Ipswich in the Winter of 2020/2021

The picturesque waterfront, Ipswich

When it comes to good birdwatching sites, Ipswich doesn't really come to mind. Urban sprawl has taken its toll on the land, but amongst all the concrete some decent areas of wildlife habitat still remains. The main concentration is along the River Gipping, a large green vein flowing through a grey land, a haven for wildlife. Also of note is the Belstead Brook combination of nature reserves, a good area of rare habitats, always worth a view.

Because of the endless sprawl of concrete, and being cut off from the surrounding countryside, bird numbers aren't as high as rural areas, so there aren't as many to spot. As a result the natural places can be a bit more quiet than out in the countryside. But somehow small dots of wildlife habitats survive and provide some much needed homes for wildlife. 

The Winerack, Ipswich waterfront

A lot of the resident birds have become used to humans over the years and are quite tolerant of people, allowing you to get fairly close to them. For the record Christchurch Park has not been included, I have given a separate blog for that site. The rest of the birdy places are listed below.

RED-THROATED DIVER & SHAG on the Ipswich Waterfront

RED THROATED DIVER, Ipswich Waterfront

For a week in late October a RED THROATED DIVER spent its time on the River Orwell, around the expensive yachts that float around the town's waterfront. This was only my second record of this species in Ipswich, although its a common bird on the not too distant coast. Never very well the bird soon succumbed and was later found dead. There were a few birders twitching the bird, its very unusual to find any birdwatchers in Ipswich which was nice.

In the beginning of March a pair of SHAG were on the waterfront, smaller than cormorants, green-black, one also had a crest. Although nesting in large numbers on the cliffs up north, in Suffolk they are quite rare with only a few turning up each year. All my Suffolk records have been from this location, all at this period, which suggests birds migrating to their breeding grounds. Unfortunately as I was just passing through I had no bins or camera - typical.

Pipers Vale

Part of the Orwell country Park, the only country park around Ipswich, Pipers Vale is an area of scrubby grassland and secondary woodland along the River Orwell. The one draw is the fact that a path takes you under the mighty Orwell Bridge, a dramatic and picturesque construction. 

When I visited on the 30/12/2021 the tide was high and a large flock of REDSHANK were roosting on the beach, but were soon disturbed by dog walkers. The usual estuarine DUCKS were present with SHELDUCK, MALLARD and PINTAIL just off shore. Further out on the deeper water were several RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, a small flock of LITTLE GREBE with some GREAT CRESTED GREBES even further out still.

I did a second visit on 12/3 when again it was high tide. The end of winter, and the period I'm blogging, there were a few remnant ducks of the winter season with a couple of WIGEON and PINTAIL, close to shore. Further out there were three RED BREASTED MERGANSERS, three LITTL GREBE and a GREAT CRESTED GREBE in the distance, all typical winter birds of the estuary. These birds will move on over the couple of weeks with only a small number of birds nesting along the Orwell. Pipers Vale is pretty much the best area within the boundaries of Ipswich in which to see estuarine birds, with views beyond the man made docks.

Chantry Park

The largest park in Ipswich, Chantry Park is also its most rural, being situated on the south-western edge of the town. Being a municipal park there are huge areas of of open grass, loved by dog walkers with some landscaped gardens round the stately home in the centre. These all have good examples of old trees, including some dramatic cedars around the gardens. However despite all these man-made trimmings its easy to get away from the people who use it. There is plenty of decent habitats for birds around the edges of the park, with lots of scrubby, wooded areas also with some rough grassland. These all attract lots of species and being largely parkland it has plenty of MISTLE THRUSH and GREEN WOODPECKERS.

The pond, Chantry Park

On one visit on 27/11 the land was covered in a thick layer of fog which provided atmospheric photos. I saw a marauding SPARROWHAWK and as usual for this winter, so far, lots of REDWING. 

Sir Bobby Robson's Bridge

A pair of SWANS have nested in the same spot for nine years

This is a nice spot near to the centre of town, just a stone's throw from the council buildings. A footbridge crosses the river where the Orwell and Gipping meet, the last place where the river becomes tidal. It was concreted in the 60s, along the river's sides and at low tide lots of shopping trolleys and road cones are revealed. Bird-wise, this is a good spot for REDSHANK and LITTLE EGRET, and OYSTERCATCHER nest on the surrounding warehouse roofs in summer. 

Sir Bobby Robson Bridge

By the time I made a further visit on 16/3/2021, birds were creating breeding territories on the river. A pair of MUTE SWANS have nested on the river bank by the bridge for at least the past nine years and were present again this year. Also present were a pair of CANADA GEESE and some MALLARDS.

