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November'07 Birds

Home January'08 Birds
BBC Weather 5 day forecast for Lowestoft
HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR 2008
FROM THE
LOWESTOFT LOUNGE LIZARDS
Tide predictions for Lowestoft

A couple of new links for the New Year (both will open in new windows)

Birdline East Anglia - Suffolk November 07 review

Suffolk Birding with BINS



RED-THROATED DIVER
Gavia stellata
Kessingland - 1st (8 N, 1 S), 3rd (108 N, 3 S), 4th (104 N,15 S), 6th (8 N, 53 S, 2 on sea), 7th (4 N, 16 S), 8th (234 N, 1 S), 9th (12 N, 1 S), 10th (28 N, 12 S), 11th (212 N, 4 S), 12th (59 N, 7 S), 13th (175 N, 62 S, 22 on sea), 14th (75 N, 18 S,7 on sea), 15th (24 N, 5 S), 16th (3 N, 141 5 on sea), 17th (11 N, 2 S), 18th (22 N, 19 S), 19th (13 N, 6 S, 2 on sea), 20th (22 N, 39 S, 13 on sea), 21st (26 N, 1 S, 3 on sea), 22nd (39 N, 4 S, 7 on sea), 23rd (2 N), 24th (23 N, 5 S, 4 on sea), 25th (16 N, 5 S, 3 on sea), 26th (6 N, 3 S, 2 on sea), 27th (10 S), 28th (1 N), 29th (1 N, 4 S, 2 on sea), 30th (108 N, 96 S), 31st (41 N, 370 S).
Ness Point - 9th (17 N, 3 S), 16th (65 S), 31st (30 N, 6 S).
Gunton Warren - 15th (63 south together).



BLACK-THROATED DIVER Gavia arctica
Kessingland - 6th (1 N), 11th (1 N), 14th (1 N), 15th (1 N), 16th (1 S), 17th (1 N), 19th (1 N), 22nd (1 N).
Lake Lothing - 9th - 30th. First winter bird, presumably the one frequenting Hamilton Dock in November. Best viewed from the footbridge over the railway, but it can sometimes be viewed distantly from ASDA car park.
Hamilton Dock - 23rd (1).

Black-throated Diver © Peter Ransome
Black-throated Diver - Lowestoft - November 2007 © Peter Ransome

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER Gavia immer
Kessingland - 3rd (1 N), 26th (1 S).
Gunton Warren - 14th (1 flew north along the coast, but above the cliff and inland of Warrenhouse Wood ! ).



DIVER sp.

Kessingland - 1st (1 N), 17th (1 N), 18th (1 S), 26th (1 N), 28th (1 N), 30th (1 S), 31st (1 N, 2 S).



GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
Kessingland
- 4th (1 N, 1 S, 5 on sea), 9th (1 on sea), 13th (1 S, 4 on sea), 14th (1 N, 1 S, 1 on sea), 20th (10 on sea), 21st (1 on sea), 22nd (3 S, 24 on sea), 24th (2 S), 27th (1 S), 31st (2 on sea).
Oulton Broad - 16th (3).



SLAVONIAN GREBE
Podiceps auritus
One flew north at Kessingland on the 17th, then settled on the sea close inshore.



FULMAR
Fulmarus glacialis
One flew north past Kessingland on the 16th.



GANNET
Morus bassanus
Kessingland - 1st (19 N, 2 S), 3rd (1 N, 6 S), 5th (4 N), 6th (1 N, 1 S), 9th (15 N, 3 S), 11th (1 N), 12th (1 N), 13th (1 N), 14th (1 N), 15th (3 N), 16th (8 N), 17th (1 N), 20th (1 N), 22nd (2 N), 24th (3 N, 2 S), 25th (50 N), 26th (2 N), 27th (1 N).
Ness Point - 31st (3 N).



CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo
Kessingland - 1st (1 S), 3rd (1 N), 6th (28 N, 3 S), 7th (36 N, 2 S), 8th (59 N, 34 S), 9th (4 N, 10 S, 1 on sea), 10th (117 N, 11 S), 11th (9 N, 5 S), 12th (48 N), 13th (1 S), 14th (2 N, 3 S, 2 on sea), 15th (1 N), 16th (25 N, 2 S), 18th (2 N, 1 S), 19th (1 N), 21st (1 S), 22nd (90 N, 4 S, 3 on sea), 23rd (1 S), 24th (6 S, 1 on sea), 25th (1 N, 2 S, 1 on sea), 26th (7 N, 1 on sea), 27th (3 N, 3 S, 1 on sea), 28th (2 N, 5 S), 29th (3 N, 2 S), 30th (5 N, 6 S), 31st (6 S).
Ness Point - 9th (1 N, 1S), 16th (1 N, 3 S).
Gunton Warren - 15th (5 N).
Beacon Park, Gorleston - 19th (158 flew over early morning heading from their roost site at Fritton Lake towards the inshore waters of Great Yarmouth to feed), 25th (228 flew over towards Great Yarmouth).



SHAG
Phalacrocorax aristotelis
At least one was in Hamilton Dock on the 1st to 4th and 16th.
One flew past Gunton Warren on the 15th.
One was roosting on the Kittiwake wall in Lowestoft harbour at dusk on the 20th.
One was along Lake Lothing at ASDA on the 23rd.



GREY HERON
Ardea cinerea
One was at Leathes Ham on the 9th and 24th.
One was at Somerleyton Marshes on the 10th.
One was at Blundeston Marshes on the 10th.
Five were at Carlton Marshes on the 14th.

Pallas's Warbler © Tim Brown
Little Egret - Kirkley - December 2007 - © Tim Brown

LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta
Herringfleet Marshes
- 10th (3), 14th (1), 27th (4).
Fritton Marshes - 29th (1).
Belton Marshes - 29th (2).
Kessingland Levels - 31st (1).
One has been seen in the stream and pools alongside the south Lowestoft Relief Road at Kirkley on and off since at least mid month and was present again on the 27th and 30th.



MUTE SWAN
Cygnus olor
Castle Marshes, North Cove - 9th (18).



BEWICK'S SWAN Cygnus (columbianus) bewickii
Nine flew westwards over Mutford on the 10th.
Seven flew south past Kessingland/Benacre Ness on the 16th. They then turned and headed north-westwards inland.
On the 31st four adults were with Mute Swans on the Kessingland Levels to the west of the A12.

Pink-footed Geese © Andrew Easton
Pink-footed Geese - Lowestoft - December 2007 © Andrew Easton
Just some of the skeins of Pink-feet heading noisily south over central Lowestoft on the 8th.

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Anser brachyrhynchus
1000+ were in fields between Browston and Bradwell on the afternoon of the 2nd.

87 flew north over Parkhill on the 7th.

1000's were calling in flight as they circled in the dark over Beacon Park, Gorleston for 10 minutes at 17:30 on the 7th.

c.1200 flew south over Normanston Park at 8:30 on the 8th. Probably the first time such large numbers have passed directly over the main urban areas of Lowestoft. They generally skirt around along the marshes of the Waveney valley to the west. Ten minutes later they were seen continuing south over Benacre.

4000 left roost from Berney RSPB, Norfolk early morning on the 9th and headed eastwards over Burgh Castle. They then seemed to be roving between the Lound and Herringfleet area looking for recently harvested sugar beet fields; many of them then settled at Wheatacre and Haddiscoe Marshes, across the border in Norfolk.

On the 10th several thousand where again at Wheatacre and Burgh (St. Peter) Marshes, Norfolk, but from here many hundreds were flying around over Blundeston, Lound, Ashby, Somerleyton and Herringfleet throughout the day, with many dropping into harvested sugar beet fields to feed on the leftover waste.

On the 12th hundreds were in a recently harvested sugar beet field at Blundeston.

14 flew south eastwards out to sea at Gunton Warren on the 13th.

250 were at Blundeston Marshes on the 14th.

On the morning of the 18th a total of 10,140 left roost at Berney and departed eastwards into Suffolk. At least 8,500 of them ended up in a sugar beet field at Herringfleet, and they then commuted between there and Haddiscoe and Wheatacre Marshes throughout the day. On the afternoon of the 19th only very small numbers (200+) were flying around the same area.

Many were heard flying overhead at Bradwell and Herringfleet in the thick fog on the 23rd, and 37 were seen heading south over Browston where the fog was rather less dense.

In Lowestoft itself on the 23rd c.60 flew eastwards over Gunton Drive and 18 flew south over ASDA.

On the 26th several large skeins were noted flying south at dusk to the east of Bradwell.

