Last updated 20:30 on December 13th
Kingfisher - Lake Lothing - October 2002 - Andrew Easton
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You can report oiled birds to the RSPCA
on 0870 55 55 999
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That
scourge of the sea is back with us once again - OIL - apparently
deliberately pumped into the sea off East Anglia is producing
large numbers of casualties amongst our seabirds at the moment.
RED-THROATED
DIVER Gavia stellata
Kessingland - 1st (4N 4S), 2nd (5 N, 10 S, 2 o.s.), 3rd
(7 N, 5 S, 2 o.s.), 4th (13 N, 10 S, 1 o.s.), 5th (11 N, 10 S), 6th
(2 S), 7th (8 N, 8 S), 8th (13 N 6 S), 9th (12 N, 12 S, 3 o.s.), 10th
(1 N, 1 S), 11th (21 N, 4 S, 1 o.s.), 12th (4 N, 2 S), 13th (18 N, 9
S, 18 o.s.), 14th (10 N, 1 S, 1 o.s.), 15th (26 N, 52 S, 13 o.s.), 16th
(14 N,138 S, 11 o.s.), 17th (2 N, 3 S, 8 o.s.), 19th (26 N, 23 S, 3
o.s.), 20th (3 N, 8 S, 1 o.s.), 21st (3 N, 5 S, 1 o.s.), 22nd (12 N,
9 S, 1 o.s.), 23rd (21 N, 32 S, 2 o.s.), 24th (72 N, 65 S, 7 o.s.),
25th (78 N, 61 S, 24 o.s.), 26th (104 N, 12 S, 5 o.s.), 27th (2 N, 8
S), 28th (3 N, 56 S, 3 o.s.), 29th (9 N, 77 S, 6 o.s.), 30th (68 N,
26 S, 13 o.s.).
Ness Point - 20th (4 N), 21st (2 S), 22nd (1 N).
Oiled individuals were along Lake Lothing (2) and Lowestoft North Beach
(1) on the 23rd and 28th. Many more oiled birds were just offshore on
the 24th. Numbers are picking up now which could lead to increased numbers
of oil casualties, as several thousand birds gather of our stretch of
coastline each winter as they follow the Spratt shoals.
BLACK-THROATED DIVER Gavia arctica
Noted past Kessingland on the 2nd (1 S), 15th (2 N), 25th (1 N),
30th (1 N). An oiled bird was offshore at Kessingland on the 23rd.
LITTLE
GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis
On the
12th one drifted slowly south a few metres off the beach at Kessingland
apparently untroubled by the waves whipped up by a force 5 SSW wind.
GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
Noted
past Kessingland on the 1st (3 o.s.), 2nd (1 N), 4th (4 N, 1S), 5th
(5 S), 8th (1 N, 6 S), 9th (2 S), 10th (1 S, 1 o.s.), 11th (3 S), 12th
(1 S), 15th (9 S, 1 o.s.), 16th (3 S, 1 o.s.), 17th (1 o.s.), 19th (2
S, 1 o./s.), 20th (2 S), 22nd (1 N, 2 S, 2 o.s.), 23rd (1 S), 24th (3
S, 2 o.s.), 25th (2 o.s.), 26th (2 S), 28th (8 S, 6 o.s.), 30th (1 N,
5 S).
One heavily
oiled bird was swimming just off Lowestoft North Beach on the 22nd,
and one was on Lake Lothing on the 23rd just two of the many victims
of the recent oil pollution.
GANNET
Morus bassanus
Kessingland - 5th (1 N), 6th (1 S), 10th (3 N), 11th
(1 N), 13th (2 N, 1S), 14th (1 N), 16th (2 N), 19th (1 N), 24th (2 N),
25th (1 N, 2 S).
Ness Point - 24th (2 S).
CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo
Noted past Kessingland on the 1st (1 S), 2nd (1 S), 7th (1 N, 1 S, 1
o.s.), 8th (1 N, 1 S), 9th (2 S), 11th (3 N, 4 S), 13th (1 S), 14th
(3 S, 16th (1 S), 17th (1 N, 1 S, 1 o.s.), 20th (7 S, 1 o.s.), 21st
(2 N, 2 S), 22nd (1 N, 1 o.s.), 23rd (3 N, 2 S, 1 o.s.), 24th (3 N,
3 S), 25th (3 S), 26th (3 N, 1 S), 27th (6 N, 7 S, 3 o.s.), 28th (12
N, 4 S, 2 o.s.), 29th (3 N, 2 S), 30th (3 N, 1 S).
