Minsmere - 25/4/2019

The walk up to Island Mere hide is one of the most iconic of any nature reserve. The path emerges from woodland and a wooden gangway takes you up from ground level through the reedbeds over the water to the hide. In summer the path is lined by marsh orchids but its too early for them now. Often you can hear the pinging of bearded tits nearby or the booming of bitterns in the distance. As you approach further you are wondering what you might see on the mere or over the vast expanse of reedbeds beyond. You can see other birders through the windows and you wonder what they have seen. Its a busy hide, people hoping for glimpses of elusive bitterns or otters, or the almost guaranteed sighting of marsh harriers.

 

A pair of GADWALL

 



Today there wasn't too much out on the mere, just a couple of pairs of LITTLE and GREAT CRESTED GREBES. But towards the left of the hide, just to the back of the mere there was something much rarer. For there was a singing SAVI'S WARBLER. This bird is a real rarity with maybe five pairs in the whole country. They like ginormous reedbeds, the kind that is quite rare in this country, but of which we have several in Suffolk. Being reedbed birds they are skulking and hard to find, and although I heard it I did not see it. Their song is monotonous a one note call likened to a fisherman's reel.

Late April is a great time to visit Minsmere, and every birdwatcher should have this reserve etched in their calendar. With so many migrants passing through the country at the moment something rare is always bound to show up. Today's rare migrant was a RING OUZEL at the North Wall, feeding on the short heathy grass amongst the rabbits. Its a relative of our blackbird, although its much rarer, exclusively nesting in mountainous terrain, whilst wintering in North Africa. Its plumage is slightly different with a white throat patch, and it isn't so uniformly black.

  

Looking over West Scrape to Sizewell Power Station

 

Apart from rare birds Minsmere has more to offer in the form of a great wildlife spectacular. The Scrape, the heart of the reserve in many ways, is literally jam packed full of thousands upon thousands of birds. This area of shallow water, islands and marsh is home to lots of breeding GULLS, TERNS, WADERS and DUCKS, to name a few.
The most common bird is the BLACK HEADED GULL, this most ubiquitous of birds has several thousand birds breeding here, with smaller numbers of the closely related MEDITERRANEAN GULL mixed amongst them, similar but with a subtly different plumage.

 

There has also been a massive influx of SANDWICH TERN this Spring, with several hundred present. This is a large tern, about the same size as a GULL, with a black bill and a yellow tip. I haven't seen them here in this large a number before, and maybe they may form a colony here, as there were several mating. They are only sporadic nesters at Minsmere, but when they do nest they do so in large numbers. A handful of COMMON TERN have returned, with red bill and legs, they are more widely spread throughout the country, common like their name. Also present on the South Scrape were a few KITTIWAKE, the true "sea" gull. They nest further down the coast on the Sizewell power plant riggings and just hang out on the scrape.

LAPWING

WADERS are a big presence here on the Scrape during the Spring. LAPWINGS were sitting on eggs in the grassy area in front of North Hide. REDSHANK were everywhere with their melancholic call, truly the sentinel of the marshes. There were the odd pair of RINGED PLOVER and OYSTERCATCHER present, although AVOCET numbers were quite low for the time of year.
April is a good time for migrant WADERS, but only the usual selection was present today. There were around ten BAR TAILED GODWIT, three DUNLIN, two TURNSTONE and one KNOT. At this time of year the waders are in their breeding finery and the GODWITS looked impressive in their brick red plumage.

REDSHANK

 



Being a large wetland area there are lots of nesting DUCKS of many species, whether breeding on the scrape or the meres tucked away in the reedbeds. A pair of BAR HEADED GEESE was present on West Scrape, that's four species of geese present on the scrape and not one of them has originated naturally, they are all escapees from some collection.

Male REED BUNTING

 



Minsmere has a wealth of different habitats and as a result there are lots of small birds. Today activity was muted by the strong winds, which dampened down their activity. Two pairs of STONECHAT were on the beach whilst a male WHEATEAR was by the sluice bushes. SEDGE WARBLERS were singing energetically from the reeds, whilst the simple call of the REED BUNTING drifted over the reeds.
A large SAND MARTIN colony was present in the sandy cliffs by the old car park, several hundred strong, and birds were busy feeding over the reserve, catching insects on the wing.

