[Home] [Previous] [Archive News] [Next]

March 2003

Short-eared Owl © Andrew Easton
Short-eared Owl - Carlton Marshes - March 2003 - ©Andrew Easton



RED-THROATED DIVER Gavia stellata
Kessingland -
1st (3 N, 2 S), 2nd (52 N, 34 S, 1 o/s), 3rd (37 N, 2 S), 4th (2 N), 5th (6 N, 3 S), 6th (41 N, 7 S, 1 o/s), 7th (43 N, 7 S, 1 o/s), 8th (7 N, 6 S), 9th (17 N, 21 S, 3 o/s), 10th (11 N, 4 S, 2 o/s), 11th (14 N, 2 S, 3 o/s), 12th (9 N, 3 S, 1 o/s), 13th (46 N, 15 S, 2 o/s), 14th (5 N, 7 S, 3 o/s), 15th (18 N, 3 S, 1 o/s), 16th (9 N, 3 S), 17th (4 N, 5 S), 18th (7 N, 5 S), 21st (1 N), 22nd (2 N), 23rd (2 S), 26th (2 N).
Highest Day Count = 87 (52 N, 34 S, 1 o/s) on the 2nd.
Monthly total = 485 (333 N, 134 S, 18 o/s).



BLACK-THROATED DIVER Gavia arctica
Kessingland -
One flew north past Kessingland on the 18th.



GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
Kessingland - 3rd (2 N, 2 S), 6th (2 N), 7th (1 N, 1 S), 8th (2 S), 9th (7 S), 10th (2 N, 4 S), 11th (6 S), 12th (2 o/s), 13th (1 o/s), 14th (2 N, 1 S, 1 o/s), 15th (2 S), 16th (1 S, 1 o/s), 18th (1 N, 2 o/s), 21st (1 S), 23rd (1 S), 24th (5 N), 25th (3 N), 26th (2 N).
Highest Day Count = 7 (7 S) on the 9th.
Monthly total = 60 (20 N, 33 S, 7 o/s).


FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis
Ness Point - 23rd (1 N).
Kessingland - 3rd (1 S), 5th (2 N), 7th (1 S), 8th (3 N, 2 S), 9th (1 N, 1 S), 10th (2 S), 12th (3 N), 13th (7 N), 14th (20 N), 15th (36 N), 16th (10 N), 21st (8 N), 22nd (37 N), 23rd (3 N), 24th (11 N), 25th (2 N), 26th (6 N).
Highest Day Count = 37 (37 N) on the 22nd.
Monthly total = 156 (149 N, 7 S).

Fulmar - ©Robert Wincup
Fulmar - Ness Point - ©Robert Wincup

SOOTY SHEARWATER Puffinus griseus
One heading close inshore past Kessingland on the morning of the 22nd was quite an unseasonal surprise for the observer.



GANNET Morus bassanus
Ness Point - 8th (1 N), 23rd (6 N).

Kessingland - 1st (2 S), 4th (1 N), 5th (1 N), 6th (2 N), 7th (2 N), 8th (40 N), 9th (4 N), 10th (5 N), 11th (4 N), 12th (5 N), 13th (57 N), 14th (110 N), 15th (222 N), 16th (24 N), 18th (3 N), 21st (3 N), 22nd (16 N), 23rd (8 N), 24th (3 N), 26th (7 N).
Highest Day Count = 222 (222 N) on the 15th.
Monthly total = 519 (517 N, 2 S).


CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo
Kessingland - 2nd (2 N), 3rd (1 N), 8th (1 N), 9th (1 S), 10th (1 S), 13th (1 N, 1 S), 17th (4 N), 18th (2 N), 23rd (1 N, 1 S), 24th (1 N, 1 S), 26th (1 N).


CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis
Two flew south over Lowestoft North Denes early morning on the 23rd.



BARNACLE GOOSE Branta leucopsis
55 flew from Fritton Lake towards Lound Waterworks on the 2nd.



BRENT GOOSE Branta bernicla bernicla
Kessingland -
5th (2 S), 7th (1 S), 9th (1 S), 10th (2 S), 11th (1 N, 1 S), 13th (3 N, 4 S), 15th (10 S), 21st (21 S), 23rd (4 S), 24th (3 N, 1 S), 25th (1 S).
Ness Point
- 23rd (4 S).



EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiacus
One flew south past Kessingland on the 6th. One pair with two recently hatched young were at Lound Waterworks on the 22nd. At Lound a Barnacle Goose shadowed the female Egyptian Goose much to the annoyance of her mate.



SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna
Kessingland
- 3rd (5 N, 1 S), 6th (2 N, 1 S), 8th (1 N), 13th (1 S, 2 o/s), 15th (2 S), 17th (3 S), 18th (2 N), 21st (1 S), 26th (2 N, 1 S).




WIGEON Anas penelope
Kessingland - 2nd (3 N), 6th (3 N), 21st (12 o/s).



TEAL Anas crecca

Kessingland - 1st (9 S), 2nd (17 S), 5th (3 S), 12th (1 S), 21st (15 S).


PINTAIL Anas acuta
Kessingland
- 11th (2 S).



POCHARD Aythya ferina
One female on the pond adjacent to Kessingland sewage farm on the 21st.


TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula
Three were on the pond adjacent to Kessingland sewage farm on the 21st. On the 25th one flew north past Kessingland.


COMMON EIDER Somateria mollissima
Kessingland
- 14th (4 N).



COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra

Kessingland - 3rd (1 N, 1 S), 4th (1 N), 7th (2 N, 7 S), 11th (1 S), 12th (4 N), 13th (12 N), 14th (1 N), 15th (1 N), 16th (4 N), 18th (2 N), 21st (5 N), 23rd (9 S).
Pakefield -
8th (1 o/s).



RED KITE Milvus milvus
One drifted north over Ash Farm, Mutford on the afternoon of the 1st. Another was seen circling over fields to the west of the A12 between Lowestoft and Hopton early on the morning of the 12th.



MARSH HARRIER Circus aeruginosus
One female drifted slowly south high over Ashby on the morning of the 2nd. (Later in the morning one of three birds seen at Benacre Broad had identical feather damage to the left wingtip and seems highly likely to have been the same bird.) One was seen over Kirkley on the morning of the 15th and a male flew northwards low over Mutford Wood on the 30th.



HEN HARRIER Circus cyaneus
One ringtail was at Carlton Marshes on the 15th. One male flew south over Fisher Row and Oulton Dyke towards Carlton Marshes on the 25th.



COMMON BUZZARD Buteo buteo
Oulton Broad
- 2nd (1 S), 15th (5-7), 16th (1), 22nd (1).
Ashby/Lound - 6th (2), 7th (3), 8th (2), 16th (1), 22nd (16). The sixteen seen on the 22nd were in two groups, of five and eleven, all drifting northwards. Nine had been seen together earlier in the day at Benacre, this had included an extremely pale bird that was not seen at Ashby so it is conceivable that no duplication was involved in the two counts.



MERLIN Falco columbarius
One female was seen at Carlton Marshes on the 15th.



COMMON CRANE Grus grus
One flew south over Oulton Broad at 11:45 on the 16th, it was also seen over Covehithe at midday.



OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus

Kessingland
- 6th (10 N), 8th (1 N, 1 S), 12th (1 N), 25th (1 S), 26th (4 S). A pair were on the lake in Suffolk Wildlife Park on the 8th.



AVOCET Recurvirostra avosetta
At 7:25 on the 1st one flew south at Kessingland then settled on the sea and drifted south. Another flew south there on the 26th.
95 were feeding at Burgh Castle on the 8th.



RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula
Kessingland Beach - 2nd (2), 3rd (2), 4th (2), 5th (2), 14th (3), 21st (3).



LAPWING Vanellus vanellus
Several small flocks were flying east at Ashby on the 2nd apparently beginning their return to their breeding grounds on the Continent. Two flocks of 190 and 108 flew north, then turned west over Oulton Broad also on the 2nd.


SANDERLING Calidris alba
Kessingland Beach
- 2nd (1), 3rd (3), 4th (4), 5th (4), 9th (4), 12th (6), 13th (6), 14th (10), 16th (4).
Ness Point
- 8th (2), 23rd (4), 25th (2), 26th (2).



