Home Next Previous
	**** most recent update

Reed Bunting - Carlton Marshes - June 2005 - ©Andrew Easton

LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis
One flew north past Kessingland on the 10th.



GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
Kessingland - On the 6th one flew north then south over Kessingland Beach. 14th (1 S), 16th (1 on sea), 21st (1 o/s), 30th (1 N), 31st (1 o/s).



SOOTY SHEARWATER Puffinus griseus
One flew north past Kessingland on the 23rd. A couple of quick phone calls resulted in it also being seen shortly afterwards at Pakefield and Corton.



FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis
Kessingland - 1st (1 S), 5th (1 N), 7th (1 S), 9th (1 N), 11th (1 N, 1 S), 15th (1 N), 18th (1 N), 22nd (1 N, 1 S), 23rd (2 N), 24th (2 N), 25th (2 N), 26th (1 N), 27th (3 N), 28th (1 N), 29th (7 N), 30th (4 N, 1 o/s), 31st (1 S).
Ness Point - 8th (1 S).
Lowestoft South Beach - 28th (1 N).



GANNET Morus bassanus
Kessingland - 1st (27 N, 2 S), 2nd (20 N, 3 S), 3rd (44 N, 8 S, 2 feeding), 4th (14 N, 1 feeding), 5th (84 N, 12 S), 6th (23 N, 42 S), 7th (10 N, 28 S), 8th (49 N, 4 S), 9th (17 N, 1 feeding), 10th (55 N), 11th (42 N), 12th (26 N, 3 S), 13th (17 N, 3 S), 14th (25 N, 5 S), 15th (25 N, 4 S), 16th (72 N, 10 S), 17th (95 N, 11 S, 20 feeding), 18th (123 N, 2 S, 10 feeding), 19th (81 N, 5 S, 7 feeding), 20th (91 N, 5 S, 40 feeding), 21st (65 N, 7 S, 75 feeding), 22nd (116 N, 2 S, 50 feeding), 23rd (119 N, 7 S), 24th (55 N, 4 S), 25th (17 N, 2 S), 26th (96 N, 2 S), 27th (23 N), 28th (52 N, 1 S), 29th (57 N, 6 S, 4 feeding), 30th (68 N, 5 S), 31st (26 N, 10 S, 18 feeding).
Lowestoft North Beach - 20th (40 N), 26th (8 N), 31st (3 N).



CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo
Kessingland - 2nd (1 S), 4th (1 N), 5th (3 S), 6th (1 S), 12th (1 S), 14th (1 S), 17th (1 S), 18th (1 S), 19th (1 N, 2 S), 20th (1 N, 2 S), 21st (1 S), 22nd (1 N), 24th (1 S), 25th (1 S), 26th (1 S), 29th (4 N), 30th (3 N), 31st (1 N, 1 S).
Leathes Ham - 15th (34 roosting).
Lowestoft North Beach - 23rd (28 N).



GREY HERON Ardea cinerea
Two flew north past Kessingland on the 16th.



SPOONBILL Platalea leucorodia
Two were seen flying in of the sea at Hopton Holiday Village on the 1st.



PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Anser brachyrhynchus
Still present at Leathes Ham on the 5th, 6th and 13th.



WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons
The long staying individual was still present at Oulton Broad on the 2nd.



CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis
Two were on the sea off Kessingland on the 10th.



EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiacus
Peto Way - 7th (pr. feeding on the roundabout at 00:45).
Oulton Broad - 12th (8).
Lake Lothing - 12th (8).



SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna
Kessingland - 4th (10 o/s), 9th (4 S), 13th (17 S), 14th (1 S), 27th (11 S).



GADWALL Anas strepera
Kessingland - 4th (1 S), 13th (1 S).



TEAL Anas crecca
Kessingland - 7th (5 S), 8th (10 N), 9th (9 N), 12th (1 S), 13th (1 N), 14th (3 S), 18th (4 N), 23rd (5 N), 27th (16 S), 29th (18 S).



TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula
Kessingland - 4th (1 S).
Leathes Ham - 15th (5).

COMMON EIDER Somateria mollissima
Two flew north past Kessingland on the 27th.



COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra
Kessingland - 1st (9 N, 10 S), 2nd (5 S), 3rd (13 N, 1 S), 4th (2 N, 4 S), 5th (1 N, 2 S), 6th (7 N, 23 S), 7th (21 N, 22 S, 15 o/s), 9th (36 S), 11th (2 N, 15 S), 12th (15 N, 58 S), 13th (36 N, 75 S, 30 o/s), 14th (1 N, 16 S), 16th (5 N), 17th (6 N, 12 o/s), 18th (16 N, 8 S, 4 o/s), 19th (2 N, 15 S), 20th (3 N), 21st (42 N, 2 S), 22nd (49 S), 23rd (10 N, 46 S), 26th (41 N, 12 S), 27th (19 N, 48 S), 28th (53 N, 2 o/s), 29th (4 N), 30th (26 N, 2 S), 31st (1 N).
Ness Point - 26th (35 N).
Lowestoft South Beach - 28th (40 N).



RUDDY DUCK Oxyura jamaicensis
One drake was still at Leathes Ham on the 2nd.



MARSH HARRIER Circus aeruginosus
Flixton-Haddiscoe - 13th (6).
Ashby Church - 9th (1).
Carlton Marshes - 12th (1).



SPARROWHAWK Accipiter nisus
Juvenile by the pond at Corton practicing catching young House Sparrows in the hedgerow. On the 18th one clutching a Common Tern chick was being pursued by 42 adult Common Terns over Oulton Broad.



HOBBY Falco subbuteo
Blundeston Marshes - 3rd (1).
Henstead Church - 10th (1).
St. Olaves - 12th (1 over garden).
Herringfleet Church - 9th chasing House Martins at Herringfleet Church.
Kessingland - 17th (1 S), 19th (1 S).
Oulton Broad (Holly Road) - 31st (1).



WATER RAIL Rallus aquaticus
Three were heard calling together at 01:00 at Holly Road, Oulton Broad on the 10th.



OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus
Kessingland - 5th (1 S), 8th (2 N), 9th (2 N), 10th (2 N, 2 S), 11th (1 N), 12th (4 N), 15th (1 N, 1 S), 16th (2 N, 6 S), 17th (13 S), 18th (6 S), 19th (1 N, 2 S), 20th (1 N), 21st (9 N, 4 S), 22nd (7 N, 10 S), 24th (1 N, 6 S), 25th (1 S), 26th (2 N, 9 S), 27th (5 N, 15 S), 28th (9 N, 6 S), 29th (1 N, 3 S), 30th (1 N, 8 S), 31st (7 N, 31 S).
Ness Point - 17th (1 on the point, and later along the north beach).
Lowestoft North Beach - 20th (3 N).



GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola
Kessingland - 31st (1 N, 2 S).



KNOT Calidris canutus
Breydon South Flats - 9th (2).
Kessingland - 19th (4 N), 24th (1 S), 29th (1 S), 30th (2 S), 31st (1 S).



DUNLIN Calidris alpina
Kessingland - 7th (8 N), 8th (6 N), 9th (4 N), 13th (4 S), 14th (2 S), 18th (2 S), 22nd (5 N), 23rd (6 N), 27th (7 N), 28th (5 N), 30th (6 S).
Breydon South Flats - 9th (30).



WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER Calidris fuscicollis
One present at Breydon Water on the 18th flew into our area briefly. The only previous Lizard records were in 1996 when four were present together on Breydon Water. July 16th-19th (1), 20th-27th (2), 28th-29th (3), July 30-August 3rd, August 4th-5th (3), 6th-14th (1).

Records of birds feeding at low tide on the South Shore were as follows: July 23rd (1), July 29th (2), July 31st (3).



RUFF Philomachus pugnax
One flew north past Kessingland on the 31st.

Black-tailed Godwits - Breydon Water - July 2005- ©Andrew Easton

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa
Breydon South Flats - 9th (110). An early return by large numbers of non and/or failed breeders from Iceland.
Kessingland - 18th (3 S).



BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica
Kessingland - 3rd (2 S), 7th (1 N), 8th (5 N), 9th (2 N), 10th (1 N), 23rd (2 N), 24th (7 S), 29th (1 S), 30th (1 N).



CURLEW Numenius arquata
Kessingland - 1st (12 S), 2nd (11 S), 3rd (19 S), 4th (7 S), 5th (15 S), 6th (8 S), 7th (1 N), 8th (1 N), 10th (2 N), 11th (1 N), 13th (1 N), 14th (1 S), 16th (5 S), 17th (27 S), 18th (17 S), 19th (5 S) 20th (1 S), 22nd (1 N), 23rd (1 S), 24th (2 S), 26th (1 S), 28th (1 S), 29th (1 S), 31st (2 S).
Kessingland sewage works - 8th (9 S).



WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus
Kessingland - 1st (1 N, 2 S), 2nd (S), 3rd (6 S), 5th (3 S), 6th (4 S), 8th (1 S), 13th (1 N), 17th (13 S), 18th (61 S), 19th (9 S), 20th (8 S), 21st (1 N), 22nd (3 N, 1 S), 23rd (1 S), 24th (3 S), 26th (1 N, 1 S), 27th (1 N), 28th (3 S), 29th (7 S), 30th (36 S), 31st (2 S).
Hopton - 5th (1 in off sea).
Kessingland sewage works - 8th (1 S).
Breydon South Flats - 9th (4).
Lowestoft North Beach - 20th (1 S).
Pakefield - 23rd (1 S).



SPOTTED REDSHANK Tringa erythropus
One flew south past Kessingland on the 30th.



REDSHANK Tringa totanus
Kessingland - 3rd (1 S), 5th (2 S), 6th (3 S), 8th (6 S), 10th (1 S), 14th (1 S), 18th (2 S), 19th (2 S), 20th (4 S), 24th (1 S), 26th (2 N), 30th (1 S), 31st (1 N, 1 S).



GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia
Kessingland - 3rd (1 S), 19th (3 S), 23rd (1 S).
Kessingland sewage works - 8th (1 S), 19th (3 S).

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus
Kessingland sewage works - 8th (1 S).



TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres
Kessingland - 22nd (11 N), 26th (6 N), 28th (2 N).
Ness Point - 26th (18), 31st (3).



POMARINE SKUA Stercorarius pomarinus
Ness Point - 26th (pale phase N).
Kessingland - 26th (dark phase N).
So at least two individuals are in the area.



ARCTIC SKUA Stercorarius parasiticus
Kessingland - 17th (1 N then o/s), 18th (1 N), 20th (7 N, 8 S), 21st (1 N, 5 S), 22nd (7 S, 1 N), 23rd (1 N, 9 S), 24th (2 N, 1 S), 26th (6 N, 2 S, 2 lingering), 27th (5 N), 28th (2 S, 1 lingering), 29th (1 N, 4 S), 30th (1 N, 5 S, 4 o/s), 31st (5 N, 4 S, 2 o/s).
Lowestoft North Beach - 20th (4 S), (2 N), 29th (1 S).
Corton - 22nd (3 S).
Ness Point - 31st (1 perched on outfall buoy).
An excellent showing by this species, but impossible to say just how many individuals are involved as a few individually identifiably birds were definitely hanging around for several days at a time.



LONG-TAILED SKUA Stercorarius longicaudus
Three adults flew south past Ness Point early morning on the 21st.



GREAT SKUA Stercorarius skua
At 17:45 on the 14th a Bonxie flew north about 500 metres from the beach at Kessingland before returning south at 18:08.
Other single birds were noted northbound there on the 17th, 22nd, 23rd and 27th.



MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus
Kessingland - 1st (1 adult S), 4th (ad. N), 16th (1 ad. feeding), 17th (1 2nd sum. S), 22nd (1 ad N), 26th (ad), 29th (ad S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 20th (1 2nd summer N then S), 27th (ad.), 29th (1 ad. S).
Pakefield - 23rd (2 2nd summers).



LITTLE GULL Larus minutus
Kessingland - 3rd (ad. S), 5th (ad & 1st sum. S), 7th (ad. S), 10th (1 ad S), 11th (1 ad N), 12th (1 N), 13th (2 N, 2 S), 14th (1 N, 6 S), 16th (7 N), 17th (2 S), 18th (6 S), 19th (2 S), 20th (3 S), 21st (9 N, 7 S), 22nd (2 S), 23rd (9 N), 24th (2 N), 25th (4 S), 26th (2 N, 7 S), 27th (2 N), 28th (23 N, 3 S), 29th (4 S), 30th (7 S), 31st (1 N, 1 S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 17th (2 adults on groynes), 19th (2 adults on groynes), 20th (1 N, 1 on groynes).

Curly, Larry & Moe - Lowestoft - June 2005- ©Andrew Easton

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus fuscus
With natural coastal sites increasingly denied to them by the near constant human recreational presence at such locations; many large gulls have adapted, through ingenuity/desperation, to using one of the few places where they won't be disturbed while they attempt to raise their young, our roofs. From large colonies on factory roofs to individual pairs on chimney stacks.

At least 500 juvenile gulls were counted on Lake Lothing / Barnard's Meadow and surrounding roof tops on the evening of the 14th. This accounts for a small portion of the towns breeding population of around 2000 pairs of large gulls (predominantly Lesser Black-backs), with many in the town centre itself.

The three Lesser Black-backed Gull chicks above survey the world from their penthouse suite in central Lowestoft!

