Recent bird sightings in the Lizard area

RED-THROATED DIVER Gavia stellata ****
Kessingland - 1st (7 S), 2nd (1 N), 3rd (1 N, 1 on sea), 4th (4 S, 2 o/s), 5th (6 N, 7 S, 2 o/s), 10th (12 S, 7 N), 11th(17 N, 12 S), 12th (6 N, 2 S, 7 o/s), 17th (7 N, 11 S, 1 o/s), 18th (5 N, 40 S, 1 o/s), 19th (26 N, 24 S, 1 o/s), 20th (151 N, 23 S), 21st (117 N, 16 S, 2 o/s), 22nd (20 N, 9 S, 2 o/s), 23rd (57 N, 11 S, 29 o/s), 24th (22 N, 61 S, 6 o/s), 25th (94 N, 32 S, 4 o/s), 26th (30 N, 6 S, 6 o/s), 27th (25 N, 88 S, 3 o/s), 28th (31 N, 158 S, 2 o/s), 29th (80 N, 38 S, 2 o/s),
30th (77 N, 160 S, 15 o/s).
Ness Point - 2nd (1 S), 5th (1 N), 8th (1 o/s), 9th (1 N), 16th (5 N, 3 S).

BLACK-THROATED DIVER Gavia arctica ****
Kessingland - 3rd (1 N), 6th (1 o/s), 7th (1 o/s), 10th (1 S), 15th (1 N), 18th (1 N), 24th (1 o/s).

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER Gavia immer ****
Kessingland - 27th (1 N).

DIVER sp. Gaviidae
Kessingland - 11th (1 N), 15th (1 N), 28th (1 S), 30th (1 S).

GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus ****
Kessingland - 1st (1 o/s), 2nd (1 S), 4th (2 N, 1 S), 5th (2 S, 4 o/s), 6th (3 N, 4 S, 1 o/s), 7th (1 S, 1 o/s), 8th (1 N, 2 o/s), 10th (1 S), 11th (1 S), 12th (1 S), 13th (2 S, 2 o/s), 14th (3 N, 2 S, 1 o/s), 15th (1 N, 1 S), 16th (3 N, 4 S, 1 o/s), 18th (1 S), 19th (1 S), 20th (2 N), 21st (1 S), 23rd (1 o/s), 24th (1 S), 25th (1 N, 3 S, 2 o/s), 26th (1 S, 1 o/s), 27th (9 S, 12 o/s), 28th (2 N), 30th (2 S).

FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis
Kessingland - 2nd (1 N).

GANNET Morus bassanus ****
Kessingland - 1st (21 N), 2nd (6 N, 1 S), 6th (3 N), 7th (17 N, 1 S), 8th (70 N, 8 S), 9th (70 N), 10th (2 N, 10 S), 11th (4 N), 12th (1 N), 13th (1 N, 2 S), 14th (10 N), 15th (2 N), 16th (3 N, 1 S), 17th (2 N), 18th (7 N, 2 S), 19th (10 N, 14 S), 20th (3 N), 21st (11 N, 1 S), 22nd (7 N), 24th (1 N), 25th (3 N), 26th (4 N, 1 S, 27th (4 N, 3 S), 28th (2 N, 5 S), 29th (8 N, 3 S), 30th (4 N, 1 S).
Ness Point - 7th (1 N, 10 S), 8th (9 N, 3 S), 9th (5 N), 16th (3 N).

CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo ****
Kessingland - 1st (1 o/s), 3rd (2 S), 4th (1 S), 5th (2 N, 4 S), 6th (6 N), 7th (3 S), 8th (1 N, 1 S), 9th (1 N, 1 S), 10th (6 S), 11th (1 N), 12th (3 N, 1 S), 13th (1 N, 1 S), 14th (3 N, 2 S), 15th (3 S), 16th (3 N, 2 S, 1 o/s), 17th (1 N, 1 S), 19th (1 N, 10 S), 20th (1 N, 2 S), 21st (2 N), 22nd (3 N, 2 S), 24th (1 N, 4 S), 25th (3 N, 2 S), 26th (1 N, 3 S), 27th (1 S), 28th (3 N, 2 S), 29th (2 N), 30th (1 S).
Ness Point - 4th (1 S), 16th (2 N).

LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta
Two were at Burgh Castle on the 7th. Nine were along the south shore of Breydon Water on the 20th.

GLOSSY IBIS Plegadis falcinellus
Yep, Arnie's back again. After being seen flying past St. Olaves in the direction of Somerleyton on the morning of the 7th, later on he/she was back again on the mudflats at Burgh Castle. Late in the afternoon after a protracted fly around of most of the western end of Breydon Water it eventually dropped into the Berney Marshes RSPB reserve.

On the 21st he/she was feeding on the mudflats along the south wall of Breydon near the pump house.

GREY HERON Ardea cinerea ****
One arrived in off the sea at Kessingland on the 14th. One flew west calling over central Lowestoft at 17:35 on the 30th, well after dark!

WHOOPER SWAN Cygnus cygnus
An obviously unknown number were heard calling in flight as the flew east to west over Carlton Colville at 20:53 on the 6th. What they made of the fireworks going off all round them is unknown!
A flock of around 20 flew over Beccles Common at 15:30 on the 8th.
A flock of 12 flew over Hobland Hall, between Bradwell and Lound, on the 14th. What were presumably the same 12 had been watched, a little earlier, from Gorleston Harbour arriving in off the sea over north Lowestoft.

BEWICK'S SWAN Cygnus (columbianus) bewickii
Five flew west over Outon Broad on the 23rd.

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Anser brachyrhynchus
2200 were in fields between Bradwell and Belton on the 15th and 16th, but these fields have since been ploughed and the birds have moved on. The species finally spills over into Suffolk. Whilst several thousand currently winter in the Martham/Horsey area of the Norfolk Broads they have rarely ventured south of the River Waveney in any numbers, until now.

450 were in the stubble fields near Radar Lodge at Corton/Hopton on the afternnon of the 16th. Numbers then increased, with at least 1500 present on the 18th, with around 2500 there on the 19th. The birds arrive at dawn and then spend most of the day feeding there. These fields are also currently being ploughed, so they probably won't be there much longer, and will once again have to find new feeding grounds.

At first light on the 20th 3160 flew from RSPB Berney Marshes area in the directon of Hopton, but they didn't arrive in the fields there and their whereabouts during the rest of the day remain unknown.

Also on the 20th 60+ flew south over St Olaves in the direction of Somerleyton.

On a rather lower, and more typical, scale eleven flew west along Breydon Water on the 28th.

Pink-footed Goose - Corton - November 2004 - ©Andrew Easton

GREYLAG GOOSE Anser anser
165 were on the River Waveney at Burgh Castle on the 7th.

ROSS'S GOOSE Anser rossi
One adult was with Pink-footed Geese in fields between Bradwell and Belton on the 15th.

CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis
63 were on the River Waveney at Burgh Castle on the 7th.
224 were feeding in a stubble field along Jay Lane, Lound on the 21st. An adult SWAN GOOSE Anser cygnoides was mixed in with them, an addition to our Escapes list! The Swan Goose had also been present there on the 20th, and had been seen leaving roost at Berney RSPB reserve that morning.

Swan Goose - Lound - November 2004 - ©Robert Wilton

BARNACLE GOOSE Branta leucopsis
13 flew north at height over Oulton Broad on the 24th.

DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE Branta bernicla bernicla ****
Kessingland - 1st (13 N, 27 S), 2nd (26 N, 487 S), 3rd (1 N, 42 S), 4th (3 S), 5th (3 N, 2 S), 6th (12 N), 7th (7 N, 73 S), 8th (5 N, 16 S), 9th (12 N, 103 S, 4 o/s), 10th (8 N), 12th (4 N, 1 S), 13th (1 S), 14th (10 N, 1 S), 15th (3 N), 16th (3 S), 19th (1 S), 20th (9 N, 4 S), 21st (9 N, 10 S), 22nd (8 S), 23rd (4 S), 24th (4 N, 51 S), 25th (1 S), 27th (3 S), 29th (1 N, 1 S).
Ness Point - 2nd (46 S), 3rd (8 S), 7th (12 N, 10 S), 9th (28 S), 14th (1 S), 24th (22 S), 30th (1 S).

EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiacus
Oulton Broad - 20th (7).
Jay Lane, Lound - 21st (7).
Somerleyton Marshes - 21st (42).

SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna ****
Kessingland - 1st (4 N), 2nd (2 S), 7th (1 N), 8th (38 N, 9 S), 10th (3 N, 25 S), 12th (3 S), 19th (4 N), 20th (1 N), 21st (8 N, 5 S),
22nd (2 S), 24th (12 N, 16 S), 25th (1 S), 26th (3 S), 29th (1 S), 30th (2 N).
Ness Point - 8th (7 N), 9th (4).

WIGEON Anas penelope ****
Kessingland - 1st (73 N, 29 S), 2nd (21 N, 33 S), 3rd (76 S), 4th (1 S), 7th (6 N, 2 S), 8th (133 N), 9th (8 S), 10th (13 N, 6 S), 19th (4 N), 20th (12 N, 2 S), 21st (12 N), 24th (46 N, 6 S), 29th (4 N, 18 S), 30th (9 N, 2 S).
Burgh Castle - 7th (79).

GADWALL Anas strepera
Kessingland - 1st (2 N), 4th (2 S).
Oulton Broad - 4th (2 flew eastwards over Holly Road).
Leathes Ham - 28th (2).

TEAL Anas crecca ****
Kessingland - 1st (7 S), 2nd (14 N, 6 S), 3rd (3 N, 17 S), 6th (3 S), 7th (7 S), 8th (8 N), 13th (1 S), 19th (14 S), 20th (18 N), 21st (17 N, 10 S), 22nd (3 S), 23rd (4 o/s), 24th (1 N, 10 S), 25th (11 N, 9 S).
Ness Point - 7th (3 N), 21st (5 S).

PINTAIL Anas acuta
Kessingland - 2nd (4 N, 4 S), 3rd (8 S), 4th (11 S), 6th (1 N), 9th (2 N, 2 S), 24th (8 N, 6 S), 25th (1 S).

SHOVELER Anas clypeata
Kessingland - 3rd (2 S).
Holly Road, Oulton Broad - 5th (23 flew eastwards,then appeared to drop towards Leathes Ham), 17th (26 E).
Leathes Ham - 28th (35).

POCHARD Aythya ferina
Leathes Ham - 28th (2).

TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula ****
Kessingland - 2nd (5 S), 3rd (2 S), 4th (3 N), 7th (1 S), 8th (4 S), 15th (14 N then S), 19th (1 S), 22nd (1 S), 27th (6 S).
Leathes Ham - 28th (5).

SCAUP Aythya marila
Six flew north past Kessingland on the 8th. Maybe they returned south later, as there were six on Benacre Pits a short distance to the south on the 13th and 14th.

COMMON EIDER Somateria mollissima ****
Kessingland - 2nd (18 N), (5 N), 8th (3 N), 10th (4 N), 11th (2 N), 12th (1 N), 14th (1 S), 24th (3 N), 25th (2 N), 27th (1 N), 29th (61 N), 30th (11 N).
Ness Point - 2nd (4 N), 10th (9 N together), 30th (20 N).
Corton - 27th (1 on the sea).

COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra ****
Kessingland - 1st (132 N, 75 S, 35 o/s), 2nd (30 N, 17 S), 3rd (11 N, 29 S, 20 o/s), 4th (6 N, 19 S), 5th (3 N, 10 o/s), 6th (8 N), 7th (4 N, 167 S), 8th (50 N, 25 S), 9th (1 N), 10th (11 N, 5 S), 11th (1 S), 13th (3 S), 14th (1 N, 2 o/s), 15th (29 N, 25 S, 1 o/s), 16th (1 N, 14 S, 2 o/s), 17th (17 S), 18th (8 S, 15 o/s), 19th (5 N, 92 S), 20th (24 N, 34 S), 21st (23 N, 3 S), 22nd (12 N, 3 S), 23rd (5 S, 2 o/s), 24th (53 N, 9 S, 19 o/s), 25th (20 N, 7 S), 26th (17 N, 43 S), 27th (55 S), 28th (2 N, 7 S, 4 o/s), 28th (1 N), 30th (16 S).
Lowestoft Harbour - A female was in the main Harbour and trawler basin on the 1st. A distant duck in Hamilton Dock on the 6th was probably this bird.
Ness Point - 7th (66 S), 8th (12 N), 9th (1 o/s), 10th (5 N, 5 S), 11th (1 o/s), 16th (6 N), 21st (1 female on the sea)..

VELVET SCOTER Melanitta fusca
Kessingland - 2nd (3 S), 3rd (1 N), 6th (5 N), 7th (1 S), 8th (1 N), 10th (7 N), 11th (1 N), 19th (1 N), 25th (1 N).
Ness Point - 7th (3 S).

GOLDENEYE Bucephala clangula ****
Kessingland - 1st (2 N, 3 o/s), 3rd (4 S), 7th (1 S), 8th (2 N, 1 S), 9th (2 S), 10th (1 N, 1 S), 14th (4 N), 16th (2 S), 19th (1 N, 2 S), 24th (1 o/s), 29th (4 S).
Ness Point - 14th (1 N).

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator ****
Kessingland - 1st (2 S), 9th (1 S), 10th (1 N, 2 S), 14th (2 N), 20th (2 N, 1 S), 21st (1 N), 24th (2 N, 5 S), 27th (2 N), 28th (3 N).
Ness Point - 21st (1 S).

GOOSANDER Mergus merganser
Kessingland - 19th (2 N, 1 S), 21st (1 S).
On the 20th a lone drake flew north over Conrad Road, Oulton Broad, perhaps heading for the Broad itself.

MERLIN Falco columbarius
One flew south over Dip Farm golf course at Gunton on the 3rd.

PHEASANT Phasianus colchicus
A male was in the vicinity of Flycatcher Lane on the 5th. A veritable influx after the female at Ness Point on September 24th!

WATER RAIL Rallus aquaticus ****
At least four were heard calling from the reedbed near Kessingland sewage works on the 9th, and one was calling at Holly Road, Oulton Broad on the 14th. Calling birds were also heard at Burgh Castle on the 27th and Carlton Marshes on the 28th and 30th.

OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus
Kessingland - 20th (1 S), 24th (1 N).

AVOCET Recurvirostra avosetta
Kessingland - 26th (1 S).
Burgh Castle - 27th (16).

RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula ****
One was at Ness Point on the 3rd, 8th and 9th.
Kessingland - 13th (1 N).
Lake Lothing - 20th (4).
Ness Point - 20th (1).
North Beach, Lowestoft - 30th (10).

GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis apricarius
127 flew north over Holly Road, Oulton Broad on the 1st.
18 were in fields at Kessingland on the 6th.
1000 were in fields near Ellough Industrial Estate, Beccles on the 9th
Three flew south past Kessingland on the 25th.

LAPWING Vanellus vanellus
One arrived in off the sea at Kessingland on the 10th.

KNOT Calidris canutus
Kessingland - 2nd (20 N), 8th (1 N).
One very tame individual was on the North Denes camp site on the 12th.

