Gunton Warren

With family friends visiting I had to behave myself all day Saturday - albeit whilst fawning over the raw east coast fest unfurling on twitter. Everyone's favourite pervy birding uncle; Jonny Holliday found a Red-flanked Bluetail up at Spurn, someone found a Woodchat which morphed into a Masked Shrike in the motherland and some utter legend called Rob found a Rustic Bunting over at Lowestoft/ Gunton Warren. 

The Rustic Bunt in particular caught my attention, a full-fat lifer on the coast and a worthy quarry for Sunday's birding. I picked up Mal early doors and me arrived onsite just after 08:00. We joined the adoring crowd just to the north of the Links Road carpark adjacent to Gunton Warren. Binocular views and some questionable photos were rattled off and Covid compliant lifer celebrations thrown. Then before we knew it the bunting had flown over the bank and into the car park, never to be seen again! It chose that moment, having graciously made it's way onto my life list, to then press the #%#% off button!  

Rustic Bunting - Gunton Warren - October 2020

With the bunting thoroughly enjoyed and life list bolstered (its basically 400 now) we set about what we are best at, what we were born to do; gentlemanly birding. We ambled south over the rough grassland and vegetated embankment. There was Robins everywhere, Song Thrushes and Redwings, Chiffchaffs and a Redstart. It felt rare AF! We walked back to Links Road car park, hit the coffee then set off north to explore Gunton Warren and the rife habitat there. Definitely the best habitat I've seen on the Suffolk coast, it's just overwhelming - it could be concealing about 50 Sibe Blue Robins and 100 Rubythroats at any one time. Our walk about revealed a roaming tit flock harbouring Goldcrests and Chiffchaff, multitudes of Robin and Song Thrush and the occasional flurry of Redwing. Top birding. We walked back along the beach and there was Med Gulls attending a fisherman. 

Mediterranean Gull - Gunton Warren - October 2020

Now drenched through we paused at the car park to dry out our optics - before walking south to Ness Point once the rain had died down. This was magic birding with Brent Geese heading south and a Peregrine terrifying waders offshore. 

Brent Geese - Ness Point - October 2020

Marauding Peregrine - Ness Point - October 2020

There was at least nine Wheatear to south of Links Road car park and we also saw 'Stumpy' something of a local celebrity - a one legged Med Gull!

Wheatear - Links Road - October 2020

Stumpy - Links Road - October 2020

We walked Gunton Warren again for the PM session, until we had had enough of the rain. Immense habitat, great birding and top local birders. Look forward to getting back there again... 

Raw praise for Odin, respect the Olde Ones, lifer induced praise - Gunton Warren - October 2020