Its been a very hard but rewarding week on the patch. Its rained every night after work but I carried on regardless. The dogs still needed walking. Anyway Common migrants on the patch were Willow Warbler, Whinchat, Wheatear, Pied Fly, Spot Fly and Redstart. Hobby too.
Swifts are still moving through with 22 over one evening. The Whinchat was very showy.
Then a bloody Wryneck turned up at the OSW, and it took me until yesterday to actually get to see it, originally without optics but luckily someone lent me there bins, I was out running.
Today I decided to have a day off and a long weekend but birding was hard work but rewarding. I started early this morning and managed to find 2 Wryneck at the OSW a very nice surprise. I continued to cover the whole of the patch picking up 2 Garden Warbler (patch tick)
Willow Warbler, Pied Flycatcher 3 Hobby a Swift, House Martin, Whinchat and a colour ringed Herring Gull.
Its been a great day birding, I started early on the patch until about 11am and felt a goodie was about. It didn't quite materialise but I did find a couple of nice migrants. Spotted Flycatcher at Radar lodge, a Wheatear and Hobby at COSW. On the sea was just 2 Sandwich Tern.
So a last minute decision had us heading for Grambrough hill in Norfolk for a Booted Warbler, a bird I saw briefly many many moons ago so I was hoping for better views. On arriving the wind was blowing a hooley and after an hour id just seen Willow Warbler and a brief view of an Icterine Warbler so I moved spots above the bush's and almost immediately managed great views of the Booted Warbler. Also had better views of the Icterine Warbler and a Redstart.
(Click pics to enlarge)
Booted Warbler
Icterine Warbler
We headed home as the rain was starting and I felt sure something good was going to turn up on patch. It was very frustrating when I got home as the rain was heavy and the birds were there it was just too dark to see them, the birds would fly from the trees to deep cover and I just couldn't find them. I did manage a Pied Flycatcher in the Dis Rail track. In the churchyard a possible Garden Warbler and a small chiffy sized thing flew off giving a buzzing call, no idea had to be something good. That's why it was so frustrating. Tomorrow could be great and yes I'm at work grrrrr.
On the way along the cliff a Whinchat, Wheatear and Common Sand. Wet threw I headed home hoping for better tomorrow after work or even before, will see.
During the week the patch was still quiet with Blackcaps and Whitethroats still. Common Terns, Common Sandpipers and a Tree Creeper. Tawny owl was calling in the day.
Today was a great day, I checked the whole patch and it was looking like a poor day again but a sea watch changed that with 2 - 5 Black Terns. The light was strong making all the terns look black but if I looked away from the sun earlier enough I could make out the jizz of a few Black terns.
Luckily they went south and spent the day at Links road in Lowestoft.
Waders were 2 Common Sand a Whimbrel and Turnstone. 5+3 Teal went south.
Alongside a few Common Terns.
A Stunning summer plum Red Knot went south.
The Lowestoft team did the business again at Kessingland by finding the first Wryneck of the autumn, After lunch I had a quick look and got lucky.
The Wryneck disappeared so I took a bit of time looking for other stuff. 2 Whinchat were my first of the autumn. 2 Greenshank flew over calling and the Linnets and stonechats showed nicely.
Its been red hot, time for home :-) Back in the garden Gulls galore with 1 2nd Summer Med Gull and a Tern but only a Common, I was hoping for the Black as they were flycathing over land at Lowestoft.
I cant honestly remember whats happened birdwise on the patch all week so nothing much I guess. Except this common Sandpiper on the CNSW pond. Also 9 from the rocks of COSW.
(Ive just remembered I had 75 House Martins going North with a single Swift)
Yesterday though I visited the patch and there had been a hatch/fall of juvenile Blackcap with some Adults and 2 Common whitethroats. A nice close fulmar and 2 Common Tern.
Had some chores to do but then Danny rang to see if I wanted to go to Lincs to see a Red Footed Falcon, I caved in and said yes, my first long distant twitch for years.
Willow Fen took some finding but when we did we immediately saw a handful of nice Yellow Wagtails and then eventually got distant views of the Red footed Falcon.
We moved quietly along the track where we spotted the bird hanging around, we then managed great views over the next few hours.
Extra birds were a Peregrine and 3 Green Sandpipers.
Today I visited the patch early doors but scored just the same as yesterday, so decided to have th dy in Norfolk. Starting at Burnham Overy Dunes for this very showy Icterine Warbler, its been a few years since ive seen one. 4 Swift too.
I did have a quick look for a Barred Warbler that had been seen further down the track but it was too illusive for me to wait long.
Moved across the coast doing tourist stuff as well as birding and at Cley a nice Summer Plum Curlew Sandpiper. Loads of other birds but nothing so special but nice all the same.
Got home fairly early as everywhere was massively over crowed so went out on the patch but couldn't find anything special. Dawn to dusk birding both days this weekend.
