January 2003

Glaucous Gull - Ness Point - January 19, 2003 - ©Robert Wilton

RED-THROATED DIVER Gavia stellata
Kessingland - 1st (2 S), 2nd (3 N, 39 S), 3rd (9 N, 9 S), 4th (19 N, 26 S), 5th (29 N, 20 S, 2 o/s), 6th (15 N, 8 S), 7th (99 N, 4 S), 8th (12 N, 280 S, 6 o/s), 9th (9 N, 2 S), 10th (21 N, 13 S), 11th (31 N, 19 S), 12th (15 N, 10 S), 13th (45 N, 36 S), 14th (206 N, 35 S), 15th (72 N, 12 S), 16th (160 N, 24 S), 17th (26 N, 18 S), 18th (35 N, 4 S, 1 o/s), 19th (12 N, 7 S), 20th (1 S), 21st (33 N, 4 S, 3 o/s), 22nd (13 N, 15 S), 23rd (8 N, 19 S, 1 o/s), 24th (10 N, 9 S, 1 o/s), 25th (6 N, 10 S), 26th (25 N, 7 S, 1 o/s), 27th (22 N, 11 S, 2 o/s), 28th (83 N, 8 S), 29th (27 N, 10 S, 1 o/s), 30th (10 N, 3 S, 1 o/s), 31st (14 N, 1 o/s).
Highest Day Count = 298 (12 N, 280 S, 6 o/s) on the 8th.
Monthly total = 1765 (1071 N, 674 S, 20 o/s).



BLACK-THROATED DIVER Gavia arctica
One flew south at Kessingland on the 14th.



GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
Lowestoft - One was on Lake Lothing on the 1st and 11th.
Kessingland - 1st (1 S), 6th (1 o/s), 8th (4 S), 11th (1 S, 1 o/s), 12th (1 S), 13th (2 S), 14th (2 S, 4 o/s), 15th (1 N, 7 S), 22nd (1 S), 24th (2 S), 25th (8 S).
Monthly total = 36 (1 N, 29 S, 6 o/s).



FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis
Kessingland - 6th (1 N), 7th (1 N), 13th (1 N), 29th (1 S).
Monthly total = 4 (3 N, 1 S).



GANNET Morus bassanus
Ness Point - 25th (16 N).
Kessingland - 1st (1 N), 3rd (1 S), 6th (1 S), 13th (6 N), 14th (2 N), 15th (11 N), 16th (1 N), 17th (74 N), 18th (4 N), 19th (15 N), 24th (4 N), 25th (34 N, 1 S), 27th (3 N), 29th (1 S), 30th (1 N), 31st (1 N).
Highest Day Count = 74 (74 N) on the 17th.
Monthly total = 298 (153 N, 3 S).



CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo
Lowestoft - A green colour ringed bird was in Lowestoft Harbour on the 26th. This individual was ringed in the Netherlands in June 1999 and was first seen in Lowestoft in September of that year.
Kessingland - 1st (1 S), 2nd (3 N, 1S), 3rd (4 N, 1 o/s), 4th (13 N, 1 S), 5th (14 N, 1S), 6th (15 N, 4 S, 1 o/s), 7th (10 N, 1 S), 8th (8 N, 11 S), 9th (2 N, 6 S), 10th (6 N), 11th (2 N), 12th (3 N), 13th (1 N, 5 S), 14th (7 N, 2 S, 3 o/s), 15th (1 N, 1 S), 16th (5 N, 4 S), 17th (1 S), 18th (1 N, 4 S), 20th (2 o/s), 21st (25 N, 1 S), 22nd (8 N), 23rd (5 N, 1 S), 24th (1 N), 25th (2 N, 2 S) 26th (1 N), 27th (3 N, 1 S), 28th (2 N).
Highest Day Count = 26 (25 N, 1 S) on the 21st.
Monthly total = 190 (142 N, 48 S, 7 o/s).



SHAG Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Roosted at Leathes Ham as follows: 1st (2), 4th (4), 11th (3), 18th (3), 25th (2), 26th (2).
During the day they were mostly found towards the western end of Lake Lothing.



TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE Anser serrirostris
Considering how close the Cantley/Buckenham wintering flock is to our area Bean Goose remains a highly prized local rarity. Two that flew north along the Waveney Valley at Carlton Marshes on the 4th were a welcome addition to three local lists. They almost settled on the flooded fields at Peto's Marsh before continuing high southwest over Burgh St. Peter.



WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons
31 flew north at height past Lowestoft Harbour on the 26th.



