Suffolk Birding

[matt green]

Considering the birding potential of the east coast there doesn't seem to be a regular suffolk thread?.. so I'll start one now!

3 April, Dunwich heath, general area - blythburgh estuary

The day started a little later than anticipated (mostly my fault for sleeping in!) but we soon made our way to dunwich village, our first plan was to follow the coastal path towards dingle marshes but the bad weather soon put an end to this as neither of us fancied walking across the bleak and exposed shingle beach in the rain, a little egret, snipe and three redshanks were all we saw poddling around the small pond/scrape by the car park.

After waiting for the bad weather to pass we decided to follow the public footpath through a small wood south of the village.As we made our way past the ruins of the franciscan priory we spent a few moments scanning the paddocks for any possible migrants, I was anticipating black redstart on the old cattle shed or ring ouzal hopping around looking for worms but nothing was seen - wishfull thinking failed to produce the goods yet again!

Walking further into the wood the occasional clearing opened through the bushes and a clear view out to see was possible, setting up the scope we saw only one red throated diver.As we were nearing the edge of the woods
my friend informs me that this particular spot is good for firecrest and possible shrikes but due to the wind and rain nothing of note is seen here.
Making our way out of the small woodland we follow the road until joining another footpath through an area known as broom hill which gives a fantastic view over dunwich forest, despite the shortly cropped grass meadows offering great potential for wheatears and other scrub migrants only common scrub birds are seen.Making our way back to the carpark in the village we stop for dinner and then drive out a short distance and park by the footpath
that leads to dunwich heath, I was particularly hopefull to see dartford warbler on the heath but I'm told the weather is against us and these birds will most likely be hunkered down among the gorse and heather, and thats exactly where they stayed because none were seen!, I did however get to see my first woodlarks, after being directed to their song we saw two individuals together.The first thing that struck me was the shorter tail compared the skylarks, also the wings are somewhat shorter and wider
(lifer No1)!

Following the paths across the heath I notice some red deer tracks, their paths are easily seen through the bushes and the whole area has a healthy
population but unfortunately, and surprisingly no deer species are seen through out the day.As we approach the coastguards cottages I inform my friend of the new sea watch hide looking out over minsmere cliffs, this recent fascility has been equipped with charts showing visitors the various sea mammels that may be seen along with recent sightings of sea birds etc, the use of a scope (and a very nice one at that!) is offered for perhaps the more casual visitors who do not own one.As my friend is counting regular barnacle
geese flocks and the occasional red throated diver I take full advantage of the close views of a pair of stonechats perched on the bushes outside.
On leaving the hide we complete a circular walk back to the car, just as we approach the road I note a raptor flying over the woodland near mount pleasant farm, first I think male sparrow hawk, then kestrel and...err while I'm dithering my friend finally calls out hobby!, a mad dash to find a better vantage point away from the bushes and the bird flies over our heads offering a fantastic view, possibly one of the very first hobbies to hit the east coast?

Our last visit of the day is to nearby blythbough estuary, as soon as we find our way onto the path that follows the southern edge of the estuary it's clear that there is no shotage of birds to be seen here.The first sighting is a lone curlew with a dozen or so oyster catchers and redshanks, many more are seen as we walk to the rickerty bird-hide that looks out over the flats.
At this point I get two more lifers in the form of a single spotted redshanks and a yellow legged gull, all happily mingling with the more common esturine birds.After a short while we realized we had arrived just as the tide was going out so all the waders etc dispersed across the entire estuary to feed, a brief ray of sunshine made a group of black tailed godwits all the more visable
among more curlew and redshanks.Further scanning of the northern edge
finally produced some avocets and two pintail duck, unfortunately I wasn't
quite quick enough to the scope for the ducks so I missed these sightings!

And so endeth our day on the suffolk coast, three lifers and some great walking in fantastic countryside which can potentialy offer some awsome birdwatching..except when it's pithing down and windy!!

Maybe other suffolk birders (or visitors) could be encouraged to post their sightings/day reports on this thread.

Some pics

Matt

[matt green]

..and a couple more!

Matt

[DJW]

That seawatch hide looks quite smart.

Who does it belong to, National Trust?

Is it located by the NT car park that overlooks Minsmere RSPB?

Regards

Dave

[Andy Bright]

Thanks Matt, a busy Suffolk thread would be appreciated by many people, not just locals.
The seawatching hide is new to me as well.

Your second photo shows my regular holiday cottage... and over the years, i can report that that meadow hasn't offered much to my eyes, Merlin about the best. The path running by the cottages to the heath is a real Nightingale alley.

cheers,
Andy

[joannec]

Sounds like a good day, Matt, despite the weather being against you. Now that those awful north winds have stopped, all of us should get some more migrants very soon. Congratulations on the hobby, woodlarks and spotted redshank!! Three good ones. :t:

Joanne

[matt green]

Thanks for the comments all

Dave, not exactly sure who owns the seawatch hide but I've found a link that gives more details, the hide itself is located a very short walk north of the old coastguards cottages/tea room and public toilets etc.

http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/newscontent/92_dunwich_sea_watch.htm

Andy, that cottage is a real little honey! I'd want to live there let alone take a holiday!

Matt

[NoSpringChicken]

This thread is an excellent idea, Matt. As I live on the Nofolk/Suffolk border I could never understand why there seemed to be so much activity in the Norfolk section but nothing apparently happening in Suffolk.

I think you are right about the healthy Red Deer population. Driving home from Minsmere a couple of weeks ago we spotted six of them in the field by the road. We stopped the car and watched them cross the road and disappear into the next field. I find it quite a novelty to see them roaming about in this part of the country.

Ron

[dafi]

Good one with the thread Matt. i must say im IMPRESSED with the hide. Soft seats looks like you fell into some sort of parallel universe where life is the same yet better[beam us up].

[matt green]

This thread is an excellent idea, Matt. As I live on the Nofolk/Suffolk border I could never understand why there seemed to be so much activity in the Norfolk section but nothing apparently happening in Suffolk.Ron

Thanks Ron and Dafi

Completely agree about the lack of reports from this part of east anglia, the coastel areas especialy have great potential.The whole area of dunwich heath/forest, minsmere, blythbough estuary and the sorrounding countryside is just one vast plain of bird watching heaven!

Come on suffolk birders!!!

Matt

[Connor Rand]

For your location Matt it says Norfolk, but not the best bit. Isnt all of Norfolk good?! ;)

[matt green]

For your location Matt it says Norfolk, but not the best bit. Isnt all of Norfolk good?! ;)

Haha, well!

It's not 'that' bad, much of the norfolk interior is victim to intensive agriculture, I think it's fair to say the best birding parts of norfolk is the far west around the brecks and fens, the north and east coast and the broads.I'm pretty much lumped right in the middle of an agri-desert!

Matt

[dbradnum]

Just thought it might be useful to include a local website on this page regarding Lowestoft birding, a bit further north than Minsmere / Dunwich etc. A number of good birders put in a lot of work on local patches in the area, and periodically find some cracking birds... read all about it at

http://home.clara.net/ammodytes/

[StuartReeves]

Just thought it might be useful to include a local website on this page regarding Lowestoft birding, a bit further north than Minsmere / Dunwich etc. A number of good birders put in a lot of work on local patches in the area, and periodically find some cracking birds... read all about it at

http://home.clara.net/ammodytes/

As a sometime Lounge Lizard myself I can only support these comments. There is another useful site at: http://www.freewebs.com/suffolkbirding/

Stuart

[claire78]

Nice to see Lowestoft getting a mention as this is my newly discovered local patch! After many years of being a back-garden birdwatcher I am now venturing out into the big world beyond.....

[Karl J]

excellent choice of thread Matt, i'm quite close to the border and think Suffolk esp. the coast is fantastic.

Had a wander with the good lady today around Dunwich heath, lunch at the Eels foot before returning via the sluice and beach, past Minsmere reserve - Not many migrants in evidence yet but still managed a couple of year firsts, namely 1 Sand Martin and an Adder. Plus a number of displaying harriers and loads of singing Cetti's.

As a general thought i have to say a summers early morning (before anyone else gets there) ride around the little lanes through the forests and heaths, when the Nightingales arrive and start singing away is one of the highlights of the yearfor me. Cant wait !

No sight of Dartfords today - are they still around ?

[PaulE]

good idea for a thread i will keep it going went to landguard today highlights were a wheatear and a blackcap, loads of linnets and meadow pipits
this afternoon stopped of at thorington street which i think is just in suffolk and had three buzzards soaring high in the sky

[Karl J]

A lovely few hours in the quiet country lanes of north suffolk today, ending up at Benacre


Got my first (2) singing Blackcap of the year down the lane past Covehithe church, plenty of Chiffchaff about generally.

Along the cliffs - c.27 Sand Martins investigating burrows & a few Meadow Pipits chasing about

fair mix of common stuff elsewhere, on the broad etc. - 12 Avocet, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Teal, shelducks. and a fine pair of displaying Marsh Harriers over the reeds. Some interesting looking piles of wood / dead trees on the beach (storm debris?) but too many Bank Holiday beachgoers for anything still to be amongst it by the time i got there.

worthy of note too, down the road at Wrentham crossroads - Stephanies Cafe

[Binoculators]

Hi all,

As another person who lives on the border of norfolk / suffolk, I am very pleased to see a Suffolk thread started - looking forward to reading the posts on this one!

Early start this morning and took a drive down to Dunwich Heath. Plenty of Stonechats perched on top of the gorse singing away, followed by views of three Dartford Warblers - two brief views of them flitting down into the heather scrub and one nice long view of one in flight singing (flew right over me) and then dived into cover. Not much else about so popped into Minsmere.

Loads of Marsh Harriers, Bearded Tits (pinging like mad) and one Spotted Redshank. Heard plenty of Cetti's and a booming Bittern but didn't manage to get views of either. Reserve started to get real busy by lunchtime so I left with the intention of popping into Sotterley Wood on the way back - drove round Sotterley for ages but couldn't see how to get into the wood. Any ideas anyone?? Saw a kestrel picking at a road kill pheasant in the middle of the road. Also saw either a stoat or weasel and a grass snake.

Went home with slightly sun burned face but a good day nonetheless.

Ian

[matt green]

Excellent reports chaps, lets keep this running..

Gotta give those norfolk boys a run for their money ;)

Matt

[Archibald D.]

good to see the view from the hide a Benacre and read your account of your visits round the Dunwich area.I was fortunate to see the Dartford Warbler during the Foot & Mouth scare on the very day they reopened the Heath. I was also fortunate to see a Marsh Harrier being mugged from the small reserve on the way to Southwold. Hope to be back in Suffolk during the Summer.Archibald D

[claire78]

Off to Minsmere tomorrow for my second visit this year. Can't wait. Will post details tomorrow night!
TTFN
Claire

[Karl J]

... intention of popping into Sotterley Wood on the way back - drove round Sotterley for ages but couldn't see how to get into the wood...

Ian

Hi Ian, not been there myself so i cant vouch for it but this is from a Lowestoft & district booklet i picked up in Minsmere last(?) year

"Sotterley Park

OS Grid Ref TM452852). A short walk over grassland (can be muddy).
To get there - Take minor road from Carlton Colville through Mutford to B1127. Turn left then right up hill for a mile & half. Park at village hall car park.
Birds mainly woodland sp. tits, finches, woodpeckers etc. Good for Hawfinch & Nuthatch, especially in spring
No facilities. Do not use private road to church and hall but follow footpath over the stile as indicated by signs on the trees. "

[Binoculators]

Cheers Karl,

Will have to pop down there soon and have a look. (Hawfinch would be nice!)

Also, has anyone been to North Cove Nature Reserve?(owned by Suffolk Wildlife Trust I think) as this is also very close to Sotterley and looks quite good. They have three or four hides - Woodcock a speciality.

If it is worth visiting (which I am sure it is) I will combine both in a mornings birding.

Any comments?

Ian

[StuartReeves]

Hawfinch have been a bit thin on the ground at Sotterley this winter so are far from guaranteed there. North Cove is a nice, quiet little local reserve, but I've never seen much there in the way of birds. I took a walk there yesterday (it's pretty close to home for me) and saw only a few tits and a brief Kingfisher.

Stuart

[claire78]

Off to Minsmere tomorrow for my second visit this year. Can't wait. Will post details tomorrow night!
TTFN
Claire

Had a great day out at Minsmere yesterday. Will post a longer report later on...