Female STONECHAT

 





Out at sea a GREY SEAL was present close to shore, differentiated from the harbour seal by its different shaped snout. I didn't really see any other mammals except a MUNTJAC in the woods along the road leading to the reserve entrance, but none of the larger deer.

Few places beat Minsmere in Spring just for the sheer number of birds. Reserves like this are the great cathedrals of the natural world, and are worth conserving as such. Unfortunately Minsmere is under threat as they plan to expand the nuclear power stations to the south of the reserve. With such an undertaking happening right on its border, Minsmere is going to suffer. To allow this to happen would be one of the biggest mistakes this country has ever endured. The natural world should be treated as something more than just a commodity, something that is just material. It is something that is deep in our souls.

 

 

 

 

Snape Marshes & Foxburrow Woods - 21/4/2019

Snape Marshes
Snape Marshes is an area of newly created wetland designed in part to compensate for the loss of wetland at Minsmere due to coastal erosion. It is an RSPB reserve but is not yet opened to the public except for the odd guided tour. However from the back roads behind the reserve you can park a car in a layby and follow an informal path to look over the newly created scrape, tucked in by scrub and not causing any disturbance.
The usual DUCKS were about with a pair of EEGYPTIAN GEESE. LAPWING and OYSTERCATCHER were both present in good numbers, the type of bird you would expect to nest in newly flooded grassland. At the moment the area is wet meadow but the plan is to plant a reedbed. Its all still pretty new and would take a great amount of imagination to see how it would eventually plan out, but over the years its possible to witness its creation.
In the surrounding scrub from my watch point I saw my first WHITETHROAT of the year and there  was the odd explosion of CETTI'E WARBLER song.
Only time will tell how the reserve will look when its finished, but in the hands of the RSPB, it should be good.

Foxburrow Wood

Foxborrow is a tiny little wood that slots into the countryside around Snape in Suffolk. It is locally renowned as the best BLUEBELL wood and rightly so, its absolutely stunning. However I was maybe a week or so early and the BLUEBELLS were still emerging, and although the plants made a good display, it could actually be better.

Also around were some WILD GARLIC, which was just barely emerging. If you rub the leaves in your hands you get a garlicky smell, hence its name. Also about were some PRIMROSES growing in the hedge bank bordering the wood.

WILD PRIMROSE

 



BLUEBELL woods are always worth a visit, a wildlife spectacular of which we have so few in the UK. The thing is that every locality has a wood so that they're accessible everywhere. But be quick it doesn't last for much longer and then you'll have to wait another year.

Boyton & Hollesley Marshes - 20/4/2019

With Easter finally upon us I had some time off work to do a bit of birding. This time of year is busy, human wise, with everyone off work and enjoying the season, so it was really a decision to find somewhere quiet. Minsmere, Walberswick and North Warren, although good reserves would be heaving with people, honey pot sites they are. Having worked the morning, in an extremely busy environment, I wanted somewhere out of the way, somewhere less known, off the radar to non birders. So I decided to travel to Boyton and Hollesley Marshes to get away from it all.

Boyton Marshes

Looking over the AVOCET scrape towards the farm

 



Boyton is a nice reserve, low key, and managed as a working farm for wildlife. It consists of a large area of wet grassland, with scrapes and shallow flooding. However due to the drought conditions large areas of water were drying or had dried out. The ditches were lined by reeds and several newly arrived SEDGE WARBLERS were having a song contest either side of the path, where the winner has control of this bit of territory and all its females.
The main scrape on the reserve is a good nesting site for AVOCET, with around thirty birds present. Also there were some GODWITS and a few DUCK. There were also some roosting CURLEWS elsewhere.

