June 15th

Great views of the Trimley Marshes Pacific Swift in the afternoon, my 350th Suffolk bird and well worth the 3 mile walk and pandemonium parking situations. Surely the bird of the year in Suffolk and the second best Suffolk bird ive ever seen behind the Sandhill Crane.

June 3rd

Day off so went to check out a reported possible Iberian Chiffchaff at Kensington Gardens which no locals knew anything of, the report coming first via the pager I think. Anyway I wandered around a bit with no sound then a movement in a tree near the boating pool took my eye. Bins up and I was on to a fine female/immature Red-breasted Flycatcher. As normal I tweeted it out instantly and soon a nice little gathering were enjoying the bird as it remained faithful to the same tree for a few hours. Always little gems to see and very active flycatching around in sprightly fashion showing off its white outer uppertail sides.

June 2nd

2 Common Cranes eventually seen well on deck at Carlton Marshes after being given the run around. Seemed immature maybe 2nd summer birds and they appear to be lingering in the valley. A good end to one of the worst birding periods of my life which started when I dipped these 2 Cranes a while ago then went out twice a day on the local patch often very early morning hoping for good birds in promising conditions and not seeing a SINGLE MIGRANT, despite places like Blakeney Point and Spurn dripping with stuff. My faith is well and truly now on the autumn, THE period on this patch and make or break time. Amusingly (to him) this worst ever period in Lowestoft birding coincided with my main rival being on holiday in Hungary meaning he didnt miss a single bird, then he returns and bags Common Crane for his patch....a fat lady is somewhere in the background..but ill be damned if shes sung yet..:)