Boxing Day walk

On Boxing day, Tuesday 26th December, in the afternoon, I walked along the seawall along the North Beach directly opposite Swimming Pool road and was delighted to see a small flock of Purple Sandpipers fly onto the low seaweed encrusted ledge to feed, there were 6 in number and I scanned over to the further ledge 200 metres further south and saw a further 2 Purple Sandpipers amongst 7 Turnstone and 2 Oystercatchers, totalling 8 Purple Sandpipers, easily my highest tally this winter. Nothing at Ness Point or Hamilton Dock.

Christmas Treats

A slightly delayed start to Christmas Day, I started at Hamilton Dock where again the GND had done a bunk but looking from the old Coastguards I could see a Duck on the sea by the rocks area, I saw Andrew E & we both made our way to ness Point proper and indeed it was female Common Scoter close in but against the light seen just off the sea defence rocks just south of the compass. Sad to see 5 plates had been vandalised and removed hopefully for full restoration. Groups of 4, 3 and 2 Brent Geese flew south close in too. I decided to follow the Scoter as I knew if it swum north the light would impove and indeed it did as I photogphed from the NE tip of Ness Point. As I followed the Scoter, I saw a lone Purple Sandpiper stood on the defence rocks near the north- eastern tip and I paid homage to this bird, my first Purple sand seen this winter. I also checked around Lake lothing and Oulton Broad area but apart from a sheltering Little Egret in the alcove in the lee of a bay and 2 Little Grebes on Oulton Broad viewed from the Wherry, little else was seen. I did however take a few pics of the Bee Orchid rosettes at the Lowestoft Cruising Club grassy area. Mid afternoon following a tweet from Jane F, I drove immediately down to Hamilton Dock and initially couldn't see the GND but then I saw it, the fine Great Northern Diver swimming out of Waveney Dock and it slowly swam closing, diving many times, twice catching fish including 1 large flounder it had difficulty initially swallowing. It then came even closer but by this time the light was fading and it started raining, time to go but a great end to the festive treats for the day!

Disappointing day for birds

On Saturday 23rd december, the forecast was for sunny intervals, so I was keen to get out and about and get some pics of the Divers in sunny weather,, I tried Hamilton Dock, Ness Point and then Lake Lothing and Oulton Broad, but no birds were seen. At the Cruising Club along Lake Lothing I saw 2 newly emerged rosettes of Bee Orchids. Travelling back from Yarmouth along the A47 nacreous clouds, which was a new cloud formation for me, were seen. later in the afternoon, I tried Hamilton Dock but the Diver had disappeared again. The sunset though was really good looking south- east. Back home, the sunset was even better.

Kites over the M25 and M4

Travelling to Wales on Sunday 17th December am, I saw 4 Red Kites over the M25 just before Rickmansworth and along the M4 by Reading/ Newbury area a further 4 Red Kites seen.

Cattle Egret at Breydon

Also on Saturday 16th, around late lunchtime, following a tip off from John h he had just relocated the Cattle Egret with the Horses in a field just before the farmI drove over to Breydon South wall car park and walked south along the estuary path towards the farm, I found the aforementioned field just before the farm but the only Egret I saw initially was a Little Egret walking in the ditch and around the south- east corner. A male Reed Bunting flew up and over the pathway and briefly settled on a close reed. I could hear shooting on marshes just east of the farm and then I saw it, the excellent Cattle Egret was in a ditch in a field immediately south of the farm near the path, but it then flew east and out of sight.

Divers at the Bridge

After a lot of continuous rain, the previous weend and Wednsday afternoon, it was good to get out on Saturday 16th December, parking along Commodore Road, I walked up to the Mutford Lock bridge and nice to see and catch up with Maurice B. Initially the Great Northern Diver was in the Lock just this side of the railway bridge, but much closer was the fine Black- throated Diver which fished in the water right in front of us before swimming towards the wooden jetty then away again. Later on, walking along Nicholas Everitt Park, I saw the Red- throated Diver along the far south- west of Oulton Broad fairly close to the reeds and swimming by the pink buoys, diving frequently it then swam towards the wooden posts. Back at Mutford Lock, the Black- throated Diver had swum east of the railway brdige and was more distant, whilst a Kingfisher flew in and settled for a second on a wooden post before flying off. 4 Little Grebes also seen. Walking along Lake Lothing, I saw diver south of the Cruising club for a split second, presumably the Black- throat again. Very nice to see all 3 species of Divers again, it would just be the icing on the cake to see them and photograph them in good light.

