Suffolk Birding (1 Viewer)

[GiG]

Moderate north east wind promised a few birds and we were not dissapointed. Parked up at the coast guards at Ness Point early morning to do a spot of seawatching. 7 Little Auks flew north close in...2 extremely close in..just past the rocks only a few metres from my car window...magical.

After noting good numbers of Thrushes in the parks while looking for the Great-grey Shrike (unsuccessfully) I decided to see how many were in at my local patch. Very large numbers indeed as it happened. A grounding of 500+ Thrushes were noted in the Hopton-Gunton area. The biggest numbers were in the morning and the count was cut short by a call to say Paul Read had noted a Petrel sp with white underside flying north off Kessingland for which I then searched off Corton for a while. In the morning the activity was intense. Parking at Dip farm Gunton...Thrushes were everywhere with very many Blackbird and Redwing flushing out from the trees by the water. Thre leaside of Gunton railtrack had 30 Blackbird and 20 Redwing feeding in the very first part..this was when I got the call about the Petrel and left..had I stayed it seemed very large numbers would have been counted. Many were flying out and moving inland into Gunton Wood including good numbers of Fieldfares.The indicator site at Hopton railtrack..indicated that this was a large arrival. I intended to walk the leaside as usual but on scanning and seeing 80+ Thrushes feeding in the field by the hedge side and many flushing out from the hedge on my first few steps..i decided to leave them to feed in peace and they were undoubtedly tired and hungry. Had I walked it as normal the tally would have no doubt topped 200. I think most Thrushes had arrived overnight and were now filtering inland, indeed in morning 30+ were in the Corton osw hedge but few were there in late afternoon...and none seemed to be flying in off the sea or overhead unless flushed. They seemed to be busy feeding rather than flying. Conservative estimate totals as follows:

Gunton: 150+ Blackbird, 80+ Redwing, 50+ Fieldfare.

Hopton: 100+ Blackbird, 50+ Redwing, 10+ Fieldfare.

Corton: 150+ Blackbird, 50+ Redwing, 20+ Fieldfare, 10+ Song Thrush

All in all probably one of the biggest Thrush falls ive seen in this area.

Nice tally of birds, I've seen a fair few inland at Melton & Woodbridge in the last couple of days. Landguard had over 1000 blackbirds the other day which would have been impressive to see.

Gi

 

[GiG]

I've seen a fair few colour-ringed birds on my patch over the years, recently saw a turnstone with a white flag which is likely from an Arctic Canadian ringing project, then yesterday there were three med gulls, one of which had a red ring ring with 8P4, which seems to be from a Polish project. The most frequent species I've seen is black-tailed godwits, so now with birds from the west, east and north, I wonder what I can find from the south (excluding UK)!

Need to update the colour-ringed page on my web site!

Gi

 

[lostinjapan]

Hi Sean,

Nice find! May see if I can get a lift there tomorrow if it's refound.

Gi

Thanks Gi

Hopefully we can refind it, though it was hard to find if it stopped calling. We may even have nets out to see if we can ring it.

Anyway fingers crossed & might see you there tomorrow .

Cheers Sean

 

[Cortonbirds]

Nice one Sean; a potential second for Suffolk if I remember rightly.

3rd for Suffolk in fact, after birds in the same year at Sizewell and Southwold.

Great find.

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Wrecked Little Auk

Hi all,

Details of a west Suffolk wrecked Little Auk on me blog:

http://t.co/L5owun0

Cheers,

Jonny

 

[tonyfenn]

how sweet

 

[NoSpringChicken]

Hi all,

Details of a west Suffolk wrecked Little Auk on me blog:

http://t.co/L5owun0

Cheers,

Jonny

Great stuff Jonny and as you say, what a sight. I hope it soon perks up again and preferably before John needs a bath!

Ron

 

[lostinjapan]

Hi all,

Details of a west Suffolk wrecked Little Auk on me blog:

http://t.co/L5owun0

Cheers,

Jonny

What a cutie. Saw one down to 10m on Monday but noton my bath list!!

