ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
Thanks to all of the
following who have contributed to this page during 2001:
Peter Allard, Chris & Alison
Allen, Chris Baker, Leslie Batchelder, Derek Beamish, Kevin Blowers, James
Brown, Tim Brown, Jon Burrell, Roger Conner, Matthew Deans, Andrew Easton,
Mark Ellis, Ricky Fairhead, Jenny Gort, John Grant, Lee Gregory, Dave Holman,
Robert Holmes, Mike Marsh, Don & Gwen Moore, Rob Murray, Chris Mutimer,
Peter Napthine, Peter Ransome, Jim Read, Neville Skinner, Brian Small, Richard
Smith, Simon de Tute, David Walsh, Jon Warnes, Steve & Jane Whiteside,
Robert Wilton, Robert Wincup, James Wright, Peter Wright, Jack Wylson &
anyone we have inadvertently missed.
Please
feel free to e-mail any sightings from the Lowestoft area to us at
loungedweller@hotmail.com
A
review of January to MAY
2001 can be viewed by clicking here.
WEEK
ENDED JUNE 03, 2001
HERE ARE A COUPLE
of videograbs of the singing male Marmora's Warbler, Sylvia sarda,
seen at Sizewell beach, Suffolk, on May 29th. A long way from its normal home
of Corsica and Sardinia.
  |
As it's still a bit quiet locally here are a couple of pictures from farther afield; the Little Swift, Apus affinis, at Nottingham, May 26th. The short square ended tail is evident in the left hand shot, and the large white rump extending down onto the rear flanks is shown very well in the right hand one. |
Fulmar
Fulmarus
glacialis
Good
numbers were present off Corton and Lowestoft on June 2nd with 20 or so lingering
at the sewage outfall at Ness Point.
Manx Shearwater Puffinus
puffinus
Coinciding
with a good passage of Fulmar, five flew south past Corton/Lowestoft on June
2nd. The first sighting consisted of a group of three at 1:05pm followed by
two singletons off Corton between 2:00pm and 3:00pm.
On
June 3rd a single bird passed south at Ness Point and further down the coast
40 or so flew past Southwold.
Gannet Morus
bassanus
Well
over a hundred passed Lowestoft on June 2nd with several loitering offshore.
Hobby Falco subbuteo
One was seen at
Kessingland Levels on June 1st. Two
were seen at Carlton Marshes in the evening on June 3rd.
Terns,
Sterna sp.
Good
numbers are once again feeding close inshore between Lowestoft and Corton
up until June 3rd. The vast majority are Common, S. hirundo,
with several Little, S. albifrons, and Sandwich, S.
sandvicensis, also present.
Yellow
Wagtail Motacilla
flava
Three were in the vicinity of Corton
sewage works on the 31st, hopefully indicating that breeding pairs may still
be clinging on in the area.
Black Redstart Phoenicurus
ochruros
A male was perched on gravestones
in Kessingland Cemetery on June 1st.
Cetti's Warbler Cettia
cetti
In Hall Road, Oulton Broad, at least
two singing birds seem to be trying to out compete the Marsh Warbler at the
moment.
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus
schoenobaenus
One was seen and heard along Bridge
Road, Gorleston on the 28th.
Reed
Warbler
A. scirpaceus
One was seen and heard along Bridge
Road, Gorleston on the 28th.
Marsh
Warbler
A. palustris
One
first heard and seen along Hall Road, Oulton Broad, opposite the Spar shop,
on the 30th,
was still singing well and showing again on the morning of the June
1st .
Like
most individuals in previous years this bird seems to be very much a morning
bird. Most have generally fallen silent after about 11am.
This individual as well as mimicking the usual Swallow, Hirundo
rustica, and Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis, calls has also
incorporated the calls of Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava, Oystercatcher,
Haematopus ostralegus, and Bee-eater, Merops apiaster,
amongst others into its song. One phrase was uncannily like the loud 'toyt'
call of a Nuthatch, Sitta europaea.