Highlight of the day was having a bittern flying over my head. Five or so lifers for me as well as about 10 to add to my 2007 list! A great day. :-O
TTFN
Claire

[claire78]

Minsmere, Suffolk 11th April 2007

Arrived 9.40am. Weather was warm and sunny. My second trip to Minsmere. I collected a 'What's about' sheet and headed off in the direction of the East Hide. Spotted a couple of MAGPIES over by the sand martin holes, but no sand martins! On my way to the beach and dunes I spotted a ROBIN singing, a male BLACKBIRD foraging in the leaf litter, a male CHAFFINCH pecking in the short grass, plenty of LAPWINGS flying up from the Scrape area and then, at last, my first ever sighting of a CETTI'S WARBLERNEW. I had heard one on my last visit to Minsmere but had not been successful in seeing it! I also managed to get a photo of it (not a very good one though!).

Near the beach and dunes area there were some REED BUNTINGSNEW several STONECHATSNEW, the males singing from the tops of the gorse and shrubs, and CHAFFINCHES.

EAST HIDE

The following species were viewed on the Scrape from the East Hide:-
• BARNACLE GEESE
• BLACK-HEADED GULLS (there were lots and they were very noisy!)
• BLACK TAILED GODWITSNEW (saw at least 10; in breeding plumage; got some good photos)
• RINGED PLOVERNEW (just one on the end of a mudflat)
• AVOCETS
• MOORHENS
• CANADA GEESE
• SHELDUCKS
• MARSH HARRIERS (one male and one female over the reedbeds behind the west hide)
• REDSHANK
• TURNSTONES
• DUNLINNEW
• WIDGEON
• MEDITERRANEAN GULL

NEAR EAST SLUICE

By the pond near the East Sluice I heard (a) BITTERN(S) booming on three occasions. What a great sound! First time I had heard a bittern boom. On the pond were:-
• GREYLAG GEESE (three)
• MUTE SWANS (pair)
• COOTS
• LAPWING (one)
• REDSHANK (numerous)
• TEAL
• LITTLE GREBENEW (one)
• CARRION CROW (two behind pond)
• MALLARD

Walking down towards the South Hide a BUZZARD circled overhead and then started to rise on a thermal.

SOUTH HIDE

The following species were viewed on the Scrape from the South Hide:-
• AVOCET
• BLACK-HEADED GULLS
• BLACK TAILED GODWITSNEW
• GADWALL
• SHOVELLERS
• PHEASANT (walking along the edge of the Scrape)
• SHELDUCK

On the pond behind the hide were:-
• TUFTED DUCKS
• MOORHENS
• COOTS
• WIDGEON
• GREYLAG GEESE
• BLACK-HEADED GULLS

WEST HIDE

The following species were viewed on the Scrape from the West Hide:-
• AVOCET
• SHELDUCK
• GREY HERON (landed over far side of Scrape and was mobbed by Lapwings!)
• BLACK TAILED GODWITSNEW
• LAPWINGS
• CANADA GEESE
• GREYLAG GEESE
• GADWALL
• GREATER BLACK BACKED GULLS
• WOODPIGEON

Shortly after leaving the West Hide a BITTERNNEW flew over.

Grabbed some lunch from the Tea Room and ate it whilst walking to the Bittern Hide. En route saw a couple of GREAT TITS and a few DUNNOCKS. Heard the BITTERNS booming a few more times.

BITTERN HIDE

Not much seen from here. Just a pair of MARSH HARRIERS flying over the reedbeds and a few COOTS.

En route to the Island Mere hide I spotted another CETTI'S WARBLERNEW and a CHIFFCHAFFNEW singing from the top of a tree.

ISLAND MERE HIDE

From here I saw the following:-
• GREYLAG GEESE
• TUFTED DUCKS
• MALLARDS
• CANADA GEESE
• COOTS
• HERRING GULLS
• MARSH HARRIERS
and heard the Bitterns booming.

En route to the Canopy Hide I spotted a ROBIN, heard the Bitterns booming again, spotted an ADDERNEW in the reeds, and found a BLACKBIRD foraging in the leaf litter.

CANOPY HIDE

From way up here I spotted a BUZZARD which was trying to soar but was being mobbed by a CROW instead! In the tree opposite in the uppermost hole was a GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER. It was enlarging the inside of the hole and then poking its head out of the hole. After looking around for a while it disappeared back into the hole and then came back out again with a beak full of unwanted tree! After clearing out all the bits of tree that were not required it went back inside to chisel out some more! You could hear the drumming noise from the hide. Whilst up there I also saw some CROWS and WOODPIGEONS. I heard plenty of GREEN WOODPECKER calls and also heard a TAWNY OWL hoot but didn't see either.

Walking along the drive back to the Visitors Centre I spotted two GOLDFINCHES in a tree.

It was then time for a cuppa and a piece of cake in the Tea Room before heading off home at 3.20pm. Out of the tea room windows the CHAFFINCHES, GREAT TITS and HOUSE SPARROWS were feeding from the feeders.

All in all a good day! 47 different bird species; of which 9 were 'lifers' and 16 were new for 2007. From the 'What's about' list I collected at the beginning of the day I had only failed to spot Pintail; Snipe; Bearded Tit; Great Crested Grebe; Water Rail; Pochard; Goldeneye; Water pipit; Green Woodpecker; Treecreeper; Mash tit; Long-tailed tit; Goldcrest; Willow warbler; Jay; Bullfinch; Linnet and Meadow pipit - not bad for a beginner whose only been birding in earnest since the middle of March 07! And I'm sure that a lot of those birds are little brown things that would have taken me an age to id anyhow!!!

I now have 69 on my 2007 list; and 86 on my life list.

[matt green]

Sounds like you had a great day Claire, never heard a bittern booming myself so I think I need to 'arrange' another trip!

That tower hide in the woods is a laugh btw, wouldn't fancy climbing to the top on a very windy day!!

Matt

[claire78]

Totally agree! Bit of a breeze would have the hide creaking and rattling a bit! Either my woodland birding technique is a bit hopeless or you don't actually get to see very much from up there?!? A bit disappointing after all the sights and sounds of the Scrape. But quite peaceful though compared with the noise of the Black-headed gulls and Canada Geese in the other hides.

HAve just seen two Tawny Owls from my front door in the neighbouring woods. Had only gone out to lock the car and was greeted by the sound of a Magpie going nuts in the woods. THen heard a male and female Tawny calling and then saw them flying away from the tree nearest the edge of the wood. Luckily had by binoculars handy in the car so managed to get a good look of one of them. Fab.....

Claire

[PaulE]

Totally agree! Bit of a breeze would have the hide creaking and rattling a bit! Either my woodland birding technique is a bit hopeless or you don't actually get to see very much from up there?!? A bit disappointing after all the sights and sounds of the Scrape..

Claire
It is a bit quiet up there now when i first went to minsmere there used to be feeders and you used to see loads at really close range but for some reason they took them down

[PaulE]

Ever made the wrong decision?
was a toss up today whether to go to landguard or alton water for a walk decided to go to alton water which was nice saw a blackcap, little egret heron great crested grebe amongst other things however got halfway round when i got a text from my mate
Wryneck at landguard! Doh!

[NoSpringChicken]

My partner, Lynn, and I spent a great day at Minsmere yesterday. The weather was warm and sunny with no sign of the dreaded sea fog.

A few Sand Martins were zooming about by the Visitors' Centre, but they don't appear to be nesting in the cliffs at the moment.

On the way to the beach we spotted an Adder basking on the grass next to the path. We heard quite a few Cettis Warblers and eventually managed to spot a couple. Small bird – big noise.

The Scrape Hide was a vibrant as ever with the screaming Black Headed gulls and masses of activity. I couldn't spot anything unusual (but I am a novice at this) but all the birds look really pristine at the moment. We saw a fair sprinkling of Avocets, Redshanks, Godwits, Shovellers etc. and little flocks of Dunlin (I think) zooming about acrobatically, flashing white as they all banked together.

On our route round we saw a few Marsh Harriers, a Little Egret, some Shelduck and Oyster Catchers amongst others.

We made our way back to the Visitors' Centre for a 'comfort break' and a snack. To my bitter disappointment they had sold out of their wonderful spiced apple pie. Shame!

We then walked in the other direction to the Bittern Hide. Although we could hear plenty of Bitterns booming we didn't manage to spot one. The hide was packed and the atmosphere was very hushed and excited. Quite strange.

We left the hide and carried on to the Island Mere Hide. On the way there we got some great views of a male and female Ring Ouzel 'displaying well', which meant that even I could see them, on the short grass in front of some gorse bushes, surrounded by rabbits. Very good!

The Island Mere Hide was empty except for one other couple. I really like that hide – very peaceful and laid back. We could hear some Bitterns booming again and eventually we were rewarded with some close views of a couple of Bitterns flying over the reeds. Fantastic.

We also spent a long time watching a beautiful little Jack Snipe bobbing up and down as it fed on the muddy grass. A lovely bird.

On the road back to the car we spotted a couple of Jays and about a dozen Muntjak Deer in small groups as well as four Red Deer.

We returned home a with a bit of pinkish hue to our faces and feeling pleasantly tired but refreshed.

Ron

[Karl J]

Hopped the fence this morning with my bike and had an absolutely superb day along the Suffolk coast

A bit overcast early on and no real surprises in the back roads through Lowestoft, Wrentham & Reydon, but still a few singing Yellowhammers, Chiffchaffs, Chaffinch, Goldfinch etc along the way and an early Sedge Warbler plus one harrier near south Cove.

Song Thrush, a Jay, Willow Warbler, couple of Redshank, Lapwing, calling Green Woodpecker, family of Shelduck along the dusty track & railway bridge to Walberswick, and then got really lucky as i took a break on the Walberswick station commemorative seat - one reeling Grasshopper Warbler in the reedbeds just in front. Very nice.

Took a detour in Dunwich Forest down a Bridleway with countless Blackcaps & Goldcrest singing and soon came to a clearing near entrance 41, where with the sun shining down & the gorse looking and smelling wonderful, midway up a conifer tree sat a singing Nightingale. And as i could think of nowhere in the world better than right there at that moment i took the opportunity of a flask break and listened to it singing. Wonderful.

Dunwich NT, was about to resign myself to failure and put away the bin's when a Stonechat caught my attention at the top of a gorse bush... and right underneath in the same bush were 3 Dartford Warblers. very nice. c8 Sand Martins & 2 Swallows on the beach

Minsmere Canopy Hide. 10 mins- Greater-Spotted woodpecker, Green woodpecker, 2 (totally unexpected) Nuthatch, 2 Jays.

Minsmere 'loop' - cant list everything but - 7 Red Deer, harriers, 2 booming Bittern, pinging Bearded Tits, pr Marsh Tit. Waders inc. Spotted Redshank, Avocet, Turnstone, Knot, Black-tailed Godwit (couldn't find any Bar-tails although i was informed they were certainly there), etc. Several Cetti's in song on the reserve, a few Sedge Warblers and one Reed Warbler. c4 Nightingales in bushes between the cafe and the sea

And if not content with those, passing South Cove again on the way back, i spotted (#75!) a superb Common Buzzard circling over the fields.

Gorgeous sunny day, cracking birds, lovely countryside. Best day of the year so far.

[NoSpringChicken]

Blimey Karl. I would be happy with that lot in a year.

My own small high spot today was when I was standing in my Kitchen in Hopton this evening and became aware of a noisy bird outside. It turned out to be a beautiful Greenfinch on my neighbour's aerial. A quick scan round with binoculars revealed four others in the trees nearby as well as several Chaffinches, Great Tits and Blue Tits and a Goldfinch.

It was good to see the Greenfinches again, looking so healthy after the parasite scare. In previous years I have always had them feeding on my tatty lawn. It's a good excuse not to cut it anyway.

Ron

[PaulE]

Had a nice evening yesterday near hadleigh listening to nightingales and eventually managed to see a couple
One of the birds i want to see this year is a tree pipit does anyone know a good place in or around suffolk to see one?

[postcardcv]

Had a nice evening yesterday near hadleigh listening to nightingales and eventually managed to see a couple
One of the birds i want to see this year is a tree pipit does anyone know a good place in or around suffolk to see one?

I know a couple of sites in the Thetford area - Ollie's Farm, just off the A11 outside Thetford is a good spot. Another good place to look is the forest track a couple of hundred yards east of Weeting NWT reserve (though I've not visited other yet this year).

[gi2012]

Had a nice evening yesterday near hadleigh listening to nightingales and eventually managed to see a couple
One of the birds i want to see this year is a tree pipit does anyone know a good place in or around suffolk to see one?

You could try Sutton Heath/Common and around Upper Hollesley Common - I've seen them there in the past but they have declined in recent years. I check this area occasionally so I'll post if I find one.