Belstead Brook

This is the wildlife area in Ipswich, a chain of nature reserves that form a green underbelly to the town. Following the Belstead river, this informal country park consists of ancient woodland, wet grassland, reedbed, wet woodland, as well as parkland. It attracts a large variety of nature, famous for its bluebell displays in Spring Wood.

Coppicing in Spring Wood

I visited on 27/1, walking round Spring Wood, an ancient forest that has stood for as long as records begin; also Bobbit's Lane meadows, rough grassland that has flooded areas that transforms to reeds and bulrushes; and Ashground Plantation an area of seasonally flooded woodland. 

In Spring Wood there was coppicing in commencement, a practice which opens up the woodland canopy for its amazing display of BLUEBELLS in Spring. Lots of the commoner birds were out in force twinkling away in the background to my walk. The first singing SONG THRUSH of the year was heard and some REDWINGS were on the edge of the wood, signs of Spring and Winter together.

Boardwalk through Ashground Plantation

In the bulrushes on Bobbit's Lane Meadow, a CETTI'S WARBLER was in song, they have colonised every nook and cranny of Suffolk. Ashground Plantation was flooded the  brook had burst its bank, and with water standing under the canopy of the trees walking was limited. A SPARROWHAWK marauded along the trees, whilst in the neihbouring sewage farm a GREY WAGTAIL was present.

Whilst out here I met a fellow birdwatcher who was collecting all the masses of rubbish dumped in the area and he gave me a heads up to a bird in another part of town...

HOODED MERGANSER on the River Gipping

I was actually told a BUFFLEHEAD was present, along the river Gipping. An American form of  goldeneye, I was desperate to see a bird I've never spotted before, especially in Ipswich. However it turned out to be the HOODED MERGANSER, a bird that has been hanging around Ipswich for at least eighteen months. Its fine as I haven't seen the bird for a while, so it wasn't too much of a disappointment. The bird, like all male ducks, was very colourful, standing out amongst all the commoner birds, such as MOORHENS and GULLS. Most distinctive was its "hood" a massive tear drop of white creating a long tuft to  the back of its head, giving the bird its name.

HOODED MERGANSER, river Gipping

The bird was present by Tanner's View, a very urban part of the river with housing developments on one side and warehouses on the other. The hooded merganser spent its time on the opposite bank of the river, the one where there is no human access where it stayed amongst the MALLARDS and COOT. 

The river Gipping from Tanner's View

The river Gipping is a green vein that flows through the town of Ipswich, with its reed fringes and trees providing lots of habitat for nature. Like a lot of the course of the Gipping, trees have been planted along the river, a good deed as this prevents erosion of the river bank and slows down flooding. 

Pair CANADA GEESE, river Gipping

On a visit on 16/3 a pair of MUTE SWAN and CANADA GEESE were all present on the river, hoping to breed. Further down the river, past the first viaduct and close to the fringes of the town were a pair of KINGFISHERS, calling out with their dunnock-sounding call. I hope they are a breeding pair, the area they were in had plenty of riverside trees, their favourite nesting habitat. Kingfishers are one of those jewels of birds, not common, not rare, but always worth a note, and are beautiful to see, maybe our most colourful native bird.

OK, so I can't pretend that Ipswich is good for birds, as it really isn't. Even though I spend much time in the area, its where I live, I just don't see the birds I do out in the countryside. However from time to time the odd bird turns up that makes the place interesting. In lockdown, with all the main reserves closed or too far away, winter has not been that great for birdwatching, and as a result there has been a emphasis on local sites. This has made birdwatching in Ipswich that more important than in normal times. Anyway, whilst I still live in this town, I will continue to birdwatch here, so maybe there will be a sighting to reward my patience. Or, most likely, not.

Winter on the Local Patch - 2020/21

Female BLACKBIRD

As a new season comes around, so another blog must be written about the Local Patch. An arable land, mixed with hedges and horse paddocks it attracts a small amount of birds, species of the open countryside, as well as the common birds seen in most places. For me it is the place that gives me access to nature, as I ramble the many footpaths that crisscross the land, bins and camera to hand. This blog entry gives a record of the more interesting sightings over the period, rather than a day to day record, which would be a bit tedious and which blights a lot of writing about birds

                A male KESTREL is resident on the Patch, although he never seems to attract a mate

 As is usual for this time of year, winter was grey and miserable on the Patch. Lots of rain, heavy frosts and overcast days set for some dreary walks. And then on 7 February heavy snow fell and the world became white. The snow hung heavy on the Patch, although not too deep, maybe six inches or thereabouts. As the snow lay there there were some beautiful days with some great light enlivening the environment. The Patch is well walked and therefore the paths never became impassable. The pond and the reservoir froze over, although the stream still flowed. After a while, however, the novelty of the snow soon wore off  and the snow became dirty, and the paths slippery, as it slowly melted. The snows lasted around a week before being washed away by the rain. The rest of the period was very mild and sunny preparing the ground for Spring.

