The last Ruddy Duck in the UK?

Well: just possibly...  Following the RSPB-endorsed cull of the UK population of these delightful American ducks a few years back I thought I'd never see another: so when this female (or juvenile male) turned up at Leathe's Ham, Lowestoft I decided I had to go for a look. Now the SWC has visited this location before (failing to find a Penduline Tit) so I knew what to expect. There are hardly any places on the overgrown bank where you can actually see any water at all, but I persevered, moving from one 'vantage point' to the next and back for an hour. Finally I managed to find and photograph this dapper little duck: I wonder if it's a recent arrival from the USA?

Since I was in the area, I dropped in on Ness Point, where a newly-arrived Wheatear and a couple of Black Redstarts were great bonus species. The 'net posts' nearby held just a ringed Kestrel. Finally: could this be a Caspian Gull?

Non-bird highlights!

A Roesel's Bush Cricket and a very large Common Lizard were sheltering from the wind on the path out to the Centre Hides at Cley yesterday...

Red-necked Phalarope and lots more!

An early start saw Brian, Norman and me at Titchwell at 8.00am. Our target was the long-staying Red-necked Phalarope, which (with the help of a friendly local!) we eventually found - distant, but most welcome. Other birds included several Curlew Sandpipers, a fleeting Black Tern and a showy flock of Golden Plovers...

A move to Cley for coffee and scones added eight Spoonbills and two Little Stints to the day's tally - and we were home by 1.30!

The Moon and Jupiter

Just before dawn, the Moon and Jupiter were close together in Gemini: with Orion nearby, it was worth getting up early to see!

Garden visitor!

Actually, both Common Frogs and Toads are resident in the garden: we have a splash pool and a small pond with a rockery surround that provide them with food and shelter all year round. I was cleaning the pump filters today when this handsome chap popped out to say hello!
We used to have newts as well, but the large Koi and Golden Orfe have apparently seen them off..

Helmingham Hall

Linda and I drove through the back lanes of Suffolk, arriving at Helmingham Hall just as the garden festival opened its gates. As usual we spent far too much, but it's impossible to ignore the incredible range of plants on offer: one stall alone had scores of different, new cultivars of Lobelia. We added to our wildlife art gallery with another lovely piece by artist Kirstie Steadman - a Nuthatch, this time. Despite the predicted rain, the weather was fine and mild and we had a thoroughly enjoyable few hours.

Comet Lemmon - just!

There was a super-clear sky this morning, dominated by the Moon, Jupiter and Venus: not ideal for comet spotting! Nevertheless, with a long exposure of the region to the north of Gemini and with reference to star maps of the region, I think I pinned down the 9.2 magnitude Comet Lemmon.