With the second lock down currently in execution things were getting frustrating for me, I was just sitting around at home and not doing anything. However one of the best things about this lockdown, was that we were still allowed to travel for exercise, and, well, what's better exercise than birding? So I took a short trip south down the river Orwell, a twenty minute drive to a picturesque hamlet called Fresden, parked, and then indulged in a small walk to the river. From there I came to see my quarry, a RED NECKED GREBE on the river.
I knew the bird was present, because these days the internet is full of news of the scarce and rare birds present everywhere. The bird was loitering on the river, seen from the Stoke Sailing Club, but it was distant and difficult to find. The river is large at this point, long and wide. After some time looking through my scope I eventually found the bird, it was clear and distinct and showed features of the species. The main confusion species is the great crested grebe, a common bird of large lakes and the sea, and there was one present today, but the red necked grebe, was smaller, and dumpier and its yellow bill was very obvious .
RED NECKED GREBES aren't a rarity in Suffolk, but with maybe five or so recorded in the county every year its definitely scarce and worth catching hold of when one's about. There were two other people present having a look, a bit of chitter chatter about birds, but apart from that I was pretty much alone, enjoying the peace of the place.
This being a wild and remote area there were plenty of other birds about as well. The tide levels were slowly falling and as a result there were plenty of WADERS feeding on the mud. This area isn't popular with people so the birds were undisturbed and were allowed to roost without someone scaring them away, and the bane of all bird watchers, the run away dog. Lots of REDSHANK, BLACKWIT, OYSTERCATCHER, DUNLIN and TURNSTONE were all present, lots of different plumages and bird sizes on the mud. On the river there were a couple of GOLDENEYE and a female RED BREASTED MERGANSER was also present, your typical estuarine ducks.
Just a little summary of a short time out birding, a pause to catch a breath of fresh air in a rather stale time for me. I really recommend bird watching as a form of exercise and a way to soothe mental health, things in desperate need in these times. Because being out there in the country, among nature is something we crave but it gets buried under all the demands of the modern lifestyle. Its such a simple activity to enjoy, birds are everywhere, you just need a pair of bins to bring it to life. And of course you don't need to go out chasing that rare bird, just do whatever feels best.
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