SHAG
Phalacrocorax aristotelis
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Lake
Lothing is as ever the best site for this species, and they are
continuing to roost in trees at nearby Leathes Ham. Two were present
on the 2nd, and this had increased to three by the 23rd. On the
28th five were perched together on mooring ropes along Lake Lothing
along with a single Cormorant, and by 16:15 only four had come to
roost at Leathes Ham, and were none on the Kittiwake Wall in the
harbour later on. One of them has a metal ring on one leg, but there
are no colour ringed birds yet. |
PELICAN
sp. Pelecanus sp.
Late news concerns a white type Pelican that flew east towards
the coast over Mutford Lock Bridge at Oulton Broad mid afternoon on
the 15th. The observer was driving in traffic at the time and could
not stop to view it with binoculars to positively identify it. The last
one sighted in Lowestoft was an escaped Pink-backed Pelican P.
rufescens from the Pleasurewood Hills complex at Gunton. Perhaps
it has escaped again?
GREY HERON Ardea cinerea
Noted past Kessingland on the 3rd (2 S).
BRENT GOOSE Branta
bernicla
Ness Point - 3rd (50 S), 10th (46 S), 20th (20 S), 21st (12
S), 22nd (5 S), 23rd (7 S), 24th (14 S).
Kessingland
- 1st (7 S), 2nd (2 N, 27 S), 3rd (3 N, 170 S), 4th (12 N, 4 S), 5th
(1 N, 63 S), 6th (24 S), 8th (2 N, 1 S), 10th (5 N, 158 S), 11th (4
N, 11 S), 12th (6 S), 13th (4 S), 14th (18 S), 15th (1 N, 27 S), 16th
(21 S), 17th (1 S), 19th (205 S), 20th (2 N, 333 S), 21st (1 N, 16 S),
22nd (10 S), 23rd (5 S), 24th (11 S), 25th (2 N, 41 S), 26th (9 S).
EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiacus
27 were in the gull roost field at Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville
on the 28th.
SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna
Kessingland - 1st (1 N, 1 S), 2nd (4 S), 3rd (2 S), 4th (3
N), 5th (13 S), 6th (2 S), 7th (2 S), 9th (1 N), 10th (4 N, 5 S), 15th
(2 S), 16th (6 S), 20th (105 S), 21st (6 S), 22nd (1 S), 26th (1 N,
1 S), 29th (1S).
Ness Point - 21st (6 S).
WIGEON
Anas penelope
Kessingland - 1st (4 N, 33 S), 2nd (4 S), 3rd (42 N, 131
N), 5th (2 N, 48 S, 2 o.s.), 6th (40 S), 10th (20 N, 2 S), 12th (2 N,
7 S), 13th (5 S), 14th (6 S), 15th (44 S), 16th (20 N, 91 S), 19th (4
S), 20th (10 N, 119 S), 21st (50 S), 22nd (2 S), 23rd (6 S), 26th (18
S), 27th (2 S), 28th (15 S), 30th (4 N).
Ness Point - 10th (17 S), 21st (10 S), 24th (12 S).
TEAL
Anas crecca
Kessingland - 1st (4 S), 2nd (11 S), 3rd (3 N, 57 S),
4th (1 N), 5th (2 S), 6th (74 S), 8th (3 S), 10th (18 S), 11th (2 S),
12th (4 S), 13th (3 S), 16th (3 S), 19th (1 S), 20th (26 S), 21st (4
S), 23rd (7 S), 25th (6 S), 27th (4 S), 28th (1 S), 30th (1 S).
Ness Point - 10th (5 S, 4 N), 21st (5 S).
MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos
Kessingland - 6th (2 S), 12th (2 S), 14th (2 S).
GADWALL Anas strepera
Three were at Lound Waterworks on the 2nd and 10th. At Kessingland
noted on the 6th (5 S), 25th (6 S), 30th (2 S).
