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LOCAL NEWS - MARCH 2002
Last updated 4:30pm 21/04/02
First winter (left) and adult Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus at LowestoftACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Thanks to all of the following who have contributed to this page : Peter Allard, Chris & Alison Allen, Chris Baker, Leslie & Brenna Batchelder, Derek Beamish, Kevin Blowers, James Brown, Tim Brown, Jon Burrell, Steve Chaplin, Roger Conner, Chris Darby, Phil Davison, Matthew Deanes, Andrew Easton, Mark Ellis, Ricky Fairhead, Jenny Gort, John Grant, Lee Gregory, Andrew Harris, Jeff Higgott, Dave Holman, Robert Holmes, Mike Marsh, Don & Gwen Moore, John Morgan, Rob Murray, Chris Mutimer, Peter Napthine, Stephen Patmore, Peter Ransome, Jim Read, Paul Read, Neville Skinner, Brian Small, Ian Smith, Richard Smith, Joe Taylor, 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.
WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2002
Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata
Noted off Kessingland on the 26th (3) and 27th (1).
Black-throated Diver G. arctica
One flew north at Kessingland on the 31st.
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
Noted at Kessingland on the 25th (1) and 27th (9).
Gannet Morus bassanus
Noted heading north at Kessingland on the 25th (3), 27th (10) and 28th (15 including a group of 14).
WHITE STORK Ciconia ciconia
Two were soaring over Haddiscoe Marsh on the 26th for 10 minutes before drifting towards Herringfleet and loosing height. It is almost certain that these birds originate from nearby Thrigby Hall, Norfolk. This species and possibly even these birds are annual in this area and are seen most years early on in the spring.
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis
A flock of 53 flew over Carlton Marshes on the 30th.
Brent Goose B. bernicla
Seen at Kessingland on the 25th (2) and 27th (1).
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra
Noted at Kessingland on the 27th (10), 28th (8), 29th (37) and 30th (23).
Red Kite Milvus milvus
One flew south along the River Waveney at Oulton Marshes on the 31st.
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus
A female was seen at Lound water works on the 27th, and at Haddiscoe on the 30th, with a male at the latter site on the 31st.
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
One was seen at St Olaves on the 26th, and at Haddiscoe on the 30th.
Rough-legged Buzzard B. lagopus
The regular bird is still being seen perched on the power cable posts on the marshes at Haddiscoe, Norfolk up to at least the 29th. On the 29th it was soaring high over St. Olaves before dropping down at great speed over Herringfleet Hills. It (or possibly another?) flew south over Bradwell at 3:15 the same day, perhaps a sign that it was testing the thermals before beginning its journey home, as it was not seen on the 30th and 31st. At least four Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus are in the area as well.
Hobby Falco subbuteo
A very early individual was in the Haddiscoe Marshes area on the 30th, the main arrival in our area is usually in early May. The BTO guide Early and Late Dates for Summer Migrants notes an even earlier record at nearby Great Yarmouth on March 20th 1858.
Peregrine F. peregrinus
One was seen at Fisher Row, Oulton on the 31st.
Water Rail Rallus aqauticus
One was seen at Kessingland Sewage Works on the 26th.
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
One was at Ness Point on the 27th and six Turnstones were in Hamilton Dock the same day.
Snipe Gallinago gallinago
Six were at Kessingland sewage works on the 28th and two were at Lound water works on the 29th.
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus
Adults were on Lowestoft North Beach on the 28th (2) and at Kessingland sewage works on the 29th (2 roosting in a field).
Tawny Owl Strix aluco
One was calling from Gunton Woods mid-afternoon on the 29th.
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
Singles were at Oulton Marshes and Haddiscoe Marshes on the 31st, possibly the same individual given the low numbers around this winter.
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Two flew south along Corton Cliffs on the 29th, and four were at Kessingland sewage works on the 30th.
