North Dene's, Lowestoft.

 

Walk round the North Dene's on an afternoon which was still really hot. With the hope of finding a WHINCHAT which obliged with a view but little else. Was flitting all over the show and no chance to gaining a good view. The same was not true of the painted lady which was well behaved, but sadly missing part of it wing, It was also an occasion to meet up with what could be my last SWIFT of the year with also flying through 6 SWALLOW and 5 SAND MARTIN. I also had 2 MED GULLS which flew in from the sea over the Oval and out again. I had what I would think were 3 whitethroat which could be heard tacking in the undergrowth. But not visible and on approach silence. TURNSTONE in again with only one young bird. Two young PIED WAGTAIL flew along the rock foreshore. COMMON TERN on the groyne with one CORMORANT. 

 

Home: While sitting in the garden Mary and I were shocked as a SPARROWHAWK flew into the garden in a hurry. Tried to take out a sparrow but failed landing in the climbing rose and unable to gain entry just flattened with wings wide open. This view was from only 3 meters so it may have been quick but it was also a great view.

South Beach, Lowestoft.

Spent all of five hours on the beach as family time. For all of that time a single rung HERRING GULL which is more than likely a Pittsea bird or Tilbery. A single FULMAR  flew South along foreshore and them out to see. A very grey bird for a fulmar but not a blue. Other birds included 23 STARLING the usual gull fraternity with KITTYWAKE on the pier. Some rung but Id not possible. A CARRION CRO kept an eye on procedings but as for TURNSTONE only two birds on rocks.

Ness Point, Lowestoft.

Bright and hot day so with no success placed a hook in the sea. But plenty of fry at my feet and so plenty of food for any passing Tern which included SANDWICH and COMMON TERN. Also five OYSTERCATCHER heading South as was a flock of 26 TURNSTONE. The big success was in seeing eight COMMON GULL heading South. A few CORMORANT about as well as GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL.
Home brought in a few fly by LINNET and still the gulls.

Abberton Resevoir

Wind strong from West but very warm as the front moves through.

Layer Breton:  First bird today here was YELLOW WAGTAIL but also two COMMON TERN was a rung bird and resting long enough for a pic. Several But the best bird was a female LITLE EGERET floating about and 11 counted. But the best bird here was a female WOOD DUCK resting on the East side of the causeway.

Layer Causeway:  A single NORTHERN WHEATEAR running around on the bare land to the south with a single YELLOW WAGTAIL, here but a walk along path towards farm brought in a very close encounter with a NIGHTINGALE which was sitting looking at me at eight feet. Then moved into the tree and gave a good view. My latest ever bird of this genera.

 

Open Hide:  SPARROWHAWK and 3 KESTREL on far side with several RED CRESTED POCHARD more than my count of 7.  Again CURLEW SANDPIPER which again seemed to be young birds, associating with RUFF about 11 birds in all. LINNET bathing in the shallows with CORN BUNTING in the hedge behind as was a good view of LESSER WHITETHROAT. SAND MARTIN and SWALLOW flying through with just two COMMON TERN.

Also had here: PAINTED LADY butterfly as well as RED ADMIRAL, MEADOW BROWN.

 

Walk along south path to Layer Bretton:  Flock of CHAFFINCH with an early count of birds in flock but a good sight of a single SKYLARK and 3 COMMON WHITETHROAT was also good.

 

Over sisters house in Shrub End:   4 SWIFT at 18:30 hrs



Abberton Resevoir

The day started with a view outside when a single SWIFT flew through heading against the strong wind with difficulty.
Yet the visit to Layer Breton end to the reservoir brought in hardly any duck except some odd PINTAIL and three YELLOW WAGTAILS. Mind you there was a few LAPWING and 9 LITTLE  EGERET as well as a single COMMON TERN.
At what I call cuckoo hide on arrival at least 5 CORN BUNTING flew in while I stood at the side of the car in reality I think there were 7 but unable to gain view of all birds. Also fly over YELLOW WAGTAIL at three again and a pair of LINNET as well as a calling WILLOW WARBLER. There was also a very active SPARROW HAWK but the best was from the hide with three CURLEW SANDPIPER and again there could have been 5 birds in all but thee did not give themselves away. On there near bank LAPWING, TEAL, MALLARD, POCHARD, TUFTED DUCK, with PIED WAGTAIL as well as a single LITTLE RINGED PLOVER.


I'm just a little Robin and some young Curlew
Sandpiper.

Home again

Back on Saturday and immediately caught up with two WILLOW WARBLER in the garden which was the same again on Sunday with one flying onto the bird table and fly catching through the garden. One still in the garden on Monday and Tuesday and singing like a goodan. Something I have never seen before was that it was associating with House Sparrows and when they flew of he joined with them.

