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Waxwing - South Lowestoft - December 2005 - ©Andrew Easton

RED-THROATED DIVER Gavia stellata
Ness Point - 1st (1 N), 3rd (1 S, 1 N), 9th (11 N), 11th (c15 feeding), 22nd (1 S).
Kessingland - 1st (6 N, 13 S, 1 o/s), 2nd (25 N, 17 S, 8 o/s), 3rd (10 N, 12 S), 4th (3 N, 6 S, 2 o/s), 5th (1 S), 6th (2 S), 7th (2 N, 1 S), 8th (4 N, 1 o/s), 9th (83 N, 1 S, 4 o/s), 10th (3 N, 6 S, 4 o/s), 11th (5 N, 14 S, 4 o/s), 12th (31 N, 19 S, 2 o/s), 13th (12 N, 3 S, 1 o/s), 14th (5 N, 7 S), 15th (1 N, 1 S), 16th (1 N, 1 S), 17th (28 N, 6 S), 18th (132 N, 18 S, 12 o/s), 19th (12 S), 20th (4 N, 1 S, 1 o/s), 21st (3 N, 3 S, 1 o/s), 22nd (8 N, 3 S, 1 o/s), 23rd (16 N, 6 S, 2 o/s), 24th (7 N, 13 S, 4 o/s), 25th (145 N, 10 S, 7 o/s), 26th (4 N, 1 S), 27th (12 N, 5 S, 6 o/s), 28th (3 N, 25 S, 3 o/s), 29th (17 N, 3 S, 3 o/s), 30th (22 N, 3 S, 2 o/s), 31st (32 N, 3 S, 3 o/s).



BLACK-THROATED DIVER Gavia arctica
A diver that flew inland over Hamilton Dock at first light on the 15th proved to be a Black-throated when relocated on Lake Lothing. It was present throughout the day and viewable, usually distantly, from either the railway bridge near Leathes Ham looking eastwards, or the ASDA quayside car park looking westwards. Still present from the 16th-22nd looking eastwards from the railway bridge (TM526932).

Late afternoon on the 21st it was flushed (unintentionally) by a boat racing up and down near it's favoured feeding area. However at 7:54 on the 22nd it flew in high from the east along Lake Lothing, turned over Leathes Ham and flew back and settled in it's usual spot in the deep water turning area near the orange mooring bollard.

(Editors note: In true Lounge Lizard style I watched the return flight on the 22nd from the comfort of my bed whilst deciding if it was time to get up yet. I did have to lean over and grab my bins and sit up to watch it, so some physical exertion was required even for this leisurely observation!)

Black-throated Diver - Lake Lothing - January 2006 ©Derek Beamish

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER Gavia immer
One was along Lake Lothing on the afternoon of the 2nd. After an initially appearing on the information services a couple of Lizards dashed down just in time to see it for a couple of minutes as it swam out of view looking east from the Leathes Ham railway bridge. Thinking it would be easily viewable from the ASDA car park we tried there. However, no sign there or anywhere else along the water body so we can only assume it had flown off.



DIVER spp.
Kessingland - 22nd (1 N), 31st (1 N).



LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis
Lake Lothing - 2nd (4), 3rd (4), 6th (6), 9th (2).
Leathes Ham - 3rd (1), 12th (1).
Lound water works - 5th (3), 10th (5).
Oulton Broad - 9th (3).



GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
Ness Point - 1st (1 on sea).
Oulton Broad - 1st (2), 3rd (1), 6th (1), 7th (3), 9th (5), 14th (4).
Lake Lothing - 6th (2), 9th (2), 15th (1).
Kessingland - 1st (1 S), 2nd (1 N), 3rd (1 N, 3 S), 8th (1 o/s), 10th (1 o/s), 11th (1 S), 12th (1 S), 25th (1 S), 28th (1 N).



SLAVONIAN GREBE Podiceps auritus
At 10:45 on the 8th a Slavonian Grebe flew north past Kessingland before settling on the sea beside a Great crested Grebe and a Red-throated Diver.



FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis
One north past Kessingland on the 29th was the seen from that location since September 16, 2005.



GANNET Morus bassanus
Kessingland - 4th (1 S), 14th (1 N), 20th (1 N), 22nd (1 N), 26th (3 N), 27th (1 N), 28th (43 N, 1 S), 29th (5 N), 31st (1 N).



CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo
Kessingland - 9th (1 N), 12th (1 N), 13th (1 N, 2 S), 14th (1 o/s), 20th (1 N), 21st (2 N, 1 S, 1 o/s), 25th (1 N, 1 S), 27th (1 S, 1 o/s), 28th (1 S).