SANDERLING Calidris alba
Kessingland - 6th (3 on beach), 14th (10), 19th (1 N).

PURPLE SANDPIPER Calidris maritima ****
Ness Point - 3rd (1), 4th (2), 6th (4), 7th (5), 8th (3), 9th (1), 10th (2), 16th (2), 17th (5), 21st (3), 24th (3), 27th (1), 30th (1).

DUNLIN Calidris alpina
Kessingland - 1st (1 N), 8th (53 N), 14th (6 N), 19th (7 N), 21st (3 S), 24th (8 S).

CURLEW Numenius arquata ****
Kessingland - 29th (1 N).

WOODCOCK Scolopax rusticola
Warrenhouse Wood - 2nd (1).
Sparrows Nest - 3rd (1).
Flycatcher Lane - 3rd (1).
Kirkley Cemetery - 6th (1).
St. Margarets Road - 8th (1).
Kessingland Beach - 12th (1 S which then landed and melted away into the Marram clumps), 13th (one in off sea).
Gunton - 20th (one walking along a path in a garden before flying off).

BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica
Kessingland - 7th (1 N).

SPOTTED REDSHANK Tringa erythropus
One was at Burgh Castle mudflats on the 7th, 20th and 27th. On the 20th one was also on the snall flood on Kessingland Beach.

REDSHANK Tringa totanus
Eight were along Lake Lothing on the 7th, with three there on the 20th.

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus
One was feeding in a flooded riverside garden at St. Olaves on the 13th.

TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres ****
Kessingland - 5th (2 o/b), 8th (47 N), 10th (4 N), 12th (2 S), 13th (2 S), 14th (1 N), 15th (4 N), 16th (3 S), 18th (2 N, 4 S), 19th (8 N, 1 S), 20th (1 S), 22nd (2 S), 26th (8 S), 27th (2 o/b).
Ness Point - 4th (10), 8th (2), 17th (2), 20th (5), 30th (17).
Hamilton Dock - 7th (12), 8th (8).
Lake Lothing - 20th (20+).

POMARINE SKUA Stercorarius pomarinus
Kessingland - 2nd (1 N), 26th (at 14:05 a dark phase Pom flew north, attacking gulls, before dropping onto the sea).

ARCTIC SKUA Stercorarius parasiticus
Kessingland - 7th (1 N), 19th (1 N).

GREAT SKUA Catharacta skua
Kessingland - 9th (1 N).

MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus ****
Kessingland - 2nd (1 2nd winter N), 6th (1 adult), 11th (1 ad N), 14th (1 ad S), 19th (1 ad S), 27th (1 ad S).
Ness Point - 7th (2 S, 2nd winter and adult), 30th (1 green ringed adult).
Holly Road, Oulton Broad - 18th (1 flew toward the Broad).
Oulton Broad - 20th (1 adult north over Oulton Broad North Railway Station).
Lowestoft Harbour - 21st (1 adult).

LITTLE GULL Larus minutus ****
Kessingland - 7th (18 N), 9th (10 N), 14th (2 N), 24th (19 N), 28th (1 N, 1 o/s).

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus michahellis
The regular adult was along the North Beach at Lowestoft on the 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th.

Yellow-legged Gull - Lowestoft - November 2004 - ©Andrew Easton

KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla ****
Kessingland - 3rd (1 N), 5th (1 S), 7th (30 N), 8th (7 N), 9th (16 N), 11th (16 N), 13th (7 N), 14th (32 N, 3 S), 17th (1 N, 4 S), 18th (5 S), 19th (10 N, 24 S), 20th (43 N), 21st (96 N, 15 S), 22nd (27 N, 4 S), 24th (8 S), 26th (11 N, 3 S), 27th (11 N), 28th (4 N, 4 S), 29th (216 N), 30th (1 N).

SANDWICH TERN Sterna sandvicensis
Kessingland - 4th (1 N).

