Dotterel: Kessingland Suffolk

Trying to stay one step ahead of the predicted rain today, We headed for Landguard in the hope of finding a few migrants that may have dropped in.

After completing a circuit all that we had to show for it was a small group of Linnets a single Wheatear and numerous Blackbirds.

While checking out each and every Blackbird hoping one might turn into a newly arrived Ring Ouzel news comes through that the Dotterel had stuck overnight at Kessingland.

Back to the car we head North up the A12 heading for Kessingland hoping the bird stays put.

Arriving around 9am we park up in the caravan car park and head off along the beach. Here we find a small group of birders who are already watching the bird.

A quick scan and the Dotterel is found busily feeding among the short grassy area's among the shingle.

Having tried and failed several times in the past two years to see Dotterel I finally get to add the species to my life list.

Dotterel

Dragging myself away, we head off along the beach and climb the dunes dropping down on the other side of the caravan park among a rough grassy area.

Almost immediately a male Ring Ouzel comes into view, feeding along the edge of a grassy path. We would eventually find 5 Ring Ouzels (3 males & 2 females).

Several Wheatear, Linnets and Whitethroats were also noted from this location. On the return trip to the car we could not resist another look at the Dotterel.

The journey home saw us make a stop off at Minsmere, where there were good numbers of Sand Martins around the sand banks and over the scrape.

A Redshank is found close in along the water's edge giving the chance of a photo.

Redshank

While watching a small herd of Red Deer I hear my first Cuckoo of 2014.

After a disappointing start to the day I ended up with five year ticks and another lifer.