Not happy

After a reasonably successful trip to Thorpeness I drove down to Minsmere RSPB solely to pick up the Suffolk Bird Report for 2022, initially I couldn't find it in the shop but staff were able to show me the one place where I had not looked, I thought I had scoured the shop thoroughly...but apparently not! Having successfully purchased that plus some cards and the "Friends & Neighbours' calendar. The rain sodden environment meant I beat a hasty retreat to the car, to check the report, initially all was well with my first check for the Black Guillemot and was pleased to see I had been credited for my efforts in initially looking for this bird at Lowestoft and writing the description, although Jane had famously found it, when I had to answer an urgent call of nature behind a nearby bush at Ness Point. Also, very pleased to see my picture of the bird reproduced as well. In all, I had 10 pictures published in the report including in old Voous order (none of this new evolution sequence for me!) Red- throated Diver, Shag, Knot, Bar- tailed Godwit, Pacific Golden Plover, the aforementioned Tystie, Caspian Gull, Red- rumped Swallow (although not the wing stretching picture I expected which I thought was a better and more dramatic photo), Lesser Spotted woodpecker and juvenile Green woodpecker, which was pleasing. More than I was expecting as I am limited with the time I can be out due to work and often bad weather when off (re: past 2 weekends constantly raining being a case in point. But the final and damning travesty of justice that despite my initially finding the Westhall Road/ later Wissett Way Waxwings, just off Hollingsworth Road at Gunton on 17-23 December 2022, no mention of my name afterwards but that of a different observer, who I know had twitched the birds after I had first put the news out! Actually, to have complete justice my name and James W's names should have been included, as I was the first to find the 13+ birds and then James joined me and we jointly found a further 10 birds totalling 23 in all. After my find of the inital 13+ Waxwings, I had immediately spread the news via Whats App groups, including the Lowestoft Lounge Lizards, Suffolk BINS (Bird Information Network services) and the Thursday Clubbers Group. I had also tweeted the information out too. I even kept all these groups regularly updated on subsequent days (visiting early mornings before work) as to their movements too. Don't forget, I had been previously checking this area over the previous fortnight on an almost daily basis to see if any Waxwings would turn up here. The non inclusion of my name is perplexing because I specifically submitted these records to the local recorder and 2 local members of the SORC (Suffolk Ornithological Records Committee) Committee, even also submitting a description accompanying and photos of the birds, too. One always hopes one can find good birds and goodness knows it is hard enough to do that, but at when you do find a rarity/ies, I at least expect to properly and fairly credited with the find. It won't undo the damage done, but I will be asking for the error to be corrected in the following year's report with a statement correcting the error & the record credited fairly to the original finder/s. I'll be making sure my Red- backed Shrike, self found, at Corton Old Sewage Works this year is submitted and I got pictures of that one, too.

Thorpeness Meare

On Sunday 10th December, always a nice place to visit, with the House in the Clouds dominating the western skyline and ornate brick architecture as you drive in from the north. I parked up and walked over to the Meare and scanning at the back, I instantly saw the fine male Ring- necked Duck. Way at the back in front of an island. I thought I would get a better view from the GC Car park, so I walked down the road to the Golf Club but couldn't see it from the car park. Walking back through one of the gaps in the houses, I could see a fine female Goosander resting on the island. I walked back to my original spot, momentarily pausing to see a fine yellow billed winter- plumaged Great White Egret feeding around the reed filled margins of an island again viewed in gap between the houses. Finally back at my original viewing spot I was perplexed as the area where I had seen the male Ring- necked Duck (obvious black back and head greyish flanks and whiter area buffer area between the flanks and the breast and the pale blue bill with obvious white black band near the tip and slightly knobbly topped head). I saw an obvious male Tufted Duck but the Ring- neck nowhere to be seen. I was beginning to doubt if I had seen a mirage earlier. But i was joyfully distracted from these doubts by a fine male Goosander swimming left followed by 4 redhead Goosanders, so 5 Goosanders in total, nice! I shouldn't have doubted myself as I saw Adam R and he said the RND had swam back into the reeds bordering the island and just part of its flanks were just about visible. It did indeed later swim out. I then spend time watching the bird that consorted with 3 Mallards (2 males & 1 female) swim over to the reed fringes on the south side of the Meare before swimming back to its original spot, some very long range shots taken, I was hoping for much closer shots but it was not to be. 3 redhead Goosanders surprised me by swimming past and right at mid distance at terrific speed so again I missed the shot. I had seen some Ipswich birder (I'd actually thought they were from Colchester Essex) who told me about Bewick's Swans just east of half way house, I parked near Sizewell Hall and walked west (the route to the resvoir where the RND had been seen a year or so ago), saw a flying Great- spotted Woodpecker, but little else as it started raining and I got slightly lost ending up on the road to Sizewell before Halfway House and I had to walk a full 1.5 miles back to the car in the pouring rain without a raincoat which wasn't my best choice of clothing apparel.

