Winterwatch out east, 22 January 2022

A frosty winter day out with Jus and Andy.

Heading out east to a location that must remain 'undisclosed' we went in search of a reported Lesser Yellowlegs. And after a bit of searching we found said bird. Feeding quite distantly it was also fairly mobile but good scope views were had. Pity about the photo! 

Nearby we had a treat of wintering waders with birds absolutely everywhere. The sheer numbers were amazing and included 300 Snipe, 110 Black-tailed Godwits and 6000 Lapwings plus excellent records of a wintering Little Stint and an inland Turnstone. Also seen were 5 Green Sandpipers, c15 Dunlin, c6 Ruff, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and 2 Water Pipits. One of the latter even posed for a quick digi-scope pic. 2 Great Black-backed Gulls were also noteworthy.

                                                                                                                                     Water Pipit
                                                                                                                                   Lesser Yellowlegs
 

A while later we found ourselves at the coast and in particular Ness Point, Lowestoft. After a little searching in the area around the turbine yard we found 1, then 2 Black Redstarts. One a 1w male, the other a female. A couple of Mediterannean Gulls flew past and then, a few hundred yards north of the point we found 7 Purple Sandpipers.

Finishing the day at Kessingland shore pools (accessed via Heathlands) we located the lone Shorelark surprisingly easily. It was nice to watch and photograph it in the golden light of late afternoon together with a handful of tame Sanderings that flew in to join us.

                                                                                                                                 Black Redstart
                                                                                                                      Black Redstart habitat shot!

                                                                                                                                       Shorelark
                                                                                                                                        Sanderling
      

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