After dropping Agnes at Nursery for her first day I headed to Paston Cliffs in the hope of a few migrants or a maybe a passing sea bird. The wind wasn't ideal but I started off sea watching using the car for shelter, after 40 minutes I had a modest total of 6 Sandwich Tern, 5 Gannet, 2 Guillemot and a single Manx Shearwater, before managing to swash a wasp between my finger and scope. With a swollen finger I gave up looking at the sea and hit the bushes. The resident Linnet were about and to my delight I also found 3 juv. Yellowhammer. The nearby fields are being ploughed and had attracted lots of gulls, many of which flew overhead and landed on the beach. Scanning through I managed to find a single Little Gull but little else. However sitting on the end groyne post was a 'small' Cormorant, on second inspection it was an unexpected Shag. Back at the car the male Sparrowhawk of the resident pair was perched close by and I got within feet before if flew off.
Waxham - 11th September
A mild head cold was good enough excuse not to paint the new kitchen, so I decided to 'take some air' at Waxham. Parking behind the church I headed East towards the Pipe Dump (or as it should be called the area previously known as, because the area has now been cleared). With the winds not the most favourable it was unsurprising the lack of migrants, with only a few 5 Swallow East and a few Whitethroat that could all have been resident seem among a group of commoner species. Beyond the Pipe Dump the birds picked up with a group of Swallow (c12) and 2 House Martin hawking over Waxham Sans campsite, a Wheatear on the grass and a female Stonechat close by. Walking back via the dunes 2 Meadow Pipit flew over high going East and a Reed Bunting was flushed. Looking inland a flock of 18 Common Crane where flying towards Horsey Mill. By the board walk path I watched a family of 4 Kestrel hunting and squabbling together, before finding 2 Whinchat perched up. The trees and scrub around Shangri-La chalet held no new birds but in the sheltered sunny spots dragonfly and butterfly enjoyed that later summer warmth.
Happisburgh - 16th September
After a morning shopping trip the wife encouraged me to go for a walk while little one slept. The winds were westerly so I wasn't hoping for much. Parking by the village hall at Happisburgh I wandered out past the paddocks to the Old Coastguard Lookout. A silent Chiffchaff was in the hedge by the paddocks but it seemed very quiet. Checking out the old buildings a Wheatear in the field beyond caught my eye. I was pleasantly surprised that sitting in the Elders out of the wind was the Barred Warbler seen here by others a few days earlier. Typically I had no camera but watched the bird at close quarters for 5 minutes before it was spooked by a dog walker. 4 Swallow flew south and 2 House Martin were still around the village. Just as interesting as the bird life was the Odonata species among the old building, rather surprising considering the lack of nearby fresh water. Common Blue Damselfly, Common Darter and Migrant Hawker were all seen but most surprising considering the habitat was at least 2 Willow Emerald Damselfly. Excuse the poor picture taken on my phone in blustery wind and strong sunlight!
Bacton Woods - 22nd September
In the morning as a family we had a pleasant walk around Bacton Woods, collecting pine cones for Christmas and hiding in dens! As ever bird life was limited in the primarily pine woodland, but Goldcrest were present in high numbers, and Coal Tit and Treecreeper were nice to see. Also despite the very dry summer fungus are starting to emerge this Autumn.
Paston Cliffs - 22nd September
In the afternoon I headed again to Paston Cliffs, with westerly winds it was a walk of hope rather than expectation. Walking west I scanned the scrub on the cliff face and happened to look up to catch a lone Black-tailed Godwit flying West. While following the bird I noticed a few Sandwich Tern passing offshore so had a 15 minute impromptu sea watch. 9 Sandwich Tern and 2 Common Tern headed west but little was passing by, however I found 2 new patch birds on the sea in the form of a Red-necked Grebe and immature Eider. A juvenile Yellowhammer sulking in the bracken gave hope of something rarer, but the cutting of the set-a-side field has lead to a much quieter feel, with most of the large Linnet and Goldfinch flock absent. Walking back to the car a Tree Pipit flew East through calling, continuing towards the Gas Terminal.
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