Divers in the mist!

On Saturday 2nd December, back at Lake Lothing in fairly foggy misty conditions, the visibilty waxed and wained sometimes you could view 150 metres away sometimes half that. Walking to Mutford Lock bridge, a fine Great Northern Diver was fishing and I made my way to the lower walkway, joining John B and family and was very fortunate to see the Great Northern Diver come even closer and I managed a couple of pics. Meanwhile looking beyond the railway bridge the fine Black- throated Diver could be seen but it soon swam east disappearing into the mist. Sadly, just too far away to photograph it. Jeremy G strolled up and saw both Diver species with me & we then saw Richard W who said the RTDiver was on Oulton Broad Dead End and could be viewed from either Caldicott Road or from the Commodore PH. We walked over to the picnic area of the Commodore, initially we couldn't see it but after 10 minutes I spotted swimming right in front of some boats. This fine Red- throated Diver then swam further west towards us before swimming back again and this completed seeing the set of all 3 relatively regular Diver species within 30 minutes, & the first time I have achieved this feat. I am pretty sure this is the first time all 3 Diver species have been seen in Lowestoft area at the same time! Walking back along Lake Lothing, I bumped into Kevin B and we saw a total of 6 Little Grebes on the water. A very enjoyable hour and a half spent in good company around this area!

Possible then definite Waxwings

On Saturday 25th November, I had driven around Crestview Drive and possibly seen a small flock of c13 Waxwings flying off but only seen whilst driving so I couldn't be sure. However, on Sunday, 26th November, whilst cleaning my car, I saw a fine group of 13 trilling Waxwings flying NNE directly over the house/ garden at 3.06pm.

Nothing doing

On Sunday 26th November,I looked around Lake Lothing, the railway bridge, Lake Lothing Riverside, Oulton Broad, the Wherry, the Boulevard, Asda, Hamilton Dock, Ness Point and saw absolutely nothing bar 2 Oystercatchers and 30 Turnstone at Ness Point. No sign of the hoped for GND & Goosander.

Birthday birds and Goosander on the 19th

On Wednesday 15th November, I travelled to Kessingland. A search along the North Beach was initially unsuccessful, even though I had seen birders watching the S Larks near the pool opp the Pill box, they diseappeared totally for me and I looked down by the lighthouse and no luck there either. I tweeted negative news and Chris D kindly gave precise directions where to, back where the others birders hasd been looking but walking south just a few metres, around 50 metres ahead of me I briefly saw the 5 excellent Shore Larks on the beach before they flew north appearing to settle on the beach neat the lighthouse lookout. I saw John R and we looked up there and saw 2 fine Sanderlings on the eastern edge of the northern shore pool, along with 5 Ringed Plovers but no sign of either the Larks or the Buntings. A Fieldfare seen flying in off and continued inland. sadly a dead Grey seal was seen on the beach too. I walked around the main reedy pool just south and was delighted to see a fine Jack Snipe fly up but it flew inland. I then drove to Lowestoft no sign of Waxwings at Melrose Close but driving along Crestview drive at 3pm, sadly with the light going, I saw an incredible flock of 52 Waxwings perched in 2 trees by the layby just before the junction with Spashett Road, I counted the flock 3X to make sure I had a correct count, some birds flew down to the berry bush and started feeding but after a short while the whole flock flew and then flew down and circled around Foxborough drive for 10 minutes before they flew back to Crestview Drive at 3.15pm. On Sunday 19th along lake Lothing, I bumped into Paul & jane F & from the Lowestoft Cruising Club, I breifly saw the redhead Goosander swimming towards Mutford Lock. We made our way over to Mutford Lock and we saw the fine female redhead Goosander actively fishing just beneath the waterline the far southern end of the lock, I made my way over the bridge in order to get some pics but she started swimming back north and the flew west over the bridge.