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus (cachinnans) michahellis
Old faithful had returned again to Lowestoft North Beach on the 17th, 19th, 21st and 26th. This very large individual that dwarfs almost all the other gulls was first noted in September 1997, and so has now been returning for nine years. As it was a full adult when first seen it is now at least 13 years old.

Yellow-legged Gull (left) - Lowestoft - July 2005- ©Andrew Easton

KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla
Kessingland - 1st (9 N, 25 S), 2nd (6 N, 15 S), 3rd (7 N, 3 S), 4th (7 N, 4 S), 5th (2 N, 29 S), 6th (9 N, 19 S), 7th (17 N, 1 S), 8th (18 N, 4 S), 9th (13 N, 1 S), 10th (6 N, 1 S), 11th (7 N), 12th (9 N, 5 S), 13th (6 N, 9 S), 14th (8 N, 10 S), 15th (8 N, 34 S), 16th (18 N, 9 S), 17th (20 N, 33 S), 18th (9 N, 43 S), 19th (23 S, 82 S), 20th (16 N, 88 S), 21st (31 N, 36 S), 22nd (17 N, 3 S), 23rd (24 N, 27 S), 24th (26 N, 7 S), 25th (3 N, 2 S), 26th (28 N, 35 S), 27th (14 N, 17 S), 28th (18 N, 13 S), 29th (15 N, 48 S), 30th (20 N, 167 S), 31st (24 N, 28 S).

This summer one adult and 63 chicks have been ringed at the Kittiwake Wall in the SLP yard, and 13 chicks and an adult were also ringed at the Claremont Pier. Productivity at both sites averaged 1.5 chicks per nest. Another adult caught on the Claremont Pier proved to have been ringed on Inchkeith in the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh ten years ago.

Colour ringed birds previously seen in Lowestoft have originated from North Shields, the Farne Islands and Co. Waterford, Ireland.



SANDWICH TERN Sterna sandvichensis
Kessingland - 1st (10 N, 5 S), 2nd (8 N, 8 S), 3rd (6 N, 7 S), 4th (3 N, 19 S), 5th (10 N, 9 S), 6th (2 N, 11 S), 7th (4 N, 9 S), 8th (14 N, 16 S), 9th (8 N, 5 S), 10th (7 N, 12 S), 11th (11 N, 6 S), 12th (6 N, 6 S), 13th (20 N, 17 S), 14th (23 N, 13 S), 15th (5 N, 6 S), 16th (18 N, 16 S), 17th (24 N, 19 S, 9 feeding), 18th (15 N, 5 S), 19th (11 N, 31 S), 20th (52 N, 32 S), 21st (31 N, 49 S), 22nd (18 N, 72 S, 7 feeding), 23rd (58 N, 59 S), 24th (34 N, 38 S), 25th (10 N, 53 S), 26th (65 N, 78 S), 27th (83 N, 174 S), 28th (18 N, 48 S), 29th (10 N, 54 S), 30th (26 N, 127 S), 31st (42 N, 82 S).
Lake Lothing - 11th (Mutford Lock).
Lowestoft North Beach - 20th (6 on groynes), 27th (5).



COMMON TERN Sterna hirundo
Lowestoft North Beach - 27th (23).
One was watched attempting to catch an immigrant Large White Butterfly off Kessingland on the 16th. It made eight passes at it, but each time the butterfly jinked out of the way. The tern then gave up and the butterfly continued heading for shore. One of the chicks from the Lake Lothing colony was snatched by a passing Sparrowhawk on the 18th.



"COMMIC" TERN Sterna hirundo/paradisaea
Kessingland - 1st (8 N, 19 S), 2nd (5 N), 3rd (8 N, 8 S), 4th (6 N, 5 S), 5th (10 N, 8 S), 6th (1 N, 6 S), 7th (3 N, 2 S), 8th (7 N, 2 S), 9th (6 N), 10th (4 N, 3 S), 11th (7 S), 12th (4 N, 4 S), 13th (11 N, 3 S), 14th (13 N, 10 S), 15th (9 N, 5 S), 16th (5 N, 6 S, 3 feeding), 17th (8 N, 9 S), 18th (6 N, 17 S), 19th (6 N, 17 S), 20th (28 N, 22 S), 21st (12 N, 27 S), 22nd (15 N, 4 S), 23rd (10 N, 26 S), 24th (15 N, 24 S), 25th (4 N, 11 S), 26th (25 N, 37 S), 27th (19 N, 26 S), 28th (24 N, 26 S), 29th (7 N, 61 S), 30th (18 N, 107 S, 20 feeding), 31st (23 N, 130 S).



