The Birdman of Gunton

 

                                                                                  Last update: 14th June

My name is James Wright im a (reasonably) active birder from Lowestoft in Suffolk. This website details the latest important bird and conservation news from the Gunton which is my local patch. Gunton is right on the northern tip of the town of Lowestoft in Suffolk and it can be an excellent place for finding birds at migration time as well as other fauna all year round. To find out more about the area and possibly help out with the heath conservation then do take a look at the site guides and you can email me here

 

Latest site updates;

 Gunton Heath Conservation; Work parties will be around the times of 1:30pm until 3:30pm each Saturday weather permitting, if you are interested in possibly coming along to help or just to watch and see whats involved then please email if possible bring some gloves and tools such as rake, spade and fork or whatever you can comfortably manage. Many thanks in advance.

• Gunton Heath News diary - updated 14th June 2008
• 2008 local Spring bird news; Updated 28th May
• Gunton Heath Conservation Updated March 2008 -- Please email if you would like more information
• NEW Links page created, more to be added soon.

                                                                           All the best and good birding, James Wright.

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May

On the 28th early morning thunderstorms seem to have grounded a few migrants, many swallows were flying low over the playing field in the muggy conditions scooping up insects. The main highlight was a female Pied Flycatcher in pine trees by the car park to the football pitches, also of note was a juvenile robin in the same bushes. All around the area were a lot of Whitethroats and a couple of Wheatears were on the beach. On the 27th it seemed that 2 days of intermettant rain and easterly winds brought dividends with 5 Wheatears on the Gunton Beach, and along the disused railtrack were a Whinchat and a Reed Warbler. Further to the north, the disused railtrack at Corton hosted a singing Icterine warbler.

On the 18th the first Green hairstreak was seen on the clifftop gorse, another was seen next day closer to the road and on the 21st 2 more were seen slightly further north. Thoughout this time bird news has been very quiet hence the lack of updates, Common Whitethroats consolidating their territories, along with a couple of Willow Warblers in the area. Several Swallows and Sand Martins passing overhead. On the whole it seem to be a quite spring in the area for both birds and insects, hopefully this isn't a negative sign, time will tell.

On the 2nd the first House Martin and Common Swift was seen with Swallows over the heath. A Yellow Wagtail also flew over. Visible migration included 2 raptors that came in off the sea together very high, possibly some features indicating Honey Buzzard but bad distant views mean this species sighting will have to be left! Throughout the morning many swallows continued to pass through overhead. A few more Speckled woods were on the wing and White butterflies were noted but didnt afford good enough views to be peroperly id'ed.

April

On the 29th there semed to be another small arrival with a few more Blackcaps along the Shelter belt and the loke. on the warren at leasr 3 Lesser Whitethroats were singing with scattered Whitethroats everywhere. A Fulmar passed through south just off the end of the groynes. Insectwise Speckled Woods are starting to appear and a few Ant Lion pits are starting to appear on the heath.

More warblers had arrived by the 24th, with a Common Whitethroat along the disused railtrack. A Willow Warbler was singing by the coastroad in the dead Elms with another Whitethroat nearby. A couple of Swallows passed overhead.

A flyover Tree Pipit was noteworthy on the 20th, and a Lesser Whitethroat was along the disused railtrack Later in the evening i had the joy of seeing (or twitching...) the Black Lark which turned up at Winterton Dunes - 15 odd miles too far north again!!

A lone Barn Swallow flew north over the warren on the 10th.

On the 5th the Water Rail continued to show well at the spring (last seen on 8th), at least one Firecrest was in Warrenhouse wood and a couple of Goldcrests too. Siskins kept appearing overhead a flock of 30 were counted, its not known if the same flock was milling aroud all day or if there was actually part of a northbound passage. On the 4th upto 4 Blackcaps were singing in the scub around the play area west of Gunton Woods. Many Chiffchaffs were calling and Long-tailed tits and a Coal Tit were seen carrying nest material. A Water Rail, most probably the same seen on the 9th March was found again on the spring north of Warrenhouse wood on the 2nd.

March.

Records so far include a Water Rail feeding in the spring just north of Warrenhouse Wood on the 9th. It was most probably a Europe bound migrant stopping off for a last-ditch refuel before crossing the North Sea. Chiffchaffs arrived in modest numbers seemingly grounded by the rain and fog on the 15th, a Northern Wheatear was also seen on Gunton Warren. A Brambling was in Gunton wood exercising a little sub song whilst foraging in the top of an oak tree. Many Blackbirds and Song Thrushes dashing about in the woods and on the warren/heath. The Yellowhammers and Linnets seem to be settling back into their respective song perches on the heath.