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October 2003

****
species updated
on November 4th
Red-breasted Flycatcher© Tim Brown
Red-breasted Flycatcher - Corton - September 2003 - ©Tim Brown


RED-THROATED DIVER Gavia stellata
****
Kessingland
- 1st (3 N, 1 S, 1 o.s.), 2nd (3 S), 5th (2 N, 7 S, 1 o.s.), 6th (3 N, 1 S), 7th (5 N, 1 S), 8th (7 N, 1 S, 2 o.s.), 9th (2 N), 10th (1 N, 1 o.s.), 11th (1 o.s.), 12th (1 N), 14th (5 N), 15th (1 N, 5 S, 1 o.s.), 16th (5 N, 3 S), 18th (1 N, 21 S), 19th (4 S, 1 o.s.), 20th (8 N, 3 S, 1 o..s), 21st (16 N, 1 S, 16 o.s.), 22nd (11 N, 6 S, 2 o.s.), 23rd (1 N), 24th (4 N, 5 S,1 o.s), 25th (7 N, 2 S), 26th (7 N, 1 S, 1 o.s.), 27th (17 N, 1 S), 28th (1 S, 6 o.s.), 29th (5 S, 3 o.s.), 30th (4 N, 9 S, 6 o.s.), 31st (3 N, 9 S, 5 o.s.).
Ness Point - 10th (2 S), 11th (1 N, 2 S), 12th (12 N), 23rd (1 S).
Corton - 10th (2 on sea).



BLACK-THROATED DIVER Gavia arctica
****
Kessingland - 8th (1 S), 11th (1 N), 25th (1 N), 26th (1 N), 27th (1 N), 28th (2 N), 30th (1 N then settled on sea with Red-throated Divers).



GREAT NORTHERN DIVER Gavia immer

One flew north past Kessingland on the 19th and then settled on the sea.



GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
Kessingland
- 8th (1 S, 1 o.s.), 15th (2 N, 1 S), 18th (1 N, 1 S), 19th (3 N, 1 S), 21st (2 o.s.), 22nd (1 N, 1 S), 24th (1 S, 1 o.s.), 26th (1 S), 27th (1 N), 28th (3 S), 29th (2 o.s.), 31st (1 S, 1 o.s.).
Ness Point - 11th (2 N).



FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis
Kessingland
- 1st (1 N), 12th (8 N, 1 S), 13th (89 N), 14th (12 N), 15th (2 N), 16th (1 N), 17th (2 N).
Ness Point
- 12th after a virtual absence for some time at least fifty were noted northbound during the day, mostly distant.


CORY'S SHEARWATER Calonectris diomedea
One flew north distantly past Ness Point on the 12th in one of the best days sea-watching off Lowestoft ever.



SOOTY SHEARWATER Puffinus griseus

Kessingland
- 1st (2 N), 12th (2 N), 13th (1 N), 14th (1 N), 18th (1 N), 19th (3 N).
Ness Point - 12th (25+ N, most were very distant and passed in the morning, but one or two were still passing late afternoon), 26th (1 N).



MANX SHEARWATER Puffinus puffinus

Kessingland
- One flew north on the 8th, with two north on the 12th, and one more north on the 23rd.
Ness Point - One flew north close inshore on the 12th.



LEACH'S STORM-PETREL Oceanodroma leucorhoa
At 7:12 on the 8th one flew south past Kessingland.

With east to south-easterly winds forecast for Sunday the 12th a concerted effort was made to add this species to our Lizard Lists. It took a while for the first one to appear but by the end of the day seven sightings of at least four individuals had been achieved at Ness Point. Nearly all were northbound, and one or two definitely sat on the sea out of view, and what was almost certainly one of these gave the best views as it then battled back south against the prevailing winds. Exciting stuff
!!

On the 13th a further four were recorded northbound at Ness Point, but this was well beaten by the ten past Kessingland the same day.

Another flew north past Kessingland on the 18th.


