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First summer Little Gull - Lowestoft - July 2006 - ©Andrew Easton



It's been a long time since Camberwell Beauties arrived on our shores in good numbers. However, we are hopeful this year will be a classic. Earlier in the month reports emanated from Holland that record numbers were present so it came as no surprise that c6 were seen in Norfolk on the 16th. Others have been seen elsewhere in the country. The cracker pictured below was at Minsmere on the 17th (still present on the 18th). Having been found on the beach in a weakened condition it was relocated to Buddleia outside the toilet block. Mike Parker bumped into another at Benacre Broad (outside the hide) also on the 17th.
Hopefully, we can all say "oh, you little beauty" if more arrive closer to Lizard Land.

Camberwell Beauty ©James Wright
Camberwell Beauty - Minsmere - August 2006
©James Wright

RED-THROATED DIVER Gavia stellata
One summer plumaged bird flew north close inshore past Kessingland on the 4th.
One flew north past Lowestoft North Beach on the 16th.



GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus

Kessingland
- 11th (1 N, 1 S).
A juvenile at Lound Waterworks on the 20th eventually managed to swallow the rather large fish pictured below on the second attempt!

Knot ©Andrew Easton
Great Crested Grebe - Lound Waterworks - August 2006
©Andrew Easton

FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis
Lowestoft North Beach - 1st (1 N), 4th (2 N), 6th (2 N), 9th (1 N), 15th (8 N), 16th (9 N), 17th (3 N), 25th (1 N, 1 S).
Kessingland - 5th (3 N), 12th (1 S), 13th (8 N), 16th (2 N), 20th (1 S), 29th (1 N), 30th (3 N), 31st (3 N, 1 S).
Ness Point - 12th (12 N, 1 S).



SOOTY SHEARWATER
Puffinus griseus
One flew north past Kessingland, and shortly afterwards, Lowestoft on the morning of the 5th.
Four (inc. one from Kessingland) flew past Ness Point on the afternoon of the 9th, with a further one north past Kessingland later in the evening.
Two flew north past Kessingland on the morning of the 13th, and shortly afterwards one of these was also seen off Lowestoft.
Two flew north past Lowestoft North Beach on the 15th.

Follow this link to the BBC News website for a report on an electronic tagging project that has shed new light on the movements of Sooty Shearwaters in the Pacific. This link will open in a new window.



MANX SHEARWATER
Puffinus puffinus
One flew north past Ness Point on the 1st with another south on the 3rd, 4 north on the 14th, with four south on the 24th.



SHEARWATER sp.
Puffinus sp.
One, probably a Manx, flew north at Gorleston on the 13th.
One flew north at Ness Point on the 16th.
Probable Sooty flew south past Ness Point on the 24th.



GANNET
Morus bassanus

Kessingland
- 1st (27 N), 2nd (32 N), 3rd (36 N, 1 S), 4th (157 N, 4 S), 5th (120 N), 6th (16 N), 7th (6 N, 1 S), 8th (93 N, 3 S), 9th (124 N, 3 S), 10th (33 N, 2 S), 11th (57 N, 9 S), 12th (6 N, 8 S), 13th (112 N), 14th (10 N), 15th (72 N, 2 S), 16th (38 N), 19th (1 N, 8 S), 20th (3 N, 1 S), 21st (14 N), 22nd (8 N), 23rd (5 N), 24th (6 N, 1 S), 25th (1 N), 26th (4 N), 27th (2 N), 28th (5 N, 9 S), 29th (7 N, 2 S), 30th (9 N, 23 S), 31st (16 N, 10 S).
Lowestoft North Beach
- 2nd (20 S), 3rd (29 S), 4th (501 N, 32 S), 5th (316 N, 2 S), 6th (19 N, 16 S), 7th (41 N, 6 S), 8th (7 N, 19 S), 9th (10 N, 1 S), 10th (6 N, 2 S), 15th (46 N), 16th (29 N), 17th (13 N, 2 S), 25th (3 S), 26th (5 S).
Ness Point
- 1st (3 N), 12th (15 N, 9 S), 13th (152 N), 14th (43 N, 74 S).
Corton - 3rd (24 S).

Gorleston - 12th (112 N).


CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo
Ness Point
- 1st (2 S), 5th (3 N), 6th (1 S), 12th (2 N, 5 S).

Kessingland - 5th (1 N), 6th (1 N, 1 S), 9th (2 S), 12th (1 N, 1 S), 13th (5 N, 43 in off), 14th (1 S), 15th (5 N), 16th (1 N, 2 S), 20th (1 N), 21st (1 S), 22nd (1 o/s), 25th (1 S), 28th (3 N), 30th (1 S).
Pakefield - 24th (1 on sea).
Lowestoft North Denes - 29th (5 S).

On the 13th a flock of large birds first seen very distantly well over the horizon split into two groups and eventually proved to be 60 Cormorants when they arrived at the coast and then turned northwards along the coast.



LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta

One was seen at Kessingland on the 21st.



GREY HERON Ardea cinerea

Two flew north past Kessingland on the 3rd.
One arrived in off the sea at Kessingland on the 13th.
Three flew north over Lowestoft North Denes on the 25th.


MUTE SW
AN Cygnus olor
Leathes Ham - 6th (19), 17th (15), 22nd (19).

Oulton Broad - 22nd (47).



[ BLACK SWAN
Cygnus atratus
Two were reported flying south westwards over Gorleston at 10:00 on the 16th. ]



[ BAR-HEADED GOOSE
Anser indicus
One was with Barnacle Geese at Lound waterworks on the 20th. ]



[ EMPEROR GOOSE
Anser canagica
Two were with a large mixed goose flock near Kessingland sewage works on the 21st. ]



GREYLAG GOOSE
Anser anser
20 were in fields south west of Kessingland sewage works on the 21st.



CANADA GOOSE
Branta canadensis
25 were in fields south west of Kessingland sewage works on the 21st.



BARNACLE GOOSE
Branta leucopsis
At least 270 were at Lound Waterworks on the 20th.
c.350 were in fields south west of Kessingland sewage works on the 21st.



EGYPTIAN GOOSE
Alopochen aegyptiacus

Leathes Ham - 6th (2).

Gunton Hall Lake - 17th (2).
Lound Waterworks - 20th (3).



SHELDUCK
Tadorna tadorna

Lowestoft North Beach - 4th (7 N), 17th (6 N).
Kessingland - 8th (2 S), 27th (9 N).
Ness Point - 13th (6 N).



GADWALL
Anas strepera

Leathes Ham - 22nd (12).



TEAL
Anas crecca

Lowestoft North Beach - 4th (10 N), 5th (21 N).
Kessingland - 5th (1 S), 6th (3 S), 7th (1 N), 8th (1 N), 11th (3 S), 12th (3 N, 18 S), 13th (114 S), 14th (2 N, 9 S), 15th (3 N), 16th (4 S), 22nd (15 S), 24th (6 N), 25th (11 o/s), 27th (9 S), 30th (3 S), 31st (18 S).
Ness Point - 12th (5 N, 22 S).



MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos
Lowestoft North Beach - 4th (2 S).



SHOVELER Anas clypeata
Kessingland - 13th (4 N).
Leathes Ham - 17th (6), 22nd (3).



WIGEON Anas penelope

Pakefield - 24th (c20 on sea).
Kessingland - 23rd (2 S).



POCHARD
Aythya ferina

One was at Leathes Ham on the 6th.
One was on the sea off Kessingland on the 11th.
One drake flew north past Kessingland on the 28th.



SCAUP
Aythya marila
Kessingland - 3rd (7 N).
Lowestoft North Beach
- 4th (3 N).



COMMON EIDER Somateria mollissima

Kessingland - 12th (23 N), 13th (1 N), 24th (3 N).
Ness Point
- 12th (2 S), 13th (12 N).




COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra

Kessingland - 1st (5 S), 2nd (1 S), 3rd (20 N), 4th (10 N, 28 S), 5th (35 N, 53 o/s), 6th (12 N, 52 S), 7th (20 N, 2 S), 9th (2 N, 7 o/s), 10th (1 o/s), 11th (1 N), 12th (5 N, 5 S), 13th (7 N, 72 S, 20 o/s), 14th (1 N, 1 S), 15th (4 N), 22nd (15 N), 23rd (3 N), 24th (10 S), 25th (21 S), 26th (1 N), 31st (5 N).
Ness Point
- 1st (1 S), 12th (2 N), 13th (24 N).

Corton - 3rd (23 N, 22 S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 2nd (4 N), 3rd (23 N, 22 S), 4th (68 N, 5 S), 5th (125 N), 6th (29 N, 5 S), 7th (2 N), 9th (12 N, 1 S), 10th (6 N, 2 S), 15th (4 N), 27th (2 N).
Gorleston Beach - 12th (13 N).



VELVET SCOTER
Melanitta fusca
One flew south past Kessingland on the 18th.



RED KITE Milvus milvus
One flew from in from a south westerly direction over Oulton on the morning of the 9th, continuing north eastwards towards the coast before turning northwards and being lost to view.



MARSH HARRIER Circus aeruginosus

One was seen at the Kessingland Levels on the 21st.
A male was quartering woodland at Ashby on the 23rd.



SPARROWHAWK Accipiter nisus
Being seen frequently along Lowestoft North Denes (2+) as well as many other locations around town This one was photographed in a Lowestoft garden on the 26th waiting for it's meal to arrive to feed on a bird table!

Sparrowhawk ©Al Richardson
Sparrowhawk - Lowestoft - August 2006
©Al Richardson


KESTREL Falco tinnunculus
This Kestrel was photographed down the road at Benacre Broad. Does anyone know of any schemes involving wing-tags? Or is this an escape?

