Lowestoft Bird News

A couple of links for local bird news

Birdline East Anglia - Suffolk July 08 review

Suffolk Birding with BINS

A large increase in the numbers of Terns offshore was noted from the 17th July as family parties head south. Numbers of Skuas accompanying them increased at the same time.

A Roseate Tern was at Lowestoft North Beach on the 19th, amongst large numbers of Sandwich and Common Terns.

The Dutch colour ringed Turnstone than spent last winter in Lowestoft was back along the North Beach on the 18th.

A five year National Dragonfly Atlas project to run from 2008-2013 was launched in April this year. Visit the link below to read more about it and see how you can help.

National Dragonfly Atlas - 2008 -2013

GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
Kessingland - 23rd (1 S).

FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis
Kessingland - 5th (1 S).

SOOTY SHEARWATER Puffinus griseus
One flew north past Kessingland on the 22nd.

GANNET Morus bassanus
Kessingland - 1st (11 N, 1 S, 15 feeding), 2nd (6 N, 20 S, 10 feeding), 3rd (10 N, 5 S), 4th (4 N, 1 feeding), 5th (14 N, 20 S), 6th (1 S, 1 feeding), 7th (2 N, 2 S), 8th (7 N, 5 S), 10th (4 N, 1 S, 1 feeding), 11th (4 N, 1 S, 1 feeding), 12th (14 N, 1 S), 13th (11 N, 12 S), 14th (29 N, 3 S, 6 feeding), 15th (10 N, 2 S, 15 feeding), 16th (36 N, 8 S), 17th (17 N, 13 S, 5 feeding), 18th (14 N, 3 feeding), 19th (16 N, 1 S), 20th (3 N, 6 S), 21st (1 N, 2 S), 22nd (23 N), 23rd (10 N), 24th (9 N, 1 S), 25th (3 N), 27th (2 N, 1 S), 29th (4 N, 3 S), 30th (1 S), 31st (5 N).
Lowestoft North Beach - 10th (1 N, 1 S), 21st (1 N).
Ness Point - 21st (1 N), 23rd (2 N).

CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo
Kessingland - 4th (1 S), 5th (1 S), 15th (1 S), 16th (1 S), 17th (2 S), 18th (3 N, 1 S), 19th (1 N), 20th (1 S), 22nd (5 S), 27th (2 N).
Leathes Ham - 12th (3), 13th (4), 27th (6).

LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta
A juvenile was at Leathes Ham on the 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 19th, 21st and 27th at least, keeping the regular Grey Heron company.

GREY HERON Ardea cinerea
A juvenile was at Leathes Ham on the 20th.

CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis
One was at Oulton Broad on the 19th.
The pair at Leathes Ham still have four young.

EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen egyptiacus
A leucistic individual was at Oulton Broad on the 19th.
Both broods of young Egyptian Geese hatched at Leathes Ham this year disappeared soon after. In contrast the Mute Swan and Canada Goose pairs still have all their young.

WIGEON Anas penelope
Leathes Ham - 16th (1).
Kessingland - 13th (1 S).

GADWALL Anas strepera
Kessingland - 2nd (4 S).
Leathes Ham - 12th (7).

TEAL Anas crecca
One was at Leathes Ham on the 5th.
Two flew south past Kessingland on the 25th.
Nine flew south past Lowestoft North Beach on the 27th.

PINTAIL Anas acuta
Leathes Ham - 12th (3), 20th (1).

POCHARD Aythya ferina
One female was at Leathes Ham on the 5th.

Little Egret - Leathes Ham - July 2008 © Andrew Easton
Creeping up on sticklebacks.

TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula
Kessingland - 3rd (3 S), 4th (2 S), 11th (1 S), 19th (4 S), 24th (1 S).
Leathes Ham - 5th (4), 10th (4).
Ness Point - 21st (1 N).

COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra
Kessingland - 1st (42 S), 2nd (9 S, 15 on sea), 3rd (9 N, 32 on sea), 5th (11 S), 6th (13 N, 4 on sea), 7th (1 N, 1 S), 8th (16 N), 9th (1 S), 15th (6 N), 17th (19 N, 1 on sea), 18th (6 N), 19th (3 S), 20th (9 S), 21st (1 N, 9 S), 22nd (41 N, 48 S), 23rd (30 N, 6 S), 28th (12 on sea), 29th (10 N), 31st (5 S).
Ness Point - 21st (7 on the sea), 23rd (8 S).

