Southwold, Suffolk

[Brian S]

The first occasional update from Southwold, showing pics and info on birds.

Yesterday, I refound the Lesser Yellowlegs, which overwintered and I last saw in Feb, showing well on the town marsh south of the water tower. The fields are flooded, there are also three Ruff, five Water Pipits (last winter over 20 were seen), and over 150 Snipe (last winter over 500), so things are looking good.

Over the sea today, Red-throated Divers were undertaking local feeding movements, with 300+ south in an hour before 1200hrs, plus many auks (all close enough to ID were Guillemots).

Gulls at the harbour mouth were lower in number than yesterday, but on the north town marsh a 1-w mich was showing well (attached is one from Nov), plus five Med Gulls.

Brian S

[ROBERT WILSON]

hi brian would nice to give directions to the lesser yellowlegs. I went this morning and most of flooded area was frozen solid. A few redshanks along the river and loads of bearded tits on the south side over the bailey bridge.

[Brian S]

Lesser Yellowlegs not present today, as most of the floods frozen, but if present it is usually just north of the Harbour Inn - I suspect it was down the coast on the shore pools south of Walberswick . There was a 1w Caspian Gull this morning, which typically flew off just as I started to photograph it; a colour-ringed (white LE on green) Glaucous Gull at the harbour mouth flew out to sea and then was around a fishing boat offshore (I hope Jeff Higgott can send me some shots); six Water Pipits and four Ruff are on the town marsh.

Late afternoon a Waxwing was on The Drive at Reydon.

Brian S

1w cach - poor shot, but shows advanced moult on inner covs

[Brian S]

The Southwold Glaucous Gull was ringed on Bear Island, Svalbard (74° 20' 48,929" 19° 5' 25,217") on July 18 2008 as a pullus.

Brian S

Thanks to Jeff for pic.

[Brian S]

Quiet today, as yesterday.

247 Golden Plover
250+ Common Snipe
4 Ruff
3 Pinkfeet
6 Water Pipit

On Blyth estuary from Blythburgh
5 Yellow-legged Gull
840 Golden Plover
2 Bar-tailed Godwit

[Brian S]

Teaching this am, so (sad bugger that I am) went to watch the gulls at the harbour mouth in the afternoon. No Slaty-backed, but a nice 1-w Caspian Gull sported a Kiev clipped ring (unusually above the knee), but I was unable to read the number.

The pattern on the mantle scaps is quite chequered and similar to michahellis, but the pattern on the juv greater coverts, the tail and the underwing all good for cachinnans - as of course the ring was!

(several small parties of Guillemot passed south offshore totalling 89 birds)

Brian S

[MichaelF]

What's a "Kiev clipped ring"? Presumably made in Kiev (Ukraine), but what else?

[Colin Key]

What's a "Kiev clipped ring"? Presumably made in Kiev (Ukraine), but what else?

Have you never had "Caspian Gull Kiev" (once an M&S favourite) Michael? Very nice, but the mixture of fish and garlic (together with unidentifiable gull) does not really appeal!!

Colin :laugh:

[MichaelF]

No, it's only available here now: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Modest_Mussorgsky_-_pictures_at_an_exhibition_-_x._la_grande_porte_de_kiev_-_allegro_alla_breve._maestoso._con_grandezza.ogg

[andy22]

I managed to get the lesser yellowlegs yesterday, watched it for about 10mins before it flew off towards the foreshore. After seeing it fly off i can understand how it goes missing! Does anyone know how long this bird has been present? wasnt there one reported in late summer/autumn down on the southwold marshes?

Also present, plenty of lapwing, golden plover, snipe and redshank, a couple of ruff and blackwits, lots of duck (mostly teal and wigeon) and two brents.





Andy

[Brian S]

Andy

This bird left Southwold in Feb 2008 and had not been seen until I refound it a couple of weeks ago. Where it went in the meantime, who knows, but it was not around here.

There are still a number of Water and littoralis Rock Pipits around (its good practice to hear the subtle differences in call), the three Pinkfeet are south of St Felix school at Reydon, and the number of Ruff is up to eight.

Brian S

[Brian S]

Yesterday, the Lesser Yellowlegs was reported still north of the Harbour Inn, but I was busy watching the SE section.

juv Shag
950 Golden Plover
350+ Dunlin
5 Ruff
3 Pinkfeet
2 Dark-bellied Brent

Today
Pinkfeet and D-b Brents still, but more unusual on the North Town Marsh, north of Southwold, a flock of 920+ Barnacle Geese held a single Pale-bellied Brent.

The status of the Barnacles in the Southwold/Benacre area is much-debated in Suffolk. It is hard to believe that the local breeding birds can account for the 1600-2000 often present in the area. We have speculated that some birds arrive from the Baltic sea region, but without any definite proof.

Brian S

[SEQUELLA]

The status of the Barnacles in the Southwold/Benacre area is much-debated in Suffolk. It is hard to believe that the local breeding birds can account for the 1600-2000 often present in the area. We have speculated that some birds arrive from the Baltic sea region, but without any definite proof.

I seem to remember that a few years ago a wild-ringed Barnacle bred with the 'feral' birds north of Lowetoft. So even a proportion of the local birds might be more wild than they are given credit for.

[Brian S]

Well, it's been a while since I last posted - too busy illustrating and teaching. There's been quite a bit about, including three or four Taiga Bean Geese and one 1-s Tundra, eight Pinkfeet, Whitefronts and Bewick's Swans. The biggest attraction has been the Lesser Yellowlegs, which re-appeared on the town marsh, but has now taken up residence on the Walberswick side of the Blyth river. I've spent most of my birding time watching gulls and the Water Pipits in the hope of 'doing a Paul French' and finding a Buff-bellied - no go, but still up to 15 on the odd occasion.

Yesterday, I saw my first Caspian Gulls of the year, two adults south of the town; today one of them was north of the town with a 2w. Ten Twite were near the Bailey Bridge and a Bittern flew across the town marsh and landed in a reedy ditch.

Distant videograbs of the cachinnans below (one with a deep amber eye); also one of the Taiga Bean Geese.

Brian S

[jamesg]

I've spent most of my birding time watching gulls and the Water Pipits in the hope of 'doing a Paul French' and finding a Buff-bellied - no go, but still up to 15 on the odd occasion.


Like your thinking! Better get in there quick though, before they start to acquire that lousy summer plumage... I've been thinking along the same lines here in Norfolk - not so many Waters about this winter, but I reckon big Meadow flocks are the best bet, given Americans' winter habits on the other side of the pond. Hard to get decent views of most flocks without resorting to trespass though...

[Brian S]

Hi James

The Waters here form a mixed roaming flock with Meadows and Sky Larks, so maybe there is still hope.....the only thing of note was a very odd-calling 'Sky Lark' (a dry, buzzy 'bizzz')......

Brian S

[jamesg]

nice... presume some white trailing edge was visible...!?!

[Brian S]

Med Gulls are gathering and displaying (they breed nearby) at the boating lake near the pier, with six yesterday including the adult below.

This bird has been around for two years (as an adult), and has always had both legs severed along the tarsus. It is obvious amongst the other adults as its bare part coloration reflects (I suppose) a poorer condition due to this disability. It has survived two winters, so I hope it will continue to. Also present, a green ringed bird AANZ, not sure where from.

Brian S