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HAPPY
NEW YEAR FOR 2008
FROM THE LOWESTOFT LOUNGE LIZARDS |
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A
couple of new links for the New Year (both will open in new windows) |
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Please visit the BTO webpage (link below) giving details of how everyone can take part in this project. Be it by sending in casual "Roving Records" from your everyday birdwatching or by making Timed Tetrad Visits. |
RED-THROATED DIVER Gavia stellata
Kessingland - 1st (16 N, 7 S), 2nd (12 N, 1 S), 3rd (10
N, 2 S), 5th (9 N, 38 S, 6 on sea), 6th (26 N, 3 S), 7th (2 N, 14 S),
8th (2 N, 16 S), 9th (6 N, 14 S), 10th (4 S), 11th (1 N, 3 S), 12th (222
N, 3 S), 13th (1 N, 5 S), 14th (3 N, 1 S), 16th (37 N, 19 S), 17th (42
N, 38 S), 18th (2 S), 19th (48 S), 20th (10 N, 135 S), 21st (107 N, 2
on sea), 22nd (52 N, 3 S), 23rd (226 N, 7 S, 3 on sea), 24th (117 N, 44
S, 4 on sea), 25th (30 N, 23 S), 26th (40 N, 4 S), 27th (10 N, 31 S),
28th (12 N, 2 S), 29th (8 N, 4 S), 30th (91 N, 34 S, 7 on sea), 31st (1
N, 4 S).
Ness Point - 1st (2 S, 2 on the sea).
BLACK-THROATED DIVER Gavia arctica
Lake Lothing - 1st. Best viewed from the footbridge
over the railway, but it can sometimes be viewed distantly from ASDA car
park.
Hamilton Dock - 1st to 29th at least.
Ness Point - 1st (one on the sea).
We are not sure if the sightings at these three locations represent one,
two or three birds!
Kessingland - 16th (2 N), 17th (1 N), 22nd (1 N), 24th (1
S), 25th (1 N), 30th (1 N).
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Black-throated
Diver - Lowestoft - November 2007 © Peter Ransome
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DIVER
sp.
Kessingland - 11th (1 N), 12 (1 N), 16th (1 N), 19th (1
N), 20th (3 N, 1 S), 21st (1 N), 24th (2 N), 25th (1 N, 1 S), 27th (1
S), 31st (1 N).
LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis
Lake Lothing - 28th (12).
GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
Kessingland - 1st (1 S, 1 on sea), 4th (12 on sea), 5th (23 on
sea), 6th (1 on sea), 7th (3 on sea), 9th (4 on sea), 13th (1 on sea),
14th (1 S), 16th (2 on sea), 17th (1 S), 19th (1 S, 2 on sea), 22nd (1
on sea), 29th (1 S), 30th (2 S).
FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis
Kessingland - 2nd (56 N, 7 S), 3rd (16 N), 11th (1 S), 31st
(4 N).
One flew north past Ness Point on the 3rd.
GANNET Morus bassanus
Kessingland - 1st (1 S), 2nd (13 N), 7th (1 S), 9th (2 N),
10th (1 N), 12th (1 N), 13th (8 N), 17th (5 N), 18th (2 N), 19th (1 N),
20th (17 N, 1 S), 21st (11 N), 22nd (2 N), 24th (3 N), 25th (9 N), 26th
(85 N), 27th (10 N, 1 S), 31st (22 N).
Ness Point - 20th (2 S).
CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo
Kessingland - 1st (1 N, 1 S), 3rd (1 N, 2 S), 4th (1 N,
1 S), 5th (1 N, 6 S), 6th (6 N, 3 S), 7th (1 N, 5 S), 8th (1 N, 5 S, 1
on sea), 9th (6 N, 34 S), 10th (5 N, 9 S), 11th (4 N, 17 S, 8 on sea),
12th (39 N, 6 S, 2 on sea), 13th (13 N, 5 S), 14th (1 N, 3 S), 15th (4
S), 16th (17 N, 11 S), 17th (1 N, 5 S), 18th (1 N, 6 S), 19th (2 S), 20th
(6 N, 15 S), 21st (6 N, 8 S), 22nd (18 N, 6 S), 23rd (36 N, 2 S, 2 on
sea), 24th (7 N, 7 S, 1 on sea), 25th (2 N, 5 S), 26th (1 N, 7 S), 27th
(3 N, 1 S), 28th (1 N, 5 S), 29th (2 N), 30th (2 S), 31st (1 N, 2 S).
