[jimbob]

Can anyone please give me some directions for the Pied Wheatear? I know how to get to Shingle Street, just don't want to turn up relying on others who may not be present. Hoping to go after work if time allows, if not the weekend is a long shot I suppose.
Cheers,
Jim.

[Jonny Crossbill]

Originally Posted by jimbob

Can anyone please give me some directions for the Pied Wheatear? I know how to get to Shingle Street, just don't want to turn up relying on others who may not be present. Hoping to go after work if time allows, if not the weekend is a long shot I suppose.
Cheers,
Jim.

Hi Jim,

Once on Shingle St head to the first Martello tower, then just beyond that ajacent to a fence you'll see the shingle ridge running away South. That's the area favoured by the bird. It's literally 2 mins walk from the allotements/parking area

Anyone seen the Felixstowe Shorelark today? May sneak doon for it 2moz

[Jonny Crossbill]

Just nipped down for the Felixstowe Ferry Shore Lark, it showed a treat between the Martello towers was feeding away with a Mip.

Very confiding bird it didn't flush till a golfer was only a couple meters away - long after the Mip had flown. Didn't move far & gave great views in flight. Much more excioting than that drab Wheatear yesterday

[jimbob]

Originally Posted by Jonny Crossbill

Just nipped down for the Felixstowe Ferry Shore Lark, it showed a treat between the Martello towers was feeding away with a Mip.

Very confiding bird it didn't flush till a golfer was only a couple meters away - long after the Mip had flown. Didn't move far & gave great views in flight. Much more excioting than that drab Wheatear yesterday

That drab Wheatear has got my back up. 2 missed in as many weeks! Time to stick some classic rock on and quaff some real ale.
Cheers,
Jim.

[Vespa]

Hi there,
In the unlikely event that the RFB sticks around until Friday, I may get over to see this.
I'd be there first light. Does anyone know what the situation is with the car park at Minsmere, is it open all hours or does it get locked? Is the Dunwich NT car park open, I assume its not much further to walk down from there?
Any info appreciated

[PaulE]

nice views of the shorelark and snow bunting on the golf course at felixstowe ferry this morning then went to landguard where i had cracking views of 3 lesser redpoll although i missed the other 127 that were reported going south although i did see quite a big flock of siskins go through

cheers

[Jonny Crossbill]

Originally Posted by PaulE

nice views of the shorelark and snow bunting on the golf course at felixstowe ferry this morning then went to landguard where i had cracking views of 3 lesser redpoll although i missed the other 127 that were reported going south although i did see quite a big flock of siskins go through

cheers

That Golf course is kicking off!

Nice pic of your duo on BINS: http://suffolkbirding.webs.com/october2009.htm

Magic bird that Shorelark

[jimbob]

Minsmere and Thorpeness today.
Great White Egret seen from the overspill carpark, been present sometime. Presumably the same bird seen again later in the vicinity of Bittern hide.
The new feeders around the ponds proved a good spot to observe Marsh and Coal Tit. Bearded Tits pinged and for once showed themselves as we walked to the beach. The sea was quiet and suprisingly calm, nothing doing. The east scrape held 3 Blackwit, a Turnstone, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Spotted Redshank but were dominated by the return of many Teal and Wigeon. Number of Barnacle geese flew through, in their number was a snow/feral goose; white body, brown wings. Anyone see this?
Although the sluice bushes were quiet, still felt the day could deliver so we searched the old caravan site at Thorpeness. Shedloads of Robins, LT Tits and Blackbirds. Mother did have a small Warbler with a wing bar, poor views but could well have been a YBW or even a Pallas's? Definately worth a search if you're in the area.
Cheers,
Jim.

[Luke_Herts]

Just back from my day trip to suffolk. You guys have some great stuff!!
Walberswick gave me:
6 Barnacle geese and 5 pink footed, 3 spotted redshanks, 12 redshanks, 20 dunlin, 20 ringed plover, 2 snipe, heron with a water vole in its mouth, distant marsh harrier, 30 twite, 4 rock pipit, 5 stonechat and load of little egrets.

On the way to southwold for some chips we came on the road through hen reedbeds. Looking out of the window a marsh harrier was right above the road. got my dad to pull into the carpark and i sprinted towards the hide. In my running is flushed a PEREGRINE from the track. Are these common here? Got a rubbish photo.
Got some ok shots of the marsh harrier before it flew off towards warblerswick.

Cheers and i hope to be back soon,

Luke

[PaulE]

Originally Posted by Luke_Herts

Just back from my day trip to suffolk. You guys have some great stuff!!
Walberswick gave me:
6 Barnacle geese and 5 pink footed, 3 spotted redshanks, 12 redshanks, 20 dunlin, 20 ringed plover, 2 snipe, heron with a water vole in its mouth, distant marsh harrier, 30 twite, 4 rock pipit, 5 stonechat and load of little egrets.