Swallow Hirundo rustica
The first sightings of the year came on the 27th at Corton (2) then from Gunton (3) and Lowestoft Harbour (1) on the 28th. On the 29th three were feeding over Lowestoft north Denes early morning before moving on, and on the 30th two were at Kessingland/Benacre Sluice.
White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
A few were at Kessingland sewage works on the 25th and 26th, with another at Kensington Gardens, Lowestoft (pictured to the left) on the 30th.Grey Wagtail M. cinerea
One was at Kessingland sewage works on the 25th with one at Corton sewage works on the 29th.
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
One was on Lowestoft North Denes on the 28th.
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
Two were on Lowestoft North Denes on the 28th early morning, and a male was in cliff top fields at Corton on the 30th.
Redwing Turdus iliacus
Still passing over at night although in smaller numbers now, and a few were feeding in the fields at Fisher Row, Oulton on the 30th.
Fieldfares T. pilaris
A flock of 60 passed north at Haddiscoe on the 26th.
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
One was at Kessingland sewage works on the 25th and 28th, with five there on the 30th, and two were singing in Corton Woods on the 30th.
Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus
Two were in Warrenhouse Wood on the 28th. Two more were in St. Margaret's Churchyard on the 29th, and one was at Kessingland Sewage Works on the 30th.
Siskin Carduelis spinus
A couple of small groups flew over Lowestoft North Denes on the 29th.
Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
One was feeding with Chaffinches Fringilla coelebs in a garden near Haddiscoe on the 30th.
OTHER WILDLIFE
The warm weather this week has seen numerous butterflies on the wing with Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae and Peacock Inachis io being particularly abundant, but Commas Polygonia c-album were noted at Kessingland on the 29th and at Corton and Oulton on the 30th. There seemed to be more Butterflies around on the 30th than were seen in late summer 2001! A Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena was feeding about 500 metres off the Kessingland Beach on the 25th at 14:20, and a Common Seal Phoca vitulina was in Hamilton Dock on the 27th.
WEEK ENDING MARCH 24, 2002
Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata
Noted off Kessingland on the 23rd (5) and 24th (6).
Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Two were in Lowestoft Harbour on the 21st.
Brent Goose Branta bernicla
Seen at Kessingland on the 23rd (2) and 24th (4).
Mandarin Aix galericulata
The pinioned drake was still at Oulton Broad on the 22nd.
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra
Seen at Kessingland on the 18th (15), 20th (7) and 23rd (8).
GOOSANDER Mergus merganser
A male was seen at Kessingland on the 24th. It initially flew east over the south end of the seawall and the sluice. Later in the afternoon what must be the same bird on was on 'Briggs Pond,' a couple of hundred metres beyond the sewage works.
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
Three were in the St Olaves and Herringfleet area on the 18th and 22nd (2). One flew south over South Lowestoft on the 23rd. Singles were observed flying over Holly Road, Oulton Broad on the 19th, 20th and 21st.
Rough-legged Buzzard B. lagopus
The regular bird is still being seen perched on the power cable posts on the marshes at Haddiscoe, Norfolk up to at least the 23rd. At least four Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus are in the area as well.
Water Rail Rallus aqauticus
One was seen very well at Kessingland Sewage Works on the 23rd.
Sanderling Calidris alba
Seven were feeding along the tideline at Kessingland on the 18th. One was in Hamilton Dock on the 23rd along with a Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula.
Purple Sandpiper C. maritima
Eight were at Ness Point on the 20th with 7 on the 22nd.
Turnstone Arenaria interpres
51 were on the beach at Kessingland on the 18th with 22 at Ness Point on the 22nd.
Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
One was flushed in Gunton Woods on the 20th.
GREAT SKUA Stercorarius skua
One was seen from Lowestoft North Beach at 9.30am on the 22nd. It was being chased by a number of gulls as it flew north over the groynes before heading further out and continuing north. One was seen later the same morning farther to the south at Walberswick, whether this was the same individual doubling back on itself is hard to tell, but as this species arrives back on its Scottish breeding grounds in March there may have been a small passage of birds underway at the time.