PINTAIL Anas acuta
Kessingland - 1st (11 S), 12th (4 S), 13th (1 S),
15th (3 S), 19th (1 S), 20th (31 S), 22nd (1 S), 23rd (8 S), 24th (1
S).
Ness Point - 10th (1 S).
SHOVELER Anas clypeata
Kessingland - 3rd (5 S), 6th (1 N, 3 S), 21st (3 S).
At least ten were at Leathes Ham on the 22nd, with at least 24 there
on the 24th.
POCHARD Aythya ferina
Noted past Kessingland on the 5th (1 S), 6th (11 S), 10th (5 S),
27th (2 S). A lone drake was on Leathes Ham on the 24th and 28th.
TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula
Noted past Kessingland on the 3rd (3 S).
COMMON EIDER Somateria mollissima
Kessingland - 1st (1 N), 5th (3 N, 18 S), 6th (9 N),
14th (1 S), 17th (3 N), 19th (7 o.s.), 20th (7 N), 21st (6 N, 19 S),
22nd (6 N), 23rd (18 S), 24th (1 o.s. oiled), 25th (9 N).
Ness Point - 21st (26 N), 22nd (1 N), 23rd (18 S),
24th (1 S).
COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra
Kessingland - 1st (6 N), 2nd (39 S, 4 o.s.), 3rd (16 N, 11
S, 2 o.s.), 4th (6 S), 5th (2 N, 4 S, 3 o.s.), 6th (1 N, 6 S), 7th (3
N), 8th (3 N), 9th (1 N, 9 S), 10th (7 S), 11th (5 N, 2 S, 3 o.s.),
12th (6 S), 13th (4 N, 13 S), 14th (2 S), 15th (4 S), 16th (3 S), 17th
(2 N), 20th (3 N), 21st (7 S), 25th (1 S), 26th (10 o.s.), 27th (3 N),
29th (1 N), 30th (15 N).
Ness Point - 21st (16 S), 24th (3 N).
VELVET SCOTER Melanitta fucsa
Kessingland - 1st (8 N), 3rd (1 N), 9th (1 N), 12th (1 N,
4 S), 13th (1 N).
GOLDENEYE Bucephala clangula
Six flew south past Kessingland on the 3rd, 5th (1 N, 1 S, 1 o.s.),
6th (1 S), 11th (3 S), 12th (4 S), 13th (1 S).
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RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER Mergus serrator |
OYSTERCATCHER
Haematopus ostralegus
One oiled bird was at Ness Point on the 28th.
GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola
Noted past Kessingland on the 6th (1 S).
LAPWING Vanellus vanellus
Flocks of 6 and 13 flew in off the sea at Lowestoft on the 3rd,
with 22 the same day in off the sea at Kessingland. A flock of 15 flew
west over Kessingland on the 11th.
KNOT Calidris canutus
Noted past Kessingland on the 6th (33 S), 10th (9 S), 12th (7 S),
13th (2 S), 14th (2 S), 20th (26 S), 23rd (12 S).
SANDERLING Calidris alba
Two were in Hamilton Dock, Lowestoft on the 10th and one was on
Kessingland Beach on the 12th. A single bird flew north past Kessingland
on the 15th. Two were again in Hamilton Dock on the 23rd. One feeding
with Turnstones along Lowestoft North Beach on the 24th had oil on its
belly..
PURPLE
SANDPIPER Calidris maritima
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The picture to the left shows one of the four at Ness Point on the 19th, the purplely-grey upperparts are shown to good effect. Picture - Robert Wincup
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DUNLIN
Calidris alpina
Kessingland - 1st (2 S), 2nd (1 S), 5th (79 S), 6th (72 S),
8th (9 S), 10th (19 S), 11th (1 S), 12th (56 S), 14th (4 S), 15th (6
S), 17th (6 N), 20th (1 N, 28S), 22nd (1 S).
Ness Point - 10th (32 S).
SNIPE Gallinago gallinago
Noted past Kessingland on the 6th (2 S).
WOODCOCK Scolopax rusticola
One was flushed in Sparrows Nest Park on the 3rd, and another was
at Mutford on the 25th and 26th.