Lake Lothing - 1st (7).
SHAG Phalacrocorax aristotelis
One was seen at Pakefield on the 11th.
GREY HERON
Ardea cinerea
One was at Leathes Ham on the 1st.
One was along Kirkley Brook, beside the Lowestoft south relief road, on
the 20th and 28th.
Five were at Carlton Marshes on the 20th.
Seven were at Carlton Marshes on the 26th.
LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta
One was again along Kirkley Brook, beside the Lowestoft south relief road,
on the 1st, 5th, 18th, 20th, 27th and 28th at least.
Mutford - 12th (1 flew north).
Herringfleet Marshes - 16th (2+).
Rushmere - 27th (1 by the River Hundred).
BEWICK'S SWAN Cygnus (columbianus) bewickii
The four adults were still with Mute Swans on the Kessingland Levels to
the west of the A12 on the 1st.
Two were with Mute Swans at Beccles Marshes on the 2nd.
TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE Anser serrirostris
One juvenile was with the Pink-footed Geese at Ashby on the 13th.
One was with the Pink-footed Geese at Ashby on the 15th.
PINK-FOOTED
GOOSE Anser brachyrhynchus
Several hundred flew over Burgh Castle and Belton on the morning of the
1st.
At 16:30 on the 5th several thousand flew south over Gunton before turning
and heading back north westwards over Gunton Drive.
250 flew north at North Cove on the 12th.
On the 13th 10,000+ were feeding in fields in the Herringfleet and Ashby
area, some of them viewable from Market Lane between Somerleyton and Ashby.
Six individuals with grey neck collars were noted. Several thousand were
again present on the 14th to 17th at least.
On the 18th several thousand were noted over Beacon Park, Gorleston, heading
south-eastwards in the general direction of Hopton.
c.5000 were again in fields along Market Lane,between Somerleyton and
Ashby on the morning of the 19th.
Up to 19,670 have been counted at Berney recently.
c.400 flew south over Beacon Park, Gorleston at 12:30 on the 28th.
Click on the picture below to go to the BTO
atlas page showing the winter distribution of Pink-footed Goose
in 1986. Numbers in east Norfolk and north Suffolk have increased dramatically
since then. At that time the Kessingland Levels were the only site in
the north-east Suffolk area you could expect to see this species, and
then only around 20 individuals at best. The new BTO Atlas will show a
rather different picture.
WHITE-FRONTED
GOOSE Anser albifrons
13 were feeding on the Kessingland Levels on the 1st and 4th.
21 flew eastwards over Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville on the 5th.
One adult that was flying westwards over Somerleyton on the 13th joined
the Pink-feet flocks.
Two adults were with the Pink-feet along Market Lane between Somerleyton
and Ashby on the 14th.
Four were with the Pink-feet along Market Lane between Somerleyton and
Ashby on the 15th.
Three were with the Pink-feet along Market Lane between Somerleyton
and Ashby on the 19th.
SNOW GOOSE Chen (Anser) caerulescens
The white phase adult flew south into Suffolk from Berney RSPB on the
morning of the 13th, but unfortunately it couldn't subsequently be located
during the rest of the day. However it did put in an appearance with the
Pink-feet along Market Lane between Somerleyton and Ashby during the morning
of the 14th. Unlike the Ross's Goose that has now moved to Horsey, the
Snow Goose is apparently still using the Berney roost up to 20th at least,
so maybe it will venture south again soon. Two white phase adults were
in fields to the north of the Acle Straight on the 26th.