©Derek Beamish
Kestrel - Benacre Broad - August 2006
©Derek Beamish


MERLIN Falco columbarius
On the morning of the 23rd a juvenile Merlin flew south over the North Denes then headed westwards over the net posts before vanishing into the trees opposite.



HOBBY Falco subbuteo
Mutford - 7th (2-3).
Gorleston - 6th (1).
Lowestoft North Denes - 27th (1).
Waveney Forest - 17th (1).



CORN CRAKE Crex crex
Rarest report of the month so far, a Corn Crake that dropped out of the sky and into the road at Hulver at 8:25 on the 22nd much to the amazement of the observer who was brought to a halt in his car by it's most unexpected arrival. It looked around briefly before dashing into the roadside hedge. The first time we have had to type this species on the news pages, we have no idea when the last one was recorded in this area!



OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus

Kessingland - 1st (3 S), 2nd (2 S), 3rd (3 N, 2 S), 4th (1 N, 13 S), 5th (2 N, 1 S), 7th (6 N), 8th (7 N, 2 S), 9th (1 N, 2 S), 10th (1 N), 11th (18 S), 12th (19 N, 1 S), 13th (4 N, 16 S), 14th (8 N, 1 S), 15th (6 N, 16 S), 16th (2 N, 9 S), 20th (37 S), 21st (1 N, 15 S), 23rd (1 N), 25th (4 S), 27th (1 N, 1 S), 28th (3 N), 29th (5 N), 30th (9 S).
Ness Point
- 1st (1 S), 12th (8 N), 14th (1 S), 20th (4 S).
Corton - 3rd (2 S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 2nd (1 S), 3rd (2 S), 4th (6 N), 5th (7 N), 8th (1 N), 15th (10 N), 17th (2 S).


RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula
One was along Lowestoft North Beach on the 4th.
Lowestoft North Beach - 17th (3 N).



GOLDEN PLOVER
Pluvialis apricaria

Kessingland - 3rd (15 N), 4th (3 N), 12th (6 N), 13th (2 N), 14th (1 N), 20th (4 S).
Corton
- 3rd (9 N).
Ness Point - 12th (10 N).



GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola

Kessingland - 1st (1 S), 3rd (13 N), 4th (6 N), 5th (2 N), 12th (3 N), 13th (2 N), 14th (12 N), 23rd (1 S), 24th (1 N).
Corton
- 3rd (10 N).
Ness Point - 12th (1 N).
Lowestoft North Beach - 4th (2 N), 15th (1 N).


KNOT Calidris canutus
Kessingland - 2nd (4 S), 3rd (11 N), 8th (2 N), 12th (53 N), 13th (1 N, 4 S), 21st (1 S), 24th (1 N).
Corton
- 3rd (1 N).
Ness Point - 12th (18 N).



SANDERLING Calidris alba
Kessingland - 4th (1 N).
Ness Point - 12th (1 N).
Gorleston Beach - 12th (20).



PURPLE SANDPIPER
Calidris maritima

The first of the autumn flew north past Kessingland on the 28th.



DUNLIN Calidris alpina

Kessingland - 3rd (4 N), 5th (3 N), 11th (7 N), 12th (5 N), 13th (1 N), 23rd (1 S), 24th (1 S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 26th (1).



COMMON SNIPE Gallinago gallinago
One flew north past Kessingland on the 12th.



BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica

Kessingland - 3rd (7 N), 4th (5 N), 5th (1 N), 7th (3 S), 14th (3 N), 24th (5 N).
Corton
- 3rd (5 N).
Lowestoft North Beach - 4th (4 N, 1 S), 5th (4 N), 6th (7 S then NW heading inland).
Ness Point - 12th (5 N).
Gorleston Beach - 12th (2).

Curlew & Bar-tailed Godwit ©Andrew Easton
Curlew & Bar-tailed Godwit - Lowestoft - August 2006
©Andrew Easton

WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus
Kessingland - 3rd (1 N), 6th (1 S), 11th (1 S), 13th (4 S), 15th (1 S), 16th (14 S), 25th (7 S), 26th (1 S).
Corton
- 3rd (3 N).
Lowestoft North Beach - 3rd (2 N), 4th (1 N), 6th (1 S), 15th (20 in off sea at dusk), 27th (1 S).
At least on was heard calling as it flew south over central Lowestoft on the night of the 17th.



CURLEW Numenius arquata
Kessingland - 3rd (1 N), 5th (2 N), 6th (4 S), 7th (3 S), 12th (2 S), 13th (1 S), 16th (12 S), 21st (1 S), 24th (1 N).
Lowestoft North Beach
- 3rd (1 N), 6th (6 S then NW heading inland).
Lowestoft North Denes - 29th (1 N).