On the way to southwold for some chips we came on the road through hen reedbeds. Looking out of the window a marsh harrier was right above the road. got my dad to pull into the carpark and i sprinted towards the hide. In my running is flushed a PEREGRINE from the track. Are these common here? Got a rubbish photo.
Got some ok shots of the marsh harrier before it flew off towards warblerswick.

Cheers and i hope to be back soon,

Luke

looks like you had a good visit i think peregrine sightings are regular though i wouldn't call them common we have a pair which nest on the orwell bridge and a male seen regularly at landguard but i'm always thrilled when i see one
i think we are spoiled living in suffolk it's easy to forget what a rare bird marsh harriers are when you see them all the time similarly with bearded tits i was really surprised when i got talking to a visitor from out of the area at minsmere when he said he had been trying to see some for ten years without success i think he was a bit fed up when i said i saw them more or less on every visit luckily we soon heard the pinging and a small group appeared
i'm hoping to get up to dingle myself at the weekend twite would be a lifer for me

cheers

[Jonny Crossbill]

Anyone got any further info on the Holbrook Red-necked Grebe? I'd be tempted doon by that if it's a firm report

Me m8 had Jack Snipe @ Lackford again Sat & also a Dunlin today. Good Gull & Starling roost PM today too... good times

[jimbob]

I am hoping to try for the Dusky Warbler Saturday morning and would appreciate some directions to the site and any tips on areas the bird is frequenting. Warrenhouse Wood sounds familiar; I saw a Pallas' somewhere near Lowestoft a year or two back, wonder if this is the same place as the Dusky, or am I confused? Suprised this bird is not getting more attention, although I appreciate there was a long stayer at Kessingland back in 200(4?).
Cheers,
Jim.

[gi2012]

Originally Posted by jimbob

I am hoping to try for the Dusky Warbler Saturday morning and would appreciate some directions to the site and any tips on areas the bird is frequenting. Warrenhouse Wood sounds familiar; I saw a Pallas' somewhere near Lowestoft a year or two back, wonder if this is the same place as the Dusky, or am I confused? Suprised this bird is not getting more attention, although I appreciate there was a long stayer at Kessingland back in 200(4?).
Cheers,
Jim.

Hi Jim,

It's been quite a while since I've been up in that area, so can't give proper directions. This will be useful though - Gunton site guide.

Also look at the latest November news on BINS, that has a bit of info on where it has been seen.

Good luck,
Gi

[stu_white]

I had cracking views of the dusky today, well for a dusky anyway ! It was feeding for 5 minutes in one sycamore tree. Park at the bottom of links road then head north round the first wood that comes down into the dunes, I believe that is warren house wood. When you get past that there is a large area of braken on the slope and scattered trees. We had our best views near the top of the slope close to warren house wood, there are various paths on the slope. It also seems to favour the scattered trees and braken above the large Holme oak copse, which is the next obvious wood north of warrenhouse, we're only talking 50-100 yds. This may sound obvious but the best way to locate it is on call, it does move around a bit so if you listen hard you can often follow the bird from place ot place.

Hope that helps

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x...ay=295497&lm=0

this is exactly where we saw it this morning

[Jonny Crossbill]

I've realised me most local patch is work where I bird everyday. So the highlights of me Needham Market patch this week are:

Drake Shoveler, this years Gt Crested Grebe still, single Lapwing (not often seen round ere), Coal Tit (another local scarcity), Kingfisher, pr Goldcrest, 2 Little Egret, Grey Heron, a pair of Kestrel (I think at least one is this years juv), up to three Sparhawk - with me big female, adult male and this youngun and finally me lovely pair of Bullfinch

As local as a patch gets... not the most exciting list but gets me through the week

[jimbob]

Bullfinch is not a bird I see very often, so a nice patch bird there Jonny.

Thanks for the directions Stu and Gi, ill use what you have said in the morn- does appear to be somewhere I have been before so shouldnt be a problem getting there, although pinning the bird down may prove more tricky.

Cheers,
Jim.

[jimbob]

Brief and frustrating views of the Dusky this afternoon. located by call and seen in flight and moving through vegetation, fleeting glimpses but that is better than none at all! Thanks to the finder for the advice as to the bird's habits. A couple of birders attempted to tape lure the bird, and whilst I will not make my feelings known on this method, the bird did not respond to either attempt and infact stopped calling!
Cheers,
Jim.