At dusk on the 27th 1500+ flew south over Somerleyton and Blundeston and then settled in fields and on the marshes between Blundeston and Somerleyton.

On the afternoon of the 29th a flock of 80 flew south from Berney RSPB and headed over Belton, the remaining several thousand (including the white phase Snow Goose) remained stubbornly north of Breydon Water.

Also on the 29th 500+ were seen in flight over Somerleyton Marshes.

Early morning on the 30th 3000+ flew south westwards over Bradwell, Burgh Castle and Belton, but a short while later most of them looped back along the Waveney valley and back towards the Reedham/Berney area.

At dusk on the 31st large numbers in several skeins were heading south-eastwards out over the sea at Gunton Warren.


Click on the picture below to go to the BTO atlas page showing the winter distribution of Pink-footed Goose in 1986. Numbers in east Norfolk and north Suffolk have increased dramatically since then. At that time the Kessingland Levels were the only site in the north-east Suffolk area you could expect to see this species, and then only around 20 individuals at best. The new BTO Atlas will show a rather different picture.

Click here for BTO 1986 winter atlas map for Pink-footed Goose

Pink-footed Geese © Andrew Easton
Pink-footed Geese - Herringfleet - December 2007 © Andrew Easton

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons
Two flew north eastwards over Somerleyton Marshes on the 10th.
At least three were seen in flight over Blundeston on the 12th.
23 were feeding on the Kessingland Levels on the 22nd.
26 were at Burgh Castle Marshes on the 30th.
10 were feeding on the Kessingland Levels on the 30th.



DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE
Branta (bernicla) bernicla
Kessingland - 3rd (2 S), 9th (1 S), 10th (10 N), 11th (2 N, 1 S), 12th (4 N), 14th (8 S), 15th (1 S), 16th (18 S), 20th (3 S).
Kessingland Levels - Five were grazing on the sheep fields on the 16th.
Ness Point - 16th (16 S), 31st (3 S).



EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiacus
The pair at Lound village pond which had two downy young in November have managed to rear one of them; all three were present on the 20th.



SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna
Kessingland - 10th (7 N, 3 S), 13th (1 N, 1 S), 21st (2 N).
Herringfleet Marshes - 27th (2).



EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiacus
Castle Marshes, North Cove - 9th (6).
Ashby - 10th (46).



WIGEON Anas penelope
Kessingland - 1st (2 N), 5th (4 S), 7th (1 N), 9th (3 S), 10th (92 N), 11th (4 N), 13th (13 N, 4 S), 14th (17 N, 44 S), 15th (14 S), 16th (15 N), 18th (2 S), 21st (7 N), 22nd (12 N), 23rd (3 S), 24th (13 S), 25th (19 S).
Leathes Ham - 8th (1), 9th (6), 23rd (7), 24th (14), 27th (17).
Herringfleet Marshes - 10th (2).
Gunton Warren - 15th (23 S).
Fritton Lake - 20th (270).
Burgh Castle - 29th (76).



GADWALL Anas strepera
Leathes Ham - 4th (10), 9th (20), 23rd (2+), 24th (17).
Castle Marshes, North Cove - 9th (6).
Herringfleet Marshes
- 10th (6).
Fritton Lake - 20th (27).
Kessingland - 24th (2 S), 28th (4 N, 12 S).



TEAL Anas crecca
Kessingland - 5th (1 on sea), 8th (2 N, 4 S), 10th (7 N), 11th (2 N), 17th (2 N), 22nd (4 N, 4 S), 28th (6 N, 9 S), 31st (5 S).
Herringfleet Marshes - 10th (10), 19th (70).
Fritton Lake - 20th (3).
Leathes Ham - 23rd (2).
Burgh Castle - 29th (602).
Ness Point - 31st (8 N).



PINTAIL Anas acuta
Leathes Ham - 1st (12), 4th (15), 9th (18), 23rd (1+), 24th (12).
Kessingland - 10th (4 N), 11th (3 N).
Gunton Warren - 15th (2 S).



SHOVELER Anas clypeata
Leathes Ham - 4th (20), 9th (32), 23rd (20+), 24th (81).
Kessingland - 10th (13 N), 13th (14 N), 16th (3 S).
Fritton Lake - 20th (19).



RED-CRESTED POCHARD Netta rufina
Two females were at Leathes Ham on the 23rd, both appeared to be unringed. No sign on the 24th.
One female/immature Red-crested Pochard x Mallard hybrid was near the yacht club on Oulton Broad on the 31st. Take it some bread for really close views.