GANNET Morus bassanus
****
Kessingland
- 1st (23 N, 10 S), 2nd (10 N), 3rd (3 N), 4th (2 N, 11 S), 5th (22 N, 139 S), 6th (70 N, 75 S), 7th (6 N, 187 S), 8th (70 N, 3 S), 9th (25 N, 2 S), 10th (55 N, 11 S), 11th (20 N, 1 S), 12th (254 N, 32 S), 13th (56 N, 1 S), 14th (15 N), 15th (14 N, 4 S), 16th (12 N, 13 S), 17th (22 N, 18 S), 18th (4 N),
19th (15 N, 27 S), 20th (14 N, 1 S), 21st (3 N, 8 S), 22nd (6 N, 2 S), 23rd (16 N, 2 S), 24th (1 N), 25th (2 N), 26th (32 N, 1 S), 27th (1 N), 31st (2 N, 2 S).

Ness Point
- On the 4th and 5th a steady passage was evident throughout the day past Ness Point but nearly all the birds were extremely distant, and mostly beyond the horizon. 10th (24 N, 16 S).

On the 12th there was a heavy passage of several hundred Gannets past Ness Point. They were passing both north and south, often in large flocks and close in. No count was attempted as there were so many other species moving as well and we didn't want to miss anything else while noting Gannets in our notebooks!


CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo
****
Kessingland - 2nd (1 N), 3rd (3 N), 6th (1 S), 7th (2 S), 13th (1 N), 14th (1 S), 16th (1 N), 17th (1 S), 21st (2 S), 22nd (1 N), 24th (1 N), 25th (2 N, 1 S), 27th (2 S), 28th (1 S), 31st (1 N, 1 S).
Ness Point - 4th (2 N), 5th (1 N), 10th (1 S), 12th (2 N), 19th (1).



GREY HERON Ardea cinerea
One flew north past Kessingland on the 7th, and one first winter was standing in a grassy field near the coast at Corton looking rather lost on the 10th.



WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons
The bird with the injured wing from last winter was still swimming around at the Boulevard, Oulton Broad on the 5th.



BARNACLE GOOSE Branta leucopsis
****
Fifty flew north over the Kessingland levels on the 22nd, and fifty also flew north over Corton early morning on the 24th, possibly the same group as they are not regularly seen over the Lowestoft area.
A flock of 24 flew north westwards over Oulton Broad on the 25th.


Dark-bellied Brent Goose  © Tim Brown
Dark-bellied Brent Goose - Ness Point - © Tim Brown

DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE Branta bernicla bernicla ****
Kessingland
- 1st (3 N), 2nd (3 N), 8th (2 N, 4 S), 9th (42 N, 12 S), 11th (5 S), 12th (1 N, 31 S), 13th (5 N, 329 S), 14th (28 N, 625 S), 15th (16 N, 146 S), 16th (28 N, 90 S), 17th (1 N, 15 S), 18th (7 N, 2 S), 19th (5 S), 20th (58 N, 2 S), 21st (51 N, 46 S), 22nd (10 N, 6 S), 23rd (2 N, 25 S), 24th (2 N, 1 S), 25th (1 S), 26th (3 N), 27th (1 S), 28th (1 N), 31st (1 N).
Ness Point - 11th (5 N, 7 S), 12th (15 N, 82 S), 15th (27 S), 16th (12 S), 21st (2 N), 22nd (2 S), 23rd (16 N).




RUDDY SHELDUCK Tadorna ferruginea
Three flew south eastwards over Lowestoft North Denes at 9:50 on the 15th, and were then seen continuing south past Ness Point. At 9:25 three had been seen flying eastwards along the A47 Acle Straight approaching Great Yarmouth.
As ever their origins are unknown, but they become the fourth species of Shelduck recorded in our area this year. The Cape Shelduck and Australian Shelducks however went straight on to the Escapes page.



SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna
****
Kessingland
- 3rd (1 S), 9th (1 N, 2 S), 13th (2 S), 14th (3 S), 20th (1 N), 22nd (2 S), 27th (3 N).
Ness Point
- 4th (1 N), 22nd (1 S).



WIGEON Anas penelope
****
Kessingland
- 1st (24 S), 2nd (4 N, 8 S), 3rd (3 N), 5th (2 N), 6th (1 S), 8th (182 N), 9th (30 N), 12th (33 N, 18 S), 13th (70 S), 14th (45 S), 15th (102 S), 16th (164 S), 17th (46 S), 18th (5 S), 20th (3 N), 21st (4 N, 88 S), 22nd (51 S), 23rd (7 S), 24th (7 S), 26th (12 S), 27th (7 N), 28th (1 N), 30th (4 N).
Ness Point - 11th (16 N), 12th (2 N, 5 S).