Other
Wildlife
On
the dragonfly front newly emerging Scarce Chasers, Libellula fulva,
were noted at North Cove on the 31st May. This species is locally common on
the marshes between Beccles and Oulton Broad; they should very shortly be
joined by Norfolk Hawkers, Aeshna isoceles. Several Wall,
Lasiommata megera, butterflies were in evidence at Fisher Row during
the week.
WEEK
ENDED MAY 27, 2001
QUIET
WOULD be an understated way of describing the third week of May.
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
One male drifted south over Oulton
village, Lowestoft on the evening of the 27th.
Hobby Falco subbuteo
Four were seen circling high over
Kessingland Levels on the 22nd.
Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos
The third of the spring was seen
and heard at Kessingland Sewage Works on the 22nd.
Sedge
Warbler Acrocephalus
schoenobaenus
One was heard along Bridge Road,
Gorleston on the evening of the 27th.
Marsh
Warbler A.
palustris
One
was heard and seen along Bridge Road, Gorleston near the tennis courts, in
the morning and early afternoon at least, on the 27th.
WEEK
ENDED MAY 20, 2001
AFTER
A SLOW START to the week the best bird was saved until last, a Montagu's
Harrier, Circus pygargus, at Oulton on the 20th. This species is
very rare locally and as with most records this bird didn't linger, having
probably just arrived in from the sea. A
late Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus, was also seen on the 20th.
It seems that some winter visitors are as reluctant to leave as some of the
summer migrants are to arrive.
Fulmar
Fulmarus
glacialis
Birds
were noted at Ness Point Lowestoft on the 14th (7), 15th (4), 19th (1), and
20th (8).
Gannet
Morus
bassanus
Noted
at Ness Point on the 14th (2), 19th (2), and 20th (7).
Grey Heron Ardea
cinerea
One
arrived in off the sea at Corton on the 19th.
Mute Swan Cygnus
olor
Two
flew north over Lowestoft North Denes on the 19th.
Eider
Somateria
mollissima
Nine
were offshore at Hopton on the 15th.
Montagu's
Harrier Circus
pygargus
What
was almost certainly a male 'Monties' flew west over Oulton Marshes, Lowestoft
at 09:50hrs on the 20th. This individual was seen all to briefly and like
most other fly-overs didn't linger.
Hobby Falco
subbuteo
Three
were circling over Haddiscoe Bridge at mid-day on the 19th.
Oystercatcher Haematopus
ostralegus
A
group of nine flew north past Ness Point on the 20th and inland birds were
seen at Haddiscoe and Lound.
Golden Plover Pluvialis
apricaria
Summer
plumaged individuals were seen at Corton Cliffs and Lowestoft North Denes
on the 15th.
Sanderling Calidris
alba
Eight
were on Lowestoft South Beach on the 15th.
Whimbrel Numenius
phaeopus
One
was feeding in a field at Corton sewage works in the evening on the 15th.
Two were at Lound
Water Works on the 18th-19th (1) and one flew south past Lowestoft on the
19th.
Common Sandpiper Actitis
hypoleucos
On
the 15th 4 were at Lound Water Works and Lowestoft Harbour
hosted 2.
Terns,
Sterna sp.
At
Ness Point, between 12:00-1:00pm on the 14th, 100 Common,
S. hirundo, 9 Little, S. albifrons, 3 Sandwich,
S. sandvicensis, and 2 Arctic, S. paradisaea were seen.
Good numbers of Common Terns were once again observed on the 15th.
51 were resting on a single groyne at Hopton in the morning. During the evening
c100 were seen between Lowestoft and Corton, with a further 16 on Lowestoft
South Beach along with 29 Little Terns, a notable local record. The
following day 40 Common and 10 Sandwich were on groynes at Lowestoft
North Denes with several others fishing offshore. A
minimum of 60 Common's were on the groynes on the 19th along with 15
Sandwich.
Short-eared Owl Asio
flammeus
A
late record concerned one at Carlton Marshes on the 20th.
Turtle Dove Streptopelia
turtur
Four
were present at Mutford on the 14th.
Swift Apus
apus
Good
numbers are now present in north Lowestoft. Lets hope Holland's recent Little
Swift, Apus affinis, joins them this weekend!!!