GLAUCOUS GULL Larus hyperboreus
A first winter bird flew over Holly Road, Oulton Broad on the 23rd.
CASPIAN GULL Larus cachinnans
A second-summer bird was on groynes along Lowestoft North Beach opposite Bird's Eye factory on the 22nd.
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvichensis
The first of the spring in our area flew north past Kessingland on the 22nd.
Long-eared Owl Asio otus
One spent a few hours in a garden in Corton in the early afternoon of the 19th before being disturbed.
White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba
Two were on Lowestoft North Denes on the 19th and 21st, with one on the 23rd. At Kessingland Sewage Works twelve were present on the 19th, numbers then dropped to four on the 20th, went up to five on the 22nd, with four still there on the 23rd, along with greatly reduced numbers of Pied Wagtails.
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
A female was in the car park opposite the Sparrows Nest Park on the 19th.
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
A smart male was on Kessingland Beach on the 20th, the day before, a female was seen just to the south of the River Hundred around Benacre Pits.
Redwing Turdus iliacus
Large numbers continued to be heard passing eastwards at low level over the town on the evenings of the 17th, 18th 19th and 20th. On the 20th a handful of Fieldfares T. pilaris were heard with them as well, the floodlights at Lowestoft Town Football Club seemed to be drawing them all down to very low level in the drizzling conditions. Large numbers were passing over on the 21st and two were in Flycatcher Lane on the morning of the 22nd. Very few have been seen along the coast.
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
Three males were singing in Corton Woods on the 22nd.
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Slightly more in evidence on the 19th with three at Gunton, and singles in Warrenhouse Wood and in the car park opposite Sparrows Nest Park. Noted singing at Gunton and Corton on the 20th, at Fisher Row, Bonds Meadow, Nicholas Everitt Park, Gunton Woods and Corton Woods on the 22nd, and at Kessingland Sewage Works on the 23rd (2).
Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus
Two, including a singing male, were in Warrenhouse Wood on the 19th. Two more were in Corton Woods on the 20th, one was seen in Gunton Woods on the 22nd, and another was singing at Kessingland Sewage Works on the 23rd.
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
A male was at the new sewage works at Corton on the 23rd. One was at Marsh Lane, Kessingland on the 24th.
Siskin Carduelis spinus
Three flew south over Lowestoft North Denes on the 22nd.
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes
A lone bird was seen perched and in flight at Ashby Warren on the 23rd, a videograb of this bird appears to the left.There was no sign of any others present, but there are some old records of flocks being seen in the Herringfleet and St Olaves area in the winter, but this seems to be the first recent record. It may be an indication that the species still clings on in the area, or may just be a migrant passing through. It was a pleasant surprise to see it nonetheless.
Another videograb of this bird has been added to the Lowestoft Gallery.
OTHER WILDLIFE
A Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara was sunning itself on a plank of wood at Kessingland on the 23rd. It was a male, showing delicate
green flanks to the belly, and was also shedding it's skin.
WEEK ENDED MARCH 17, 2002Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata
Noted offshore at Kessingland on the 11th (19), 13th and(4) and 14th. (3). As a point of interest the 12th was the first day this year that divers haven't been recorded at Kessingland.
MANX SHEARWATER Puffinus puffinus
Four passed Ness Point at around 11.00am on the 14th.
Gannet Morus bassanus
Noted offshore at Kessingland on the 12th (4), 13th (11), 14th (40), 15th (53), 16th (4) and 17th (3).
Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis
At least eight were roosting on the Kittiwake wall in Lowestoft harbour on the 17th.
Brent Goose Branta bernicla
Seen at Kessingland on the 13th (32) and 14th (10), and four flew over Oulton on the 17th.
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra
Seen at Kessingland on the 13th (47), 15th (17), 16th (3) and 17th (10).
Eider Somateria mollissima
A solitary male was seen at Kessingland on the 13th.
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
A lone male flew south at Kessingland on the 17th.
Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
Eleven were at Ness Point on the 11th.
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus
An adult flew north past Kessingland on the 12th.