Rob Wilton
@lowestoftlizards
Bird news from the Lowestoft area and occasionally beyond...
Just found this unexpected Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the kitchen, which flew away once it had warmed up.
The waders on Breydon Water can mega distant at times but can also be unbelievably close like this fabulous Black-tailed Godwit. Stunning.
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.
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.
Pec Sand still at Breydon Water and was still showing from the hide end at 07.25, but the tide was almost fully up. Other highlights: 17 Sandwich Tern, 10 Common Tern, 6 Little Tern, 106 Dunlin, 6 Knot, 3 Turnstone and 6 Common Sand.
Pec Sand was in the same area as it was on Saturday, loosely associating with a small group of Dunlin. Also, 3 Greenshank, 3 Barwit, 86 Dunlin, Whimbrel and loads of Med Gulls.
The best pics I could get of this morning's Pec Sand at Breydon where there's been a noticeable increase in Dunlin with 91+ counted. Other highlights: 2 Osprey, 17 Spoonbill, 7 Knot, 2 Golden Plover and a Common Sand.
Quick visit to Burgh Castle/Breydon last night (although Erin says there's no such thing as a 'quick' visit there 🤣) where 5 Spoonbill, 100s of Med Gulls and a beautiful sunset were the highlights.
@markgolley.bsky.social I've been finding your recent limosa posts very useful, thanks. Over the years I think I've been overlooking them on Breydon so have been paying them more attention recently. These grey birds seem to fit the bill but would appreciate your thoughts if you have time.
Burgh Castle: 5 Spoonbill, 413 Blk-tailed Godwit, 3 Knot, 198 Avocet and Golden Plover. Interestingly, I've had 4 colour-ringed godwits on each of my last few visits here but haven't seen the same one twice. Yet, numbers continue to build. Makes me wonder how many birds actually use the site.
Breydon east end, early morning: 26 Dunlin, 3 Knot, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 100s Redshank, 2 Spoonbill, 30+ Med Gull and 9 Sandwich Tern.
Carlton Marshes 20.7.2026: colour ringed limosa godwit + a second juv, my first 2 Green Sandpiper of the year, 2 Avocet, Dunlin, Hobby, Grasshopper Warbler + 15 Little and 4 Great White Egret into roost.
Numbers Black-tailed Godwit continue to build at Burgh Castle Flats/Breydon with 329 showing really well today. I really enjoy watching these chatty flocks going about their business.
Carlton Marshes 10th July: 6 Great White Egret, 28 Little Egret, 1 Cattle Egret into roost between 20.44-21.45 + 3 Common Sand, Greenshank, ad & juv Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Hobby, juv Cuckoo, Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Barn Owl at once and 2 Great Green Bush-cricket.
Who else thought they were going to refind the Hudsonian Godwit today? I tried and failed at Burgh Castle where there were 127 Black-tailed Godwits. The light was less than ideal but nothing unusual stood out. Next time! 🤞🏽
Hudsonian Godwit showing well on Minsmere south scrape - a mega find by Mike Cartwright!
This lake at Lound Lakes was alive with dragonflies early afternoon including 2 male Lesser Emperors amongst the many Emperors and Norfolk Hawkers.
Great to see 6 White-letter Hairstreak along Gunton Cliff, Lowestoft today.
Carlton Marshes 20.00-22.00. summer plumaged Cattle Egret, 4 Great White Egret (one black billed), 13 Little Egret into roost, Spoonbill, 2 Bittern, 2 Hobby, 4 Avocet on Peto's Marsh.
Breydon Water early morning in a bid to beat the heat! Crane west, 6+ Spoonbill, 8 Little Tern west along the channel, Hobby, 15 Med Gull and 6 Black-tailed Godwit.
I long for these beautiful summer evenings for months so I fully intend to make the most of them. Last night, I checked what I suspect will be the first of many local fields for Quail to no avail #ProjectQuail #QuailFail
Whilst VisMigging at Kessingland Cliffs (in the hope of Bee-eaters) I noticed a small wader on the beach pool, which upon closer inspection turned out to be a lovely Temminck's Stint.
Two summer plumaged Sanderling, 3 Grey Plover and a Spotted Flycatcher, by the car park, were the highlights of a quiet early morning visit to Breydon Water.
Once again @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social has been brilliant for Hobby this spring.