REDSHANK Tringa totanus

Kessingland - 3rd (6 N, 1 S), 6th (1 S), 16th (1 S), 20th (2 S), 23rd (1 S), 24th (1 S), 25th (1 S), 31st (3 S).
Lowestoft North Beach
- 4th (1 N).
Hamilton Dock - 27th (1).



GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia
Kessingland - 4th (1 S), 12th (1 N), 14th (1 S).
Lowestoft North Beach - 5th (2 N), 26th (1 over).



WOOD SANDPIPER Tringa glareola
One was at Burgh Castle on the 22nd.



GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus
One flew over Lowestoft North Denes on the 17th.
Two were on Leathes Ham on the 8th.
One was at Burgh Castle on the 22nd.
One was seen on two dates at Corton new sewage works in the third week of the month.



COMMON SANDPIPER Actitis hypoleucos
One was along the rocks at Corton on the 3rd.
One was in Mutford Lock basin along Lake Lothing on the 6th.
Ness Point - 12th (2).
Breydon South Shore - 25th (2).
Lowestoft North Beach - 26th (1).



TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres
Kessingland - 2nd (1 N, 2 S), 3rd (26 N), 4th (1 N), 8th (2 N), 12th (17 arrived in off the sea), 13th (1 S), 20th (12 S), 24th (2 S).
Ness Point
- 1st (6), 6th (1N), 12th (8), 14th (6 on jetty).
Lowestoft North Beach - 1st (3), 2nd (1 S), 15th (2 N), 29th (6 N).
Corton
- 3rd (2 N).
Hamilton Dock
- 5th (5), 22nd (11), 27th (6), 29th (9).



POMARINE SKUA
Stercorarius pomarinus
Lowestoft North Beach - 10th (1 N), 24th (1 S).
Kessingland
- 12th (1 S), 31st (1 N).



ARCTIC SKUA
Stercorarius parasiticus

Kessingland - 2nd (1 N), 3rd (2 S), 4th (3 on sea), 5th (1 o/s), 8th (2 N), 9th (5 N, 1 S, 1 o/s), 11th (1 N, 1 o/s), 12th (4 N, 114 S), 13th (22 N), 14th (1 o/s), 15th (15 N, 2 o/s), 16th (2 N), 17th (1 o/s), 18th (2 N, 4o/s), 21st (2 N, 1 S), 22nd (1 S, 2 o/s), 24th (6 S), 25th (1 N), 26th (2 S), 28th (8 N, 1 S), 30th (1 S), 31st (2 N, 1 o/s).
Ness Point
- 1st (3 dark phase chasing terns and Kittiwakes), 3rd (1 N), 8th (2 N), 12th (6 N), 13th (8 N), 14th (1 N), 16th (3 S).
Corton - 3rd (2 chasing terns).
Lowestoft North Beach - 2nd (1 N), 3rd (2 S), 4th (10 N, 3 S), 5th (2 N), 6th (1 N, 2 S), 7th (5 S, 1 chasing terns), 8th (2 N), 9th (1 S), 10th (3 S), 15th (18 N), 16th (2 N), 18th (2 N), 24th (2 S), 25th (1), 26th (4 S, 2 on sea), 31st (1 chasing terns).
Gorleston - 6th (3 N), 12th (15 S).

The 12th started as rather a quiet day for skuas with only a handful seen during the morning but at 16:20 there was a 20 minute break in the rain during which no less than 47 dashed south past Kessingland, along with loads of terns, mostly Sandwich. The rain then started again; but subsequent dry spells saw the tally rise eventually to 118 Arctic's and one Pomarine by 19:00.



LONG-TAILED SKUA Stercorarius longicaudus

One adult flew south past Gorleston at 07:40 on the 12th.



GREAT SKUA Stercorarius skua

Kessingland - 2nd (1 N), 9th (1 N), 13th (1 N), 15th (1 N), 21st (1 N), 31st (1 N).
Ness Point - 13th (1 N).

Lowestoft North Beach - 15th (1 N same as Kessingland).



SKUA sp. Stercorarius sp.

Kessingland - 1st (1 N), 5th (1 N probably Pom), 6th (1 N), 11th (1 S), 15th (1 N), 16th (1 S), 18th (4 N), 23rd (3 N).

Mediterranean Gulls ©Andrew Easton
Mediterranean Gulls - Lowestoft - August 2006
©Andrew Easton

MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus
A juvenile was seen off Ness Point on the 2nd.
One unringed winter plumaged adult was along Lowestoft North Beach on the 1st.
One green r
inged winter plumaged adult was in Links Road car park on the 7th, 9th and 23rd (+ Ness Point on the 14th).
One juvenile flew north past Kessingland on the 8th.
One juvenile flew north past Kessingland on the 13th.
Two juveniles were on the beach at Gorleston on the 13th.
Two juveniles moulting to first winter plumage, including a Belgian ringed bird, were in Links Road car park on the 22nd.
Juvenile south past Pakefield on the 24th.
Two adults were on Barnards Meadow on the 27th.
An adult and juvenile flew south together past Kessingland on the 28th.
On second winter bird flew north past Kessingland on the 31st.