GADWALL Anas strepera

Four flew north past Kessingland on the 15th, with four south past there on the 18th, and six south on the 22nd.



PINTAIL Anas acuta

Kessingland - 5th (3 N), 12th (18 S), 13th (3 S), 21st (9 N).
Ness Point
- 12th (11 S).



TEAL Anas crecca
****
Kessingland - 1st (14 S), 2nd (6 N), 3rd (1 N), 5th (2 S), 6th (12 S), 8th (51 N), 12th (2 N), 13th (21 S), 14th (1 N, 135 S), 15th (72 S), 16th (72 S), 17th (22 S), 18th (3 S), 20th (4 N), 21st (8 S), 22nd (17 S), 30th (2 N).
Ness Point
- 12th (5 N), 15th (28 S).



TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula
****
Kessingland - 2nd (2 N), 6th (1 S), 18th (1 N), 19th (1 S), 20th (4 S), 21st (1 N, 1 S), 24th (1 N), 27th (1 S), 29th (1 N).
Ness Point - 5th (1 N).



COMMON EIDER Somateria mollissima
****
Kessingland
- 10th (1 N), 14th (5 S), 15th (3 N), 21st (2 N, 6 S), 22nd (1 N), 26th (3 N), 28th (1 N).
Ness Point
- 5th (ten drifted south on the sea), 10th (1 N), 12th (2 drakes N), 19th ( 2 drakes north), 22nd (8 N).



COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra
****
Kessingland
- 1st (2 N, 8 S, 8 o.s.), 2nd (4 N), 3rd (1 N), 5th (2 N), 5th (6 N, 6 S), 6th (1 S), 8th (85 N, 2 S), 9th (19 N, 4 S, 4 o.s.), 10th (3 N, 1 S), 11th (4 S, 3 o.s.), 12th (9 N, 34 S), 13th (5 N), 14th (13 N), 16th (33 S), 17th (8 N, 2 S), 18th (5 N, 4 S), 19th (3 N, 3 S), ) 20th (26 N, 4 S), 21st (14 N, 2 S, 2 o.s.), 22nd (1 N, 9 S), 23rd (2 N), 25th (24 N, 11 S), 26th (1 N, 15 S), 27th (3 N, 4 S), 28th (6 N, 2 o.s.), 29th (9 N), 30th (2 N, 1 S).
Ness Point - 10th (2 N, 1 S), 11th (3 N), 12th (10 N, 26 S), 19th (2 N, 3 S), 20th (3 S).

Common Scoter  © Tim Brown
Common Scoter - Ness Point - © Tim Brown



VELVET SCOTER Melanitta fusca
****
Kessingland - 16th (1 S), 19th (1 S), 21st (5 N), 25th (3 N), 28th (3 S), 29th (3 N).



GOLDENEYE Bucephala clangula
A pair flew south past Ness Point on the 12th, looks like winter is on the way! These were followed the next day by eleven south at Kessingland. Two flew north past Kessingland on the 19th.



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator
****
Kessingland
- 1st (2 S), 8th (1 N, 2 S), 13th (1 N, 1 S), 21st (1 N), 26th (3 N).
Ness Point - 12th (1 S).


HEN HARRIER Circus cyaneus

On the 14th a male flew south past Kessingland a couple of hundred metres from the beach.



COMMON BUZZARD Buteo buteo
On at Gunton on the 11th was mobbed by crows before heading westwards.



MERLIN Falco columbarius
A female was seen at Corton on the 13th.



MOORHEN Gallinula chloropus

On the 20th a juvenile flew south along Lowestoft North Beach. After failing to settle on the groynes it end up on the sea under them, but after being battered about by the waves there it again took to the air and headed inland over the Birds Eye factory.



OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus
Kessingland
- 13th (1 N), 14th (1 N), 20th (1 S).



AVOCET Recurvirostra avosetta
Five flew south past Ness Point on the 19th.



RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula
****
One was along Kessingland Beach on the 27th.



AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis dominica

A new species added to the Lounge Lizard list on the 16th. The adult moulting out of breeding plumage, present on Breydon Water since the 12th, was seen in fields along the south wall of Breydon Water, it was seen there again on the 17th. It is pictured below (left) with a Golden Plover on Breydon Water mudflats on the 12th.