EUROPEAN SHAG Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Lake Lothing - 2nd (1).
Hamilton Dock - 8th-16th (ad).



LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta
Haddiscoe Marshes - 1st (1).
Breydon South Wall - 8th (1).
Burgh Castle - 24th (2).



GREY HERON Ardea cinerea
Carlton Marshes - 17th (7).
Burgh Castle - 24th (3).



MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor
Herringfleet Hills - 19th (12).
Somerleyton Marsh - 23rd (8).
Haddiscoe Marshes - 22nd (63).



BEWICK'S SWAN Cygnus (columbianus) bewickii
Carlton Marshes - 21st (2 NW).



PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Anser brachyrhynchus
Blundeston Marshes - 2nd (c225), 3rd (c600), 9th (c1000), 25th (c1000).
Herringfleet Hills - 15th (c.300 in flight over the marshes).
Somerleyton Marshes - 12th (c600).
Haddiscoe - 28th (c70 S), 31st (135 - inc 35 south towards Herringfleet).



TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE Anser (fabalis) serrirostris
Four were with Greylag Geese at Herringfleet Hills (TM4697) on the 4th and were still present on the 5th along with a presumed escaped RED-BREASTED GOOSE. A group of 8 or 9 Bean Geese were present here between January 4-9, 2005.

Herringfleet Hills - 4th-5th (4), 7th-8th (3), 9th-11th (4), 12th (5), 13th (4), 14th (5), 15th (1), 16th (6), 17th (3), 19th (6), 20th (5), 21st (6), 22nd-23rd (6), 28th-29th (8).

Tundra Bean Goose - Herringfleet Hills - January 2006 ©Robert Wilton

GREYLAG GOOSE Anser anser
Lound water works - 5th (54), 6th (54), 8th (29), 10th (272), 19th (41), 22nd (39).
Oulton Broad - 6th (33).
Herringfleet Hills - 5th (20).



BARNACLE GOOSE Branta leucopsis
Ashby - 1st (c100).
Lound water works - 1st (50), 5th (326), 6th (323), 8th (356), 10th (386), 19th (378), 22nd (341).
Herringfleet Hills - 5th (12).
Somerleyton Marshes - 12th (c160).



DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE Branta bernicla bernicla
Kessingland - 1st (2 N), 8th (8 S), 18th (3 S), 23rd (6 S), 24th (6 S).



CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis
Herringfleet Hills - 4th (182), 5th (120), 19th (72), 21st (23).
Lound water works - 5th (16), 8th (9), 10th (9).
Leathes Ham - 14th (1), 15th (1).
Lake Lothing - 15th (2).
Somerleyton Marsh - 23rd (116).



EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiacus
Blundeston Marshes - 2nd (7).
Oulton Broad - 3rd (1), 6th (2), 9th (3), 21st (9).
Lound water works - 6th (9), 10th (4).
Breydon South Wall - 8th (2).
Lake Lothing - 15th (4).
Somerleyton Marsh - 23rd (13), 25th (27), 29th (30).



SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna
Kessingland - 16th (1 S), 21st (1 N), 23rd (27 S), 24th (1 S), 28th (2 S).
Oulton Broad - 23rd (7 W).
Ness Point - 23rd (9 S).



EURASIAN WIGEON Anas penelope
Kessingland - 3rd (2 S), 4th (24 S), 5th (2 N), 12th (15 S), 13th (14 S), 14th (70 o/s), 15th (2 S), 19th (2 S), 20th (5 N), 22nd (1 S), 23rd (9 S).
Lound Water Works - 10th (4).
Pakefield - 14th (46 N).
Carlton Marshes - 15th (12 N).



GADWALL Anas strepera
Lound Water Works - 1st (10), 5th (12), 8th (12), 10th (26), 19th (20), 22nd (24), 31st (3 S).
Leathes Ham - 1st (4), 6th (20).
Kessingland - 10th (1 S).



TEAL Anas crecca
Lound Water Works - 1st (5), 8th (23), 10th (34).
Herringfleet Hills - 7th (c50).
Kessingland - 4th (3 N), 10th (15 S), 11th (1 S), 12th (1 S), 14th (4 o/s), 15th (7 S) 30th (2 S).
River Hundred, Kessingland - 24th (8).
Burgh Castle - 24th (400).



MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos
Kessingland - 16th (2 S, 3 o/s).



PINTAIL Anas acuta
Kessingland - 15th (5 S), 16th (3 S), 19th (3 S), 23rd (1 N).
Ness Point - 23rd (19 S).
Burgh Castle - 24th (pr).



