted Flycatchers, Wheatears. Best there was 1 adult winter Mediterranean Gull (unringed) in winter plumage and 2 Blackcap, (1 adult & 1 imm male) and a Chiff- Chaff, imm Goldfinch and Blue Tit around the car park bushes NW corner. Around 50 Turnstones seen in all including 3 smart individuals (often very confiding and much in evidence) still in some summer plumage.

Links Road car park bushes alive with birds!

On Saturday 5th September, I looked at Ness Point nothing there and no sign of the Knot seen by Robert Win earlier, I checked the Netposts couldn't see anything there either (looking through the fence from Whapload road. Walking along the seawall I couldn't see any migrants or waders (other than 7 Turnstone on the beach rocks, but rather inevitably a dog walker had been along the beach just ahead of me. Seeing Andrew and Rob Will looked in the fenced off compound by the Oval, I could see 4 Linnet perched up on the northern most fence as well as up to 4 newly arrived Wheatears, one was an adult male still showing a lot of grey. They moved together feeding and spent time just sitting in the grass. Rob Will said he had seen 4 Spot Flys at Links Hill, so I walked over seeing a male Whitethroat fly out and I joined Rob H watching something intently along the western edge of the Links Road carpark bushes. They were richly bathed in the early evening sunshine, it was indeed the golden hour before sunset and the golden hour as it turned out for photography. It popped out and it was a fine Spotted flycatcher, it was joined later by a second and then a third, whilst watching these a fourth Spotted Flycatcher flew past them, an incredible tally of birds I haven't seen all year. Rob H said a Lesser Whitethroat was skulking in the bushes and it soon popped out near the top of a bush. It fed in this same bush and it returned a few times to feed in this area, but it liked sitting in the middle of a bramble most of the time where we had obscured views at best. A Blue Tit, Robin and Dunnock joined in. There were also 4 Chiff- Chaffs feeding in the bushes and they were soon joined by a female Stonechat.

Magic at Cantley!

On Saturday 5th September, I was finally able to visit Cantley Sugar Beet Factory, after waiting a couple of days (due to lack of daylight time after work) to twitch the White- winged Black Tern. I called in at Reception and was given a pass and told I could drive right down to the car park at the end, which I am extremely grateful for as it is a very long walk carrying all the camera equipment plus my usual optical gear of bins, scope and tripod. Equally nice was bumping into Paul & Jane F who always seem to bump into as I arrive on site and they have already been and enjoyed the birds! Paul F gave very good directions to take the second turning on the left following the large pipe around and follow the flood pools in a clockwise direction until you see the people. I could see them and I immediately could see the fine White- winged Black Tern flying around a very elastic flight bouncing up and down in flight as if suspended by a rubber band. It showed the diagnostic rusty saddle and back spur on the head and scaled wings. It spent a round ten minutes flying around often at reasonably close quarters (it would have been advantageous to take an additional camera and my 100-400X lens but I had left it as I thought I would have to walk from outside the Factory premises. As it turned out I needn't have worried as I managed to get a reasonable shot with the 500mm lens and 1.4X converter (much, much harder to focus on flying birds but if you do, you can get reasonable results). Going to the corner I was amazed to see some wonderful waders at point blank range, including a wonderfully confiding immature Curlew Sandpiper but always on the move feeding, 2 showy Ruff, one paler bird (also a darker buff bird) walked past several times, a slightly more bashful Wood Sandpiper that frequented the right hand side and 2 Dunlin, one in partial summer plumage and 1 in winter plumage. Later on a Greenshank flew over to just left of a sandy spit in the mid distance. Common sandpiper heard too but not seen. The White- winged Black tern would disappear for between 10- 20 minutes where it flew over to a field east of the Cantley pools and rest with the Gulls but I didn't see it at rest. When it flew back it would have a sweeping bouncy flight over the pools often flying reasonably close. When I walked back around 30 immature Swallows rested on some rusty but dead Alexander plants obscured the view so no pics of them.

Trio of Curlew Sandpipers

On Friday 4th September, after work, despite the leaden skies I was keen to see if the Curlew Sandpipers were still around at Covehithe Broad, as they were still about in the afternoon, I was hoping they might still be around in the evening. I hadn't been before as I fully expected them to be flushed off by the first fog walker going on the beach. I was hoping not to encounter any dog walkers, as I was about go down the path, some were just behind me and the dog was going loopy, obviously not liking me (which is quite common in dogs most don't like me and the feeling is mutual! I do like some dogs however, namely those that don't scare birds or go crazy when they are around me, but they tend to be in the minority though. Everybody appears to be dog crazy especially around the Lowestoft area where the craze is for owing at least 5 of them! So I hurried down to the Broad and was delighted to see a double fence including an electric fence which meant dogs and people wouldn't be disturbing the edge of the Broad (fantastic and plaudit to the warden doing an excellent job!) and sure enough there were a load of waders straight out on the far side of the Broad edge from the beach, 38 Dunlin and 3 lovely immature Curlew Sandpipers, like 3 older siblings to the Dunlins, being cleaner, leggier and more elongated shape; marked them out from the more numerous smaller Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plovers, they fed the far side then scuttles left and then flew slightly closer in the water before they ran left. They appeared to fly (showing diagnostic white rumps) a little way south and were not seen again. Meanwhile, 11 Black- tailed Godwit were on the northern part of the Broad. 3 Linnet flew out of the vegetation and a Buzzard sat in a tree near the Hare field as I drove back.

'Rusty-saddled Coach Horse' on the patio

After another very poor showing around Lowestoft, on Tuesday 1st September, where I saw nothing of note despite checking Ness Point, Birds Eye Factory bushes and the Netposts where nothing of note was seen, it was interesting and pleasing to see on our back garden patio at 2pm, a Rove beetle, Erythylinus caesarean (a close cousin of the Devil's Coach Horse) where it raised its rear abdomen up when attacked by Black Ants (Lasius niger). It also started 'preening its wings' perhaps to maybe clean them of the formic acid that the Ants might have sprayed on it? I think I shall call it either 'Rufous-backed Coach Horse ' or Rusty-saddled Coach Horse, settling on the latter nomenclature, unless anyone else knows of an English name for it?