Lowestoft bird news

Pumping seems to have ceased for the moment at Leathes Ham.

RED-THROATED DIVER Gavia stellata
Beccles - Yes that's Beccles not Kessingland. One gaining summer plumage was a most unexpected find on the Beccles Marsh Trail lakes on the 1st; and still present on the 2nd. It seems that on plumage features this is probably the same bird that was on Benacre Broad early morning on the 1st, but which had disappeared later that morning.
Kessingland - 10th (1 on sea).

Red-throated Diver - Beccles Marsh Trail - May 2006
©Stuart Reeves

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER Gavia immer
One flew north past Kessingland on the 18th.

DIVER spp.
Kessingland - 2nd (1 N, probably Black-throated).

LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis
At least six were at Leathes Ham on the 1st.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
Two were on Leathes Ham on the 5th to 12th, presumably the same pair that attempted to breed here last year, and now appear to be nest building.

FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis ****
Kessingland - 1st (10 N, 6 S), 2nd (3 N, 3 S), 3rd (2 N), 4th (4 N), 5th (9 N, 2 S), 6th (9 N, 1 S), 7th (5 N), 8th (82 N), 9th (2 N), 10th (1 S), 11th (1 N), 13th (1 N), 14th (5 N, 1 S), 15th (1 N), 19th (3 N), 20th (1 N), 21st (7 N, 4 S), 22nd (3 N), 23rd (3 N, 1 S), 24th (4 N, 1 S), 25th (3 N, 4 S), 26th (4 N, 4 S), 27th (7 N, 4 S), 28th (2 N, 1 S), 29th (1 N, 2 S), 30th (2 N), 31st (12 N).
Ness Point - 1st (2 N, 2 S), 13th (1 N), 22nd (1 S), 23rd (1 N), 24th (2 N, 3 S), 26th (1 S), 27th (1 N, 1 S), 28th (1 N).
Corton - 2nd (1 S).

GANNET Morus bassanus ****
Kessingland - 1st (6 N, 1 S, 3 feeding), 2nd (6 N, 3 S), 4th (312 N), 5th (19 N), 6th (4 N), 7th (6 N), 8th (75 N), 9th (15 N), 10th (31 N), 11th (12 N, 1 S), 12th (29 N), 13th (1 N, 12 S), 14th (4 N), 15th (2 N, 2 o/s), 16th (9 N), 17th (2 N), 18th (41 N), 19th (293 N, 6 S), 20th (26 N), 21st (1 N, 1 S), 22nd (3 N), 23rd (4 N, 5 S), 24th (11 N), 25th (6 N, 6 S), 26th (5 N), 27th (35 N, 2 S), 28th (1 N, 5 S), 29th (3 N, 4 S), 30th (2 N, 6 S), 31st (26 N, 11 S).
Ness Point - 1st (13 N), 20th (2 N), 23rd (9 N,1 S), 24th (5 N), 25th (2 N, 1 S), 29th (1 S).
Pakefield - 10th (4 N).

MANX SHEARWATER Puffinus puffinus
Two flew north together past Kessingland on the 20th.

EUROPEAN STORM PETREL Hydrobates pelagicus
One flew south close inshore past Kessingland early morning on the 22nd. Large numbers were swept up towards the English Channel over the weekend by westerly gales and all seem to be heading westwards back towards the Atlantic rather than continuing up the North Sea, the Kessingland one included it seems!

CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo ****
Kessingland - 2nd (2 S), 5th (13 N), 6th (1 o/s), 8th (1 S), 9th (5 N), 10th (5 N), 11th (2 N), 12th (1 N, 2 S), 13th (1 N, 2 S, 1 o/s), 16th (4 S), 18th (1 N, 2 S), 23rd (1 N), 28th (3 N), 30th (1 N), 31st (1 N).
Ness Point - 1st (1 N).

EUROPEAN SHAG Phalacrocorax aristotelis
One flew north past Kessingland, and shortly afterwards Ness Point, early morning on the 24th.

BITTERN Botaurus stellaris
One flew south high over Carlton Marshes on the 6th.

LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta
One flew south past Kessingland on the 23rd.

GREY HERON Ardea cinerea
One flew north past Kessingland on the 9th.
One was at Leathes Ham on the 11th to 17th.

"Polish Swan" - Oulton Broad - May 2006
©Andrew Easton

MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor
Leathes Ham - 9th (1), 11th - 12th (2), 15th (3), 28th (15).
Oulton Broad - 14th (31 including one "Polish morph" bird with pinky grey legs), 28th (33).

BLACK SWAN Cygnus atratus
One was with the Mute Swans on Oulton Broad on the 13th to 28th.

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons
The diminutive individual with the damaged wing first noted in May 2003 was back again at Oulton Broad on the 14th to 28th.

GREYLAG GOOSE Anser anser
Pair with three young at Leathes Ham on the 1st to 28th.
Oulton Broad - 28th (17 + a Canada x Greylag hybrid).

CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis
Two were on the sea of Kessingland on the 6th.

EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiacus
One was at Leathes Ham on the 5th to 28th, with three there on the 14th.
Two were at Oulton Broad on the 28th.
Two were along Oulton Dyke at Fisher Row on the 29th.

SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna
Kessingland - 2nd (2 N), 4th (3 N), 5th (1 N, 4 S), 6th (2 N), 9th (3 N), 10th (2 N), 11th (8 S), 12th (1 N, 2 S).
Pakefield - 16th (3 S).

MANDARIN DUCK Aix galericulata
The two drakes were still at Leathes Ham on the 1st.

Mandarin & Yosemite Sam. Now which is which ?

GADWALL Anas strepera
One drake was at Leathes Ham on the 9th to 12th, with two there on the 11th, and three on the 28th and 29th.
One flew north past Kessingland on the 13th.

SHOVELER Anas clypeata
Leathes Ham - 1st (2 males), 11th-12th (1), 28th (1).
Carlton Marshes - 2nd (pair).
Kessingland - 3rd (2 S).

TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula
Leathes Ham - 1st (9), 9th (7), 12th (3).
Kessingland - 22nd (6 S), 24th (2 S).

COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra ****
Ness Point - 1st (2 N), 26th (6 N).
Kessingland - 4th (2 o/s), 5th (5 N), 6th (44 N, 3 S), 9th (17 N), 10th (11 N), 11th (2 N), 12th (42 N), 13th (6 N, 6 S), 14th (3 N, 2 o/s), 15th (24 N, 17 S), 17th (6 N), 20th (3 N), 21st (17 N), 22nd (15 N, 1 S), 23rd (11 N), 24th (22 N, 2 S), 25th (30 N, 21 S), 26th (1 S), 27th (1 N), 28th (32 N), 29th (1 S, 1 o/s).

VELVET SCOTER Melanitta fusca
One drake flew north past Ness Point on the 1st.

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator
One flew south past Kessingland on the 7th.

HONEY BUZZARD Pernis apivorus
One flew south close inshore past Pakefield at 11:30 on the 24th.

MARSH HARRIER Circus aeruginosus
Two were in the Kessingland sewage works area on the 12th.
One was at Beccles Marshes on the 27th.
Two were at Oulton Marshes on the 29th.

COMMON BUZZARD Buteo buteo
One flew north westwards over Pakefield early morning on the 11th.

Hobby - Fisher Row - May 2006
©James Wright

HOBBY Falco subbuteo
One was at Kessingland sewage works on the 2nd.
One was at Beccles Marshes on the 2nd.
One flew south at Kessingland Beach on the 5th.
One flew south over Lowestoft North Denes on the 6th.
One was at Fisher Row, Oulton on the 9th.
One was seen at Gunton on the 13th.
Two were at Oulton Marshes on the 20th.
One flew south at Kessingland Beach on the 21st with two south there on the 24th.
One was at Corton new sewage works on the 28th.

COOT Fulica atra
At least two of the eggs in the Coot nest pictured at the top of the page had hatched on the 9th. They usually remain in the nest for a few days while the remainder of the clutch hatches. On the 11th they had left the nest and were on a brood platform built close by. A Mallard then used their vacated nest to brood her young overnight on the 11th.

