Ness Point, Lowestoft.

Rather chilly day with a light wind blowing in of the sea from south east. I can confirm I did not stay long.

One flock of 9 GANNET and altogether I found 11 birds in all. Only one gave a show being that little more closer in. Other than that a pair of RED-THROPATED-DIVER flying into the wind and away. Still a large amount of adult and immature GREAT-BLACK-BACKED-GULLS about.

As for home well on Wednesday a pair of LESSER-BLACK-BACKED-GULLS found there way onto Harrys spot and saw him off so I assume that they are back.

Gunton Warren, Lowestoft.

Walked from flycatcher  and around to pillar box and back along shore in bright sunshine with slight cold south wind.

 

Several LONG-TAILED-TITS, WRENS and ROBINS on the way through with the occasional BLACKBIRD. Just a few GREAT TITS and BLUE TITS with MAGIES  and CROWS giving an appearance. CHAFFINCH again singing, which is always the first sign of spring to me. I also had 2 JAY in Gunton Warren Wood. Nothing really stood out until I sat down beyond the Warren when several HEADGE SPARROWS where very intent on setting up territory and making suggestions to each other. Also a few GREENFINCH and GOLDFINCH flying in and through. When I notices a high flyer which was immediately a male STONECHAT which was followed seconds after by his mate which was the only bird I managed to gain a pic of. Not very good but at least it is there. They stayed no longer than a few minutes and where gone. I assume North as that seemed the way they where heading. I followed this up with 2 MED GULLS and 2 KITTIWAKE all flying south. Across the North Denes I put into flight a single SKYLARK which again soon turned tail and headed south.

 



Waveney Forest and Ness Point

Waveney Forest: Cold old day standing out on the mound. That was yesterday which brought in nothing new but still a good stand off. ROUGH-LEGGED-BUZZARD just one was moving about but I did have 3 COMMON BUZZARD in all and a single BEARDED TIT put on a very brief flight through. There was also about the usual tit families as well as now the CHAFFINCH singing well.
Ness Point:   Again still rather cold but at least the sun was out with the southerly light wind. One single PURPLE with the flock of 7 TURNSTONE. Also 75 GANNET all flying North in flocks ranging from 3 to 12. Also a few KITTYWAKE but all well offshore as well as a single RED-THROATED-DIVER and 21 GREAT CORMORANT.
ASDA:  A PIED WAG last years bird and a single MEADOW PIPIT.



Benacre

 Two adult MED GULL  one was colour ringed Red with white lettering. To far away to identify.  6 GOLDENEY, 24 SHELLDUCK,  5 TURNSTONE  and 2 OYSTERCATCHER no other waders at all.

The thing is with Benacre never see anything odd, as it is always to far away? This bird was associating with BLACK-HEADED GULLS by just fiddling in shallow water. It kept itself away from all other B.H.G. as well.

So what was odd about it.

1. The bill was an odd shape and distinctly black, but with a yellow tinged base.
2. It had a smidgen behind the eye with some in front but also a shadow heading up to the top of the head.
3. Legs: They seemed pale and not distinct in being black or ready to turn red.
4. The forewing had some juvenile featheration.
5. The tail was black feathers fringed.
6. Primary coverts had signs of juvenile as well

None of these pictures have been doctored only to crop and clarity.

Ness Point, Lowestoft.

Brought through little today except for a pair of GANNET flying North and 3 RED-THROATED-DIVER. Mind you it seems that the TURNSTONES like crackers.

                                              

                                                   

 

Ness Point, Lowestoft.

It again got rough at the Ness as the wind cut in again from the south. Yet another battering for the winter.
9 GANNET all being pushed North by the wind as where the CORMORANTS. But against it all very low flying RED-THROATED-DIVERS where heading south about 7 birds in all. Turnstones where calling from the shore with 5 KITTYIWAKES well out.
I also had a report back on MED GULLS with ringing sightings and sent High definition pictures as return. Also yesterdays report on the Fungi has been forwarded to Cambridge university for interest sake.

Loathingland Lake

Meaningful attachment with Corvides, how amazing is Fungi?

 

 

While walking along the north side of Lake Loathingland two CROWS where perched on one of the wrecked steam hulks. One had taken up position on the bow and the other was perched half way along about 20 feet away. The bird on the bow (We shall call him fungi) spent just a few minuets in the position but seemed very interested in something that was in the old timbers. Within seconds he had it in his beak and flew to a puddle that was 35 feet away from me. In my opinion he had stashed this food source and was now proceeding to dunk and then eat it which he did. (PIC 1) fungi took for pieces from it and eat them and then walked towards me. Not the least concerned that I was there and proceeded to hide what was left of his food source. The thing was that he had deposited no less than 12 feet from where I was standing. (PIC 2) When he completed this action fungi walked in front of me and gave me a good look. (PIC 3) and walk of to sit on his hulk again. Where the picture was taken above. I then went and looked for his stash and he was not at all concerned. (PIC 4) All this time his mate was watching but with no interest.

The following is a matter of opinion:

1. Fungi was using me by being bold so that his mate would be intimidated by me.
2.  It was also obvious that fungi's stash was well concealed as both the food item and the concrete rumble are of much the same in visual character.
3. He had in fact pushed the food source down between to stones and covered it by a leaf so it could not be seen.
4. I have no idea what he was eating but in my opinion his name is a clue.





Asda car park yesterday Ness Point today

The weekly shop and a look about. several very confiding COMORANT when a SHAG flew in and post landed for a while before flying west up Loathingland Lake. Also  several PIED WAG and three MEADOW PIPIT flying around.

Ness Point was in for a southerly today with literally hundreds of KITTIWAKES offshore with most birds around the North Holm buoy. I also had a single RED-THROATED-DIVER through and 7 GANNET. the best bird for me however was the single FULMER that I had close on in. Along side these I had 11 PURPLE SAND and a few TURNSTONE.

Meet Harry for 2014

Harry is our own herring gull, however sad that seems. But his real loyalty is somewhere else for he has a women which he does everything with except produce sprogs. Anyway he has been sitting for weeks now on the roof opposite with the soul intention of staking his claim, what for I don't know but as usual she is about but the relationship is rather fraught at the moment. The thing is he can be seen in pic below with his own ringing system which makes things easer. This has now been on his ankle for the last 8 months so identity of him away from here has never yet been confirmed but you just never know.

 



Ness Point

This weather is still holding up and either westerly or southerly. Today that as it is and reasonable wave movement as well. Several CORMORANT fishing close inshore with some further out. I also had 2 RED-THROATED-DIVER well offshore but identifiable. As was a really large bull seal who had a head for heights by the level he was sticking his up. Also 12 PURPLE SANDPIPER and 22 TURNSTONE. Also 7 KITTIWAKES following a boat inshore. One of these was a young bird which was good to see. Also our usual colour ringed HERRING GULL as well as 1 MED GULL.



Castle Marsh. SWT

Bright with strong south wind gave it a chill to say the least. Birding was  reasonable with 15 lapwing on the marsh and several EGYPTION GEESE as well. Why they tend to hang around the gulls is not obvious but it seems apparent that the two have some area of affinity. The gull roast was well up to 200 birds and movement n and out was continues. MUTE SWAN numbers where reasonably high but 9 left and headed of to Beccles. I also had a fly over COMMON BUZZARD at Barnby bends. There was also a KESTREL on the telephone lines as well. I also had a TREECREEPER as can be seen below as well as MARSH TIT, COAL TIT, LONG TAILED TIT, GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT, as well as CHAFFINCH and a fly through SPARROW HAWK.