Gi

[gi2012]

I've been working at Melton for the past few years and have regularly birded the area but it is only in the last 3 years or so I've managed to spend a lot more time with the benefits of subsequently finding more birds and an understanding of the changes in the area over the year.

Another help was to have a bicycle at work permanently allowing to get that bit further afield in my lunch break.

There is a wide range of habitats in the area and I am at times stuck with where to go - for example recently do I keep a check on the river or go up to the heaths, where I've seen Wheatear on passage before, with the hope of coming across one or a Ring Ouzel!

Highlights in recent years including finding a male Smew, Curlew Sandpipers two years running on autumn passage, coming across an excellent area for butterflies including Small Heath and Grayling - species normally up on the heaths though in decline, hearing Cetti's Warbler for the first time this year, finding a female Ring-necked Duck and today the highlight of Spring so far was an adult Little Gull - one of my favourite birds, a first for the patch.

I'll try and update now and then.

Gi

[PaulE]

You could try Sutton Heath/Common and around Upper Hollesley Common - I've seen them there in the past but they have declined in recent years. I check this area occasionally so I'll post if I find one.

Gi

thanks for the replies guys
i was thinking of trying this area for nightjars in a couple of weeks have you seen any up there i tried rendlesham forest last year but i was a little late although i heard one i failed to see it so when i'm up there i will keep an eye out
for pipits
is the area you go to in melton by the river just past the railway crossing i've been past quite a lot on my way to the coast and thought it looked quite good perhaps i will stop and have look around on my next visit
cheers

[gi2012]

thanks for the replies guys
i was thinking of trying this area for nightjars in a couple of weeks have you seen any up there i tried rendlesham forest last year but i was a little late although i heard one i failed to see it so when i'm up there i will keep an eye out
for pipits
is the area you go to in melton by the river just past the railway crossing i've been past quite a lot on my way to the coast and thought it looked quite good perhaps i will stop and have look around on my next visit
cheers


I haven't tried the area for Nightjars in recent years, they used to be present near the sewage works twenty years ago. Unfortunately there are travellers camping in the area which is probably why I did not have Tree Pipit last year and I do not know what effect they've had on Nightjar. Rendlesham or Blaxhall are good for Nightjar.

Yes it is the area past the crossing - the bridge over the river is Wilford Bridge and is a good area for over wintering waders - Green, Common along with Greenhank. Have a look at my web site below to give an idea of what turns up.

Gi

[gi2012]

Just got back from leading a dawn chorus in the local park. A good number of people attended - it had been advertised in the paper which I hadn't realised. Good numbers of common species, including Song Thrush, which I said I'm sure I'm encountering more these days - has anybody else noted if they are increasing? Several Blackcaps and a Green Woodpecker playing hide and seek up in a tree provided some entertainment.

Gi

[gi2012]

It is a bit quiet up there now when i first went to minsmere there used to be feeders and you used to see loads at really close range but for some reason they took them down

I've not seen much there but it was always a good view point for Purple Hairstreak in the summer.

Gi

[NoSpringChicken]

Good numbers of common species, including Song Thrush, which I said I'm sure I'm encountering more these days - has anybody else noted if they are increasing? Gi

I do seem to see plenty of Song Thrushes about these days, including one which spends a lot of time in my garden. I watched it the other night pecking at ants on the path – it must take a lot of them for a good meal.

I always think of Song Thrushes as the head boy of the bird world – they seem to be good at everything. They are good looking, clever and are brilliant singers. Quite sickening really!

[matt green]

Had a quick jaunt around the suffolk 'backwaters' today with a birding friend, nothing truly out of the ordinery but plenty to see.

Raydon, Southwold common and Blyth estuary.

The day started by scanning some rough set aside fields (no idea where exactly!) where we heard, then saw three Whimbrel.Despite checking out some promising quarry workings and the grounds of an electricity station? nothing else was seen of note so we moved onto southwold common..

First stop was at the sewage works! by the allotments, not much to be seen here except Herring and Blackheaded Gulls in full cry feeding off insects from the holding tanks.Walking through the paths we briefly searched for adders
but none where seen, however we did see plenty of Green Hairstreak butterflies along with the more common species, an interesting looking damselfly was also seen (anyone wanna ID it?)

Looking over the gorse bushes onto the large pool viewable from the common we didn't really see much of interest here either except for one marsh harrier over the marshes.Our last stop of the day was Blyth estuary, lots of waders where seen including a count of..

Bar Tailed Godwit, 33
Whimbrel, 2
Greenshank, 2
Dunlin, 1

Oystercatcher, redshanks etc where also seen along with 'lots' of Shelduck
and Greylag.Walking back through Hen Reed bed we heard Bearded tits, Reed and Sedge warblers but all where very difficult to see among the reeds.
Last notable sighting of the day were three 'lounge lizards' back at the carpark!!!


The pics..

Matt

[StuartReeves]

First stop was at the sewage works! by the allotments, not much to be seen here except Herring and Blackheaded Gulls in full cry feeding off insects from the holding tanks.Walking through the paths we briefly searched for adders
but none where seen, however we did see plenty of Green Hairstreak butterflies along with the more common species, an interesting looking damselfly was also seen (anyone wanna ID it?)


I think its a Large Red Damselfly. I saw a Small Red Damsel in my garden today, and a couple of Hairy Dragonflies over by North Cove. Also Turtle Dove, Swift, Hobby, House Martins and a Ring Ousel in the same general area.

edit: for Small Red Damselfly read small red damselfly - probably Large Red!

[Tim Allwood]

Hi Matt

it's a large red as Stu says - most like fulvipes colour form

late April is mega early for Southern Hawker though Stu and very early for Small Red (a really rare species in East Anglia)?

[StuartReeves]

Hi Matt

it's a large red as Stu says - most like fulvipes colour form

late April is mega early for Southern Hawker though Stu and very early for Small Red (a really rare species in East Anglia)?

I checked the emergence times before your edit Tim hence the switch from Southern Hawker to Hairy Dragonfly. Hadn't noticed the distribution of Small Red Damsel so I can only assume that this was even more stringy and that it was actually a poorly seen Large Red. Still learning these things!

[matt green]

Hi Matt

it's a large red as Stu says - most like fulvipes colour form



Cheers for the ID Stuart and Tim

Another couple of pics of the Blood-vein? (when it wasn't attached to my crotch!) and the Green Hairstreak, my pictures do not do this little insect justice.

Matt

[gi2012]

3 Whimbrel on Martlesham Creek yesterday morning, they are a regular Spring passage migrant at this site - I've put a photo of one in my photos.

Also heard a secong Cuckoo for the area this Spring nearby. At lunchtime 2 Common Terns another regular passage migrant, the birds were on a mud bank with 1 flying off, caught a fish and and came back and presented it to the other.

This morning heard a Nightingale along the lane where I work the first time in a few years.

Gi

[gi2012]

A Turtle Dove this morning - the first this Spring and eagerly awaited.

At lunchtime 11 Greenshank at high tide.

Gi

[PaulE]

Had a good couple of days in the south of the county yesterday saw my first swifts of the year returning to the local church and this morning on way to work saw a large bird of prey flying over raydon airfield which on examination through my bins turned out to be an osprey presumably on its way up north
cheers

[gi2012]

Had a good couple of days in the south of the county yesterday saw my first swifts of the year returning to the local church and this morning on way to work saw a large bird of prey flying over raydon airfield which on examination through my bins turned out to be an osprey presumably on its way up north
cheers


Well done on a good find - I keep hoping to come across one on my patch one day!

Gi

[Penny Clarke]

2 Male Golden Orioles at RSPB Lakenheath today singing at 8am, view from River Bank.

[barryj]

Great idea about this thread.
I had a blinder at Minsmere and Dunwich On Sat 12th,
Started off with Red legged Partridge, Little Owl and Nightingale all before getting to Dunwich. Then on the heath Dartford warbler, Yellowhammer,
Stonechat, Skylark and a possible Merlin. Drove back to Minsmere
and was rewarded with fantastic views of 8 Bitterns (3 in the air at once),
Knot, Coal Tit, Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Turtle Dove, Bearded Tit, Cetti's, Willow, Reed and Sedge Warbler's, Blackcap to name a few I ended up with 78
species. Also great views of Red deer, Muntjack deer and a Shrew.
All in all a great day dispite the showers.

[NoSpringChicken]

Every time I've been to Minsmere recently, in the evening I've heard a very loud and rapid "peep peep peep peep peep" call coming from the trees. It sounds to me exactly like the recording of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on the RSP site, so I have scanned the tree tops to see if I can see one.

So far I have had no luck and, as nobody else has mentioned it, I guess it must be something else. Has anyone got any ideas? As I say, it sounds just like the 'peeping' noise after the drumming on the RSPB site recording.

Ron

[On-Firecrest]

hi
Does any one know where a good place for a grey partridge is in suffolk?
i have tried and failed too many times!!! any help would be appreciated.

Heard and saw a lesser whitethroat, common whitethroat, chiffchaff, sedge warbler and a couple of blackcaps at no mans meadows in bury st edmunds. Its a nice little after school patch which claims it has grey wagtails on its noticeboard. Never seen them though!!!
cheers
steve

[phyllosc]

Steve, I've seen Grey Partridge at Shingle Street in the past.

Ron, where abouts do you hear the 'peep, peep. peep...' About a year ago I saw LSWP on the access road close to the reserve 'works depot'. I've been searching for it since but I've not managed to see it again.


Dave C

[NoSpringChicken]

Ron, where abouts do you hear the 'peep, peep. peep...' About a year ago I saw LSWP on the access road close to the reserve 'works depot'. I've been searching for it since but I've not managed to see it again.


Dave C

I've heard it throughout the whole woodland area from the Bittern Hide to the Reception, mainly in the evening. It's really loud and piercing but it's hard to work out exactly where it's coming from. I'm just surprised nobody else seems to have noticed or commented on it. As you've seen a LSWP I'll carry on looking.

Ron

[On-Firecrest]

cheers for that Dave c (phyllosc) i will try their soon and tell you if i am succsessfull at long last!

good birding!!!

[StuartReeves]

Took a short trip to Minsmere after work today. From talking to people it seems there are now two Purple Herons there. I only saw one but I'm not complaining too bitterly about that!

[StuartReeves]

Now a Short-toed Lark at Minsmere. reported in the dunes halfway between the sluice and Sizewell. Also two Purple Herons on the reserve.

[Penny Clarke]

Had an AWESOME DAY:D

Arrived Lakenheath 7.45am. Beautiful sunny morning, already quite a few cars in the carpark, which I expected at Oriole time, plus the fact the visitor centre officially opened on Thursday.

As I walked along the bank saw lots of mute swans, great crested grebes, reed and sedge warblers, common whitethroats, heard a grasshopper warbler by metal gate by large willow on corner. Could hear the wonderful sounds of the orioles - such a magical song. Saw brilliant views of both male and female Golden Orioles together in the tallest poplar at 8am. And at one point 4 together!!! - they were very active at this time and were flying about, back and forth through the golden leaves of the poplars - so stunning to watch in glorious sunshine! Heard a green woodpecker calling in the wood. 2 male gargeney on the scrape. 3 common terns fishing, gadwalls, heron, blackcap singing. Blackbird feeding young nearby. 10am - Walked up further (a long way) to view the cranes and on route someone had spotted 2 hobbys on edge of next poplar wood. 2 birders I had been talking to who I recognised (but didn't they names!) walked on ahead of me as I watching a hairy dragonfly and a 4 spotted chaser - when I next caught them up they had seen a Red Kite! - bother, didn't think I would have any hope of catching up with it later! Anyway watching over the massive reed beds at this end of reserve we all saw a pair of marsh harriers, more hobbys, and suddenly erupting out of the reeds 2 Cranes got up and flew across to a scrape in middle distance - WOW - so lucky to see that! Norman Sills came across and had a chat and then I walked down the bank to join the RSPB trail back behind the poplar woods to carpark for my sandwiches which I now wish I had brought with me! Could hear the wonderful fluting calls of the orioles as I walked past the woods. Suddenly the Red Kite appeared from nowhere! - watched it for quite a while, brilliant! Saw some crisp male reed buntings on way back to carpark and close views of a cuckoo. Went into the new visitor centre first of all, as needed the ladies desperately!! And on that note the BEST loos on a visitor centre yet, choice of dryer/paper towls and even a full length mirror! The visitor centre was of course very smart inside, with interpretation boards etc, sightings board etc etc. The scrape directly in front of visitor centre looks brilliant. There were several round picnic tables/chairs in place between centre and carpark and new tree plantings, it looked very good. Had my lunch by car and then decided to have a nap. I knew I was going to be tired after previous nights drive and had bought a proper feather pillow with me today!!! I went to sleep on back seat for (can't believe this!) 3 hours!!!!!!! (1.30-4.30pm) Had a cup of tea and oatcakes and slowly got my self together and then left - went home a different route, worked out on map there wasn't much difference mileage and went to Flitcham where AT LAST I saw the little owl sunning himself in the base of the oak tree, along with female marsh harrier, greylags with goslings, shelducks, mute swans etc etc and a great spotted woodpecker bounded across the marsh. Also a jackdaw was playing with a gun cartridge, very amusing to watch, kept picking it up, dropping it and flying with it! Lovely day, working tomorrow (bother!)

