July 2003

Sabine's Gull - Lowestoft Harbour - ©Andrew Easton

GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
One was on the sea off Kessingland on the 8th and one flew north there on the 29th.



FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis
Kessingland - 2nd (2 N), 3rd (1 N), 4th (1 N), 5th (2 N, 1 S), 6th (2 N), 7th (1 N), 8th (1 N), 10th (1 S), 11th (1 S), 12th (1 N), 13th (1 S), 14th (3 N), 16th (1 N), 17th (1 S), 18th (2 N, 2 S), 19th (2 N, 1 S), 20th (1 S), 21st (1 S), 22nd (1 N), 23rd (1 S), 24th (1 N), 28th (2 S), 30th (2 S).
Ness Point - 5th (1 N), 16th (1 N), 24th (1 N).

MANX SHEARWATER Puffinus puffinus
Ness Point - 2nd (2 N @ 13:25).
Kessingland - 19th (1 N @ 06:00 c3 km offshore), 24th (1 S c1.5 km offshore).



GANNET Morus bassanus
Kessingland - 1st (15 N, 2 S), 2nd (51 N, 32 S), 3rd (45 N, 5 S, 2 on sea washing & preening), 4th (81 N, 1 S), 5th (79 N, 5 S), 6th (56 N), 7th (24 N), 8th (31 N, 2 S), 9th (5 N, 1 S), 10th (23 N, 5 S, 1@feeding), 11th (20 N, 2S ), 12th (20 N, 2 S), 13th (37 N, 4 S), 14th (28 N, 2 S), 15th (31 N, 1 S), 16th (58 N, 3 S), 17th (56 N, 3 S), 18th (46 N, 6 S), 19th (53 N, 15 S), 20th (14 N, 2 S, 3 feeding), 21st (45 N, 5 S), 22nd (83 N, 11 S), 23rd (60 N, 8 S), 24th (62 N, 23 S), 25th (54 N, 12 S, 10 feeding), 26th (27 N, 14 S), 27th (47 N, 6 S), 28th (110 N, 20 S), 29th (57 N, 4 S), 30th (51 N, 21 S, 11 feeding), 31st (27 N).

Ness Point - 2nd (14 N), 5th (11 N), 16th (3 N), 24th (23 N), 26th (3 S), 31st (2 S).



CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo
Kessingland - 4th (1 N), 7th (1 S), 8th (1 S), 11th (3 S), 12th (9 S), 13th (1 N, 1 S), 16th (1 N), 18th (1 N), 21st (8 N, 1 S), 22nd (1 N), 23rd (1 S), 24th (1 N, 2 S), 29th (5 N).
Leathes Ham - 27 roosting on the 10th.
Lowestoft - Towards the end of July several juveniles have started feeding in Lowestoft Habour. They were joined by and adult bearing a green ring on one leg on the 31st. Probably a returning Dutch ringed bird.



LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta
One was on Burgh Castle Flats on the 26th and 27th.



GREY HERON Ardea cinerea
One flying north above Lowestoft North Beach on the 9th may have been a local bird, but at this time of year immigrants from the Continent begin to arrive. Another flying west over central Lowestoft on the 18th was given hard time by the local gulls.



GREYLAG GOOSE Anser anser
Kessingland - 21st (1 S), 31st (76 S).



DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE Branta bernicla bernicla
Kessingland - 9th (4 S).



SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna
Kessingland - 3rd (2 S), 27th (1 S).

WIGEON Anas penelope
Kessingland - 4th (6 S).

TEAL Anas crecca
Kessingland - 2nd (3 N), 3rd (4 S), 10th (19 S), 11th (7 S), 13th (10 S), 14th (10 S), 15th (9 S), 16th (6 S), 17th (3 S), 18th (4 S), 20th (14 S), 25th (3 S), 27th (5 S), 30th (22 S).

TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula
Kessingland - 2nd (1 N), 20th (3 S), 28th (5 S), 30th (6 S).

