Gunton Warren and North Beach

Went for a walk with grandchildren and started bright but was starting to deteriorate. Ending in cloud.

Small stuff about with good number of LONG TAILED TIT and there revenue of BLUE TIT. WREN, ROBIN. I also had a very bright WILLOW WARBLER which was well of and picture restricted as bird was in cover. But what was good was the view of of a reasonably close RED THROATED DIVER. Only a record shot but still in summer plumage.

Carlton Marsh,

Seems this is to be last good weather day of the year. So out on the Marsh with a morning list of 23.

Best bird was this little treasure below a male REED BUNTING who sat for a pic but a first for me was a full coloured CLOUDED YELLOW butterfly. As usual it just went right through and eventualy out of sight even in the binns. Also C-BUZZARD 2, CETTI'S WARBLER 2, JAY 2, MARSH HARRIER 1 male. MEADOW PIPIT 4, SNIPE 5,

Sparrows Nest, Flycatcher Alley, Ness Point.

A bright day and walk round:

Sparrows Nest:     Not much to shout about here with BLACKBIRD 2, GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT, LONG TAILED TIT, CHAFFINCH, MAGPIE,

Flycatcher Alley:   Again little about with the best being a very quick glipse of a CHIFFCHAFF and a large LONG TAILED TIT flock. WREN, ROBIN, GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT, WOOD PIGEON.

North Dene's:     MEADOW PIPIT 4, LINNET 1, GANNET 2, MAGPIE 2, CARRION CROW 3.

Ness Point:       GANNET 16 with only one adult in this count which was also heading South whereas all young heading North. RED THROATED DIVER 2 North. CORMORANT 2 North. PIED WAGTAIL and CABBAGE WHITE in off sea.

Walcott and Horsey

Walcott:  We  decided to take a run out and headed of towards Walcott. As far as birding out at sea there was little to shout about but did manage three SANDWICH TERNS heading South. But on the beach with an incoming tide was twp RINGED PLOVER and 20 TURNSTONE. Just a single adult GANNET offshore and two GREATER CORMORANT up and down. At Happisburgh I had six SWALLOW on a wire.

Horsey Mill:    As I was driving along I caught site of some COMMMON CRANE which were feeding in a field. It turned out to be two parents and a well grown youngster. I pulled of the road and took the following pic's.

Dip Farm,

This walk around Dip Farm and old railway line  in strong wind produced very little. It would be encouraging to see more birds.
I had 45 flyover HOUSE MARTINS heading South and only one as a SAND MARTIN and the same with a SWALLOW. JAYS are becoming more regular with 4 seen. As for CARRION CROW a very high count at 47. I had a MIGRANT HAWKER and a COMMON DARTER.

Ness Point

Brief time at the Ness with a strong offshore wind. 

MED GULL on arrival with 20+ HERRING GULL and about the same in LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL. But well offshore was an adult and young FULMER heading North. A SWALLOW was heading South along the coast and 2 CORMORANT on the way to roost. A single REDSHANK flew high out to sea and then headed South. Other than that two TURNSTONE.

Pathways and Corton Old Sewage Works

Pathways:  It is good to see GADWALL back on site for the winter, with 5 birds male and female. Also the number of LITTLE GREBE is up to 7 birds the highest count. The other area of interest is the amount of MOORHEN which have moved in. But a first for the site was a SMALL COPPER.

CSW:    Not much here at all, so nought to say.

Silverstone

Visit to family and also to see qualifying for British Touring Class Championship. But the first thing to catch my eye was  a flyover RED KITE. It was the only one on the way there and also three COMMON BUZZARD as well as three PIED WAGTAIL on grass near the track.

Ness Point and Home

An hour late morning with a male BLACK REDSTART waiting for me which means the pair are still about. Mind you not that close so only a record shot. Movement of CORMORANT heading South on high tide. They were in two flocks, one of 14 and the other 33. A RINGED PLOVER flew over and a TURNSTONE along the rocks. A seal put in an appearance with gulls overhead.