The path leads to the river wall and from there there are good walks along the edge of the estuary with great views up and down river. The tide was high so there weren't too many WADERS about, however a HARBOUR SEAL was a nice find, many miles from its nearest colony. A WHIMBREL was roosting on some saltmarsh, giving nice views, my first of the year. A YELLOW WAGTAIL, flew across the river, again the first of the year, and always a good sighting as they are so rare nowadays. A male MARSH HARRIER floated over the other side of the river.
There were lots of singing SKYLARK, a few MIPPITS, REED BUNTING and a flock of 25 LINNETS.
In the end I did a circular walk, coming off the sea wall and walking through the village of Boyton, a small hamlet, a quiet place far away from signs of civilisation, back to the reserve car park.

Hollesley MarshWith some time left I went to another RSPB reserve - Hollesley Marsh - just down the road from Boyton, but separated by some intensive agricultural land. It consisits of grazing marsh with a large scrape, an area of shallow water, with grassy islands.

As I walked to the scrape I was surprised to view a feamale PEREGRINE FALCON  flying over some surrounding fields. It was absolutely huge when compared to a kestrel, a dull grey colour, it was being mobbed by a pair of CROWS as it flew near to their nest. Talking to a local birder, the falcon has been wintering at Hollesley for the passed two years. Absolutley gorgeous, the best bird sighting of the day.

Looking over the scrape

 



What was most apparent about the scrape was the large numbers of DUCKS present, I haven't seen so many of these birds so far into April, usually they tend to disappear much earlier than now. Amongst the usual species, two pairs of PINTAIL were about.
Apart from lots of LAPWING, numbers of WADERS were low. Crucially there were few AVOCETS, a bird they are trying to encourage to nest on the scrape, here. It maybe that the large colony of large GULLS in the area have just decimated any chance of an AVOCET colony from forming. The RSPB has tried many things to stop this predation but nothing seems to work, and they have to face the fact that its just nature at work, that there are certain things out of their control.
A pair of MARSH HARRIER were nesting in the reeds that bordered the scrape.

So a nice quiet visit to some reserves I don't get to visit much. Small and underappreciated these reserves don't get the recognition of the larger reserves further up the coast, which in a way is good, as it keeps the public away. As with all RSPB reserves they are well managed and full of birds, and like all reserves, precious islands of wildlife in a sea of intensive farmland. I just wish there were more of them, or at least for farming to be more in line with the wildlife that lives in our countryside.

Lackford Lakes & Micklemere - 11/4/2019

 GREAT TIT

So far it has been an underwhelming Spring, where signs of the new season have been hindered by Northerly winds, preventing all but the more intrepid birds from reaching our island. With this in mind I decided to visit Lackford for the first time this year in the hope of finding some new migrants. As usual with Lackford it was a bit hit and miss, with a lot being present, just not much unusual.

 

Male POCHARD

 

The reserve can be split in two, the Western Lakes and the Eastern Lakes. The Western, comprising the Sailing Lake and the Slough are usually the best, and from here is where the nature trail starts. There was a good variety of DUCKS on these lakes, although their number had diminished from the winter. TEAL, SHOVELLER, GADWALL, POCHARD and TUFTED DUCK where all present in varying numbers. These birds have the potential to nest on these lakes, so a few will maybe stay into summer.

 

 Male GADWALL

 

On the Slough, a pair of AVOCETS were present. This is the first record for the reserve for me, this bird is quite rare away from the coast, this being west Suffolk. With the habitat available on the Slough, muddy islands with lots of shallow water, it could be possible the pair might stay to breed.
Also on the Slough were a pair of OYSTERCATCHER, three LAPWING, a SNIPE and a GREEN SANDPIPER.

A SHELDUCK and some TUFTIES on the Slough 

The Eastern Lakes are fairly featureless and as a result bird numbers are lower on this side. EGYPTIAN GEESE are more common over this area, with several pairs present, including one fairly large brood, which must have hatched sometime in late Jan/early Feb.
On the opposite end of the reserve to the Slough pair was another pair of OYSTERCATCHER, with a female sitting on eggs on a grassy island.