LITTLE TERN Sterna albifrons
Kessingland - 1st (34 N, 31 S), 2nd (58 N, 54 S), 3rd (21 N, 24 S), 4th (38 N, 40 S), 5th (47 N, 65 S), 6th (50 N, 53 S), 7th (2 N), 8th (7 N, 6 S), 9th (2 N, 1 S), 10th (5 N, 12 S), 11th (6 N, 11 S), 12th (9 N, 3 S), 13th (1 N, 1 S), 14th (6 N, 10 S), 15th (22 N, 4 S), 16th (27 N, 4 S), 17th (8 N, 6 S), 18th (5 N, 14 S), 19th (3 N, 8 S), 20th (2 N, 9 S), 21st (19 S), 22nd (11 N, 21 S), 23rd (8 N, 34 S), 24th (3 S), 25th (7 N, 10 S), 26th (11 N, 41 S), 28th (2 N), 29th (10 N, 109 S), 20th (10 N, 109 S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 23rd (1 N), 27th (1).



AUK sp. Alcidae
Kessingland - 7th (1 N), 8th (2 N, 1 S), 11th (1 N), 12th (3 N), 14th (1 N), 20th (10 N), 21st (3 N), 22nd (2 N), 25th (1 N), 31st (1 N).



TURTLE DOVE Streptopelia turtur
Kessingland - 1st (1).
Mutford - 10th (singing near Woodhouse Farm).
Henstead - 14th (1 purring - first this year; scarcer each year).



BARN OWL Tyto alba
Flixton - 3rd (pr. feeding young).
Mutford - 13th (2).
Somerleyton (Wicker Well) - 13th (1).



TAWNY OWL Strix aluco
Barnby Bends - 20th (1).
A pair seemed to have bred in the Yarmouth Road area this year. Three were present during the evening of the 27th.



KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis
Oulton Dyke - 12th (1).
Castle Marshes - 12th (1).
Gunton Hall - 13th (1).
Oulton Broad - 30th (1).



GREEN WOODPECKER Picus viridis
Pair with two young at Whitehouse Farm, Flixton.
Kessingland sewage works - 12th (1).



GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER Picus viridis
Kessingland sewage works - 12th (1).



SAND MARTIN Riparia riparia
Kessingland sewage works - 24th (good numbers present), 27th (c.200).



YELLOW WAGTAIL Motacilla flava
Henstead - 29th, one over calling was only the observers 3rd of the year.



GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea
Kessingland sewage works - 9th (1).



FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris
Either an early returning bird, or an over summering one, was seen at Normanston Park on the 11th. Certainly an unusual sighting, but not without precedent locally as in 1985 one over summered at Gunton, being seen between June 1st and July 13th.



NIGHTINGALE Luscinia megarhynchos
Kessingland sewage works - 9th-12th (2).



CETTI'S WARBLER Cettia cetti
Kessingland (reedbed) - 27th (4).



GRASSHOPPER WARBLER Locustella naevia
Carlton Marshes - 12th (singing).
Kessingland (reedbed) - 21st (singing).



LESSER WHITETHROAT Sylvia curruca
Two juveniles were seen in gardens along Selby Street on the 26th.



GARDEN WARBLER Sylvia borin
Kessingland (reedbed) - 30th (1).



WILLOW WARBLER Phylloscopus trochilus
Kessingland sewage works - 24th (ringed, 1st of the autumn).

Mutford - July 2005 ©Derek Beamish juveniles - Kessingland - July 2005 ©Trevor Storeton-West

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa striata
Kessingland - A pair, with three young, are nesting on top of an exterior light in a garden in Wash Lane, Kessingland. Judicious use of a step ladder and umbrella saved the nest being washed away in a recent downpour that overwhelmed the guttering above them. The young left the nest on the 22nd.
Somerleyton - 13th adult taking food to nest near Somerleyton Hall.
Mutford - After initial fears following the death of an adult from each of the two pairs at Mutford young were successfully fledged from one site.



STARLING Sturnus vulgaris
The arrival of participants in the Tall Ships Race in Lowestoft harbour on the 19th proved very popular with the local Starlings. They much appreciated the new pre-roost gathering points before they settled into their traditional roost sites under the harbour walls and jetties.

Starlings - Lowestoft Harbour - July 2005 ©Derek Beamish

COMMON CROSSBILL Loxia curvirostra
A flock of 17 were seen at Blocka Lane, St. Olaves on the 3rd.



BULLFINCH Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Flixton - 13th (calling).