KESTREL Falco tinnunculus
One was hovering hopefully over gardens in Jacobs Street in central Lowestoft on the 18th. Perhaps a youngster who hasn't worked out what the best hunting sites are yet?

HOBBY Falco subbuteo
One flew north at Kessingland on the 2nd.
One flew eastwards over the rooftops at Trafalgar Street in central Lowestoft on the 9th, heading towards Lowestoft town centre.
One flew north along Lowestoft South Beach on the 21st.
One was seen at Barnby on the 22nd.
One was seen at Carlton Marshes on the 22nd.
One was at Lound Waterworks on the 27th.

PEREGRINE Falco peregrinus
One flew south-westwards at Barsham Drain on the 1st.

GREY PARTRIDGE Perdix perdix
One at Barsham Drain on the 1st was the first seen there for a while.

QUAIL
A very tame adult Quail was seen and videod in a garden in Hopton on the 17th. Its very tame nature suggests it may possibly have escaped from an aviary.

OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus
Kessingland - 2nd (1 N, 1 S), 5th (1 S), 7th (1 N), 8th (2 N), 9th (2 S), 10th (4 S), 13th (1 S), 14th (5 S), 15th (2 N, 1 S), 17th (2 S), 18th (2 S), 19th (4 S), 20th (2 S), 21st (5 S), 22nd (6 N, 7 S), 23rd (3 S), 29th (3 S), 30th (5 S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 18th (1 S), 24th (1 on the groynes), 27th (1 N).
Leathes Ham - 19th (2), 21st (1).
Ness Point - 21st (18 N).
Lowestoft South Beach - 24th (5 N).
Denes Oval - 28th (1).

RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula
Kessingland - 1st (1 S), 3rd (1 S), 5th (1 S), 6th (1 S), 13th (1 o/b), 31st (2 S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 24th (3 S).

GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis apricaria
Kessingland - 17th (1 S), 19th (1 S), 21st (4 N).
Two flew inland high over Ness Point on the 21st.

KNOT Calidris canutus
One faded summer plumage was at Leathes Ham on the 26th.
One still brightly coloured summer plumaged bird was along Lowestoft North Beach on the 29th.

SANDERLING Calidris alba
One flew south past Kessingland on the 18th, with another five south past there on the 19th.

DUNLIN Calidris alpina
Kessingland - 4th (4 S), 6th (1 N, 1 S), 11th (7 S), 15th (1 S), 17th (23 S), 19th (1 S), 20th (6 N, 2 S), 21st (2 N), 22nd (4 N), 29th (3 S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 19th (3), 26th (2), 27th (1), 29th (3), 31st (1).
Ness Point - 21st (4 N).

WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus
Kessingland - 1st (2 S), 2nd (7 S), 4th (1 S), 5th (8 S), 6th (1 S), 7th (2 S), 8th (2 S), 9th (1 S), 10th (10 S), 12th (1 S), 14th (4 S), 16th (1 S), 17th (3 S), 18th (1 S), 19th (1 S), 20th (1 S), 21st (1 N), 22nd (1 S), 23rd (1 S), 25th (4 S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 10th (1 S), 12th (1 N).

CURLEW Numenius arquata
Kessingland - 1st (42 S), 2nd (9 S), 3rd (7 S), 4th (10 S), 5th (31 S), 6th (5 S), 7th (2 S), 9th (5 S), 10th (37 S), 11th (1 S), 13th (3 S), 14th (3 S), 15th (6 S), 16th (2 S), 17th (4 S), 18th (1 S), 19th (1 S), 20th (1 S), 21st (1 S), 25th (1 S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 17th (3 S).
One flew high inland over Leathes Ham on the 21st.

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa
Burgh Castle - 19th (5).

BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica
Kessingland - 5th (2 S), 6th (16 S), 7th (1 S), 10th (1 S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 18th (1 S).
Ness Point - 21st (5 N).