Return to Benacre

On Sunday 12th November, a quick check of Melrose Close failed to reveal any waxwings. Next up, a very welcome return to Benacre Broad, walking down to the new hide, a Goldcrest noted in the woods. A quick scan of the Broad revealed a fine male Red- breasted Merganser, right over the far northern side of the Broad. Also there on first scan were a male Pintail, 28 Wigeon and 40 Gadwall. Close in, just outside the inlet directly in front of the hide were 2 immature Brent Geese feeding with 2 Mallards they soon swam west out on the Broad amongst the GBB Gulls c20 seen, were 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls. Meanwhile in the middle of the Broad the fine immature Velvet Scoter was seen, surely the same as the Lowestoft bird. Switching to the scope, I could not find the male RBM, it just disappeared as if by thin air, I didn't see if fly off, where did it go? However, he was soon replaced by a female Red- breasted Merganser which was often close by the Velvet Scoter. A further scan revealed a female Pintail and then first one male Goldeneye surfaced quickly followed by a female Goldeneye too. A follow up trip to Kessingland north beach, nice to see the 11 Snow Buntings in flight flying north and the feeding by the short section of a thick black pipe on the beach including 1 whiter male bird but no sign whatsoever of the Shore Larks which were conspicuously absent. James W and Jon B had also checked the area too, no sign. A return visit to Melrose Close, Oulton, Lowestoft around 2.40pm was much more successful with Waxwings seen perched up and in flight, they flew to a close Mountain Ash tree and started feeding, I counted 12 Waxwings but the whole group then flew high north- west. POSTSCRIPT: Having compared Carl B's shot of the bird on Benacre Broad with the recent Mutford Lock/ Oulton Broad bird I am convinced they are the same bird as the facial markings fit exactly.

Great Northern Diver around the Lowestoft Harbour area

As I walked around to the south- west section of the marsh at Southwold in the hope of finding a WF Goose, this proved unsuccessful but incredibly a tweet from Jon W stating he picked up a stricken GN Diver in the middle of the road at barnby, after vets refused to take it due o fears of potential bird flu, Jon was to release it at Lake Lothing. So I started the long walk back and headed for the railway bridge in the hope I would se it from there. Itb was seen here by Rob Wil, but when I arrived there I had updated mesages saying it was swimming towards Asda, seen from Asda cafe and then heading towards the Bascule bridge, so I decided to park up near the South Pier. As I drove south over the Bascule Bridge I could see from the car the fine Great Northern Diver swimming vigorously east! I parked in a 30 minute parking bay and ran to the area overlooking the harbour and the channel to Hamilton Dock, I saw Jane & Paul F who said it was swimming into Hamilton Dock and I saw the bird itself, an immature bird with brown head, distinctive scaly back & it was swimming intently for Hamilton Dock, time to leave but sadly a 20 minute bridger delayed our arrival to Hamilton Road and the Diver was seen in the channel briefly before it disappeared into Hamilton Dock, Paul expertly found 20 minutes later, fortuitously as both Derek & Gillian M drew up and we were able to show them the bird before it it appeared to swim out to sea. But the arrival of a large ship pushhed it back in to the channel again where again it disappeared into Hamilton Dock, where 10 minutes later I saw it swim out and this time it headed out to sea again at 3.40pm, this time not to return. The bird appeared healthy and had regular diving sorties but no prey items were observed, we hope this bird will recovered sufficiently to continue its migration or indeed have a longer stay around the watery environs of Lowestoft. (PICS LIBRARY PICS ONLY)

