Suffolk Coast

Myself and Monkey headed up the East coast in search of migrants yesterday.  With the forecast of light south easterlies and a few showers thrown in, it was looking the ideal place to be.

Starting at Languard we could see there had been a small arrival of Northen Wheatear, with no fewer than Twenty birds present.  Otherwise all we could muster were several Lesser Whitethroat and the odd Chiffy.

Heading north - a stop at Blythburgh added both summer plumed Spotshank and Bar Wit, with some roadside Stone Curlew close by.

Next stop was Kessingland, where Shaunboy had already lined us up a stunning Hoopoe that he found the previous day.

crowd enjoying shaunboys find.

Garden Warbler and House Martin around the sewage works were also seen.


Then next stop, dude central, Minsmere!  Plenty of Camouflage brigade out and the regular person shouting out the obvious from the top of there voices!

We did get good views of a perching Bittern.  Found a male Redstart in the sluice bushes and had a couple of singing Nightingale so a worth while visit.

Common redstart plays peek-a-boo.

Staying Local

Started the morning on the patch and star bird for me was a Common Whitethroat (that I'm sure is the male I rung from last year) singing from exactly the same bush, and is holding the same territory! And of course sporting his bling!  How cool is that!  Just need to get a mist net back out to confirm.

Also seen was a Lesser Whitethroat singing along the ditch - again possibly last years returning bird?? Im sure I rung the female, so will keep my eyes pealed.

Three Blackcaps and a single Chiffchaff were seen along with half a dozen Sand Martin, a steady trickle of Swallows and at least seven Wheatear, one being rather obliging.

Next stop was Rainham Marshes where highlights here was a fly over Red Kite, two stonking White Wagtail both ringed & little ringed plovers, and a good passage of sand martin through.

Sedge Warblers have arrived in good numbers, Cetti's all over the place with odd Reed warbler and Common Whitethroat too.

Bearded Tit and a pair of Marsh Harrier were also seen.

Bits & Pieces

Catching up on a few trips, managed a day out with Lee and Monkey a couple of weekends back and managed to catch up with the Snodland Hoopoe, although very briefly, nice to catch up with some faces, but pretty quiet the rest of the day.

An after work twitch last Wednesday saw me and Shaunboy connect with the stunning drake Baikal Teal, stunning bird! also added Garganey and LRP here to.

phone scoped

A brief patch visit on Sunday found nothing migrant wise but stumbled upon this cracking Meadow Pipits nest.

complete with four eggs