ROSS'S GOOSE Chen (Anser) rossi
The white phase adult also flew south into Suffolk from Berney RSPB on
the morning of the 13th. Later in the day it was seen in flight over Herringfleet
and eventually relocated amongst the hordes of Pink-footed Geese along
Market Lane between Somerleyton and Ashby. (OS grid reference TM483983)
It was again with the Pink-feet along Market Lane between Somerleyton
and Ashby during the morning of the 14th. There was no sign of it in poor
weather on the 15th, and on the 16th it was seen at Happisburgh in east
Norfolk and is apparently now roosting in the Horsey area. It was in fields
to the north of the Acle Straight on the 26th and 27th.
It maybe the same returning bird as that seen in November 2004 between
Bradwell and Belton.
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Ross's
Goose - Herringfleet - January 2008 © Andrew Easton
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BARNACLE
GOOSE Branta leucopsis
Hopton (Hall Road) - 14th (1), 20th (1), 21st (1).
DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE Branta (bernicla) bernicla
Kessingland - 1st (2 S), 2nd (42 S), 3rd (5 S), 4th (60
S), 5th (2 S), 6th (1 N, 11 S), 10th (7 S), 12th (7 S), 15th (2 S), 17th
(2 S), 21st (7 N, 2 S), 22nd (5 S), 26th (1 S), 29th (2 N, 2 S), 31st
(2 S).
Ness Point - 1st (1 S).
Kessingland Levels - 25th to 26th (1).
[ RED-BREASTED GOOSE Branta ruficollis
One was at Castle Marshes, North Cove/Barnby on the 24th. ]
EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiacus
Ashby - 13th (12), 16th (51), 20th (24).
Hopton (Hall Road) - 14th (3, pair + juvenile, presumably
from Lound village pond), 20th (2), 21st (2, adult + juvenile).
SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna
Kessingland - 1st (2 N, 12 S), 2nd (3 S), 3rd (1 S), 4th
(33 S), 5th (2 S), 9th (1 S), 12th (1 N), 15th (1 S), 18th (2 S), 22nd
(1 S, 2 on sea), 23rd (3 S), 25th (1 S), 29th (1 S).
WIGEON Anas penelope
Kessingland - 1st (19 N, 63 S), 2nd (18 S), 3rd (2 N, 8
S), 4th (14 S), 9th (3 S), 10th (2 S), 11th (8 on sea), 12th (4 S), 13th
(2 S), 21st (4 N), 24th (10 S), 26th (2 S), 30th (5 N), 31st (5 N).
GADWALL Anas strepera
Kessingland - 1st (3 S), 3rd (2 S), 4th (5 S), 5th (1 S),
13th (6 S), 14th (7 S), 31st (1 S).
TEAL Anas crecca
Kessingland - 1st (39 S, 2 on sea), 2nd (39 S, 2 on sea),
3rd (1 S), 4th (150 S), 14th (5 S), 17th (3 N), 28th (1 S).
MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos
Five flew south past Kessingland on the 1st.
PINTAIL Anas acuta
Kessingland - 1st (1 S), 3rd (1 S), 4th (4 S), 31st (5 S).
SHOVELER Anas clypeata
Barsham Drain - 2nd (3).
Kessingland - 4th (9 S), 14th (5 S).
TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula
Nine flew south past Lowestoft North Beach on the 4th.
Kessingland - 3rd (1 S), 26th (3 on sea), 30th (3 N).
[ SCAUP Aythya marila
The female first seen on the River Hundred by the Benacre/Kessingland
Sluice on November 11th subsequently moved to the nearby pit, there now
being only one left, south of the river just outside our area. It was
joined by a first winter drake on December 10th. Another female joined
them on the 26th and all three were still present on the pit on the 3rd
January at least. Four were present there on the 26th at least. ]
COMMON EIDER Somateria mollissima
An immature male was on the sea off Ness Point on the 2nd.
Kessingland - 2nd (1 N), 3rd (4 N), 4th (3 N, 2 S).
COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra
Kessingland - 1st (25 N, 21 S), 6th (2 N, 3 S), 7th (4 N),
9th (15 N), 10th (2 N), 12th (1 S), 13th (3 N, 1 S), 14th (2 N, 6 S),
17th (26 N, 32 S), 18th (3 N), 19th (50 S), 20th (10 N), 21st (63 N, 43
S), 24th (19 S), 27th (2 S).
Ness Point - 2nd (1 S).
GOLDENEYE Bucephala clangula
Kessingland Sluice (River Hundred) - 1st (3), 4th
(2).
Kessingland - 1st (1 N, 4 S).
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator
Four flew south past Kessingland on the 1st.
One flew south past Kessingland on the 15th.
MARSH HARRIER Circus aeruginosus
Two were seen at Barnby on the 2nd.
One was at Carlton Marshes on the 6th.
Kessingland - 5th (1 S), 8th (1 N).
HEN HARRIER Circus cyaneus
One ringtail was seen at Carlton Marshes on the 13th, 26th and 28th.
RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE Alectoris rufa
Rushmere - 20th (21).
GREY PARTRIDGE Perdix perdix
Five were seen between North Cove and Mutford on the 5th.
Four were at Ellough airfield on the 12th.
Two were at Ellough airfield on the 27th and 29th.
WATER RAIL Rallus aquaticus
One was heard at Burgh Castle on the 1st.
One was heard at Sprats Water, Carlton Marshes on the 6th.
One was heard at Whitecast Marsh, Carlton Marshes, on the 27th.
Two were seen in the reedbed near Kessingland sewage works on the 27th.
RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula
Hamilton Dock - 1st (1).
Lake Lothing (ASDA) - 1st (1).
Kessingland - 4th (1 S), 5th (7 S), 30th (1 S).
GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis apricaria
Kessingland - 6th (700+).
GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola
Kessingland - 13th (2 S).
KNOT Calidris canutus
Kessingland - 5th (3 S), 18th (35 S).
SANDERLING Calidris alba
Kessingland - 1st (1 on the beach), 4th (3 S).
Lowestoft South Beach - 1st (1).
PURPLE SANDPIPER Calidris maritima
Ness Point - 1st (4), 6th (6), 7th (6), 10th (7), 13th (6),
16th (6), 19th (9), 20th (10), 24th (6), 26th (3), 27th (7), 28th (8),
29th (4).
Hamilton Dock - 1st (2), 2nd (2), 25th (1).
DUNLIN Calidris alpina
Kessingland - 4th (6 S), 6th (1 S), 11th (2 S).
RUFF Philomachus pugnax
One was on Burgh Castle Flats on the 1st.
JACK SNIPE Lymnocryptes minimus
One was flushed from a field at Barnby on the 2nd.
Two were again in fields to the west of Mutford Wood on the 11th.
SNIPE Gallinago gallinago
Barsham Drain - 2nd (1).
Barnby - 2nd (6).
REDSHANK Tringa totanus
Lake Lothing (ASDA) - 1st (7), 13th (3), 19th (22), 28th
(18).
Kessingland - 5th (6 S).
GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus
One was seen in flight over North Cove on the 1st.
One was again along Kirkley Brook on the 5th.
Two were along Kirkley Brook, beside the Lowestoft south relief road,
on the 27th.
TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres
Lake Lothing (ASDA) - 1st (4).
Kessingland - 1st (1 S), 2nd (1 S), 6th (1 N), 19th (1 N),
20th (42 S).
Ness Point - 24th (28).
The Dutch leg flagged Turnstone first seen at
Ness Point on 25th October and again present there on December 24th and
25th was still there on January 19th and 20th.
POMARINE SKUA Stercorarius pomarinus
Kessingland - 3rd (1 N), 5th (1 lingering), 7th (1 N), 9th
(1 lingering), 10th (1 lingering), 13th (1 lingering), 14th (1 N), 17th
(3 S), 21st (1 N, 1 lingering), 22nd (1 lingering), 31st (1 N).