Lesser Yellowlegs at Southwold

On Saturday 11th November, after hearing that the 'Legs was at Southwold still, I drove via Wangford (to avoid the water by Reydon bridge) and parked by Blah Blah hill and walked by the east path bordering the Town Marsh, walking past a slight flooded area, the second flooded pool was more substantial and i greeting John B and his family who hadn't seen it yet. Fortunately I quickly spotted it, the fine Lesser Yellowlegs, in front of a Canada Goose and looking reasonably close to the path 30 metres away. Unfortunately as we walked up (we didn't flush it) It flew to a pool behind. 30 minutes of searching revealed a group of around 30 Black- tailed Godwits, a Snipe, around 7 Redshank and when I was on the mobile phone it suddenly dropped in from the back reasonably close. It fed around the area settled on a tiny grassy island and the walked back a little when the sun came out and illuminated pool in golden sunlight. Then around 400 Barnacle Geese flew in and pushed the bird to the back of the pool, we were joined by Matthew D and the settling Barnacles, disturbed a fine diminutive Jack Snipe that flew up and settled in the south- west section of the marsh.

Song Thrush in the garden

On Saturday 11th November, at 8.45am in the morning I saw a Song Thrush fly down from the west and start hunting for food in the garden for about a minute or so before it abuptly flew left and into the west hedgerow. Our new 6 month old cat Whitby, a few seconds later flew across the garden from the east side and into the west hedgerow. Fortunately he did not catch the bird as he came to the back door. It was very nice to see a Song Thrush in the garden, the first for 5 years (4 Feb 2018).

10 Waxwings at Crestview Drive

On Tuesday 7th November, leaving work at 3.10pm, (taking my afternoon off a day earlier), I drove straight to Melrose Close & Stirling road, Oulton but no sign of the Waxwings. Driving along Crestview Drive just 50 metres south of the Spashett road junction, I first heard the trilling of the Waxwings and after stopping by a layby I saw a berry laden bush and 2 trees behind that the furthermost one revealed the excellent 10 Waxwings all perched up. I drove to the other side of the road to give them space to fly down and feed on the berries, which eventually 3 duly did. Unfortunately the sun was setting and the birds were mostly silhouetted so no pictures this time.

Aurora Borealis/ the Northern Lights- from Link's road car park, Lowestoft

On Sunday 5th November, just after 7pm, hearing that people were seeing the Aurora Borealis/ the Northern Lights locally, Roger C suggested trying Link's rd car park, that was a great idea! So I drove down there and looking due NNE I could see a very obvious creamy glow just above the horizon and also a bit of pink over the sea, seen with the naked eye. I was joined by Rene and his daughter Eden and she had an iphone with night mode and took a fantastic shot of the scene which really emphasised the pinks and greens, far more than you can see with the naked eye. My phone camera failed miserably. My especial thanks to Eden & Rene B who kindly allowed me to publish this shot. (PHOTO REPRODUCED BY VERY KIND PERMISSION OF EDEN BAPTISTE)

Velvet Scoter again in Mutford Lock

I left the fields near Woolpit as I was keen to photograph the Velvet Scoter in good light and it showed on the BBC Weather forecast full sun at 3pm! So at 2.50pm I parked up and joined Rob H and Rhianna by the wall at Saltwater way overlooking the Mutford Lock basin, the fine Velvet Scoter was swimming over towards us from the middle. It then started to swim away again, it then lifted up and flapped its wings before finally swimming over to join us.

No Eagle

A disappointing trip over to Woolpit/ Rattisdon which was fraught with difficulty as 3 routes I tried to get there had been closed and diversions were in place but no indication where the diversion was going, so what should have been a 75 minute journey was doubled to 150 minutes. I arrived but the Sat Nav had directed me to Dead man's Lane, Stowmarket, it didn't find Dead man's Lane Woolpit/ Rattisdon for some reason. Fortunately on the Bird Sightings What's App group site had a Google Maps link and within 15 minutes, I was driving up the correct Dead Man's Lane, near Woolpit, where I disturbed a Red Kite on the road feeding on a rabbit corpse. I then drew onto the concrete square where a few birders cars were parked and I saw Brian from Essex, no luck with the Eagle it had flown off earlier and didn't return whilst I was there but there were 2 excellent Grey Partridges hunkered down in the field to the right, my first since the Mutford birds Jane & Paul F had told me about a few years ago, sadly too far away to photograph. Meanwhile in the distance the Red Kite was mobbing a Buzzard over the distant woodland.