LITTLE GULL Larus minutus

Kessingland - 1st (1 S), 2nd (1 S), 4th (3 adults N), 12th (3 N, 1 S), 13th (3 N), 14th (1 N), 17th (2 S), 30th (1 N).
Ness Point - 14th (2 N).

Lowestoft North Beach - 5th (2 adults on groynes), 6th (juv. N), 10th (ad + juv. S).



HERRING GULL Larus argentatus

Adults and juveniles were peeling Starfish from the rocks to eat, to the north of Ness Point on the 22nd.


YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus (cachinnans) michahellis
Having returned again to Lowestoft North Beach on July 30th, "Old Faithful" was still there on the 6th at least. This very large individual was first noted in September 1997, and so has now been returning for ten years. As it was a full adult when first seen it is now at least 14 years old. Last year it was first noted on July 17th so we were beginning to wonder if it would be returning this year. Seen again on the 17th, 19th 30th and 31st at Links Road, on the 19th on the roof at Birds Eye and along Gunton Beach on the 20th.

Yellow-legged Gull ©Andrew Easton
Yellow-legged Gull - Lowestoft - July 2006
©Andrew Easton

KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla
Kessingland - 1st (9 N, 23 S), 2nd (12 N, 10 S), 3rd (16 N, 8 S), 4th (30 N, 5 S), 5th (12 N, 3 S), 6th (7 N, 51 S), 7th (10 N, 15 S), 8th (4 N, 154 S), 9th (23 N, 101 S), 10th (14 N, 1 S), 11th (10 N, 6 S), 12th (14 N, 3 S), 13th (7 N), 14th (3 N), 15th (1 N), 16th (4 N), 17th (4 N, 6 S), 20th (2 S), 21st (2 N, 2 S), 22nd (2 S), 24th (1 N, 5 S), 26th (2 S), 28th (2 N), 30th (1 S), 31st (1 N, 6 S).
Ness Point
- 1st (66).
Lowestoft North Beach - 4th (234 N), 5th (41 N), 16th (2 N), 17th (1 S).
Leathes Ham - 6th (1).



GULL-BILLED TERN
Sterna nilotica
One flew north past Gorleston at 1817 on the 3rd, a brilliant bird for one lucky observer. Four seen together in flight over the main channel at Breydon on May 17th, 1925 seem to be the only previous record in Lizard Land.



SANDWICH TERN Sterna sandvichensis

Kessingland - 1st (12 N, 43 S), 2nd (7 N, 10 S), 3rd (5 N, 46 S), 4th (11 N, 21 S), 5th (14 N, 16 S), 6th (23 N, 37 S), 7th (2 N, 27 S), 8th (3 N, 9 S), 9th (11 N, 49 S), 10th (9 N, 31 S), 11th (7 N, 120 S), 12th (2 N, 234 S), 13th (23 N, 71 S), 14th (7 N, 61 S), 15th (22 N, 16 S), 16th (11 N, 12 S), 17th (11 N, 19 S), 18th (9 N, 10 S), 19th (2 N, 10 S), 20th (6 N, 13 S), 21st (13 N, 43 S), 22nd (8 N, 11 S), 23rd (13 S), 24th (4 N, 85 S), 25th (17 N, 3 S), 26th (3 N, 14 S), 27th (2 N, 2 S), 28th (22 N, 19 S), 29th (6 N, 1 S), 30th (9 N, 26 S), 31st (22 N, 11 S).
Lowestoft North Beach
- 1st (36 perched on the groynes), 2nd (3 N, 10 perched), 3rd (8 N), 4th (5 N), 6th (43 N), 7th (2 N), 8th (2 N), 9th (15 N, 2 S), 10th (10 N).
Ness Point
- 1st (50+ feeding offshore), 14th (23 N, 4 S).
Corton - 3rd (9 N).
Gunton Warren - 20th (2 perched on groynes), 21st (1 perched), 22nd (10).
Four flew south over Norwich Road, Lowestoft on the 14th.

Sandwich Tern  ©Andrew Easton
Juvenile Sandwich Tern - Lowestoft Denes Oval - August 2006
©Andrew Easton


ROSEATE TERN Sterna dougalli
An adult joined the terns on groynes along Lowestoft North Beach on the 26th but flew north soon after it's discovery.


COMMON TERN Sterna hirundo
Lowestoft North Beach
- 1st (61 perched on the groynes, 98 flew north in the evening).
Ness Point - 1st (12+ feeding offshore), 14th (7 N, 3 S).
Gunton Warren - 20th (14 perched on groynes), 21st (4 perched), 22nd (4).