REDSHANK Tringa totanus
Kessingland - 7th (4 S), 8th (1 S), 11th (2 S), 12th (5 S), 13th (1 S), 16th (2 S), 21st (1 N), 24th (1 S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 15th (2 N).
Ness Point - 21st (2 N).
Gunton Warren - 28th (1).

GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia
One flew north high past Lowestoft North Beach on the 16th.

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus
One flew over Carlton Marshes on the 24th.

COMMON SANDPIPER Actitis hypoleucos
One was at Leathes Ham on the 15th with three there on the 26th, two still on the 27th, with one on the 29th.

TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres
Lowestoft North Beach - 15th (1), 18th (2), 19th (3), 20th (3), 24th (1 on the groynes), 25th (6 all unringed), 26th (7 all unringed), 27th (11 including the ringed bird), 29th (14), 31st (19 including the ringed bird).
Kessingland - 18th (6 S), 22nd (1 S), 27th (6 S), 29th (2 S), 30th (7 S), 31st (3 S).
Ness Point - 21st (3 all unringed).

The Dutch colour ringed/flagged bird that spent last winter in Lowestoft was back along the North Beach on the 18th to 20th, and numbers of birds returning for the winter seem to be increasing almost daily.

ARCTIC SKUA Stercorarius parasiticus
Kessingland - 4th (2 S), 9th (1 N), 11th (1 N), 14th (1 N, 1 S), 17th (6 N, 1 on sea), 18th (3 S, 5 lingering), 20th (2 N, 1 S, 4 lingering), 21st (4 S, 3 lingering), 22nd (2 N, 2 lingering), 23rd (1 lingering), 28th (1 lingering).
Lowestoft North Beach - 12th (1 S).
Ness Point - 21st (4 lingering offshore).

The appearance of increased numbers of Terns offshore on the 17th and 18th also saw an increase in Skuas accompanying them.

GREAT SKUA Stercorarius skua
Single birds flew north past Kessingland on the 18th and 22nd.

Sandwich Terns - Lowestoft - July 2008 © Andrew Easton

MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus
Kessingland - 1st (5 N), 2nd (3 N, 2 S), 3rd (1 N), 4th (1 N), 5th (3 N, 2 S), 7th (2 N), 8th (1 S), 10th (1 N), 11th (1 S), 12th (2 S), 13th (1 N, 1 S), 14th (2 S), 15th (4 N), 16th (2 S), 17th (1 S), 19th (2 S), 20th (2 N), 21st (2 N), 23rd (1 N).
Gorleston Cliffs -19th (1 adult).
Ness Point - 24th (1 adult).
Lowestoft South Beach - (2).

One was flycatching for ants, with other gulls and terns, over Oulton Broad on the 26th, with it or another over there on the 31st.

LITTLE GULL Larus minutus
Kessingland - 3rd (2 on sea), 5th (1 S), 7th (1 S), 8th (1 S), 12th (1 S), 13th (5 N, 18 S), 14th (6 N, 7 feeding), 15th (1 N, 1 S), 16th (26 S), 17th (3 N, 3 S), 18th (8 N, 1 S), 19th (12 N, 28 S), 20th (23 N, 10 S), 21st (12 S, 10 feeding), 22nd (5 N, 16 S), 23rd (7 N, 2 S), 24th (5 N, 1 S), 25th (2 N, 1 S), 26th (3 N, 1 on sea), 27th (2 S, 7 feeding), 28th (1 S, 5 feeding), 29th (12 N, 2 S), 30th (3 N, 2 S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 15th (13), 18th (3 on the groynes), 19th (2), 24th (2 N, 5 S), 26th (1 adult), 27th (3 adults).
Ness Point - 21st (2 N).

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus michahellis
The regular individual that has been returning since 1997 was once again along Lowestoft North Beach on the 10th to the 19th at least (a week earlier than noted last summer). It was also on the Denes Oval on the 18th.
It is at least 16 years old now as it was a full adult, at least four years old, when first noted 12 years ago!