[PaulE]

Originally Posted by jimbob

Brief and frustrating views of the Dusky this afternoon. located by call and seen in flight and moving through vegetation, fleeting glimpses but that is better than none at all! Thanks to the finder for the advice as to the bird's habits. A couple of birders attempted to tape lure the bird, and whilst I will not make my feelings known on this method, the bird did not respond to either attempt and infact stopped calling!
Cheers,
Jim.

well done on the warbler however i feel your attempt to conceal your feelings has failed miserably

cheers

[jimbob]

Cheers PaulE, tough bird to see. Hoping it overwinters now!
As for the tape luring, I feel I should make my feelings a little clearer after a bit of guess work on your part. Quite on the contrary to what you have assumed (now I'm assuming!) no problem with taping in the right context. The information that the bird had 'shut-up' when tape lured was more of a 'heads up' to anyone else going for the bird.
Cheers,
Jim.

[PaulE]

Originally Posted by jimbob

Cheers PaulE, tough bird to see. Hoping it overwinters now!
As for the tape luring, I feel I should make my feelings a little clearer after a bit of guess work on your part. Quite on the contrary to what you have assumed (now I'm assuming!) no problem with taping in the right context. The information that the bird had 'shut-up' when tape lured was more of a 'heads up' to anyone else going for the bird.
Cheers,
Jim.

your assumption about my assumption was correct! I had assumed you were against. I have no opinion either away but now i've got a headache!!!!
went in search of twite today at dunwich i had read on the bins website that there had been a flock at a feeding station 1km north of the beach carpark so off i went couldn't find a feeding station and a couple of locals hadn't heard of one either did eventually get onto a couple of twite one with a large flock of goldfinch and another couple with a small flock of 9 incredibly tame snow bunting at one point they were feeding 3 feet in front of me didn't find a large flock of twite but a couple is better than nothing
after that popped into minsmere to have a look at the great white egret got great views even stood next to a heron at one point gave a good comparison.also had a couple of water pipit on the konik field again quite handily a small flock of meadow pipits flew in while i was watching them to help me with the id

cheers

[Jonny Crossbill]

Best of the patch this week:

Drake Gadwall, 2 Treecreepers. 3 Marsh Tits, 2 Grey Wagtail, pr Stock Dove, big fm Sparhawk and one young male around, Kes is still patrolling, at least 2 Kingfishers and first Snipe for a while

Of note yesterday was an adult Black-headed Gull in full breeding plumage darker-red legs, full hood the lot! It stood out a treat from the flock.

Also, two Mute Swans landed on the pool and were quickly ushered off by the resident adults... they propped there wings up, curled the kneck in and went for em like battleships - funny thing was the two remaining young (this yrs still in grey/mottled plumage) copied behind. Great watching

Happy Suffolk birding this weekend, been a bit slow this week...

[PaulE]

Originally Posted by Jonny Crossbill

Anyone got any further info on the Holbrook Red-necked Grebe? I'd be tempted doon by that if it's a firm report

hi jonny
i realise it has been a while since this request and you probably have had some replies but i've heard a couple of reports of red neck grebe @ mistly i'm presuming the walls or quay i've had horrible flu this week so haven't been able to check it out

cheers

[JonH]

A Great Northern Diver seen the last couple of days at the Dam and Wonder areas, also flocks of fieldfares, mistle thrushes close to Birchwood.

[PaulE]

Originally Posted by JonH

A Great Northern Diver seen the last couple of days at the Dam and Wonder areas, also flocks of fieldfares, mistle thrushes close to Birchwood.

went in search of great northern divers today started at a windy lower holbrook scoured the water in front of the school a few gc grebes shelducks,pintails,widgeon and some cracking close views of some brent geese shedloads of waders including a couple of avocets loads of curlew , oystercatcher,godwits and redshank i had a mini snettisham moment as the tide got high with small flocks of dunlin and knot swirling about also had a couple of rock/water pipits in amongst the tidal pools but no divers
undeterred i headed to alton water couldn't get any change for the car park machine very helpful lady in the caff not!! so went to lemonshill and walked up to the wonder scanning as i went masses of great crested grebes must have seen 50+ birds a few little grebes loads of tufties and coots and a lovely pair of goldeneye but no divers

oh well try again tomorrow

cheers

[JonH]

Hi (PaulE) , hope you had some luck with the GNDiver, the bird I saw didn't seem at all unperturbed by my presence so was able to get good views of it. It can cover a huge distance underwater over 50 metres I'm sure, so in that respect it is quite mobile. I think the Goldeneye are great to look at, lovely plummage. Also at the dam saw about 10 Egyptian Geese, not sure if these bred near the resorvoir this year but I did see a single bird inspecting potential trees earlier in the year.