ARCTIC TERN Sterna paradisaea
One adult was perched on the groynes along Lowestoft North Beach on the 1st and a juvenile flew north there the same evening.
One juvenile flew north past Lowestoft North Beach on the 2nd.
One was on Gorleston Beach on the 13th.



'COMMIC' TERN Sterna hirundo/paradisaea

Kessingland - 1st (7 N, 69 S), 2nd (10 N, 113 S), 3rd (7 N, 96 S), 4th (6 N, 22 S), 5th (16 N, 15 S), 6th (24 N, 46 S), 7th (11 N, 36 S), 8th (2 N, 12 S), 9th (11 N, 29 S), 10th (15 N, 14 S), 11th (4 N, 86 S), 12th (27 N, 81 S), 13th (5 N, 20S), 14th (2 N, 25 S) 15th (15 N, 16 S), 16th (12 N, 53 S), 17th (26 N, 18 S), 18th (11 N, 16 S), 19th (1 N, 6 S), 20th (6 N, 10 S), 21st (11 N, 103 S), 22nd (22 N, 1 S), 23rd (22 N, 1 S), 24th (14 N, 367 S), 26th (33 N, 15 S), 27th (30 N), 28th (30 N, 109 S), 29th (47 N, 3 S), 30th (34 N, 21 S), 31st (52 N, 37 S).



LITTLE TERN Sterna albifrons

Kessingland - 1st (20 feeding), 2nd (18 N, 27 S), 3rd (22 N, 9 S), 4th (37 N), 5th-11th (approximately 40-50 feeding N&S), 12th-18th (between 60-100+ feeding N&S), 19th(1N 8S), 20th (13 N, 22 S), 21st (11 N, 18 S), 22nd (4 N, 4 S), 23rd (1 N), 24th (1 S), 28th (10 N, 6 S).
Corton
- 3rd (7 N).
On the 4th and 5th several fledged young, presumably from the Great Yarmouth colony, were being fed by their parents along the tideline on Lowestoft North Beach.



BLACK TERN
Chlidonias niger
One adult was feeding close offshore at Ness Point on the 12th with another on the 14th.
Kessingland - 13th (1 S), 28th (2 N, 1 S), 29th (4 N + 2 feeding offshore).



GUILLEMOT
Uria aalge
Lowestoft North Beach - 6th (1 oiled adult on beach), 9th (1 juvenile south on sea), 26th (1 on sea).
Ness Point - 12th (1 on sea).
Kessingland
- 12th (1 S, 1 on sea), 13th (1 on sea).
Breydon Water
- one was in the main channel on the 13th.
Corton
- 23rd, one juvenile drifting north with the tide whilst attempting to swim south!

Guillemot ©Andrew Easton
Guillemot - Lowestoft North Beach - August 2006 - ©Andrew Easton



AUK sp.
Alcidae

Kessingland - 3rd (1 N), 13th (1 N, 1 on sea), 28th (1 S), 29th (1 N).
Lowestoft North Beach
- 4th (8 N).



TURTLE DOVE Streptopelia turtur
Two were seen in Mill Road, Mutford on the 7th.



[ COCKATIEL Nymphicus hollandicus ]
One was flying around over Kessingland on the 4th and 5th, and one was around the Parkhill area at Gunton on the 22nd.



CUCKOO Cuculus canorus

One was at Leathes Ham on the 17th and another was at Kessingland sewage works on the 25th.



COMMON SWIFT Apus apus
Most seem to have departed on the 4th.
At least 35 flew south over Lowestoft North Denes on the 20th with a large flock of hirundines.
15+ south over the Holm Sand approximately 2 km off Lowestoft on the 20th.
Kessingland sewage works - (178 S).
Gunton Warren - 22nd (7 S), 26th (c 15 feeding late afternoon), 27th (2 N).
Corton - 23rd (4 S).



KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis
Two were at Leathes Ham on the 6th.



WRYNECK Jynx torquilla

One was found at Gunton Warren on the 27th but proved rather elusive, especially after a Sparrowhawk dived into the bushes it was sitting in. The Sparrowhawk wasn't carrying prey when it left the bushes so hopefully the Wryneck evaded capture, and it was subsequently reported again on the 28th and 29th. The long awaited twitchable one (just) after a five year wait.



GREEN WOODPECKER Picus viridis

Lowestoft North Denes - 20th (1).
Gunton Warren - 21st (1), 29th (1).
Corton new sewage works - 26th (2).



SAND MARTIN Riparia riparia
Three, out of twenty birds present, were trapped and ringed at Corton on the 11th. A considerable drop from the 250-300 present on July 28th.
Gunton Warren
- 21st (1 S), 22nd (3 S).
Corton - 23rd (5 S).



