Monty's No show

One evening on 13th May, from the Britannia farm, just off the Acle straight near Great Yarmouth, no sign of the Montagu's Harrier, I heard a Whimbrel though.

Pectoral Sandpiper at Carlton

On Friday 12th May, in the evening at Carlton Marshes, a long slog down to Peto's Marshes was rewarded with eventual good views of the super fine Pectoral Sandpiper , at 7.10pm. Jeremy G. was present. It was initally behind a clump on an island in the middle of marsh on Peto's Marsh, it spent the entire time around this clump and an Avocet and Black- tailed Godwit seen by it. The pectoral was seen in spring plumage with thick dark centred mantle coverts with thick buff edges, a dark streaked crown looking almost Whimbrel like. A diffuse brown streaked breast with white belly no really defined, so assume a female bird? dark black mid length bill drooping slightly atb the tip and black legs. A fine bird.

Temminck's, Hen Harrier & Toadlet

On Wednesday 10th May, a Temminck's Stint was found by Gavin on Peto's and with Chris D saying it was still there mid afternoon, I decided to drive over to Carlton Marshes and take the long walk down to try and see it. I saw Maurice B as I walking up there and he said Paul & Jane F and Chris D were still watching it. I reached them and the bird was on the Turnpike Scrape left of a resting Chinese Water Deer, the only problem was it sat down and completely disappeared for a good half hour before Jane picked it out by the edge of the water, with its head sticking up and the the back showing the streaks on the back, Proving it was a Temminck's Stint. Meanwhile Phil D who had just joined us announced there was an interesting bird of prey behind us soaring around, it was clearly a Harrier and specifically, a ringtail Harrier. Its broadish wings looked like more like Hen to me. The belly was streaked, it showed a white rump and as it flew away it appeared pale on the lower belly. Chris D showed us a pic showing 4 protruding primaries, streaky belly and no boa, which confirmed beyond doubt that any lingering hopes of a rarer Ringtail harrier species could be dismissed and it was clearly a ringtail Hen Harrier. It then flew north towards Somerleyton marshes. After this excitement, we saw the fine Temminck's Stint walking slowly left along the waters edge showing its pale legs before A Lapwing forced it to fly right. Followed by 2 Avocets. A fine flock of 21 Ruff flew high and north over Peto's Marsh. As we walked back, 2 Bearded Tits flew up, a fine male perched high up in the reeds and a juvenile bird too. briefly before flying across the path and into the reeds by the river. Jane also spotted a tiny Toadletcrossing the path ahead, hiding underneath some grass and I obtained a few pics before moving it to safety in longer grass. Amazingly, this was the first Toad I have seen in Lowestoft proper (I have seen some at Lound!).

Early Purples in Norfolk

On Monday 8th May, after driving back from Norwich, at the back of the Cathedral, I saw a fine Peregrine circling over the road. I also saw 5 tall (1 foot plus) Early Purple Orchids by the side of the road, I was able to stop 10 metres beyond them and have a look at them although no pics as I didn't have my macro lens with me. these was my first Norfolk ones and nice to find them for myself.

Garden Goodies

On Sunday 7th May, 6 screaming Swifts initially heard flying directly overhead and then seen flying over the front garden, in the early afternoon, a fine male Orange Tip briefly visited the back garden as later on did a Holly Blue, both new for the year but both fleeting visits so no pics.

Minsmere Kentish Plover

Minsmere on Friday 5th May from the East Hide, I experienced the new boardwalk walk to the east hide for the first time. The super fine full summer- plumaged male Kentish Plover (my first in Suffolk for 39 years, the last one Ricky & I found on a sponsored birdwatch at Corporation Marsh in 6 May 1984!) and Ringed Plover plus 2 summer plumaged Knots on a spit mid distance but the sky was very grey, it was raining and there were rumbles of thunder in the distance. Time to sadly go.

Minsmere Black- winged Stilt

At Minsmere on 30th April, again on a grey overcast afternoon, a fine female Black Winged Stlit seen from the west hide, initially distant alking up and down the spit running due east odf the hide, but it flew a little closer on the right. I then alked to Soth Hide, the fine female Black- winged Stilt flew onto the south scrape in the extreme north- west corner it walked directly in front of the hid enad gave really good views as it fed. Meanwhile at the back, a fine full summer plumaged dusky Spotted Redshank walked by feeding. Plus a winter- plumaged Black- Tailed Godwit seen too.