Roseate Tern - Lowestoft - July 2008 © Andrew Easton

KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla
Kessingland - 1st (3 N, 9 S), 2nd (6 N, 6 S), 3rd (2 N, 2 S), 4th (2 S), 5th (3 N, 2 S), 7th (3 N, 3 S), 8th (7 N, 1 S), 9th (2 N, 2 S), 10th (6 N, 5 S), 11th (16 N, 42 S), 12th (12 N, 5 S), 13th (2 N, 35 S), 14th (7 N, 6 S), 15th (8 N, 8 S), 16th (13 N, 10 S), 17th (7 N, 4 S), 18th (13 N, 9 S), 19th (4 N, 7 S), 20th (2 N, 1 S), 21st (3 N), 22nd (2 N, 8 S), 23rd (7 N, 10 S), 24th (8 N, 14 S), 25th (11 N, 8 S), 26th (1 N, 4 S), 27th (6 S), 28th (6 S), 29th (1 N, 7 S), 30th (1 N, 20 S), 31st (5 S).

SANDWICH TERN Sterna sandvicensis
Kessingland - 1st (2 N, 8 S), 2nd (18 N, 28 S), 3rd (2 N, 24 S), 4th (3 N, 6 S), 5th (2 N, 20 S), 6th (2 N, 9 S), 7th (17 S), 8th (13 N, 40 S), 9th (14 S), 10th (33 S), 11th (2 N, 9 S), 12th (1 N, 19 S), 13th (5 N, 27 S), 14th (14 N, 4 S), 15th (1 N, 4 S), 16th (13 N, 13 S), 17th (35 N, 108 S), 18th (37 N, 122 S), 19th (55 N, 204 S,12 feeding), 20th (94 N, 171 S), 21st (12 N, 98 S, 30 feeding), 22nd (72 N, 20 S), 23rd (46 N, 17 S), 24th (33 N, 30 S), 25th (10 N, 10 S), 26th (5 N, 1 S), 27th (14 N, 3 S), 28th (8 N, 3 S), 29th (1 N, 8 S), 30th (7 N, 2 S), 31st (4 S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 12th (3 N), 13th (16 on the groynes), 15th (18 on the groynes), 16th (5 N), 18th (79 on the groynes), 19th (50+ on the groynes), 24th (1 N), 28th (3).

ROSEATE TERN Sterna dougalli
One flew south past Kessingland on the 16th.
One adult, ringed on both legs, was on the groynes along Gunton Beach on the evening of the 19th.

COMMON TERN Sterna hirundo
Kessingland - 1st (1 S), 2nd (1 N, 5 S), 3rd (1 N), 4th (3 N), 5th (1 N), 6th (1 N, 1 S), 8th (3 N, 6 S), 9th (1 N, 8 S), 10th (16 S), 11th (3 N, 1 S), 12th (6 N, 3 S), 13th (1 N, 7 S), 14th (3 S), 15th (3 N, 3 S), 16th (2 N, 3 S), 17th (4 N, 28 S), 18th (2 N, 29 S), 19th (13 N, 51 S), 20th (39 N, 59 S), 21st (8 N, 47 S, 30 feeding), 22nd (60 N, 38 S), 23rd (46 N, 46 S), 24th (34 N, 66 S), 25th (37 N, 31 S), 26th (48 N), 27th (5 N, 203 S), 28th (20 N, 52 S), 29th (3 N, 9 S), 30th (6 N, 70 S), 31st (4 N, 42 S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 12th (3), 13th (4 on the groynes), 15th (8 on the groynes), 18th (18 on the groynes), 19th (30+ on the groynes), 24th (10+).
Oulton Broad - 26th (c.45 flew west high), 27th (c.60 flew high west), 28th (53).

On the 26th around ten Common Terns joined the gulls in catching flying ants over Oulton Broad.

ARCTIC TERN Sterna paradisaea
Kessingland - 13th (2 S), 18th (1 S), 19th (2 N).
Lowestoft North Beach - 18th (1 on the groynes), 19th (1 on the groynes).

Arctic Tern - Lowestoft - July 2008 © Andrew Easton

LITTLE TERN Sterna albifrons
Kessingland - 3rd (3 N, 1 S), 6th (2 N), 8th (6 N, 3 S), 16th (1 S), 17th (2 N, 8 S), 18th (1 N), 19th (5 N, 1 S), 21st (1 N, 1 S), 22nd (6 N), 23rd (12 N, 15 S), 24th (13 N, 6 S), 26th (5 N, 38 S), 29th (2 N, 1 S).
Ness Point - 21st (4 N), 23rd (5 N).

