March 2006 Bird News

RED-THROATED DIVER Gavia stellata
Kessingland - 1st (41 N, 1 S, 2 o/s), 2nd (50 N, 2 S, 1 o/s), 3rd (14 N, 1 S, 3 o/s), 4th (12 N, 3 S, 1 o/s), 5th (7 N, 10 S, 3 o/s), 6th (14 N, 16 S), 7th (3 N, 5 S, 2 o/s), 8th (2 N, 7 S, 2 o/s), 9th (22 N, 36 S, 6 o/s), 10th (14 N, 21 S, 1 o/s), 11th (52 N, 4 S, 2 o/s), 12th (36 N, 6 S, 5 o/s), 13th (12 N, 11 S, 3 o/s), 14th (18 N, 3 S), 15th (1 N, 1 S, 1 o/s), 16th (2 N, 3 S), 17th (67 N, 1 S, 4 o/s), 18th (21 N, 1 S), 19th (7 N), 20th (77 N), 21st (10 N, 6 S, 2 o/s), 22nd (51 N, 13 S, 2 o/s), 23rd (67 N, 2 o/s), 24th (4 N, 2 S, 2 o/s), 25th (14 N, 2 S, 3 o/s), 26th (20 N, 11 S), 27th (7 N, 2 S, 3 o/s), 28th (5 N), 29th (2 N), 30th (1 N), 31st (3 N).
Ness Point - 6th (5 N), 12th (5 N), 19th (9 N).

DIVER spp
Kessingland - 5th (1 N), 6th (3 N), 12th (1 N), 16th (1 N), 18th (1 N), 25th (1 N).

GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
Kessingland - 1st (1 N), 2nd (1 S), 3rd (8 o/s), 4th (1 o/s), 5th (1 N), 6th (3 S, 1 o/s), 7th (3 S), 8th (3 o/s), 9th (2 o/s), 10th (1 S), 11th (2 N), 13th (2 S), 14th (1 S), 21st (1 S), 22nd (1 S), 23rd (6 o/s), 25th (2 S), 26th (1 S), 29th (1 S).
Oulton Broad - 12th (4).
Lound waterworks - 12th (1), 19th (1).

FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis
Kessingland - 3rd (6 N), 8th (2 S), 9th (2 N), 10th (6 N), 11th (1 S), 16th (1 N), 17th (6 N), 18th (1 N), 19th (1 N), 20th (2 N),
21st (3 N, 1 S), 22nd (3 N), 23rd (2 N), 24th (10 N), 28th (1 N), 30th (3 N, 3 S), 31st (1 N, 1 S).
Pakefield - 8th (1 N).

GANNET Morus bassanus
Kessingland - 1st (5 N), 2nd (13 N), 3rd (5 N), 4th (13 N), 5th (7 N), 6th (14 N), 7th (35 N), 9th (1 S), 10th (9 N), 11th (29 N), 12th (1 N),
15th (4 N), 16th (33 N), 17th (370 N, 2 S), 18th (152 N), 19th (6 N), 20th (7 N), 21st (1 N), 22nd (12 N), 23rd (44 N), 24th (85 N, 1 S), 25th (54 N), 26th (3 N), 28th (1 N), 29th (1 N), 30th (9 N, 1 S), 31st (2 N).
Ness Point - 12th (1 N), 19th (2 N).

CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo
Kessingland - 2nd (1 N), 3rd (1 N, 1 S), 5th (5 N), 6th (1 N, 1 S), 10th (1 N), 20th (2 N, 2 S), 21st (3 N, 1 S), 22nd (1 N), 23rd (1 S), 25th (1 N).
Ness Point - 6th (1 S).

LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta
Two were at Belton Marshes on the 26th.

WHOOPER SWAN Cygnus cygnus
An unknown number were heard calling in flight over Lowestoft on the evening of the 2nd.

BEWICK'S/WHOOPER SWAN
A flock of 30 heading eastwards over the sea at Gunton on the 9th were already to far out to specifically identify, though Bewick's are the more likely of the two.

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons
30 were at Somerleyton Marshes on the 5th, with 38 there on the 6th.

GREYLAG GOOSE Anser anser
A lone bird flew south past Kessingland on the 21st.