SHOVELER Anas clypeata
Lound water works - 10th (16).
Lound village pond - 16th (4).



POCHARD Aythya ferina
Leathes Ham - 1st (3), 3rd (drake), 6th (2), 15th (3).
Oulton Broad - 3rd (drake).
Lowestoft South Pier - 10th (4 S).



TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula
Lound Water Works - 1st (5), 5th (29), 8th (22), 10th (16).
Leathes Ham - 3rd (12), 6th (10).
Kessingland - 2nd (5 N).
Oulton Broad - 6th (2).



COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra
The female seen on December 20th, 2005 at Oulton Broad was still present from the 3rd-7th at least.
Kessingland - 2nd (5 N), 3rd (14 N), 4th (2 o/s), 7th (1 N), 9th (1 N), 16th (2 N), 20th (2 N), 22nd (13 S), 24th (1 S), 25th (5 N), 26th (3 N), 27th (2 N, 4 S), 30th (2 N).



VELVET SCOTER Melanitta fusca
Kessingland - 24th (1 N).



EIDER Somateria mollissima
Ness Point - 1st (drake N), 15th (4).
Kessingland - 3rd (6 N), 23rd (1 N), 27th (2 N).



GOLDENEYE Bucephala clangula
Lound Water Works - 1st-28th (drake).
Kessingland - 6th (1 S), 10th (1 S).



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator
The first of the winter period involved a drake in Hamilton Dock from the 5th-17th.

Red-breasted Merganser - Hamilton Dock - January 2006 ©Andrew Easton

WATER RAIL Rallus aquaticus
Kessingland sewage works - 4th (1).
Lound Water Works - 5th (2), 8th (1), 10th (1).
Ash Farm, Mutford - 8th (1).
One was feeding on the grass verge outside The Potters Kiln, Yarmouth Road, Lowestoft at 14:00 on the 7th before heading back into cover.



MARSH HARRIER Circus aeruginosus
Herringfleet Marshes - 15th (2), 21st (female/imm).
Carlton Marshes - 15th (female).
Henstead - 17th (SE).
Ashby - 29th (1).



HEN HARRIER Circus cyaneus
Herringfleet Marshes - 15th (ringtail).
Flixton Decoy - 23rd (ringtail).
Haddiscoe - 28th (ringtail), 31st (male - stunning birds!!!).
Carlton Marshes - 15th (ringatil).



COMMON BUZZARD Buteo buteo
One was seen at Ashby on the 29th.



ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD Buteo lagopus
One was found on Haddiscoe Island, Norfolk on the 27th. It was seen again on the 28th during the afternoon, viewed from the Waveney Forest. After a couple of blank years for this species it's nice to once again have one nearby.



MERLIN Falco columbarius
A real rarity in the Lizard area it is unsurprising that a female at Henstead on the 10th flying towards the coast was the observers first for the area. Another was at Carlton Marshes on the 28th.



RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE Alectoris rufa
Wicker Well, Somerleyton - 2nd (7).
Mutford - 10th (16).
Flixton Decoy - 23rd (11).
Ashby - 29th (2).



GREY PARTRIDGE Perdix perdix
Stirrups Lane, Corton - 1st (13).
Lound Water Works - 10th (2).
Radar Lodge, Corton - 16th (4).



COOT Fulica atra
Leathes Ham - 3rd (88).
Oulton Broad - 3rd (19), 6th (22).
Lound Water Works - 10th (6).



MOORHEN Gallinula chloropus
Lound Water Works - 8th (47), 10th (16).
Leathes Ham - 9th (28).



AVOCET Recurvirostra avosetta
Burgh Castle - 24th (6).



RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula
Hamilton Dock - 1st (1), 5th (1), 6th (4), 7th (4), 8th (1), 14th (1), 15th (1).



GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis apricaria
Kessingland sewage works - 4th (c50).
Radar Lodge, Corton - 24th (2).



GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola
Five flew south past Kessingland on the 16th.



LAPWING Vanellus vanellus
Kessingland sewage works - 4th (c150).
Lound Water Works - 8th (5).
Blundeston Marsh - 23rd (350).
Burgh Castle - 24th (c2000).
Radar Lodge, Corton - 24th (20).
Somerleyton Marshes - 25th (135).



KNOT Calidris canutus
Two flew south past Kessingland on the 16th.
Ness Point - 24th (juvenile).