Best Wishes Penny:girl:

[Hippo]

Hi Penny
Yet another super report on a fantastic day.
I hope to get to Lakenheath tomorrow (Mon). I have heard that it is best to get their early, so I am aiming to leave home at 0500 to arrive by 0700. Is it best to observe from the Bank (Washland Trail?) for Orioles & Cranes?

Regards

Kevin

[Penny Clarke]

Hi Penny
Yet another super report on a fantastic day.
I hope to get to Lakenheath tomorrow (Mon). I have heard that it is best to get their early, so I am aiming to leave home at 0500 to arrive by 0700. Is it best to observe from the Bank (Washland Trail?) for Orioles & Cranes?

Regards

Kevin

Hi Kevin

Thanks!

Generally yes, earlier the better for both orioles and cranes. Yes it is better to observe from the bank, follow the bank until you get to first big ride* in poplars (going through gate on corner by big willow tree, which also look out for treecreeper and spotted flycatcher on this corner), that is the best place. Then continue along bank, going through a another metal gate and just before the next gate (quite a walk round), thats where I saw the cranes fly up. But the warden said they can appear anywhere and are more active early morning.
Also look out for kingisher generally in vicinity of Oriole ride* (main watch point). Have a brilliant day.

Best Wishes Penny:girl:

[Hippo]

Many thanks, Penny.

Kevin

[NoSpringChicken]

Went for a walk at Carlton Marshes for the first time today. Very pleasant and only 3 or 4 miles from home. There was a section comprising reed beds, pools and small scrubby trees which had lots of activity. We heard quite a few Cetti's and saw several Sedge and Reed Warblers.

There were about six Reed Buntings showing very well on the trees and reed tops and beside the track leading to the river we heard, then spotted a Grasshopper Warbler, a first for me.

A very pleasant walk but it was a pity the Visitors' Centre was shut.

Ron

[Hippo]

Hi
Set out for Lakenheath at 0500 and debated my wisdom as I drove through some very thick mist along the way. Thankfully it was clear as I pulled into the car park at 0650, amazed to find about a dozen cars already parked up.
Set out along the Washland Track to find a number of birders scanning the first poplars. The wind was strong and noisy from the east but I soon heard the Golden Oriole call. While waiting patiently, Cuckoo, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge and Reed Warbler entrtained. A few calls of Oriole sightings, but I was not quick enough. I scanned the poplars before watching two females fly across the ride (Lifer 1). Continuing along the track I was pleased to see a male Garganey, and a Redshank flew across the river. Further Oriole calls but no sightings. At the end of the poplars where the White Trail joins Washland, two Cranes flew over, bugling, before landing near the railway (Lifer 2). No further sightings but bugling indicated close proximity. Once in the shelter from the wind, further Oriole calls and the sight of two males, one in flight and one perched. Absolutely super and well worth the drive.
In total 43 species including the above plus Shoveller, Teal, Green Woodpecker, Marsh Harrier (2), Whitethroat, Jay, Common Tern, Gadwall.
Disappointed at not seeing Hobby, but a real super morning.

Regards

Kevin

[craigaholden]

Hi
While waiting patiently, Cuckoo, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge and Reed Warbler entrtained.

Great day in Suffolk yesterday with a superb adult purple heron seen very well in flight and on the ground from bittern hide. Also on the reserve were two bitterns, a single hobby and two drake garganey. Also had woodlark at Westleton and firecrest at Dunwich.

Went to lakenheath in the afternoon and had two cranes flying over and a single drkae garganey. Heard the orioles but no sign in 3 hours of watching!

Hippo. Where did you see the grasshopper warbler? I'd be interested in knowing as I didn't see/hear any on my visit (and thats not me doubting you either). Would like to see them on my future visits you see.

Cheers

[Hippo]

Great day in Suffolk yesterday with a superb adult purple heron seen very well in flight and on the ground from bittern hide. Also on the reserve were two bitterns, a single hobby and two drake garganey. Also had woodlark at Westleton and firecrest at Dunwich.

Went to lakenheath in the afternoon and had two cranes flying over and a single drkae garganey. Heard the orioles but no sign in 3 hours of watching!

Hippo. Where did you see the grasshopper warbler? I'd be interested in knowing as I didn't see/hear any on my visit (and thats not me doubting you either). Would like to see them on my future visits you see.

Cheers


No problem. Take Washland Path, go through first kissing gate and listen/look between here and the first group of poplars. Todays Grasshopper Warbler was reeling away from one of the small bushes in the reeds. (see also post 61 above). Sorry you did not see the Orioles. For me, these and the cranes were worth the 220 mile round trip.

Regards

Kevin

[PaulE]

Had a try for nightjars at rendlesham forest last night although we heard a couple calling by the time it was to dark to see we hadn't seen any and had to return home defeated
cheers

[barryj]

Hi I did'nt know Rendlesham had nightjars I might give it a go instead of Dunwich heath I saw one there once as a kid whilst fishing but not since i've fully converted to birding.
Cheers
Barry

[PaulK]

Every time I've been to Minsmere recently, in the evening I've heard a very loud and rapid "peep peep peep peep peep" call coming from the trees. It sounds to me exactly like the recording of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on the RSP site, so I have scanned the tree tops to see if I can see one.

So far I have had no luck and, as nobody else has mentioned it, I guess it must be something else. Has anyone got any ideas? As I say, it sounds just like the 'peeping' noise after the drumming on the RSPB site recording.

Ron

How about Nuthatch - they can give a repeated peep peep call

[NoSpringChicken]

How about Nuthatch - they can give a repeated peep peep call

Thanks for that suggestion. I've just listened to the Nuthatch recording on the RSPB site and it is a possibility, although I think the sound I have heard is a bit more rapid and urgent sounding than that.

Perhaps someone else will hear it or I will see what is making the sound and all will be revealed. I'm beginning to think it can't be a LSW as it would have been reported by now.

Ron

[claire78]

Had a nice day down at Minsmere today despite not feeling 100%.
Bittern hide was packed - managed to get good views of the PURPLE HERON (lifer) flying over the reedbed, along with BITTERNS, GREY HERONS and quite a few MARSH HARRIERS.

Didn't have enough time to go around the whole scrape as had a prolonged and leisurely lunch. Just manged to do the North ide before having to go home. Tried to get in the West hide but it was packed with a whole heap of 5 year olds on a school trip!

Had one other lifer from North Hide - SANDWICH TERN.

2007 list = 85
Life list = 91

TTFN
Claire

[phyllosc]

I've been quite lucky this week. Twice I've been to Mins after work and sat in the Island Mere hide and got good prolonged views of the Purple Herons. It is great to see them displaying in flight and I cannot help wonder if we are seeing the start of colonisation.

Each evening a Bittern put on a good show as well and we had a perched Kingfisher on Thursday.


Dave C

[Darren Pearce]

I am coming to Lakenheath on Sunday. I aim to be there at around 5am. Is it obvious where to go for the Orioles ie signposted from car park. I aim to go over for the Stone Curlews at Weetings Heath afterwards then onto Minsmere. Are the Purple Herons still there or have they moved on ?

[PaulE]

had yet another try for nightjars last night i am fast becoming obsessed with trying to see one
last night tryed again at rendlesham forest having failed to spot one at dunwich last friday despite hearing several
last nights effort was just as frustrating as darkness fell i could hear at least 4 different birds calling but once again i didn't get a glimpse of one flying
oh well just have to keep trying
cheers

[craigaholden]

had yet another try for nightjars last night i am fast becoming obsessed with trying to see one
last night tryed again at rendlesham forest having failed to spot one at dunwich last friday despite hearing several
last nights effort was just as frustrating as darkness fell i could hear at least 4 different birds calling but once again i didn't get a glimpse of one flying
oh well just have to keep trying
cheers

Hiya Paul

I too tried for nightjar at Dunwich about a fortnight ago but didn't see any. The birds called very briefly (for about five minutes) and then shut-up for the night. However, I returned again last evening and got great views of at least five birds in very good light conditions (think it was about 9.15pm). In these conditions the plumage colouring etc could be noted in some detail. They were also calling much more frequently. Best of luck on your future attempts

[ermine]

Nice views at Lakenheath today about 11:30 of the Cranes, a Hobby hunting over the reeds and a Marsh Harrier from the crane watchpoint at the end. The Cranes flew up from near the corrugated iron building in the distance, did a lazy circuit and dropped down into the reeds, giving nice but distant views. A couple of the guys there said the cranes had done this at pretty much the same tiem yesterday.

[PaulE]

nice but brief view of a barn owl tonight about half a mile from home
plus some huge flying insects which i think may have been female stag beetles would it be likely to see them flying it was just before dark if not anyone got any idea what else they might have been
cheers

[gi2012]

nice but brief view of a barn owl tonight about half a mile from home
plus some huge flying insects which i think may have been female stag beetles would it be likely to see them flying it was just before dark if not anyone got any idea what else they might have been
cheers

Quite possibly male or female Stag Beetle - I found a dead one recently. Could also could be a 'billywitch' I saw my first of the year last night when I had to release it into the garden after it had flown into the house.

Gi

[PaulE]

decided to do the walk from brantham to flatford today lots of birds but i was amazed to see a whooper swan on the river has anyone else seen this bird did it get left behind or has it got back early or is it resident
cheers

[NoSpringChicken]

Another trip to Minsmere yesterday. We saw three Bitterns flying and one in the reeds but not a single Robin. The world's gone mad.

The Little Terns nesting on the beach are great to watch – really smart looking and very entertaining.

It is worth looking for the family of Water Voles in the pond near the reception area. We watched three of them swimming about, nipping off young reed stems and towing them back to build little platforms in the reeds. They were on the north side of the bridge over the pond.

Ron

[craigaholden]

Another trip to Minsmere yesterday. We saw three Bitterns flying and one in the reeds but not a single Robin. The world's gone mad.

The Little Terns nesting on the beach are great to watch – really smart looking and very entertaining.

It is worth looking for the family of Water Voles in the pond near the reception area. We watched three of them swimming about, nipping off young reed stems and towing them back to build little platforms in the reeds. They were on the north side of the bridge over the pond.

Ron

Funny you should mention the voles, had them the other day. Completely unaware of my presence. As for the birds on saturday evening, quite a lot was noted. Had 3 smart, summer plumaged spotshanks (1 on east scrape, 2 on the levels), 3 knot on east scrape (with 1 with a hint of red in its plumage), at least 6 green sandpipers scattered over the scrapes and levels, female garganey on the levels, a pair of cetti's warblers, bittern 'scrapping' in the air with a grey heron but, unfortunately, no sign of the roseate tern. Spent a good couple of hours in south hide watching the roost gather. Did have the dark billed common tern thats kicking around (wonder how many times that has been reported as being the roseate!!). A superb adult med gull did come in to roost which was nice. Finished up with barn and little owls on the journey back home to Woodbridge.

[aythya_hybrid]

This thread deserves a resurrection.

12+ Little Gulls at Minsmere plus a juv Black Redstart near the sluice.

[birderbill]

Had a bizarre afternoon at Minsmere, got soaked twice and then dried out by blazing hot sun!!

Sat in the East Hide and had a great hour watching a real mixed bag of waders- Dunlin, Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Snipe, Black Tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Ruff (some real scruffy types!), Avocet, Ringed Plover and Lapwing. Took some delight in explaining the different species to a family who appeared to enjoy my enthusiasm and the views offered through my APO.

Walked along the dunes and watched, at close range, a family of Stonechats feding and then watched the Little Tern colony squabble their way through the afternoon.

Offshore picked up an Arctic Skua on the sea and watched it floating along on the tide before taking flight and having a go at several Common Terns.

Walked back to the car park and had two Bitterns fly over my head just by the West Hide, nice!! Then got to my car to see a Hobby hawking dragonflies and chasing a Sparrowhawk.

Minsmere never fails to amaze me, even on a quiet day it's excellent!!

Bill.

[NoSpringChicken]

Hi, Bill. I think we must have arrived after you yesterday as it was just stopping raining when we got to Minsmere and we didn't get wet all afternoon. In fact the weather was beautiful.