American Golden Plover - © Tim Brown
American Golden Plover - Breydon Water, Norfolk - 12th October 2003 - © Tim Brown


LAPWING Vanellus vanellus
Noted flying in off the sea at Kessingland on the 5th (1) and 8th (3).



KNOT Calidris canutus

Seven flew north past Kessingland on the 22nd.



SANDERLING Calidris alba
Two flew north past Pakefield on the 19th with a Ringed Plover.



PURPLE SANDPIPER Calidris maritima
One was between Ness Point and the harbour on the 4th, 5th, 10th and 11th. Two were there on the 12th, with one again on the 22nd. One was in the harbour by the Lifeboat Station on the 23rd.

Purple Sandpiper © Andrew Easton
Purple Sandpiper - Ness Point - October 2003 - © Andrew Easton


DUNLIN Calidris alpina
Kessingland
- 7th (10 S), 8th (20 N).
Ness Point
- 11th one feeding on the Point, 24th two on the Point.



COMMON SNIPE Gallinago gallinago

One flew in off the sea at Kessingland on the 23rd.



WOODCOCK Scolopax rusticola
One was flushed from the sea front slope below Kensington Gardens, Pakefield on the 24th.



CURLEW Numenius arquata
****
Kessingland - 8th (2 N, 1 S), 9th (1 N), 12th (1 S). 13th (3 S), 16th (1 S), 18th (1), 19th (1), 20th (3 N).
Ness Point - 5th (1 N), 12th (1 S), 22nd (1 S).



REDSHANK Tringa totanus
One flew north past Kessingland on the 18th.



GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus
One flew south over Corton on the 24th.



TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres
****
Kessingland
- 6th (2 S), 17th (4 N), 20th (16 N), 25th (1 N), 26th (1 N), 27th (2).
Ness Point
- 8th (3), 10th (7), 19th (10), 21st (8), 25th (8).



POMARINE SKUA Stercorarius pomarinus
Kessingland
- 11th (1 N, 1 S), 12th (1 S).
Ness Point - 11th (1 N), 12th (1 N, 1 S), 13th (1 N), 22nd (1 N).



ARCTIC SKUA Stercorarius parasiticus
****
Kessingland
- 1st (1 N, 2 S), 4th (1 N), 5th (1 S), 6th (1 N), 7th (1 N, 10 S), 8th (3 N), 10th (2 S), 11th (1 N), 12th (4 N), 13th (3 N), 14th (1 N, 3 S), 16th (1 N), 17th (1 N).
Ness Point - 5th (1 S), 10th (2 S), 12th (6 N), 19th (1 S), 20th (1 S).



LONG-TAILED SKUA Stercorarius longicaudus

A juvenile with a very pale head was sitting on the sea of Kessingland late afternoon on the 6th. The same bird was sitting on the sea off Pakefield the next morning as well.



GREAT SKUA Catharacta skua

Kessingland - 5th (1 S), 6th (1 N), 7th (8 S), 8th (3 N, 3 S), 9th (1 N, 2 S), 10th (2 S), 11th (1 N), 12th (6 N), 13th (6 N, 1 S), 14th (3 S), 15th (5 N), 17th (1 N).
Ness Point - 5th (1 S), 11th (2 N together then on sea), 12th (6 N), 13th (1 N).



MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus
****
Kessingland - 3rd (1 S, second winter), 4th (1 N adult), 7th (1 N adult), 8th (1 S 2nd winter), 9th (1 N adult, 1 S 2nd winter), 16th (1 N adult).
Lowestoft South Pier
- 5th (1st and second winters).
Ness Point
- 5th and 7th one adult north, 10th (1, 2nd winter), 22nd (1 adult), 25th (1 adult).
Lowestoft North Beach - 26th (1adult).
Pakefield
- 23rd (1 N 2nd winter).
Corton -
A Czech Republic red plastic ringed 2nd winter bird was at Corton on the 11th, it is also being seen regularly in Great Yarmouth apparently.