COMMON EIDER Somateria mollissima
One was on the sea off Kessingland on the 16th and a female in Hamilton Dock on the 28th was reported to have present for over a week.



COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra
Kessingland - 3rd (1 S), 4th (9 S), 6th (9 N, 32 S), 7th (2 N, 18 S, 9 o/s), 8th (8 N), 9th (5 N, 10 S), 10th (20 S), 11th (30 S), 12th (13 N), 13th (18 N, 14 S), 14th (4 S, 25 o/s), 15th (14 S, 2 o/s), 16th (6 N, 13 S), 17th (3 N, 34 S), 18th (3 N), 20th (27 N, 55 S), 21st (4 S, 7 o/s), 22nd (1 N, 20 o/s), 24th (4 N), 25th (3 S), 26th (1 S), 27th (1 N, 1 S), 28th (7 N, 8 S, 14 o.s.), 29th (6 N, 43 S, 35 o.s.), 30th (7 S, 1 o.s).
Ness Point - 16th (5 S), 24th (5 S), 26th (1 S).



MARSH HARRIER Circus aeruginosus
One flew over Lound Water Works on the 19th.



HOBBY Falco subbuteo
One flew over Lound Water Works on the 19th, with others seen at St. Olaves and Kessingland on the 29th.

PEREGRINE Falco peregrinus
At 14:30 on the 2nd a Peregrine flew south over the beach at Kessingland.

COOT Fulica atra
One was on the sea and then perched on the rocks just to the south of the South Pier on the 31st apparently unperturbed by the Air Festival. As was a white Mallard Anas platyrhynchos that spent much of the day sitting on the wooden groynes along the South Beach!



OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus
Kessingland - 2nd (1 S), 3rd (2 S), 4th (1 S), 6th (4 S), 8th (1 N), 9th (1 N), 10th (2 S), 11th (2 S), 13th (1 N, 2 S), 14th (1 S), 15th (2 N), 17th (13 S), 18th (1 S), 19th (1 S), 20th (1 N, 5 S), 21st(1 S), 22nd (8 S), 23rd (2 S), 24th (9 S), 27th (4 S), 28th (62 S), 29th (12 S), 30th (3 S), 31st (3 S).

Ness Point - 5th (1 N), 6th (5 S), 12th (2 on the point), 24th (5 S, 3 on the point). Three were following the example of the local terns and taking a short cut from Lake Lothing to the North Beach over the North Quay Retail Park rather than following the course of Lake Lothing itself. Two were on rocks near Lowestoft South Pier on the 26th, with four there on the 27th.

South Pier - One spent much of the day on the 31st perched on the rock groyne at the South Pier, unfazed by most of the aircraft taking part in the Air Festival.

Oystercatcher - Ness Point - July 24, 2003 - ©Robert Wincup

AVOCET Recurvirostra avosetta
Burgh Castle Flats - 26th (20).

RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula
Ness Point - 19th (1 S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 19th (3 juveniles together on the weed covered old sea wall).
Lowestoft South Beach - 31st one flew south along the coast weaving between the people splashing about in the sea.



GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola
Kessingland - 20th (1 S), 25th (2 S), 26th (1 S), 27th (1 S), 29th (10 S), 30th (6 S), 31st (1 S).



LAPWING Vanellus vanellus
Kessingland - 11th ( 2 in off the sea), 20th (1 S).



KNOT Calidris canutus
Kessingland - 17th (1 S), 25th (1 S).
Lowestoft - 18th (2 S).



SANDERLING Calidris alba
Three flew north together past Lowestoft North Beach on the 27th.



DUNLIN Calidris alpina
Kessingland - 3rd (4 S), 9th (1 on beach), 10th (7 S), 17th (2 S), 20th (4 S) 25th (12 on beach), 27th (1 S), 29th (1 S), 30th (2 S), 31st (2 S).
Ness Point - 16th (2 S), 26th (3 S).
South Beach - 31st (10 S, 1N). One of the southbound birds was flying at about knee height along the tideline weaving between the 1000's of people present at the air festival.