White-fronted Geese - Somerleyton - March 2006
©Andrew Easton

CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis
200+ flew over Carlton Marshes to settle on Oulton Broad on the 2nd.
Somerleyton Marshes - 6th (2).

BARNACLE GOOSE Branta leucopsis
Lound water works - 19th (32).
Henstead - 27th (38). A group that regularly commutes between Kessingland Wildlife Park and Sotterley Park.

DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE Branta (bernicla) bernicla
Kessingland - 15th (4 N, 2 S), 20th (2 S), 22nd (12 S), 27th (3 S), 28th (3 S), 30th (1 S), 31st (3 N, 1 S).
Two were in the M.o.D. field at Corton on the 29th.

EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiacus
Somerleyton Marshes - 6th (32).
Ashby - 6th (2).
Kessingland sewage works - 30th (2).

SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna
Kessingland - 1st (2 S), 10th (1 S), 22nd (3 N), 25th (1 S), 30th (4 S).
Somerleyton Marshes - 5th (2).

MANDARIN DUCK Aix galericulata
The drake was still at Somerleyton Marshes on the 6th and 7th, again accompanying Egyptian Geese.

EURASIAN WIGEON Anas penelope
Kessingland - 1st (6 on sea).
Somerleyton Marshes - 6th (4).

GADWALL Anas strepera
Leathes Ham - 5th (3), 26th (9).
Lound waterworks - 12th (8), 19th (10).

TEAL Anas crecca
Somerleyton Marshes - 5th (6), 6th (15).

PINTAIL Anas acuta
Kessingland - 11th (3 N).

SHOVELER Anas clypeata
Leathes Ham - 5th (12), 12th (30), 19th (20), 26th (41).
Kessingland - 30th (2 S).

TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula
Leathes Ham - 5th (10).
Lound waterworks - 12th (10), 19th (5), 26th (10).

COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra
Kessingland - 5th (4 N), 7th (1 N), 9th (1 o/s), 12th (1 N), 19th (2 N, 1 S), 20th (19 N, 18 S), 21st (23 S), 23rd (58 N, 25 S), 25th (7 N), 26th (8 N), 28th (1 N, 1 o/s), 29th (135 N, 18 S), 30th (36 N).

EIDER Somateria mollissima
Kessingland - 4th (2 N), 7th (2 N), 11th (1 N), 14th (1 S).
Ness Point - 12th (2 N).

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator
Two flew north past Kessingland on the 5th.

MARSH HARRIER Circus aeruginosus
One was seen at Mutford on the 21st.

Common Buzzard - Ashby - March 2006
©Andrew Easton

COMMON BUZZARD Buteo buteo
Up to eight different birds were seen in the Ashby area on the 4th, with at least five still present in the area on the 5th, and one on the 6th. Early March is traditionally the best time to see them here when returning wintering birds are passing through. At least five were again present on the 26th.

One was seen over Waveney Forest on the 29th.

[Just south of our area at least seven different Common Buzzards have been seen in the Covehithe/Benacre area in the latter half of March, and a Goshawk was also seen well there on the 23rd.]

Goshawk - Covehithe - March 2006
©Chris Darby

ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD Buteo lagopus
A first year bird was seen on Haddiscoe Marshes, Norfolk on the 7th, presumably the same individual that has recently been frequenting nearby Chedgrave Marshes on Haddiscoe Island.

OSPREY Pandion haliaetus
One appeared circling over the pumping station at Benacre Ness at 14:15 on the 25th; it then gained height and headed off north westwards.

MERLIN Falco columbarius
A male was watched mobbing a Sparrowhawk at Henstead on the 26th. It then departed northwards.

PEREGRINE Falco peregrinus ****
On the 28th one female circled north over the North Beach at Lowestoft before heading off northwards at speed. One was also seen over Lake Lothing on the 29th.

RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE Alectoris rufa
Ashby - 6th (3).

COMMON CRANE Grus grus
Four circled southwards over Warrenhouse Wood on the morning of the 29th, calling as they went. One flew south over Oxford Road, Lowestoft at 7:00 on the 30th. Spring movements by the slowly expanding Broadland flock have provided regular sightings in recent years.

OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus
Kessingland - 4th (1 N), 8th (2 N), 9th (1 N), 10th (1 S), 22nd (3 N), 24th (4 N), 28th (1 N), 30th (1 S).
Lound waterworks - 19th (2).

RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula
Kessingland - 6th (4 on beach), 8th (2 o/b), 15th (1 N), 21st (1 N, 3 o/b), 31st (1 N).
Ness Point - 12th (1 N).

GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis apricaria
Around 90 and were feeding in fields along Ellough Road, Beccles, opposite PCE Automation on the 3rd.

LAPWING Vanellus vanellus
Somerleyton Marshes - 6th (20).
At Henstead on the 9th, a flock of around 100 were noted flying high and very fast towards the coast. The spring exodus continues.

SANDERLING Calidris alba
Lowestoft South Beach - 9th (4).
Kessingland - 6th (12 on beach).

PURPLE SANDPIPER Calidris maritima
Ness Point - 5th (8), 6th (3), 11th (7), 12th (7), 19th (8), 26th (2), 28th (4), 29th (4).

Dunlin - Oulton Broad - March 2006
©Andrew Easton

DUNLIN Calidris alpina
One with the Turnstones on the quayside at Oulton Broad on the 19th looked a bit lost; and soon afterwards it flew off high to the north no doubt looking for some mud as opposed to concrete.

RUFF Philomachus pugnax
Two were feeding in fields at Mutford on the 21st.

COMMON SNIPE Gallinago gallinago
Somerleyton Marshes - 5th (12).
Carlton Marshes - 2nd (14).
Kessingland - 11th (3 N).
Mutford - 27th (1).

WOODCOCK Scolopax rusticola ****
One was flushed at Ashby on the 26th.
Three were flushed in Waveney Forest on the 27th.
Three were noted in one field at Mutford on the 27th.
One was flushed in Gunton Wood on the 29th with another along Gunton Cliff above the campsite the same day.
One was seen in Warrenhouse Wood on the 29th.
One was flushed at Kessingland sewage works on the 29th.
A circuit around Fisher Row on the 29th produced 21 sightings of flushed birds!
One was flushed from a garden in Chestnut Avenue, Oulton Broad on the 31st.

It appears large numbers are gathering near the coast before making the hop across the North Sea back to Europe. On the 29th one was also found dead below a lamppost on the St. Peters Street roundabout, damage to the bill suggested it had flown into it. Dazzled by the light at night?

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa
Belton Marshes - 26th (250).

TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres
Ness Point - 6th (21), 26th (13).
Pakefield - 18th (39).
Oulton Broad - 19th (7).
Hamilton Dock - 26th (8).
Pakefield - 26th(10).

MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus
Links Road, Lowestoft - 10th (1 adult).
Kessingland - 11th (1 adult).
Pakefield - 8th (2 adults, 1 2nd summer), 12th (2 adults, 1 2nd summer), 15th (5 adults, 1 2nd summer), 18th (1 adult, 1 2nd summer), 19th (2 adults, 1 2nd summer), 26th (5 adults, 1 2nd summer), 31st (1 2nd summer). A Belgian colour ringed adult was present on the 19th at least.
Gorleston - 19th (2 adults), 26th (adult, 1 1st summer).
Mutford - 21st (1 adult).

Mediterranean Gull - Gorleston - March 2006
©Andrew Easton

KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla
Kessingland - 2nd (5 N), 7th (2 N), 9th (1 N, 1 S), 12th (1 S), 15th (1 N, 1 S), 16th (1 N), 17th (1 N, 1 S), 18th (1 N), 19th (2 N),
20th (1 N), 21st (2 N), 22nd (2 N), 23rd (1 S), 24th (1 S), 26th (1 N), 28th (3 N), 29th (5 N), 30th (5 S), 31st (3 N, 1 S).

One early bird was tidying a nest on the South Pier at Lowestoft on the 9th.

COMMON TERN Sterna hirundo
One flew northwards over the Birds Eye factory on the 29th.

GUILLEMOT Uria aalge
Ness Point - 6th (1 N).

AUK sp. (Alcidae)
Kessingland - 1st (10 N), 2nd (82 N), 3rd (2 N), 4th (3 N), 5th (2 N), 6th (1 N), 10th (1 S), 13th (2 N), 17th (18 N), 18th (1 N), 19th (4 N), 20th (7 N), 22nd (6 N, 1 S), 23rd (158 N, 2 S), 25th (4 N), 26th (1 N), 28th (1 N).
Ness Point - 19th (30 N).