LITTLE GULL Larus minutus
****
Kessingland - 11th (15 N, 37 S), 12th (39 N), 13th (12 N, 10 S), 14th (9 N, 16 S), 15th (5 N, 1 S), 16th (7 N), 18th (2 N), 21st (1 S), 25th (1 N), 26th (1 N), 27th (32 N).
Ness Point - 4th (5 S), 5th (3 N), 10th (2 N), 11th (at least 7 lingering offshore), 12th (40+ N), 24th (4 N).




BLACK-HEADED GULL Larus ridibundus

One Polish metal ringed bird was present on the South Pier on the 5th, 11th and 23rd.



YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus michahellis
The regular adult was on the groynes along Lowestoft North Beach on the 5th. A third winter bird was in the same area on the 10th, and is pictured below.

Yellow-legged Gull © Andrew Easton
Yellow-legged Gull - Lowestoft North Beach - 10th October 2003 - © Andrew Easton



KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla
****
Kessingland
- 1st (1 N), 7th (10 S), 8th (1 N), 10th (3 N, 1 S), 11th (4 N), 12th (511 N), 13th (32 N), 14th (5 N), 15th (2 N), 16th (1 N), 17th (4 N), 19th (1 N), 20th (6 N, 1 S), 22nd (3 N, 2 S), 25th (2 N), 26th (4 N), 29th (1 S).
There was a large northbound passage off Ness Point on the 12th involving several hundred birds.



SANDWICH TERN Sterna sandvichensis ****
Kessingland
- 2nd (7 N), 3rd (1 S), 5th (1 S), 6th (1 N), 8th (1 N), 12th (1 N), 13th (2 S).
Ness Point - 4th (1 N, 5 S), 5th (2 N, 4 S), 8th (2 S), 19th (1).
One juvenile was feeding in Lowestoft Harbour on the evening of the 11th along with a juvenile Common Tern.



COMMON TERN Sterna hirundo

Kessingland
- 3rd (1 N), 5th (1 S), 6th (1 N), 11th (2 N), 12th (1 S).
Ness Point - 12th (3 S).



ARCTIC TERN Sterna paradisaea

One flew south past Ness Point with a Common Tern on the 12th.

Artic Tern - © Tim Brown
Arctic Tern - Ness Point - 12th October 2003 - © Tim Brown


GUILLEMOT Uria aalge
Ness Point
- 4th (2 S), 5th (2 N, 1 o.s.), 12th (1 N), 22nd (1 swimming south).
Pakefield
- 23rd (1 on the sea).



LITTLE AUK Alle alle

One flew north close inshore past Kessingland on the 24th.



PUFFIN Fratercula arctica
One flew north past Kessingland on the 8th.



AUK sp. Alcidae
****
Kessingland
- 1st (1 N), 5th (3 N), 6th (5 S), 7th (2 N, 1 S), 8th (2 S), 9th (2 N, 1 S), 10th (1 N, 1 S), 12th (2 N), 14th (1 N), 15th (3 N, 1 S), 16th (1 N, 2 S), 17th (10 N, 2 S, 1 o.s.), 18th (8 N, 1 o.s.), 19th (12 N, 5 S), 20th (40 N, 3 S, 2 o.s.), 21st (2 N, 1 S, 2 o.s.), 22nd (5 N, 2 S), 23rd (17 N), 24th (1 o.s.), 25th (3 N, 1 S), 26th (9 N, 3 S), 27th (2 N), 28th (6 N), 29th (2 N, 1 o.s.), 30th (8 N), 31st (2 N).
Ness Point - 10th ((1 N, 1S), 12th (2 S).



KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis
One was at Oulton Broad on the 5th. One was at Leathes Ham on the 16th. One flying along the cycle path next to Lowestoft Cemetery on the 18th looked slightly out of place, but it may have been visiting neighbouring garden ponds!



LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopos minor
One was seen in Warren House Wood on the 24th. Nowadays a highly prized rarity locally.



SKY LARK Alauda arvensis
One was feeding along the sea wall at Ness Point itself on the 4th.



SWALLOW Hirundo rustica

Nine were noted at Corton on the 2nd, and three flew south past Kessingland on the 6th. Two flew over Lowestoft Cemetery on the 17th.



HOUSE MARTIN Delichon urbica
Kessingland - 6th (2 S).
Mutford - 7th (1).



TREE PIPIT Anthus trivialis

One was just to the north of Warren House Wood on the 25th and 26th.



