| Birding Highlights 2003 |
| October 2003 |
| Pallas's Warbler, Southwold, Suffolk |
| Winner of the first Surfbirds/Bird Watching Magazine UK Rarity Photo of the Month competition, October 2003 |
Every birder hopes that late autumn will bring some migrating Pallas's Warblers across the North
Sea. The year 2003 produced numerous sightings, along with Yellow-browed and Hume's Warblers. But
the "seven-striped sprite" always steals the show. Shame they won't sit still for a bit longer!
Sea. The year 2003 produced numerous sightings, along with Yellow-browed and Hume's Warblers. But
the "seven-striped sprite" always steals the show. Shame they won't sit still for a bit longer!
| Little Grebe, Shingle Street, Suffolk |
This Little Grebe spent a lot of time diving for fish in the tidal channel at Shingle Street, Suffolk, but
on one occasion it suddenly swam quickly forward, crouching low in the water with its eye fixed on
something on the rocks at the water's edge.
on one occasion it suddenly swam quickly forward, crouching low in the water with its eye fixed on
something on the rocks at the water's edge.
It carried on gliding through the water, until it reached the edge and appeared to be trying to hide
behind the weed-covered rocks..
behind the weed-covered rocks..
It turned out that it had spotted two dragonflies hovering above the rocks, and it was stalking them as
a potential meal.
a potential meal.
The dragonflies landed briefly on the rocks, and the Little Grebe was quick enough to launch itself out
of the water and catch one of them before it took off.
of the water and catch one of them before it took off.
| Grey Phalarope, Shingle Street, Suffolk |
Another rare bird that turned up on the Bawdsey pits on the Suffolk coast. Although typically a very
tame bird, it was highly mobile and the resident Black-headed Gulls seemed to resent its presence,
often chasing it off as it tried to feed along the water's edge.
tame bird, it was highly mobile and the resident Black-headed Gulls seemed to resent its presence,
often chasing it off as it tried to feed along the water's edge.
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