The Lowestoft RSPB Public Walk.
Sunday 29th December 2002.
Nine members & no public met in the car park by Nicholas Everett Park Oulton Broad in light rain & mild conditions for the annual Christmas Birdwatch. Whether early or late a Song Thrush was seen in full song followed by a Blue Tit & a Coal Tit.
The group then walked on to the Boulevard where Tufted Ducks, Mallard, Mute Swans & the ever present Coots were being fed bread by children. As the Pike anglers drifted their baits on the broad, Black headed gulls skimmed over the water whilst others, along with Common Gulls roosted on the Jetty’s.
Passing under the main road we stopped by Mutford Lock Basin where at low tide we counted eight Redshank & the odd Herring Gull or two. In the water Four Little Grebes were consistently diving under the surface, pausing briefly to take in air before diving straight under again.
Passing through the boatyards the over-wintering Common Sandpiper was located resting, but still bobbing by one of the gangplanks, nearby a single Turnstone was feeding along the seaweed covered bank. A single Kingfisher was heard as it escaped from our presence & despite searching for it, it was never actually seen.
The wheezing call of the Egyptian Goose produced two birds in flight. These would fly low over the water before alighting across from us & settling onto the old Brooke Marine site. A herring Gull was observed here feeding on small crabs. It would place it’s head under water with it’s wings splayed open to stop the bird from going right under before coming up a gin with it’s quarry in it’s bill. Then, it just swam a round not knowing what to do with it!
Once on the railway footbridge we scanned the water in front of us adding Immature Shag to the list. Easily identifiable at a distance as it jumped right out of the water before diving under, whereas Cormorants literally glide under the water without so much as a ripple. A tit flock along the railway produced eight Blue Tits, Two Great Tits, a Treecreeper & a Goldcrest. All were busy searching the flowers & leaf litter below the yellow flowering Gorse that lined the embankment.
The walk to nearby Leathe’s Ham produced our only raptor of the walk a fine female Sparrowhawk. Other than disturbing a few Woodpigeons from the trees it went unnoticed by the other birds.
On Leathe’s Ham itself up to six male Pochard were loafing n the water surface & five or so male Shoveler were seen sitting tight up against the island.
Another Shag, this time an adult was perched high up in one of the Island trees & a calling male Greater Spotted Woodpecker left this area before alighting high up in a willow for us all to enjoy. It stayed there for some time, which gave many of the group gripping views.
The walk back was uneventful but talk of the walk being moved to the Sparrows Nest Park at Lowestoft next year produced a chorus of disapproval from one or two individuals.
As is usual on this walk we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves despite the inclement weather.
Sunday 29th December 2002.
Nine members & no public met in the car park by Nicholas Everett Park Oulton Broad in light rain & mild conditions for the annual Christmas Birdwatch. Whether early or late a Song Thrush was seen in full song followed by a Blue Tit & a Coal Tit.
The group then walked on to the Boulevard where Tufted Ducks, Mallard, Mute Swans & the ever present Coots were being fed bread by children. As the Pike anglers drifted their baits on the broad, Black headed gulls skimmed over the water whilst others, along with Common Gulls roosted on the Jetty’s.
Passing under the main road we stopped by Mutford Lock Basin where at low tide we counted eight Redshank & the odd Herring Gull or two. In the water Four Little Grebes were consistently diving under the surface, pausing briefly to take in air before diving straight under again.
Passing through the boatyards the over-wintering Common Sandpiper was located resting, but still bobbing by one of the gangplanks, nearby a single Turnstone was feeding along the seaweed covered bank. A single Kingfisher was heard as it escaped from our presence & despite searching for it, it was never actually seen.
The wheezing call of the Egyptian Goose produced two birds in flight. These would fly low over the water before alighting across from us & settling onto the old Brooke Marine site. A herring Gull was observed here feeding on small crabs. It would place it’s head under water with it’s wings splayed open to stop the bird from going right under before coming up a gin with it’s quarry in it’s bill. Then, it just swam a round not knowing what to do with it!
Once on the railway footbridge we scanned the water in front of us adding Immature Shag to the list. Easily identifiable at a distance as it jumped right out of the water before diving under, whereas Cormorants literally glide under the water without so much as a ripple. A tit flock along the railway produced eight Blue Tits, Two Great Tits, a Treecreeper & a Goldcrest. All were busy searching the flowers & leaf litter below the yellow flowering Gorse that lined the embankment.
The walk to nearby Leathe’s Ham produced our only raptor of the walk a fine female Sparrowhawk. Other than disturbing a few Woodpigeons from the trees it went unnoticed by the other birds.
On Leathe’s Ham itself up to six male Pochard were loafing n the water surface & five or so male Shoveler were seen sitting tight up against the island.
Another Shag, this time an adult was perched high up in one of the Island trees & a calling male Greater Spotted Woodpecker left this area before alighting high up in a willow for us all to enjoy. It stayed there for some time, which gave many of the group gripping views.
The walk back was uneventful but talk of the walk being moved to the Sparrows Nest Park at Lowestoft next year produced a chorus of disapproval from one or two individuals.
As is usual on this walk we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves despite the inclement weather.
