Recent bird sightings in our area

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WEEK ENDING MAY 05, 2002

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
Noted at Kessingland on the 29th (5).

Gannet Morus bassanus
Noted at Kessingland on the 29th (3). Small numbers were passing north and south past Ness Point on May 5th, with one adult settling on the sea briefly close inshore there before heading south.

Gadwall Anas strepera
A pair flew north at Ness Point on May 5th.

Eider Somateria mollissima
Three were on the se off Ness Point on May 5th.

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
Three migrants were noted on the 29th. Two were watched arriving, about an hour apart, in off the sea battling hard against the wind; with the third seen crossing the A12 near Safeways. The latter had no doubt just arrived after a sea crossing as well.

OSPREY Pandion haliaetus
One flew west over Blundeston Manor at 9:00am on the 30th.

RED-FOOTED FALCON Falco vespertinus
A male appeared over Nicholas Everitt Park at about 10:25, it spent about five minutes in the area, often accompanied by a Kestrel F. tinnunculus . It was lost to view when it dropped below treetop height and could not be relocated there. During the early afternoon it was seen again at nearby Carlton Marshes before appearing to head north towards Fisher Row.

Hobby Falco subbuteo
One arrived in off the sea at Kessingland on May 1st, then headed south, and two were at Carlton Marshes on May 2nd.

COMMON CRANE Grus grus
One has been seen intermittently on the marshes between Barnby and Carlton Marshes between the 1st and 4th May.

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
A single bird has been seen at Corton between the 1st and 4th May.

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Noted at Kessingland on the 30th(1) and May 2nd (1), Haddiscoe on May 1st (16), Corton May 2nd (3), at Carlton Marshes on May 4th (1) and Ness Point on the 5th (16 flew north).

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
One was at Somerleyton Marshes on May 5th.

Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus
A sub-adult loitered briefly offshore at Kessingland on May 2nd to harry a tern before continuing north.

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvichensis
A good passage was noted at Kessingland on the 29th where 52 flew south. Two flew north at Ness Point on May 5th.

Common Tern S. hirundo
25 were noted past Kessingland on the 29th. At least ten were feeding on Oulton Broad on May 4th and were presumably from the Lake Lothing breeding colony.

Little Tern S. albifrons
On the 29th five were seen at Kessingland and one passed Ness Point.

Black Tern Chlidonias niger
Two flew north at Ness Point on May 5th.

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
One was at Carlton Marshes on May 3rd.

Common Swift Apus apus
At least 15 were seen at Haddiscoe, Norfolk on May 1st, and a good passage took place north over Oulton Broad on May 4th, often in groups of up to 20. A fairly typical arrival date for this area.

House Martin Delichon urbica
Passing through in reasonable numbers now, with at least 10 at Haddiscoe, Norfolk, on May 1st. For the last two or three years this species has been quite scarce in this area, perhaps a recovery is now underway? May 4th saw large numbers of Swallows Hirundo rustica , Sand Martins Riparia riparia and House Martins heading north again after a brief lull in their passage.

Blue-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava flava
A pair were at Corton on May 3rd.

Yellow Wagtail M. flava flavissima
Two were at Kessingland Sewage Works on the 29th, three were at Corton on May 1st and a pair were on Lowestoft North Denes also on May 1st.

Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos
One was singing at Warrenhouse Wood on May 2nd.

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
A male was at Corton on May 1st.

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
Three were seen at Corton on May 1st and three were on Kessingland Beach on May 2nd accompanied by a female Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis.

WEEK ENDED APRIL 28, 2002

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
Noted at Kessingland on the 22nd (12), 23rd (5), 24th (11) 25th (1), 26th (9), 27th (11) and 28th (14).

Gannet Morus bassanus
Noted at Kessingland on the 22nd (2), 23rd (1), 24th (1), 25th (8) , 26th (13), 27th (16) and 28th (21).

Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Six first year birds roosted on the Kittiwake Wall in Lowestoft Harbour on the evening of the 23rd.

Gadwall Anas strepera
Two flew south past Kessingland on the 22nd.

Common Scoter Melanitta nigra
Noted at Kessingland on the 24th (25), 25th (4), 26th (40) and 28th (3).

Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus
A female was at Ashby on the 22nd.

Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
One drifted south at height over Belle Vue Park at 9:50am on the 27th.

OSPREY Pandion haliaetus
One flew north over Haddiscoe, Norfolk on the 23rd.

Hobby Falco subbuteo
One was at Ashby on the 22nd, and one flew north at Haddiscoe, Norfolk on the 23rd.