SANDERLING Calidris alba
Pakefield Beach - 1st (1).
Lowestoft South Beach - 2nd (2), 3rd (3), 12th (9), 15th (15, winter high).
Hamilton Dock - 2nd (3), 5th (2), 6th (2), 7th (1), 8th (1), 9th (1), 14th (1), 21st (1).
Kessingland - 2nd (1 N), 10th (1 S).
Ness Point - 14th (1).

Sanderling - Lowestoft South Beach - January 2006 ©Shaun Hawkins

PURPLE SANDPIPER Calidris maritima
Ness Point - 1st (2), 2nd (2), 3rd (1), 5th (4), 6th (1), 7th (3), 8th (1), 9th (2), 10th (1), 11th (3), 13th (2), 14th (7), 15th-16th (7), 18th (5), 19th (2), 21st (4), 22nd (4), 24th (3), 31st (8 years high).
Hamilton Dock - 2nd (1), 7th (1), 10th (1), 14th (1).



DUNLIN Calidris alpina
Kessingland - 16th (7 S), 19th (1 S).



JACK SNIPE Lymnocryptes minimus
One was in a stubble field at Ash Farm, Mutford on the 10th.



COMMON SNIPE Gallinago gallinago
Carlton Marshes - 1st (5), 21st (1).
Lound water works - 5th (3), 8th (3), 10th (3).
Ash Farm, Mutford - 10th (3).
Henstead - 24th (7).
Somerleyton Marshes - 21st (17).



WOODCOCK Scolopax rusticola
Lound Water Works - 1st (noted), 7th (1), 8th (2).
Blundeston Marshes - 2nd (1).
Warren Carr, Blundeston - 23rd (2).
Flixton Decoy - 23rd (2).
Somerleyton Marshes - 25th (1).



BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa
30 were seen in flight at St. Olaves heading towards Somerleyton on the 22nd.
Burgh Castle - 24th (250).



BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica
One flew south past Kessingland on the 16th.



CURLEW Numenius arquata
Burgh Castle - 24th (86).



REDSHANK Tringa totanus
Carlton Marshes - 1st (2), 21st (3).
Blundeston Marshes - 2nd (12), 23rd (9).
Lake Lothing - 2nd (8), 6th (1), 9th (12), 14th (13), 15th (10).
Breydon South Wall - 8th (530).
Somerleyton Marshes - 25th (1).



GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus
Two were seen on Haddiscoe Island, Norfolk on the 1st.



TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres
Extremely common nowadays in Lowestoft this species can be found in good numbers almost anywhere between Oulton Broad and Lowestoft Harbour, Ness Point and Pakefield.
Pakefield - 1st (20), 3rd (28), 11th (26), 13th (13), 22nd (45).
Lowestoft South Beach - 1st (15), 2nd (10), 3rd (8), 8th (5), 15th (33), 28th (93 roosting).
Lake Lothing - 2nd (15), 6th (2).
Ness Point - 3rd (12), 31st (15).
Hamilton Dock - 5th (20), 6th (15), 7th (5), 10th (10), 14th (28).
Kessingland - 2nd (2 N), 11th (2 N, 1 S), 21st (2 S), 23rd (15 S), 24th (5 S).
Oulton Broad - 6th (2).

Turnstone - Lowestoft - December 2005 ©Andrew Easton

MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus
Pakefield Beach - 1st (5), 3rd (3 ad), 5th (3 ad, 2nd-winter), 11th (6 ad + 2nd-winter), 14th (1 ad), 16th (1 ad), 22nd (1 ad).
Ness Point / Lowestoft North Beach - 1st (ad with green ring), 3rd (ad), 7th (ad with green ring), 9th, (ad with green ring + 'half-leg' the gull formerly known as 21N), 10th (ad green ring), 11th (3 ad).
Claremont Pier, Lowestoft South Beach - 3rd (2 ad + 2nd-winter), 6th (ad, 2nd-winter).
Lound water works - 5th (1st-winter), 10th (1).
Kessingland - 5th (1 N), 23rd (1 S).
Lowestoft Harbour - 9th (1).
Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville - 14th (1 ad).
Barnards Meadow - 21st (1 2nd winter).



YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus michahellis
An adult was in the Carlton Colville, Burnt Hill Lane gull roost on the 13th, and a third winter was there on the 15th and 17th.
Oulton Broad - 21st (adult).



CASPIAN GULL Larus (michahellis) cachinnans
A cracking adult was at the Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville gull roost late afternoon on the 7th before flying off south just before the camera was focused!!!
At Hamilton Dock a 3rd-winter was present on the 7th and an adult on the 8th. It or another adult was reported there on the 15th.