Wet Saturday

On Saturday 4th November, it was very windy and raining I checked Hamilton Dock but no sign of the VS, a tweet saying a Leach's had been sighted flying north, so I looked sheltering against the Harbour Wall and the remains of the Coastguard look out where I spotted Andrew E, only birds seen was a close juvenile Gannet flying south and 3 close Brent Geese also flying south. I checked the Hollingsworth estate for the possibility of Waxwings, no luck I was about 14 hours too early!

Finally, the Velvet Scoter!

On Wednesday 1st November, another very early morning before work trip to Mutford Lock, I instantly saw the fine Velvet Scoter and also 2 1st winter Shags and a Little Egret fishing very close to the path but the light was awful. Looking into the sun reflecting off the water made photography extremely difficult. A return visit in the afternoon and the light was better with the sun behind me but rather annoyingly, I just missed the chink of sunlight that illuminated the scene which was promptly covered by cloud the very second I got there! The fine Velvet Scoter was fishing very close to the bridge path again and I was joined by Peter No and later by Dick W and we enjoyed good views. The bird would swim right and then it turned left, it would then promptly dive every time, often surfacing minutes later with a mussel between its mandibles, which it would promptly devour! Once or twice it rose up on its haunches and flapped its wings showing the white on the wings. It then swam back almost to the area underneath the railway line before it once again returned to the south side of Mutford Lock. Where I managed a few shots and pleased with the results.

No sign of the Scoter for me

On Tuesday 31st October, on a misty foggy morning before work I drove to near Mutford Lock and looked in the basin there was a lot of fog but no sign of the VS, I was particularly keen to see and photograph this bird as I hadn't got a decent picture of this species before save for a mid distance shot of one on the North sea off Gunton beach, years ago when there was a Dusky warbler in Warren House Wood. I hadn't close views of this species for many year probably 35- 40 years ago when their used to be 4 Benacre Pits and the largest seawrd pit would often host winter wildfowl goodies such as Scoters, Divers and Grebes. I also checked Lake Lothing and a fishing 1st winter Shag was seen as well as the immature Brent Goose still on the shore line until a dog flushed it onto the water. I had a quick scan over Oulton Broad and couldn't see anything there either. Time to go back to work and the sun finally up and illuminating the Paget car park at 8.20am. It was rather disconcerting to hear the bird was promptly picked up on Oulton Broad sighted from both the Wherry and the Boulevard, (both perfect places for morning photography) barely 30 minutes later!

Poor return on local patch

On Sunday 29th October, a look around Hamilton Dock, Ness Point and Hamilton Dock, the Netposts revealed nothing. At Link's rd car park, I parked up and walked up the Gunton slope, a calling Redpoll flew over just north of Warren House Wood, we heard the Yellow- browed Warbler call 4X but we didn't see it. I missed it by 5 minutes when it had been showing. An adult winter Mediterranean Gull flew north over the sea. Rain was setting in, so I walked back to the car, checking various tit flocks and by the north-eastern most puddle a second winter Mediterranean Gull was bathing and 2 adult winter Mediterranean Gulls seen.

Brent Goose at Lake Lothing

On Saturday 28th October, a look around Corton OSW and the Church failed to reveal the Swift for me, but a male Stonechat in the compound was an unusual sighting. Out to sea, a single Brent Goose sat half way out. Meanwhile flying north were 3 then 5 adult Gannets plus 8 & 12 Brent Geese also flying north. In the afternoon, a tip off from Jane F & a look around Lath Lothing from the railway bridge, just before the concrete jetty, an immature Brent Goose was on the shore line it later walked up and fed before being spooked by a dog walker and swimming just south of the concrete jetty where again it walked the shoreline and gave confiding views.

