Last Few Days.

Walberswick:  (Saturday)
Both I and Mary went for a picnic at Walberswick Railway station. Don't get to worried a train hasn't run through here for about 80 years. But it has been such a long while since we last passed this way to. So after a long time coming we made it again. It was good to see a flock of adult and young SWALLOWS. They seemed tired but about 25 of them where still enjoying the sunny but blustery day. It was also interesting to see adult still feeding there young. I doubt if they where local birds and sure enough within an hour they had left. I also took a picture of this BLACK HEADED GULL trying to swallow what looked to me to be a Lesser Weaver. If it was I hope that it did not inject it with a lethal weapon 2. At the Lodge a female MARSH HARRIER was repeatedly making herself known as did a COMMON BUZZARD overhead. But in reality the best bird was a COMMON WHITETHROAT and a smacking CHIFFCHAFF in the bright sunshine. I also had the briefest encounter with a COAL TIT. They where shooting behind us so every RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE that ever lived was around me in the field when I went for a pee. A flock took of with about 50 birds, but in all about 200 birds in the field.

Logging Mill, Corton and Cliff:  (Today)
Very little about along the old railway, mind you plenty of ROBINS and WREN'S calling. I did get a very slight view of a WILLOW WARBLER and that was it. On the cliff there was not much about  just a few MEADOW PIPIT and a few very flighty birds well off which I assume where Wheatear. Other than that a flock of 8 BRENT GEESE flew south.

Ness Point:  (Today)
Again incoming wind with little to show. How disappointing. Best birds where well of about 5 GANNET. 2 BRENT GEESE flying North and a flock of about 15 MALLARD south. I also had a view of 30 COMMON SCOTTER flying south.

Ness Point

Becoming a regular thing this? I will soon be resident down here. I still seek my bogie bird. Today was not that day, but I pick up a really good identification on a BLACK-THROATED-DIVER, in fact I called in again later on in the afternoon and followed it with another. Of course the RED-THROATED- DIVERS where also in on the act but at least both birds where good to get. I also had several GANNET most where well out but at the end of the day a good pair brought there struggling young one by going North South. The largest flock of SCOTER was 6 with 4 male. Also several odd BRENT flying all over the show. A WHEATEAR put in an appearance and after sitting for an hour walked round Birds Eye. At the treatment works a WHINCHAT was sitting close but not for long. I also had 3 MEADOW PIPITS just past the nets. Not many TURNSTONE as tide was wrong but a very full necked CORMORANT obliged. I also had a MEW GULL which I have not picked up on for a few weeks. The following is not the rarest bird in the world, but then it is nice to see the last remnants of youth as it drives towards full adult life. Note the few remaining black outer primaries  of this MED GULL.



Ness Point

Again movement of BRENT GEESE. The flocks were no larger than 6 birds and they where moving up and down the coast. I also had a close view on a first winter GANNET again flying north. Unlike a flock of EIDER which was a mixed flock of both male a females. flying south, as was a COMMON SCOTER. There was also a MED GULL which was in the last stages of 2nd cal. I also had a WHEATEAR which kept on flitting about with no real view.

Sparrows Nest and Ness Point.

Picked up on 2 CHIFF and that says it all for Nest. As for the point first sign of movement of BRENT GEESE. Several flocks first of 3 then 11 and lastly a flock of 16. There was also a large flock of MALLARD which had taken to the water, about 50 birds in all. They were led by a small group of COMMON SCOTER.

North Dene's and Ness Point later.

Started walk from lighthouse and through to Links Hill and return via sea front. Bright day and got better for time of year ok. As I started walk a very confiding JAY put in a bright appearance. Altogether 7 CHIFFCHAFF and 1 WHITETHROAT. also a female BLACKCAP along North Dene's cliff. I also had a flyover SPARROW HAWK here. A few GREENFOINCH trying to feed on rowan berries when allowed by the young BLACKBIRDS who wanted to get in on the act. WREN'S and ROBINS in abundance. Along sea wall MEADOW PIPIT and PIED WAG. Only had one TURNSTONE but then it was high tide. Plenty of COMMON TERNS and only 1 SANDWHICH TERN. Also a few HOUSE SPARROWS at Birds Eye.

 

Ness Point:  Best birds where 4 LITTLE GULLS flying south followed them down as far as the Newcome Buoy. 2 Adult birds and 2 juvenile. Also had a 3 OYSTERCATCHER and only 1 TURNSTONE again. Plenty of tern's offshore, but all well out. The only other mention was 3 COMMON SCOTER flying south 2 females and a male.

Ness Point, Lowestoft.

DIRTY BIRD?   Sat by the sea to see what I could see and what did I see, I saw the sea and an odd Oystercatcher. I think personally that this bird has its origins in Lowestoft as it could do with a real clean up. You can see what I mean if you take the link below.   