Home:  On arrival at home a SPARROWHAWK flew over my home.

Pathways, North Denes and Ness Point.

Pathways:  Caught site of two COMMON BUZZARD soaring well over the lake. Several young BLUE TIT and GREAT TIT. CHAFFINCH, BLACKCAP, But the best was a new dragonfly on site with a MIGRANT HAWKER male. Also WILLOW GREEN EMERALD DAMSELFLY and COMMON HAWKER. MALLARD, COOT, MOORHEN.

 
North Dene's:  WHINCHAT came in at 5 with one being an obvious young bird. MEADOW PIPIT saw 2 birds lift of and set off. LINNET 2, WHITETHROAT 2, GREENFINCH 1.

Ness Point:   First bird seen was a female BLACK REDSTART which came at sat near me. When I whistled it, it turned it's head on it's side and gave me a funny look. This is understandable? But I also picked up on a RED THROATED DIVER flying North and reasonably close. Close enough to see it had no darkness under the joint of the wing to the body. Flying well off and South 10 SANDWICH TERNS. The MED GULLS were sticking together at 7 and of all age groups.

Portland Bill Bird Observatory

 Spent five nights at Portland Bird Observatory and it was real first for me, sleeping in a light house with a room with a view. The view was truly amazing from my window, but any views on a bright day is a real treat. In the five days my list was 93 species which as can be seen brought in some really nice birds.

PBO:   Good watch point as well, it might not be that close to the sea but close enough for 140+ BALEARIC SHEARWATER. on Thursday morning, early. All birds flying East to West in either
 pairs, fours or eights.My best view was from the point with four birds at half a mile.

GREY WAGTAIL 5, WILLOW WARBLER, CHIFFCHAFF, WOOD WARBLER 1, YELLOW WAGTAIL. SPARROWHAWK, KESTREL. SPOTTED FLYCATCHER  3.

        WOOD WARBLER                                                         COMMON BLUE

                             

                                                        COMMON DARTER

               LINNET
Portland Point:   In respect of what I was able to pick up I only managed 18, but all my birds were from the Point and much closer. Three on one occasion were close enough for very good views. The best I have ever had. I also picked up on another 8 on Monday 10th very early at the point.
FULMER 22, GUILLEMOT 3, SHAG 40, MED GULL 1, ROCK PIPIT, MEADOW PIPIT, With largest flock of LINNET at 80 birds. WHEATEAR highest count 9. RAVEN 2, CHIFFCHAFF 4.

     

Quarry:  Best bird was a REDSTART here but also BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, BLACKBIRD, STARLING, MEADOW PIPIT, LINNET, CHIFFCHAFF, WILLOW WARBLER and very territorial ROBIN. JACKDAW, CROW, KESTREL 4, WHITETHROAT.

              WILLOW WARBLER                                                                   ROBIN

CARRION CROW

Lodmore RSPB   Sep 6th   GREAT WHITE EGERET 1, GREEN WOODPECKER 1, HOBBY 1, MED GULL 50, WATER RAIL 2, WILLOW WARB 1, GREY HERON.

Arne RSPB:         Sep 7th   BUZZARD 2,  NUTHATCH 1, OSPREY 1, STONECHAT 4, WHINCHAT 2.

Lytchett  RSPB    Sep 8th   BUZZARD 2, CATTLE EGERET 2, GREAT WHITE EGERET 1, COMMON SAND 1, DUNLIN 8, GREEN SAND 2, GREENSHANK 2, HOBBY 2, HOUSE MARTIN 140, LITTLE EGERET 5, MARSH HARRIER 1 FEMALE, PIED WAGTAIL 40, PINTAIL 4, RUFF 2, SNIPE 5.
                                           CATTLE EGERET                       RUFF            

Return journey A3 and M25 RED KITE 3.