Home.

After yesterday had to make do with the garden, feel lousy.

 

Best bird so far was a LESSER WHITETHROAT, just one but that's enough. Mind you I also has a COMMON WHITETHROAT and so far 4 WILLOW WARBLER. I also had a very high flying SPARROW HAWK again.

 



Minismere, Suffolk.

Spent most of the day with my daughter and the two girls at Minismere. The girls really enjoyed the pleasure of seeing birds rung and Lily actually set free a BLUE TIT. How great is that for littlies. They spent over an hour watching birds being rung and making arm bracelets. So thanks to WAVENEY BIRD CLUB and the R.S.P.B. and the B.T.O. for this most wonde3rfull experience. It takes me back to how I began. What more can you say. We saw the following birds rung:

GREAT TIT....BLUE TIT.....GREENFINCH.....CHAFFINCH.....WHITETHROAT

The girls also had a distant view of an OSPREY which decided to fly very high and North while we where enjoying our drink for lunch. We also saw RED DEER and perhaps the best thing was chasing CLOUDED YELLOW butterflies. Never seen so many in my life.

 



North Dene's. Lowestoft.

Yesterday had a SPARROW HAWK flying twice over the house. Good white rump on this bird. Last thing last night as light was going a LBJ decided to put in an appearance in the garden. So brief again.

Nets:  As I was cruising by I saw a WHEATEAR rise in the air, so stopped and dragged out the following shot. Altogether there was 5 birds in all.

 

This was followed by two MEADOW PIPITS that were intent on chasing each other.



 

I walked up then onto the Den's to find local guys talking. before I reached them I picked out a WHINCHAT in firs on the Oval. As well as SWALLOW and SANDMARTIN diving about the water tower again. I joined the group and they pointed out the juvenile RED-BACKED-SHRIKE which had decided to stay overnight. I walked of with Rob and we tramped the grass were we put up another Whinchat. On my return I took a not to unobtrusive look at the RBS and refused to look at the couple who were starkers' and doing hanky panky in the meadow. I also saw a clouded yellow and a small copper.

 

I have also included in thumbnail a picture of a SWALLOW TAILED MOTH found in the conservatory.

 

THERE IS A NEW SPORT IN MY GARDEN, NOT UNLIKE THOSE ON THE NORTH DENE'S

 



North Dene's, Lowestoft.

It's called frustration in another life is birding. Especially on those annoying occasions when the ball of fluff will not stay long enough to get a view. What can you say also about dog walkers. One dog yes, 2 dogs you have a problem 3 dogs I have problem. 4 digs we all have a problem. So the dog walker walks along the beach just as you have seen this little LBJ land. It takes off and flies passed you and lands 500 feet away behind the dune grass. You creep up just as this dog beastie  sends it in the air again and it flies of and lands 70 feet away in a dip. Again you just get all of a second on it and it flies to oblivion. Oh that dog walkers would take the same route............ Enough of the rant.

 

To day faired a little better, but not much. Best bird was a GARDEN WARBLER. It sat tired a cleaning itself up in the early sun. Also 5 COMMON WHITETHROAT and a smattering of SWALLOWS. I also picked up on a calling CHIFF and that was it. Except in the afternoon at.

 

GORLESTON:   While watching off and on MED GULLS in every plumage you can think of I saw a what I assume was a PORPOISE rolling. If it wasn't then I missed out on a dolphin. It was a meter in length and a meter high and no fin?

North Dene's and Oval.

First bird was a single CHIFF which was the only one I got to see. Other than that I had 2 WHEATEAR see below for interest sake. Also a pair of YELLOW WAGTAIL flew over and circled somewhere where I could not pick them up near the Oval. 4 COMMON WHITETHROAT behind the car park as well as WREN and BLACKBIRD. SWALLOW and SAND MARTIN around the Oval water tower. Flocks of MALLARD moving south. 8 flocks in all with about 100 birds in total also 3 COMMON SCOTER. TERN'S had little to offer only in that some of the COMMON'S where rung.

