Home	September 2018	November 2018

Yellow-browed Warbler - Lowestoft © Andrew Easton The two SHORE LARKS were still at Kessingland Beach on the 29th. Owls were the feature of the day on the 27th, with at least 16 SHORT-EARED OWLS and two LONG-EARED OWLS arriving in off the sea between Gorleston and Kessingland, with the majority seen off north Lowestoft. Two LITTLE AUKS were also noted offshore during the day. VAGRANT EMPERORS and RED-VEINED DARTERS were still being seen at Kessingland Beach on the 25th. The Carlton Marshes CATTLE EGRET was still present on the 21st at least. Our next get together will be this Thursday 1st November at The Stanford Arms, Stanford Street, Lowestoft from 8pm

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RED-THROATED DIVER Gavia stellata
Ness Point/Lowestoft North Beach - 2nd (61), 19th (6 N, 3 S).



GREAT NORTHERN DIVER Gavia immer
Corton - 23rd (1 N).



RED-NECKED GREBE Podiceps grisegena
Lowestoft North Beach - 6th (1 N).
Gorleston - 27th (1).

Vagrant Emperor (females - above & below) - Kessingland Beach © Andrew Easton The Vagrant Emperors are being seen most regularly in the dunes near the sea wall centred on the steps down from Coastguard Lane. A female was first seen on the 20th on the beach out from the steps down from Heathlands at the north end of the beach. On the 21st a female was seen on the cliff below the southernmost caravans at the Kessingland Beach Caravan Park, and a male was near the Coastguard Lane steps area. On the 22nd a female was seen in the dunes close to the steps down from Coastguard Lane. On the 23rd a female was seen briefly in flight near the steps down from Rider Haggard Lane, and a male and female were in the dunes close to the steps down from Coastguard Lane (and were briefly in flight together hunting along the seawall at one point). On the 24th at least one male and a female were present, and a female was present on the 25th.

Vagrant Emperor (male) - Kessingland Beach © Andrew Easton

Red-veined Darter (female) - Kessingland Beach © Peter Ransome

GANNET Morus bassanus
Corton - 2nd (158).
Ness Point - 12th (14 N), 19th (34 N, 67 S).



FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis
Corton - 2nd (2).



EURASIAN BITTERN Botaurus stellaris
Carlton Marshes - 11th (1).



LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta
Carlton Marshes - 25th (3).



CATTLE EGRET Bubulcus ibis
The adult was still at Carlton Marshes on the 21st at least, and spends much of its time with white cattle near the river just west of the reserve.

The other adult was present again along Breydon South Wall on the 3rd at least.

Cattle Egret - Carlton Marshes © Andrew Easton

WHOOPER SWAN Cygnus cygnus
One flew north along the coast at Pakefield on the 23rd.



DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE Branta bernicla bernicla
Ness Point - 6th (35 N), 7th (3 N), 12th (31 S), 19th (500 S).



PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Anser brachyrhynchus
New Road, Bradwell - 24th (21 S).
Ashby - 25th (c. 750).



SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna
Ness Point - 12th (1 S), 19th (1 S).



MANDARIN Aix galericulata
Kensington Gardens - 28th (1).



TEAL Anas crecca
Ness Point/Lowestoft North Beach - 6th (6 S), 12th (33 S), 7 N, 7 S).
Corton Church - 8th (1 W).
Carlton Marshes - 14th (2).



PINTAIL Anas acuta
Ness Point - 19th (2 S).



WIGEON Anas penelope
Ness Point/Lowestoft North Beach - 6th (7 N), 12th (7 S), 19th (15 S).
Corton - 8th (1 S).



COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra
Corton - 2nd (10).
Ness Point - 12th (3 S), 19th (4 S), 28th (123).



VELVET SCOTER Melanitta fusca
Ness Point/Lowestoft North Beach - 28th (1 N).



COMMON EIDER Somateria mollissima
Ness Point - 19th (1 N, 3 S), 28th (74 N).



GOLDENEYE Bucephala clangula
Ness Point/Lowestoft North Beach - 28th (2).



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator
Ness Point - 6th (1 S), 19th (1 S), 28th (9 N).



GOOSANDER Mergus merganser
Ness Point - 19th (2 S).