Pakefield - 11th (1).
GREAT SKUA Stercorarius skua
One flew north past Kessingland on the 11th.
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Mediterranean
Gull - Lowestoft - December 2007 © Peter Ransome
This colour ringed individual is now back in Lowestoft for its fourth winter. |
MEDITERRANEAN
GULL Larus melanocephalus
Ness Point - 1st (1 adult), 20th (2, adult and 2nd winter).
Pakefield - 3rd (14), 23rd (5, 2 ad., 2 2nd winter, 1 1st winter).
Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville - 4th (1 adult).
Kessingland - 13th (1 N), 18th (2 S), 22nd (1 N), 24th (1
S), 26th (1 S).
Gorleston - 26th (30+ flew in from Great Yarmouth to roost
on the sea at dusk).
LITTLE GULL Larus minutus
Kessingland - 4th (2 S, adult with 1st winter).
Ness Point - 20th (1 adult south).
BLACK-HEADED GULL Larus ridibundus
300 were at Links Road car park on the 13th.
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus michahellis
An adult and a 3rd winter were at Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville on
the 4th.
An adult was again at Beacon Park, Gorleston on the 19th.
CASPIAN GULL Larus cachinnans
An adult was at Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville on the 1st.
An adult was with other gulls in fields at Gisleham on the 5th.
GLAUCOUS GULL Larus hyperboreus
The smudgy second winter individual was seen again at Burnt Hill Lane
on the 1st to 3rd and the 5th. It generally seems to be present in the
mornings up to about 10am, but it isn't seen everyday though.
KITTIWAKE Rissa
tridactyla
Kessingland - 1st (4 S), 2nd (40 N, 3 S), 3rd (7 N, 4 S),
4th (1 S), 5th (8 N, 6 S), 6th (2 S), 7th (14 N, 21 S), 8th (3 N), 9th
(1 N, 9 S), 10th (1 N), 12th (3 N, 4 S), 13th (1 N, 24 S), 14th (9 N,
63 S), 15th (11 S), 16th (5 N, 4 S), 17th (4 N, 41 S), 20th (1 N), 21st
(6 N, 5 S), 22nd (10 N, 3 S), 24th (11 N), 25th (24 N), 26th (12 N, 1
on sea), 27th (2 N), 28th (1 S), 29th (5 N), 31st (1 S).
Ness Point - 1st (2).
AUK sp. Alcidae
Kessingland - 2nd (1 S), 7th (2 N, 2 S), 12th (1 N), 13th
(1 N, 1 S), 17th (18 N, 9 S), 20th (2 N), 21st (3 N, 1 on sea), 24th (2
N), 25th (11 N, 1 S).
BARN OWL Tyto alba
One was seen at Ashby on the 1st.
One was seen at Burgh Castle Marshes on the 1st.
One was at Barsham Drain on the 2nd.
One was seen at Barnby on the 2nd.
At least four were seen at Carlton Marshes on the 6th.
One was seen at Mutford on the 12th.
One was at Flixton Marshes on the 20th.
One was at Ellough on the 22nd.
One was seen south of Lound on the 26th.
Five were seen at Carlton Marshes on the 26th.
Two were seen at Carlton Marshes on the 28th.
One was seen at Blundeston Marshes on the 29th.
Two were seen at Flixton on the 29th.
TAWNY OWL Strix aluco
Two were calling at Gunton on the 1st.
One was at Gisleham on the 11th.
SHORT-EARED OWL Asio flammeus
One was over the Kessingland Levels on the 4th.
LITTLE OWL Athene noctua
One was heard at Ashby on the 1st.
One was at Chapel Road in Mutford on the 7th.
Two were heard at Milld Road, Mutford on the 13th.
GREEN WOODPECKER Picus viridis
Parkhill - 17th (1).
Kessingland sewage works - 30th (1).
KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis
Burgh Castle - 1st (1).
