March 15th

Sporadic updates continued(roll on the spring..) Patch yearlist now on 118 sp 145 pts, pretty good to be honest and well up on last years patch. Mainly due to me recording nearly all of the common dross this time, it really is a good patch for varitey and common species. Today saw me latch on to an anticipated Red Kite in sunny skies and light WNW conducive for passages of this species in Mar/April. It was seen well flying south inland over Corton at 9.40, independantly also seen by Craig. Other highlights since last update have been 2 Stonechats at Corton and er...lots of common dross such as Sparrowhawk keeping the list ticking over nicely...

Feb 2nd

Couple of visits to Carlton Marshes this weekend. Saturday was quiet but Sunday saw me seeing a bonus Little Owl in an ivy covered tree by the silos at the car park. I didnt think I would see one on th enew patch, tho they were at the same spot last year. I had looked a few times this year with no luck but Jane texted that she had seen it and I was straight there. Thats the great thing about patch birding, even the common national birds such as Nuthatch and Little Owl give you a buzz when you see such scarce patch birds for the year. Tried out the camera a bit more as the sun was out and was particularly pleased with this Robin shot:

Jan 26th

The new patch boundaries are indeed proving more productive for species as predicted. The PatchBirding total currently stands on 98 species 120 pts, which is about 10 species up from last year at the same stage. Birds such as Bearded Tit, Water Rail, Little Egret and Cettis Warbler are the difference but I still havent seen a Sparrowhawk or Bullfinch. The boundary change may cost me Yellowhammer and Little Owl but the gained species like those above from Carlton should more than make up for it. Highlights on the patch so far this year have included Glossy Ibis, Siberian Chiffchaff, Velvet Scoter, Great Skua, Firecrest, Nuthatch, Little Gull, Purple Sand and Eider.

Jan 1st 2014

Limited time available due to attrocious weather setting in at midday. Targetted the new patch and fortunately the Glossy Ibis was still present and viewed from the new boundary edge in flight, then settled down to feed by the viewing platform on Oulton Marshes. A Cettis Warbler sang here. Missed the Bewicks Swans reported in the area despite walking briskly out to the Carlton Marshes viewpoint, a bird I didnt see at all last year either. 11 Purple Sands fed north of Ness Point and a Rock Pipit was noted in Hamilton Dock. Tried Corton Woods for Firecrest and heard a possible but couldnt see it. 2 Goldcrests and a Treecreeper noted here. Better weather predicted tommorow, when I can have a better look around.

Dec 31st

Year over and final Patch Birding tally was 189 sp 281 pts. Lowestoft area yearlist ended on 215, my second best annual total. The only December tick was the fine Glossy Ibis at Oulton Marshes. Misses included Turtle Dove, Nuthatch and Red-necked Grebe etc but I did pretty well really, getting most of the expected birds. For 2014 I have made a slight alteration to my patchbirding 3km boundary, basically ditching Lound and gaining Carlton/Oulton Marshes. I was amazed it still fit too, before you ask:)I have the map in a word document but cant remember how to paste it in here. This means its not eligable for the comparitive scores league..but will be pretty tasty in the new patch standings id wager.

Nov 24th

Juvenile Glaucous Gull still showing extremely well in Hamilton Dock. 2 male and a female Parrot Crossbill seen in pines at Tunstall Common. There were 10 in the tree but they were mostly hidden, only coming up to snatch a cone and go deep in tree to devour it. One male showed for a long while sat out on top however. A Suffolk tick, my 351st.

Nov 1st

Dartford Warbler located on Gunton Warren,in bracken by the main gorse area. This has become a regular site for the species in late Autumn. Hopefully Nick and the SWT habitat management here will make the species even more regular in the future. Also Chiffchaff and a Yellowhammer noted, the latter is now very scarce at this formerly regular site and it was undoubtedly a migrant. At Corton a Merlin zoomed north over the church area and was watched heading out towards Radar Lodge. 2 Rock Pipits flew south. c.100 Pink-footed Geese were seen in flight distantly over the Ashby area viewed from Corton new sewage works 2 patch ticks today after a quiet couple of weeks. Pictured below are a second winter Med Gull on Links Road car park and a Collared Dove on neighbours roof.