STOCK DOVE Columba oenas
Kessingland sewage works - 10th (4), 30th (2).
Somerleyton Marshes - 6th (10).
Ashby - 26th (1).

BARN OWL Tyto alba
One was flying around at Lound waterworks on the 12th.

Follow this link to find out more about the Suffolk Community Barn Owl project. It aims to reverse the fortunes of the Barn Owl in Suffolk by the provision of nest boxes. This will open in a new window.

ALPINE SWIFT Apus melba ****
Two sailed majestically northwards over Old Nelson Street, Lowestoft at 17:40 on the 28th, past the window where Robert Wincup sat watching Neighbours, causing him to almost choke on his (non-alcoholic) drink! Even more surprisingly they came back soon afterwards. They were apparently making circuits low over central Lowestoft. The best vantage point to view their sporadic appearances was on the top floor of the Somerfield multi-storey car park. The pair of them made four circuits together in total, but after 18:20 only a single bird was seen at any one time.

Alpine Swift - Lowestoft - March 2006
©Andrew Easton

The ranged between Ness Point and the Grain Silo. Attempts were made to settle on the gasometer near Ness Point, the Police Station in Old Nelson Street and on the Grain Silo in Commercial Road.

The final sighting was at 19:20 when one tried to settle high on the north face of the Grain Silo, unfortunately in doing so it almost collided with one of the resident Kestrels already roosting there which promptly saw it off. It was last seen heading off low north-eastwards possibly to try its luck again at the Police Station.

Both were again seen together on the 29th at 7:20, around the St Peters Court tower block area. One was seen over Waterloo Road near the Claremont Pier at 7:40, two from Somerfield car park at 7:56, and one from the ASDA car park opposite the grain silo at 8:40, and the final sighting in the morning seems to have been of the two together again near tower block around 9:10. One was again around the grain silo that evening at 18:57.

After one was found by Beccles Lounge Lizard Neville Loth at Minsmere during the morning on the 31st, and with it subsequently being seen at Sizewell at 14:45 and later back at Minsmere at 16:20, I decided to have a quick look to see if there was any sign of one around the grain silo. So as the rice boiled and the chilli simmered (and for the record I was watching Quantum Leap, not Neighbours) I ventured into the garden for a few moments at 18:40. With immaculate timing an Alpine Swift duly sailed slowly north-westwards from the area of the grain silo. To say I was surprised is an understatement, I'd tried the same on Wednesday and Thursday with no luck at all! At 19:10 it was again flying around the top of the grain silo for a few minutes and then disappeared north-westwards again around 19:15 and was not seen again up till dusk. Hopefully it has roosted again somewhere in the town.

Prepare for an early start and chose your supermarket car park carefully, Somerfield in the north of town with a high level view over the town, or Asda in the south directly opposite the grain silo.

KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis
One was along the Kirkley Run stream by Laxfield Way on the 1st. One was at Oulton Broad on the 2nd.

GREEN WOODPECKER Picus viridis
Carlton Marshes - 2nd (2), 19th (1).
Gunton Warren - 9th (1).
Gunton (Hubbards Loke) - 11th (1).
Lound Waterworks - 26th (2).
Denes Oval - 28th & 29th (1), 31st (1).
Kessingland sewage works - 30th (1).

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopos minor
One was around Gunton Hall lake on the 28th.

SKY LARK Alauda arvensis
Carlton Marshes - 2nd (4).

SAND MARTIN Riparia riparia
Breydon south wall - 26th (2).
Lowestoft North Denes - 27th (3 S).
Kessingland sewage works - 30th (15).

SWALLOW Hirundo rustica
One was seen at Ashby on the 30th, and one was over Sparrows Nest Park on the 31st.

MEADOW PIPIT Anthus pratensis
Ashby - 6th (14).

ROCK PIPIT Anthus petrosus
Ness Point - 6th (1).
Hamilton Dock - 26th (1).

GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea
Beccles - 1st (1).
Kessingland sewage works - 3rd (1), 10th (2), 11th (1), 18th (1), 19th (1), 21st (2), 27th (2), 29th (1), 30th (1).
Lowestoft North Denes - 28th (1 in off the sea).
Sparrows Nest Park - 28th (1). Possibly the same as above bird.