COMMON SANDPIPER Actitis hypoleucos
Lound - 19th and 20th.
Burgh Castle Flats - 26th and 27th.

CURLEW Numenius arquata
Kessingland - 1st (17 S), 2nd (2 S), 3rd (6 S), 4th (1 S), 5th (2 N, 8 S), 7th (4 S), 8th (15 S), 9th (6 S), 10th (54 S), 11th (1 S), 13th (1 N, 3 S), 14th (4 S), 15th (4 S), 16th (1 S), 17th (5 S), 18th (1S), 19th (2 S), 20th (24 S), 21st (3 S), 22nd (2 S), 23rd (1 S), 24th (2 S), 25th (1 S), 26th (4 S), 27th (1 N), 28th (25 S), 29th (25 S), 30th (1 S), 31st (19 S).
Ness Point - 28th (25 S), 29th (3 S).

WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus
Kessingland - 1st (1 S), 3rd (1 S), 5th (2 N), 7th (1 S), 8th (1 S), 9th (1 S), 10th (7 S), 13th (13 S), 14th (4 S), 17th (2 S), 18th (1 S), 19th (1 S), 20th (1 S), 21st (1 S), 24th (1 S), 25th (1 S), 26th (2 S), 27th (1 S), 28th (9 S), 29th (12 S), 30th (1 S).
Ness Point - 12th (2 on the point), 26th (1 S), 28th (2 S), 29th (1 S).

BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica
Kessingland - 3rd (2 N), 5th (2 S), 13th (1 S), 17th (2 S), 24th (1 S), 25th (1 S), 26th (1 S), 29th (23 S), 30th (1 S), 31st (4 S).
Ness Point - 16th (7 S), 19th (1 S), 20th (5 S), 27th (1 S).



BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa
Burgh Castle Flats - 26th (c25).



RUFF Philomachus pugnax
Burgh Castle Flats - 26th (12).



REDSHANK Tringa totanus
Kessingland - 3rd (5 S), 7th (1 S), 12th (2 S), 13th (1 S), 17th (4 S), 19th (6 S), 20th (7 S), 22nd (3 S), 23rd (2 S), 24th (1 S), 25th (3 S), 28th (8 S).
Ness Point - 16th (8 S), 17th (1 S).
Burgh Castle Flats - 26th (c30).



GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia
One on Burgh Castle Flats on the 26th and 27th was still in breeding attire. Two flew south past Kessingland on the 29th.

TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres
Kessingland - 17th (1 S), 27th (5 N).
Ness Point - 20th (4), 29th (6 S)
South Pier - 30th (1 roosting on the rock groyne).



POMARINE SKUA Stercorarius pomarinus
One pale phase bird was seen three times off Kessingland on the 11th. At 06:25 following four Kittiwakes south close to the beach, 19:25 persuing an unidentified gull north before returning south and settling on the sea about 1.5 kilometres from the beach and at 19:55 it appeared very close to the beach, heading north chasing a Sandwich Tern then a Herring Gull. The bird was last seen heading north at 20:00.



ARCTIC SKUA Stercorarius parasiticus
Kessingland - 4th (2 N at 6:55, both pale phase), 5th (1 N at 14:35 pale phase), 6th (1 N at 7:10 & 1 N at 17:20 both pale phase), 15th (2 N at 6:55 both dark phase), 17th (1 N at 15:10 pale phase), 18th (1 N at 14:10 dark phase, 1 S at 17:10 pale phase), 21st (1N at 9:20, bright sunlight made it impossible to tell if this was a pale or dark bird), 23rd (3 N at 6:55 an intermediate 14:10 and at 17: 35 pale phase), 24th (1 N at 9:08 pale phase), 25th (1 N at 13:15 dark phase), 26th (4 S), 27th (3 S, 1 o.s.), 28th (1 S), 30th (dark phase S @ 09:20).
Ness Point - 24th (2 S), 26th (2 S intermediate + dark at 19:07), 28th (1 N).