SPARROWHAWK Accipiter nisus
Lowestoft - 27th (1 in off the sea).



KESTREL Falco tinnunculus
One arrived in off the sea at Corton on the 2nd.



PEREGRINE Falco peregrinus
New Road, Bradwell - 3rd (1).
Hopton Cliffs - 15th (1).



HOBBY Falco subbuteo
Oulton Marshes - 10th (1).



COMMON CRANE Grus grus
Yarmouth Road, Lowestoft - 12th (3 N).



GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis apricaria
Ellough - 28th (c. 60), 30th (c. 24).



GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola
Kessingland Sluice - 9th(1).
Ness Point - 12th (1 S).

Caspian Gull - Gunton Warren © Andrew Easton This first winter individual had been ringed as a nestling in the south east of the Czech Republic in May.

LAPWING Vanellus vanellus
Carlton Marshes - 7th (100).



KNOT Calidris canutus
Corton - 2nd (2).



DUNLIN Calidris alpina
Corton - 2nd (5).
Carlton Marshes - 3rd (2), 7th (2).
Ness Point - 6th (6 N), 12th (72 S), 19th (2 S), 28th (2), 29th (5).



PURPLE SANDPIPER Calidris maritima
Kessingland Sluice - 13th (1).
Ness Point - 28th (2), 29th (5).

 

WOODCOCK Scolopax rusticola
Gunton Warren - 27th (1), 28th (1 in off the sea).
Corton new sewage works - 27th (1).
Ness Point - 28th (1 in off the sea).
Bentley Drive, Lowestoft - 29th (1).



SNIPE Gallinago gallinago
Carlton Marshes - 7th (8), 8th (15), 14th (5), 19th (31).

An old postcard view from the late 19th or early 20th century looking eastward across Oulton Broad.

GREAT SKUA Stercorarius skua
Kessingland - 5th (1 N), 6th (1 N).
Ness Point - 19th (1 S).



POMARINE SKUA Stercorarius pomarinus
Corton - 26th (2 S).



CASPIAN GULL Larus cachinnans
A colour ringed first winter was at Gunton Beach on the 12th, it had been ringed as a nestling in the south east of the Czech Republic in May.



LITTLE GULL Hydrocoloeus minutus
Ness Point/Lowestoft North Beach - 28th (15), 30th (30+ feeding offshore).



KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla
Ness Point/Lowestoft North Beach - 28th (108).



SANDWICH TERN Sterna sandvichensis
Corton - 2nd (4).
Kessingland - 6th (1).
Ness Point/Lowestoft North Beach - 6th (2 N), 7th (2 N).



COMMON TERN Sterna hirundo
Oulton Broad - 12th (1st winter).
Carlton Marshes - 14th (1st winter).



LITTLE AUK Alle alle
Kessingland - 27th (1 on the sea).
Ness Point - 27th (1 N), 28th (1 S).



AUK sp. Alcidae
Corton - 2nd (147).



KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis
Carlton Marshes - 3rd (1).
Lowestoft North Beach - 5th (1).
Hamilton Dock - 7th (1), 21st (1).



SHORT-EARED OWL Asio flammeus
Carlton Marshes - 4th (1), 22nd (1).
Lowestoft North Denes - 12th (1 in off the sea).
Gunton Warren - 18th (1).
Corton-Ness Point - 27th (at least 14 in off the sea), 28th (2 in off the sea).
Gorleston - 27th (1 in off the sea).
Kessingland - 27th (1 in off the sea).
Oulton - 28th (1 over).



LONG-EARED OWL Asio otus
Lowestoft North Denes - 27th (2 in off the sea).

Long-eared Owl - Lowestoft © Andrew Easton

SHORE LARK Eremophila alpestris
Two were at Kessingland Beach on the 20th to 29th with occasional absences.



ROCK PIPIT Anthus petrosus
Ness Point - 6th (8 on migration), 13th (2).
Gunton Warren - 12th (1 S).
Kessingland Sluice - 13th (1).



WATER PIPIT Anthus spinoletta
Carlton Marshes - 25th (1).



MEADOW PIPIT Anthus pratensis
Ashby - 25th (c. 60).



GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea
Hamilton Dock - 6th (1).
Ness Point - 6th (1), 13th (1) 19th (1), 28th (1).
The Hollies, Kessingland Cliffs - 7th (2).
Sparrows Nest Park - 14th (1), 21st (2).
Maltster's Score - 28th (2).




WHITE WAGTAIL Motacilla alba alba
Corton Church - 12th (1).
Kessingland sewage works - 14th (1).



SWALLOW Hirundo rustica
The Hollies, Kessingland Cliffs - 6th (1).
Corton old sewage works - 7th (2).
Corton - 12th (1 S).
Rant Score - 13th (2 S).
Kessingland Beach - 13th (2 S).



WAXWING Bombycilla garrulus
One flew north-westward over the Hollies at Kessingland on the 24th.



STONECHAT Saxicola rubicola
Carlton Marshes - 7th (2), 14th (3).
Lowestoft North Denes - 7th (2), 17th (1), 19th (1), 21st (2).



COMMON REDSTART Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Gunton Warren - 8th (1).
Corton old sewage works - 15th (1).



BLACK REDSTART Phoenicurus ochruros
Hamilton Road/SLP - 6th (2 singing), 13th (1), 28th (2).
Kessingland Sluice - 28th (1).



WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe
Ness Point - 7th (1).
Kessingland Sluice - 7th (1), 13th (1).
Lowestoft North Denes - 13th (1), 16th (1).



SONG THRUSH Turdus philomelus
Ness Point - 8th (2 in off the sea).
Lowestoft North Denes - 8th (3+).



RING OUZEL Turdus torquatus
Gunton disused railtrack - 10th (1).
Kessingland sewage works - 11th (1), 20th (1).
Carlton Marshes - 12th (1).



REDWING Turdus iliacus
Hopton - 2nd (1).
Carlton Marshes - 3rd (43), 7th (10).
New Road, Bradwell - 3rd (9).
Blundeston Lanes - 11th (30+).
New Road, Bradwell - 24th (2 W).
 


FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris
Carlton Marshes - 3rd (3), 7th (18).
New Road, Bradwell - 24th (20 W).



BARRED WARBLER Sylvia nisoria
Caldecott Road, Oulton Broad - 9th (1).



BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla
Mariner's Score - 7th (1).
Rant Score - 7th (2), 14th (1).
Kessingland Sluice - 7th (2).
Gunton disused railtrack - 10th (2).
Kessingland sewage works - 14th (4).
Maltster's Score - 17th (2), 19th (1).

 

LESSER WHITETHROAT Sylvia curruca
Dip Farm, Gunton - 6th (1).
The Hollies, Kessingland - 6th (1).
Ness Point - 7th (1).
Kessingland Sluice - 7th (1).



YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER Phylloscopus inornatus

The 7th saw an unprecedented arrival, with 39 being found, more in a day than our grand total for a good autumn!

Burgh Castle (2).
Warren Lane (4).
Radar Lodge (Hopton/Corton) (4 per RBA).
Corton Church (1).
Corton disused railtrack (4).
Corton new sewage works (1).
Corton Woods (4).
Gunton Wood (2+)
Gunton disused railtrack (1).
Gunton Warren (1)
North Denes (1).
Flycatcher Alley (3).
Sparrow's Nest Park (3)
Linear park cycle track (3).
Lowestoft Cemetery (1).
Kirkley Ham (1).
Kirkley Cemetery (1).
Kessingland sewage works (1).
Mutford (1).

A workday on the 8th obviously meant much less coverage, but there were still several around at the same sites as the day before, and often still multiple birds. The species continued to be recorded daily through to the 21st.

Radar Lodge (Hopton/Corton) - 8th (2).
Corton disused railtrack - 8th (2+), 9th (2), 11th (1), 13th (1).
Gunton Warren - 8th (1), 10th (1).
Gunton Wood - 8th (2-3), 9th (2), 11th (1), 13th (1), 14th (3), 15th (1), 17th (2), 18th (1), 19th (1), 21st (2).
Sparrows Nest Park - 8th (1), 9th (1), 14th (2).
Linear Park Cycle Track - 8th (3), 13th (4), 14th (3), 15th (1), 17th (2), 19th (3), 20th (2), 21st (1), 28th (1).
Gunton disused railtrack - 10th (1), 16th (2+), 18th (2), 19th (3).
James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston - 10th (1).
Breydon South Wall (Rugby Club) - 10th (1).
Tramps Alley - 10th (1).
Yarmouth Road, Lowestoft - 12th (1).
Lowestoft North Denes - 13th (1), 21st (2), 27th (1).
Kirkley Ham - 13th (1).
Kessingland sewage works/fishing lakes - 14th (2), 17th (3 ringed).
Bosquet Close (Fallowfields) - 14th (1).
Maltster's Score - 15th (1).
Rant Score/Martin's Score - 15th (1 possible same as in Maltster's Score).
Hubbard's Loke, Gunton - 16th (1).
Corton Church - 18th (1).
Kirkley Fen Park - 27th (1).