House Martin Delichon
urbica
Several
were noted heading north over Lowestoft North Denes on the 19th.
Black Redstart Phoenicurus
ochruros
A
female was reported from Corton sewage works on the 14th.
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenanthe
One was at Hamilton Dock, Lowestoft
on the 19th.
Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus
Two were at Corton on the 15th.
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
On the 19th several flocks numbering
20 or so were heading north early morning.
Other Wildlife
A
Palmated Newt, Triturus helveticus, was seen in a dyke at Haddiscoe
Marshes on the 13th and a Common Seal, Phoca vitulina, was noted
at Ness Point on the 19th-20th. Once
again butterflies have been seen in good numbers. Both Holly Blue,
Papilio argiolus britanna, and Orange-tips, Anthocharis cardamines
britannica, are evident along country paths especially Oulton Marshes.
Both species are on the wing from May-June.
WEEK
ENDED MAY 13, 2001
AFTER
A COUPLE OF DAYS OF FAVOURABLE WINDS during the week a few migrants arrived.
Three male Redstarts, Phoenicurus phoenicurus, and two Firecrests,
Regulus ignicapillus, being the highlights. Various butterflies were
also seen as temperatures increased. The first Speckled Wood, Pararge
aegeria tircis, of the year was seen at Gunton on the 11th along with
a few smart Orange-tips, Anthocharis cardamines britannica.
Fulmar
Fulmarus glacialis
Twelve were seen at Ness Point
on the 12th.
Northern
Gannet Morus
bassanus
Three
flew north past Corton on the 8th.
Golden Plover Pluvialis
apricaria
Four
were roosting in the ploughed field south of Kessingland sewage works on the
8th. Two had been present on the 6th.
Grey Plover P.
squatarola
Two
flew north along the beach at Kessingland Sluice before landing on the tideline
on the 8th.
Another flew out to sea at Hopton golf course
early morning on the 10th.
Whimbrel Numenius
phaeopus
A
singleton flew over Hopton on the 11th and one was seen at Ness Point on the
12th.
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa
lapponica
15
flew out to sea over Hopton golf course early morning on the 10th. The
following day, the 11th, 6 were at Dip Farm football field briefly. Four of
the 6 were in summer plumage, one of which had been present on the beach at
Gunton Warren earlier.
Common Sandpiper Actitis
hypoleucos
What
was almost certainly last weeks bird seen at Kessingland sewage works was
again present at Kessingland Sluice on the 8th.
Two were present at Leathes Ham, Lowestoft
with 6 at Lound Water Works on the 10th with 3 on the 11th.
One was at Ness Point on the 12th.
Marsh Harrier Circus
aeruginosus
May 7th proved to be a good day
for Marsh Harriers with two males feeding by the roadside near Ashby and one
male flew west over the A12 at Kessingland.
A female flew over Ashby and two were at Beccles on the
11th. Two that flew west over Oulton Broad at
10:00 am on the 13th may have been newly arrived.
Hobby Falco
subbuteo
Birds were seen at Beccles Quay
on the 11th and St. Olaves on the 13th.
Sandwich
Tern Sterna sandvicensis
Several were noted offshore between
Kessingland and Lowestoft on the 11th.
Black Tern Chlidonias niger
Three were feeding in the main channel
at Breydon Water on the 12th.
Grey Partridge Perdix
perdix
Pairs of this species and Red-legged
Partridge, Alectoris rufa, are being seen regularly in Corton Churchyard
and in the fields near the MoD compound up until the 11th.
Common Crane Grus
grus
On the 13th one was found
feeding in a field west of the Kessingland bypass. The bird was present from
9:15 and was mainly seen in flight circling over farmland. Several gulls and
corvids mobbed the crane and it eventually flew off towards the Carlton Colville/Gisleham
area. This species was formerly a great rarity in this area but in recent
years we usually get one or two records a year, normally in the spring.
Turtle
Dove Streptopelia
turtur
Three were seen at Corton on the
7th.
Two were calling at Oulton Marshes on the 13th.
Cuckoo Cuculus
canorus
Two
were present on the 11th at Beccles Marsh and Browston golf course.
Five were at Oulton Marshes on the 13th.