Red-crested Pochard © Andrew Easton
Red-crested Pochard in the fog - Leathes Ham - December 2007 © Andrew Easton

POCHARD Aythya ferina
Leathes Ham - 23rd (4), 24th (2), 27th (7).



TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula
Ten were at Fritton Lake on the 20th.
One flew south past Kessingland on the 20th.
One drake was on the River Hundred by the Benacre/Kessingland Sluice on the 22nd.
Three were on Leathes Ham on the 24th.



[ SCAUP Aythya marila
The female first seen on the River Hundred by the Benacre/Kessingland Sluice on November 11th subsequently moved to the nearby pit, there now being only one left, south of the river just outside our area. It was joined by a first winter drake on December 10th. Another female joined them on the 26th and all three were still present on the pit on the 31st. ]



COMMON EIDER Somateria mollissima
Kessingland - 10th (98 N), 11th (58 N), 12th (12 N), 13th (15 N), 14th (7 N), 16th (3 N), 17th (5 N), 19th (3 N), 20th (6 N).



COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra
Kessingland - 4th (4 S), 7th (2 N), 8th (2 N), 10th (2 N, 12 S), 11th (2 S), 12th (20 N), 13th (1 N, 2 S), 14th (3 N, 21 S), 24th (2 N, 2 S), 26th (1 N), 28th (1 S), 29th (1 S), 31st (20 N).
Ness Point - 9th (1 S), 31st (25 N).



VELVET SCOTER Melanitta fusca
One flew north past Gunton Warren on the 15th.



GOLDENEYE Bucephala clangula
Kessingland - 13th (1 N), 14th (1 S).
Fritton Lake - 20th (4).
[ Benacre Pit - 22nd (5). ]



SMEW Mergus albellus
A pair were at Fritton Lake on the 20th.



GOOSANDER Mergus merganser
Two females were at Fritton Lake on the 20th.



MARSH HARRIER Circus aeruginosus
One flew south at Kessingland on the 8th.
One was at Herringfleet Marshes on the 10th, 19th and 27th.
One was at Whitecast Marsh, Carlton Marshes on the 24th.
One was at Blundeston Marshes on the 27th.
One was at Fritton Marshes on the 27th.
Three were at Fritton Marshes on the 29th.



HEN HARRIER Circus cyaneus
A male was flushed from a sugar beet field at Mutford on the 4th.
One was seen at Carlton Marshes on the 16th.
A male was hunting along the River Waveney at Haddiscoe Island, Norfolk, opposite Belton Marshes on the 29th.
A male was seen over the marshes at Breydon South Wall on the morning of the 30th.



PEREGRINE Falco peregrinus
At 14:15 on the 29th one flew south pursuing an unidentified passerine, approximately 1 kilometre from the beach.



GREY PARTRIDGE Perdix perdix
Five were seen by New Road, North Cove on the 5th.



WATER RAIL Rallus aquaticus
One was noted on the marshes between Barnby and Carlton Colville on the 12th.
One was at Sprats Water, Carlton Marshes on the 24th.
Four were calling at Whitecast Marsh, Carlton Marshes on the 24th.
Two were calling at Whitecast Marsh, Carlton Marshes on the 26th.
One was seen and another heard along the banks of the River Waveney at Share Marsh, Carlton Marshes on the 26th.
One was calling from the reeds by the River Waveney at Fritton on the 29th.
One was seen and heard at Lound waterworks on the 30th.
One was at Worlingham Marsh Lane on the 30th.



OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus
Gunton Warren - 14th (1 S).
Kessingland - 16th (1 S).



RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula
Hamilton Dock - 1st - 5th (1), 15th (2), 16th (1), 31st (1).



GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis apricaria
Somerleyton Marshes - 10th (1 flew over NE)
Kessingland
Levels - 16th (5).
Oulton Broad - 24th (2 S).
Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville
- 25th (3).
Kessingland - 26th (336).
Ellough Airfield - 26th (127).



LAPWING Vanellus vanellus
Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville - 14th (c.150), 16th (245), 24th (524), 26th (1056), 27th (1000+), 28th (700+).
Kessingland Levels - 16th (137).
Ness Point - 23rd (one migrant grounded by fog was on the rocks at Ness Point at sunrise, it then departed westwards over the town).
Kessingland - 26th (418).
Ellough Airfield - 26th (195).