 

 

Beccles, Marsh.

Spent some of the day fishing so an opportunity to watch birds as well as float.

 

Best bird was a high flying COMMON BUZZARD above the Waveney heading East. Very high like 2000 feet. Also a COMMON WHITETHROAT kept putting in an appearance behind where I sat as did a CHIFF and WILLOW WARBLER. Plenty of Hirundo action on the wires as they all began to leave before 4 pm. 2 MARSH SANDPIPERS where busy feeding and flew at the same time. PIED WAGTAIL and Goldfinch as well as GREENFINCH. The laugh of a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER broke the silence occasionally.

 

HOME:  Sat in the garden when a MERLIN flew through a female bird which came from the garden next door low and saw me a skirted off south between the houses. A first for me as a garden tick.

 

Also Jonathan took a pic of a  HERRING GULL with colour ring. I assume it is a ORFORD bird as it was red rung. We will wait and see.

Sizewell Suffolk.

Called in for just a short walk round.

 

One surprise was that there where no Tern's of any description around the outlet. Which I would have thought would have been the case, but then I was wrong. More around Lowestoft than around this venue. We had good views of a hawking HOBBY which continued to feed on the wing on and of for the hour we where there. The only passerine was the usual BLACK REDSTART which included an a adult bird and a juvenile. The young bird was well able to fend for itself, but the sad thing was the that this birds days are numbered. The photograph is enough to tell its own story. I doubt if it is the result of Sizewell, if it is then we are all at risk. But I wouldn't think that it is a genuine case of avian pox, or a growth. The sighting of it is unusual as it is not totally on the face as is often seen. Especially from birds on feeders.

The only other bird of interest was hunting low over the fields. COMMON BUZZARD at Kelsale near Saxmundum.

 

Home and around as day out.

While in the garden early morning a WHIMBRAL flew overhead. Another first for the garden.

 

Went out with friends from church on a magical mystery tour. So in birding terms the family of seven GREY PARTRIDGE running up the road in front of the minibus was a real exception to the rule. The fact remains that they stood aside and let us past in full view. Not often you have this opportunity. The only sad news about this was it was in Norfolk and not Suffolk. But you cant have everything. Also saw a single COMMON BUZZARD telegraph post sitting. Makes a change from children.

North Dene's

Home:  Started of the day with the sound of a houit in the Buddleia bush. Sure enough didn't take long for a fresh run adult CHIFFCHAFF to put in an appearance. This is the first of real migrant that all will wit for. Perhaps this is the year that I get my 1st Yellow Browed Warbler in the garden?

 

North Dene's:  Went for a walk round the bushes and picked up on at least 5 adult COMMON WHITHROAT. The reality is that a pair of these birds are still feeding young. No real surprise there I suppose. I also met up with an obliging male BLACKCAP which was intent on feeding on blackberries. Also the proverbial GREENFINCH about 5 birds in all. Took to watching tern's with no surprises. But the amount of SWALLOWS was really great. But when the sun came out they where gone in seconds, out over the sea as far as you could see with the scope as well. Also a good flock of SWIFT put in an appearance well up in the sky over Gunton Cliff. The next bird was a new run SANDLING who was fiddling around with the TURNSTONES and I also had a pair of RINGED PLOVER fly through as well as a single OYSTERCATCHER.

 

Links Hill, Lowestoft.

Just another look for something on the way through.

On arrival Jonathan noticed a raptor well high and far off. Something like as far as Hamilton Dock. The bird was tight circling and then headed off West. He took a long nose dive which took him five minuets to complete. The bird was dark from where we were. Showing strong carpel joints and well forward of head. At no time did it flare its tail which in effect was long. The bird looked in all appearance a Kite, but in reality I have never seen a Kite act like this. So I assume it was either a COMMON BUZZARD or Marsh Harrier. I would poke for the former.