LONG-TAILED SKUA Stercorarius longicaudus
At 17:10 on the 4th a Long-tailed Skua flew north past Kessingland approximately 1 kilometre from the beach.

GREAT SKUA Catharacta skua
Kessingland - 3rd (N @ 6:30 c1 kilometre offshore), 10th (N @ 06:25), 17th (2 N @ 15:00 and 17:25) 23rd (N @ 06:40, it attacked a Gannet and put it on the sea twice before continuing north. After 30 seconds or so spent on the water, regaining its composure the Gannet also continued north, complete with the contents of its stomach!!!), 25th (N @ 12:30 c3 kilometres offshore), 28th (N @ 14:35, attacking a Gannet and putting it down onto the sea).

MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus
Kessingland - 2nd (1 N, adult), 3rd (2 N, 1st-sum. + adult; 1 S, 2nd sum.), 4th (4 N two ads., 1st + 2nd sum.; 1 S 2nd-sum), 5th (1 N 2nd-sum, 1 S 1st- sum), 6th (3 N, two 2nd-sum+ 1st sum), 7th (1 N, 2nd-sum), 8th (1 N, 2nd-sum), 9th (2 N, 1st sums), 10th (1 N, 2nd-sum, 2 S ad + 1st-sum together), 12th ( 2nd-sum flew south then returned north), 15th (2 N, 1st-sum + 2nd-sum together), 16th (2 N, both 2nd-sum), 17th (2 N & 1 S, two 2nd-sum + 1st-sum), 18th (1 N ad), 27th (1 S, 1st-sum), 29th (1 N, ad).

Gunton/North Beach - 5th ( 3 N together, adult + 2nd-sum), 23rd (2 ad. + 2nd-sum), 27th (1 juv.).

Ness Point - 6th (1 N, 2nd-sum seen earlier been at the South Pier), 16th (1 N ad).

Lowestoft Harbour / South Pier - 6th ( 3, 1st-summer, 2nd-sum + ad), 13th (2nd-sum), 17th (1 ad), 18th (1 2nd-sum), 27th (2, juv + ad). The adult on the 6th and 17th was metal ringed and (from a partial ring reading) is almost certainly a Belgian ringed bird first seen here in October 1996. It was subsequently present for the rest of that winter and the 1997/98 and 1998/99 winters.

Mediterranean Gull (juvenile) - Lowestoft South Pier - ©Andrew Easton

LITTLE GULL Larus minutus
Kessingland - 2nd (2 N, 4 feeding), 3rd (4 N), 4th (1 N then S), 5th (3 N), 8th (4 S), 11th (3 S), 12th (2 S), 14th (25 N), 15th (12 N, 3 S), 16th (1 N), 17th (1 N, 11 S), 18th (7 S), 19th (6 N), 20th (1 N), 21st (1 N, 12 S), 22nd (3 N, 6 S), 23rd (2 N), 24th (6 S), 26th (1 S), 27th (1 N), 28th (19 N, 12 S, 10 o.s.), 29th (1 N), 30th (2 N, 16 S), 31st (16 N, 1 S).

Ness Point - 5th (1 N), 13th (2 S), 17th (2 S).

Lowestoft North Denes - 16th - Up to four adults and two first summers were hawking over the Camp Site for flying Common Black Ants Lasius niger. The very warm, humid and relatively still conditions in the late afternoon resulted in one of the largest mass nuptial flights I have seen. Just about every ant colony in the area seems to have joined in, and many gull species joined in the resultant feast.

