North Dene's

The weather started bright but by the time I finished it was still but dull. The walk was round the Oval and on to Links Hill, Gunton Cliff and back along sea wall.

In reality nothing to write home about. Connected with two flocks of tits which brought nothing. Best bird was a single GREEN WOOD and SPARROW HAWK hunting on strait through course under Gunton Cliff. Two flocks of STARLING off sea one of 6 birds the other about 12. MEADOW PIPTE and LINNET flying about and plenty of JAYS. TUNSTONES at low water and no surprises in regards to birding at sea. Very quit as the benign weather is.

Kessingland to Benacre

This is my longest walk for a very long time. Rather shattered but pleased.

Several flocks of STARLING of the sea in all ten flocks ranging from eight birds to 40 + one group was followed in by three very tired BLACKBIRDS which just dropped down on landing in gorse at Benacre Pitt's. The only other flock was really large one of COMMON SCOTER flying north, I should think there was 50+ birds followed on the tail by a group of duck about 12 birds. I would think they where mallard. I also met up with an adult MED GULL which flew through on foreshore.  I also had a small flock of GREENFINCH and a flock of 25 CHAFFINCH. A few linnets flew by calling and 3 PIED WAG. At Benacre  a pair of SCAUP and 3 PINTAIL. GADWALL and a large flock of feral GREY LAG.
Surprise of the day was no bird but a fish which to my understanding I was left in no doubt about as I have seen them many years ago at Southend. Mind you this was a big job and was just under 3 feet long./ I saw it actually leap out of the water and tail end. I recon it was put up by a bass as it was running along the wave line. This gives you an idea that it was no more than 50 feet away. It was in fact a GARFISH. Rather out of season but who can say.?

Links Hill, Car park.

Last few days not great, don't know why anyone would have the flu jab. All you do is get colds and feel rotten.

Quick call in and a juvenile KITTYWAKE in good fettle was sitting in pools. Very obliging bird in respect

 

Sadly a KNOT was close by and did not look at all well. Blood coming out left of breast, forewing and a desperate limp. Left him alone, trust he makes it.

Ness - Dip Farm

Not much about at Ness despite strong South Westerly overnight and really high tide. Small flock of STARLING shot in low and several TURNSTONE about.

Dip Farm.... Several MED GULLS feeding on pitch and putt course.  Around seven birds in all with one really good  1st year bird. CHAFFINCH and TI'S around but nothing out of the ordinary. Jays I should imagine about ten different bird's seen altogether on walk. BLACKBIRDS still running around and a really good SPARROW HAWK over Gunton stubble field behind railway track.

 

Best birds of all day where outside the house . In fact just across from the front door, 6 WAXWING I heard them before seeing which was a good catch.

Corton.

Walk round the Logging Mill (Sewer farm) and on to cliff edge:

The logging trees where not seen and neither where many birds. Just the usual with BLACKBIRD, REDWING, CROW, and flock of around 12 FIELDFARE flying south west. A few PHEASANT, ROBIN, WREN, GOLDCREST, GOLDFINCH and the well polished JAY. Along rail track the only thing was BLUE TIT and GREAT TIT.
At the cliff a very white HERRING GULL flew by, with no real way of knowing it may have been a YELLOW LEGGED. Off shore the only thing visible was a GUILIMOT. On way back to footpath a single SWALLOW flew over caravans. But along the cliff a SKYLARK was in full song and not to high either. 4 LINNETS sat on cliff edge until they saw us and took to the air. We came across some more around 8 birds in all sitting on fence surrounding water board land with 6 GREENFINCH. A GREEN WOOD was also feeding on the land. A KESTREL hovered close by and then left after defaulting on a catch. We had over fly us here another 2 SWALLOWS heading in desperation South. We also saw 3 GREAT SPOTTED WOOD and 2 JAYS between church and caravans and walked back along road.

Sparrows Nest, Oval and Ness

First called in at NESS: With only 3 COMMON SCOTERS flying North and GANNETS far over the horizon. However a few MED GULLS feeding with others a mile offshore on a shoal of something, more than likely herring. A few TURNSTONES and that was it.

A Short walk around S.N. brought in the usual array of Tit's. With several GOLDCREST putting in an appearance. The best birds where BLACKBIRDS with European traits. Large bills and dark ones at that. Found a single WILLOW WARBLER behind the Oval and plenty of JAYS. Also a GREEN WOOD on the Oval itself. CHAFFINCH,WREN and ROBIN all about and calling. The sad part of the walk was coming across a SHORT EARED OWL. It had obviously flown in from the continent and was well wasted away. No size and just fluff. Literally nothing to it. Rather sad to think it made it all the way to demise.

                                                      Moribund:   Short Eared Owl

Ness Point, Lowestoft.

Just a short time brought in some really lovely male EIDER two flocks flew close in shore. Also plenty of GANNETS way out. BLACK SCOTER close in to. 

BUT RATHER COLD WET AND WINDY.