MEADOW PIPIT Anthus pratensis
60 were in the stubble fields around Corton on the 2nd.



ROCK PIPIT Anthus petrosus

At least three were seen together at Ness Point on the 5th, with two at the South Pier at dusk. At least two were in the Ness Point area on the 11th, 12th and 21st, with one there on the 25th.



YELLOW WAGTAIL Motacilla flava flavissima
One was at Corton on the 13th.



GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea

North Denes
- 4th (1 N).
Sparrows Nest/Arnolds Walk - 4th (1), 5th (1), 19th (1), 29th (1).
Belle Vue Park - 5th (2 N).
Pakefield - 3rd (1 to the north of Kensington Gardens).
Kessingland Sluice - 6th (1).
Corton - 16th (3).
Corton Woods Pond - 16th (1), 19th (2).
Lowestoft Sports Centre - 19th (1).

Grey Wagtail - © Tim Brown
Grey Wagtail - Sparrows Nest Park - October 2003 - © Tim Brown


BOHEMIAN WAXWING Bombycilla garrulus
****
The first of the winter flew south-east over Kessingland village on the 23rd. Three sightings at Corton disused railtrack on the 24th were thought to involve the same bird lingering. Six were later reported in bushes by the Tesco superstore on the A12 at Gunton also on the 24th.
One flew east over Lowestoft Cemetery on the 25th, another was seen at Oulton Broad on the 26th.
On the 27th at Corton, one flew over early morning and three were later seen perched.



COMMON REDSTART Phoenicurus phoenicurus

One was in a garden at Gunton on the 13th, and one was along the south wall at Breydon Water on the 17th. Another was along the disused railtrack at Corton on the 24th. A first winter male was along the cycle track next to Lowestoft Cemetery on the 27th.



STONECHAT Saxicola torquata

One was at Kessingland Beach on the 18th. Two were along Gunton Beach on the 25th, with one near Links Road car park on the 26th.



NORTHERN WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe
****
Kessingland Beach - 2nd (1), 4th (3), 6th (2), 7th (2 ), 9th (1), 17th (1), 19th (1), 22nd (1), 24th (1), 25th (1), 26th (1).
Mutford - 7th (2).
Breydon Water - 17th ( 2 along the south wall).
Corton - 18th (1), 19th (1).



RING OUZEL Turdus torquatus

One was along the south wall at Breydon Water on the 17th, with another at St. Olaves on the 18th.



BLACKBIRD Turdus merula

Increasing numbers of Blackbirds have been present along the coast recently, and over 20 were at Corton on the 13th, ten of which were trapped and ringed. Large numbers were evident everywhere, with at least 200 in the Gunton area alone. Large numbers were still present along Corton disused railtrack on the 24th, and 37 were trapped and ringed there on the 27th.


FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris
One flew west over Oulton Broad on the morning of the 7th. Four were along the cycle track next to Lowestoft Cemetery on the 13th, and five flew over there on the 18th. Two were feeding in the Rowan trees in Lowestoft Cemetery on the 19th. Five were on the Denes Oval on the 21st, with six there on the 23rd.

One seen flying in from the sea at Ness Point on the 12th made it to within 400 metres of the shore and then dramatically plunged onto the sea as it's strength gave out, a heart breaking sight. About one minute later a Great Black-backed Gull spotted it in the water and swopped down to snap up lunch, amazingly the Fieldfare then launched itself from the water and flew to the rocks at the Point where it rested, pictured below.

Fieldfare  © Tim Brown
Fieldfare - Ness Point - 12th October 2003 - © Tim Brown

When we returned from a brief excursion to see the American Golden Plover at Breydon Water it had gone. Hopefully it had moved on after regaining some strength after resting its wing muscles. How many more plunge into the sea unseen on their journey here?

Three were watched coming in off the sea at Ness Point on the 24th.



SONG THRUSH Turdus philomelos
At least ten were at Corton disused railtrack on the 2nd, and increased numbers of migrants were noted at Mutford in the first week of the month.
Five presumed migrants were noted at Corton on the 13th, with 10+ there on the 16th.



REDWING Turdus iliacus

Two were noted along the disused railtrack at Corton on the 2nd. Small numbers were then arriving most nights, with good numbers still arriving early morning on the 7th when the wind had eased compared with earlier in the week. 130 flew west over Oulton Broad in just fifteen minutes between 07:30 and 07:45, and flocks were still flying westwards over the town centre at 09:00.