Tree Pipit Anthus
trivialis
One flew north over Lowestoft Cemetery,
May 7th.
Two were seen early morning on the 10th, at Hopton and Lowestoft North
Denes.
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla
(flava) flavissima
One or two were
flying around in the North Denes area of Lowestoft, and at Hopton, on the
7th. Five were at
Corton sewage works on the 9th. One
was at Kessingland sewage works on the 10th. On the 11th birds were seen at
Kessingland sewage works (3), Corton (2), Pakefield (1) and Gorleston (5).
BLUE-HEADED
WAGTAIL M.
(flava) flava
The presumed
hybrid bird showing characteristics of the race 'beema', known as Syke's
Wagtail was still present at Kessingland sewage works on the 9th. Once
again good numbers of warblers were present at this site. A
male was at Corton on the 10th and two males were at Gorleston golf course
on the 11th.
White
Wagtail M.
alba alba
 |
One
male was on the North Denes on the 7th, presumably the same bird that
had been present on the Denes Oval for the previous two days.
Three were at Kessingland
sewage works on the 10th. One was at Hopton and a female was at Kessingland
sewage works on the 11th. |
 |
Above left is a picture of a male White Wagtail taken at Kessingland sewage works, and for comparison at lower left is a picture of a male Pied Wagtail, M. alba yarrellii. The difference between these two races is striking. |
Bohemian
Waxwing Bombycilla
garrulus
A very late record concerned
one present in a garden in Beccles on the 10th.
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos
One was to the west of the A12 near
the Hopton/Corton boundary on the 7th.
Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Two males were seen on the 10th.
They were at Lowestoft along the disused railtrack at Dip Farm golf course,
and Beccles Marsh. The fourth male of the spring was feeding on the Denes
Oval, Lowestoft on the 11th.
Black
Redstart P.
ochruros
One male was seen beside Hamilton
Dock on the 7th.
A female seen on
the North Denes net-posts on the 11th may have been a migrant.
One was present
at the CEFAS laboratory for most of the week.
Whinchat Saxicola
rubetra
A
female was at Corton sewage works on the 9th with the weeks second at Gisleham
on the 13th.
Wheatear Oenanthe
oenanthe
A
male was at Kessingland Sluice on the 8th.
Four were in a set-aside
field west of Dip Farm golf course, Lowestoft on the 10th.
A male was present
on the North Denes, Lowestoft on the 11th.
Two were at Corton
on the 12th.
Garden Warbler Sylvia
borin
Singles
were at Beccles Marsh and Kessingland sewage works on the 11th.
Firecrest Regulus
ignicapillus
A singing male was seen at Hopton
golf course on the 10th. One was in song along the disused railway
line in Lowestoft Cemetery on the 11th and another was seen briefly in Flycatcher
Lane, Lowestoft.
Bearded Tit Panurus
biarmicus
Three were seen in fields near the
MoD compound at Hopton/Corton on May 7th. Away from the reed beds of the River
Waveney this is an occasional migrant, and has in the past been recorded at
Pakefield Cliffs, Gunton Cliffs, Lowestoft North Denes, and Leathes Ham, only
the latter site having reeds, Phragmites australis, present.
Pied Flycatcher Ficedula
hypoleuca
 |
The
fourth of the spring, once again a male, was seen to the west of the
A12 near the Corton/Hopton boundary on the 7th. An excellent spring
showing for this species. |
Spotted
Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
The first record locally of
the year came from Beccles on the 13th.
Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus
A male was feeding on the filter
beds at Kessingland sewage works on the 8th and 11th.
Other
Wildlife
A Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes,
was seen briefly on the North Denes, Lowestoft on the 7th and 12th. On the
7th first Holly Blue, Celastrina argiolus britanna, butterflies
of the year at Corton and Hopton. Butterflies recorded on the 9th at St. Olaves
included the first Orange-tip, Anthocharis cardamines britannica,
of the spring along with a Holly Blue and Small White, Pieris
rapae.
WEEK
ENDED MAY 6 2001
CHILLY
NORTHERLY WINDS BECAME a feature during the later half of the week and many
common migrants had moved on by the weekend. Wagtails continued to provide
plenty of interest at many sites with some stunning male Blue-headeds, M.