SWALLOW Hirundo rustica

Several small groups of migrants were passing south along Lowestoft North Beach in the morning and evening of the 6th (9 S).
One unlucky individual offshore at Kessingland on the 12th became the target of a group of five Arctic Skuas, apparently more in play than an attempt to catch it, and it did survive unscathed.
Large numbers were streaming south along the coast early morning on the 19th.
In a period of around ten minutes from 8:45 on the 20th around 150-200 Swallows and Sand Martins (with a handful of House Martins and Swifts mixed in) flew south at Gunton. Just over an hour later it was the turn of House Martins and Swifts to do the same.
Gunton Warren - 20th (/ House Martins c175 S), 21st (2 S), 22nd (3 S), 26th (20+ S), 27th (30+ S).
Corton - 23rd (60+
).
Kessingland sewage works - 29th (10).
A nestling ringed at Beach Farm, Benacre on June 26th this year was trapped on it's southward journey in a reedbed roost at Orfordness on August 6th




HOUSE MARTIN Delichon urbica
At approximately 10:00 on the 20th House Martins started to appear over Lowestoft North Denes and in the next few minutes a minimum of 300 flew south along with a few Sand Martins and 35+ Swifts mixed in with them. A short while later they were also seen heading south over Kessingland Beach, with a couple of Swallows added in as well. None were seen before or afterwards (or so I thought, perhaps if I'd ventured out a little earlier I'd have seen the Swallows and Sand Martins now mentioned above! )
Kessingland sewage works - 21st (200), 29th (20).
Corton - 23rd (3 S).



GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea
One flew north at Gunton Warren on the 30th.



YELLOW WAGTAIL Motacilla flava
Three juveniles were noted in fields at Corton on the 6th.
One flew south over Lowestoft North Denes on the 15th.
One was present at Carlton Marshes on the 15th.
One flew over Kessingland sewage works on the 21st.
Breydon South Wall - 25th (1).
Burgh Castle - 224 were recorded at the reedbed roost on the evening of the 21st.
Corton old sewage works - 28th (male).



BLACK REDSTART Phoenicurus ochruros
On the 16th an immature bird was in Pinbush Road on the South Lowestoft Industrial Estate.
One was present near Hamilton Road, Lowestoft on the 24th.

Wheatear ©Andrew Easton
Wheatear - Lowestoft - August 2006
©Andrew Easton

WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe
The first of the autumn was at Benacre Ness pumping station on the 10th. One was perched on groynes along Lowestoft North Beach on the afternoon of the 29th having arrived off the sea following a heavy shower.
Lowestoft North Denes - 17th (1), 19th (1), 23rd (1), 26th (2), 29th (1).
Hamilton Dock - 25th (1), 29th (1).
Gunton Beach - 29th (1).
Gunton (Bosquet Close) - 29th (1 resting on a house roof for at least 20 minutes at 17:20).
Gunton (Dip Farm playing field) - 29th (1).



WHINCHAT Saxicola rubetra
Gunton Warren - 25th (1), 27th (1).
Gunton disused railtrack - 26th (1 probably the same as above).
Haddiscoe Bridge - 28th (3).



REDWING Turdus iliacus
Either a very early returning bird, or a previously undetected summering one, was feeding in bramble bushes between Gunton and Foxburrow Woods on the 5th.



CETTI'S WARBLER Cettia cetti
Kessingland sewage works - 21st (1), 24th (1).



SEDGE WARBLER Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Kessingland sewage works - 21st (2), 29th (2).
Hamilton Dock - One was present on the evening of the 29th, along with a Wheatear, proving that migrants are still arriving in the area albeit in smaller numbers.



REED WARBLER
Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Kessingland sewage works - 21st (9), 29th (1).



BARRED WARBLER Sylvia nisoria

A juvenile was found in the scrub along Gunton Cliff above the old camp site on Lowestoft North Denes on the 27th. Initially showing quite well at times it became progressively more elusive throughout the morning, as did the other warblers present there. It was a similar story on the 28th and 29th when the bird gave decent views early morning then became more skulking. Although with patience good views can be obtained. No sign on the 30th though.

Barred Warbler ©Mike Parker
Barred Warbler - Lowestoft North Denes- August 2006
©Mike Parker

GARDEN WARBLER Sylvia borin
Kessingland sewage works - 21st (1).
Lowestoft North Denes - 29th (1), 30th (1).
Gunton disused railtrack - 27th(1).



BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla

Oulton - 11th (1).
Gunton Warren - 16th (1), 21st (1), 29th (2).
Kessingland sewage works
- 21st (4), 29th (5+).
Lowestoft North Denes - 26th (2), 27th (4+), 29th (6).



LESSER WHITETHROAT
Sylvia curruca

Lowestoft North Denes - 19th(1), 20th (1), 25th (3), 27th (1), 29th (2).
Kessingland sewage works - 21st (3), 29th (1).



COMMON WHITETHROAT
Sylvia communis

Ness Point/Birds Eye Car Park - 19th (1).
Gunton Warren - 19th (4+), 21st (1), 29th (5),30th (1).
Kessingland sewage works - 21st (17), 29th (8).
Lowestoft North Denes - 27th (2+).



