Rob Wilton
@lowestoftlizards.bsky.social
Bird news from the Lowestoft area and occasionally beyond...
Having had brief views in fading light last week, I really wanted to go back to enjoy proper, prolonged views of the Hollesley Brown Shrike - and what a treat it was to watch a 90-minute hunting masterclass!
October 30, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Having had brief views in fading light last week, I really wanted to go back to enjoy proper, prolonged views of the Hollesley Brown Shrike - and what a treat it was to watch a 90-minute hunting masterclass!
Wonderful views of 36 Curlew Sandpipers at Breydon Water early afternoon. The current influx into the country is really something. I became preoccupied counting them and they all flew when I decided to start taking a few pics.
September 20, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Wonderful views of 36 Curlew Sandpipers at Breydon Water early afternoon. The current influx into the country is really something. I became preoccupied counting them and they all flew when I decided to start taking a few pics.
Breydon South Wall can be unforgiving so when you're flanked by thunderstorms it's best not to stray from the car! 5 Curlew Sandpipers were seen before a heavy downpour sent us back to the car so I'm sure we missed many more. However, we still managed to see 17; my highest total here.
September 13, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Breydon South Wall can be unforgiving so when you're flanked by thunderstorms it's best not to stray from the car! 5 Curlew Sandpipers were seen before a heavy downpour sent us back to the car so I'm sure we missed many more. However, we still managed to see 17; my highest total here.
Today's highlight was the arrival of 17 bats off the sea at Ness Point. This cutie landed on a van before squeezing under the back door. Someone may have got a surprise when they opened the door. Seems most were Nathusius's Pipistrelle, a highly migratory sp from Eastern Europe (pic Andrew Easton).
September 7, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Today's highlight was the arrival of 17 bats off the sea at Ness Point. This cutie landed on a van before squeezing under the back door. Someone may have got a surprise when they opened the door. Seems most were Nathusius's Pipistrelle, a highly migratory sp from Eastern Europe (pic Andrew Easton).
It was also an unexpectedly late night for Joel after he'd seen Avocet and Black-tailed Godwits for the first time at Burgh Castle Flats (where I thought the ibis might drop in).
September 6, 2025 at 10:11 PM
It was also an unexpectedly late night for Joel after he'd seen Avocet and Black-tailed Godwits for the first time at Burgh Castle Flats (where I thought the ibis might drop in).
Seeing a flock of 34 Glossy Ibis on Breydon South Flats was surreal! Initially picked up by Steve Abbott offshore at Hollesey, they were then seen at Minsmere, Dunwich, Walberswick, Kessingland Beach, Corton Woods before they dropped in at Breydon Water (pic Andrew Easton).
September 6, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Seeing a flock of 34 Glossy Ibis on Breydon South Flats was surreal! Initially picked up by Steve Abbott offshore at Hollesey, they were then seen at Minsmere, Dunwich, Walberswick, Kessingland Beach, Corton Woods before they dropped in at Breydon Water (pic Andrew Easton).
And my final submission that proves waders aren't always distant at Breydon - a lovely Little Stint. Whoever says it's always windy at Breydon, isn't lying though!
August 30, 2025 at 9:59 PM
And my final submission that proves waders aren't always distant at Breydon - a lovely Little Stint. Whoever says it's always windy at Breydon, isn't lying though!
Ah, they meant the waders are always distant, not the Spoonbills. Well here's a Curlew Sandpiper that didn't get the memo.
August 30, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Ah, they meant the waders are always distant, not the Spoonbills. Well here's a Curlew Sandpiper that didn't get the memo.
Who said birds at Breydon are always distant? Well here's a Spoonbill from Saturday afternoon.
August 30, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Who said birds at Breydon are always distant? Well here's a Spoonbill from Saturday afternoon.
Spent a lovely couple of hours on the rising tide at Breydon, first thing: 17 Spoonbill, 60 Dunlin, 6 Knot, 4 Golden Plover and 1 Greenshank. It always feels like something good could appear here at any time, but, alas, the quest to find a White-rumped Sand continues...
August 11, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Spent a lovely couple of hours on the rising tide at Breydon, first thing: 17 Spoonbill, 60 Dunlin, 6 Knot, 4 Golden Plover and 1 Greenshank. It always feels like something good could appear here at any time, but, alas, the quest to find a White-rumped Sand continues...
This antlion was an unexpected visitor to the bathroom last night. It's the first time I've seen an adult.
August 4, 2025 at 2:12 PM
This antlion was an unexpected visitor to the bathroom last night. It's the first time I've seen an adult.
However, the highlight was the Zitting Cisticola at Walberswick; a totally unexpected twitch. The attached screen grab from waarneming.nl shows the same day's reports from Holland, so maybe it shouldn't have come as such a surprise. The question is when will we get one in Lowestoft/Kessingland?
August 4, 2025 at 7:05 AM
However, the highlight was the Zitting Cisticola at Walberswick; a totally unexpected twitch. The attached screen grab from waarneming.nl shows the same day's reports from Holland, so maybe it shouldn't have come as such a surprise. The question is when will we get one in Lowestoft/Kessingland?
Normally a 'first for Suffolk' would be unrivalled as the highlight of a weekend's birding. However, getting the boys out of bed for a dusk family adventure to watch Barn Owls at our spiritual home of Carlton Marshes gave it a good run for its money!