ARCTIC TERN Sterna paradisaea
One flew north past Kessingland on the 7th, feeding as it went.

GUILLEMOT Uria aalge
Kessingland - 6th (1 N, 1 o/s).
Ness Point - 7th (1 N, 1 o/s), 8th (1 o/s), 10th (13 N, 10 o/s).

Razorbill - Lowestoft - November 2004 - ©Andrew Easton

RAZORBILL Alca torda ****
On the 22nd one was on the sea about 50 metres from the beach at Kessingland. A first winter bird was close inshore along the North Beach at Lowestoft on the 30th; it later drifted south past Ness Point.

PUFFIN Fratercula arctica
Kessingland - 2nd (1 N), 19th (1 S), 21st (1 N).
Ness Point - 14th (one on sea then north).

LITTLE AUK Alle alle
Kessingland - 1st (1 N), 5th (1 N), 7th (2 N), 11th (1 N), 13th (1 N, 8 S), 14th (58 N), 15th (4 N), 16th (1 N, 1 o/s), 18th (1 N), 19th (1 N, 1 S), 20th (9 N), 21st (5 N).
Ness Point - (10 N, one was killed and eaten by a Great Black-backed Gull).
Corton - (3 N, one settled on the sea).

Little Auk - Corton - November 2004 - ©James Brown

AUK sp. Alcidae ****
Kessingland - 1st (3 N, 1 S), 2nd (3 N), 3rd (5 N), 4th (9 N, 1 S), 6th (52 N, 1 o/s), 7th (120 N, 1 S), 8th (69 N, 8 S), 9th (32 N, 1 S), 10th (39 N, 10 S, 2 o/s), 11th (25 N, 1 S), 12th (4 N), 13th (8 N), 14th (14 N), 15th (12 N, 1 S), 16th (7 N), 17th (6 N), 18th (1 N, 2 S, 1 o/s), 19th (17 N, 6 S, 1 o/s), 20th (268 N, 5 S), 21st (48 N, 8 S), 22nd (32 N, 15 S, 2 o/s), 23rd (1 N), 24th (1 N, 3 S), 25th (3 N), 26th (6 N, 8 S, 1 o/s), 27th (10 N, 1 S), 28th (40 N, 9 S, 5 o/s), 29th (204 N),
30th (84 N, 6 S).
Ness Point - 16th (1 N), 30th (3 N).

BARN OWL Tyto alba ****
Two were at Gapton Marshes on the 25th. Two were also at Carlton Marshes on the 30th.

SHORT-EARED OWL Asio flammeus ****
One arrived in off the sea at Ness Point on the 14th. Another arrived in off the sea at Kessingland on the 19th. At least six were in the Gapton Marshes area at Bradwell on the 25th, including three together. Up to nine have been seen there recently, with a similar number to the north of Breydon Water.

One, possibly two, were at Carlton Marshes on the 30th. The local Rooks were frequently chasing it/them.

KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis ****
Two were squabbling rather noisily, and posturing at each other, in Lowestoft Harbour on the 1st. Apparently a dispute over who would have ownership of the best feeding lookout.
Lake Lothing - 20th (1).
Hamilton Dock - 21st (1)
Oulton Broad - 30th (1).

SWALLOW Hirundo rustica
North Denes - 3rd (3 S).
Kessingland - 4th (2 S).

WATER PIPIT Anthus spinoletta
One was seen along the south wall of Breydon Water between the pump house and Burgh Castle.

ROCK PIPIT Anthus petrosus ****
Ness Point - 2nd (1), 5th (3), 6th (3), 7th (2), 8th (1), 9th (1), 17th (2), 27th (1), 30th (1).
Hamilton Dock - 7th (1).
Burgh Castle - 27th (2), 28th (1).

GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea
Denes Oval - 6th (1).
Kessingland Sewage Works - 6th (1), 9th (2), 13th (1).
Ness Point - 6th (1).
Goose Green West, Beccles - 7th (1).
Harvest Drive, Gisleham - 13th (1).
Whapload Road, Lowestoft - 27th (1).

