Felixstowe Ferry - 31/7/2020

Situated on the mouth of the Deben estuary, Felixstowe Ferry is a charming ramshackle place. Placed in the country just north of the seaside town of Felixstowe, there is a short walk along a sea wall that cuts through beach on one side and a golf course on the other. This is not a place I visit often, I last came down here around eight years ago. However the place hasn't changed really, at least not majorly.

Almost like a shanty town, the charm of the place can also be its downfall. The place is a honey pot site, heaving with tourists. When the hordes descend it can be difficult to really appreciate such a place.

Today wasn't too busy, though, and numbers were manageable, so it was bearable and I was allowed to enjoy the place.

As you would expect bird numbers were fairly low. I was expecting some terns off shore but there were only a few loafing gulls. A pair of RINGED PLOVERS were on the beach, I think migrants rather than nesting birds.

On a vegetated area of beach there was a large flock of 70 LINNETS, there were loads, in numbers I'm not used to seeing. These are probably locally bred birds, flocking after the breeding season. The heathy area of the golf course and the remote farmland probably suits them well.

On the mudflats of the Deben there was a solitary BLACK TAILED GODWIT, among the loafing gulls, but that was it, a bit disappointing I guess.

Its difficult to talk about a place like this from a bird watcher's perspective, as its not really a birding place, more a touristy one. As someone who doesn't like crowds it can get a bit much. However beyond the Ferry there is a wild landscape of estuary and remote farmland so maybe its worth a look sometime in winter.