Ness Point, Lowestoft.

Wind blowing in well but still hard to gain a good grip on anything out of the usual. I suppose the GANNET flying with young well out was good but what was flying underneath them is still a matter of conjecture smaller yeas and black then white so assumed MANX SHEARWATER. In real terms 2 hours brought about 5 of these by. But if it was anything more than that it was well beyond my range and eye sight. Plenty of movement of TERN'S some smaller some assumed LITTLE TERN, But others will remain as comic. I had 6 TURNSTONE South as well as 3 OYSTERCATCHER. 2 MALLARD North and the little ditty below. Which hoped out of the tamarisk as I was about to depart.

 COMMON WHITETHROAT

Job to think that this is the same bird. How different anyone can look, but then look at me?



Give nature a home

Called into Asda today and went for a look over Lake Loathingland. I didn't even make it as I could hear this very strong call coming from somewhere. Eventually spotted this GOLDFINCH on the deck who kept flying up at the café window and nearly nocking himself out. Must have thought mum and dad where about. Poor thing, so without any further a do. In I go and scoop him up. So I gave him a new home and you never know he might make it.

Thinking back

Not always the best thing to do but then I was young and my 27/6p camera was all I had to take pictures. Mind you dad did take the first one but when you think of the old 120 film, it really is so different today. The other shots where taken from South Stack, North Wales and they are little in terms of birding. But at the amazing age of 12 years I was already up for birding especially as I was on holiday. I can remember being up at 6am in the morning looking for Linnet and Goldfinch as well as Stonechat. The glimpse of a Raven and the sound of a very rare bird in those day a Peregrine. But then I was young and although it seems along while ago, yet it seems like yesterday. Someone said to me yesterday, "Im glad Im running out and not in. With the state of the world. My response was "well we made it that way."

At Kersey age 11 years                                       South Stack  1962

 

South Stack 1962 August

 

Home

This morning there was the sound from the bramble of the first migrant back through the garden. Sure enough was able to id it without even seeing it. COMMON WHITETHROAT in really good nick. Stayed around for 2 hours and then no sign. But a HOUSE SPARROW is always a welcome visitor as was his associate. STARLING.

Great Yarmouth

Walk onto the beach while the rest paly there games. The best was a small group of RINGED PLOVER which I counted out at 3. They all seemed adult , but the bird that was nearest me was more ringed than normal as it had been rung. but sadly not colour ringed. Made really lovely pic though.
Also on beach was a very lonely looking MEW GULL, the first for a coastal bird for the later half of the year. Very distinct dark eye.

Ride round Norfolk with the church today was in birding terms let's just stop so I can have a look around. Mind you did have a brilliant view of a hunting SPARROWHAWK that came alongside and flew with us for a few seconds really low.

North Dene's

Walk through from Sparrows Nest and North Beach brought in 2 female BLACKCAP and 3 CHIFFCHAFF. With the occasional BLUE TIT and GREAT TIT but in reality very few. ROBIN and WREN calling but not yet at there best for Autumn. A few SWALLOWS flying through over the Oval and Dene's. Some small flocks. GREENFINCH as usual at Links Hill car park. Best bird really was a young RINGED PLOVER which was the only juvenile amongst three birds. Several TURNSTONE and lots of PIED WAG.

Links Hill: Late evening. saw a single NORTHERN WHEATEAR which was hiding away behind the low wall. It was as usual disturbed by a dog and stood to attention.



Ness Point and Leath's Ham

Little to view in late afternoon, but I understand it improved as the evening went on. However with only a few GANNET well out and a CORMORANT there was little else except for a fly over PIED WAG.
Leathe's Ham: However was more productive as a  moving flock of small stuff came through while sitting there. Included in this flock of some 25 birds was CHIFFCHAFF, LONG TAILED TIT, BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT. On the water a few WIGEON in moult as where GADWALL. With plenty of young COOT about and a scattering of MOORHEN. It seemed also that young CORMORANTS were also intent in hanging out to dry.

DuxforD and Ness

Spent the day at Duxford with the family. I counted on one occasion 38 PIED WAG and the best fly by was 200 ROOKS. With BLACKCAP on the way home and a good size covie of RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE.