Train birding

Travelling by train on Thursday 27th October, as I passed Mutford Lock I saw a dark bird on the water just beyond, either a diver or a goose. Approaching Manningtree rail station, the Stour estuary was passed and the train disturbed a fine immature Merlin that flew away, just after the station, again it disturbed a ringtail Hen Harrier that flew away. Whilst walking to the accommodation at Gants Hill, west along eastern Avenue (exit is 5 Eastern Avenue West from the Tube station underpass) I heard to familiar screeching "Kee- kee- kee" and 2 very green Ring necked Parakeets flew east over the busy road. Great train/ journey birding!

Pallid Swift at Corton

A tweet from James B that I picked up 30 minutes later and I was heading up to Corton, parking at St. Bartholomew's Church on the corner. I walked back and joined Andrew E and James B, Andrew said it was flying straight towards me, the excellent Pallid Swift flew towards me with stumpier wings than a normal swift and it showed an isolated dark eye, obvious white throat and mottling on the browney plumage it was a great initial view. Later on it flew above the rail track and just north of there much further away, when it was closer again I failked to get any shots as the light was fading fast. Matthew S and Jeremy G joined us and saw the bird too.

Local patchwork

On Wednesday 25th October, checking again for the Siberian Stonechat at Corton OSW, we went back for the Dusky Warbler still by the first shelter belt north of the Oval, again "takking" regularly and actually seen flying into the bushes and seen from the back looking at its cream undertail coverts and dark mousey brown upperparts. It then flew left towards the base of the slope and was seen well but briefly along the right hand end of the Alexanders as it perched in a hole for all of 30 seconds, but the eyestripe and supercilia seen and mousey-brown drab upperparts and pale buff below. I then had a pleasant few hours showing Toby his Mum and david W around the Lowestoft haunts, around 25 Goldcrest seen, a Chiff- Chaff and some fungi but until we got to Corton Woods little else. just north of the pond, David W played Jake G's mixer tape and immediately the fantastic Firecrest appeared. Showed well in the bushes here for 15 minutes. Then news broke that Andrew had co-refound the Siberian Stonechart, a bird I really wanted to photograph well. TBC

Very local twitching!

On Tuesday 24th October, a message from Rob Wil, as the light was fading I drove to Marine Parade and walked down the steps by the Oval to the first shelter belt. Where the "takking" of the fantastic Dusky Warbler could be heard. James B quickly joined us but the warbler was proving very elusive, Rob & I walked over to the north side and I saw the bird dart dowm to Alexanders on the deck before flying back again. When we walked back James had had some good views from south end. News then broke of a Siberian Stonechat at Corton OSW, we made it just before dusk and saw the fantastic Siberian Stonechat feeding from on top of a bush in the middle of the compound flying up catching insects then returning to its perch. A Robin chased it and we last saw along the northern fence line as darkness descended.

A trip to Kessingland

On Monday 23rd October a trip to Kessingland proved productive with the fine Grey Phalarope seen at the main north beach pool, 3 Snow Buntings flew over and south. The Phalarope flew to the right hand side of the pit and settled by the seward side of the pit. It then flew back and from the left it swam towards us amongst the reeds stucking out of the water. A dog bounding over and it flew south. We walked around the