Many were calling overhead as they arrived in off the sea over Lowestoft on the evening of the 12th, and over twenty were at Corton on the morning of the 13th, four of which were trapped and ringed. 30+ were at Corton on the 16th. Numerous along the disused railtrack at Corton on the 24th



BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla

Gunton - 11th (1).
Corton - 13th (1 trapped and ringed), 14th (2), 16th (1), 18th (1), 22nd (1), 23rd (1), 24th (5 including four trapped and ringed), 27th (1).
Lowestoft Cemetery - 13th (1), 18th (2), 19th (1).



PALLAS'S WARBLER Phylloscopus proregulus

After a three year wait one of these delightful Asian gems was once again found in the Lounge Lizard area. This time in Warren House Wood on the 22nd. It was rather mobile and accompanying a tit flock.
After a lengthy search it was seen there again on the 23rd and eventually showed very well, as can be seen in the photo below! It was still present on the 25th, at one time with a Yellow-browed Warbler sitting next to it!.
A probable was glimpsed in Kensington Gardens, Pakefield on the 24th.

Pallas's Warbler ©Tim Brown
Pallas's Warbler - Warren House Wood - October 2003 - ©Tim Brown



YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER Phylloscopus inornatus

Corton Disused railtrack
- The individual first noted on September 29th was still present to the 2nd. A second bird was also present there on the 2nd. One was showing well there on the 27th.
Sparrows Nest Park - One was seen briefly there on the 4th.
Warren Lane, Gorleston - One was seen on the 19th.
Lowestoft Cemetery - Two birds present along the adjacent cycle track from the 19th -25th, with at least one to the 27th to the north of the road bridge. A particularly vocal bird, that frequently sings as well as calls favours the area north of the road bridge. A rather less vocal bird, but with better marked median wing covert bars, favours the area to the south of the road bridge, it is pictured below.

Gunton Woods - On the 23rd what at first appeared to be an extremely mobile individual eventually proved to be two birds when they came together in adjacent trees, both were still present on the 25th.
Warren House Wood - The eleventh bird of the autumn locally was found in the company of the Pallas's Warbler on the 25th.

Yellow-browed Warbler ©Tim Brown
Yellow-browed Warbler - Lowestoft Cemetery - October 2003 - ©Tim Brown



RADDE'S WARBLER Phylloscopus schwarzi
One spent the afternoon of the 13th along the cycle track along the disused railway line next to Lowestoft Cemetery. It spent much of the time in the windblown canopy rather than in the sheltered understorey. Unfortunately there was no sign of it on the 14th.

Radde's Warbler - © Tim Brown
Radde's Warbler - Lowestoft - 13th October 2003 - © Tim Brown


CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita

Corton
- 2nd (2), 4th (2), 5th (2), 10th (1), 13th (1), 14th (1), 16th (2), 22nd (1), 23rd (3), 24th (3, including one very pale bird of abietinus type), 27th (1).
Gunton - 10th (1), 11th (4), 23rd (1).
Lowestoft Cemetery
- 13th (1), 14th (1), 15th (1), 19th (1), 20th (3), 23rd (1), 25th (1), 26th (1).
Warren House Wood - 23rd (2), 25th (3), 26th (2).



WILLOW WARBLER Phylloscopus trochilus

One was at Gunton Beach on the 10th.



GOLDCREST Regulus regulus
Seven were at Corton railtrack on the 2nd. Quite numerous around Sparrows Nest and Belle Vue Parks on the 4th and 5th.

One flew in off the sea at Ness Point on the 12th a dived for cover in the Gas Works yard, it appeared in much better health than the much larger Fieldfare seen later on.

20+ were noted at Corton on the 13th, two of which were trapped and ringed. Over 30 were there on the 16th, and eleven of them were trapped and ringed. At least 25 were in Warren House Wood on the 25th.