 

http://youtu.be/29ZWkIwGUMI

 

Still in good plumage was a RED-THROATED-DIVER flying North between myself and the yellow buoys. I also had a single GANNET, a first year bird in the same direction a tad further out. Several TURNSTONE putting an appearance with plenty of movement of COMMON TERNS which brought in  two ARCTIC SKUA. I would think that one was adult as he harried terns to shore and then gave them grief as they turned for the sea. When they threw up the bird, much lighter in colour eat what fell. I also had a good view of a first winter ARCTIC TERN which came in close so id good. also a pic but not good enough for blog.



Cornwall and Home again

Suffolk:  All the way to Penzance and back and the only lifer was on my door step. So meet my best bird for a few weeks. A genuine LESSER GREY SHRIKE. This bird was tweeted out as we returned so called in at Sizwell to get acquainted. The view was a good one and although the bird was active both on the ground it did as all Shrikes like to do, just hang around and look.



Cornwall: The best birding was on early Monday morning at Pendeen Watch point, Sitting with another guy from East London. After 3 hours from 7 till 10 I little to show in rareity, but as for views it was good to watch over a 1000 MANX SHEARWATERS go buy. With about the same in GANNET and around 35 FULMER and a single BONXIE which was again a good view. Most birds where well out and when I say that I mean well out. The likelihood of picking up on a  good one was diminished as the wind was nit strong enough to bring them inshore. I also had a single OYSTERCATCHER on this viewing.

 







 

 

Tuesday again an early start and walked from where we stayed to the back end of Hayle. Which produced GREY WAG, COMMON BUZZARD, CHIFFCHAFF, WILLOW WARBLER, and on return found a calling NUTHATCH which I then followed up on three consecutive mornings. I also had 3 BULLFINCH high in a tree, but they where just fly through. While sitting latter on in the day I had a KINGFISHER fly along footpath and on up stream from the site. We then went of to the Lizard and this brought in a good RAVEN AND several GREY WAG as well as SHAG

Wednesday: I spent the whole day at the Eden Centre which if it was not for the White Eyed Finch and the odd looking ground bird there was not much in there for a birder. Mind you it did look strange watching a robin on a banana leaf.

Thursday: To much mist and fog so the only added bird was a ROCK PIPIT. In the evening went fishing and caught a lone flounder. Several GANNET offshore and MANX but to far out for any real interest.

Friday: Best bird was a SANDWICH TERN and a LITTLE EGRET as well as RAVEN and BAR-TAILED-GODWIT on the beach.          

THE LIST

Common Buzzard, Rook, Crow Jackdaw, Magpie, Wren Robin, Blue Tit, Long tailed Tit. Coal Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Swallow House Martin, Green Wood Pecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Pigeon, Collard Dove, Sparrow Hawk, Herring Gull, Blackbird, Tawny Owl, Little Owl, Sand martin, Kingfisher, Chiffchaff, Grey Wagtail, Nuthatch, Grey Heron, Willow Warbler, Starling, Chaffinch, Common Pheasant, Coal Tit, Jay, Linnet,
Off site:  House Sparrow, Kestrel, Gannet, Manx Shearwater, Fulmer, G-B-B-Gull, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Rock Pipit, Bonxie, Med Gull, Cormorant, Shag, Pied wagtail, Raven, Hedge Sparrow, Redshank, Whimbral, Sandwich Tern, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Little Egret.





Links Hil and Ness Point

Well today I am 64 years of age. Now don't tell me I look 21. Liar? Jonathan brought me a good anti static lens wipe which will improve things again for a while. There all ok until you go and wash them and then that's the end of them, in reality.

 

Ness Point:  Had a really good view of an ARTIC SKUA as it headed south. Just passed the continental buoys. It was the usual Westerly wind for this time of the year and the bird was up and down as it held its course. It was so dark and was an obvious candidate for a  juvenile bird. Also had several MED GULLS and just a few SANDWICH terns and COMIC. there was also a CORMORANT that was intent on digesting a very large dab for its dinner. He was one of three birds in the area. I also had a 4 GANNETS heading North and a single HARBOUR PORPOISE well out. The usual SEAL was about as well. I also watched 3 WHEATEAR on the rocks which kept me in view most of the time but where to all intents and purpose very befriending. These bird where very rufus buff. But where not Greenland birds as they where to small and did not stand well.

 

Links Hill: Went fishing to no avail at the second groyne up from Links Hill. No fish but the birding was good. Several MED GULLS on arrival. Over 20 birds in all stages of plumage. 30 minuets before sun set a small group of immature KITTYWAKES came through , about 7 birds in all. There was also several Hirundo over the sea feeding. But as the sun began to fail they left. Just before the sun set a group of TERNS appeared offshore feeding well and through these I followed another gull. I watched for 3 minuets as it continued North with the tern's. It was in good light and continued to show itself well. It was without doubt a SABINS GULL. This bird was juvenile and shew all the characteristics of a Sab. The brown centre and over the head and the very black outer for wing. This is the fourth Sab I have seen in my life and all self found. I would however like to have a really close view sometime though. But this will do for my 64th birthday.