Spurn trip

On Friday 20th October, Rob H had kindly set up a trip to Spurn with Paul & Sara, unfortunately our trip (journey wise) coincided with the onset of Storm Babet and strong easterly winds coupled with an absolute downpour, the A47 was closed just before Norwich due to flooding and we had a lengthy detour along Norfolk country roads. Coupled with several of the main arterial routes flooded included one at Sleaford so we had to divert along the A1 where even here standing water was situated both sides of the road. We enevntally reached Easington Coastguard Cottages safe and sound (the most important way to be) 8 hours later with some great driving from Rob, mamaging the reservoir of roads through Lincolnshire. sara had made a wonderful vegan Rissoto and then to bed for an early start on the Saturday. On Saturday 21st october, we drove down to Spurn, on the road down we saw a fabulous Hawfinch fly left across the road and dive into a bush, a great start! 2 Swans in the field, were Mute Swans. Overlooking the estuary and looking back over fields and the village of Easington, a CB radio message announced there was a Rough- legged Buzzard hovering and sure enough it was there hovering then soaring and showing the white based and black tip tail in flight. We walked down the Warren, and the ringers had trapped a Twite and showed us in the hand before it was realeased. It was clear migration was happening as flocks of Fieldfares ere flying over and small birds were seen in the bushes, mostly Goldcrests but as we walked down a road and by the junction a fine Firecrest was found by Paul, we all enjoyed seeing it. A lady standing next to us was most put out with Rob's pishing which was helping the bird pop out to inspect us from time to time. Later on we a were again in the right place when the call stated the ringers had caught a Red- flanked Bluetail and would show it to the crowd in 15 minutes time. The group gathered in a circle to see it. As I had my big lens I had to be at least 4.5 metres away and I politely asked the chap in front if he would move left a little, he refused angrily and I moved right and was able to get pics but then I was subjected to the most appalling verbal assault I have had from a fellow "birder" in my 40 years of birding, saying I have shoved him (I didn't touch him!) and if I did it again, he would "have ....... me" and calling me several names which are unrepeatable in a blog such as this and indeed in any form of civilised company. That really took the shine off seeing the bird, unfortunately and shook me up considerably, as you might expect. He then walked off with the "Firecrest lady' and all the others present sympathised with such a rude man. Time to walk the epic 3.5 miles to Spurn Point, past the Warren along the path to the beach along there and then onto a ridge which ran right, past the lighthouse to the Point itself. In the Marram grass pit we saw some Sky larks fly up and bird which superficially resembled a Richard's Pipit, which dropped down the right of an obvious bush, when the birds took to flight a little way later, we saw 1 Sky Lark had half a tail. On Sunday 22nd October, we parked at water car park and looked from the hide seeing lots of Teal, a single Oystercatcher and a fellow singleton Curlew plus a few Wigeon at the back. We walked along a long path and then along a beach to reach Beacon ponds, where at the back we saw the fine black/ white Slavonian Grebe and scanning the Wigeon on an island near the close edge I noticed the fine eclpise male American Wigeon with a flash of green just behind the eye. Going back to the Warren, migration was again in evidence with several redpolls on the move including a couple that dropped into a bush behind us. Walking up a road, a report of a Pallid Harrier saw us looking for it, Rob saw it very brioefly, I didn't. We did intrigingly hear the single trilling call of a Waxwing! Only problem we couldn't locate or hear it again. Finally, joining Rob & Sara at the Wetlands carpark, a fine Barn Owl was seen perched by a post and then flew left and to ontop a bush.TBC

Thrush Magic at Gunton Heath

On Sunday 15th October, a tweet from James W in the afternoon, had me driving over and walking past the cleared area by a newly installed fence I joined James W peering into a Rowan. a young Blackbird and Robin seen but no sign of the Ouzel. However walking along to the clifftop, just past some gorse bushes a bare branched tree briefly hosted the excellent female Ring Ouzel that flew right. The Ring Ouzel was calling a harsh chak and even a brief bubbling call, was then seen against the light feeding near the top on Rowan berries for a couple of minutes before flying south west towards Corton Road. A few small groups of Redwings seen calling and flying over, including a group of 6 Redwing. Meanwhile a Fieldfare flew in off the sea chackling and perched in another Rowan tree in the middle of the heath.

Minsmere magic again

On Saturday 14th October, an initial look on the Lowestoft North Denes first thing I failed to see James B's YBW, but stumpy the adult Mediterrenean Gull with 1 leg seen amongst the BH Gulls in the Link's Road car park. A trip to Minsmere and walking over the bridge by the old car park pond a Water Vole seen briefly swimming in the water. A trek down along the beack just south of the tank traps and in a grassy dune walkway, a crowd of people indicated that the confiding Shore Lark (first on I have ever seen at Minsmere) was still present and it spent most of its time feeding on seeds and was oblivious of the people for well over an hour until a photographer got to close and flush it 300 metres south to justy north of the sluice. A Dunnock seen here too and as I walked to the Dunwich ponds, 3 Meadow Pipits flew inland. Taking a walk to the ponds I encountered several Fly Agarics, around 6 seen. Walking back at the old car park pond, the Water Voles showed rally well, up to 3 seen at one time. 1 even scurried up the supporting strut posts (only problem was I didn't have the correct lenses for these 100-400mm ideam but 180mm macro would have been good too. One Water vole had a bare area just underneath its right eye and this individual spent time feasting on nearby reeds giving good but obscured views.