Caspian Gull - Lowestoft - January 2006 ©Lee Gregory

LITTLE GULL Larus minutus
An unseasonal adult was on the sea off Corton on the 1st. Presumably the same bird was following a fishing boat close inshore at Ness Point on the 2nd before settling on the sea. On the 6th the adult spent all day in the Hamilton Dock / South Pier area along with another small gull (pictured below). A first-winter was present in Hamilton Dock early morning on the 11th, 13th-15th. It was also seen on the roof of the nearby Birds Eye factory on the 14th and 15th. It was also flying around Hamilton Dock at 22:15 on the 15th, the only gull present at the time!

Gorleston - 7th (2), as did a further six on the 8th (6), 13th (9).
Hamilton Dock - 21st, 24th & 29th (1st-winter).



BLACK-HEADED GULL Larus ridibundus
The white bird pictured below at Southwold was presumably the same that was on the sea near the Claremont Pier, Lowestoft South Beach on the 6th. An adult with a white mantle and scapulars was seen on Leathes Ham on the 14th..

Black-headed Gull - Southwold - January 2006 ©Mike Parker

GLAUCOUS GULL Larus hyperboreus
A first winter bird came to roost in Lowestoft Harbour on the evening of the 14th.



ROSS'S GULL Rhodostethia rosea
You couldn't have scripted it! An Ipswich birder pops up to Lowestoft for the day on the train and finds Suffolk's first, and East Anglia's third, Ross's Gull in Hamilton Dock on the 6th!!!! Andrew Revitt watched this diminutive Arctic gull for half an hour just feet away on the ledge of Hamilton Dock before it flew towards the fish docks, five minutes before Lowestoft Lizard Mike Bellwood turned up! Luckily the bird was seen again from Lowestoft South Pier at 12:00, once again heading towards the fish docks.

After these initial brief views the gull settled in Hamilton Dock feeding at the waters surface. It then flew towards Ness Point where it gave crippling views along the rock apron at the point itself. Having returned to Hamilton Dock for half an hour when it was seen next to a Little Gull. At 14:16 it flew towards the fish docks and was not subsequently located despite an extensive search. Unfortunately there was no sign on the 7th despite an extensive search between Corton and Pakefield. Interestingly, the secondaries on both wings were heavily worn exposing the quills as with Stumpy the Sabine's Gull in the summer of 2003.

Amazingly it reappeared just before midday on the 8th in Hamilton Dock where it remained until around 15:00 when it flew seawards over the outer Harbour wall out of view. On a couple of occasions it flew into the fish docks and was seen well from the South Pier. On the 9th it was present in Hamilton Dock at 20:05-10:55 before flying west towards Lake Lothing and wasn't seen again that day.

On the 10th it was seen flying around Hamilton Dock at first light showing exceptionally well on occasions, however it only stayed for 10 minutes before disappearing into the fish docks. Unlike any of the previous dates it was not seen again until after 15:00 when it appeared at 15:25 for 5 minutes, having flown in from the north. It was seen on the water between 16:17 and 16:30. As yet no one has managed to pin down where it goes to during most of the day. Whether it goes out to sea, along Lake Lothing/Oulton Broad or sits around on a town roof remains a mystery. One thing is for sure we're lucky it favours Hamilton Dock which is easily viewed!!!

On the 11th it was there first light for five minutes but no further sign all day. On the 10th it was viewable under the flood lights at 19:35 on the water in Hamilton Dock.

Once again seen early morning on the 12th between 07:47 and 08:16 before flying over the outer harbour wall, but not seen again up to 17:25. However a quick visit to Hamilton Dock at 21:15 and there it was roosting on the water with 75 Black-headed Gulls in the gloom, dimly lit by the harbour lights. On the 13th it was present in Hamilton Dock between 07:35-07:53 before flying off south. Same again on the 14th, flew off high SW towards Lake Lothing at 07:45!!!

Unfortunately there was no sign at all on the 15th or 16th. Given the erratic nature of the appearances of this bird it may possibly still be around.

It seems the gull is roosting in the Harbour area so an early morning start is advisable, or maybe even a late night one if that fails. Good luck if you still haven't seen it.

Black-headed (top), Little (bottom) and Ross's Gull (right)
Ross's Gull - Hamilton Dock - January, 6, 2006 - ©Andrew Easton

KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla
Kessingland - 3rd (2 N), 6th (1 N), 7th (4 S), 8th (1 N), 9th (159 N), 10th (3 N, 5 S), 11th (1 S), 13th (4 S), 14th (1 S), 20th (1 N), 22nd (1 N).