BOHEMIAN WAXWING Bombycilla garrulus
One spent five minutes in a garden in Holly Road, Oulton Broad on the 1st.
Two were in Goose Green West, Beccles on the 7th, along with a Grey Wagtail in the same tree.
32 were noted at the junction of Chichester Drive and Conrad Road, Oulton Broad on the 10th.
20 flying towards Carlton Colville along Beccles Road near Warren School also on the 10th may have been part of the flock of 32 seen nearby.
20 at the junction of Gunton St. Peters Avenue and Yarmouth Road, Lowestoft on the 13th.
12 were alongsie the A146 at Carlton Colville on the 16th.
30+ were at the junction of Chichester Drive and Conrad Road, Oulton Broad on the 17th.
38 were at the junction of Chichester Drive and Conrad Road, Oulton Broad on the 18th.
25 were at the junction of Chichester Drive and Conrad Road, Oulton Broad on the morning of the 20th. Later in the afternoon none were there, and there were very few Rowan berries left either!
20 were at the junction of Burnt Hill Way and Beccles Road, Oulton Broad on themorning of the 21st, and a short while later they had moved to the junction of Hollow Grove Way and Beccles Road. In the afternoon 24 were again at the Burnt Hill Way junction.

BLACK REDSTART Phoenicurus ochruros
One female/immature was bounding eastwards between rooftops along Norwich Road on the 25th.

STONECHAT Saxicola torquata
Four were at Carlton Marshes on the 28th.

RING OUZEL Turdus torquatus
One was with 30+ Blackbirds in a hedgerow near Caldecott Hall, Fritton on the 7th.

BLACKBIRD Turdus merula
Large numbers have been arriving from the Continent during the last week, including the exhausted individual pictured below sitting on the North Beach seawall on the 3rd. Too tired to even bother think about moving any further for a while.

Five were amongst the rocks around the Ness Point area on the 8th, with a further 12+ in the shrubbery in the Birds Eye factory car park just to the north, and around 20 in Sparrows Nest Park.

A male and female arrived in off the sea together at Kessingland Sluice on the 14th, and almost immediately dived into the scrub just inland of the sluice.

FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris
Lowestoft North Denes - 6th (1).
In a replay of last year an exhausted individual splashed down in the sea about 400 metres from Lowestoft North Beach on the 7th. Several gulls took an instant interest in it. After a few minutes it took to the air again, closely persued by assorted gulls. Unfortunately, unlike the individual last year which then made it to shore, it was knocked into the water by a Herring Gull about 20 metres from the beach, and was subsequently killed and eaten.

One rather tired and bedraggled individual was feeding by the sea wall on the 8th.

CETTI'S WARBLER Cettia cetti ****
One was heard calling and singing at Carlton Marshes on the 30th.

BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla
North Denes - 3rd (1).
Kessingland sewage works - 3rd (1).
Haddiscoe Bridge (Norfolk) - 6th (1).

CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita ****
Warrenhouse Wood - 2nd (1).
North Denes - 3rd (1).
Flycatcher Lane - 6th (1).
Kessingland sewage works - 9th (1), 30th (2).

FIRECREST Regulus ignicapilla
Corton Wood - 2nd (1).
Flycatcher Lane - 2nd (1).
Kessingland sewage works - single birds were trapped and ringed on the 2nd and 3rd.
Sparrows Nest Park - 6th (1).

BEARDED TIT Panurus biarmicus ****
One was seen at Burgh Castle on the 28th.

STARLING Sturnus vulgaris
Seven flocks totalling 389 birds were watches arriving in off the sea at Ness Point during the morning of the 7th. A flock of five arrived in off the sea at Kessingland on the 14th.

Several flocks totalling around 1600 arrived in off the sea at Ness Point between 10:00 and 11:00 on the 21st.