KNOT Calidris canutus
Kessingland - 10th (21 N), 18th (3 S), 28th (1 S).



SANDERLING Calidris alba
Pakefield - 11th (5, one of which was trapped and ringed).
Kessingland - 10th (25 S), 31st (7 on the beach).
Lowestoft South Beach - 20th (1), 25th (7), 29th (16).



PURPLE SANDPIPER Calidris maritima
Ness Point - 2nd (7), 4th (3), 8th (9), 12th (5), 21st (5), 27th (3), 29th (7), 30th (6), 31st (2).
Hamilton Dock - 1st - 2nd (4), 5th (5), 16th (2), 24th (2), 31st (1).
Kessingland - 12th (1 N).

A very long-billed individual at Hamilton Dock on the 1st and 2nd was, rather unusually for this species, probing deeply for worms along the tideline.

About a quarter of the wintering population in the UK are Norwegian birds which have much shorter bills than other populations (in all populations males have shorter bills than females); but these
Norwegian birds winter largely between Aberdeenshire and Yorkshire . The remaining three quarters of UK wintering birds are long billed birds from either Canada, Svalbard or Russia, with those in the southern North Sea considered to be mainly long-billed individuals arriving from Russia via the Baltic.
Source: Wernham, C.V., Toms, M.P., Marchant, J.H., Clark, J.A., Siriwardena, G.M. & Baillie, S.R. (eds.). 2002. The Migration Atlas: movements of the birds of Britain and Ireland. T. & A.D. Poyser, London.

Many of our Purple Sandpipers appear rather short billed so we may be seeing a few more Norwegian individuals here. The photos below show two extremes - the upper photo is of a very short-billed individual at Ness Point in February 2003, which must surely be a Norwegian bird, with the lower photo showing the long-billed bird currently present.

Purple Sandpipers © Andrew Easton
Purple Sandpipers - Lowestoft - © Andrew Easton.

DUNLIN Calidris alpina
Kessingland - 10th (13 N), 23rd (1 N, 3 S), 24th (1 N, 1 S).



RUFF
Philomachus pugnax
Two were on the Kessingland Levels on the 16th.
Two flew south-westwards over Herringfleet Marshes on the 27th.
One was on Breydon South Flats on the 30th.



JACK SNIPE
Lymnocryptes minimus
One was flushed at Gisleham on the 1st.
Two were flushed from fields to the west of Mutford Wood on the 30th.



BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa
One flew eastwards over Oulton Broad on the 24th.
11 flew south-westwards over Herringfleet Marshes on the 27th.



BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica
One was on the Kessingland Levels on the 16th.
Four were on Breydon South Flats on the 30th.



CURLEW Numenius arquata
One flew south past Kessingland on the 17th.



SPOTTED REDSHANK Tringa erythropus
One was on Breydon South Flats on the 30th.
One was at Burgh Castle Flats on the 30th.



REDSHANK Tringa totanus
Hamilton Dock - 5th (4), 24th (1).
Kessingland - 4th (1 S), 22nd (2 N).
Blundeston Marshes - 10th (8).
Kessingland Levels - 16th (2).
Lake Lothing (ASDA) - 19th (13).
Burgh Castle - 29th (99).



GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus
One was seen at Worlingham on the 4th and 31st.
Two were seen at Castle Marshes, North Cove on the 9th.
One was seen at the marshes at Breydon South Wall on the 30th.



TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres
Hamilton Dock - 1st (17), 24th (27).
Kessingland
Beach - 2nd (1 N), 6th (8 N).
Pakefield - 7th (30), 11th (20).
Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville - 14th (13), 16th (4), 25th (1).
Kessingland - 26th (1 with inland flock of plovers).

The Dutch leg flagged Turnstone first seen
at Ness Point on 25th October was again present there on December 24th and 25th.



POMARINE SKUA Stercorarius pomarinus
Kessingland - 2nd (1 on sea), 3rd (1 S), 5th (2 N, 4 S, 1 lingering), 6th (4 S), 7th (3 N, 1 S), 8th (3 N), 9th (1 S, 1 on sea), 10th (3 N), 11th (1 N), 13th (1 S), 15th (1 S), 24th (1 S).
Pakefield - 7th (1 N).
Gunton Warren - 15th (3 immatures flew north together).
Ness Point - 31st (2 flew north)



ARCTIC SKUA
Stercorarius parasiticus
A pale immature bird was seen off Ness Point on the 8th.