Coot - Leathes Ham - May 2006
©Andrew Easton

OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus ****
Kessingland - 1st (1 N), 3rd (1 N), 4th (10 S, 1 o/b), 6th (3 S), 7th (1 N), 11th (2 N, 5 S), 12th (3 N, 5 S), 14th (2 N, 2 S), 15th (1 N), 16th (1 N, 6 S), 17th (14 N, 2 S), 19th (1 N), 22nd (1 N), 23rd (7 S), 25th (1 S), 26th (3 N, 5 S), 27th (1 S), 30th (1 S).
Ness Point - 1st (1 S), 20th (1).
Beccles Marshes - 2nd (2).
Corton new sewage works - 5th (2).
Corton - 9th (2).

AVOCET Recurvirostra avosetta ****
Three flew north past Kessingland on the 13th.
One flew south past Kessingland on the 20th.
Two flew north past Kessingland on the 29th.

RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula ****
Two were at Ness Point on the 7th.
Three flew north past Kessingland on the 29th.

GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola
Two flew south past Kessingland on the 18th.

KNOT Calidris canutus
Two breeding plumaged birds were at Ness Point on the 7th.

SANDERLING Calidris alba ****
Kessingland - 29th (4 N).

DUNLIN Calidris alpina ****
Kessingland - 11th (5 N), 13th (1 S), 16th (4 N, 1 S), 21st (3 N), 22nd (1 S), 24th (1 S), 28th (6 N).

COMMON SNIPE Gallinago gallinago
Carlton Marshes - 2nd (3).

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa
One was on Lowestoft South Beach early morning on the 10th.

BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica
Kessingland - 1st (2 S), 2nd (1 S), 4th (4 S), 5th (1 S), 12th (1 S).
One was on Pakefield beach at 5:30am on the 2nd.
Six were on the putting green at Broadland Sands at Corton on the 8th.

WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus ****
Kessingland - 1st (1 S), 2nd (1 S), 5th (6 N, 1 S), 6th (2 N), 9th (1 S), 10th (42 N), 11th (6 N), 12th (1 N, 3 S), 13th (1 S).
Beccles Marshes - 1st (88), 2nd (2).
Lake Lothing - 18th (1).
Ness Point - 22nd (2 S).

CURLEW Numenius arquata ****
Kessingland - 1st (1 S), 2nd (1 S), 5th (3 N, 1 S), 14th (2 S), 18th (2 N), 28th (1 S).

GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia
One was at Blundeston village pond on the 2nd.

COMMON SANDPIPER Actitis hypoleucos
One was at Kessingland sewage works on the 4th.
Three were feeding along the groynes below the cliffs at Hopton/Corton on the 9th.
One was at Leathes Ham on the 11th and 12th.

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus
One flew north over Dip Farm pitch & putt golf course on the 6th.

TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres ****
Ness Point - 1st (8), 13th (4), 24th (5), 26th (5).
Pakefield - 9th (3), 10th (2).
Kessingland - 31st (7 N).

ARCTIC SKUA Stercorarius parasiticus ****
At 17:10 on the 1st a dark phase bird flew slowly south past Kessingland, about 2 kilometres from the beach.
Kessingland - 4th (1 dark phase north), 8th (2 N), 31st (1 S).

GREAT SKUA Stercorarius skua
Single birds flew north past Kessingland on the 5th and 20th.

SKUA sp. Stercorarius sp.
Kessingland - 8th (1 N).

MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus ****
Kessingland - 15th (1 adult N), 21st ( 2 first summers S), 27th (1 first summer S), 29th (1 first summer S, 1 2nd summer lingering).

LITTLE GULL Larus minutus
Three flew north past Corton on the 6th.