Kirkley Brook - 1st (1), 27th (2).
Lake Lothing - 19th (2).
Whitecast Marsh - 28th (1).
SKY LARK Alauda arvensis
Gisleham - 5th (50+), 20th (50+).
Rushmere - 20th (50).
MEADOW PIPIT Anthus pratensis
Lowestoft North Denes - 4th (3), 13th (16).
Gisleham - 20th (20).
ROCK PIPIT Anthus petrosus
Hamilton/Waveney Dock - 1st (1), 20th (1).
Burgh Castle - 1st (1).
Ness Point - 20th (1).
WATER PIPIT Anthus spinoletta
Herringfleet Marshes - 16th (1), 20th (1).
GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea
One was seen at Kessingland sewage works on the 1st, 27th and 30th
at least.
One flew over Rigbourne Hill, Beccles on the 3rd.
PIED WAGTAIL Motacilla alba
c.200 were roosting at Morrisons at Gisleham on the evening of the 8th;
the count had increased to around 250 on the 28th.
30+ were at Kessingland sewage works on the 30th.
STONECHAT Saxicola torquata
Kessingland Levels - 1st (1).
Barsham Drain - 2nd (1).
Barnby - 2nd (1).
Carlton Marshes - 6th (2), 27th (1), 28th (5).
Gisleham - 5th (1).
Herringfleet Marshes - 16th (2).
FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris
Beccles Marshes (near fishing pits) - 2nd (150).
Carlton Marshes - 6th (9).
Herringfleet - 20th (45).
Carlton Colville - 25th (250+ in fields opposite Rookery
Park golf course).
Henstead/Benacre - 150 were in fields either side of the
A12 at the Kessingland Levels layby on the 27th.
REDWING Turdus iliacus
Pakefield - 1st (5).
Beccles Marshes (near fishing pits) - 2nd (50).
Herringfleet - 20th (60).
CETTI'S WARBLER Cettia cetti
One was singing at Carlton Marshes on the 6th.
One was at Herringfleet Marshes on the 20th.
Two were at Whitecast Marsh, Carlton Marshes on the 27th.
One was at Kessingland on the 27th.
CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita
Two were at Kessingland sewage works on the 1st.
One was at Kirkley Water Meadow, near Fen Park on the 22nd.
One was at Kessingland sewage works on the 25th.
Two were at Kessingland sewage works on the 27th, with at least one
still there on the 30th.
FIRECREST Regulus ignicapillus
At least two were seen in the northern section of Corton Wood on the 9th,
16th and 23rd.
One was around the Kessingland sewage works area on the 25th, 27th, 29th
and on the 30th one was trapped and ringed.
CHAFFINCH Fringilla coelebs
50 were in a stubble field at Mutford on the 20th.
BRAMBLING Fringilla montifringilla
One was in a stubble field at Mutford on the 20th.
One was at Gunton Drive, Lowestoft on the 28th.
GREENFINCH Carduelis chloris
c.300 were in fields to the west of Hopton Manor on the 17th.
SISKIN Carduelis spinus
Six were feeding in Alders near Beccles tip on the 2nd.
12 were at Wicker Well, Somerleyton on the 20th.
Four were at Carlton Marshes on the 28th.
LINNET Carduelis cannabina
Lowestoft North Denes - 4th (8), 13th (8).
Carlton Marshes - 6th (6).
LAPLAND BUNTING Calcarius lapponicus
One was at Burgh Castle Marshes on the 1st.
YELLOWHAMMER Emberiza citrinella
Gisleham - 5th (13).
c.100 were in a stubble field at Mutford on the 20th.
NON-BIRD NEWS
COMMON SEAL
Kessingland - 11th (1).
GREY SEAL
Kessingland - 13th (1), 19th (1), 26th (1).
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Kessingland - 1st (1 S), 7th (1 S), 30th (1 S).
CHINESE WATER DEER
Carlton Marshes - 6th (2), 28th (2).
WATER VOLE
Kirkley Brook - 27th (1).