Two were at the north end of the linear Park/cycle path on the 3rd; where it meets Yarmouth Road just south of the Denes High School. One was at the Poplars Primary School, St. Margaret's Road in Lowestoft on the 21st and 22nd.

One of the individuals at Kessingland sewage works on the 10th bore a Dutch ring.

WHITE WAGTAIL Motacilla alba alba
Kessingland sewage works - 25th (3), 26th (6), 27th (1), 31st (1).
Links Road, Lowestoft - 26th (2).
Mutford - 27th (2).
Sparrows Nest Park - 29th (1 on bowling greens).
Pakefield - 30th (1).

PIED WAGTAIL Motacilla alba yarrelli
Kessingland sewage works - 3rd (11 trapped and ringed), 30th (4).

WAXWING Bombycilla garrulus
A flock of 10+ put in a brief appearance in Lowry Way, Gunton on the 14th. Eleven were seen at the Poplars Primary School, St. Margaret's Road in Lowestoft on the 21st and 22nd.

[BLACK REDSTART Phoenicurus ochruros
An adult male was under Haddiscoe Bridge on the 26th, just over the border in Norfolk. Hopefully we'll get one in the area soon, although this species has become very scarce in recent years.]

STONECHAT Saxicola torquata
Carlton Marshes - 2nd (2), 12th (1).

WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe
Three were on Lowestoft North Denes on the 27th. One was at Hamilton Dock on the 29th.

BLACKBIRD Turdus merula ****
Three flocks totalling over 100 passed northwards high over Lake Lothing beteween 18:30 and 19:00 on the 19th.

REDWING Turdus iliacus
Kessingland sewage works - 10th (4), 30th (12).
Carlton Marshes - 19th (1).
Henstead - 22nd (2), 27th (3).
Ashby - 22nd (30).
Lound Waterworks - 26th (100+).
Mutford - 27th (250).
Denes Oval - 29th (c.10), 31st (1).

Large numbers were heard departing eastwards over Lowestoft on the evenings of the 24th, 25th, 26th and 29th at least, also heard at the same time were Wigeon, Curlew, Oystercatcher and Dunlin. Sixteen arrived in off the sea high over Lowestoft at 7:20 on the 29th, presumably birds that had abandoned their attempted crossing rather than a sign that winter is returning!

FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris
Ashby - 5th (1), 6th (1), 19th (100).
Somerleyton Marshes - 6th (2).
Carlton Marshes - 19th (4).
Henstead - 20th - 21st (20), 22nd (70), 27th (20).
Lowestoft North Denes (Net Posts) - 28th (1).

One arrived in off the sea over Lowestoft harbour at 7:10 on the 29th, followed shortly afterwards by a flock of Redwings.

MISTLE THRUSH Turdus viscivorus
Ashby - 5th (2), 6th (1).
Kessingland sewage works - 10th (1), 30th (1).
Lowestoft Denes Oval - 14th (2).
Lowestoft North Denes (Net Posts) - 14th (2), 28th (2).
Gunton - 28th (5).

CETTI'S WARBLER Cettia cetti
Carlton Marshes - 2nd (1 singing).
Lound Waterworks - 26th (1 singing).
Waveney Forest - 29th (1).
One was near Kessingland Sewage works on the 10th and 30th.
One singing from scrub alongside the railway line along Denmark Road in central Lowestoft on the 31st would appear to be a migrant.

BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla
The wintering individual in an Oulton Broad garden was last seen on the 7th.
One female was along the North Denes slope on the 27th.
Warrenhouse Wood - 29th (1).
Gunton Church Lane - 29th (1 singing).

CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita
Kessingland sewage works - 3rd (1), 12th (1), 18th (1), 19th (1), 21st (2), 27th (1), 30th (4).
Lowestoft North Denes - 27th & 28th (1 tailess individual).
Gunton Warren - 28th (3), 29th (1), 31st (3).
Gunton Wood - 28th (1), 29th (1).
Corton Wood - 28th (2), 29th (1), 30th (1).
Waveney Forest - 29th (2).
Warrenhouse Wood - 29th (3), 30th (1), 31st (2).