GREAT SKUA
Stercorarius skua
One flew north past Kessingland on the 14th, with another one south past there on the 25th.



SKUA sp. Stercorarius sp.
Gunton Warren - 15th (1 N).



MEDITERRANEAN GULL
Larus melanocephalus
Ness Point - 8th - 9th (2 adults at the sewage outfall), 15th (1 adult), 16th (1 adult), 24th (1 2nd. winter), 27th (1 adult), 31st (1 adult).
Pakefield
- 11th (3, 1 1st winter, 1 2nd. Winter, 1 adult).
Kessingland - 18th (1 N), 27th (1 S), 30th (1 S).
Links Road car park - 22nd (adult).

Due to maintenance works being carried out at Corton sewage treatment works sewage is temporarily being pumped directly out to sea of Ness Point. Gulls are once again feeding there, and hopefully it may draw in a few more during the winter.



YELLOW-LEGGED GULL
Larus michahellis
An adult was at the Beacon Park roundabout, Gorleston on the 18th and 25th.
An adult was at Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville on the 24th.



CASPIAN GULL
Larus cachinnans
An adult (photo below) was at Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville on the 22nd, with two adults (one, the same spot naped individual seen on the 22nd, the other white naped) there on the 24th.
One white naped adult was at Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville on the 25th.

The taxonomic sub-committee of the British Ornithologists Union Records Committee has recently recommended that Caspian Gull should be elevated to specific level. You can view their report online by clicking here.

Caspian Gull © Lee Gregory
Caspian Gull - Carlton Colville - December 2007- © Lee Gregory

GLAUCOUS GULL Larus hyperboreus
The first winter which took up residence in Hamilton and Waveney Docks from 15th November and was last seen on the 30th was seen again heading south past Ness Point on the afternoon of the 2nd and was back on the quayside in Hamilton Dock at dusk, and was last present in Hamilton Dock on the 5th.

When it disappears into Waveney Dock it is best viewed from the top floors of the multi-storey car park opposite (but you will have to pay if you take your car in).

A first winter was also in the gull roost field at Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville at 13:15 on the 4th. The Hamilton Dock bird was certainly present in the harbour at 8:30 and 14:00 at least, so it seems likely that there are two different birds in the area now.

A first and second winter were seen in the gull roost field at Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville on the 15th. Later in the afternoon a very fresh corpse of a first winter bird was found at Hamilton Dock (it had certainly not been there a few hours earlier).

What seems to be the same rather smudgy second winter individual seen at Burnt Hill Lane on the 15th was there again on the 22nd, 24th, 26th and 27th.

Glaucous Gull © Andrew Easton
Glaucous Gull - Carlton Colville - December 2007 - © Andrew Easton.

KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla
Kessingland
- 1st (131 N, 2 S), 2nd (51 N, 55 S), 3rd (39 N, 61 S), 4th (26 N, 19 S), 5th (17 N, 142 S), 6th (11 N, 28 S), 7th (883 N, 409 S), 8th (112 N, 132 S), 9th (161 N, 968 S), 10th (346 N, 65 S), 11th (8 N, 4 S), 12th (5 N), 13th (3 N), 14th (2 S), 15th (25 N, 19 S), 17th (5 N, 4 S), 19th (2 N), 20th (1 N), 22nd (2 N, 1 S), 24th (8 S), 25th (11 N, 11 S), 26th (68 N, 1 S), 27th (66 S), 28th (10 N, 30 S), 29th (30 S), 30th (5 N).
Links Road car park - 21st (1).
Ness Point - 31st (3).



GUILLEMOT
Uria aalge
One flew north past Ness Point on the 31st.



RAZORBILL
Alca torda
One flew south past Kessingland on the 6th, and one was on the sea there on the 22nd.



LITTLE AUK
Alle alle
One flew north past Kessingland on the 4th.



PUFFIN
Fratercula arctica
One flew north past Kessingland on the 11th.



AUK sp.
Alcidae
Kessingland - 1st (29 N), 2nd (1 N), 6th (1 N, 4 S, 1 on sea), 7th (8 N, 7 S), 8th (11 N), 9th (40 N), 10th (8 N), 11th (4 N, 1 S), 13th (1 N), 14th (1 S), 15th (8 N), 16th (1 S), 17th (3 N), 18th (1 N), 19th (1 N), 20th (5 N), 21st (2 S), 24th (1 S), 25th (2 N), 27th (1 N), 31st (1 N).
Ness Point - 9th (6 N), 27th (1 N).