Alas couldn't relocate the Hume's Leaf Warbler this morning despite searching for 4 hours. Two birders heard Yellow-browed calls at the other end of the copse and we had a single note response to a Hume's recording but no birds seen.

This afternoon Mark Piotrowski may have heard the bird again, but I have a feeling it isnt there, but would love to be proved wrong.

Otherwise we had to make do with a Waxwing as the highlight . Only other birds seen were Brambling, a few Redpoll, 2 groups of Pinkfeet, Barn Owl and a Green Sandpiper.



Sean

 

[Sharp Shin]

For those interested in the destination and destiny of the Sandhill Crane that visited Suffolk, there is some interesting news over on the Rare Bird Information section . A Sandhill Crane was seen on 4th Nov. in the Badajoz province in Spain between Palazuelo and Torviscal. It was with Common Cranes where the nearby roost collects numbers of up to25,000!

 

[Jonny Rankin]

For those interested in the destination and destiny of the Sandhill Crane that visited Suffolk, there is some interesting news over on the Rare Bird Information section . A Sandhill Crane was seen on 4th Nov. in the Badajoz province in Spain between Palazuelo and Torviscal. It was with Common Cranes where the nearby roost collects numbers of up to25,000!

25 000! Wow! That'd be a sight!

Good to hear its still going strong - is this distinct from the Estonia bird earlier in the year?

Or could there end up been two Sandhills in that flock?!

Little Auk update in my blog here: http://t.co/57qSbvv

Cheers,

Jonny

 

[lostinjapan]

Was just wondering the same thing regarding the Sandhill Crane in Spain. The Estonian bird migrated with cranes, whereas the UK bird didn't, though it may have joined up with some on the continent.

 

[lostinjapan]

A few hours out this afternoon to try and relocate the Hume's Leaf Warbler and the Yellow-browed heard yesterday and seen first thing in the morning.

On my way to the copse by bicycle a small bird perched up on thistles caught my eye, which looked good for a Stonechat. Stopped the bike, put the bins on the bird only to reveal a Whinchat!! A very late record. Very quickly whipped out the camera and got a few record shots before it disappeared.

Got to the copse, stopping on the way to photograph a Green Sandpiper that never co-operates and Kestrel plucking away at a vole.

Finally at the copse, there were two birders looking half-heartedly for any kind of warbler!!

Below is a photo of the Whinchat, and a few other bits and pieces from recent days.

I eventually caved in and went to try to look round the back and within 5 minutes had a Yellow-Browed Warbler feeding in the tops of the Willows along with a few tits and goldcrest.

I ran back to tell the the birders and then relocated it for them from the road,and we watched it for 10 minutes before it then disappeared out the back.

Another visit into the copse and I refound the bird at the back, with nice close, but all too brief views as I tried to focus my camera on it..to no avail..then it was gone!!

 

[NoSpringChicken]

I spent a pleasant couple of hours in the Lowestoft Ness and North Denes area today. There was nothing too unusual but plenty to look at.

I started off with one or two Redwings feeding on berries at the top of the slope in Sparrows Nest Gardens, which, I am ashamed to admit, were my first this year. A walk through Arnolds Walk produced a couple of Jays ferrying acorns about and plenty of Tits (but no Firecrests or anything exciting, to my disappointment). I carried on to Ness Point, watching the many Turnstones scurrying about on the rocks but couldn't see any Purple Sandpipers.

I decided to have a look at the base of the wind turbine and, bingo, two Black Redstarts were moving about there, including a stonking male. The light was rubbish and they were too far away for good photos but I got a couple of record shots.

I then headed north along the prom and finally caught up with two separate Purple Sandpipers in the company of Turnstones. As I was watching one Purp and a Turnstone I spotted a bird flying in rapidly towards them. It turned out to be a Sparrowhawk, swooping in low and fast, but they spotted it at the last moment and escaped, calling loudly.