 

 GREAT CRESTED GREBE, with the early stage of their nest to the left

All the lakes had the odd pair of GREAT CRESTED GREBE and COOT, and three pairs of SWAN were present on the reserve.

 COOT always make up the numbers
 

Having lots of overgrown wetlands and woodlands the reserve is a haven for small birds. Around the Slough, several CETTI'S WARBLER would explode in song for maybe a few seconds before falling silent, ready to explode again.
Also on the Slough a beautiful KINGFISHER flew across the lake right in front of the hide, before disappearing round the side somewhere.

 

 DUNNOCK
 

Around some bird feeders near the Sailing Lake two BRAMBLING were present, another first for the reserve, and also a good late record. These northern finches should be a lot further north at this time of the year. Maybe the northerly winds are keeping them stuck here.

Two photos of a MARSH TIT. This species is more scarce than the other TITS, is more dainty and less colourful 

 

 

The 'Stump' as always was good for bird photography (see all the photos of the little birds). Apart from the usual birds a pair of MARSH TITS were present. Elsewhere a very tame ROBIN was present, with a palm full of bird seed I was able to entice it over to eat from my hand. Very special.

 

Micklemere

With the Very dry winter we have experienced the water levels on this Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve were very low with only a small area of standing water. This is a reserve that relies on being flooded seasonally to attract the birds, if there's no water there's no birds.
However DUCK numbers still remained high with quite a lot present. Around a hundred TEAL were around, and there was also a lot of SHOVELLER. A small remnant wintering population of WIGEON were present grazing in the more grassy areas. Two pairs of SHELDUCK will probably attempt to nest here.
There were also a few WADERS around, with three REDSHANK, a pair of OYSTERCATCHER, and twenty LAPWING.

 

BLUE TIT very seldom feed on the ground

 



For inland Suffolk, these are two very good reserves, and there was a lot happening bird wise. This April has been quiet bird wise for the whole of Suffolk, but I reckon when the winds shift to a more southerly direction the migrants will pour into our island. When that happens its all a bit of luck, being in the right place at the right time, Spring migrants can turn up anywhere. That is the beauty of this hobby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alton Water - 4/4/2019

 A pair of EGYPTIAN GEESE (they are an escaped bird that has naturalised)

 

As the year moves into April expectations are high. Spring migration is getting into gear and anything is possible. Also at this time the breeding season is also gearing up and everywhere is alive with bird song. Why I chose to go to Alton Water I don't know, but I had the idea that anywhere could produce anything at this time of year. But with Alton the exact opposite is also possible and today turned out to be a disappointment.
The main bird out on the reservoir was the GREAT CRESTED GREBE, which was present in large numbers. It seems Alton has a large non-nesting population on its waters, just hanging out for the summer, not bothered with any of that breeding malarkey. There was the odd pair of SWAN and COOT around, but with the shape of the reservoir, with many sheltered inlets, meant that there could have been more about. DUCK wise apart from a few MALLARD about there was a small number of TUFTED DUCK, in the more out of the way places. Because they nest later, TUFTIES often hang around in large numbers into May, later than other species. In addition there was a pair of SHOVELLER, which is quite a rare bird on the reservoir.

 A pair of TUFTIES

 

By the dam there was a population of eight EGYPTIAN GEESE, and a pair of OYSTERCATCHER at the water treatment works nearby.
There was a small passage of SAND MARTINS, flying high in the air, catching insects on the wing, and a couple of SWALLOWS passed through, the proverbial  bringer of summer.

The Dam

 



The woods around the reservoir were full of bird song, the residents joined by CHIFFCHAFF and BLACKCAP (although chances are a lot of those two species had over wintered with us).
A YELLOWHAMMER was down by the main car park , a species I haven't seen here before, it could be a migrant.
As you can see nothing much to really report from today, just the usual species expected for an early Spring visit. Its just annoying with so much happening I can only get limited time off work, its all about being in the right place at the right time, and it wasn't the case today. However I shouldn't really complain because I still enjoy bird watching, even at the uneventful times. Its just amazing how much wildlife there is out there, even during the worst period of species extinction in all of history, some species still hang on against the odds.