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
One flew north past Kessingland on the 23rd. The second of the week was found standing on the roof of a wartime pillbox at Corton on the 25th, it later flew down into the adjacent MoD fields. Probably the same individual was seen in flight twice there on the 28th. Two Curlew Numenius arquata (2) passed Kessingland on the 24th as did nine Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus on the 25th.

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvichensis
Noted past Kessingland on the 22nd (7), 23rd (3), 24th, 25th and 28th (12).

Common Tern S. hirundo
One was feeding along Lake Lothing on the 23rd. A few 'Commic' terns noted past Kessingland during the week included two that were feeding as they passed, the first seen feeding this year, others have been heading straight through and not lingering.

Little Tern S. albifrons
Noted past Kessingland on the 22nd, 24th (5) and 25th.

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
Singles were at Beccles Marshes and Barnby on the 22nd.

Common Swift Apus apus
Singles flew north at Hopton on the 25th, Lowestoft North Beach on the 26th and one was over Kirkley on the evening of the 26th.

Sand Martin Riparia riparia/Swallow Hirundo rustica
Good numbers of both species were heading north along the coast throughout the day on the 25th.

House Martin Delichon urbica
Five were noted heading north on the 25th, three at Corton and singles over the Denes Oval and at Pakefield. Several were seen arriving from off the sea on the 28th.

Blue-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava flava
One male and one, possibly two females were with the Yellow Wagtails on Lowestoft North Denes on the 24th and 25th. A male was again at Kessingland sewage works and the adjacent field on the 26th and 27th.

Yellow Wagtail M. flava flavissima
Up to nine were on Lowestoft North Denes on the 23rd, this had increased to 28 on the 24th, with at least 10 still there on the 25th. The variation in colouration amongst them was striking. A group of at least seven were at Corton on the 25th accompanied by a Scandinavian Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus littoralis, seven were also noted in flight over Pakefield. A single male was on the North Denes on the 27th, and a pair was there on the 28th.

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
An adult male was feeding along the seawall on Lowestoft North Denes on the 23rd (pictured to the left). What was presumably the same bird was in the Birds Eye car park on the 25th. A pair were also in Hamilton Road on the 25th and 27th.

Common Redstart P. phoenicurus
A female was in the Birds Eye car park behind the sea wall on the 25th.

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
A male was on Lowestoft North Denes on the 23rd (pictured to the left). A different individual was on Gunton Warren on the 25th with yet another at Corton the same day.

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
The best week this year so far with five present on the 23rd, three on the Camp Site, and singles on the North Denes and at Gunton. At least four were still present on the 24th. A minimum of 12 were in the area on the 25th with five on Lowestoft Denes, five along the cliffs at Corton and three at the new Corton Sewage Works. On the 27th a female was on the North Denes and a male was along the north wall of Hamilton Dock. Wheatear

Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus
Males were on the Denes Oval on the 25th and the Kessingland Levels on the 27th.

Redwing T. iliacus
Two were at Beccles Marshes on the 23rd.

Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti
Six different individuals were singing along a short stretch of the River Waveney between North Cove and Barnby on the 22nd, three on each bank.

Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis
Good numbers are present again this year with birds at Ashby, Gunton, Lake Lothing, and Lowestoft North Denes on the 23rd alone. In the Pakefield area on the 25th 25 singing males were counted, definitely a bumper year for Whitethroats.

Lesser Whitethroat S. curruca
Singing birds were noted on the 25th at Pakefield, Lowestoft North Denes, Warrenhouse Wood and Corton disused railway track.

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus/Chiffchaff P. collybita
Newly arrived migrants, mostly Willow Warblers, were seen arriving off the sea and found in coastal bushes on the 25th. A very grey, but silent, Chiffchaff was on the slope above the North Denes Campsite on the 27th and 28th.

Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
A female was feeding along Flycatcher Lane and the North Denes Campsite slope on the 28th.

OTHER WILDLIFE
Good numbers of butterflies continue to be seen in the area including sightings of seven Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria Gunton Woods on the 22nd, one at Beccles Marshes also on the 22nd and two 2 Kessingland on the 23rd. At least three Holly Blues Celastrina argiolus were noted at Kessingland on the 23rd. Nine species of butterfly seen in Mutford Wood on the 25th included Speckled Wood, Comma Polygonia c-album and Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines. A Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula was on the wing at Beccles Marshes on the 22nd with another at Mutford on the 25th.

WEEK ENDED APRIL 21, 2002

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata
One flew past Kessingland on the 16th.