GREYLAG GOOSE Anser anser
Lound Waterworks - 25th (90).
Lowestoft - Two flew south over Lowestoft Harbour on the 26th.



CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis
Kessingland - 22nd (1 S).
Somerleyton Marshes - 25th (140).



BRENT GOOSE Branta bernicla bernicla
Corton - One was in the field to the south of the old sewage works on the 2nd.
Kessingland - 1st (5 N, 6 S), 2nd (4 S), 3rd (7 N, 7 S), 8th (3 S), 9th (14 S), 10th (4 N), 14th (2 S), 16th (6 S), 28th (1 S).
Highest Day Count = 9th (14 S).
Monthly total = 59 (16 N, 43 S).



PALE-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE Branta bernicla hrota
One landed on Kessingland Beach having arrived from the north on the 24th.



EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiacus
Oulton Broad - 1st (2)
Carlton Colville - Burnt Hill Lane 2nd (36) and 11th (36).
Lound Waterworks - 25th (5).



SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna
Kessingland - 1st (8 S), 3rd (2 S), 4th (2 S), 7th (1 N, 3 S), 8th (1 S), 13th (1 S), 29th (1 N), 31st (12 N).



WIGEON Anas penelope
Kessingland - 1st (48 S), 4th (16 S), 6th (40 S), 12th (13 N, 3 S), 14th (2 N), 16th (15 S), 18th (8 o/s), 20th (1 S), 21st (4 N, 12 S), 24th (6 S), 27th (3 o/s), 28th (2 N, 4 S).

GADWALL Anas strepera
Carlton Marshes - 4th (3).
Lound Waterworks - 25th (3).



TEAL Anas crecca
Kessingland - 1st (50 S), 8th (45 N), 12th (1 N), 21st (2 S), 28th (2 S), 31st (2 N).
Lowestoft - One at Mutford Lock, Lake Lothing on the 12th.



MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos
Kessingland - 1st (2 S), 13th (1 o/s).

PINTAIL Anas acuta
Kessingland - 1st (4 S), 16th (1 S), 17th (4 S), 19th (9 N), 21st (9 S), 27th (14 N), 29th (8 N), 30th (6 N).

SHOVELER Anas clypeata
At least 24 were on Leathes Ham on the 11th and 12th.



POCHARD Aythya ferina
Eight were on Leathes Ham on the 12th.



SCAUP Aythya marila
Four (3 females and an immature male) were still present on the fishing lake near Kessingland sewage works on the 1st. Three were still present on the 18th.
Two females drifted south on the sea off Kessingland on the 12th and five flew north there on the 31st.



EIDER Somateria mollissima
Kessingland - 1st (9 N), 4th (39 N, 20 S), 5th (8 N, 25 S), 6th (30 N), 7th (27 N), 8th (3 N, 5 S), 9th (3 N), 15th (8 N), 21st (1 N), 27th (2 N), 31st (2 N).
Lowestoft - 4th (30 N).

COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra
Kessingland - 1st (3 N), 4th (4 N), 5th (19 N), 7th (1 N), 8th (3 N, 9 S), 10th (1 N, 3 S), 11th (40 S), 14th (1 N), 17th (4 N), 18th (50 S), 20th (2 S), 21st (2 N), 23rd (2 N, 3 S), 24th (29 N), 25th (1 S), 26th (3 N), 31st (1 N).

VELVET SCOTER Melanitta fusca
Kessingland - 5th (1 N).



GOLDENEYE Bucephala clangula
Kessingland - 4th (1 S), 8th (4 S), 30th (1 N).



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator
Kessingland - 8th (4 S), 12th (1 S).



RED KITE Milvus milvus
One flew in from the sea at Pakefield at 8:50 on the 28th and continued heading westwards inland. Later in the morning one also flew westwards over the A12 at Hopton.



HEN HARRIER Circus cyaneus
One ringtail was at Carlton Marshes on the 2nd where a male was present on the 13th. A male flew westwards across the road just south of Lound village late afternoon on the 18th.



COMMON BUZZARD Buteo buteo
Singles were seen at Ashby on the 9th, 16th, 17th, 18th (2).



PEREGRINE Falco peregrinus
Two were at Carlton Marshes on the 4th, one of which caught a gull!!! Another was perched on pylons at Fritton Marshes on the 9th and 25th.



OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus
One flew south past Kessingland on the 24th.



RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula
One was on Kessingland Beach on the 4th, with three there on the 24th.
Two were at Lake Lothing on the 12th.



GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis apricaria
Carlton Marshes - At least twenty were feeding with Lapwings in flooded fields on Peto's Marsh on the 4th and 11th.
Mutford - Several hundred were in fields off the B1127 west of Ellough airfield on the 15th.



GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola
One flew north at Ness Point on the 12th.



LAPWING Vanellus vanellus
Carlton Marshes - Several hundred were feeding in flooded fields on Peto's Marsh on the 4th.
Corton - 134 were in fields to the north of Stirrups Lane on the 25th.
Kessingland - 31st (19 S).



KNOT Calidris canutus
One was roosting with Turnstones on the rock groyne at the South Pier on the 25th and 26th.
Two flew north past Kessingland on the 31st.



SANDERLING Calidris alba
Kessingland Beach - 4th (14), 10th (1), 23rd (2), 24th (4), 29th (1).
Lowestoft - Hamilton Dock 12th (5), 18th (7), 26th (7); Lake Lothing 12th (5); South Beach 25th (18).



PURPLE SANDPIPER Calidris maritima
Lowestoft - Nine were roosting at high tide on rocks at the South Pier on the 6th.
Ness Point - 12th (2), 14th (7), 25th (2), 26th (1), 29th (9).
Kessingland - One at the sluice on the 10th.



DUNLIN Calidris alpina
Carlton Marshes - 18 were feeding in flooded fields on Peto's Marsh on the 4th, with at least 20 there on the 11th.
Kessingland - 10th (5 N), 18th (2 S), 20th (1 S), 28th (2 S).



JACK SNIPE Lymnocryptes minimus
At least one was seen in flight at Carlton Marshes on the 4th. Another was on farmland at Mutford on the 16th.



COMMON SNIPE Gallinago gallinago
At least twelve were seen in flight at Carlton Marshes on the 4th with at least 30 on Peto's Marsh, Carlton Marshes on the 11th.



WOODCOCK Scolopax rusticola
Noted over Lake Lothing on the 1st (1 S), Kessingland on the 2nd ( 1 in off sea), Lowestoft Sports Centre on the 7th.



BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa
Carlton Marshes - One was feeding in flooded fields on Peto's Marsh on the 4th.



CURLEW Numenius arquata
Carlton Marshes - Two were feeding in flooded fields on Peto's Marsh on the 4th.
Kessingland - 9th (4 N).



REDSHANK Tringa totanus
Lake Lothing - 1st (20).
Carlton Marshes: Peto's Marsh on the 4th (2).
Kessingland - 10th (3 N), 12th, 13th, 31st (1 at the Sluice).
Corton - 12th (2).



COMMON SANDPIPER Actitis hypoleucos
Noted along Lake Lothing on the 1st, 9th, 11th and 14th, with two there on the 19th.



TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres
Kessingland Beach - 1st (3), 2nd (5), 3rd (3), 4th (1), 5th (10), 6th (2), 11th (2), 12th (3), 18th (2), 22nd (6), 23rd (3), 25th (1), 26th (3), 29th (2), 31st (3).
Lowestoft - 65 were roosting at the South Pier on the 25th. Two colour ringed birds were present on the 26th. Both are believed to have been ringed in the Netherlands.



POMARINE SKUA Stercorarius pomarinus
On the 2nd a dark phase bird successfully attacked a Common Gull off Kessingland before dropping to the sea to collect the offering at 14:50. What was probably the same individual was attacking gulls before dropping onto the sea in an almost identical location at 14:15 on the 3rd.



GREAT SKUA Catharacta skua
One flew south past Kessingland on the 4th @ 14:28.



MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus
Kessingland - 1st (ad. S), 3rd (ad. @ sewage works), 15th (ad. S), 23rd (ad. on beach), 29th (ad. N).
Lowestoft Harbour - 1st (ad), 4th (ad Ness Point), 26th (3 ad + 1st-winter).
Pakefield Beach - 28th (ad. + 2nd-winter + 1st-winter).
Mutford - 16th (2nd- winter following the plough).
At least five birds were seen in the Lowestoft area during the month, one of which was 21N the Dutch ringed bird that has been wintering here since 1997.

LITTLE GULL Larus minutus
Kessingland - 1st (32 S all adults), 2nd (5 S), 3rd (3 S), 6th (1 N), 7th (1 N), 8th (1 N), 9th (1 N), 15th (1 S).
Monthly total = 45 (all S).