CURLEW Numenius arquata
Kessingland - 5th (1 S), 6th (1 S), 10th (1 S), 11th
(1 N), 15th (2 S), 16th (1 S), 20th (1 S).
Ness Point - 9th (2 N).
REDSHANK Tringa totanus
Eight were in the Kirkley Ham inlet of Lake Lothing on the 16th,
and at least six were at the western end of Lake Lothing on the 22nd
and 23rd. On the 29th eleven were feeding at Mutford Lock at the western
end of Lake Lothing.
COMMON
SANDPIPER Actitis hypoleuca
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One at the western end of Lake Lothing on the 22nd and 23rd is presumably the returning bird that has spent the previous two winters here. Two were together there on the 24th and 28th; it has brought some company this year!
Picture - Andrew Easton
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TURNSTONE
Arenaria interpres
40 were feeding at dusk along Lowestoft South Beach, with the rainbow
sheen of oil on the wet sand around them.
POMARINE SKUA Stercorarius pomarinus
One flew north at Pakefield on the 8th. At Kessingland one mugged
two Common Gulls as it flew north there on the 19th..
ARCTIC SKUA Stercorarius parasiticus
A pale phase bird flew north past Kessingland on the 12th.
GREAT SKUA Catharacta skua
One flew south at Kessingland on the 21st.
MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus
One flew south at Kessingland on the 19th, and an adult was along
Lowestoft North beach on the 23rd. An oiled second winter bird was along
Lake Lothing on the 28th.
LITTLE GULL Larus minutus
Noted past Kessingland on the 1st (1 N), 3rd (4 N), 5th (8 N), 9th
(1 N, 6 S), 11th (3 N), 14th (1 N), 15th (2 N), 20th (6 S).
YELLOW-LEGGED
GULL Larus michahellis
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Picture - Andrew Easton
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KITTIWAKE
Rissa tridactyla
Noted past Kessingland on the 4th (1 N), 5th (1 S), 6th (3 S), 7th
(3 S), 8th (1 S), 9th (1 N, 1 S), 10th (4 N, 1 S), 12th (1 S), 13th
(2 S), 14th (2 N), 15th (1 S), 16th (22 N, 2 S), 19th (3 N, 3 S), 20th
(1 S), 21st (1 N, 1 S), 22nd (1 S), 23rd (5 N, 5 S), 24th (6 N, 28 S),
25th (2 N), 26th (1 N), 27th (3 N, 5 S), 28th (2 N, 21 S), 29th (29
N, 1 S), 30th (2 N, 9 S).
RAZORBILL Alca torda
On the 23rd an oiled bird was noted drifting south close to the beach
at Kessingland. On the 29th an apparently healthy bird was also seen
close inshore there.
LITTLE AUK Alle alle
Kessingland - 8th (1 N), 12th (1 N), 23rd (1 S), 25th (1
N). All were close inshore, and those on the 12th and 23rd settled on
the sea briefly
Ness Point - 12th (1 N), 24th (1 N this bird settled on
the sea a couple of times before continuing north).
AUK Sp. Alcidae
Kessingland - 1st (1 N, 1 S), 4th (1 N), 5th (5 N), 7th (4
N, 13 S), 8th (3 N), 9th (3 N), 10th (1 N), 11th (8 N), 12th (1 S),
13th (2 N, 5 S), 14th (1 N, 3 S), 15th (1 N), 16th (2 N), 19th (6 N),
20th (1 N, 2 S, 2 o.s.), 21st (1 N), 22nd (1 o.s.), 25th (3 N, 1 o.s.),
26th (2 N, 1 S, 1 o.s.), 27th (2 N, 1 S, 2 o.s.), 29th (4 N, 1 S, 2
o.s.), 30th (12 N, 5 S, 1 o.s.).
Guillemots have been affected by oil recently and several have been
washed up either already dead or badly oiled.
BARN OWL Tyto alba
One was hunting over the Kessingland Levels on the 23rd.
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LITTLE
OWL Athene noctua
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SHORT-EARED
OWL Asio flammeus
One flew slowly south almost parallel to the beach at Kessingland
at 9:50am on the 5th.
KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis
One was fishing along Lake Lothing on the 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 28th
and 29th. One was along the River Waveney at Carlton Marshes on the
28th.