I, too, enjoyed watching the Stonechats but missed half the birds you saw from the East Scrape hide. I think we could do with someone like you pointing them out to us next time. I'm pleased to hear that you were talking to the family in the hide. I feel so sorry for the poor little children who get marched into the hide and told to keep still and talk in whispers. It must put some of them off bird watching for life. I don't necessarily want them running up and down the hide but a bit of enthusiastic excitement is great to see.

The highlight in the evening for us was watching four of five young, and apparently rather hungry, Marsh Harriers cruising backwards and forwards infront of the Island Mere hide. Eventually one of them swooped down and grabbed a fully grown duck (I couldn't see what sort.) It flew off with it but the duck put up a fight and the Harrier dropped it. The ambitiousness of youth, perhaps.

Ron

[PaulE]

This thread deserves a resurrection.

12+ Little Gulls at Minsmere plus a juv Black Redstart near the sluice.

i was at minsmere as well yesterday seems like most of birdforum was there i saw 4 little gulls on the scrape and also a med gull feeding chicks. also saw a ruddy shelduck
saw all the waders birderbill saw except the snipe plus common and green sandpiper
saw one bittern and one bearded tit at island mere
also had good views of treecreepers and a couple of marsh tits(fairly sure they weren't willow) outside the bittern hide
we also saw a fly past of 6 gannets out to sea
but the highlight for me were the terns especially the little terns on the beach
the only disappointment for me was that all the spoonbills we saw on the levels turned into little egrets through the scope
still another great day with around 70 species seen
cheers

[matt green]

A group of 9 Green Sandpipers was seen today by a local birder on the scrape at Hinderclay fen (west of Redgrave and Lopham fen) in the Norfolk/Suffolk border...

Things can turn up anywhere!!

Matt

[doug el10x32]

Hi Matt,

Nice thread....Although I now live on the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada, I spent my first 20 years growing up in Lowestoft !!! It is great to see all of the familiar place names again. I try to get back every couple of years and did enjoy a day at Minsmere and another one at Cley last summer. The photographs that appear in the threads above bring back many memories. Will bookmark this one for sure.....

Good luck,

Doug.......

[matt green]

Hi Matt,

Nice thread....Although I now live on the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada, I spent my first 20 years growing up in Lowestoft !!! It is great to see all of the familiar place names again. I try to get back every couple of years and did enjoy a day at Minsmere and another one at Cley last summer. The photographs that appear in the threads above bring back many memories. Will bookmark this one for sure.....

Good luck,

Doug.......

Hi there Doug

Glad you are enjoying the thread, there are quite a few members from the lowestoft area that post regularly on this forum! I do try and post up pics of various places I visit as it gives people who have never visited before (or have fond memories) an idea of what these places now look like.

I would encourage others to do the same;)

Matt

...welcome to Birdforum btw:t:

[NoSpringChicken]

Hi Doug,

Good to hear our activities are being monitored from afar. I suppose it's probably not quite as flat where you are now as your birthplace.

As you are a Lowestoft lad here is a photo I took earlier this year of Carlton Marshes, just outside Oulton Broad. It's now a very nice Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve with walks down to the river Wensum and plenty of birds and other wildlife to see. Sorry it's not a better photo.

Ron

[doug el10x32]

Thanks Ron....I remember the Broads well even though Thursday nights usually scares away all of the bird life etc...!!!

Doug.......

[NoSpringChicken]

It was a beautiful day at Minsmere today, hot but with a pleasant breeze to stop it getting too oppressive. It was a bit quiet on the birding front – I guess it's just that time of the year. However, we did get a couple of good close views of Bitterns flying over the reeds and there were a few Marsh Harriers cruising about and being agressively mobbed by Common Terns. Pretty feisty birds those terns.

The real stars of the day, however, were reptiles and amphibians. On the track to the West hide we found a lovely Slow Worm, which is something I haven't seen for years. Photo here:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=93154

On the way back from the hide we noticed several people watching something in the pond by the old car park. I assumed it would be the Water Voles which have set up home there. When we arrived, however, it turned out to be a Grass Snake in the water which had grabbed hold of a Frog by the legs. It was trying to drag the Frog under the water, presumably to drown it, but the Frog was putting up a fight and had inflated itself to about twice its normal size, making it very difficult to swallow. It was grabbing hold of reeds to prevent the snake from dragging it under.

Apparently the struggle had been going on for about half an hour and every so often the snake would let the Frog go, and then return for another attack. Watching the Frog fighting desperately against the inevitable outcome, through binoculars, was actually rather harrowing and when we left the snake had released the Frog and swum to the side of the pool. However the Frog wasn't swimming away to escape so I think it was destined to end up inside the snake before the evening was finished.

That was how we left them but sometimes nature can be just a little too … 'natural'. It's hard not to get anthropomorphic about it.

Ron

[PaulE]

went to alton water for a walk today loads of great crested grebes tufted ducks and coots on the water. there was also a large pale tern fishing which i think was a sandwich tern in winter plumage although frustratingly it stayed on the far side of the water.
in the bushes there were lots of different warblers flitting about i id juv willow warbler, garden warbler and chifchaff but there were others i wasn't sure of one of which i think was a lesser whitethroat but it was difficult as they were moving about so much and i had forgotten my book
be a lot easy if they all stayed still and sat on top of bushes
still at least it was a lovely sunny day
cheers

[Greysands boy]

Hi all,

Fairly new to the site and also just back into birding (about 6 months) My fiance and i have just booked 3 nights stay 2 and a half miles away from minsmere in middle of september obviously going to Minsmere especially after reading some old threads of people who have been,
Just wanted to know from you suffolk regulars apart from obviously Minsmere where else locally is worth a visit we are staying in westleton if that helps looking forward to sampling some Adnams ale B (: and any other local sites and specialities you can recommend.

Darryl H :t:

[On-Firecrest]

dunwich heath for dartford warblers
sizewell for kittiwakes and seabirds

[NoSpringChicken]

You might also find a few suitable places on this site:

http://www.suffolkwildlife.co.uk/reserves.htm

Ron

[matt green]

I'll try again;)

Some good sightings around Kessingland this morning, a quick jaunt from the path across some farmland and down to the beach produced..

3 Mediterranean Gulls
4 Golden Plover
An apparent influx of Blackbirds, Songthrushes, Robins etc now in the area

Also seen from a private site near the sewage works..

1 Garden Warbler
4 Common Buzzards circling overhead
10 Lesser Redpolls
1 Cettis Warbler
1 Snipe sniffing around some grass cuttings!

Easy to imagine the bramble and scrub covered cliffs at Kessingland producing some quality migrants in the right conditions.

Matt

[StuartReeves]

That's more like it! I was at Benacre, just south of Kessingland on Saturday morning and I have to say it was pretty quiet, with just a couple of wheatears, a Goldcrest, a Knot and a Curlew Sand in the way of migrants.

Stuart

[PaulE]

i've had a couple of good days in the county on saturday i popped into landguard while mrsE went shopping and managed to see my first ever peregrine sat on the docks crane and got a couple of brief views of the barred warbler
then today went to boyton for the morning first thing had great views of 3 barn owls then a little later watched a couple of kingfishers chase each other got quite vicious for a while also stood next to a bush while a flock of at least 12 long-tailed tits buzzed around which was even better when irealised one of them was actually a lesser whitethroat all together 45 speices seen
cheers

[On-Firecrest]

i've had a couple of good days in the county on saturday i popped into landguard while mrsE went shopping and managed to see my first ever peregrine sat on the docks crane

Where is the dock crane at landguard? i didnt see the peregrine last winter and i need it for the yesr list. Glad to see this thread is being revived.

[PaulE]

Where is the dock crane at landguard? i didnt see the peregrine last winter and i need it for the yesr list. Glad to see this thread is being revived.you can't miss it if you park near the fort its about 60 feet high and bright blue i think the pregerine is usually on the nearest one it was yesterday ithink there are two regular birds a male and a female although saying that i've been missing them pretty regularly for the last year
cheers

[StuartReeves]

A nice Shorelark on Pakefield beach, Lowestoft at lunchtime today; the first product of the current Easterly winds no doubt. Also a scatter of records of Sooty Shearwaters up and down the coast, though I have yet to connect myself.

[NoSpringChicken]

Has anybody been to Hen Reedbed? We stopped there briefly late one evening a few weeks ago and took a walk along the path through the reedbeds. We heard several Cettis and saw some Reed Warblers and a couple of Marsh Harriers.

Crossing the road and looking towards Southwold over the marshes there was a Barn Owl flying about and in the reeds by the distant hide there were what looked tantalising like Bearded Tits flitting about. It was a bit late, as we had been on Dunwich Heath all day, and the air was thick with midges so we gave the hide a miss but it looked worth further investigation some time in the future.

It appears that you could park in Southwold near the Harbour Inn and walk to Hen Reedbeds from that direction, which could be a pleasant walk with the promise of a good pint at the end of the return journey.

Ron

[On-Firecrest]

you can't miss it if you park near the fort its about 60 feet high and bright blue i think the pregerine is usually on the nearest one it was yesterday ithink there are two regular birds a male and a female although saying that i've been missing them pretty regularly for the last year
cheers

Cheers for that definetly one i need for the year list (dont ask as to how i missed them in cumbria) i am on 190 and my target is 200. Here's hoping;)

[StuartReeves]

Over the past few weekends I've been out every day on the coast looking for migrants with very little to show for it given what's been turning-up just North of us in Norfolk. Yesterday was the same, with a morning spent at Benacre producing just Brambling, Tree Sparrow, Tree Pipit, Lesser Whitethroat and a couple of flyover Redpolls. Today, with the wind turning more to the south I thought I'd take the day off from birding and do some rather overdue housework instead. After a morning's cleaning, I went outside for a coffee in the sunshine where I heard a half-familiar call from the big oak tree at the top of the garden. It took me about an hour before I finally located the bird and confirmed my suspicions that it was a Yellow-browed Warbler and thus a belter of a garden tick! Given that I live about three miles inland, it makes me wonder just how many others have arrived and passed straight over the coast without stopping.

Stuart

[matt green]

...I went outside for a coffee in the sunshine where I heard a half-familiar call from the big oak tree at the top of the garden. It took me about an hour before I finally located the bird and confirmed my suspicions that it was a Yellow-browed Warbler and thus a belter of a garden tick!


Nice find!

Spent the day around suffolk coast including Benacre with a mate myself today, didn't see much though the reeds at Walberswick seemed to be alive with Bearded Tits, very showy at times too!

Moved onto Covehithe, only a couple of Spotted Redshanks were of note among good numbers of Ringo's, Redshanks, Dunlin and Little Egrets.

Matt

'Record' shots of the beardies

[PaulE]

great pics of bearded tits matt. have had a similar experiance at minsmere a couple of times always fantastic to see them
cheers

[PaulE]

went to alton water today in amongst the pochard, tufted ducks coots and loads of great crested grebes were three superb slavonian grebes in the bright sunshine and totally flat water they looked great even in their winter plumage
viewable from the hides at tatingstone wonder
cheers

[On-Firecrest]

managed to get out for the first time in ages and went round lakenheath fen. I know this place can be quiet but i think the highlight was being told there was a barn owl a couple of minutes ago and my first field fares of the winter! i probably wont go back until the spring.

Were the slavs where they were last winter? if they stick around i might go for them again.

[PaulE]

[QUOTE=On-Firecrest;103274

Were the slavs where they were last winter? if they stick around i might go for them again.[/QUOTE]

hi don't know where they were last winter
we saw them from the hides you get to from the tattingstone Wonder carpark unfortunately you have to buy a ticket £1.50 from the main car park and then drive round to the Wonder carpark
cheers

[scott m]

I thought you only had to pay if you used the main car park at Alton Water? I usually park at Tatingstone and walk to the hide. The Slav Grebes have been viewable from the hide for the past 3 years at least with the occasional Red-necked.

