Ranworth Broad, Norfolk

Met up with an old friend this evening. Jamie and went for a short walk in the rain. Several SWALLOWS still evident and one was being chased by a HOBBY which in the wind was very exciting for me but not for the swallow.

North Denes, Lowestoft.

I didn't see this one in Lowestoft a WHITE-CRESTED-JAY-THRUSH. But if you would like to see it at Thrigby Hall you can. Sadly I did not see any Rothschild Mynah or (Bali Starling). Have they all gone now. The last thing I new was that they where considered extinct in the wild with only six places in captivity in Great Britain, perhaps that's why they are extinct in the wild.

Walked behind Oval today, very little about, just a pair of WHITETHROAT and several SWALLOWS also a single SWIFT. MEADOW PIPIT and a pair of COMMON TERN. Several TURNSTONE along foreshore.

Carlton Marsh

Spent a few hours with the team today from Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Very encouraging working with young people with learning difficulties. I think I was the one learning today as I would out how to tell the difference between a mayfly nymph and a damselfly nymph. Birds however where few and far between with SWALLOWS and a single KESTREL. I did however manage to see a KINGFISHER fly a dyke below center

Links Road, Lowestoft.

Pulled into car park and watched SANDWICH and COMMON TERN feeding young birds on the groynes. Several GANNET way offshore all flying south. A single WHEATEAR flew close by and settled on the beach. Also SWALLOWS and SANDMARTIN  above North Denes. I also caught a reasonable picture of a SANDLING with still summer plumage on its front bib.

Enough to drive you bats

Last night it was warm, so we spent the late evening in the garden. I caught a glimpse of a bat in the light and seeing that it had been several years since I had seen one outside here I made a special point  of taking a good look this evening. Best view was it chasing a moth around the street light at the back of the house. I have no idea of the species, but it was about 8 inches across. Only to find that I had another one put in a brief appearance which was larger with a wing span I should imagine of about 1 foot. Could it have been a Common Noctual bat? Not bad considering.

To hot to handle

It is hot, and that's not much good for me, so hide away time in back room. Produced the last to photo's on side slide. Last one was as a kid before I was reported to the old bill for illegal entrapment of birds. Lucky they never pursued, be real I was only 13 years old. Anyway it was the beginning of trapping birds for me as a young man.
Today a flock of 20 TURNSTONES flew west over the house. This is a first for viewed birds from the garden.

I will miss my L.B.B.Gulls when they go.

Now as the sun sets they still sit there, motionless after the incessant movement of the male on the wing. They don.t sit to close, him on his chimney pot and her on the roof. They have been calling to each other none stop for an hour, but now all is quiet She stands sentanal on her roof ridge tile not moving even when the last remaining young one keeps pestering her for food. She gives no reaction or response. He continues his occasional flight heading west and doing his figure eight only to arrive back again where he started. Still the young one calls but she will not respond. Unlike an hour ago where both he and she stood for a solid hour on the roof and called to each other without a stop. Now no communication by call and yet there is an affinity between them as he watches her and watches everything she does.All is quit and only the occasional motor bike can be heard as it races along some thirty mile limit. Very few gulls around as evening gets late and yet they stand sentanal as ever. The young one leaves and still no reaction. The street light flickers on and still they stand. Now they are both alert, first looking west then east and again as if watching for something which I or anyone else cannot ascertain, yet they are sensitive to something, some message is being relaid and they will go. But when? and I know he will not leave her, but will she follow him. So why do they stand there so long, is the pull of the nest site so strong that even after the young one has left for the night they cannot pull themselves around enough to leave. Suddenly the peep of an oystercatcher over head, no notice taken and then a blackbird flies through with the low roosting call as it heads for the Buddleia. Then after one and half hours he really is showing signs of being twitchy and ready to go. No sound as he takes a few flaps and he heads over her and she joins him in the air as they head south for a few hundred yards to Loathingland Lake for the night. It's night and all is quiet. UNTIL ABOUT 4AM WHEN THEY ALL GET UPSET.

When I were a boy

Just came across this old photo of yours truly at Mersea Island in September 1963. Was I part of the revolution into spotting scopes. Who can tell as you can still see my old Lord Nelson telescope at the side. The picture includes my mum and her evacuee boy from the war, John. Sadly shortly after the photograph John died in a tragic accident on a raft in Canada. However that was how he lived and died and what great example he was. By the way what do you think of the mod shirt. Or was it Teddy Boy?

North Dene's, Lowestoft,

Walk round Sparrows nest followed by walk back along sea wall.  Very little about except for a large flock of SWIFT that had taken on a feeding frenzy above North Dene's. A few COMMON TERN off shore with LINNET as fly over. Best was a young WHEATEAR who had taken a sincere dislike to a TREE PIPIT. Watched both birds until disturbed by worker on new caravan site.

Corton Cliff and Corton Wood

Once you run the gauntlet of naked men on the beach, the walk was ok. Along the base of the cliff brought in a small flock of SAND MARTIN still intent of hanging around there nest site. We also found an odd LINNET which was not doing what it should do. How strange. But then I don't do as I am supposed to do sometimes. Something to do with calvanism they tell me. Very little out at sea, except for 16 TURNSTONE on rocks, but the best was the walk through Corton Woods. Several SPECKLED WOOD in both light and dark phase. We also cam,e across a pair of young SPARROW HAWKS who where being tended by there mum. If calling ever attracted anything then only Gulls could beat these two young birds. We also picked up a few Blue Tit and Great as well as a young JAY and a single Robin and Wren.

Late evening walk along river Waveny on Oulton Marshes. Only about a mile from sunset to darkness. Plenty of dragonflies with the best being  Broad Bodied Chaser. We also watched for some ten minuets a pair of HOBBY'S hunting low over the reed bed on far side of river. We also picked out the call of a TAWNY OWL from the far side to and a LITTLE OWL on far west of marsh. The call of a BARN OWL also from Fisher Row.