PURPLE SANDPIPER Calidris maritima
Twelve were at Ness Point on the 8th. One was at Ness Point on the 23rd, with two there on the 25th. Five were present on the 26th and 29th. Eight were there on the 31st.



DUNLIN Calidris alpina
Singles were seen in Hamilton Dock on the 15th, north past Ness Point on the 24th and feeding at Ness Point on the 25th.



WOODCOCK Scolopax rusticola
What were presumably birds returning to Europe were noted at Corton disused railway line on the 6th, Golden Sands Caravan Park, Corton on the 19th, Northfields School, Lowestoft on the 21st, Holly Road, Oulton Broad on the 23rd and Arnolds Walk, Lowestoft on the 30th.



BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa
A flock of 24 flew north over Ashby on the 2nd, a very rare sight away from Breydon Water in our area.


CURLEW Numenius arquata
Kessingland
- 21st (1 N, 3 S), 25th (1 S).



REDSHANK Tringa totanus
One was feeding on the filter beds at Kessingland sewage works on the 10th. One flew south past Kessingland on the 24th.



TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres

Noted on the beach at Kessingland on the 2nd (2), 4th (5), 5th (10), 9th (12), 10th (6), 12th (5), 13th (15), 15th (8), 16th (15), 17th (20), 21st (8), 22nd (10), 23rd (15), 26th (6). A total of fifty also flew south past Kessingland on the 5th.




MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus
Kessingland - 4th (ad.), 5th (ad.), 25th (ad. + 2nd-summer), 26th (2 ad.).
Lowestoft - An adult in summer plumage was on the Dip Farm football pitches at Gunton on the 7th. A summer plumaged adult flew south over Sharon Drive in central Lowestoft on the 16th.

Mediterranean Gull -  ©Robert Wincup

Mediterranean Gull - Lowestoft North Beach - May 9, 2003 - ©Robert Wincup

LITTLE GULL Larus minutus
One first summer bird was feeding in Hamilton Dock early morning on the 23rd before flying off north at 7:00.



GLAUCOUS GULL Larus hyperboreus
What seems to be the same individual was back in Lowestoft Harbour from the 23rd-31st, once again it favoured the fish market area.


KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla
Kessingland - 4th (5 S), 5th (1 N), 6th (22 N), 7th (13 N, 5 S), 8th (1 S), 9th (1 N, 10 S), 10th (1 N, 5 S), 11th (2 S), 12th (7 N, 31 S), 13th (21 N), 14th (53 N, 1 S), 15th (73 N), 16th (2 N), 18th (5 N), 21st (7 N), 22nd (18 N), 24th (1 S), 26th (2 N).
Highest Day Count = 73 (73 N) on the 15th.
Monthly total = 286 (226 N, 60 S).



SANDWICH TERN Sterna sandvichensis
Two flew north past Kessingland on the 29th.



AUK sp. Alcidae
Kessingland -
2nd (2 N), 3rd (18 N), 4th (7 N), 5th (2 N), 7th (1 N, 4 S), 8th (3 N), 9th (2 N, 9 S), 10th (1 N, 2 S), 11th (4 N, 4 S), 12th (1 N), 13th (29 N, 2 S), 14th (27 N), 15th (163 N), 16th (406 N), 18th (12 N), 21st (1 N), 24th (3 N, 6 S), 26th (6 N).
Highest Day Count = 406 (406 N) on the 16th.
Monthly total = 715 (688 N, 27 S).



BARN OWL Tyto alba
This species has certainly staged quite a comeback in our area and was noted at Carlton Marshes on the 15th (3+), Kessingland Levels on the 16th (1), Jay Lane, Lound on the 20th (1), Fisher Row, Oulton on the morning of the 23rd (2).



LITTLE OWL Athene noctua
One was seen at Flixton on the 20th.



SHORT-EARED OWL Asio flammeus
One was on Kessingland Beach briefly on the morning of the 5th before flying off northwards. Another flew east over Ash Farm Mutford on the 12th, and one was seen from the train near Haddiscoe Bridge the same day.



LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopos minor
One was seen at the Ashby turnoff at Lound where the road passes between the waterworks and Fritton Lake on the 9th, it then flew towards the waterworks complex itself.



TREE PIPIT Anthus trivialis
Two were at Kessingland sewage works on the 29th.