[On-Firecrest]

cheers, last year they were slightly down the path from the hide at the end of the woods? if that makes sense my memory is a little hazy. Great views though of 2 being chased off by a great crested.
This weekend unless a mega turns up i will probably be walking north from sizewell, to find me a long tailed shrike or an eastern crowned warbler (or something like that;))

[PaulE]

I thought you only had to pay if you used the main car park at Alton Water? I usually park at Tatingstone and walk to the hide. The Slav Grebes have been viewable from the hide for the past 3 years at least with the occasional Red-necked.
high scott you can park at the end of the bridge for free but you are supposed to get a ticket from the main carpark to park in the tattingstone wonder carpark
interesting about the red -necked that would be a lifer for me i will have to go back and try again i didn,t even know the hides were there until last week i usually walk on the other side of the reservoir where the nature reserve is it always amazes me how many great crested grebes there are on the water
cheers

[On-Firecrest]

interesting sog talk on the introduction of white tailed eagles to the suffolk coast last night. Bring em' on i think its a great idea and would love to see them soaring high over the coastal marshes.:t:

[matt green]

A grand days birding around the Suffolk coast today, started at Minsmere where we had the usual Bearded Tits, Water Rail etc along with a nice fly over view of Bittern ~ a Rock Pipit was heard around north marsh, also 14 Redpolls flew across the path by the dunes.

Good numbers of Snipe, Black Tailed Godwits were seen on the scrapes as well as 2 Little Stints. 18 Bewick Swans also gave good (if uneventfull) views.

Just before we left the reserve three female Red Deer crossed over the road and wondered into the sorrounding farmland, surprisingly photogenic as I managed some reasonable record shots through the binocs from the car!!

Moved onto Westleton Heath, eventually found some good views of Dartford Warblers (oft squabbling with the resident Stonechats!), a further 5 Lesser
Redpolls flew over, a few Siskins were also heard.

Last port of call was Blythbough, parked the car at the carpark opposite the White Hart and proceded to walk out to view the marshes for possible Owls and Harriers etc, no Owls but we did manage a Male Peregrine and Lastly the sighting of the day in the form of a Great White Egret!

The Egret seemed huge! even from a good distance, fortunately the bird flew along the river heading towards the bridge and estuary beyond giving close views of the obviously larger wings, very Heron like in appearance with well bowed wings with slow powerfull flaps, also the long ''dagger-like'' bill was seen to be yellow through the scope and the chest was much bulkier than that of the smaller Little Egret.

Matt

[PaulE]

stunning day at minsmere today had good views of the lesser yellowlegs from the east hide
we then did some seawatching which produced another lifer for me a velvet scoter flying with a group of common scoter
had great views of all the usual suspects bittern, bearded tit, marsh harrier kingfisher and large variety of waders on the scrape and some very sleepy bewick swans
we had just about ID a water pipit on the scrape when it was harrassed by a starling
on the way back from the island mere hide a kind lady calmly pointed out a water rail which gave great views
but the highlight for me was 10 minutes of high speed action as a juvenile peregrine chased just about anything that moved great views from the island mere hide at one point it was being mobbed by three marsh harriers a fantastic sight
just as we were leaving a lady asked us if we had seen the penduline tit a quick turn around followed but despite walking about 3 miles our only reward was to here it call and despite everyone pointing as it flew off i completely failed to see it
still we found ourselves on the beach again where another flock of scoters produced 4 more velvets but the reported little auk failed to appear
cheers

[NoSpringChicken]

I, too, was at Minsmere yesterday afternoon and went into the East Scrape hide expecting to have to sift through hundreds of waders to find the Lesser Yellowlegs. Instead it was the bird closest to me, right in front of the hide. Very nice too. Unfortunately, by the time I had fitted the camera onto the scope and got everything set up, the Yellowlegs had wandered off and become just another small black silhouette.

There was also a Water Rail wandering about right in front of the East Scrape hide, giving great views. I thought they were meant to be secretive birds.

Has anyone ever managed to see Bearded Tits in the afternoon, as they are never to be seen by the time I arrive? The only time I've seen them has been in the morning.

Ron

[claire78]

Has anyone ever managed to see Bearded Tits in the afternoon, as they are never to be seen by the time I arrive? The only time I've seen them has been in the morning.

Ron


Come to think of it Ron the best views of bearded tit that I've had have all been mornings! Last time I was down at Minsmere (11-10-2007) they were pinging around everywhere in the morning but were nowhere to be seen by the afternoon!

Aiming to get down to Minsmere later this week so hope the lesser yellowlegs hangs around a bit longer!

TTFN

Claire

[NoSpringChicken]

Aiming to get down to Minsmere later this week so hope the lesser yellowlegs hangs around a bit longer!

TTFN

Claire

The Lesser Yellowlegs has been there since last Wednesday, so fingers crossed it will still be there for you later in the week.

I don't know if you have seen them before but one of the Water Voles was still in the pool at the old car park. It was right beside the bridge and seemed oblivious to the people watching it, much to the amazement of everyone who hadn't seen one before. Well worth a look.

Ron

[claire78]

Never been lucky with the voles there! Have spent a fair while watching and waiting but to no avail.... that's wildlife for you! I note from the RSPB website the lesser yellowlegs was still there today so fingers crossed!!!
Claire

[On-Firecrest]

i was also at the yellowlegs on sunday, great bird, made up for dipping the penduline twit. No velvet scoters when i had a scoter flock fly past unfortunately(must clean the scope;))

[claire78]

Still didn't get to see a vole at Minsmere today ... but hey the Lesser Yellowlegs was still there! A good day was had - left before the rains came so didn't get wet! 3 lifers for me (not difficult when I only started birding for serious in March 2007!!!). Lesser Yellowlegs; Bewick Swan (12 in total - fantastic!) and 3 Meadow Pipits!

Brings my Minsmere total up to 99 species, from 8 visits, since March 2007! Not bad.

Claire

[NoSpringChicken]

Glad you saw the Yellowlegs, Claire – it's a lovely little bird. On Sunday there were quite a few Meadow Pipits feeding on the mud in front of the East Scrape hide, which looked a bit odd to me. Loads of Pied Wagtails there too.

Shame about the voles but they are a bit hit or miss. On Sunday there were Red and Muntjak deer all over the place – I don't know if they were about today. I normally have a quick peek over the bank beside the car before we leave and there are usually several Red Deer browsing on the flat grassy area at the top.

Ron

[NoSpringChicken]

I see the Met Office are issuing severe flood warnings tonight from Hopton (where I live – eeek!) to Aldeburgh. I hope Minsmere and the other reserves in the area survive without any problems.

Ron

[NoSpringChicken]

It sounds as if Minsmere survived the floods relatively unscathed but some of the neighbouring reserves were less fortunate:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-174844

Ron

[StuartReeves]

A couple of Little Auks on the sea off Lowestoft South Beach today. Also some nice pools left by the exceptional high tide which really look like they should have a Grey Phalarope on them. None today though I should add.

[PaulE]

i've just been on landguard website where they have recorded all sorts of goodies on the sea 19 little auks a puffin a great northern diver red throated divers etc etc
well i spent 3 hours there this morning most of which was spent staring out to sea and i saw bugger all except about 8 brent geese although i did see the purple sandpiper on the beach
i did see a seal
guess i will have to start opening my eyes when i look through my scope
cheers

[StuartReeves]

Little Auks were certainly pretty difficult to miss in the Kessingland/Benacre area where I was today - see attached evidence! I also managed Merlin, Marsh Harrier, Tree Sparrow and Brambling in the Benacre area, as well as a nice 1st winter Glaucous Gull which was found yesterday on Benacre Broad, and slowly moved North today, ending-up on the sea off Kessingland beach.

[Binoculators]

Minsmere 14/11/2007

Had three Houses Martins whizzing around outside Bittern Hide this morning. Wasn't expecting them to still be about. Is this unusually late?

Other highlights included: Marsh Harrier, Little Egret, Treecreepers, loads of Green Woodpeckers (never seen so many in one morning), Siskins, Woodcock & Kingfisher.
14 Snipe, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall & Shoveler from East Hide.

A quick seawatch revealed a few Eider, Brent Geese and a couple of Little Auks. Several Stonechats around too.

Also saw several Red Deer in and around the reserve which included seeing two of them cross a dyke. Quite a strange sight as they went leg deep in water and then emerged the other side.

A nice morning.

Ian

[NoSpringChicken]

Ian, I too had noticed the remarkable number of Green Woodpeckers at Minsmere at the moment. You can hear them calling all over the place. As you get towards the Island Mere hide there is an area on the right hand side with close cropped grass and gorse bushes. I have often seen them on the ground there, sometimes with three at the same time. About three weeks ago this area was full of Jays with four of them flying towards the Oak tree we were standing by at the same time.

There seems to be Stonechats everywhere at the moment. They are all over Minsmere and there were lots of them at Strumpshaw Fen on Sunday.

Ron

[PaulE]

went for a walk this morning from brantham to flatford along the stour nothing spectacular although it was good to see a large number of little grebe on the river must have been over 40 in two large groups also had good views of up to 3 kingfishers and large flocks of redwing and goldfinch
there were good numbers of song thrush and blackbirds as well and i saw a couple of fieldfare on top of a hedge
but the highlight for me was great views of a stonking male bullfinch
cheers paul

[birderbill]

Ipswich Docks, Saturday 17 November early afternoon.

Being on-call for work meant that I couldn't go far from home and my work car. Ignoring the pager flashing Penduline Tits and growing bored of watching the tv I decided to wander down to the wet dock at Ipswich and have a walk around to Bath Street in order to view the dock head and new cut. The wet dock contained a lot of gulls, mainly Black Headed and Herring although one or two Great Black Backed put in an appearance. Good numbers of Mute Swans were also present with a few Mallards thrown in for good measure. A Sparrowhawk flew over the dock and disappeared over towards my usual patch of Holywells Park.

Crossing the bridge and walking back along the new cut produced two Kingfishers and two Little Grebes. A vocal Pied Wagtail held my attention for a while before a Redshank was disturbed by a lorry being parked and I watched this fly down towards the open dock and mud. It was soon joined by another and then a second bird. All three were then joined by two Dunlin. This small flock then flew back towards me before heading down river again. Another Kingfisher was seen, perhaps one of the two seen earlier but this bird was very vocal and clearly agitated by something- perhaps the cold and grey conditions?

Heading down towards the dock head I stood near the Bath Street junction and scanned the open dock area. Several Mallard, a couple of Tufted Duck and a single Goldeneye were all seen. Checking the pontoons on the Cliff Quay for a wintering Shag only revealed a couple of Cormorants and a Common Gull. Out in the open water I noticed a small grebe busy diving and feeding. Whilst watching this and confirming that it was another Little Grebe my attention was drawn to a black and white bird also diving nearby. Frustratingly, it kept surfacing and then quickly diving down again. It was clearly an auk but I couldn't confirm it as a Guillemot which, having seen several in the dock before, I thought it would turn out to be. But it wasn't it was actually a Razorbill!! Checking the head and bill confirmed it without any doubt. I watched for another 10 minutes before the wet dock lock gates opened for a yacht to go in. This activity forced it down river and towards the west bank terminal. Hoping it would return I scanned the dock again and noticed it or another auk nearby to a ship berthed at Cliff Quay. This one actually turned out to be a Guillemot but although showing well briefly soon drifted down river and out of sight.

The Sparrowhawk saw me safely home again and I began to think about the Razorbill and it's proximity to my house. Looking at the maps and after playing on Google it turned out to be about 300yards as an auk would fly! Turning back to the bird table and matters closer to home I watched a Great Tit chase off a Coal Tit and then take on a Robin! It certainly makes you think about the birds around you and what can be seen locally!

Enjoy,

Bill

[On-Firecrest]

hi all,
saw my 200th bird of the year today (best ever total). The juvenile glaucous gull at lackford lakes. It's on the sailing lake in the roost and is quite easy to pick out with its coffe colour. As for the caspian or yellow leg gulls, then you got to be an expert to pick them out! ;) also seen were three goosanders one drake and two ducks, apparently one person claimed one of them was a merganser but everybody we met was sceptical. The starling roost is now well into a thousand birds and a sparrowhawk picking them off.

[PaulE]

hi all,
saw my 200th bird of the year today (best ever total). The juvenile glaucous gull at lackford lakes. It's on the sailing lake in the roost and is quite easy to pick out with its coffe colour. As for the caspian or yellow leg gulls, then you got to be an expert to pick them out! ;) also seen were three goosanders one drake and two ducks, apparently one person claimed one of them was a merganser but everybody we met was sceptical. The starling roost is now well into a thousand birds and a sparrowhawk picking them off.
Congrats on 200 that was my target for this year i'm currently on 186 so still a way to go still got a month so you never know
cheers

[PaulE]

the rumour of waxwings took me back to brantham today,a flock was reported yesterday,completely failed to see any but this week there were loads of fieldfares as well as the regulars this is now my dead cert place to see kingfisher afterwards popped round to manningtree walls as it was high tide loads of goldeneye ,red breasted merganser and in amongst the large flock of mute swans were an adult whooper with a juvenile and a black swan
i must also say how annoying starlings and those odd leaves left on trees are when you are looking for waxwings
cheers

[NoSpringChicken]

Went to Minsmere today but discovered that the floods the other week have blocked the sluice, resulting in a lot of flooding over the reserve. The track to the East hide was flooded, which prevented access unless you were wearing wellies and the path from the sluice to the West hide was closed, although you could still get to the West hide from the other end.