BARN OWL
Tyto alba
One was found dead in Warrenhouse Wood on the 12th.
Two were seen over the marshes between Barnby and Carlton Colville on the 12th.
One was at Carlton Marshes on the 14th, 26th and 29th.
Two were seen at Blundeston on the 14th.
One was also found dead at Kessingland Beach on the 15th.
Two were seen at Herringfleet Marshes on the 19th.
Two were at Carlton Marshes on the 27th.
Three were seen together over the marshes along Breydon South Wall on the 30th.



SHORT-EARED OWL Asio flammeus
One was seen on the marshes at Breydon South Wall on the 26th and 30th.
One arrived in off the sea at Gunton Warren on the 30th.



LITTLE OWL Athene noctua
One was at Carlton Marshes on the 14th.
One was seen at Mutford on the 28th.
One was seen at North Cove on the 31st.



KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis
Lake Lothing (ASDA) - 16th (2), 19th (1).
Camps Heath - 27th (1).
Burgh Castle - 30th (1).



GREEN WOODPECKER
Picus viridis
Worlingham - 4th (2).
Castle Marshes, North Cove
- 9th (1).
Somerleyton
- 10th (1).
Herringfleet Marshes
- 19th (1).
Ashby
- 20th (1).
Gunton
(Hubbards Loke) - 21st (1).

Green Woodpecker © Peter Ransome
Green Woodpecker - Lowestoft - December 2007 © Peter Ransome


GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
Dendrocopos major
Worlingham - 4th (2).
Leathes Ham - 8th (2).
Castle Marshes, North Cove
- 9th (1).
Gunton Wood
- 21st (2).
North Cove
- 31st (1).


MEADOW PIPIT
Anthus pratensis
Lowestoft North Denes - 4th (12), 12th (1), 20th (25), 21st (30).
Herringfleet Marshes
- 10th (6).
Carlton Marshes - 26th (14).



ROCK PIPIT
Anthus petrosus
Hamilton/Waveney Dock - 2nd (1), 4th (1), 5th (2), 8th (1), 15th (2), 25th (2), 31st (1).
Ness Point
- 27th (1).



WATER PIPIT
Anthus spinoletta
Herringfleet Marshes - 10th (1), 19th (1+), 27th (1+).
Carlton Marshes - 26th (3 were with Meadow Pipits near Share Mill).



GREY WAGTAIL
Motacilla cinerea
One was seen at Worlingham on the 4th, with two there on the 30th.
One was in Wollaston Road, Lowestoft on the 13th.
One was with Pied Wagtails in fields at Rushmere on the 16th.
Two flew north over ASDA at dusk on the 31st.



STONECHAT
Saxicola torquata
Worlingham - 4th (2).
Castle Marshes, North Cove - 9th (4).
Herringfleet Marshes - 10th (1), 19th (2), 23rd (1), 27th (2).
Lowestoft North Denes - 12th (2).
Carlton Marshes - 14th (3), 26th (2), 29th (4).
Gunton Warren - 24th (1).
Whitecast Marshes
- 24th (2).
Mutford
-
27th (2).
Breydon South Wall - 30th (2).
Kessingland Levels
- 31st (1).



FIELDFARE
Turdus pilaris
Somerleyton Marshes - 10th (14).
Barnby - Carlton Colville - 12th (40).
Flixton Marshes - 27th (15).
Burgh Castle - 30th (11).



REDWING
Turdus iliacus
Somerleyton Marshes - 10th (1).
Oulton Broad (Nicholas Everitt Park) - 19th (5).



CETTI'S WARBLER
Cettia cetti
One was calling at Castle Marshes, North Cove on the 9th.
One was calling at Herringfleet Marshes on the 19th.
Three were heard at Carlton Marshes on the 26th.



[ LESSER WHITETHROAT Sylvia curruca
Just to the south of our area an individual with a drooping left wing has been present in the scrub to the east of Beach Farm, Benacre from November 28th to December 23rd at least. It can fly across the field OK but presumably can't manage a full migration flight now. ]



BLACKCAP
Sylvia atricapilla
One female was in a garden at Barnby on the 14th, with a male in the same garden on the 31st.