CHIFFCHAFF
Phylloscopus collybita

Links Road - 3rd (1).
Lowestoft North Denes - 6th (2), 19th (2), 19th (1), 29th (4), 30th (7).
Oulton - 11th (1).
Ness Point/Birds Eye Car Park - 19th (1).
Gunton Warren - 19th (2), 21st (2), 22nd (2), 26th (2), 30th (7 including one singing).
Gunton disused railtrack/shelter belt
- 26th (2), 27th (1).

On the 23rd a juvenile Chiffchaff appeared over the edge of the cliff at Corton and finding only short turf appeared to be in a panic to find some cover to hide in. It dashed to the observer's feet and then flew up and almost landed on his binoculars. It then seemed to dawn on it that a blue striped cotton T-shirt actually bears very little resemblance to a tree and it immediately dashed off across the grass to hide in vegetation under the nearby caravans. If only all warblers would show so well !



WILLOW WARBLER Phylloscopus trochilus

After a good spring for the species it's encouraging that numbers of migrants have been passing through. No doubt many more have slipped through Lowestoft's rain forests undetected!!!
Oulton
- 11th (2).
Lowestoft North Denes - 15th (4), 25th (12 inc. min of 8 in Tamarisk by Denes Oval).
Ness Point/Birds Eye Car Park - 19th (1).
Gunton Warren - 21st (1), 22nd (2).
Kessingland sewage works - 21st (9).
Corton new sewage works - 25th (3).
Gunton disused railtrack/shelter belt - 25th (2).
Flycatcher Lane, behind Denes Oval - 26th (4).



SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa striata
One juvenile was near the tennis courts in Normanston Park on the 6th, no doubt one of the four noted there in late July.
Corton Woods - 17th (1 at south entrance feeding from dead elm).
Leathes Ham - 22nd (1).
Lowestoft North Denes - 18th (1).



PIED FLYCATCHER Ficedula hypoleuca
Not only was one in Warrenhouse Wood the first of autumn but also the first of the year in the Lowestoft area after a blank spring. Hopefully, it is the first of many.



TREE SPARROW
Passer montanus
One flew south at Kessingland sewage works on the 21st.



GOLDFINCH Carduelis carduelis

Corton new sewage works - 27th (20).
Kessingland sewage works - 29th (50).



GREENFINCH Carduelis chloris

Gunton Warren - 29th (5).




LINNET
Carduelis cannabina
Lowestoft North Beach
- 1st (3), 17th (10).

Gunton Warren - 16th (7), 29th (7).



BULLFINCH Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Four were at Kessingland sewage works on the 24th.



YELLOWHAMMER Emberiza citrinella

Gunton Warren - 20th (1), 22nd (1), 27th (2).



REED BUNTING Emberiza schoeniclus

Kessingland sewage works - 29th (3).



NON-BIRD NEWS


Grey Seal

Kessingland - 2nd (2), 3rd (1), 4th (1), 6th (1), 7th (2), 11th (1), 13th (2), 14th (1), 15th (1), 18th (1), 20th (1), 21st (1), 23rd (1), 26th (3), 29th (2), 31st (1).
Lowestoft North Beach
- 1st (2), 6th (1), 15th (2).

Common Seal
Kessingland - 4th (1), 14th (1 ).
Lowestoft North Beach - 26th (1).

Harbour Porpoise

Kessingland - 3rd (2 feeding), 6th (2 S), 7th (1 N), 11th (1 S), 18th (1 N), 21st (3 S), 31st (2 feeding).
Ness Point
- 1st (2).
Lowestoft North Beach - 4th (1), 15th (3), 26th (1).


Weasel
One dashed north across Links Road from the North Denes on the 26th, but perhaps more surprisingly one was seen just to the south of Ness Point on the 27th, hardly ideal habitat for one. It climbed to the top of the wall and peered over but decided not to make a swim for it and headed off inland after briefly becoming the UK's most easterly Weasel !


After some earlier sightings of presumed Ant Lion pits at Gunton Warren, a larva was finally confirmed on 10th August. They are presumed to be Euroleon nostras the species that occurs in the Dunwich/Minsmere area of the Suffolk coast. A specimen of this species was taken at Gorleston in 1931 apparently, so they may have been here undetected for quite a while.

Brimstone and Brown Argus butterflies were seen at Corton sewage works on the 6th. The later are very scarce this year in the area. Another species of butterfly which has been locally scarce this year is Wall Brown; two were seen at Carlton Marshes on the 17th, one near Gunton Hall on the 18th and one at Gunton Warren on the 27th.
A Clouded Yellow was seen at Corton new sewage works on the 25th.

Hummingbird Hawk-moths are still being seen throughout the area during the whole month.

Wall Brown ©James Wright
Wall Brown - Carlton Marshes - August 2006
©James Wright