Rob Wilton
@lowestoftlizards.bsky.social
Bird news from the Lowestoft area and occasionally beyond...
Like I suspect many Norfolk birders, today I sat on a high spot on my patch to scan for a distant Black Stork-and was overjoyed when I actually saw one! But I didn't expect it to fly towards me and drop out of the sky onto a tiny pool right next to me for few lovely mins, until a jogger flushed it!
WOW!!! A White-throated Sparrow was found on the Isle of May this morning and the blog has the full story: isleofmaynnr.wordpress.com
Chalk & cheese... The two juvenile Black-tailed Godwits from today. The differences between the two is striking - cinnamon-hued islandica (left) & isabelline-toned limosa (right). It hard to imagine sometimes how these could be the same species... @wadertales.bsky.social #cleybirds #norfolkbirding
A great little venture out to RSPB Snettisham last weekend where this White-rumped Sandpiper showed well once picked out from the thousands of Dunlin on site. #NorfolkBirding
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW Isle of May showing well. Just found (1st island record). Sorry for rubbish photos, just put phone against binoculars
The juv Black storks finally did the honorable thing & entered Norfolk this afternoon. A detour on the way to the beach in hope, I was at Ludham bridge when a single bird was seen heading my way. A quick dash down towards st Benets and i picked it up. Distant, but they all count! #NorfolkBirding
The waders on Breydon Water can mega distant at times but can also be unbelievably close like this fabulous Black-tailed Godwit. Stunning.
Britain's only Roseate Tern colony has had its most successful season for more than 50 years, with 156 breeding pairs counted on Coquet Island, Northumberland:
Roseate Terns reach 50-year high on Coquet Island
Britain's only Roseate Tern colony is bouncing back after bird flu, with 156 breeding pairs noted in 2026.
f.mtr.cool
Black storks Kessingland 04/08/2026 Species 125 for the garden - well overdue as I have been away for three previous singles. #birds Tracked by the BINS and local WhatsApp groups north along the Suffolk coast and up into Norfolk. @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social @lowestoftlizards.bsky.social
When l heard the Black Storks were heading north over Minsmere decided to head to Carlton Marshes and 3 hours later they finally flew right over Share Marsh/Peto’s till l lost them over Somerleyton, well worth the effort brilliant birds
The 2 Black Stork went over Kessingland, Carlton and Somerleyton between 12.30-13.00. Good luck to any Norfolk birders waiting for them.
Delighted to catch up with the Sooty Tern at Coquet Island yesterday evening, happy days! #NEbirding
NatureScot has recommended refusing this year's application to licence the traditional guga hunt on Sula Sgeir, citing uncertainty over the recovery of the island's internationally important Northern Gannet colony following the bird flu outbreak: https://f.mtr.cool/rvkpokvxzl
The fabulous sooty tern on the wonderful Coquet Island this evening. Not what I was expecting to be watching, or where I was expecting to be after work today! #nebirding #RareBirdsUK
Couldn't not post a few *very* record shot-y record shots of the cracking advanced juvenile-1w (1CY) nominate limosa Black-tailed Godwit. A new bird & I was happy to find this one at range on Pat's tonight. So distinctive ~ lovely new slate-grey scaps all in place 👌 #cleybirds #norfolkbirding #L3
2,350 Med Gulls roosted at Breydon Water this evening; these included a significant number of juveniles.
14 Spoonbills doing Spoonbill things mid-morning at Breydon Water, after I got the tide timings wrong. Late arriving but still managed 8 Knot, 5 Greenshank and a bunch of Little Egrets.
Shooting interests & the rightwing press want to exploit the wildfires to reinstate moorland burning. But you don't fight fire with fire. You fight it with water. This wildfire in Wales' Elan Valley in May stopped abruptly when it reached re-wetted peat bogs: www.walesfarmer.co.uk/news/2614875...
News that the 2 Black Storks were still at Hemley this morning a message i found irresistible so got there and 1 showed distantly in a muddy creek before taking off joining the 2nd bird before gaining height and crossing the River Deben
#UKBirds An epic twitch to Orkney to see a fabulous Blue cheeked Bee eater Full story and more pics on blackaudibirding.blogspot.com
White rumped sandpiper showed very well at senttisham late morning on the falling tide. #norfolkbirding
As always, it was a privilege to spend time at Breydon with Peter Allard @yarmouthbirder.bsky.social, who has been birding there since 1957 and is a treasure trove of knowledge/stories. His effervescent enthusiasm for Breydon after so long is inspiring. One of three Common Sandpipers from y'day.
1.8.2026 An early start sadly failed to produce @jameslowenwild.bsky.social Marsh Sandpiper. However, as always there were 100s of birds to sift through. Breydon Water is a special place, hard to bird but a special. Highlights: Pec Sand, present for its 8th day, Grey Plover and 11 Ringed Plover.
Some video of the White-rumped Sandpiper at Snettisham this morning. A smart bird with a very distinctive shape when feeding #UKBirding
A great start to August. Adult White-rumped Sandpiper still present at Drift Res this morning for second day. (1st Aug). Apparently there are seven adults in the uk at the moment.
This White-rumped Sandpiper, that I encountered this morning, is one of two present at RSPB Snettisham in the past couple of days. #NorfolkBirding
Marsh Sandpiper mid-estuary Breydon Water, Norfolk, 1955-2045 at least, feeding actively on its own. viewed distantly looking n/nnw from South Wall, from c500m west of rugby club. Sorry for late news. Will be looked for early Sat @lowestoftlizards.bsky.social