PALLAS'S WARBLER
Phylloscopus proregulus
After much fruitless searching locally throughout October and November it fell to a routine dog walking session on the 13th to lead to the discovery of one of these special Siberian treats.

Initially heard calling from brambles just to the north of Warrenhouse Wood at, it eventually showed itself and then joined a passing flock of Long-tailed Tits and went on a wide ranging circuit of the cliff face and then through Warrenhouse Wood itself. It was equally at home just above the ground in brambles as it was in the bare crowns of the tallest trees. Late afternoon it was again on its own foraging in bramble and Japanese Knotweed scrub just to the north of Warrenhouse Wood.

Still present on the 18th, roaming around Warrenhouse Wood, often with the Long-tailed Tits but frequently foraging on its own in brambles. On the 15th it spent much of the time in the garden at the rear of the wood, but on the 16th to 18th it was favouring the brambles and ivy in the south east corner of the wood.

No sign of it on the 19th, but on the 20th it was seen around midday with Long-tailed Tits near the spring in the Japanese Knotweed just to the north of Warrenhouse Wood. Still present on the 29th, but not seen on the 30th and 31st. It seems to be accompanying the Long-tailed Tits most of the time now.

The first December record for the Lowestoft area and the third December one for the County of Suffolk; and now the latest date for Suffolk.

Pallas's Warbler © Tim Brown
Pallas's Warbler - Lowestoft - December 2007 - © Tim Brown
Rather easier to see than photograph!

CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita
One was at Leathes Ham on the 8th.
One was at Links Road/Warrenhouse Wood on the 13th.
One was at Kessingland sewage works on the 22nd.
One was at Camps Heath on the 27th.
One was along Blundeston Marsh Lane on the 27th.



GOLDCREST
Regulus regulus
Warrenhouse Wood - 19th (3+), 25th (2+).



FIRECREST Regulus ignicapillus
Corton Wood - 19th (1). Up to three have been present in Corton Wood recently.
Arnold's Walk - 21st (1).
Warrenhouse Wood - 26th (1), 27th (1).



BEARDED TIT
Panurus biarmicus
One was seen and heard at Castle Marshes, North Cove on the 9th.
At least one was in riverside reeds at Somerleyton on the 10th.
At least one was calling from the reeds by the River Waveney at Fritton on the 29th.



MARSH TIT
Parus palustris
Worlingham - 4th (2).



JACKDAW
Corvus monedula

Amongst the crows in the fields at Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville on the 15th was a Jackdaw exhibiting the paler nape and partial white neck collar more typical of the nominate race from Scandinavia.



TREECREEPER
Certhia familiaris
Worlingham
- 4th (2).



GREENFINCH
Carduelis chloris
Ness Point - 8th (12).
Lowestoft North Denes
- 12th (40).



GOLDFINCH
Carduelis carduelis
Carlton Marshes
- 14th (11).



SISKIN
Carduelis spinus
Leathes Ham -
8th (16).
Somerleyton Railway Station - 10th (90+).



LINNET
Carduelis cannabina
Lowestoft North Denes
- 12th (8).



LESSER REDPOLL
Carduelis cabaret
Ashby
- 20th (1).
Gunton Warren
- 21st (1 N).
North Cove
- 31st (7).



LAPLAND BUNTING
Calcarius lapponicus
Two flew over Breydon South Wall on the 30th.



SNOW BUNTING
Plectrophenax nivalis
Kessingland Beach - 4th (16), 5th (20), 8th (9).
Ness Point - 12th (1), 16th (1).
Lowestoft North Denes
(net posts) - 21st (1 flew over).
Breydon South Wall
- 26th (2).



YELLOWHAMMER
Emberiza citrinella
Mutford - 9th (40).
Lound waterworks - 30th (4).



REED BUNTING
Emberiza schoeniclus
Castle Marshes, North Cove
- 9th (2).
Barnby
- Carlton Colville - 12th (6).



NON-BIRD NEWS



GREY SEAL
Kessingland - 2nd (1), 6th (1), 11th (1), 13th (1), 14th (1), 30th (1).


COMMON SEAL

Ness Point - 8th (1), 31st (1).


CHINESE WATER DEER
Castle Marshes, North Cove
- 9th (1).


FALLOW DEER
Ashby Warren - 20th (3).