GUILLEMOT Uria aalge
Lowestoft South Beach - 1st (sad sight of an oiled bird on the beach).
Corton - 1st (1 on sea).
Lowestoft North Beach - 7th (1 dead along tideline, 1 close inshore feeding).



AUK sp. (Alcidae)
Ness Point - 1st (5 N).
Kessingland - 1st (1 S), 2nd (1 N), 3rd (2 N), 4th (2 N), 6th (1 N), 10th (2 S), 13th (2 N), 14th (1 N), 19th (1 S), 20th (1 S), 23rd (1 N), 25th (2 N), 26th (1 N), 27th (3 N), 28th (1 N, 2 S), 29th (1 N), 30th (2 N), 31st (1 N).



STOCK DOVE Columba oenas
Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville - 17th (4).
Carlton Marsh - 21st (2).
Somerleyton Marsh - 23rd (4).



COLLARED DOVE Streptopelia decaocta
Henstead - 30th, a hatched egg shell found on the lawn today!!!



TAWNY OWL Strix aluco
Corton Woods - 1st (calling).
Blocka Lane, Ashby - 1st (calling).
Gunton Woods - 1st (calling).



BARN OWL Tyto alba
Carlton Marshes - 1st (1).
Blundeston Marshes - 2nd (1), 23rd (1).
St. Olaves - 1st (1).
Breydon South Wall - 8th (1).
Henstead - one was seen hunting the meadows on three dates towards the end of the month.
One settled into the undergrowth opposite the back of Focus in London Road on the 15th.

Barn Owl - Blundeston Marsh - January 2006 ©Andrew Easton

LITTLE OWL Athene noctua
One flew across the road at North Cove on the 17th.



KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis
Lound water works - 1st (1), 6th (1), 8th (1), 10th (2).
Lake Lothing - 1st (1), 2nd (2), 3rd (2), 6th (3), 9th (2), 14th (2), 15th (1), 19th (2), 21st (2).
Haddiscoe, Norfolk - 1st (2).
Oulton Broad - 6th (1), 7th (3).
Ash Farm, Mutford - 8th (1).



GREEN WOODPECKER Picus viridis
Gorleston - 1st (1).
St. Olaves - 1st (1).
Lound Water Works - 5th (1), 6th (1), 8th (1), 10th (2).
Herringfleet Hills - 7th (1).
Oulton Broad - 6th (1), 9th (1), 14th (1).
Carlton Marshes - 28th (1).



GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopos major
Lound Water Works - 1st (1), 5th (2), 6th (1), 8th (1), 10th (1).
Blundeston Marshes - 2nd (1), 23rd (1).
Laxfield Way, South Lowestoft - 3rd (drumming).
Herringfleet Hills - 4th (1).
Corton Woods - 7th (2), 22nd (pr), 30th (1).
Burgh Castle - 8th (1).
Oulton Broad - 9th (2).
Ash Farm, Mutford - 13th (1).
Leathes Ham - 14th (1).
Somerleyton railway station - 23rd (1).
Gunton Woods - 30th (1).



LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopos minor
One was in woodland at Lound Waterwork (OS grid ref. TG505003) on the 29th. This area was one of the last strongholds for this species in our area so perhaps it is finally staging a comeback like the Great Spotted Woodpecker which has recovered tremendously in recent years.



SKY LARK Alauda arvensis
Kessingland sewage works - 4th (40+).
Carlton Marshes - 15th (16), 23rd (17).
Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville - 21st (11).



ROCK PIPIT Anthus petrosus
Ness Point - 1st (2), 3rd (1), 7th (2), 10th (1), 16th (2), 19th (1), 21st (1), 22nd (2), 23rd (1).
Hamilton Dock - 1st (1), 2nd (3 at dusk), 6th (2), 8th (1), 9th (1), 10th (1), 14th (1), 15th (1), 21st (1).
Lake Lothing - 2nd (1), 15th (1).
Breydon South Wall - 8th (1).



PIED WAGTAIL Motacilla alba
Kessingland sewage works - 1st (10), 4th (25+).
St. Olaves - 50 roosted in the reeds by the bridge on the 27th.



GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea
Kessingland Sewage Works - 1st (1), 4th (2), 17th (1).
Lowestoft Railway Station - 4th (1).
Hamilton Dock - 6th (1 N).
Lake Lothing - 15th (1).



