Any idea?

Caught sight of this and was surly baffled by some of the odd markings. This is to be expected being late in the season. But it seems from others who know better then I that it is nothing more than a COMMON DARTER. So no surprise here, but a learning curve.

Pathways on Sep 30th:  ......The first GADWALL of the autumn and 16 ROOK over. The best bird today was a single YELLOW WAGTAIL that flew low right overhead. We were offered good soaring views of 4 COMMON BUZZARD. CHIFFCHAFF 1, CHAFFINCH 2, 

Home, Somerlyton and Burgh St Peters, Church yar#;.

Home: Sat at the back of the house this am and watched as 17 MEADOW PIPIT flew South against a stiff breeze from the South West. There was also two small flocks of SAND MARTIN both of 4 birds. Around was also a CARRION CROW, 7 HERRING GULL came into feed and also a single LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL sat on his normal roof near his nest site.
Somerlyton Meadow Road:  Caught site of a NORTHERN WHEATEAR which was sitting atop swiss rolls of straw. As usual it flew when I was to close but managed a few shots in reasonable light. There was also a single JAY and 2 MAGPIES.
Burgh St Peters, Ziggeret Church: CHIFFCHAFF at the rear of the church yard and also a single SWALLOW flew through. A KESTREL sat beside the road on a low branch to oak tree and 14 LAPWING on a field just before the village. Many COMMON GULL the most seen this Autumn.
                                                              Northern Wheatear

Home and Silo

Family time this weekend so little time for birds. But did take me sis to see the PERI'S on the silo, so some pic's of the same. As for home a SPARROWHAWK flew through and a JAY flew into the garden and gave the BLUE TITS a fright.

Lound Lakes

Just a short walk round brought in more intrest in insects than birds. But the best was a small flock of SANDMARTINS and 2 SWALLOWS. Other than that the ferral GREY LAG population stands at 70+.                                               RUDDY DARTER

Lowestoft, Signal Box.

It was a chance I could not turn down, before we loose another icon of Lowestoft. Opportunity offered through heritage and  Abellio. Thanks to Martin Halliday for the chance and all the best Wayne who will loose his job when its all decommissioned

                                                   Jack Spratt the Lowetoft road sweeper.

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Pathways and Links Hill

Obvious movement of ROBINS into the area and also the sign of Autumn as JAYS put in an appearance after lying low for a while. It was also odd that the single COOT has turned up again on his patch at Pathways. Interesting to see another female BLACKCAP not a juvenile as it was to chest-nutty. The highest count of MOORHEN to at eleven.
Links Hill: Again saw two ROBINS and a young MED GULL as can be seen below and a JAY flew through.

Pathways Care Farm and Gunton Hall.

WEBS count early but nearest day due to business closure over weekend. As for Gunton Hall the best here was three GREEN EMERALD DRAGONFLY. 27 MALLARD and one COMMON WHITETHROAT. Cleaned the windows in the hide and removed the cobwebs and dead flies.

Pathways: On arrival there sis not seem to be any surprises but I was to be proved wrong when a tit flock came through and with it at least two PIED FLYCATCHER. But also I gained sighting of two female BLACKCAP. The usual GREY HERON put in an appearance as can be seen from pic's. 

 

Herringfleet Marsh,

Walk through with the sound of GREEN WOODPECKER calling followed by the mewing of a COMMON BUZZARD. This bird hung about throughout the visit but on arrival it was being mobbed by 3 HOBBY and a KESTREL as well as a pair of CROWS. Walking through the wood to the marsh to the sound of at least 2 GOLDCREST. Walk along the track beside the dyke brought in a surprise for a CHINESE WATER DEER which we caught sight of in the next field. It was running towards a gate and then turned towards us and headed across coming through the fence 50ft from and totally unaware of our presence. It started to walk towards us in the reed until at 6 feet it caught sight of us and just leapt in the air and landed with a splash in the dyke and could be heard swimming for it before bounding of.
As we approached Herringfleet windmill I caught site of HOBBY again hunting over the area. Again three birds. Two MEADOW PIPIT over and one REED BUNTING, but you could also hear BEARDED TIT alongside the Waveney. A RUFF was pool walking and was an obvious young bird. There must be 50 ferral GREY LAG GEESE with a flock of nine TEAL in the air. Seven MUTE SWAN and only one LITTLE EGERET. But the sight of a KINGFISHER in flight is always a delight. Many COMMON DARTER, SOUTHEREN HAWKER 1 and at least 15 EMPEROR DRAGONFLIES.

Corton Old Sewage Works and Leathe's Ham.

C.O.S.W.: On arrival a flock of 40 STARLING around the church tower, kicking of as usual. Some GOLDFINCH about as well and with others in the vicinity in excess of 20 birds. But it also the sound of hirudue's above saw a movement of 11 HOUSE MARTIN, 1 SWALLOW and 1 SWIFT. But the best bird was a lovely WHINCHAT , which flitted about. A KESTREL was on the telegraph pole keeping a good watch. But only 1 CHAFFINCH and 1 DUNNOCK. Some young PIED WAGTAIL in the part ploughed field.
Leathe's Ham:  I was surprised at the count of SHOVELORE with me stopping at 26. Also 3 CORMORANT and 3 LITTLE GREBE. There was also a CHIFFCHAFF and perhaps 2. GADWALL came in low at only 2.

Pathways

A call in for just over an hour. Birding was rather sluggish but this female BLACKCAP feeding up before it leaves was a joy to watch. It was one of two that were floating around the hide. 

The moulting make TUFTED DUCK is still hanging on in there as were four MALLARD and 5 MOORHEN. Aw ROBIN calling and a very fluffy BLUE TIT.

Ness Point

Little in the way of movement out at sea even after one and half hours it was limited. The haze was up early for whatever reason. Best bird was a COMMON BUZZARD that made the gulls come to life even if little else did. A pair of fly over MEADOW PIPIT and a single GANNET well off. TURNSTONE 2.

Hen Reed Bed

Hen Reed Bed: A visit down with friend meant we were greeted by at least two WHINCHAT and a pair of COMMON WHITETHROAT flitting in brambles to right of platform.  A single KESTREL flew over the marsh and then we set of for the river and hides. Before we did so we looked under the corrugated iron placed to attract reptiles. For the first time four grass snakes with a very large one at the next a Field vole. At the following two grass snakes.
                                            This pic was taken with camera through scope.

River Blyth: A small flock of SWALLOWS were flying around, but also resting in a small dead tree. They also had companions with five GOLDFINCH that were just loafing about, but very vocal. As was a small group of BEARDED TIT calling from the reed bed as several locations, but because of the wind it was almost impossible to gain a visual fix. There were four LITTLE EGERET and two GADWALL on the scrape with seven BLACK HEADED GULLS at rest. We also had two CURLEW in flight and also a few feeding on the side of the river. It was no surprise also to find several GODWIT assumed BLACK but who can tell. Only one RINGED PLOVER but a good number of well marked DUNLIN.

Home, Ness and Pathways

Home proved little today except two late running SWIFT. Heading the wrong way though. Also a high flying SPARROWHAWK doing his normal thing. Seen on most days.
Ness: Late afternoon call in proved again not inviting with only a single OYSTERCATCHER flying close in and North. Two LINNET flying South was a highlight.
Pathways: Inconclusive id on a duck, rather odd looking thing. Only the second CORMORANT fishing on the lake. BLACKCAP 2 and several Emperor Dragonflies.