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.