The early morning cleaning team helping keep the Blue Flag flying.
Kittiwakes - Lowestoft South Beach - May 2006
©Andrew Easton

KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla ****
Kessingland - 1st (11 N, 10 S), 2nd (26 N, 11 S), 3rd (7 N, 8 S), 4th (218 N, 41 S), 5th (2 N, 6 S), 6th (17 N, 3 S), 7th (12 N, 1 S), 8th (32 N, 10 S), 9th (26 N, 10 S), 10th (46 N, 5 S), 11th (12 N, 3 S), 12th (11 N, 2 S, 1 o/s), 13th (10 N, 6 S), 14th (21 N, 8 S), 15th (4 N, 5 S), 16th (1 N), 17th (3 N, 12 S), 18th (4 N, 3 S), 19th (4 N, 1 S), 20th (8 N, 21 S), 21st (13 N, 917 S), 22nd (3 N, 8 S), 23rd (47 N, 22 S), 24th (8 N, 33 S), 25th (38 N, 20 S, 2 feeding), 26th (18 N, 15 S), 27th (13 N, 8 S), 28th (5 N, 16 S), 29th (14 N, 8 S), 30th (4 N, 2 S), 31st (31 N, 4 S).

SANDWICH TERN Sterna sandvichensis ****
Kessingland - 1st (5 N), 2nd (3 N, 2 S), 3rd (3 N), 4th (12 N, 9 S), 5th (5 N), 6th (4 N, 4 S), 7th (3 N), 8th (3 N, 3 S), 9th (4 N), 10th (11 N),
11th (10 N), 12th (2 N), 13th (1 S), 14th (2 N), 15th (1 N), 18th (2 N), 19th (6 N, 1 S), 20th (3 N), 21st (2 N), 22nd (3 N), 23rd (5 N), 24th (2 S), 25th (2 N, 2 S), 26th (1 N, 4 S), 27th (3 N), 28th (10 N, 1 S), 29th (7 N), 30th (4 N, 5 S), 31st (8 N).
Ness Point - 23rd (2 N), 26th (2 S), 28th (2 N).

COMMON TERN Sterna hirundo ****
Four were along Lake Lothing on the 5th.
Two were fishing at Gunton Hall lake on the 17th.

'COMMIC' TERN Sterna hirundo/paradisaea ****
Kessingland - 1st (11 N), 2nd (7 N, 3 S), 3rd (10 N, 5 S), 4th (6 N, 2 S), 5th (7 N, 3 S), 6th (3 N, 3 S), 7th (7 N, 1 S), 8th (13 N, 1 S), 9th (7 N), 10th (4 N), 11th (10 N), 12th (11 N), 13th (4 N), 14th (18 N, 1 S), 15th (3 N, 3 S), 16th (2 N, 1 S), 17th (2 N), 18th (3 N), 19th (12 N, 7 S), 20th (22 N, 23 S), 21st (19 N, 22 S), 22nd (8 N, 17 S), 23rd (11 N), 24th (10 N, 21 S), 25th (22 N, 11 S), 26th (16 N, 4 S), 27th (16 N, 8 S), 28th (8 N, 4 S), 29th (6 N, 1 S), 30th (16 N, 2 S), 31st (5 N).

LITTLE TERN Sterna albifrons ****
Kessingland - 2nd (At 9:45 the first Little Tern of the year flew south. At 18:00 two more also flew south), 3rd (1 N), 4th (5 N, 10 S), 5th (37 N, 40 S), 6th (48 N, 27 S), 7th (6 N, 8 S), 8th (4 N), 9th (16 N, 2 S), 10th (14 N), 11th (20 N, 6 S), 12th (22 N, 8 S), 13th (3 N, 3 S), 14th (25 N, 5 S), 15th (8 N, 3 S), 16th (5 N, 6 S), 17th (6 N, 13 S), 18th (23 N, 21 S), 19th (1 N, 3 S), 20th (4 S), 21st (2 N, 5 S), 22nd (4 N, 4 S), 23rd (12 N, 13 S), 24th (7 N), 25th (26 N, 4 S), 26th (11 N, 8 S), 27th (15 N, 15 S), 28th (9 N, 9 S), 29th (14 N, 5 S), 30th (18 N, 4 S), 31st (25 N, 5 S).
Corton - 6th (7 N).

PUFFIN Fratercula arctica
One flew north past Kessingland on the 21st.