There wasn't a great deal to see, apart from loads of Stonechats everywhere, a superb male Marsh Harrier flying with a couple of females and a Grey Wagtail right in front of the Island Mere hide. I think the levels are a bit deep for waders at the moment.

Ron

[gi2012]

Sunday was quite a memorable day out birding on the Suffolk coast. My mate was leading a trip with the Suffolk Ornithologists Group (SOG) from Kessingland at 10.00am, so we decided to go birding beforehand. Another couple of friends joined us as we opted to go to Dingle Marshes, Walberswick for the Penduline Tits. These had not been seen the two previous days but we thought we’d still try plus there is lots of others birds to see.

We reach the car park pre-dawn and as we headed down to the marsh a Woodcock flew up which I unfortunately missed. We came to the old windmill and the early morning scenery was amazing, the moon going down one side and the first rays of early morning light above the sea – see the attached photos.

Further along we noted some Marsh Harriers leaving their roost across the reed beds, at first there were 3 or 4 and as the light got better, more or more flew up until we counted 14, a truly memorable sight. They were all female and first winter birds. I have been to nearby Westwood Lodge to watch the Harriers come in to roost on many occasions but this was a first. As we watched them other birds were flying around including 5 Whooper Swans of which 4 then came right over our heads calling. There were several Snipe about among other waders and Meadow and Rock Pipits were flying around.

Further along the path at the favoured area of Sea Aster where the Penduline Tits had been seen we had no sign of them so decided to head down to the beach to look for Twite and Snow Buntings. We were astounded at the breaching of the shingle beach and the flooding of the marshes, a lot worse than we had seen before. 5 Snow Buntings flew towards us and landed less than 20m away showing very well. After a bit of a wait a dozen plus Twite came in to view. After watching a couple of Rock Pipits close up we realised that the flooding was starting to come on to the path so decided we better get pack, thank goodness we left then, as parts of the path were already under water with it rising all the time – see a couple of photos attached.

Back at the Sea Aster another birder had found a Penduline Tit and as we walked up we picked up an adult male feeding on a plant giving brilliant views. After watching for a while we had to get on, and on the walk back saw a large group of Bearded Tits including a stunning male in the early morning sunshine.

The SOG group started by going past the sewage works a good spot for Grey Wagtail and we were not disappointed as a bright individual was found among 15+ Pieds. Carrying on to the beach a large flock of Greenfinch and Linnets but no Snow Buntings. Heading south towards Benacre a female Scaup was on the pit with a few Little Grebes. We followed the track up past Beach Farm for some Tree Sparrows that winter in the area. These are difficult to see these days and it had been several years since I had last seen them. In a hedgerow we saw many birds including Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Brambling, Linnet, Goldfinch and further down 30+ Tree Sparrows, along with a Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting – quite a rare sight to see so many farmland species together.

The next bit of coast again showed the impact of the seas with erosion of the cliffs and having to walk on new paths as the old ones had disappeared. On Benacre Broad lots of Teal and a female Goldeneye. We decided to have lunch on the beach as with the tide high we could not cross the breach that goes into the broad. This was handy as in the seawatching that followed we had some Gannets, Red-throated Divers, Kittiwakes, Brent Goose and the highlight 4 Little Auks, 3 of which flew close inshore.

We decided to finish at Lowestoft where a 1st winter Glaucous Gull had been present. On arriving we immediately saw two Shags and later noted a third. Searching the rooftops of the nearby buildings we found the Glaucous Gull amongst the numerous other gulls. A Rock Pipit was heard and within the harbour 2 Purple Sandpipers were present with 3 Turnstone saving the planned walk up to Ness Point.

It was an amazing days birding on the coast, lots of birds, great company and amazing scenery with realising that how much it has changed in recent years and how it will continue to do so.

[NoSpringChicken]

Great report gi2012. It gives me some new ideas of where to visit and what to look out for. Thanks for posting.

Ron

[gareth_blockley]

Hi folks

I'm planning a trip to Norfolk and Suffolk this weekened. I wondered if the Dartford warblers overwintered at Dunwich heath or not? If so any tips on where to look for them?

Cheers
Gareth

[On-Firecrest]

i believe they do but if theres a decent wind like there normally is then you'll need all the luck you can get! The best chance of seeing them would be to park at the national trust car park and just walk.
good luck

[claire78]

The day started not too well ... I had to be in work this morning and would have prefered to have been doing other things (such as my Tetrads that I still have left to do)!!! However, just as I was getting ready to go out the door I spotted some black things whizzing through the sky between the half open curtains. Pushing my way passed my other half to the window I stared out in amazement! Skeins and skeins of geese. I had no bins nearby and couldn't open the window to hear them call but I guessed they were pink-footed and about 1000 of them! Fantastic sight. :t:

What a way to start the day. Needless to say I was late for work but hey hum.. not a sight you see every day. And then, when I got to work a small skein of 13 pink-footed went over the hospital too!

Just checked out the Lounge Lizards website who confirmed they were Pink-footeds. They reckon that this is "probably the first time such large numbers have passed directly over the main urban areas of Lowestoft. They generally skirt around along the marshes of the Waveney valley to the west. Ten minutes later they were seen continuing south over Benacre." They counted c1200.

http://home.clara.net/ammodytes/

Claire

[PaulE]

Had a nice day at minsmere today not much about birdwise except hundreds of various wildfowl a few waders and a handful of marsh harriers although i did get cracking close views of a cetti's warbler near the south hide and even closer views of a marsh tit in the woods but the hihglight of the day was an otter that gave great views from the island mere hide at one point he climbed out of the water infront of the hide with a fish in his mouth and he was appearing and dissappearing the whole time i was in there well over an hour

[matt green]

Spent the day around the suffolk coast today, a steady stream of enjoyable sightings were had throughout the day..if nothing too out of the ordinary.

Started at Shoterly Park looking for those elusive Hawfinch, didn't see any but did get a fly over Common Buzzard along with Little Egret by the stream. Nuthatch and Tree Creeper were seen in the old oaks around by the church.

Then moved onto Covehithe and Benacre. Wasn't a great deal to see on the broad so walked to the pits a little further north up the beach, the pair of Scaup were very confiding and gave very close views while happily mingling with two Golden Eye, after moving on here we found an unusual winter sighting of a Lesser Whitethroat along Beach Farm!!

Last notable sightings of the day were 7 Bewicks heading west flying over Benacre.

Matt

[PaulE]

Went to boyton today not much about loads of curlew and lapwing, highlights were a couple of marsh harriers and three avocets.
On the way home i stopped off at Daisy's walk in Rendlesham Forest whilst trying to decide if a light spot in a tree about a mile away was a broken off branch or an owl a small flock of small birds flew in to the muddy field about 30 feet in front of me and promptly disappeared.After scouring the ground with my bins for about 5 minutes i finally spotted one another couple of minutes and i had it in the scope to discover it was a woodlark but if i hadn't seen them fly in i would never have spotted them incredibly well camoflaged.
Having sorted that out i went back to my light spot which suspiously hadn't moved an inch when i heard some noise behind me i turned to discover just about the largest flock of tits i have ever seen there were about 20 blue tits ,20 or so long-tailed tits but the vast majority were great tits i am not very good at estimating numbers especially in a fast moving flock but there must have been at least 50 and bringing up the rear like the rhino in jumanji 2 goldcrests unfortunately no firecrests or lesser spotted woodpeckers that i could see although with all that lot flitting about it's hard to be sure.
Are there LSW in rendlesham?
Anyway after all that excitement i turned back to my light spot, still there. Nothing for it but off i go across the field,or rather around the edge, closer and closer and guess what? yep, broken branch!!
Oh well can't win em all!!
cheers

[dbradnum]

For anyone that doesn't know, there's been a Pallas's Warbler in North Lowestoft for the last couple of days... more details here http://home.clara.net/ammodytes/ on the latest news page.

[StuartReeves]

For anyone that doesn't know, there's been a Pallas's Warbler in North Lowestoft for the last couple of days... more details here http://home.clara.net/ammodytes/ on the latest news page.

And very nice it is too, though rather elusive at times today.

[PaulE]

Had a nice walk at brantham this afternoon all the usual birds presant. Kingfisher,Little Egret, Little Grebe.Loads of Lapwings,Redshanks,Fieldfares and Redwings and a single Greenshank by the bridge. As i decided to turn back and head for the car i saw in the distance a grey bird quartering the ground when i got it in the bins it was my first Male Hen Harrier i managed to get it in the scope absolutly beautiful a definate contender for my bird of the year, all told i suppose it stayed in view for about five minutes before heading over the brow of a hill.
to say i was happy is the understatement of the year
i also saw a couple of small warbler types in the reeds which i havn't been able to ID yet the one i got in the bins briefly was green with a white stripe above the eye and possibily had a dark head although it could have been shadow anyway the two of them were having a right old ding-dong and making a lot of noice so i will have a listen to my CD of birdsong and see if i can make an ID
cheers

[NoSpringChicken]

It was a beautiful crisp, sunny day at Minsmere yesterday afternoon. They have cleared out the northern reedbeds and the dykes are visible now. We had great views of a Kingfisher feeding there (the first time I've managed to see one at Minsmere although I always have a good look in the sluice area.)

There were plenty of wildfowl on the scrapes and three Bewick Swans in front of the West hide. There were four Snipe just in front of the Island Mere hide (see pic), a couple of Grey Wagtails and several Pipits of some description. (They all look the same to me.)

Just before it got dark we were treated to the spectacle of at least seven and possibly nine Marsh Harriers wheeling around at the same time. It was difficult to keep track of them all.

Loads of Long Tailed Tits and Jays on the way back to the car and Robins everywhere. Nothing exotic but a great day out.

Ron

[StuartReeves]

There were plenty of wildfowl on the scrapes and three Bewick Swans in front of the West hide. There were four Snipe just in front of the Island Mere hide (see pic), a couple of Grey Wagtails and several Pipits of some description. (They all look the same to me.)

I was also at Minsmere yesterday, and even took some photos of what was probably the same snipe in front of Island Mere hide. I also saw a Kingfisher from that hide and the only pipit I saw was a Water Pipit in the same location.

Stuart

[On-Firecrest]

Lesser yellowlegs at southwold marsh, could this possibly the minsmere bird? and was the minsmere bird the same one as there was at southwold earlier in the autumn?
more localy for me was the ring billed gull in the roost at lackford before flying west. Damn i blame suppresion ;) i hope it stays.
Merry christmas!

[jimbob]

Where abouts on the reserve is the gull roost Steve? Might pop along tomorrow. Much else about at Lackford? Lovely reserve, underrated I feel.
Cheers,
Jim.

[On-Firecrest]

it is a good reserve, it was seen at the sailing lake briefly again today at about 3pm ish according to rba.
nothing yet on the local sightings page about it yet?http://www.freewebs.com/lammergeierheights/decembersightings.htm

[jimbob]

Lackford today.
Spent a good while scrutinizing the assembled gulls, and managed to pick out one bird that looked good for a Ring-Billed. Large bill, nice black ring band. Still couldnt be 100% sure though, and other observers were of a similar mind. We all wanted it to be a RB that was for sure! Having never seen this species before I had little to go on. I wont be ticking this bird, Ill have to hold off for a little longer! Might pop back in a week if its still around.
Fantastic starling roost to finish off with, better than the carling advert. Sparrowhawk upset a few of the locals.
Cheers,
Jim.

ps cheers for that link Steve, didnt know there was a west suffolk site.

[On-Firecrest]

managed to get out to alton water and the river orwell for three hours over lunch today, got to larchwood hide at about 11:30 and spent about fiive minutes scanning the flocks before my dad called out the 2 slave swimming the other side of the lake. I spent sometime scrutinizing them, through my bins before scanning the duck flocks and out pops a female red crested pochard. A self found lifer...nice!
Deciding to push my luck my dad and i set of for the orwell bridge and before we got 5 metres down the path, my dad (again) called out a diver by the green buoy, looking throught the scope we quickly deduced it wasn't either great northern or red throated so it was the black throated that was reported yestersay. Moving down the path, counting loads of dabchicks we found the peregrine falcon, tussling rook and scaring feral pigeons. I did find a dark shag or a runt cormorant on some posts, the other side of the bridge which the jury's still out on but i'am researching it for an id conformation. Edit- Now confirmed it as an adult winter shag bad light, distance and i did'nt expect it was why it took so long, but i'm happy with it now. Previously the only one i'd seen before that was one at the docks of bath street at very early morning 31st december 06.

