Corton Gap

Yes it was a lovely day, but no real chance to get out there due to nurses and doctors. The best was an adult MED GULL and plenty of SANDWICH TERNS. Managed a shot of one on the slide show.

Ness Point 11:00hrs then marsh Lane 15:00 hrs

Rather a heavy sea mist today which put pay to much activity. Still the following. BRENT GEESE 11+5 north to south. One 2nd year GANNET south to north. 1 MED GULL north to south.1 ROCK PIPIT and 2 PIED WAG and the ever endearing TURNSTONE'S.

Marsh Lane, Carlton Colville: 1 SPARROW HAWK very quick but a fantastically marked bird. 2 CHIFFCHAFF and many CHAFFINCH also GREENFINCH  2 JAYS, 1 GREEN WOODPECKER.

Ness Point 16:00 hrs

Although flying well offshore following a group off 58 COMMON TERN a pale phase ARCTIC SKUA shew really well in the light. Especially with dark clouds behind. This bird was flying south and was everything you want to see in the bird. There was also another flock of COMMON TERN earlier which numbered 71. BRENT GEESE 2 flocks flying south 18 birds and 9 respectively. COMMON SCOOTER 23 birds in all and 11 brown. Also a really good showing first winter MED GULL with dark eye and black trailing edge to wing and tail. Bird flew close and north. Also a single young brown GANNET flew north and three adult south far out.

Birding 24/09/2011

Best of the day was a single WHINCHAT that was feeding with CHAFFINCH and three MISTLE THRUSH in  stubble field off A146 left turn after Rookery Golf Club. Plenty of small stuff about in the form of roving LONG-TAILED-TITS with GREAT and BLUE. Also a very large flock of LAPWING in field just South of North Cove. At Marsh Lane, North Cove two calling and only just viewable CHIFFCHAFF.  Roving flock of 9 GOLDFINCH and 6 GREENFINCH. One GREAT-SPOTTED-WOODPECKER and a COOTE. At grain silo in Lowestoft our resident PEREGRINE FALCON put in an appearance at 18:00 hrs. and also viewed a KESTREL at the back of Loathingland Lake on the way by.

Ness Point

Spent from 16:30 hrs till 17:30 hrs looking out at the horizon.  Several GANNETS offshore on the extent of viewing. With CORMORANTS moving about from one feeding place to another. The movement of COMMON TERNS is still evident with about 40 birds flying south with the occasional one back tracking. TURNSTONE having difficulties in feeding due to the really high tides at the moment. There was also a resting OYSTERCATCHER who was lame. The best was a good view of a MANX SHEARWATER who in partnership with an immature GANNET was flying with the south wind. The view was good and all features identified it well. On return home at last light a SPARROW HAWK flew through on his last hunt of the day.

North Dene's

Better start with yesterday, as again the HOBBY flew over the house. If I catch up, I woke this morning to a male BLACKCAP in the garden. He seemed to stay much of the day. I took a walk with the boy through Gunton wood with only a pair of BLACKCAP again. The female was more obliging with distinct  very grey legs. I then headed for Links Hill and sat on the wall for a sea watch. 4 GANNET, three adult and one second cal. 4 RED-THROATED-DIVER. 1 GREAT SKUA. 2 MEDITERRANEAN GULLS adult birds showing smidgen behind eye. What was interesting was a family of 5 COMMON TERNS that sat in a long line in the water. Three young birds showing the black upper wing bar and adults at the front heading into wind. So often you see them on a groyn and not resting on the water. Also 1 GUILLEMOT and 5 BRENT GEESE heading South and 1 North. Also picked up through scope 2 PORPOISE surfacing offshore.

North Dene's and Home.

Spent about an hour of North Dene's in very unfavorable  offshore wind gazing out to sea. Plenty of young COMMON TERN, but only one GANNET well offshore flying north adult bird. A few SANDWICH TERN but ot as many as few days ago. Also a quick call in at Ness Point, so made good use of new camera. Hence pictures of TURNSTONE. Best bird of the day was a HOBBY which flew over the house about 18.00 hrs. Again I worry about these showings as this bird like last year seems very long winged and tailed. and very dark. This always happens this time of the year so the question is still out, are they Eleonora's Falcon? After seeing  a bird like this hunting over the sea last year I still am waiting for a good view.

Oulton Broad, 02/09/2011

As it was my birthday as a family we went on the cruise down to Borough St Peter. Soon saw a KINGFISHER as we past the malting's. A male MARSH HARRIER was quartering Peto's Marsh and a GREY HERON  at the bend out of Oulton. At the junction to river Waveny an adult BUZZARD being mobbed by rooks. Both SAND MARTINS, SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS at St Peter. Small stuff was scarce but  REED BUNTING, GREAT AND BLUE TIT.