AUK sp. Alcidae ****
Kessingland - 11th (1 N), 15th (1 N), 21st (1 N), 31st (6 N).
Ness Point - 24th (1 N).

STOCK DOVE Columba oenas
Leathes Ham - 1st (2), 11th (1), 12th (3).
Corton new sewage works - 5th (1), 28th (2), 29th (8).

Turtle Dove singing - Gunton - May 2006
©Andrew Easton

TURTLE DOVE Streptopelia turtur
One was seen at Gunton on the 3rd, with two there on the 17th.
One was in Corton Wood on the 17th.
One arrived in off the sea at Ness Point at 07:00 on the 24th.
One was at Weston, near Beccles on the 26th.
A pair were near Rackhams Corner, Blundeston, on the 30th. The third year running they have been seen there, which is encouraging given the continuing general scarcity of this species.

RING-NECKED PARAKEET Psittacula krameri
One, thought at the time most likely to be a Ring-necked Parakeet, flew east over Parkhill, Gunton on the evening of the 29th.
On the 31st an female Ring-necked Parakeet was on a suet feeder in a garden in Hall Drive, Oulton Broad, and was seen again there on June 1st.

CUCKOO Cuculus canorus
One was at Carlton Marshes on the 3rd.
Two were calling at Carlton Marshes on the 6th.
One was at Fisher Row, Oulton on the 9th and 29th.
Two, male and female, were at Carlton Marshes on the 27th.

Barn Owl - Kessingland - May 2006
©James Wright

BARN OWL Tyto alba
One was hunting over Carlton Marshes at dusk on the 2nd.
One was found dead in a field at Corton on the 4th.
One was at Fisher Row, Oulton on the 9th.
One with a blue band on the left leg was at Kessingland reedbed on the 9th. Possibly one released having been in care.
One was at Kessingland sewage works 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.

SHORT-EARED OWL Asio flammeus
One was at Beccles Marshes on the 27th.

COMMON SWIFT Apus apus
On the 1st, singletons were seen over Beccles Common and Leathes Ham.
On the 2nd small numbers were widespread over the town, the main arrival has begun.
Large numbers were screaming round the rooftops along Norwich Road and high overhead on the morning of the 3rd.

KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis
One was at the pond in Corton Wood on the 8th.
One was at Leathes Ham on the 9th.
One was at the Beccles Marsh Trail lakes on the 11th.
At least one was heard calling at Gunton Hall lake on the 17th.

GREEN WOODPECKER Picus viridis
One was feeding on ants in a garden along Yarmouth Road near Tesco on the 2nd.
Corton new sewage works - 5th (2).
Kessingland sewage works - 12th (1).

Great Spotted Woodpecker - Leathes Ham - May 2006
©Andrew Easton

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopos major
Leathes Ham - 1st (1), 9th to 14th (1 drumming).
Kessingland sewage works - 12th (1).

SAND MARTIN Riparia riparia
Kessingland sewage works - 4th (15+).

SWALLOW Hirundo rustica
Beccles Marshes - 1st (30).
Carlton Marshes - 3rd (56 gathered together on wires).
Kessingland sewage works - 4th (10), 12th (10).
Ness Point - 23rd (2 S), 24th (3 S), 26th (2 S).
Corton Cliffs - 29th (2 N).

HOUSE MARTIN Delichon urbica
Beccles Marshes - 1st (10).
Carlton Marshes - 2nd (8).
Bradwell - 2nd (2+).
Kessingland Beach - 6th (8), 23rd (1 S).
Kessingland sewage works - 4th (10).
Ness Point - 23rd (1 S).
Corton Cliffs - 29th (4 N).

BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL Motacilla flava flava
One male was with two Yellow Wagtails at Hopton, on the field between Potters and Radar Lodge, on the 6th.
One male was with Yellow Wagtails and a Grey-headed Wagtail at Hopton, on the field between Potters Resort and Radar Lodge, on the 8th.
A rather duller male was at the place on the 10th.

