Lowestoft Bird News - December 2008

RED-THROATED DIVER Gavia stellata
Kessingland - 1st (1 N, 4 S), 2nd (51 N, 42 S), 3rd (56 N, 16 S, 2 o/s), 4th (19 N, 2 o/s), 5th (21 N, 93 S, 1 o/s), 6th (4 N, 295 S), 7th (18 N, 72), 8th (61 N, 15 S), 9th (173 N, 11 o/s), 10th (59 N, 44 S, 37 o/s), 11th (60 N, 29 S, 1 o/s), 12th (5 N, 3 S), 14th (15 S), 15th (2 N, 2 S), 16th (7 S), 17th (7 N, 5 S, 1 o/s), 18th (23 N, 15 S, 1 o/s), 19th (12 N, 4 S), 20th (159 N, 74 S), 21st (9 N, 2 S), 22nd (319 N, 55 S, 8 o/s), 23rd (12 N, 37 S, 9 o/s), 24th (10 N, 10 S, 9 o/s), 25th (2 N, 25 S), 26th (42 S, 1 o/s), 27th (31 N, 20 S), 28th (50 N, 7 S), 29th (40 N, 9 S), 30th (13 N, 2 S, 9 o/s), 31st (31 N, 19 S, 1 o/s).
Gorleston - 6th (7 N, 5 S).
Ness Point - 11th (62 N including 59 in just over 2 minutes!), 13th (2 S), 27th (18 N).

BLACK-THROATED DIVER Gavia arctica
Kessingland - 2nd (1 N), 5th (1 S), 6th (2 S), 6th (1 N, 2 S), 7th (1 N, 1 S), 8th (1 N, 1 S), 11th (1 N), 22nd (3 N), 26th (1 S), 31st (1 N).

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER Gavia immer
Kessingland - 2nd (1 N), 6th (1 N then on sea), 24th (2 S then back north).

DIVER Gavia sp.
Kessingland - 2nd (1 N), 3rd (1 N, 1 S), 6th (2 S), 9th (1 N), 10th (1 S), 11th (1 N), 17th (1 N), 19th (2 S), 25th (1 o/s), 27th (1 S).

LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis
Lake Lothing - 2nd (5), 3rd (3), 14th (15), 24th (13).
Fritton Lake - 7th (6), 24th (13).
Hamilton Dock - 9th (1), 22nd (1), 23rd (1).
Oulton Broad - 29th (2).
Leathes Ham - 31st (1).

GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
Oulton Broad - 2nd (2).
Kessingland - 3rd (2 N, 2 S, 1 o/s), 6th (1 o/s), 9th (1 o/s), 10th (2 o/s), 11th (3 N), 12th (1 S), 13th (2 S), 14th (2 S), 20th (6 o/s), 21st (2 S, 5 o/s), 22nd (3 N, 1 o/s), 23rd (5 N, 19 S, 4 o/s), 24th (2 S, 8 o/s), 29th (1 N, 3 S).
Ness Point - 13th (1 N).

SLAVONIAN GREBE Podiceps auritus
Having not been seen since the 1st on Lake Lothing what is presumably the same bird was showing well in Hamilton Dock on the 7th-9th.

Slavonian Grebe - Hamilton Dock - December 7, 2008 ©Rob Wilton

FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis
Kessingland - 2nd (1 N), 26th (1 N).
Ness Point - 26th (5 N).

GANNET Morus bassanus
Kessingland - 1st (3 N), 2nd (15 N, 2 S), 3rd (5 N), 4th (1 N), 5th (10 N), 6th (1 S), 8th (5 N), 9th (2 N), 10th (1 N), 11th (1 N), 12th (4 N), 14th (1 S), 16th (2 N), 17th (1 N), 19th (3 N), 20th (15 N), 21st (72 N), 22nd (2 N), 24th (1 N, 2 S), 25th (7 N, 1 S), 26th (54 N), 28th (3 N, 1 S).
Ness Point - 13th (1 N, 1 S), 26th (58 N), 27th (5 N).

CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo
Lake Lothing - 3rd (3).
Kessingland - 1st (2 N, 1 o/s), 2nd (2 N, 4 S), 3rd (4 N, 2 S, 1 o/s), 4th (1 N), 5th (1 N, 6 S), 6th (14 N, 38 S), 7th (2 N, 1 S), 8th (1 N, 3 S), 9th (2 N, 3 S), 10th (5 N, 1 S), 11th (7 N, 7 S), 12th (3 N, 1 S, 1 o/s), 14th (3 N, 3 S, 1 o/s), 15th (28 N, 24 S), 16th (6 N, 6 S, 2 o/s), 17th (10 N, 5 S, 2 o/s), 18th (2 N, 3 S, 2 o/s), 19th (1 N, 1 S, 1o/s), 21st (5 S), 22nd (8 N, 10 S), 23rd (7 N), 24th (5 N, 4 S, 1 o/s), 25th (3 N, 4 S), 26th (41 N, 38 S), 27th (77 N, 2 S, 1 o/s), 28th (17 N, 4 S), 29th (7 S), 30th (11 N, 16 S), 31st (3 N, 5 S).
Fritton Lake - 7th (66 going to roost).
Ness Point - 13th (1 S), 22nd (2 S), 27th (61 N).
Gorleston - 15th (312 over), presumably the birds that roost on Fritton Lake.

SHAG Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Lake Lothing - 3rd (ad).
Lowestoft Harbour - 14th (one came in to roost at 15:40), 19th (on sea at Harbour mouth), 23rd (roosting).
Hamilton Dock - 28th (1), 29th (1), 30th (1), 31st (1).

LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta
One was in a field at Ash Farm on the 2nd, this could be the same bird that flew south over Mutford on November 28th.
Herringfleet Marsh - 6th (1).
Belton Marsh - 14th (1).
Burgh Castle - 20th (11).

GREY HERON Ardea cinerea
Carlton Marshes - 4th (5), 7th (3).
Lound water works - 23rd (1).

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Anser brachyrhynchus
c3000 flew east over Burgh Castle on the 14th. Whilst there are many sugar beet fields in the Somerleyton/Ashby area none have been harvested recently. Although we understand this may change over the coming week. The Pink-footed Geese were seen in a field at Bradwell on the 15th with large numbers also present on the 16th. Unfortunately, there were no white ones present.

Bradwell - 16th (4,000++), 17th (c3210), 18th (6,100), 20th (14,140), 24th (c3500).
Belton (Cherry Tree Nursery) - 20th (200), 21st (125), 22nd (3000+), 23rd (1000+), 24th (c2500), 25th (4000+), 26th (3000+).

Pink-footed Geese - Cherry Tree Garden Centre, Belton
December 20th, 2008 ©Rob Wilton

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons
Bradwell - 20th (3).
Cherry Tree garden centre, Belton - 23rd-24th (1).

GREYLAG GOOSE Anser anser
Belton Marshes - 14th (c150 E).
Burgh Castle - 20th (172 over)
Lound water works - 21st (80), 23rd (118), 29th (161).

The flock at Lound water works on the 21st and 23rd included two orange neck collared birds. Considering the generally sedentary nature of Greylag Geese it came as quite a surprise to find that they had been ringed as goslings on Orkney in July this year! So not all our birds are of feral origin from local introductions.

ROSS'S GOOSE Chen (Anser) rossi
What was presumably the Ross's Goose, as opposed to Snow, was seen with Pink-feet on Thorpe Marshes on the from 14:45 on the 12th. The geese were approx. 1/2 mile NW of A143 between Haddiscoe and St.Olaves. The bird was also seen midmorning only on the 13th. On the 14th the Ross's Goose flew east over Burgh Castle at 07:55. On the 21st it was with Pink-feet at Bradwell. On the 23rd it was with 1000's of Pink-feet in the harvested sugar beet field at Cherry Tree garden centre, Belton.

CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis
Castle Marshes - 11th (c100).

BARNACLE GOOSE Branta leucopsis
Bradwell - solitary bird amongst the Pink-feet on the 19th.
Cherry Tree garden centre, Belton - solitary bird amongst the Pink-feet on the 25th.

DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE Branta (bernicla) bernicla
Kessingland - 2nd (1 N), 6th (2 N), 7th (6 N), 10th (2 S), 11th (2 N), 14th (131 S), 15th (1 S), 16th (7 S), 17th (1 S), 18th (6 S), 19th (1 S), 21st (1 S), 22nd (1 S), 25th (1 N), 26th (1 S), 29th (2 S), 31st (7 S).
Ness Point - 13th (3 S), 14th (13 S), 24th (1 S), 27th (4 N).

RED-BREASTED GOOSE Branta ruficollis
One was with c100 Canada Geese on Castle Marshes on the 11th.

EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiacus
Carlton Marshes - 7th (2).
Fritton Lake - 7th (2).
Ashby - 14th (2).
Flixton - 14th (2).
Bradwell - 20th (3), 21st (2).
Lowestoft Harbour - 20th (pr on quayside).
Oulton Broad - 29th (2).

SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna
Kessingland - 3rd (2 S), 9th (1 N, 1 S), 14th (21 S), 24th (1 N), 25th (1 N), 26th (3 S), 27th (5 N), 28th (1 S), 30th (5 S), 31st (4 S).
Ness Point - 13th (2 S), 27th (8 N).
Oulton Broad - 24th (two flew east).

GADWALL Anas strepera
Leathes Ham - 3rd (1), 14th (25), 24th (111).
Fritton Lake - 7th (2).
Kessingland - 12th (1 S), 13th (6 S), 14th (3 S), 15th (3 N).
Barsham Drain - 28th (5).

WIGEON Anas penelope
Carlton Marshes - 7th (15).
Gorleston - 6th (9 N).
Ness Point - 13th (45 S), 27th (8 N, 6S).
Kessingland - 13th (33 S), 14th (117 S), 15th (25 S, 35 o/s), 16th (37 S), 26th (14 S), 27th (3 N), 28th (7 S), 30th (28 S, 12 o/s), 31st (14 N, 10 o/s).
Leathes Ham - 24th (15).

TEAL Anas crecca
Kessingland - 1st (19 S), 8th (3 S), 12th (10 N, 40 S), 13th (73 S), 31st (2 N, 5 S).
Gorleston - 6th (35 N).
Ness Point - 13th (70 S).
Leathes Ham - 24th (1).
Barsham Drain - 28th (3).

PINTAIL Anas acuta
Leathes Ham - 3rd (1), 19th (3), 24th (7).
Kessingland - 2nd (3 N), 12th (1 S), 13th (4 S).
Ness Point - 13th (3 S).

SHOVELER Anas clypeata
Kessingland - 6th (1 N), 13th (4 S), 30th (5 S).
Ness Point - 13th (3 S).
Leathes Ham - 24th (64).

AMERICAN WOOD DUCK Aix sponsa
The drake was still at Nicholas Everitt Park, Oulton Broad on the 2nd. Fantastic bird!

Green Sandpiper - Kirkley Brook - December 7, 2008 ©Derek Beamish

TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres
Kessingland - 1st (18 N), 6th (2 N), 7th (2 N), 8th (1 N), 17th (1 S), 30th (1 S), 31st (3 N).
Gorleston - 15th (19), 24th (26).
Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville - 25th (20).
Hamilton Dock - 31st (6).

ARCTIC SKUA Stercorarius parasiticus
One dark phase bird flew north past Ness Point on the 13th.

POMARINE SKUA Stercorarius pomarinus
One passed north past Kessingland at 09:15 and at Ness Point at 09:25 on the 26th.

ICELAND GULL Larus glaucoides
1st-winter was seen behind a small fishing boat heading north past Kessingland at 09:25 on the 8th. The same bird was noted again on 10th heading south over the beach at 09:15.

Since the initial sightings off Kessingland the bird has been seen in Lowestoft Harbour on the 14th, 15th and 21st. It's evening appearances on the 14th and 21st coincided with the arrival of small fishing boats, so it almost certainly follows the boats in. On the 15th the bird was seen leaving roost at 08:05 heading out to sea from the Harbour mouth. It was around Waveney Dock and fish market again at 13:45 on the 19th.

Despite showing very well from the multi story car park roof on the 21st it did not stay long enough for us to improve the quality of the photograph below. Instead it sat out of view as the light faded fast. On the 16th what is likely to have been the same bird was seen at Aldeby rubbish tip, Norfolk along with a Caspian Gull.

After giving many people the run around for the last couple of weeks the Iceland Gull was bathing with other large gulls on Leathes Ham between 13:30-14:40 giving many the chance to catch up with it. Hopefully, Leathes Ham will prove a more reliable bet than the multi story car park in the freezing wind at dusk!

Iceland Gull - Leathes Ham - December 31st, 2008 ©Rob Wilton
A nice way to round off 2008.

GLAUCOUS GULL Larus hyperboreus
A colour ringed 1st-winter has been noted on several occasions at Minsmere and Southwold since the beginning of December. We've been hoping it would turn up in Lowestoft at some point, and on the 21st it duly appeared on Waveney Fish Dock roof at 15:30. Other birders have already sent the ring details off (green ring, white inscription LE) and ascertained this bird was ringed on Bear Island, which lies between north Norway and Svalbard, in July 2008. Present on the 22nd until 07:45 when it flew north.

