The months gull watching sessions drew to a close by the months end with a gradual drop off in numbers in terms of overall numbers and species variety however I still managed a fair number of Caspian Gulls from visiting the landfills during the month whilst I found a fine first-winter was on Westcliff Seafront on the 14th whilst out looking for Rossi. This bird didn't linger that long but was seen by a few local birders over the next few days. Other interesting gulls during the month were a new juvenile Glaucous Gull and a second-winter presumed returning 'Viking Gull'.
Other birding was limited during the month but I did see five Lesser Redpoll feeding in trees of Belfairs Nature reserve on the 13th, an evening sortie for some local owls gave me fine views of a single Long-eared Owl on the 16th and Bearded Tits, Cetti's Warblers and Buzzard at Wat Tyler Country Park on the last Sunday of the month.
However the undoubted highlight of the month was seeing the male Lesser Kestrel at Westleton Heath near Minsmere at the end of the month. The bird was distant though seen fairly well through the scope, may have to go back for another look if it gets seen closer. This was followed by seeing two roosting Alpine Swifts along Lowerstoft Seafront soon afterwards, not the best of views as mist came in, still a good day with a scattering of migrants, Chiffchaffs and Swallows.