Perrenporth and area Cornwall

Spent a week in Perrinporth with the family, ten of us in all which made a good time. But we will not talk about car breakdown?

 

Stayed in Mill Cottage: which was in the valley leading in land from the beach. A small stream called  Perrincombe River. Seemed to have several trout, it runs close by and the area is rather benign in climate. Best bird for here was a PERI which flew South West on two occasions late afternoon. Also five CHIFFCHAFF in the tree at one time so must be on move. GREEN WOODPECKER and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER seen and heard on regular days. COAL TIT about three birds each morning with BLUE and GREAT TIT. MAGPIE, CROW, ROOK, RAVEN, JACKDAW, BLACKBIRD, GOLDFINCH, WREN, ROBIN, HOUSE SPARROW, COLLARD DOVE, WOOD PIGEON, FERRAL PIGEON, COMMON BUZZARD 2, GOLDCREST, CHAFINCH. I also had a flock of 50 HOUSE MARTIN, SWALLOW, SAND MARTIN.

 

Perrincombe Stream: Was short on bird life which was a surprise with no dipper or grey wag or kingfisher. But did bring in CHIFFCHAFF, G.S.WOOD, LONG TAILED TIT, BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, CHAFINCH, GOLDFINCH, DUNOCK, ROBIN, WREN, COMMON BUZZARD. HOUSE MARTIN, SWALLOW, HERRING GULL. MUSCOVY DUCK with MALLARD and MUTE SWAN on the boating lake.

 

Perrinporth Beach: brought in CARRION CROW, ROOK, JACKDAW, RAVEN, HERRING GULL, GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL, LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, ROCK DOVE, WOOD PIGEON, ROCK PIPIT was the bird to watch here with several families of birds. Young birds independent but obviously still in partnership with adults. The other real bird of interest was a family of FULMER PETREL with a chick which would put its head up on occasions. The first fulmerling if that is what it is I have ever seen. Further along before Perrin Sands a flock of ROCK DOVE flew around he cliffs.

 

St Agnes Head: Spent an early Monday morning here with Jonathan and as soon as we arrived our first bird was a BONXIE flying behind a GANNET. Numbers of gannets was good with all flying South West which was with a strong West wind. Was rather chilly to say the least but well worth the visit with the best bird being two CORY'S SHEARWATER which where flying close enough in to give a good id. Watched birds which gave all the id that one requires. But the most encouraging view for any birder is the amount of MANX SHEARWATER which must have run to 10,000 birds in the three hours we were there. From inshore to horizon birds fling singularly and in small groups. With young birds identifiable on the wing.FULMER and G.B.B.Gull as well as CORMORANT,  KITTIWAK and I also had a small group of SHAG at the bottom of the cliff which were enjoying the sun. Here to KESTREL, COMMON BUZZARD, COMMON BUZZARD, and a pair of SPARROWHAWK.

                                                            Best Rock Pip picture

 But these are not far behind.

             

                          Pictures from St Agnes Head with Shag and Manx

  

                                                                           Cliffs just before Perrin Sands with young chick.

     



Minesmere, Suffolk.

I tried to stay away but succumbed eventually to the draw of the WESTEREN SWAMPHEN. (Porphyrio porphyria) Why do they have to change the name of these birds. Is it just to keep the USA happy. Surly Purple Gallinule  sounds more exotic. At least the Latin name remains the same even if the American fraternity want to stick with  (Porphyrio martinicus) I understand that the same applies to even a Weasel as ours has become a Least Weasel. So enough of the rant, now for the bird.

Watched it only briefly as it came out to feed, enough time for just a few shots from the camera, but at least, "there is that word again" made something of it as I caught it feeding from its claw. It sauntered along the far side and disappeared as quickly as it appeared. But the main thing is it made the list for a me a true lifer.

This pic might not be the best in world but it does show what the bird does well. Which is to hold a reed stalk between its claw and strip it to the pith and so enable it to eat.

 

All this and this afternoon an absolute beauty of a WILLOW WARBLER which was a real fresh bird. The first on the move and I understand from overheard conversation at Minismere that some had been seen today although from what I was told the trapping of birds through my local club. WBC had only seen six birds trapped by 10:30am.

 

Home

Late evening above the house a flock of 75 SWIFT flying South feeding as they go.

After two broods and only one sprog to show for it he is looking very tatty.

Home

I know it seems rather early to be thinking of Autumn but things are already on the change. Not just a feeling but the way things have changed in birding terms. With a warm front coming through a flock of 70 SWIFT came through hunting for small stuff well up high. They were joined but by gull including a good number of BLACK HEADED which were fly catching with others. About 120 birds in all made it a real sight. Only lasted for 20 minuets just one of signs of late summer.