Early Spring at Lackford Lakes - 23/3//2017

 

Egyptian Goose

Despite being one of the best counties for birds, its easy to forget that away from the coast, and certain other areas, Suffolk is fairly poor avian wise. The hinterland is made up of large intensively farmed countryside, which provides little habitat for birds to live in. So I guess that's what makes Lackford Lakes so important. It might not be the best inland wetland but in a county with few inland lakes and marshland it is quite important.
I have only been to Lackford Lakes a couple of times, usually on the way to and from some place in the north west of Suffolk. Its a very pleasant place, a landscape area of former gravel pits, scrapes, reed beds, wet woodland and various different types of grassland.

 

Rare breed sheep are used to graze the grass areas

 



Today was a gorgeous day, very mild, with the sun usually out, and the birds were enjoying it - the area was full of bird song. Out on the lakes, not many birds were present, the best birds being the pair of GOLDENEYE, a late sign of winter. Winter duck numbers were fairly diminished, as the seasons roll on, with single numbers of POCHARD, GADWALL and SHOVELLER. Contrarily TUFTED DUCK numbers still held up, this species lingers longer into the year as it is a late nester. There were small flocks on all the lakes, some of which may stay to breed here. TEAL were also present, mainly on the SLOUGH, a lake that turns into a scrape that has lots of muddy area for them to feed on.

The Slough - a mix of deep lake and scrape

 



Other wildfowl were creating and defending territories with the usual gravel pit species being present - SWANS, COOTS and GREAT CRESTED GREBES, while a touch of the exotic was added with several pairs of EGYPTIAN GEESE.

Tufted Ducks

 



Waders were represented solely by OYSTERCATCHERS the two pairs taking up territory on opposite sides of the reserve.

 

On the small bird side, CHIFFCHAFFS were singing everywhere. A CETTI'S WARBLER was singing from the Slough area, where bushes met marshland. In the main area of wet woodland, a tree stump has been used to attract birds down for photographers to take pictures of. People cover the stump in bird food, and the birds are so used to it they come down to feed. Here I saw NUTHATCH and MARSH TIT. On the lakes a KINGFISHER was seen flying across the water.

Painting of a KINGFISHER

 



So there you go, a full report on the birds I saw today. Although the reserve is certainly not the best on show in Suffolk and it would also be more productive to head out towards the coast. However, the reserve is worth a look sometime at least, especially as a kind of alternative to the marshes and heaths that dominate the county's birding areas.