August 4, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Normally a 'first for Suffolk' would be unrivalled as the highlight of a weekend's birding. However, getting the boys out of bed for a dusk family adventure to watch Barn Owls at our spiritual home of Carlton Marshes gave it a good run for its money!
The first terns of the summer included a delightful Roseate Tern (on right) on groynes along Lowestoft North Beach, this morning. It's the first one to appear here for many years. An adult Little Gull, which has been around for over a week, was also present.
July 24, 2025 at 7:27 AM
The first terns of the summer included a delightful Roseate Tern (on right) on groynes along Lowestoft North Beach, this morning. It's the first one to appear here for many years. An adult Little Gull, which has been around for over a week, was also present.
We don't get too many limosa Black-tailed Godwits around here, so it was nice to see this juvenile at Carlton Marshes today.
July 19, 2025 at 5:46 PM
We don't get too many limosa Black-tailed Godwits around here, so it was nice to see this juvenile at Carlton Marshes today.
Up, up and away! Rather than count the feasting Med Gulls, I thought I'd watch the source of the bonanza.
July 19, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Up, up and away! Rather than count the feasting Med Gulls, I thought I'd watch the source of the bonanza.
Up to 10 Vagrant Emperors (photo: Andrew Easton) are present along the Share Marsh track at Carlton Marshes. In addition to these, up to 3 Lesser Emperor and 2 Red-veined Darter were also seen on Thursday @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
June 20, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Up to 10 Vagrant Emperors (photo: Andrew Easton) are present along the Share Marsh track at Carlton Marshes. In addition to these, up to 3 Lesser Emperor and 2 Red-veined Darter were also seen on Thursday @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
Last night, I sat on Mark Smart's bench overlooking Matt Gooch's marshland masterpiece, when the Purple Heron made a surprise return. Although I didn't know Mark, his reputation preceded him and his legacy lives on. Massive thanks to the current team who continue to make this place so special.
May 2, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Last night, I sat on Mark Smart's bench overlooking Matt Gooch's marshland masterpiece, when the Purple Heron made a surprise return. Although I didn't know Mark, his reputation preceded him and his legacy lives on. Massive thanks to the current team who continue to make this place so special.
Just arrived back from a wonderful family holiday to Tenerife. This Blue Chaffinch, which unexpectedly popped up on a cafe fence, was the bird highlight. Now home just in time for the Lowestoft spring migration extravaganza... this is 'THE' year right!?
April 13, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Just arrived back from a wonderful family holiday to Tenerife. This Blue Chaffinch, which unexpectedly popped up on a cafe fence, was the bird highlight. Now home just in time for the Lowestoft spring migration extravaganza... this is 'THE' year right!?
Just had clear views of Mercury straight down from Venus. Even managed to share the experience with the boys! And as I watched it a flock of 20+ Blackbirds climbed into view, flew high east and out to sea. This small piece of migration magic is one of my favourite things in the birding calandar👌🏽
March 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Just had clear views of Mercury straight down from Venus. Even managed to share the experience with the boys! And as I watched it a flock of 20+ Blackbirds climbed into view, flew high east and out to sea. This small piece of migration magic is one of my favourite things in the birding calandar👌🏽
It was a cold start at Breydon Water. Nothing out of the ordinary, but ordinary is always extremely impressive there. 366+ Avocet were the highlight along with a single Spotted Redshank and several Grey Plover.
March 2, 2025 at 12:40 PM
It was a cold start at Breydon Water. Nothing out of the ordinary, but ordinary is always extremely impressive there. 366+ Avocet were the highlight along with a single Spotted Redshank and several Grey Plover.
An enjoyable Waveney Forest mound late afternoon prodiced 8 Short-eared Owl, Merlin, 5 Barn Owl, Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, 15++ Buzzard, Red Kite, 4 Great White Egret and 2 Water Rail.
March 1, 2025 at 9:26 PM
An enjoyable Waveney Forest mound late afternoon prodiced 8 Short-eared Owl, Merlin, 5 Barn Owl, Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, 15++ Buzzard, Red Kite, 4 Great White Egret and 2 Water Rail.
They had to ask twice before I looked, such was the disbelief the first time, 'Daddy is this a snake?' Not what I was expecting to see at Castle Marshes today.
January 12, 2025 at 9:07 PM
They had to ask twice before I looked, such was the disbelief the first time, 'Daddy is this a snake?' Not what I was expecting to see at Castle Marshes today.
Despite a fair bit of effort from the locals, the Glaucous Gull hasn't been seen in the harbour roost since Sunday and the Iceland Gull has been a no show on Oulton Broad the last two days. An Otter in Lowestoft Harbour was a real surprise tonight.
January 11, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Despite a fair bit of effort from the locals, the Glaucous Gull hasn't been seen in the harbour roost since Sunday and the Iceland Gull has been a no show on Oulton Broad the last two days. An Otter in Lowestoft Harbour was a real surprise tonight.
The second-winter Iceland Gull has been seen on Oulton Broad the last two mornings between 10 and 11 before flying off.
January 9, 2025 at 7:07 PM
The second-winter Iceland Gull has been seen on Oulton Broad the last two mornings between 10 and 11 before flying off.