What was presumably the colour ringed individual was along the beach between Pakefield and Kessingland on the 27th.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus
Lowestoft South Beach - 3rd (2ad + 2nd-winter).
Lowestoft North Beach - 11th (ad N).
Pakefield Beach - 8th (1 1st-w, 2 2nd-w, 4 ad), 15th (1st-w, 2nd-w, ad), 19th (2 ad, 2nd-w).
Gorleston - 6th (2 N).
Kessingland - 8th (1 ad N), 11th (1 2nd-w S), 15th (2 ad), 13th (1st-w S), 15th (ad lingering), 20th (ad S), 30th (ad N).
Kessingland sewage works - 16th (1).
Ness Point - 13th (1 ad S), 27th (ad S).
Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton - 14th (ad), 26th (ad).

LITTLE GULL Larus minutus
Kessingland - 13th (2 S ad & 1st-w).

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus michahellis
An adult was seen at CEFAS, Pakefield on the 8th.

KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla
Kessingland - 3rd (2 N), 4th (1 S), 5th (1 N), 6th (1 N), 8th (4 N, 1 S), 10th (3 N), 12th (1 N, 5 S), 13th (105 S), 16th (1 N, 1 S), 17th (4 N), 18th (1 N, 1 S), 20th (1 N, 3 S), 26th (1 N, 3 S), 28th (18 N), 29th (128 N), 31st (1 S).

During the south easterly gale on the morning of the 13th a constant stream of Kittiwakes was flying south past Ness Point, with up to 70 in view at a time. Hundreds were passing through, and virtually all were adults.

AUK sp. Alcidae
Kessingland - 1st (2 N), 2nd (10 N, 1 S), 3rd (3 N), 4th (2 N), 5th (2 N), 6th (1 N), 7th (14 N), 9th (2 N, 1 S), 10th (5 N), 12th (1 o/s), 25th (1 N), 26th (2 N), 27th (2 N), 28th (4 N), 31st (4 N).
Ness Point - 27th (1 N).

BARN OWL Tyto alba
Carlton Marshes - 7th (1).
St. Olaves - 25th (1).
Kessingland - 28th (1).

LITTLE OWL Athene noctua
North Cove - 30th (1).

TAWNY OWL Strix aluco
One was at Caldecott Road, Oulton Broad on the 23rd.

STOCK DOVE Columba oenas
Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton - 21st (21).

RING-NECKED PARAKEET Psittacula krameri
Still touring the town! Seen on the:
2nd when it flew south over Link's Hill car park, Lowestoft North Denes at 08:45.
3rd noted again over Gunton Cliff at 09:15.
5th seen at Belle Vue Park, Lowestoft at 08:00.
6th north over Kirkley Cemetery at 07:35.
7th noted in Arnold's Walk at 09:00.
8th noted again in Arnold's Walk during the morning.
12th seen over Triangle Market and Lowestoft Town Centre early afternoon.
18th seen over London Road South during the morning.
19th north along London Road South and London Road North prior to 08:55.
21st north over the multi story car park near Waveney fish dock at 15:30.
22nd south over multi story car park early morning.
23rd north over town centre at 13:00 + sitting in tree by Bird's Eye car park 13:20.

KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis
Leathes Ham - 3rd (1).
Kirkley Brook - 10th (2).
Lake Lothing - 14th (2).

GREEN WOODPECKER Picus viridis
One was at Gunton warren on the 2nd.

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopos major
Carlton Marshes - 12th (4).
Flixton - 14th (1).
Corton new sewage works - 26th (2).

ROCK PIPIT Anthus petrosus
Hamilton Dock, Lowestoft - 3rd (1), 7th (1), 21st (1).
Mutford Lock, Lake Lothing - 13th (1).
Hamilton Road - 28th (1 flew onto John Grose car dealer roof).

WATER PIPIT Anthus spinoletta
Belton Marshes - 14th (2).

MEADOW PIPIT Anthus pratensis
Lowestoft North Denes - 2nd (12), 22nd (11).
Peto's Marsh - 7th (30).
Corton new sewage works - 26th (12).
Sussex Road, Lowestoft - 28th (4 W at dusk).
Beccles Marsh Trail - 31st (20).

GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea
Kessingland SW - 6th (1), 28th (1).
Crown Meadow, Lowestoft - 6th (1).
Hamilton Dock, Lowestoft - 7th (1), 30th (1).
Lake Lothing - 19th (1).
Raglan Street/Camp Road, Lowestoft - 22nd (1).
Corton new sewage works - 26th (1).
Beccles Quay - 31st (1).

PIED WAGTAIL Motacilla alba yarellii
Kessingland sewage works - 16th (c50).
Beccles Marsh Trail - 31st (10).