SWALLOW Hirundo rustica
One flew south at Kessingland on the 2nd, and two were feeding over
the beach there on the 15th.
HOUSE MARTIN Delichon urbica
One was seen over Lowestoft North Denes on the 1st.
ROCK PIPIT Anthus petrosus
Four were in the Ness Point area on the 23rd, also on the 23rd one
was at Kessingland Sluice..
GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea
Still being seen regularly though in smaller numbers than in the
autumn, the following reports all refer to single birds. Corton Woods
pond 14th, Lake Lothing 23rd and 24th, Kessingland Sluice 23rd, Sparrows
Nest Park 28th, Leathes Ham 28th.
PIED WAGTAIL Motacilla alba
The regular winter roost outside the Dorothy Perkins shop in
Lowestoft Town Centre held 20 birds on the evening of the 25th and 27th.
BLACK REDSTART Phoenicuros ochruros
One was in the Lowestoft North Denes area on the 1st and 3rd.
STONECHAT
Saxicola torquata
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One was still at Gunton Beach up to the 22nd.
Picture - Robert Wincup
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BLACKBIRD
Turdus merula
Still present in large numbers with some newly arrived birds on
the 2nd, when at least 67 were along Gunton disused railway line.
FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris
A handful of newly arrived migrants were in the parks and at Corton
on the 2nd.
SONG THRUSH Turdus philomelos
Small numbers of newly arrived migrants were in evidence on the 2nd.
A single bird arrived in off the sea with a Starling flock at Ness Point
on the 10th.
REDWING Turdus iliacus
As with the other thrushes small numbers of newly arrived birds were
present on the 2nd. Two arrived in off the sea with a Starling flock
at Ness Point on the 10th.
CETTI'S WARBLER Cettia cetti
Four were heard calling, though not singing, at Carlton Marshes
on the 28th.
DARTFORD WARBLER Sylvia undata
One was still present at Gunton Beach on the 9th, often accompanying
a Stonechat
BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla
Two were in Flycatcher Lane, behind the Denes Oval on the 3rd. A male
was in gardens along Stevens Street, central Lowestoft on the 20th.
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CHIFFCHAFF
Phylloscopus collybita
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WILLOW
WARBLER Phylloscopus trochilus
A very late bird was found in the Turner House hedge in Lowestoft Cemetery
on the 4th.
FIRECREST Regulus ignicapilla
One was in Belle Vue Park on the 19th.
JAY Garrulus glandarius
Small roving groups were still present throughout our area on the
3rd.
STARLING Sturnus vulgaris
Several flocks were arriving in off the sea at Ness Point on the
morning of the 10th.
TREE SPARROW Passer montanus
One was with Yellowhammers along Gunton disused railway line on
the morning of the 2nd, but soon moved on. This species is now a great
rarity locally and nowadays tends only to be encountered as a migrant
in late autumn.
BRAMBLING Fringilla montifringilla
Three newly arrived migrants were in Belle Vue Park on the 3rd.
One was with Chaffinches at Corton disused railway line on the 17th.
SISKIN Carduelis spinus
A few birds were heard calling in flight over Gunton and Corton
on the 3rd. Ten were noted at Gunton on the 16th and twenty flew south
over the North Denes on the 19th. Eight flew south at Gunton Warren
on the 22nd, and eight were at Carlton Marshes on the 28th.
TWITE Carduelis flavirostris
One was on the North Denes camp site on the 23rd, often associating
with Meadow Pipits.
REDPOLL Carduelis cabaret
Two flew over Gunton on the 3rd.
SNOW BUNTING Plectrophenax nivalis
Ness Point - 19th (one which later flew north).
Lowestoft North Beach - 23rd (six south).
North Denes camp site - 24th (one south).
Kessingland Beach - 20th (18), 23rd (20+), 24th (35),
25th (22), 28th (18), 29th (9).
CORN BUNTING Miliaria calandra
A flock of 14 were perched on overhead power cables at Carlton Marshes
on the 28th, along with three Reed Buntings and a Yellowhammer before
they flew down in adjacent fields.
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Other
Wildlife
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A
Common Seal Phoca vitulina was at the western end of
Lake Lothing on the 22nd. Possibly the same one seen there at
the end of October.