YELLOW WAGTAIL Motacilla flava flavissima
One flew north over Dip Farm, Gunton on the 1st.
One flew north over Hamilton Dock on the 1st. (Presumably the same bird headed south over there a short while later.)
Five were at Broadland Sands putting green at Corton on the 2nd, including one grey and white individual .
Two were on the bowling greens in Kensington gardens on the 4th.
One flew north over Dip Farm pitch and putt golf course on the 4th.
Two were at Hopton on the 6th.
Four were on the North Denes and Denes Oval on the 6th.
Seven were at Hopton, on the field between Potters Resort and Radar Lodge, on the 8th. Accompanied by male Grey-headed and Blue-headed Wagtails.
Nine were at Hopton, on the field between Potters Resort and Radar Lodge, on the 10th. Accompanied by male Grey-headed and Blue-headed Wagtails.
Three were at Hopton, on the field between Potters Resort and Radar Lodge, on the 11th.
One was at Corton new sewage works on the 21st.
Three along the cliffs near Corton old sewage works on the 28th.

GREY-HEADED WAGTAIL Motacilla flava thunbergi
One very dark headed individual was at Hopton, on the field between Potters Resort and Radar Lodge on the 8th. Most of the time it looked very like a Black-headed Wagtail, but there was a blue grey tinge to the rear crown. It was present again on the 10th and photographed in better light as can be seen below. The blue grey on the crown was more obvious and even had a slight eyestripe, though this was very difficult to make out in the field even through a telescope.

WHITE WAGTAIL Motacilla alba alba
One was on the Broadland Sands putting green on the 2nd and 4th.
One was on the Denes Oval on the 6th.

PIED WAGTAIL Motacilla alba yarrelli
Kessingland sewage works - 4th (2), 12th (3).
Denes Oval - 6th (2).

NIGHTINGALE Luscinia megarhynchos
One was singing at Leathes Ham on the 1st (first heard on the 27th April).

BLACK REDSTART Phoenicurus ochruros
The one from April 30th was still on Beccles Common on the 1st.
One was singing in Belvedere Road, Lowestoft on the 6th.

WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe
Beccles Marshes - 1st (2).
Corton - 2nd (10 between village and Radar Lodge), 4th (15 between village and Radar Lodge).
Gunton (Dip Farm football pitches) - 3rd (5).
North Denes (Camp site) - 3rd (5), 13th (1), 18th (1).
Gunton (Dip Farm pitch & putt golf course) - 4th (4).
Corton new sewage works - 11th (1).
Kessingland Beach - 13th (1).
Kessingland Sluice - 15th (3).

RING OUZEL Turdus torquatus
One female was near Ash Farm, Mutford on the 2nd.

FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris
One was at the Dip Farm pitch & putt golf course on the 6th.

MISTLE THRUSH Turdus viscivorus
Barnards Meadow - 11th (2).

CETTI'S WARBLER Cettia cetti
Carlton Marshes - 2nd (3 singing).
Kessingland sewage works - 1st (2), 4th (3), 12th (2).
Kessingland Levels - 1st (1).
Lound Waterworks - 21st (1).

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER Locustella naevia
Four were singing at Carlton Marshes on the 2nd.
One was at Kessingland sewage works on the 4th.
One was singing at Beccles Marshes on the 27th.

SEDGE WARBLER Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
One was singing at Leathes Ham on the 1st.
At least ten were singing along the Share Marsh track at Carlton Marshes on the 2nd.
Eight were at Kessingland sewage works on the 4th and 12th, including one ringed there in April 2005.
One was at Gunton on the 16th.

REED WARBLER Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Six were at Beccles Marshes Trail lakes on the 1st.
One was singing at Carlton Marshes on the 2nd.
Eight + were singing at Carlton Marshes on the 6th.
Six were at Kessingland sewage works on the 4th, including two ringed there in July 2005 and one in May 2004.

GREAT REED WARBLER Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Another great find by James Wright, and also a first for Lizard Land and apparently only the twelfth for Suffolk.

An extremely elusive individual spent the 16th in a Hawthorn thicket along the hedge of Gunton Hall just to the east of the Tesco superstore in the orchid meadow at TM537962. So much for looking in patches of reeds for one each spring! Initially heard and glimpsed around midday it then promptly vanished until around 15:15 but by 16:30 had fallen silent and vanished again. Eventually at 19:15 it started to sing occasionally allowing it to be tracked through the hawthorns and viewed intermittently until at least 20:00.