BLACK-HEADED GULL Larus ridibundus
The Finnish colour ringed bird first seen at Oulton Broad in December was in Lowestoft Harbour on the 26th standing next to 21N, the Dutch colour ringed Mediterranean Gull. To their right was a colour ringed Herring Gull from Orfordness, Suffolk. And above, on a lamppost, was the Dutch colour ringed Cormorant. Nearby there were Dutch colour ringed Turnstones at Ness Point and on the South Beach rock groyne completed the continental gathering!!!



GLAUCOUS GULL Larus hyberboreus
One of the highlights of the first half of 2003 was the appearance of a first-winter Glaucous Gull in Lowestoft Harbour. Initial sightings involved flybys south past Pakefield and Kessingland at 15:40 on the 15th, then again past Kessingland on the 18th, north at 14:38 then south at 15:25 before it finally became settled in Lowestoft Harbour from the 19th onwards.

On the 19th it showed extremely well at Ness Point where it was feeding on discarded fish. It was present again briefly at Ness Point on the morning of the 21st before spending most of its time from the 23rd-31st in and around Lowestoft Harbour. The numbers of gulls in Lowestoft harbour increased dramatically around this time as they found a ready supply of food with large amounts of Spratt's are being landed in the fish market.

Glaucous Gull - Ness Point - January 21, 2003 - ©Robert Wincup

KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla
Kessingland - 1st (5 N, 15 S), 2nd (36 N, 11 S), 3rd (1 N, 4 S), 4th (15 N, 1 S), 5th (30 N, 1 S), 6th (800 N, 1 S), 7th (23 N), 8th (62 N, 6 S), 9th (195 N), 10th (3 N, 11 S), 11th (22 N), 12th (11 S), 13th (660 N, 85 S), 14th (139 N, 25 S), 15th (240 N, 560 S), 16th (25 N, 190 S), 17th (23 N, 99 S), 18th (2 N, 11 S), 19th (11 N, 47 S), 20th (6 N, 54 S), 21st (8 N, 276 S), 22nd (3 N), 23rd (10 N, 75 S), 24th (3 N), 25th (81 N, 12 S), 26th (8 N, 4 S), 27th (137 N, 47 S), 28th (11 N, 77 S), 29th (6 N, 47 S), 30th (6 N), 31st (11 N).
Highest Day Count = 15th (240 N, 560 S).
Monthly total = 4252 (2598 N, 1654 S).

GUILLEMOT Uria aalge
One was in Hamilton Dock, Lowestoft on the 1st.

LITTLE AUK Alle alle
One flew south past Kessingland at 14:50 on the 31st just a few metres from the beach.



AUK sp. Alcidae
Kessingland - 1st (1 S, 1 o/s), 2nd (1 N), 3rd (12 N, 2 S), 4th (9 N, 1 S), 5th (18 N), 6th (199 N, 6 S), 7th (14 N), 8th (2 N, 215 S), 9th (6 N), 10th (5 N), 11th (1 N), 12th (14 N), 13th (58 N, 49 S), 14th (35 N, 83 S), 15th (15 N, 47 S, 1 o/s), 16th (8 N, 5 S), 17th (14 N, 138 S, 4 o/s), 18th (7 N, 2 S), 19th (9 S), 20th (4 N, 3 S, 1 o/s), 21st (33 N, 41 S), 22nd (7 N, 2 S, 1 o/s), 23rd (21 N, 18 S), 24th (28 N, 1 o/s), 25th (2 N, 66 S, 10 o/s), 26th (2 N), 27th (5 N, 6 S), 28th (8 N, 9 S), 29th (13 N, 2 S), 30th (3 N, 1 S), 31st (3 N, 2 S, 1 o/s).
Highest Day Count = 8th (2 N, 215 S).
Monthly total = 1273 (546 N, 707 S, 20 o/s).



BARN OWL Tyto alba
Two were at Carlton Marshes on the 4th and 9th. One was hunting over fields to the south of Kessingland sewage works on the 23rd.



LITTLE OWL Athene noctua
One was at Corton on the 2nd and 4th.



SHORT-EARED OWL Asio flammeus
One was at Carlton Marshes on the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 26th, with two there on the 9th.



KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis
Two were along Lake Lothing on the 1st and 11th, with three there on the 12th. Presumably one of these birds was seen in Lowestoft Harbour on the 6th.



ROCK PIPIT Anthus petrosus
One was at Lowestoft South Pier on the 12th and two were in Hamilton Dock on the 25th with one there on the 26th.



GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea
One was at the species traditional wintering site of Kessingland sewage works on the 1st, 3rd, 7th (2), 18th and 28th. Nearby one was noted at Kessingland Sluice on the 11th and 13th.



PIED WAGTAIL Motacilla alba
The evening roost in outside Dorothy Perkins in London Road North, Lowestoft numbered 23 on the 9th/10th with 33 there on the 18th. 20+ were at Kessingland sewage works on the 1st.



BOHEMIAN WAXWING Bombycilla garrulus
Small parties noted throughout the month but unlike previous years didn't seem very settled, presumably due to a low yield of berries.

Waxwing - St. Pauls Close, Beccles - January 4, 2003 - ©Robert Wincup

Reported as follows:
• Lowestoft Railway Station 3rd (2).
• St. Pauls Close, Beccles 4th (4 first winter birds one male and three females). Gunton Drive, Lowestoft 7th (1), 19th (25).
• Kessingland 9th (2), 11th (2), 17th (2), 26th (8).
• St. Margarets Road, Lowestoft 11th (2).
• Rotterdam Road opposite St. Margarets Church 12th (7), 16th (5), 22nd (up to 24).
• Corton Woods 12th (2).
• Hoseasons car park, Camp Road, Lowestoft 13th (3).
• South Lowestoft Industrial Estate, Gisleham 16th (11).
• Pakefield 18th (10+), 19th (16).
• Malvern Rise, Lowestoft 21st (10).
• Sharon Drive, Lowestoft 21st (5)
• Millennium Way/Oulton Road junction, Lowestoft 24th (25), 25th (c.20).

BLACK REDSTART Phoenicurus ochruros
One was seen in Stanley Street, Lowestoft on the 15th.



STONECHAT Saxicola torquata
Noted at Carlton Marshes on the 11th (2) and Corton Cliffs on the 12th (1).



FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris
Flocks of 200+ were at Mutford on the 16th with 70+ at Lound on the 18th. Also seen at Fisher Row, Oulton on the 4th (2); Gunton 8th (4); Carlton Marshes 11th (15); Corton 12th (4).



REDWING Turdus iliacus
Noted at Corton Woods on the 4th (10); Gunton on the 8th (9); and Lound 18th (1).



CETTI'S WARBLER Cettia cetti
Heard at Carlton Marshes on the 2nd (2), 11th (2), 4th (3).



DUSKY WARBLER Phylloscopus fuscatus
The appearance of a Dusky Warbler at Kessingland sewage works rounded 2002 off in style and got the New Year off to a brilliant start. It ranged widely in the first two days of its stay but soon found an abundant supply of bugs along the hedgerow and fence bordering the sewage works where it delighted many observers. It was last seen on the 6th departing that night as the weather turned decidedly chilly. An early candidate for bird of the year!!!



CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita
Four were at Kessingland sewage works on the 1st, with two there on the 18th. Another was in Bridge Road, Oulton Broad on the 25th.



FIRECREST Regulus ignicapilla
One was reported at Kessingland sewage works on the 1st.



CARRION CROW x HOODED CROW Corvus corone x cornix
The regular hybrid was again at Sidegate Lane, Gorleston on the 25th.



HAWFINCH Coccothruastes coccothraustes
One was in a private garden near Normanston Park on the 23rd. It had been feeding on Beech mast under a tree before perching on a washing line. Unfortunately it did not stay long.



LINNET Carduelis cannabina
150 were at Low Farm Drive, Carlton Colville on the 18th.



SNOW BUNTING Plectrophenax nivalis
Kessingland - 2nd (12), 3rd (25), 4th (24), 6th (23), 7th (24), 8th (24), 9th (24), 11th-13th (25), 15th (25), 17th (25), 19th (25), 21st (25), 23rd-25th (25), 27th (25), 29th (25).
Pakefield Beach - 28th (8).



YELLOWHAMMER Emberiza citrinella
Noted at Carlton Marshes on the 2nd (2); Low Farm Drive, Carlton Colville 5th (17); Gunton 8th (21).



REED BUNTING Emberiza schoeniclus
Noted at Carlton Marshes on the 2nd (8); Low Farm Drive, Carlton Colville 5th (5); and Pakefield Beach 28th (1).



CORN BUNTING Miliaria calandra
The discovery of two small wintering flocks of Corn Buntings this winter indicates they still have a foothold in the Lowestoft area. The largest of the two groups has been at Carlton Marshes where sixteen were feeding in fields and perched on overhead wires on the 2nd. At Low Farm Drive, Carlton Colville reported on the 5th (2), 12th (2), 18th (12).

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