FIRECREST Regulus ignicapillus
One was found in the clifftop copse of Holm Oaks above Gunton beach on the 28th.
Warrenhouse Wood - 29th (2), 30th (1), 31st (1).
Kensington Gardens - 29th (1).
Corton Wood - 30th (1).

TREECREEPER Certhia familiaris
One was in Corton Wood on the 11th, 30th and 31st.

STARLING Sturnus vulgaris
On the 4th at Henstead a pre-roosting swarm of 1-2,000 birds appeared low over the house and garden suddenly in late afternoon, circling lower and lower before many dived into a neighbour's Macrocarpa trees and others into our ivy-covered trees - evidently prospecting snug roost sites in this cold weather. The messy buggers scored 45 'hits' on the car in the drive ! After many false landings and exits, during 15-20 mins, most departed suddenly low towards the coast. Others were still in the ivy at near dark but these had all gone by dawn - a fine night for departure. It's not just the swans leaving!

An apparently resident white Starling wanders widely around Kessingland, being seen recently in Griffith Close, High Path and at the sewage works amongst other places.

TREE SPARROW Passer montanus
Three were present at Mutford in early March. Given the rarity of this species around here nowadays, it seems probable that two of them are the individuals that were seen there in October 2005, but not since. A very encouraging sign; it remains to be seen if they are again just passing through or whether they may settle in the area.

CHAFFINCH Fringilla coelebs
A flock of 48 were along Waddling Lane, Somerleyton on the 13th.
A small but steady, mostly southbound, passage of birds was noted over Lowestoft North Denes on the 28th.
420+ were noted passing through Kessingland on the 30th.
Seven in a Gunton garden on the 30th was an increase on the more usual single bird.

BRAMBLING Fringilla montifringilla
Single birds were feeding in a garden in Oulton village on the 5th and 30th.
One flew north over Norwich Road, Lowestoft on the 28th.
One was seen at Gunton on the 28th.

GREENFINCH Carduelis chloris
Gunton Warren - 26th (4 singing males).
Kessingland sewage works - 30th (25).

GOLDFINCH Carduelis carduelis
Blundeston (Warren Carr) - 13th (32).

SISKIN Carduelis spinus
Ashby - 4th (30+), 12th (10).
Carlton Marshes - 2nd (3).
Corton Wood - 18th (1), 30th (1), 31st (3).
Henstead - 21st (12).
Waveney Forest - 22nd (c.300), 29th (c.300).
Oulton - 30th (3 at garden feeder).
Gunton - 30th (2 at garden feeder).

LINNET Carduelis cannabina
Carlton Marshes - 2nd (12).
Ashby - 6th (32).
Pakefield - 8th (2).
Gunton Warren - 9th (5), 26th (4 singing males).
Kessingland sewage works - 30th (20).

BULLFINCH Pyrrhula pyrrhula
One female was along Gunton disused railtrack on the 30th.

LAPLAND BUNTING Calcarius lapponicus
One was along the south wall at Breydon on the 26th.

YELLOWHAMMER Emberiza citrinella
Gunton Warren - 9th (4), 26th (3 singing males).
Blundeston (Warren Carr) - 13th (16).

REED BUNTING Emberiza schoeniclus
Carlton Marshes - 2nd (2).
Kessingland sewage works - 10th (2), 30th (5).

NON-BIRD NEWS

Two white Fallow Deer have been seen in roadside fields between Ashby and Lound during the first week of March. Hares and Muntjacs have been seen there as well. Two white Fallow Deer were also seen at Benacre Broad in mid February.

Two Harbour Porpoises were feeding offshore at Kessingland on the 10th, with one there on the 21st and 26th. One was also seen off Links Road car park, Lowestoft on the 26th.

A Common Seal was offshore at Kessingland on the 25th.

There was clearly a mass emergence of Adders in the Waveney Forest on the 25th when 17 were seen in three groups. A dead Grass Snake was found on the roadside at Ashby also on the 25th.

The generally warm spell on the the 25th and 26th brought out several butterflies:

BRIMSTONE
North Cove - 25th (1).
Waveney Forest - 25th (3).
Ashby - 26th (1).

COMMA
Waveney Forest - 25th (1), 26th (3).

SMALL TORTOISESHELL
Corton - 26th (1).
Gunton - 29th (1).

SMALL COPPER
Waveney Forest - 27th (1).