MEADOW PIPIT Anthus pratensis
On the 29th one was seen to repeatedly fly a short distance out to sea off Lowestoft North Beach, then hover and patter its feet in the water, often for several seconds at a time. It eventually stopped going this and returned to the North Denes to feed. Mad pipit disease?!?!?



GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea
One was at Kessingland sewage works on the 5th, 6th, 8th and 26th; with two there on the 16th. One was at the pond at Corton new sewage works on the 14th. Two were at Lound Waterworks on the 22nd, with a single bird there on the 23rd and 24th. One was seen in flight over Corton Church on the 24th, it may have been looking for the filter beds at the old sewage works, but these have now been demolished. Possibly the same bird found an alternative feeding area at Corton new sewage works on the 29th.



WHITE WAGTAIL Motacilla alba alba
Two were at Kessingland sewage works on the 8th and 10th, with three there on the 11th -14th increasing to four on the 16th and 17th.



PIED WAGTAIL Motacilla alba yarrelli
80 were at Kessingland sewage works on the 8th.



BLACK REDSTART Phoenicurus ochruros
Noted at Kessingland Beach on the 3rd (male), Low Farm Drive, Carlton Colville on the 8th (female/immature), Corton new sewage works on the 14th, CEFAS labs at Pakefield on the 17th (female), Poplars School, St. Margarets Road, Lowestoft on the 17th-18th (immature male), Harris Avenue, Lowestoft on the 24th (pair), Lowestoft North Denes on the 29th to 31st (3 female/immatures) one of them was singing on the 31st.

Black Redstart  - ©Robert Wincup

Black Redstart - Lowestoft North Denes - March 29,2003 - ©Robert Wincup

NORTHERN WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe
Late news of one at Links Road on the 31st rescued the month from drawing a complete blank.



STONECHAT Saxicola torquata
One male was at the northern end of the Kessingland bypass on the 22nd.



REDWING Turdus iliacus

Heard calling overhead on most evenings from the 2nd-12th at least as they returned to mainland Europe. Nine were at Corton on the 21st, with eleven in Gunton Woods on the 22nd. Individuals were still being heard at night in the last week of the month and up to 50 each of this species and Fieldfare T. pilaris were at Ash Farm, Mutford during the last week of March.



CETTI'S WARBLER Cettia cetti
At least three were heard at Carlton Marshes on the 15th. Two were heard at Fisher Row on the 23rd.



BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla
One was singing at Kessingland sewage works on the 29th.



CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita
Noted at Kessingland sewage works on the 8th, 10th, 11th and 14th (2); Gunton Woods on the 16th, 22nd (3), 24th (4), Lound Waterworks on the 22nd (2), Fisher Row 23rd (4) Hall Road, Oulton Broad 23rd (2).



WILLOW WARBLER Phylloscopus trochilus

One was at Kessingland sewage works on the 29th.



STARLING Sturnus vulgaris
Large flocks are currently in evidence in the area, especially on the marshes. Approximately 3000 were gathered on Peto's Marsh, Carlton Marshes on the 23rd. Most of these are presumably wintering birds from Europe fattening up before making their way back to their breeding grounds.



SISKIN Carduelis spinus
A lone bird was still visiting gardens in Pakefield on the 11th and 12th. Up to three also been visiting gardens in Oulton Broad up to the 15th at least. One flew north over Stevens Street, Lowestoft, early morning on the 16th. Two flew south at Corton on the 22nd. Two were in gardens in Kessingland on the 30th.



CROSSBILL Loxia curvirostra
Two flew north over Stevens Street, Lowestoft early morning on the 16th.



SNOW BUNTING Plectrophenax nivalis

Noted at Kessingland Beach on the 4th (10), 5th (10).



REED BUNTING Emberiza schoeniclus
Seven were in fields at Low Farm Drive, Carlton Colville on the 6th, with five there on the 8th. One was at Kessingland sewage works on the 11th and 14th, with six there on the 17th and 10 on the 29th suggesting quite a passage of birds returning from their wintering haunts at the moment.



CORN BUNTING Miliaria calandra

Twelve were in fields adjacent to Low Farm Drive, Carlton Colville on the 6th. At least two were still there on the 8th.

Back to top of page

[Home] [Previous] [Archive News] [Next]