 



 

Several COMMON TERNS with a smattering of SANDWICH both adult and young. MED GULL showing off shore with a flock of 50 SWALLOW which where feeding over the sea. I also had about 3 SWIFT overhead and a flock of 15 on Gunton Cliff. There was also a REDSHANK on a groyne and a single immature 1st summer GANNET well out.

Waxham and Walcot

Special ride out to see if I could locate the ROLLER. walked from Waxham Gap south so that I could walk beach back. I managed the shortest view possible of the Roller as it was sitting 6 feet from the ground in a small bush looking in my direction at about 500meters. I managed to get the scope on it focused and then went to screw it up closer when it flew. Managed to pick it up again in flight some 400 meters away as it flew between small trees only to disappear behind them. So that was it , but at least it was there.

Went then along foreshore walking north and had a very close view of a ARTIC SKUA which had taken a serious dislike to a Sandwich Tern. All over in a few minuets but what a display. Even a local was surprised.

Then on to Walcott where I picked up on a small bird out at sea about 800 meters from shore. It was clearly a moulting PUFFIN with orbital disc still showing although already very dusky. The bill was dark and right shape so what a good one for August of the Norfolk coast.

Links Hill, Lowestoft.

Short walk and picked up with local birders. Still Terns present with mainly COMMON TERN and a few SANWHICH TERNS. I  also had a single ARTIC TERN adult and a flock of 15 SCOTER which was a sex mixed with 4 female. TURNSTONE along foreshore. I was also on South Pier today with a visiting MED GULL still showing well as adult. KITTYWAKES still screaming around but obviously less than in the last few days. Turnstone also on pier head.

Links Hill and Gorleston South Cliff

Took a few minuets out this morning to take a look at the juvenile BLACK TERN which was viewable on arrival. Spent some 10 minutes before it flew off North again. There was also a single adult ARTIC TERN which was again very obliging amongst the COMMON TERN and SANDWHICH TERNS. These birds where both young and old which again made it interesting viewing. Also a MED GULL put in an appearance.

 

MED GULLS there was a good number close to shore at GORLESTON adjacent to the wreck of the SWAN. On which sat 2 SHAG and several TERNS flying though as well. I picked up on a very large tern which was flying with MED GULLS to my surprise it was the same size as them which immediately took my notice. The single bird was flying south and was feeding. It was dropping to the water but not diving from about 30 feet. It was feeding much the same way as you would see a little gull. Surface feeding but not disappearing into the water at all. In was going away from me when I picked it up so no chance how ever much I tried to see the bill. The tail; was forked a and the grey was distinctly across the top of the tail. The wings where both black at tips and in flight did show on both sides. My conclusion was immediate in that I assumed that it was a CASPIAN TERN. As far as I am concerned it was and will log it as the same. Past the info on hopefully it will be seen again. The only issue is I have never seen one in flight so have no evidential experience, although have seen adults before.

I also had a pair of WHIMBRAL fly by and a SEAL. (Not flying)

Walberswick

Of recent evenings I have been scanning from Ness Point. Its been looking really good and evidently this evening it has started well. There is an obvious movement of birds especially terns which are heading south at some rate. I would estimate about 600 birds which seems to be confirmed by others. I have not yet made any real significant sightings but a RED KNOT is knot bad. Amongst the TURNSTONES. I did have an adult MED GULL the other night which was flying high and north. As for today the best bird was at Lodge Lane at Walberswick when I picked up on a juvenile WOODLARK this is the first time I have had this privilege to my knowledge. The bird was siting on the old pines and then moved to a wire further along. It was far to busy preening. There was a few RED-LEGGED-PARTRIDGE, ROBIN, WREN, BLACKBIRD, MISTLE THRUSH, MAGPIE 7. CROW, SWALLOW, SAND MARTIN, SWIFT, CHAFFINCH, BLUE TIT,

Not the best pic in the world but at least its there.

 Juv Black Headed Gull ( Links Hill)