Black-throated Diver Gavia artica
One flew north past Kessingland on the 17th.

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
Noted at Kessingland on the 15th (3), 16th (2), 17th (1), 20th (8) and 21st (8).

Gannet Morus bassanus
Noted heading north at Kessingland on the 15th (3), 17th (2), 20th (3) and 21st(2).

Common Scoter Melanitta nigra
Noted at Kessingland on the 15th (10), 16th (3), 17th (6) and 20th (1). Other species noted off Kessingland this week include Avocet (2), Curlew Numenius arquata (2), Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus (7), Great Crested Grebe (2), Shoveler (2), Pintail (2), Tufted Duck (4) and Shelduck (12).

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
One was circling over Kessingland Levels on the 16th. Two glided westwards at height over Ashby on the 21st.

Great Skua Skua skua
One passed Kessingland on the 17th at 14:15 at about 2/3-buoy distance. Another headed north there on the 21st. Like most skuas at this time of year they passed straight through, no hanging about.

Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus
A dark morph adult passed Kessingland at 17:15 on the 16th. The observer had been sweating on this sighting as it makes April 2002 the 36th consecutive month a skua has been seen from his bedroom!!!

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvichensis
Noted past Kessingland on the 16th (6), 17th (1) and 20th (2).

Common Tern S. hirundo
Noted past Kessingland on the 15th, two heading north at 17:45. Two more were noted on the 17th

Little Tern S. albifrons
Four flew north at Kessingland on the 19th, with a single south on the 21st.

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
One was at Sprat's Water, Carlton Marshes on the 18th and 20th.

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
One was quartering rough ground beside Ellough airport at 9:00am on the 17th.

Sand Martin Riparia riparia
40-50 are now present at Kessingland Sewage Works. Elsewhere they are thin on the ground with just one seen over Lowestoft North Denes on the 17th.

Swallow Hirundo rustica
Four were seen over Lowestoft North Denes on the 17th, with at least eight passing through there early on the 20th, and several more in evidence throughout the day at Kessingland and Ashby.

House Martin Delichon urbica
Two were seen at Kessingland on the 21st.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
A smart male was at Kessingland Sewage Works on the 16th.

Blue-headed Wagtail M. flava flava
One male was in fields beside Kessingland Sewage Works on the 20th and 21st.

Yellow Wagtail M. flava flavissima
Three flew north over Lowestoft North Denes on the 19th. A male was in fields beside Kessingland Sewage Works on the 20th and four were there on the 21st. There were also three near the old sewage works at Corton on the 21st.

Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos
One was singing at Sprat's Water, Carlton Marshes on the 18th along with two Cetti's Warblers Cettia cetti.

Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus
A female was feeding in the flower beds on Lowestoft Denes Oval on the 18th.

Stonechat Saxicola torquata
A male at Gunton Warren on the 15th was probably a migrant.

Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus
A female on Lowestoft Denes Oval on the 18th was pleasing after a blank spring in 2001 for this species. A male flew westwards with a flock of Fieldfares at Ashby on the 21st.

Fieldfare T. pilaris
One was on Lowestoft Denes Oval on the 17th. On the 20th three were on the Dip Farm playing fields at Gunton and a flock of seven flew over Ashby. On the 21st a flock of twenty flew westwards at Ashby accompanied by a male Ring Ouzel, and ten more were near Hobland Hall the same day.

Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis
Singles were at Kessingland Sewage Works and Ashby on the 20th.

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
Around in reasonable numbers now. One singing in Raglan Street, central Lowestoft on the 18th was obviously new in. On the immediate coast four were along Lowestoft North Denes on the 17th.

OTHER WILDLIFE
An escaped Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus was seen at Gunton on the 16th and Corton on the 18th. Good numbers of butterflies have been in the area including sightings of Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria and Small White Pieris rapae from Kessingland on the 16th, and Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni and Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines at Castle Marshes, Barnby on the 20th, there were also two Grass Snakes Natrix natrix at Castle Marshes. Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena sightings have been quite regular this week off Kessingland and Lowestoft with reports most days.

WEEK ENDED APRIL 14, 2002

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata
Noted off Kessingland on the 2nd (1) and 27th (1).

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
Noted at Kessingland on the 8th (5), 9th (3), 10th (37), 11th (10), 12th (5), 13th (3) and 14th (22).

Gannet Morus bassanus
Noted heading north at Kessingland on the 9th (7 + one Eider Somateria mollissima), 10th (18), 11th (29), 12th (6) and 14th (1).

Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis
At least three were on Lake Lothing on the 14th.

Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus
On the 14th one was in Lowestoft Harbour and a pair were along Lake Lothing.

Common Scoter Melanitta nigra
Noted at Kessingland on the 8th (47), 9th (20), 10th (9), 11th (22), 12th (6), 13th (1) and 14th (53).

Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
Single birds are still being seen regularly in the St Olaves/Herringfleet area.

Curlew Numenius arquata
Noted past Kessingland on the 9th (2), 11th (2) and the 13th (2).

OSPREY Pandion haliaetus
One flew north over the Tramways pub heading towards Carlton Colville on the 9th at 08:05.

Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus
One flew south past Kessingland on the 10th.

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvichensis
Singles flew north past Kessingland on the 8th and 9th.

Auk sp.
Singles flew past Kessingland on the 8th and 9th.

Stock Dove Columba oenas
One was feeding along the edge of Hamilton Dock on the 14th. Not the most typical habitat for this species.

HOOPOE Upupa epops
One was seen at Pakefield fish labs' on the 8th. It flew past the lucky observers window at 2:30pm and settled on the Tamarisk Tamarix gallica covered slope to the north! It could possibly still be in the area.

Sand Martin Riparia riparia
10 were at Kessingland sewage works on the 8th.

Swallow Hirundo rustica
One was with the Sand Martins at Kessingland sewage works on the 8th.

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
One was in Clifton Road, south Lowestoft on the 12th.

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
One was singing at Marsh Lane Kessingland on the 11th.

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
Two were singing in Gunton Woods on the 12th.

Crossbill Loxia curvirostra
10 were at Ashby Dell on the 8th.

OTHER WILDLIFE
At Ashby on the 8th one of the regular Muntjac Muntiacus reevesi and two Weasels Mustela nivalis were noted.

WEEK ENDED APRIL 07, 2002

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata
Noted off Kessingland on the 2nd (1) and 27th (1).

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
Noted at Kessingland on the 2nd (1), 3rd (2), 4th (5), 6th (1) and 7th (2).

Gannet Morus bassanus
Noted heading north at Kessingland on the 3rd (2), 4th (4), 5th (15), 6th (4) and 7th (2).

Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis
A flock of 30 flew over Lound water works on the 6th.

Brent Goose B. bernicla
Seen at Kessingland on the 3rd (2), 4th (9) and 5th (8).

Common Scoter Melanitta nigra
Noted at Kessingland on the 2nd (3 + 3 Shoveler Anas clypeata south), 4th (9) and 6th (1).

Velvet Scoter M. fusca
One flew north past Kessingland on the 6th.

Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
One flew north past Kessingland on the 6th.

Mandarin Aix galericulata
One male was on a pond near Kessingland sewage works on the 1st.

Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus
A female flew south over Mutford on the 3rd.

ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD Buteo lagopus
Once again the wintering bird was seen in the Haddiscoe area. On the 7th it was seen along Blocka Road half way towards Ashby Dell.

Peregrine Falco peregrinus
One was at Haddiscoe Marshes, Norfolk on the 7th.

Grey Partridge Perdix perdix
Two pairs were at Mutford on the 3rd.

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
Noted past Kessingland on the 2nd (3) and 5th (10).

Curlew Numenius arquata
Noted past Kessingland on the 4th (2 + 8 Turnstone Arenaria interpres) and 6th (10).

Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
Two were flushed from a field at Mutford on the 3rd.

Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus
An adult flew north past Kessingland on the 4th.

CASPIAN GULL Larus cachinnans
One was at Kessingland on the 4th.

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvichensis
Only the second locally flew north past Kessingland on the 4th.

Common Tern S. hirundo
One that flew north past Kessingland on the 6th was the first of the year locally.

Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Four were patrolling the cliffs at Corton on the 1st. Ten were at Kessingland sewage works on the 2nd with over 30 on the 3rd.

Swallow Hirundo rustica
One was seen at the Rookery Park Golf Course, Carlton Colville on the 5th.

White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
One was at Kessingland sewage works on the 3rd with three there on the 7th.

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
One was along Hamilton Road, Lowestoft on the 5th.

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
One was singing and showing well in the reedbed at Kessingland sewage works on the 6th.

Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus
A singing male was in Corton churchyard on the 1st. One was again see in Gunton Woods on the 5th and was quite showy at times.

Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra
Four were at Carlton Marshes on the 1st.

OTHER WILDLIFE
A Large White Pieris brassicae butterfly was at Mutford on the 3rd. Also on the 3rd several Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae, one Comma Polygonia c-album, one Peacock Inachis io and a very smart Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria tircis were noted at Kessingland.