The Patch was hit by snow mid February

The star bird of the period was a RED KITE flying over Rise Hall, harassed by the local CROWS. It is so unmistakable when compared to the other local bird of prey, the buzzard, the kite has a forked tail, its pushed back, pointed wings and its orange colouring. From just a few pairs in Wales, the red kite has now spread to  every corner of the land. This is a first record for the Patch, and with increasing records in Suffolk, maybe one to colonise in the future.

A large flock of REDWING on the Suffolk Punch Field

A female STONECHAT was a decent sighting on 24/2 in the former horse pastures behind First Field. A typical early migrant, it begins moving when other birds still feel it is winter. This is only my second record for the Patch, the other record also occurring at this time. Stonechat populations are at a historical high due to the excellent management of Suffolk's heaths, which are their breeding grounds, and should become more common in the future.

One of the many horses on the Patch

Winter brought in new birds to the Patch. This season, specifically November and December, brought in the biggest movement of REDWINGS I have seen in years. Located mainly around the Suffolk Punch Field there were maybe over a hundred present at a time. They were often very wary, and would seldom settle, flying into the trees and scattered bushes, before flying up again at the slightest provocation. Mid-winter there was a lull with only a few records as they left the Patch. However towards the end of February the birds returned, maybe as Spring migrants. A flock of 70 on 17/2 were found amongst the horse paddocks, an interesting record.

Only a few FIELDFARE were found this winter

BLACKBIRDS were also very common this winter, and were perhaps the most noticeable bird on the Patch, with many a bird feeding by a hedgerow or flying low. Despite all this, however, FIELDFARE, the other winter thrush, were only present in ones or twos.

A nice record was a pair of BULLFINCHES by the Pond, on 1/1, birds that don't flock but live in pairs for life, their melancholy call and white rumps are a good way of identifying the birds. This species goes through peaks and troughs and at the moment is quite scarce on the Patch.

Someone has put up feeders along the northern part of Old Norwich Road, toward the edge of the Patch, and among the commoner birds scoffing away there were a pair of COAL TITS, rare birds on the Patch, feeding under the drone of the A14.

BLUE TIT

Both GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER are resident on the Patch, and I see them most days. Early February there were three great spotted woodpeckers in the tall trees around Rise Hall. A bird is on territory here most years, and he seemed to be chasing some interlopers away. It won't be long before it starts to drum, to announce his availability to the females. Green woods are harder to pin down as they are often seen whenever there are trees, and their "yaffelling" call can be heard around the Patch.

A small flock of 30-40 HOUSE SPARROWS is resident on Old Norwich Road. They fly off to feed on the hedges on First Field

The BUZZARDS were as usual present all year, whilst a male KESTREL was also present, although he never seems to attract a mate. However the little owl I saw last year hasn't been located for some time, so may have moved on, which is a shame.

Looking from Suffolk Punch Field over to River Meadow

Waterbirds are always scarce on the Patch as there is only a little stream, a reservoir, and a little pond. MALLARDS peaked at twelve, and six CANADA GEESE at the end of January was unusual.

An unusual record of a common bird was a flock of 30 MAGPIES in the First Field. A relatively unsociable bird, they are usually only seen in ones or twos, a group of magpies is called a PARLIAMENT.

ROBIN

In winter birds are the species I see most on the Patch, however aside from my feathered friends there were some other forms of life. A few mammals were about. A RED FOX was present in the meadow behind the sports centre, on 29/12, slinking by one of the hedgerows. I have seen foxes in many cities, including in central London, but for some reason they are scarce in Ipswich, and this is my only second record for the area. Another scarce record was a MUTJAC on 8/1. With little wooded cover, this alien deer is quite rare on the Patch.

SNOWDROPS under the trees, Rise Hall

As the new year begins, and with a few months under the belt, signs of spring flowers start to appear. SNOWDROPS have begun to grow, in the area of scrub at the beginning of the Patch, at Rise Hall, and around the church. Also appearing under the trees at Rise Hall, yellow LESSER CELENDINE are also flowering another nice, early flower.

The tall trees around Rise Hall are good for WOODPECKERS

Even those areas of countryside that have nothing in particular to distinguish themselves can be good for birds. Nature can't sit in nature reserves, prisons with no way out for them. It is up to the general countryside to provide room for our wildlife to survive and to provide room for movement. Protecting hedgerows, and those corners of  fields where the flowers grow are paramount for giving wildlife a home. Maybe post brexit, British farming policy will change for the better for wildlife, it can't get any worse. Maybe in the future we will live in a  society that sees value in nature, as something to cherish, and not destroy.