BRAMBLING Fringilla montifringilla
Gunton Wood - 2nd (1).
Gunton Warren - 7th (1).

GREENFINCH Carduelis chloris
40 were at Kessinglad Beach on the 16th. Several hundred have been present there recently at times, though sometimes they vanish completely.

GOLDFINCH Carduelis carduelis ****
Holly Road, Oulton Broad - 9th (12), 15th (33), 16th (43).

TWITE Carduelis flavirostris
Kessingland Sluice - 4 were just north of the sluice on the 12th.

REDPOLL Carduelis whatevertheyarecalledthisweekensis ****
One flew north at Carlton Marshes on the 30th.

SNOW BUNTING Plectrophenax nivalis ****
Kessingland Beach is the place to see Snow Buntings locally at the moment. Late afternoon on the 13th c300 were present. This is one of the highest counts from the Lizard area. At their peak last winter 110 were present. During the day the flock becomes fragmented. 150 were feeding in a stubble field near Beach Farm, Benacre that morning. Two or three smaller groups were also noted between Coveheithe and Kessingland Sluice. On the 14th 68 were watched arriving from in off the sea at Kessingland Sluice, 30 split off north towards Kessingland and 38 headed towards Beach Farm, Benacre where a larger group flew up and joined with them.

A local Sparrowhawk is quite keen to see them as well. We are not sure if it has got any of them yet, but the odd Starling wing has been found there.

Kessingland - 1st (10), 2nd (14) 3rd (22), 4th (22), 5th (30), 6th (110), 7th (60 o/b), 8th (60 o/b), 9th (7 o/b), 10th (40 o/b), 11th (70 o/b), 12th (100+), 13th (c300!!!), 14th (268+), 15th (200+ o/b), 16th (c150 o/b), 17th (75 o/b), 18th (130 o/b), 19th (100 o/b), 20th (100), 21st (70 o/b), 22nd (65 o/b),
23rd (100+ o/b), 24th (70 o/b), 25th (50 o/b), 26th (70 o/b), 27th (100 o/b), 28th (100 o/b), 29th (100 o/b), 30th (80 o/b).
Gunton Warren - 7th (1 S).
North Beach/North Denes - 9th (2), 11th (4), 12th (singing male!).
Ness Point - 12th (1), 24th (1).
Breydon South Wall - 21st (22 in ploughed field east of pump house), 28th (60).
Lowestoft - One flew northwards over the town centre on the 27th, calling as it went. So you can sometimes combine shopping and birding.

86 were trapped and ringed at Kessingland Beach on the 20th, a further five proved to be retrapped birds from last winter.

BIRDS RECORDED IN LIZARD LAND DURING 2004:
Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Fulmar, European Storm-petrel, Leach's Storm-petrel, Gannet, Cormorant, Eurasian Shag, Little Egret, Glossy Ibis, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Spoonbill, Mute Swan, Bewick's Swan, Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose, White-fronted Goose, Greylag Goose, Ross's Goose, Canada Goose, Barnacle Goose, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Mandarin, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Scaup, Eider, Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Goldeneye, Smew, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Osprey, Kestrel, Merlin, Hobby, Peregrine Falcon, Red-legged Partridge, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Common Crane, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Stone Curlew, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Sanderling, Little Stint, Purple Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Pectoral Sandpiper, Ruff, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Woodcock, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Whimbrel, Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Turnstone, Grey Phalarope, 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, Iceland Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Kittiwake, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Little Tern, Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin, Little Auk, Feral Dove, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Turtle Dove, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Little Owl, Short-eared Owl, Common Swift, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Lark, Sky Lark, Richard's Pipit, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, Rock Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, (White Wagtail), Bohemian Waxwing, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Nightingale, Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Greenish Warbler, Pallas's Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Wood Warbler, Chiffchaff, (Siberian Chiffchaff), Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Bearded Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Treecreeper, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Twite, Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch, Hawfinch, Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting.


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