(flava) flava, being noted at Kessingland and Corton.
Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
Small numbers can still be seen
passing offshore on most days.
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
One flock of twenty flew north
close inshore past Kessingland on the 4th. Several passed Ness Point
on the 6th early morning.
Eider Somateria mollissima
Two flew north past Ness Point
on the 6th.
Hobby Falco subbuteo
The first of the year was circling
over Haddiscoe bridge at 14:20 on the 6th.
Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
 |
A smart adult was on the golf course at Corton cliffs in the afternoon on the 5th. Another two were roosting in a ploughed field south of Kessingland sewage works on the 6th. |
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
One flew north past Pakefield
on the 5th. Two flew north over Hopton golf course on the 6th.
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis
Two were offshore at Lowestoft on
the 2nd, and two
flew north past Kessingland on the 5th.
Twelve flew north past Lowestoft on the 6th.
Common Tern S. hirundo
Three were seen from Corton cliffs
on the 2nd. Two flying west over Norwich Road on the 7th were probably heading
for the roof breeding colony along Lake Lothing.
Little Tern S. albifrons
Four flew north along the tideline
at Kessingland on the 5th.
Common
Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
One was feeding on the filter beds
at Kessingland sewage works on April 30th - May 1st.
Swift Apus
apus
The
birds that appeared at breeding sites around Lowestoft earlier in the week
appear to have moved on. Two that flew north over the Sparrow's Nest Park,
Lowestoft on the 5th didn't linger.
House Martin
Delichon urbica
One flew north along the beach at
Kessingland on May 4th.
Several were at Kessingland sewage works on
the 5th. A couple of weeks ago Sand Martins, Riparia riparia,
were the dominant Hirundine at this site. A few are still present but the
majority seem to have moved on and have been replaced by good numbers of Swallows,
Hirundo rustica and House Martins.
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla
(flava) flavissima
 |
Four males and two females were present at Kessingland sewage works on the 4th with one pair present on the 5th. At least 10 were feeding in water filled furrows in a field at Corton cliffs on the 5th. One or two were flying around in the North Denes area of Lowestoft, and at Hopton, on the 7th. |
BLUE-HEADED
WAGTAIL M. (flava) flava
 |
Last
weeks hybrid type 'Blue-head' was still present at Kessingland
sewage works on the 6th. This bird (pictured to the left) is a very smart
male and shows characteristics of the race 'beema', known as Syke's
Wagtail (the
earlier videograbs are still on the April news page, click
here to view).
Three new males, one of which was rather washed out, and two females were
at Kessingland sewage works on the 4th. Another
male Blue-head was at Corton cliffs on the 2nd with three at this site
on the 5th.
A male wagtail
showing characteristics of Grey-headed, M. f. thunbergi,
was present on the North Denes at Lowestoft on the 5th. This birds stay
was brief and it soon flew off south.
|
White
Wagtail M.
alba alba
A pair were at Kessingland
sewage works on the 4th and one was on the Denes Oval, Lowestoft from the
5th-6th.
Wheatear Oenanthe
oenanthe
Two were at Corton disused railtrack
on the 2nd, three were at Hopton on the 4th
and two were on the North Denes, Lowestoft on the 5th with one on the
6th.
Fieldfare Turdus
pilaris
One was in fields at
Corton on the 3rd and a pair were in Lowestoft Cemetery early morning on the
4th.
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia
curruca
Singles were at Corton
disused railtrack, the Denes Oval and Lowestoft Cemetery on the 2nd,
two were on the disused railway track at Hopton on the 3rd.
Firecrest Regulus
ignicapillus
One was seen along Beach Road, Hopton
on the 6th.
Pied Flycatcher Ficedula
hypoleuca
The
second male of the spring was seen along the road near the entrance to Ash
Farm, Mutford, near Lowestoft from the 1st-4th. A third male was in a private
garden in Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe, Norfolk, on the 6th.
Other
Wildlife
A Stoat,
Mustela erminea, was seen scampering through a stubble field at Mutford
on the 5th.