I decided to have a look at Warrenhouse Wood and was greeted at the entrance by eleven Magpies feeding on a dead rabbit. That is a whole team in Newcastle! I always find the wood a rather depressing place, wandering along between discarded bags of dog cr*p, and expecting to be mugged at any moment. In fact I took one turning into a deeper part and came face to face with a shelter which had obviously been constructed by somebody sleeping rough. I don't know if it was occupied but, as I had a couple of grand's worth of binoculars and camera gear around my neck, I decided to beat a swift retreat and return to the beach. I didn't see anything of note in the woods anyway. After that it was back to the car and home for a nice cuppa.

Ron

 

[lostinjapan]

Nice photos of the male Black Redstart & Purple Sandpiper.

Yes I usually avoid Warrenhouse Wood too, unless there is a really good bird in there !!

 

[Julian]

Landguard

A friend and myself saw a Short eared Owl at Landguard on Thursday 10 Nov, about 1030 am. Also 5 Snow Buntings and a single Stonechat, 4 Redwings, 1Fieldfare. Pleased about the SEO tho' as I have not seen one for a good while.

 

[ed keeble]

spent an hour by South Hide at Mins today, all very nice with Bearded Tits, Peregrine hunting, two parties of Bewicks close enough to hear them calling and then this large falcon put up the Marsh Harriers and spent some time tussling with all six of them somewhere out beyond Island Mere

some ultra- long distance videograbs of it chasing a marsh harrier in level flight, just to give a feel for size

maybe a hint of jesses in pic 3- but a looong way off

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Lanner Falcon

spent an hour by South Hide at Mins today, all very nice with Bearded Tits, Peregrine hunting, two parties of Bewicks close enough to hear them calling and then this large falcon put up the Marsh Harriers and spent some time tussling with all six of them somewhere out beyond Island Mere

some ultra- long distance videograbs of it chasing a marsh harrier in level flight, just to give a feel for size

maybe a hint of jesses in pic 3- but a looong way off

Hi Ed / all,

I had this falcon at Livermere on Friday. I couldn't clinch I.D. myself. Having no experience of Saker or Lanner in the field - I've since had expert confirmation the bird is a 1st year Lanner Falcon.

This individual did have jesses but was feeding well eating two mice while I watched it.

So, it could feasibly have got as far as Minsmere but there is plenty of escapees at large.

I wonder what came of last winters Gyr / Saker type bird? That overflew my Needham Mkt patch and frequented the Orwell / Felixstowe area... could have headed north?

Otherwise sounds like a great Minsmere visit :t:

Cheers,

Jonny

 

[ed keeble]

Hi Ed / all,

I had this falcon at Livermere on Friday. I couldn't clinch I.D. myself. Having no experience of Saker or Lanner in the field - I've since had expert confirmation the bird is a 1st year Lanner Falcon.

This individual did have jesses but was feeding well eating two mice while I watched it.

So, it could feasibly have got as far as Minsmere but there is plenty of escapees at large.

I wonder what came of last winters Gyr / Saker type bird? That overflew my Needham Mkt patch and frequented the Orwell / Felixstowe area... could have headed north?

Otherwise sounds like a great Minsmere visit :t:

Cheers,

Jonny

thanks for that: it could well be that Lanner [or another]

certainly a very long, narrow winged beast and so the Gyr hybrid wasn't my first thought

mixed feelings watching it- awesome flying display as it worked over the harriers, but would have been very nice for it to be a strapless Saker this particular autumn

 

[KayD]

Is it possible that anyone can give me directions to Corton Wood at Gunton and any gen on where best to look for the Hume's Leaf Warbler?

 

[Paul Woolnough]

Gunton Humes Warbler

Is it possible that anyone can give me directions to Corton Wood at Gunton and any gen on where best to look for the Hume's Leaf Warbler?

Gunton is just north of Lowestoft. From Great Yarmouth head south on the A12. After the road becomes single carriageway turn left onto Corton Long Lane. At the end turn right and go through Corton Woods and out the other side. Golf course and shelter belt are on the right.

From Lowestoft town head north up the A12 towards Great Yarmouth and take the Corton Road B1385. Go past all the houses and Dip Farm and golf course and poplar belt are reached, on the left.

Bird mobile in and around (poplar and other tree) shelter belt and Corton Wood to the north. Calls from time to time.