Lowestoft North Beach - At least seven adults and two first summers were offshore on the 19th, and four of the adults later came ashore to preen on the beach. The wooden groynes along the North Beach in July and August is the best place to see this species in Lowestoft. Noted on the 23rd (7 adults), 24th (4 ad), 26th (16), 27th (11).

Little Gull - Lowestoft North Denes - ©Robert Wincup

SABINE'S GULL Larus sabini
The Sabine's Gull discovered in Lowestoft Harbour remained all month. During the Air Festival it again spent much of the day on the rocks to the south of the South Pier, occasionally flying off with other gulls to settle on the sea when the noisiest plane flew low overhead. It seems to spend the whole day around the immediate vicinity of the South Pier. It particularly favours the rock groyne extending south from the South Pier, and spends much time asleep there. It is now rapidly losing the dark grey hood. The throat in particular has become extensively mottled with white, and the rear of the neck is heavily marked with grey. The wing feathers still show no sign of growing.

Sabine's Gull - Lowestoft Harbour - July 12th, 2003 ©Andrew Easton

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus michahellis
An adult was on Burgh Castle Flats on the 26th and 27th. One adult was also along the North Beach at Lowestoft on the 29th and 30th, apparently the returning individual from previous years now in at least its seventh year here.

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus marinus
The all-white first year bird first seen in April, which was also present most days during the second half of June was again in the harbour on July 6th to 13th at least. It is frequently seen loafing on the quayside in Waveney Dock as you look north from the South Pier. It was there again on the 31st.

Although still strikingly white, when seen close up it is looking rather tatty and worn now, but at least it is growing new flight feathers, unlike another gull present at the moment! There are now some brownish smudges on the mantle and a few of the wing coverts, which seem to be the result of white tips wearing away to reveal brown bases hidden from view before.

KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla
Kessingland - 1st (7 N, 4 S), 2nd (9 N, 7 S), 3rd (10 N, 5 S), 4th (98 N, 5 S), 5th (28 N, 2 S), 6th (11 N, 7 S), 7th (3 N, 2 S), 8th (4 N, 2 S), 9th (6 N, 6 S), 10th (7 N, 4 S), 11th (5 N, 24 S), 12th (4 N, 10 S), 13th (13 N, 13 S), 14th (4 N, 5 S), 15th (7 N, 7 S), 16th (10 N, 11 S, 3 o/s), 17th (2 N, 3 S), 18th (3 N, 6 S), 19th (8 N, 11 S), 20th (1 N, 4 S), 21st (13 N, 13 S), 22nd (9 N, 12 S), 23rd (10 N, 23 S), 24th (8 N, 39 S), 24th (6 N, 7 S), 25th (6 N, 7 S), 26th (31 N, 70 S), 27th (11 N, 37 S), 28th (19 N, 57 S), 29th (2 N, 23 S), 30th (4 N, 71 S), 31st (3 N, 7 S).

Kittiwake - Lowestoft North Beach - ©Robert Wincup

SANDWICH TERN Sterna sandvichensis
Kessingland - 1st (5 N, 1 S), 2nd (15 N, 46 S), 3rd (7 N, 25 S), 4th (22 N, 37 S), 5th (13 N, 23 S), 6th (28 N, 16 S), 7th (10 N, 11 S), 8th (25 N, 13 S), 9th (13 N, 6 S), 10th (6 N), 11th (11 N, 5 S), 12th (16 N, 16 S), 13th (25 N), 14th (12 N, 8 S), 15th (16 N, 13 S), 16th (24 N, 19 S), 17th (15 N, 45 S), 18th (6 N, 41 S), 19th (20 N, 9 S), 20th (10 N, 14 S), 21st (25 N, 29 S), 22nd (23 N, 24 S), 23rd (4 N, 35 S), 24th (12 N, 20 S), 25th (6 N, 8 S), 26th (22 N, 44 S), 27th (14 N, 40 S), 28th (13 N, 29 S), 29th (15 N, 19 S), 30th (7 N, 63 S), 31st (14 N, 26 S).