Unfortunately there was no sign of it on the 17th, though given the lack of reeds not particularly surprising!

LESSER WHITETHROAT Sylvia curruca
Two were along Gunton Cliff above the camp site on the 3rd.
One was singing along Denmark Road by the railway line on the 3rd.
One was along the Cemetery cycle track/linear park on the 4th.
Two were at Kessingland sewage works on the 4th.
One has been present, and singing well, along the cliff face at Kessingland all month.
One was singing along the disused railtrack at Corton on the 29th.
One was singing at Leathes Ham on the 29th.

COMMON WHITETHROAT Sylvia communis
Two were at Beccles Common on the 1st.
Four were at Beccles Marshes Trail lakes on the 1st.
Six were at Kessingland sewage works on the 4th, including two ringed there April and July 2005.
Eight were at Kessingland sewage works on the 12th, including four trapped there in 2005, and two trapped there in both 2004 and 2005.

GARDEN WARBLER Sylvia borin
One was at Kessingland sewage works on the 2nd.
One was in Gunton Wood on the 6th.
At least three were at Beccles Common on the 8th.
One was singing in Lowestoft Cemetery on the 12th.
There were at Kessingland sewage works on the 12th, including one that had been ringed there in April 2005.

BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla
Eight were along the Cemetery cycle track/linear park on the 4th.
Four were at Kessingland sewage works on the 4th, including one trapped and ringed there last April.

CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita
Kessingland sewage works - 12th (3).

WOOD WARBLER Phylloscopus sibilatrix
One was present along the disused railtrack at Corton, south of Stirrups Lane, on the 5th.

FIRECREST Regulus ignicapillus
One was in Corton Wood on the 4th.
One was singing along Hubbards Loke, Gunton on the 10th.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa striata
One was at Benacre Hall on the 6th. (Just outside our area, but worth a mention due to their general scarcity nowadays unfortunately.)
One was at Beccles Common on the 7th.
One was at Ash Farm, Mutford on the 20th.
One was at Beccles Common on the 25th.

TREECREEPER Certhia familiaris
Corton Wood - 8th (2).

STARLING Sturnus vulgaris
A pair were busy feeding their young in an old woodpecker nest at Leathes Ham on the 1st. On the 10th two of the young were hungrily stationed at the entrance hole, if there were any more young behind them they were going hungry!

SISKIN Carduelis spinus
One was at Kessingland sewage works on the 14th.

LINNET Carduelis cannabina
27 were roosting in brambles in ditches at Carlton Marshes on the 2nd. No doubt nicely sheltered from the wind, but with a very noisy Grasshopper Warbler singing from the top of the bush not a very peaceful night was in the offing.
A flock of 40+ were on Kessingland Beach on the 6th.

CROSSBILL Loxia curvirostra
Nine were seen at Ashby on the 20th.

YELLOWHAMMER Emberiza citrinella
Gunton Warren - 13th (1).
Kessingland sewage works - 12th (1).

NON-BIRD NEWS

A Chinese Water Deer was grazing on Share Marsh, Carlton Marshes on the evening of the 2nd.

Three Water Voles were seen at Carlton Marshes on the 6th.

Holly Blue butterflies were pretty widespread in gardens in central Lowestoft during the second week of May.

Harbour Porpoise
Lowestoft North Beach - 13th (1).
Kessingland - 6th (1 feeding), 7th (1 N), 13th (1 N), 15th (1 S), 20th (1 feeding), 21st (1 feeding), 23rd (1 N).

Common Seal
Kessingland - 6th (2), 16th (1), 24th (1).

Grey Seal
Kessingland - 11th (1), 13th (1), 18th (1), 25th (1), 27th (1), 28th (1), 30th (1), 31st (1).

A party of at least four dolphins moved south past Kessingland on the 18th. They were rather distant but were leaping clear of the water frequently. Two species were present, probably Common and Bottle-nosed.