Ness Point:   Movement of birds is still very restrictive but I did manage a flock of 5 BLACK SCOTER. Not one tern but a flock of 5 KITTIWAKE made a good show. The usual TURNSTONE around a 2 DUNLIN keeping them company.

Melton and Sizwell

So the scope broke on Monday and today it's mended. Can you really in this day and age believe that, that is possible. Not only that I was charged nothing for the service. In real terms this is hope for the world that someone is prepared to do something for nothing. Perhaps there is a God and perhaps He lives in Suffolk. So a really big thank you to the staff of Deben Group. Distributors to the UK of Hawke Optics.

Waterloo Park, Norwich:  5 MEW GULL standing on the school field with one bird in very young plumage. SWIFT and HOUSE MARTIN around but only a few birds. Best was an obliging GOLDCREST which showed very well for the granddaughters.

Melton Duck Pond:   LONG TAILED TIT'S and a single WILLOW WARBLER greeted me on arrival. As did the young MALLARD ducks and a MOORHEN who were interested in my picnic. But it was very encouraging to see a REED WARBLER feeding it's young. Due to the time of year hopefully this was the birds second brood. So this is good. Things are good in Melton so it seems.

Sizewell:  Plenty of  KITTIWAKES breeding on the outlet. With COMMON TERN and about 8 LITTLE GULS but it's hard to keep an exact count as they feed. Also 3 PIED WAG and 3 LINNET

Ness Point

Today is one of those days when it's not a good day So please remember if you see me to tell me to look up. Just dropped my scope and broke the mount. Contacted service and repair and they will not know if they can repair until they see it.......... Wonderful.

Ness Point:    Two small flocks of SWIFT came through with only 5 birds in one and 2 in another. All of course drifting south feeding from wind of the shore. TURNSTONE only counted out at 18 today and the 2 young DUNLIN also flew past following TURNSTONE. The best I suppose was 4 BLACK SCOTER which although a good way of where heading south as was a pair of SANDWICH TERN and a COMMON TERN.

Ness Point

Wind change after storm with little to show........ A single COMMON TERN flew south and only one KITTY doing the same. The only other company was a pair of TURNSTONE that flew by and two juvenile DUNLIN who spent 10 minuets on the outlet.

Ness Point

Storm has run through over night but managed an hour before rain set in. Will try again later as birds are well off shore at the moment. Best bird was a SWIFT which was over the sea and came in land. I also had 2 young PIED WAG with me who had taken shelter. KITTY'S where running up and down and one as late as this was carrying nest material. Bit late I think, perhaps he is getting ready for next year. Had a run through of 2 lark waders which was followed later by another 3. These turned out to be GREY PLOVER in summer plumage. Although 2 had started to turn. Plenty of movement far out with young GANNET as well as adult trying run the storm.

   

Ness Point

Well we are up and running and ready for the gale on Sunday. Let's "live in hope even if we die in despair". God forbid. Today I was treated to the return of the TURNSTONES 26 in all . Some still in good summer plumage with our old stumpy still putting on a show while hobbling about. It was an East wind, what ever that means but it was of little help. I did have however 2 COMMONN TERN, 30 plus KITTYWAKE and a single adult MED GULL flying all south. I must not forget to include the lone PIED WAGTAIL that flew along the shore line.

Also some pic's from the last few days.

 

 



Recent Days

After having family stay for a few weeks and family wedding now is the time to catch up again. So what has been going on. Well the best birds where a pair of COMMON CRANE flying North West over Wroxham. although this was only a brief encounter it was as usual very special and a surprise. Over the last few weeks visited numerous areas in North Norfolk it is just great to see birds and walk the walk.
Leathe's ham: The best bird here was a early return and my first for the site of a BLACK TAILED GODWIT and also another first here for COMMON SANDPIPER. There was also a GREY HERON adult bird loafing about as were 7 LITTLE EGERET. Plenty of duck in various moult but only one DABCHICK.
Thetford Forest:    The best bird here was a flyover CROSSBILL and also a KINGFISHER at Goodmanson south of Swaffam. One big surprise was a pair of CURLEW in a stubble field in the middle of nowhere.