WAXWING Bombycilla garrulus
Gapton Hall Industrial Estate, Gorleston - 2nd (12), 6th (17), 7th (28 + 6 further south at next roundabout), 8th (25), 10th (22), 11th (25), 12th (22), 13th (22), 15th (23).
A12 Kessingland bypass - 28 were by north roundabout on the 6th, earlier in the day the same flock had been near the Pizza Hut restaurant at Gisleham, 26th (12), 27th (15), 28th (3).
Pakefield (A12 junction South Lowestoft) - 9th (15), 10th (1+), 11th (1 near Homebase), 15th (15 near Focus DIY).
Yarmouth Road, Lowestoft - 10 were at the junction of Yarmouth Road and Harris Avenue on the afternoon of the 18th, 26th (18 over towards Beeching Drive).
Alexandra Road, Lowestoft - 27th (18).



ROBIN Erithacus rubecula
Six adults were feeding together on a 10 x 10ft patio ground feeding station Henstead on the 23rd.



STONECHAT Saxicola torquata
Haddiscoe Marshes, Norfolk - 1st (1).
Herringfleet Hills - 7th (pr on marshes), 21st (female).
Carlton Marshes - 8th (pr), 15th (1), 17th (pr), 23rd (3).
Waddling Lane Somerleyton by War Memorial - 10th (female).
Somerleyton Marsh - 23rd (2).



BLACKBIRD Turdus merula
Kessingland sewage works - 4th (10).
Lound water works - 8th (8).

REDWING Turdus iliacus
Carlton Marshes - 1st (5), 15th (1).
Oulton Broad - 6th (10), 7th (9), 21st (12).
Lound water works - 5th (12), 8th (5).
Henstead - 13th (10).
Flixton - 14th (28), 23rd (25).
Lowestoft Cemetery - 18th (21).



FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris
Carlton Marshes - 1st (100+), 15th (55), 17th (60).
Blundeston Marshes - 2nd (5).
Lound water works - 5th (34), 6th (6), 8th (22).
Henstead - 13th (30), 21st (50 largest flock of the winter).
Flixton Decoy - 23rd (8).
Somerleyton Marsh - 29th (170).



MISTLE THRUSH Turdus viscivorus
Lound water works - 1st (singing), 5th (6), 6th (5), 8th (2).
Blundeston Marshes - 2nd (2).



CETTI'S WARBLER Cettia cetti
Carlton Marshes - 1st (singing), 15th (3), 17th (1).
Kessingland sewage works - 4th (1).
Burgh Castle - 8th (1).



BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla
Having been seen on December 21st, 29th, 30th and 31st 2005, the male was again present in an Oulton Broad garden on the 1st when it was feeding on a peanut feeder. On the 2nd a second male Blackcap appeared at the peanut feeders!!! The original male has become increasingly territorial the last couple of days and has been seeing off Great Tits and Greenfinches - whether he appreciates the company remains to be seen!!! One was still present on the 18th, 23rd, 25th and 27th.

Blackcap - Oulton Broad- January 2006 ©Richard Smith

CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita
Kessingland sewage works - 1st (1), 4th (2), 17th (1).
Selby Street, Lowestoft - 10th (1).
Lound water works - 19th (1 with Tit flock along southern bank of Hopton Pond at Bunker Hill TM505005).



GOLDCREST Regulus regulus
Lound Water Works - 1st (3), 8th (8).
Flixton Decoy - 2nd (10).
Bonds Meadow, Oulton Broad - 6th (3).
Warren Carr, Blundeston - 23rd (15).



BEARDED TIT Panurus biarmicus
Somerleyton Marshes - 25th (1).



LONG-TAILED TIT Aegithalos caudatus
Carlton Marshes - 1st (5).
Lound Water Works - 5th (12).
Ash Farm, Mutford - 13th (7).



COAL TIT Parus ater
Lound Water Works - 1st (2), 5th (12), 6th (6), 8th (6), 10th (6).



BLUE TIT Parus caeruleus
Ash Farm, Mutford - 13th (34).



MARSH TIT Parus palustris
Blocka Lane, St. Olaves - 1st (1).



NUTHATCH Sitta europaea
Corton Woods - 1st (calling), 9th (calling).



TREECREEPER Certhia familiaris
St. Olaves, Herringfleet Road - 1st (1).
Flixton Decoy - 2nd (2).
Corton Woods - 9th (1).



JAY Garrulus glandarius
Blocka Lane, Ashby - 1st (2).
Blundeston Marshes - 2nd (2).
Lowestoft Cemetery - 6th (1).
Corton Woods - 7th (1).
Oulton Broad - 6th (1).
Lound Water Works - 10th (5).



STARLING Sturnus vulgaris
A pure white bird has been seen at Kessingland this winter with the most recent sighting coming from St. Edmunds Crescent on the 18th.



