Vast acres of mud form the Blythe estuary, a low lying land with vast horizons. This forms part of the Suffolk Coast nature reserve, a huge protected area that like Minsmere encompasses a large variety of different habitats, the sort of reserve unique to Suffolk. This range of land forms attract a lot of birds, and this nature reserve is one of Suffolk's best. Its more low key than Minsmere, traversed only by footpaths, you would only know it to be a nature reserve if you had prior info. Its been a long time since I have visited either site, Hen Reedbeeds and Tinker's Marsh, so its good to finally catch up with them. Late April, Spring migration should be at its peak, but with the freak weather passing onto May, things were a bit different. The day suffered from a strong westerly wind, which made walking the exposed river walls a bit of a chore, as well as keeping all the birds low. At this time of year the best winds for spring migration is the exact opposite to today, a south easterly wind guiding birds from the continent.
Hen Reedbeds
On the north side of the estuary, Hen Reedbeds is a recreated habitat, where poor pastureland has been allowed to become overgrown with reeds. This in turn makes it attractive to rare birds of which the Suffolk Coast is a national stronghold. The site was created and is owned by Suffolk Wildlife Trust, who do a great job looking after the site.
Part of the reserve is a river valley overlooked by a viewing platform, with no access. Immediately in front of the platform a family of WHITETHROAT were raising a family, the birds busy coming in with food and and out from crap from the nest. Out in the distant marshes several MARSH HARRIERS were out gliding over the reedbeds, as you would expect. A BITTERN was briefly heard booming, the strange and distinctive song of a little brown heron which is the songbook for this kind of habitat. Both the marsh harrier and the bittern are the specialties of reedbeds that are attracted to reserves like Hen Reedbeds, found in no other habitat. Another, though commoner, reedbed specialist, REED WARBLERS were singing everywhere in large numbers, males seeking out a mate and to defend their territories. This is one of our later returning summer visitors, coming in at the end of April.
Half of the reserve is accessible, where the main path follows the river wall, with the estuary on one side and with views of the reeds on the other. At the time I was there, the tide was out and WADERS were few. The estuary was a narrow channel at this point before opening up into a vast area of mud just a short walk down. A COMMON SANDPIPER was on the river wall and a WHIMBREL was on the mud. Later more WHIMBREL were seen, this time eight of them in flight over me.
The reed lakes were the haunt of small numbers of MALLARD, GADWALL, TEAL and SHELDUCK. At this time of year duck numbers are low as its the nesting season, when ducks nest at low densities.
From the reserev I walked up to a nearby farm where I enjoyed coffee and some giant doorstop scones.
Tinker's Marsh
Tinker's Marsh, is one of my favourite place names in Suffolk. It evokes a countryside that has long been lost, when Suffolk was much more remote and wild, when there was probably a lot more birds. Although being located next to the honeypot site of Walberswick, Tinkers Marsh feels remote and wild, not many people traverse the river wall here. Its a low lying area of grazing marsh that hugs the sides of the estuary, with good stands of reeds. It lies right across the estuary from Hen Reedbeds, on the south side and you can see the hides from the river wall at Tinker's.
I parked at Walberswick church, around midday, and started walking through the gorse covered common land, continued along the old railway line, before hitting the river wall, where close to Walberswick the estuary is a narrow channel. The tide was rising as I turned up with the mud around Southwold Harbour covered by the tide. Birding was quiet in the area, the odd duck or a LAPWING on territory seeing off a passing crow. OYSTERCATCHERS were about, this black and white bird is very noisy, flying around calling out as a pair. They are numerous breeders around this estuary. Another characteristic bird of the estuary, the REDSHANK, was only present in small numbers, its haunting call giving it the name "sentinel of the marshes".
After some walking, one of the pools finally held some birds. Two male PINTAIL, two TEAL and loafing GULLS were present here, the pintail being interesting as they are very rare nesting birds, they don't often get hang around so late in the season. Towards the end of Tinker's Marsh the estuary widens out to a vast sea of mud. Being May numbers of WADERS were low but there was still a small variety about. Most numerous were the DUNLIN, with several small flocks, the birds numbering around a hundred in total. At this time of year the birds are in summer plumage, with a golden brown upper body and a nice black underbelly, different to their grey and white winter plumage. With one flock were four GREY PLOVER and three GREENSHANK. The plovers weren't yet in summer plumage, where they have a distinctive black chest and silver upperparts. Three BLACKWITS were around as well as a small flock of AVOCET.
Of the pair of MARSH HARRIERS present on Tinker's Marsh, the male had red tags stuck to its wing, although I didn't get the number. This is a form of ringing which identifies the bird and the travails it goes through, I guess for scientific purposes because although common in Suffolk they are still a nationally rare breeding bird.
On one of the saltmarsh islands on the estuary, there was a small colony of BALCK HEADED GULLS with a few MED GULLS amongst them. This colony is a fraction of the size it was around fifteen years ago, when thousands of birds crammed into the entire island, making it an awesome sight. The reasons for the decline are probably natural, and may increase again, the habitat is still there.
The walk back through the heaths resulted in a HOBBY over the trees, swooping through some arable land where it put a flock of pigeons to flight, before disappearing. This is a nice record, this marsh falcon is a late arriver, usually turning up around mid May, I haven't seen them in this area before.
After that it was a brief walk back to the car.
Blytheburgh
Just off the A12, the village of Blytheburgh sits on the edge of the Blythe estuary. Here the mud is vast and wild, although the tide was high at this point, a great expanse of water. Numbers of WADERS were small, mainly the same as the ones seen above. More WHIMBREL were about, it seems I have caught them on their main migration time, with numbers easily in double figures. Whimbrel are like smaller curlews, however they are slightly different, with a bent bill rather than a curved one, a black eye stripe and a different call. They are a birdwatchers bird, proving a challenge to identify, and provide a test of field craft.
In the end it was an interesting day out on the Blythe, however with few birds about. Although the birds weren't in large numbers there was still a good variety about, and I saw a lot of species. As always with such places, the landscape was gentle but stunning providing great views when there weren't any birds. Its amazing that such areas of wilderness in lowland England still exist, one under so much pressure from development and the tourist hordes, and the financial starvation of the reserves managers, Natural England. These are the last strongholds of many birds, ones starved out of the surrounding countryside and it is essential such places are well looked after.
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