AUK sp. Alcidae
Kessingland - 8th (1 N), 9th (1 N), 13th (3 N), 16th (7 N), 17th (2 N), 18th (1 N), 20th (3 N), 21st (2 N).
Lowestoft North Beach - 12th (6 N, 1 S), 16th (2 N).
Ness Point - 21st (2 N).

[EASTERN ROSELLA Platycercus eximius
A noisy individual of this south-eastern Australian parakeet was on the loose in Kessingland on the 25th

An unidentified parakeet also flew over Oulton Broad on the 23rd and again on the 31st.]

CUCKOO Cuculus canorus
Individuals were still to be heard calling at Barsham Drain and the Kessingland Levels on the 1st.
One was seen at Barnby on the 22nd.

Juvenile Swallow - July 2008 © Peter Ransome

BARN OWL Tyto alba
One was hunting at Barsham Drain on the 1st.
One was seen at Barnby on the 22nd.
One was seen at Carlton Marshes on the 22nd.

MEADOW PIPIT Anthus pratensis
Lowestoft North Denes - 10th (2).
Gunton Warren - 10th (2), 18th (2).

YELLOW WAGTAIL Motacilla flava
One was on the Denes Oval on the 9th.

GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea
Two were at Leathes Ham on the 13th.

CETTI'S WARBLER Cettia cetti
Kessingland sewage works - 30th (1).

SEDGE WARBLER Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Kessingland sewage works - 30th (1).

REED WARBLER Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Kessingland sewage works - 30th (6).

LESSER WHITETHROAT Sylvia curruca
Barnby - 22nd (1).

WHITETHROAT Sylvia communis
Gunton Warren - 10th (4), 18th (3), 28th (1).
Lowestoft North Denes - 18th (3).
Kessingland sewage works - 30th (3).

GARDEN WARBLER Sylvia borin
Worlingham - 23rd (3).
Kessingland sewage works - 30th (1).

BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla
Gunton Warren - 10th (1).
Warrenhouse Wood - 18th (1).
Kessingland sewage works - 30th (3).

CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita
Gunton Warren - 10th (2), 28th (1).
Kessingland sewage works - 30th (1).

WILLOW WARBLER Phylloscopus trochilus
Gunton Warren - 10th (1).

Pike and Roach(?) dinner - Lound waterworks - June 2008 © Andrew Easton
This well camouflaged young Pike slowly swallowed his catch whole after a brief struggle.

GREENFINCH Carduelis chloris
Gunton Warren - 10th (5), 18th (12), 28th (8).
Pakefield Beach - 18th (3).

LINNET Carduelis cannabina
Gunton Warren - 10th (20 including 8 juveniles), 18th (26), 28th (41).

CROSSBILL Loxia curvirostra
14 were at Belton Common from the 23rd to 25th at least.

YELLOWHAMMER Emberiza citrinella
Gunton Warren - 18th (1), 28th (2).
Barnby - 22nd (2).

NON-BIRD NEWS

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth in a Barnby garden on the 10th is the first we've heard of in this area this year. White Admirals were on the wing at North Cove nature reserve on the 4th, and a White Admiral was also seen at Belton Common on the 25th..

A Privet Hawk-moth was seen at Beccles Common Lane on the 16th.

HARBOUR PORPOISE
Kessingland - 4th (1 N), 5th (1 S), 9th (1 N), 11th (2 S), 20th (1 S), 22nd (1 N).
Ness Point - 12th (1 S), 21st (1 N).
Lowestoft North Beach - 19th (1).

GREY SEAL
Kessingland - 2nd (2), 4th (2), 5th (1), 7th (1), 8th (1), 9th (3), 10th (1), 11th (2), 12th (1), 15th (1), 16th (1), 17th (3), 19th (1), 20th (1), 23rd (1), 27th (1), 29th (1) .
Lowestoft North Beach - 12th (1), 19th (1).

Here are some more pictures of Sammy the Turtle impersonator taken last autumn.