On the 14th two individuals, one along the cycle track and the other at Sparrows Nest Park, were noted singing at times. A brief recording of the song and a longer one of the calls of one of them can be heard at the links below. (links will open in a new window)

Song        Call

Yellow-browed Warbler - Linear Park Cycle Track © Andrew Easton

PALLAS'S WARBLER Phylloscopus proregulus
Gunton Warren - 15th (1).



CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita
Carlton Marshes - 3rd (6), 7th (6).
Lowestoft North Denes - 7th (6+), 8th (4), 17th (2), 21st & 22nd (1 Siberian type individual), 27th (6).
Linear Park Cycle Track - 7th (1), 13th (2).
Ness Point - 7th (1).
Kessingland Sluice - 7th (2).
Gunton Warren - 8th (2), 13th (1).
Gunton disused railtrack - 10th (5).
Gunton Wood - 12th (2), 15th (2).
Corton disused railtrack - 12th (1), 27th (2).
Maltster's Score - 12th (1), 17th (1).
Kessingland sewage works - 14th (5).



FIRECREST Regulus ignicapilla
Gunton Warren - 28th (1+).



PIED FLYCATCHER Ficedula hypoleuca
Flycatcher Alley (Denes Oval) - 7th (1).
Corton disused railtrack - 8th (1).
Maltster's Score - 12th to 14th (2).



STARLING Sturnus vulgaris
Kessingland - 6th (110 in off the sea).
Ness Point - 6th (180+ in off the sea).



BRAMBLING Fringilla montifringilla
Ness Point - 6th (3+ in off the sea).
Mariner's Score - 7th (1).
Linear Park Cycle Track - 7th (1), 28th (1).
Corton old sewage works - 7th (1), 27th (1).
Oulton Marshes - 10th (6).
Gunton disused railtrack - 10th (1), 27th (1).
Gunton Wood - 12th (1).
Blundeston Lanes - 11th (4).
Maltster's Score - 17th (1).
Carlton Marshes - 19th (1).

Brambling - Lowestoft © Andrew Easton

CHAFFINCH Fringilla coelebs
Ness Point - 6th (90+ in off the sea).
The Hollies, Kessingland Cliffs - 7th (c. 60).



SISKIN Carduelis spinus
Lowestoft North Denes - 7th (3).
The Hollies, Kessingland Cliffs - 7th (20).
Carlton Marshes - 19th (2).



TWITE Carduelis flavirostris
Kessingland Beach - 13th (1).



LESSER REDPOLL Carduelis flammea
Lowestoft North Denes - 7th (3), 15th (3).
The Hollies, Kessingland Cliffs - 7th (2).
Corton old sewage works - 7th (3)/



CROSSBILL Loxia curvirostra
Gunton - 16th (1 S), 19th (1).
Waveney Forest - 31st (2).

Snow Buntings - Gunton Warren © Andrew Easton

SNOW BUNTING Plectrophenax nivalis
Gunton Warren - 12th (3), 13th (3), 14th (5), 15th (5).
Corton Cliffs - 15th (1).
Corton - 23rd (1 S).



LAPLAND BUNTING Calcarius lapponicus
Kessingland Beach - 21st (1).



YELLOWHAMMER Emberiza citrinella
Lowestoft North Denes - 28th (2).



REED BUNTING Emberiza schoeniclus
Kessingland Sluice - 7th (4).
Kessingland Beach - 13th (3).



LITTLE BUNTING Emberiza pusilla
One was seen and heard at Ness Point on the 6th but not relocated.

Links for local bird news Waveney Bird Club Suffolk Birding with BINS