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 in North Norfolk for the Nutcracker. The Nutcracker is a denizen of Coniferous Pine forests and occasional irruptions occur due to a severe lack of food or because of population explosions. The last major one which led to multiple arrivals in the UK was way back in 1968! Typically they feed on Pine seeds and Hazels. The distribution of this intelligent member of the crow family is spread across the globe from in the west Scandinavia (where they are represented by the thick- billed race, across Europe, Siberia and even Japan. The irruptive ones are the Siberian slender billed ones, native to the Taiga forests of Siberia. Rob arrived at the house at 6am (GMT) following the hour change. As we were passing Ormesby St. Margaret, rather bizarrely, we saw a very young fawn Muntjac deer with spots on its back (meaning it was up to 2 months old) 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 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. Crow sized with chocolate brown plumage, with a longer dark bill. It sported a dark cap, with gorgeous chocolate brown plumage spangled with white pear drop sized spots all over its plumage. The lores between the eye and the base of the bill were white. It had a white vent with white undertail coverts and striking white rear crescents on the base of the long tail with black wings, a very striking bird! 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 barely 4 feet away but photos were too dark sadly, as I had adjusted the exposure too late, sadly. It then flew back to the trees by the meadow, catching the odd Wasp and feeding from the Pine cones. It then flew down to the ground and was feeding on another wasp on the ground. Before it then flew up to a house and perched on the wall, the fence, the roof top and side gable. It caught wasps from here too. Later on it flew back to the trees by the side of the meadow. To paraphrase the late great comedian Frank Carson, "it's a cracker!" and rarity of the year.

Kessingland Geese 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.

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.

Still elusive YBW

On Saturday 3rd October, walking to the Travel Lodge at Gants Hills, 3 Ring- necked Parakeets flew over my head calling and flying west. On Sunday 4th October, I went down to Flycatcher alley and the Oval, to try and see the YBW again, I saw Jane & Paul F. but despite their presence we did not see (or in my case) hear the Yellow- browed Warbler in the last tree north of the sycamore before the steps. Having just travelled back from London and having to endure an extra 90 minutes rail replacement service by bus from Ipswich rail station to Halesworth rail station. I had no desire ton travel again to see a GGS back at Halesworth, a shame as it was something I would normally be keen to do. Instead, I wet down to the Net posts and by the northern edge, I saw one of Rob Wil's female Red- veined Darter and a Small Copper butterfly.

Meagre returns

A look around the Parks, the Oval, North Denes & Corton revealed little after work on Thursday 1st October. On Friday 2nd October, a briefly tame female Blackbird with white spots on her head was very tame by the entrance road to Corton OSW, but disappeared when I was retrieving the camera. On the Static caravan site immediately north of OSW were 5 Blackbirds, a dark continental Song Thrush and 2 Robins, almost certainly continental migrants. I tried looking in Broadland Sands camp site but could find neither a brown hut or a wooded copse, all I saw were lines of trees and certianly no YBWs revealed themselves to be either visually or verbally.