WAXWING Bombycilla garrulus
c200m west of Lowestoft Road, Carlton Colville roundabout - 14th (18+ per Birdguides).
Linear Park Cycle Track, Lowestoft Cemetery - 16th (1 at 14:40).
Gunton Warren - 17th (17 S at 14:00), 29th (6 S).
Kirkley Cemetery - 17th (5 per Birdguides).
Manor Close, Gorleston - 21st (6).
Harris Avenue/Yarmouth Road (A12) - 22nd (1).
Coastguard Lane, Kessingland - 23rd (9).
Mill Lane Community Centre, Bradwell - 24th (3 per Birdguides).
Coopers Lane, Kessingland - 28th (4).

STONECHAT Saxicola torquata
Gunton Warren - 14th (1).
Mutford, Newsons Avenue - 17th (1).
Lowestoft North Denes (net posts) - 19th (2), 30th (2).

FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris
Burgh Castle - 20th (4 over).
Lowestoft Denes Oval - 26th (2).

REDWING Turdus iliacus
Mutford - 18th (10), 19th (c30).
Lowestoft Denes Oval - 26th (2).

MISTLE THRUSH Turdus viscivorus
Barnard's Meadow - 2nd (1).
Sparrow's Nest, Lowestoft - 2nd (1).
Denes Oval, Lowestoft - 30th (1).

CETTI'S WARBLER Cettia cetti
Whitecast Marsh, Carlton Marshes - 7th (3).
Kessingland sewage works - 16th (1).
Beccles Marsh Trail - 30th (1).

BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla
A male visiting a garden in Oulton Broad daily between November 30th - December 30th was joined by a female on the 5th. They were coming to apples.

CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita
St. Margaret's Road bridge, Lowestoft - 2nd (1).
Kessingland SW - 6th (3), 16th (7), 28th (3).
Kirkley Brook - 7th (3).

GOLDCREST Regulus regulus
Gunton Warren - 2nd (2).
Leathes Ham - 24th (1).
Kessingland sewage works - 28th (2).

FIRECREST Regulus ignicapillus
Kessingland SW - 6th (1).
Corton Woods - 29th (1).

BEARDED TIT Panurus biarmicus
Whitecast Marsh - 7th (3).
Burgh Castle - 20th (6).
St. Olaves (nr Haddiscoe Bridge) - 25th (2 first for the garden).

MARSH TIT Parus palustris
Carlton Marsh - 9th (1).

COAL TIT Parus ater
Gunton Drive - 2nd (1).

HOODED x CARRION CROW HYBRID Corvus cornix x Corvus corone
One was at Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville on the 14th.

BRAMBLING Fringilla montifringilla
North Cove - 1st-4th (male on feeders), with two present on the 2nd (male + female).
Hulver - 21st (1 in garden).

GREENFINCH Carduelis chloris
Gunton Warren - 2nd (6), 18th (53 going to roost).
Lowestoft North Denes - 6th (12).
Kirkley Brook - 7th (22).

SISKIN Carduelis spinus
Fisher Row, Oulton - 30th (20).

LINNET Carduelis cannabina
Mutford, Newsons Avenue - 17th (21).

LESSER REDPOLL Carduelis cabaret
A few were mixed in with Siskins at Fisher Row, Oulton on the 30th.

BULLFINCH Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Ash Farm, Mutford - 2nd (2).
Carlton Marsh - 9th (3).
Kessingland sewage works - 28th (2).
Eade's Farm, Carlton Colville - 30th (2).

SNOW BUNTING Plectrophenax nivalis
Kessingland Beach - 2nd (50), 3rd (50), 4th (50), 6th (50+), 9th (60), 10th (2), 11th (50), 12th (50), 13th (50), 16th (50), 17th (70), 19th (70 by sluice), 21st (70),
22nd (70), 23rd (70), 29th (70), 28th (60), 29th (60), 30th (60), 31st (60).

REED BUNTING Emberiza schoeniclus
Whitecast Marsh, Carlton Marshes - 7th (3).
Beccles Marsh Trail - 31st (3).

NON-BIRD NEWS

COMMON DARTER
Carlton Marshes - Incredibly two were seen near Sprat's Water on December 4th. In the last week in November they were noted here and at Benacre.

GREY SEAL
Kessingland - 1st, 6th, 11th, 16th, 23rd, 24th, 30th and 31st (1).
Waveney Dock, Lowestoft - 29th (1).

COMMON SEAL
Pakefield - 23rd (1).

CHINESE WATER DEER
Carlton Marshes - 12th (1).