Papermill Reedbed - Winter 2021

GREY WAGTAIL

On some stretches of the river Gipping there are some nice examples of water meadows, old time remnants of a former landscape that once stretched the whole river. Now they are rare, as being close to Ipswich means the Gipping is surrounded by an industrialised landscape, with land put under pressure for development. The area is a man made wilderness of warehouses, train lines, busy roads and housing estates. That makes this small area of countryside extra important for being the last of its kind.

Around 50 trees have been planted along this stretch of the river

I started to visit the area more intensely after a third lockdown was enforced. I decided to concentrate on an underwatched area, somewhere off the beaten track, where little birding has been done, a blank slate so to speak. Its only a short hop away from me, on the border of Ipswich, but yet manages to be people-free, lying as it does between residential areas. This is important to me as I work in a very busy and congested environment, so I really can get away from it all and unwind both physically and psychologically, for which I find birding so important. I visited the area four times in this period and hope to visit a couple of times a month for the rest of the year, unless other things get in the way.

A pair of MUTE SWANS have turned up on the river

The small reedbed, the one used in the title, used to be a Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve, however the reserve has been taken off the website and the info sign has been taken down, so it is designated no longer. The area I visit follows the river Gipping up and down, starting behind a disused factory all the way up to a junction of the A14. The river here is broad and gently meanders. There is the small reedbed that gives the area its name, which is becoming overgrown now. The rest of the area is seasonally flooded pasture grazed by cattle in the summer. A new feature are some trees that have been planted along the entire Gipping, with over fifty in this area alone. This planting was undertaken by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and the Environment Agency and is a nice feature of the area, as there aren't many trees around here.

WHITE-FRONT, in front, look how tiny it looks next to a GREYLAG

By far the most interesting bird I saw in this period was a EURASIAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. The bird was among a small flock of GREYLAGS on a flooded area to the north of the site. To begin with it was lying down in a depression so I could only see the top of its head on occasion as it would move about. Being too far away for a photo, I moved in closer, causing the flock to move and eventually the bird came into view. After that I was able to photograph the bird and the flock got used to me. This winter has seen an influx of white fronts with a lot of birds turning up in places where they have never been recorded before, including some I saw further up the river Gipping in December. This is very unusual behaviour for a bird that is usually site loyal on its wintering grounds. The bird at Papermill is an excellent record for the area, who knows if it has ever been recorded around here before.

                           

Who know if there have ever been another record of white-fronts in this area

Other than that, birdwise the area is fairly quiet, I don't usually see that much on each visit, but as a slice of English countryside its fairly representative. It attracts small numbers of wetland birds and those of the general countryside. Whenever I visit I see a GREY WAGTAIL by the mill, now a block of apartments, with a maximum of three 5/3. There were several singing CETTI'S WARBLERS, a bird which has pretty much colonised every corner of Suffolk. A REED BUNTING sang from the reedbeds, all common birds, but birds that have been sidelined in our countryside.

The river Gipping had completely broken its banks, flooding the meadows on the 29/1

With a winter full of rain and flooding, a visit on the 29/1 saw the site completely flooded. The Gipping had burst its banks, covering the meadows entirely in flood water. The only place free was the tiny parking spot, on a slight rise over the rest of the area. On that day there was a singing MISTLE THRUSH, its haunting call ringing out over the water. A week later I heard a SONG THRUSH, its elaborate song calling out in the gentle air of the countryside. On 5/3 a large flock of 70 REDWINGS were in the tree plantation across the river, a sign of birds on the move, its been a good winter for those birds.

See, interesting birds can turn up anywhere

On one visit, 5/2, I  had a tiny flock of three SISKIN in some riverside alders, not large numbers but a new species for the site, with few trees little birds are quite scarce. Whilst walking up the river I disturbed and put to flight a TEAL from the reedbeds. On the same day a sign of spring was in the air with the arrival of a pair of MUTE SWANS on the same area of flooding as the geese. These birds might be potential nesters and birds which might maybe stay the summer on the river. They were seen again on a later date, this part of the river being quieter it would be a good area for them to nest in. 

LITTLE EGRET on the Gipping

A snapshot of an area of countryside, not particularly special in any way but still fairly interesting. This is an area I don't know well, so I wonder what I'll see over the course of a year, so in some ways its quite exciting (yes I know I'm quite sad). In some ways its important to monitor these areas as being on the edge of Ipswich land is a high value commodity, nature a low one where money is concerned. As a result this will be record of somewhere that may not exist in the future, a museum piece of a land that was lost for wildlife.