FIRECREST Regulus ingnicapillus

Sparrows Nest Park
- 4th (2 including one in song), 5th (1), 19th (2).
Corton - 13th (3), 16th (two first winters, male and female, trapped and ringed), 18th (3), 19th (1), 22nd (1), 23rd (1), 24th (2), 30th (1).
Belle Vue Park
- 16th (1), 18th (2).
Lowestoft Cemetery - 16th (1), 19th (1), 20th (1).
Oulton Broad
- 18th (1).
Gorleston
- 19th (2).
Warren House Wood
- 25th (1).

Firecrest - © Robert Wincup
Firecrest (male) - Corton - 16th October 2003 - © Robert Wincup


TREECREEPER Certhia familiaris

One was trapped and ringed at Corton on the 31st, coinciding with reports of this species at coastal sites in Friesland in the Netherlands. It spent much of its time feeding in brambles bushes and hedges, which seems rather more in keeping with a recently arrived migrant than a wandering local bird.



JAY Garrulus glandarius
One was trapped and ringed at Corton on the 27th.



BRAMBLING Fringilla montifringilla

Corton
- 2nd (1), 11th (2), 13th (10), 16th (5+), 18th (5+), 22nd (5+), 23rd (5), 24th (5+).
Corton Woods - 16th (3), 19th (8).
Ness Point - 5th (1), 11th (1).
Sparrows Nest Park - 5th (3+).
Lowestoft Cemetery - 14th (2+), 20th (2+), 23rd (7+), 24th (5), 25th (4).
Gunton Woods - 20th (2), 23rd (100 in a single flock).
Warren House Woods - 25th (2).



GREENFINCH Carduelis chloris
A flock of 200+ are currently present at Ness Point feeding in the Gas Works compound. They are accompanied by small numbers of Linnets, Goldfinches and the odd House Sparrow.



SISKIN Carduelis spinus

Ness Point - 4th (1 S).
Corton - 16th (1), 24th (12 N, 6 S), 25th (8 N), 27th (30+).
Lowestoft - 19th (1 W).
Sparrows Nest Park - 25th (16 S).



LESSER REDPOLL Carduelis cabaret

Twelve were seen at Corton on the 24th, with three at Warren House Wood on the 25th. One was trapped and ringed at Corton on the 27th.



COMMON (MEALY) REDPOLL Carduelis flammea
One was with a flock of twelve Lesser Redpolls at Corton on the 24th.



REDPOLL sp. Carduelis cabaret/flammea
Oulton Broad
- 6th (2).
Corton - 16th (1), 21st (6), 24th (28), 27th (40+).
Lowestoft Cemetery - 25th (3).
North Denes - 25th (1 N, 1S).



HAWFINCH Coccothraustes coccothraustes
One was seen with a small flock of Chaffinches along the disused railtrack at Corton on the 29th.



SNOW BUNTING Plectrophenax nivalis
****
Ness Point - 11th (3 settled on the Point then flew south), 23rd (1 S). One was along the south wall of Breydon Water on the 17th.
Breydon South Wall - 17th (1).
Kessingland Beach - 15th (2), 21st (4), 23rd (4), 26th (14), 29th (17), 31st (17).



REED BUNTING Emberiza schoeniclus
One was at Corton on the 12th, and one flew south over Lowestoft Cemetery on the 18th.




BIRDS RECORDED IN LIZARD LAND DURING 2003: Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Shag, Cormorant, Night Heron, Spoonbill, Fulmar, Cory's Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Storm Petrel, Leach's Storm Petrel, Gannet, Little Egret, Grey Heron, White Stork, Mute Swan, Tundra Bean Goose, White-fronted Goose, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Barnacle Goose, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Mandarin Duck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Scaup, Eider, Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, Black Kite, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Merlin, Hobby, Peregrine, Red-legged Partridge, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Common Crane, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, American Golden Plover, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper, Dunlin, Jack Snipe, Snipe, Woodcock, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Whimbrel, Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Turnstone, Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua, Long-tailed Skua, Great Skua, Mediterranean Gull, Little Gull, Sabine's Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Glaucous Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Kittiwake, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Little Tern, Black Tern, Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin, Little Auk, Feral Dove, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Little Owl, Short-eared Owl, Common Swift, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Sky Lark, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Richard's Pipit, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, (White Wagtail), Bohemian Waxwing, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Stonechat, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Pallas's Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Radde's Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Chiffchaff, (Siberian Chiffchaff), Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Common (Mealy) Redpoll, Crossbill, Bullfinch, Hawfinch, Snow Bunting, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting.


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