Ness Point - 5th (5 N including two recently fledged juveniles), 6th (2 N), 18th (1 S), 26th (30 on groynes).

COMMON TERN Sterna hirundo
Kessingland - 1st (9 N, 9 S, 4 feeding), 2nd (2 N, 12 S), 3rd (8 N, 16 S, 1 feeding), 4th (6 N, 17 S, 2 feeding), 5th (22 N, 21 S), 6th (10 N, 21 S, 6 feeding), 7th (23 N, 10 S), 8th (12 N, 21 S), 9th (7 N, 7 S), 10th (8 N, 7 S), 11th (17 S), 12th (9 N, 8 S), 13th (8 N, 5 S), 14th (2 N, 4 N, 1 feeding), 15th (4 N, 7 S), 16th (9 N, 15 S), 17th (15 N, 72 S), 18th (11 N, 41 S), 19th (9 N, 8 S), 20th (5 N, 23 S), 21st (8 N, 34 S), 22nd (9 N, 25 S, 5 feeding), 23rd (15 N, 37 S),
24th (45 N, 127 S), 25th (21 N, 8 S), 26th (28 N, 54 S), 27th (19 N, 87 S), 28th (14 N, 55 S), 29th (24 N, 42 S), 30th (29 N, 108 S), 31st (14 N, 52 S).

Lowestoft - Over 30 adults were in the air at once over the roof nesting colony along Lake Lothing on the 12th. A few barely fledged young (one is pictured to the left) were also being fed by their parents in the adjacent gravel car park. Numerous adults and young were offshore from the North Beach and perched on the groynes there from the 23rd to 27th.

Juvenile Common Tern - Lake Lothing - Lowestoft - ©Andrew Easton

ARCTIC TERN Sterna paradisaea
One was perched on the groynes along Lowestoft North Beach on the evening of the 23rd, another was there on the 27th.

Arctic Tern - Lowestoft North Beach - July 23, 2003 - ©Andrew Easton

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

Ness Point - 5th (5 N, 3 S), 24th (4 N).

BLACK TERN Chlidonias niger
A moulting adult was off the North Beach on the evening of the 23rd, it later settled on the groynes there, in the company of Little Gulls, Common, Sandwich and an Arctic Tern. Two moulting adult were seen together there on the 27th.

Black Tern - Lowestoft North Beach - July 23rd, 2003 ©Andrew Easton

AUK sp. Alcidae
Kessingland - 11th (1 N).



TURTLE DOVE Streptopelia turtur
Bit of a local mega these days. One was seen at Belton Common on the 26th.



SWIFT Apus apus
41 flew south at Kessingland between 17:15 and 17:45 on the 1st. Large numbers were feeding high over the sea along the North Beach on the 27th, taking advantage of the huge numbers of small insects, notably Hoverflies, arriving from the Continent. Large flocks were also feeding out to sea off the South Pier on the evening of the 30th when Ants were flying and large numbers of small flies and beetles were also abundant.



TAWNY OWL Strix aluco
One was in Gunton Woods on the 20th.



KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis
Noted at Lound Water Works on the 20th and Gunton on the 20th and 26th.



CETTI'S WARBLER Cettia cetti
One was along the River Waveney at St. Olaves on the 29th.



BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla
This confiding barely fledged juvenile was at Lound Water Works on the 27th. After alighting on the railings between the observers it began noisily demanding food from them, until it spotted one of its parents farther along the path and fluttered off unsteadily after it.

Blackcap - Lound Water Works - July 27th, 2003 ©Robert Wincup

CARRION CROW x HOODED CROW Corvus corone x cornix
Two hybrids were at Sidegate Lane, Gorleston on the 20th with another individual at Burgh Castle on the 26th.



BULLFINCH Pyrrhula pyrrhula
A family party were seen at Gunton on the 20th and 21st. One was at Belton Common on the 26th.

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