HOUSE SPARROW Passer domesticus
Lound Water Works - 8th (6).
Ash Farm, Mutford - 13th (28 at feeders).
Stevens Street, Lowestoft - 29th (3). Down from seven last autumn but at least some are still here.



GREENFINCH Carduelis chloris
Corton new sewage works - 23rd (60).



SISKIN Carduelis spinus
Blocka Lane, Ashby - 1st (20).
Blundeston Marshes - 2nd (20).
Herringfleet Hills - 7th (c5), 23rd (25 over).
Lound Water Works - 10th (41).
Somerleyton railway station - 23rd (28).
Waveney Forest - 27th (c70).
Fisher Row - 29th (3).



LESSER REDPOLL Carduelis cabaret
Wicker Well, Somerleyton - 2nd (1).
Mutford - small flock feeding in feeding in the last sugar beet just west of Newsons Avenue, Mutford on the 10th, 13th (6), 18th (12 ringed all Lesser!).
Fisher Row - 29th (3).



CHAFFINCH Fringilla coelebs
Ash Farm, Mutford - up to 30 daily at feeders.
Corton new sewage works - 23rd (20).



BRAMBLING Fringilla montifringilla
Ash Farm, Mutford - 13th (male at feeders).



GOLDFINCH Carduelis carduelis
Oulton Broad - 6th (12).
Lound Water Works - 10th (12).
Blundeston Marsh - 23rd (22).



BULLFINCH Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Blundeston Marshes - 2nd (2).
Herringfleet Hills - 4th (1), 5th (1), 7th (3), 19th (male).
Lound Water Works - 7th (2).
Gunton - 9th (2), 30th (3).
Whitecast Marsh, Carlton Marshes - 21st (pr).
Somerleyton railway station - 23rd (1).



SNOW BUNTING Plectrophenax nivalis
Pakefield Beach - 1st (c20), 2nd (10), 3rd (21), 11th (13), 14th (35), 15th (5).
Kessingland Beach - 1st (3), 2nd (5), 10th (22 o/b), 11th (15 o/b), 12th (12 o/b), 13th (12 o/b), 25th (30), 27th (30).



YELLOWHAMMER Emberiza citrinella
Blocka Lane, Ashby - 1st (1).
Blundeston Marshes / Decoy Farm - 2nd (30).
Mutford - 13th (large flock of 70 in a field).
Carlton Marshes - 15th (4).



REED BUNTING Emberiza schoeniclus
St. Olaves - 1st (1 on feeders).
Oulton Broad - 6th (3 in reeds by yacht station), 9th (1).
Carlton Marshes - 15th (2).
Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville - 15th (2).
Breydon South Wall - 24th (1).
Sidegate Lane, Gorleston - 31st (2).



ASH FARM, MUTFORD
During a ringing session on the 30th a total of 18 Dunnock were process in the garden. A surprising number for a garden feeding station. Also present were, Blue Tit (24), Robin (13), Blackbird (14), Great Tit (8) + several other species. Elsewhere on the farm 8 Yellowhammer and 13 Lesser Redpoll were also present. 114 birds were handled during the morning.



NEARBY NEWS


BONAPARTE'S GULL Larus philadelphia
A possible 1st-winter was on Breydon Water at 15:50 from the South Wall. Maybe up to 30 000+ gulls gather here at dusk to roost so it could prove a challenge if confirmed!!! 45 MEDITERRANEAN GULLS were also present.


SCAUP Aythya marila
Two were on Benacre Pits on the 21st.



CURLEW Numenius arquata
18 were in a field on the Wrentham to Southwold road adjacent the bridge over the marshes just outside the Reydon boundry sign on the 25th.



NICE BIRD SHAME ABOUT ITS ORIGIN

BAR-HEADED GOOSE Anser indicus
Lound water works - 5th-8th (1 with the Barnacle Geese), 10th (2), 19th (1), 22nd (2).



RED-BREASTED GOOSE Branta ruficollis
Herringfleet Marshes - 5th, 14th.
Somerleyton Marshes - 7th (with Canada Geese), 12th (with Barnacle Geese), 23rd, 29th (with Canada's).




NON-BIRD NEWS

An Otter was seen near Fritton on the 1st at 10:45. In November 29, 2005 one was seen near Mutford. These sightings are very encouraging.

Harbour Porpoises were noted off Kessingland on the 10th (1 N) and 20th (2 S).

A Red Fox was standing nonchalantly beside a busy Normanston Drive, Lowestoft at 19:30 on the 19th, apparently waiting for a gap in the traffic. A very urban fox.