Late Winter on the River Gipping Lakes

 

COOT at Needham Lake
 

One of the warmest winters on record didn't prove to be a boon to wintering birds in the valley. Small numbers of ducks were present on the pits, numbers not worthy of any mention. The area is probably more important as a breeding area especially as Suffolk has so little of this habitat within her border. For a lot of resident birds Spring can arrive quite early with breeding activity starting in January. I will write about Spring later on in another post.
On the 16 Feb at Suffolk Water Park there was a record of a POCHARD, which surprisingly enough is the first record I have of the area, when you consider this is the kind of habitat they are found in. There was also a record of LITTLE GREBE on the 25 Jan, from Needham Lake, a new record for that lake. As you can see there is not too much to report.

 
The active quarry at Pipps Ford
 

Around the Pipp's Ford area a flock of GADWALL was present commuting between the various bodies of water around the area. There number gradually diminished as birds left the area, with maybe a very small  population remaining to  breed. A GREEN SANDPIPER also wintered around the active quarry, feeding on the large amount of exposed mud. Birds of this species seem to stay most of the year, only disappearing over May time to visit their breeding grounds in the far north of the world.
On Needham Lake an immature SWAN had encroached on the territory of the resident pair. The male SWAN pursued the intruder around the lake until the bird lost patience and just chased the intruder off. This is prime SWAN habitat, as they get artificial food from all the families that visit the lake, being located just on the outskirts of Needham Market, so the pair here don't need to bother looking for food themselves. As it is its heavily guarded.

The male SWAN was chasing off an intruder from his territory
 

The SISKIN flock present in the area gradually dwindled in number until there were merely five present at the end of February. The flock of LINNET, at Pipps Ford, at times 30 strong, had dwindled to five birds as well with the other birds probably redistributing to their breeding haunts, as I guess the flock was made up of local birds.



The Gipping Valley Visitor Centre

 

 The visitor centre

 

Close to Barham and Meadlands lakes, tucked away down a country lane is the Gipping Valley Visitor's Centre. Closed down in 2010 due to Council cut backs the visitor centre has been left to grow derelict. Nothing has been removed - there is still a functioning toilet on site it has just been left to be reclaimed by nature. The visitors centre is still signposted off the A14.

The abandoned playground

 

As it is its an example of man's impermanence in the face of nature and its worth visiting as a curiosity, one of those forgotten areas of the world. Maybe, if we don't sort ourselves out soon this is what all humanity's endeavours will look like.