Not bad for three hours! any one else get out?

Merry xmas!

[On-Firecrest]

Just wondering- Does any one think that the slavs at alton are returning birds? I ask because i saw them at the same time as last year, same numbers, same place, same hide etc. Just curious...

[PaulE]

Just wondering- Does any one think that the slavs at alton are returning birds? I ask because i saw them at the same time as last year, same numbers, same place, same hide etc. Just curious...
i think when i reported seeing them a while back someone said they were there the year before
i also saw three grebes either slav or black necked ,it was very windy they were along way out and i only had my old bins which made certain ID difficult, under the orwell bridge a couple of weeks ago i was speculating that these could be the same birds from alton commuting between the two sites do you know if this is likely?
cheers

[On-Firecrest]

i think when i reported seeing them a while back someone said they were there the year before
i also saw three grebes either slav or black necked ,it was very windy they were along way out and i only had my old bins which made certain ID difficult, under the orwell bridge a couple of weeks ago i was speculating that these could be the same birds from alton commuting between the two sites do you know if this is likely?
cheers

Yeah, i reckon they could be as three slavs have been reported from the stour as well in the past month (and they dont mind salt water) also as there are tons of little grebes near the orwell bridge it's probably good habitat for them.

[dbradnum]

Pallas's Warbler still showing well for brief periods at Warrenhouse Wood, Gunton this morning - not an easy bird to find, but typically confiding when we did! After hearing it call a couple of times, we saw it hovering around the edges of some dense brambly vegetation, only 10m away. Excellent!

The gull field at Carlton Colville contained a juv Glauc at lunchtime, but no luck with any Caspian Gulls... the moment we got onto a promising white-headed snouty looking individual, everything got spooked and it vanished. Typical....

[Stand on Zanzibar]

How big an area is there for the Pallas's Warbler at Gunton to hide in? I'm assuming the wood is quite large. Any tips on which particular part to focus a search, or is the bird doing circuits?

Also, I see there were 20+ Red-crested Pochards reported yesterday at Flixton Gravel Pits. Does anyone know if these are part of the growing (and I assume wandering) UK feral population and therefore tickable? Surely 20 odd haven't all escaped at once? Are they regular at that site?

All assistance greatly appreciated.

Tim

[claire78]

Haven't had the chance to go and have a look for it myself yet but the following is from the Lowestoft Lounge Lizards website:-

"PALLAS'S WARBLER Phylloscopus proregulus ****
After much fruitless searching locally throughout October and November it fell to a routine dog walking session on the 13th to lead to the discovery of one of these special Siberian treats.

Initially heard calling from brambles just to the north of Warrenhouse Wood at, it eventually showed itself and then joined a passing flock of Long-tailed Tits and went on a wide ranging circuit of the cliff face and then through Warrenhouse Wood itself. It was equally at home just above the ground in brambles as it was in the bare crowns of the tallest trees. Late afternoon it was again on its own foraging in bramble and Japanese Knotweed scrub just to the north of Warrenhouse Wood.

Still present on the 18th, roaming around Warrenhouse Wood, often with the Long-tailed Tits but frequently foraging on its own in brambles. On the 15th it spent much of the time in the garden at the rear of the wood, but on the 16th to 18th it was favouring the brambles and ivy in the south east corner of the wood.

No sign of it on the 19th, but on the 20th it was seen around midday with Long-tailed Tits near the spring in the Japanese Knotweed just to the north of Warrenhouse Wood. Still present on the 27th.

The first December record for the Lowestoft area and the third December one for the County of Suffolk; and now the latest date for Suffolk."

CLaire

[arthurgrosset]

I saw a single Little Egret at Monks Eleigh today having seen a pair further downstream near Hadleigh a few weeks ago. How common is it for them to travel inland from the coast?

[On-Firecrest]

I saw a single Little Egret at Monks Eleigh today having seen a pair further downstream near Hadleigh a few weeks ago. How common is it for them to travel inland from the coast?

There not paticularly common in west suffolk, i have only seen them at lakenheath fen, but i presume you could also get them at lackford/livermere but i haven't seen them there!

I went looking for the short eared owls that were reported from ixworth area on the 24th and the 26th. Aparently a person i talked to had talked to some shooters who say that they have been there wintering for ages and they have had up to 6 in some winters. I hadn't heard of this before or read it in any of the bird reports? Anyone know any more? No sign of them today though when i was down there from 3.30 to 4.10 befopre leaving due to bad light and heavy wind.

[PaulE]

I saw a single Little Egret at Monks Eleigh today having seen a pair further downstream near Hadleigh a few weeks ago. How common is it for them to travel inland from the coast?
hi i live in this area and there are quite a few in the area which are pretty much permanent residents although i'm not sure if they are breeding i saw five in a tree near kersey mill and you can find them pretty much all along the river brett
cheers

[Penny Clarke]

Has anyone seen the Pallas's Warbler today please and if so whereabouts?

Cheers Penny:girl:

[gi2012]

Has anyone seen the Pallas's Warbler today please and if so whereabouts?

Cheers Penny:girl:

From Suffolk BINS today:

The Pallas's Warbler is still present just North of Warrenhouse Wood in Holm Oaks with the Long-tailed Tit flock @ TM.549.954.

The link below will give an idea of where it's been seen the last week or two.

http://www.freewebs.com/suffolkbirding/december2007.htm

Gi

[Penny Clarke]

From Suffolk BINS today:

The Pallas's Warbler is still present just North of Warrenhouse Wood in Holm Oaks with the Long-tailed Tit flock @ TM.549.954.

The link below will give an idea of where it's been seen the last week or two.

http://www.freewebs.com/suffolkbirding/december2007.htm

Gi

Cheers, thank you very much:t:

[On-Firecrest]

I went looking for the short eared owls that were reported from ixworth area on the 24th and the 26th. Aparently a person i talked to had talked to some shooters who say that they have been there wintering for ages and they have had up to 6 in some winters. I hadn't heard of this before or read it in any of the bird reports? Anyone know any more? No sign of them today though when i was down there from 3.30 to 4.10 befopre leaving due to bad light and heavy wind.


I went back today from half three, this time further down the road to livermere and was pleasently suprised to see 2 short eared owls and 2 barn owls, it reminded me of shingle street but without the killer wind!

[On-Firecrest]

5 tundra bean geese in the north west corner of the marsh at north warren, in the big feral barnacle geese flock with around 50 whitefronts and a presumed escape red brested goose?
also seen around aldeburgh were several dartford warblers at snape warren heath(the easiest place to see them?) and an avocet at the alde estuary. (trip report may appear in my group blog some time soon....maybe;))
good luck with '08!

[On-Firecrest]

Short eared owls still at ixworth with a barn owl and showing very well down the verges of the road.

[birderbill]

Steve,

Happy new year to you.

Can you give me directions to the dartford warblers at Snape Warren Heath. I'm not sure where this is or maybe I know it by a different name?


Thank you,

Bill

[On-Firecrest]

Steve,

Happy new year to you.

Can you give me directions to the dartford warblers at Snape Warren Heath. I'm not sure where this is or maybe I know it by a different name?


Thank you,

Bill

Basically if you park at the posh Snape maltings shop, then walk over the bridge across the river alde and down the footpath along the river. When you reach the woodlands turn right and follow the path with the saltings on your right. After a while you take a sharp right through a gate on to the heath and there are some rspb signs up. I had my sucess with them when you reach the gorse near the path and start seeing some beech? trees near the path. It can be seen on this map...
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=642000&Y=257000&width=700&height=400&gride=646409.710754605&gridn=256156.045315558&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=freegaz&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=true&zm=0&scale=25000&left.x=6&left.y=144

Did i mention there was a trip report on my group blog;) http://youngbirders.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2007-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z&updated-max=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z&max-results=29 (any chance to plug it ;))

[birderbill]

Steve,

Thank you for the information, I'll have a look at this area next time I'm out that way.

Bill

[birderbill]

Wednesday, 02 January 2008.

Had a great afternoon at North Warren despite the bitterly cold winds. Manged to catch up with the Tundra Bean, Pink Feet and Whitefront Geese as well as some Greylags on the island in the north section. In addition, the large flock of Barnacle (with Red Breasted Goose) was mixed up with Brents and Canadas for a total goose extravaganza!.

As if that wasn't enough I also managed brief views of the Great White Egret as it fed in the North East corner of the marsh area and then on a couple of occasions as it "jumped" up into the wind.

This reserve seems to be getting better all the time and is always a joy to visit!

Bill

[jimbob]

29 December
Belated report, great day out in Suffolk.

Started off at Lowestoft and Warrenhouse Wood. Luckily, there were a few birders present for the Pallas's and it had been seen recently, so my hopes were instantly raised. After following the tit flock deeper into the wood (past the odd drug addict and carrier bag) I located the bird. Beautiful little sprite, brief but fantastic views were obtained of a life bird for me.

Went onto Ness point. 8 Purple Sandpipers! The most I have ever seen here. One of my favourite birds, I never tire of seeing them. 2 Turnstone also present.

Tried for the gulls at Carlton Colville. Not sure I had the right field, hardly any gulls about (20+ Commons) so no Glauc or Caspian. However, lovely mixed flock of Greenfinch (200+) Fieldfare (100+) Starling (100+) and one Redwing!

Last stop today was Beach Farm, Benacre. Large flock of what I presumed were Tree Sparrows in the maize strip, although scope was in the car so not sure. Chaffinches aplenty. Then came the real suprise of the day. Myself and another birder were treated to the sight of 2 Deer frolicking amongst the maize, and as they emerged into the field we both said at the same time "Chinese Water Deer!" Couldnt believe it, I had no idea they were present in this area. Amazing views, the deer stopped dead less than 50m from us, staring. Real treat. Anyone else seen them around here before?
On the pits, 3 Scaup. Glimpse of a Barn Owl on the farm itself.

Cheers,
Jim.

[NoSpringChicken]

According to the RSPB site there are 40000 Starlings roosting at Minsmere at the moment. I was there on Sunday and from the Island Mere hide we watched clouds of them coming in at dusk and settling in the line of bushes in the reedbeds opposite. They were arriving in huge groups rather than all at once but it was still a fantastic sight.

Ron

[jimbob]

It is a brilliant sight, Minsmere or Lackford are great places for Starlings roosting right now. Good ol Suffolk.
Great White Egret at Thorpeness on the mere today, great views of the bird catching a Jack Pike. Quite odd watching it fish amongst various domestic fowl, including a Muscovy. (Mistle Thrush also, a year tick). Made up for the morning dip on the Lesser Yellowlegs. Apparently it had been seen early morning, no sign when I arrived around half 10. Bitterly cold today.
Cheers,
Jim.

[jimbob]

Just been out walking my Atlas square, small village not far from Stowmarket if anyone cares! Mainly farmland, some scrubby areas and some open country. Highlights recently have included Grey Partridge and Barn Owl.

Good start, large Fieldfare flock with a Redwing and 2 Song Thrushes. 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 21 Greylags and 35 Common Gull were all part of a productive afternoon.

Towards the end of the hour, I hit birding gold. A female Hen Harrier being mobbed by 3 Crows! Watched it for 2 or 3 minutes, couldnt relocate it and presume it was just moving through. A great moment and a great record to boot. Makes all those unproductive walks worthwhile!

Cheers,
Jim.

[On-Firecrest]

Just been out walking my Atlas square, small village not far from Stowmarket if anyone cares! Jim.


actually, i care, i dont live too far from stowmarket and i would love to see the hen harrier if it stays?

[jimbob]

Steve, good to hear from a fellow young birder!
Ill have a look for it in the next couple of days, and ill let you know if the bird is stil around. It disappeared over a wood, hopefully it is roosting there. Would be more than happy to show you whereabouts if you are in the local area.
Cheers,
Jim.

[gi2012]

I started at 5.10am and cycled past nearby Holywells Park where the first bird was Robin at 5.13. I went on a round trip through Bucklesham and Foxhall and picked up a few species including Tawny Owl at Brookhill Wood, Foxhall. Back home for some brekkie and to pick up my gear and headed into Ipswich town centre to visit Christchurch Park via Victoria Nurseries pond for Mandarin. In the park I managed to see several species fairly quickly including Nuthatch, Stock Dove, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Jay, at least 3 Treecreepers and Goldcrest.

On to the docks (Ipswich docks, now known as Neptune Quay is not very good these days – last year 2 Shags were present), where down New Cut West/Bath St. the regular Kingfisher was present. Carrying on to Fox’s Marina the female Scaup was present along with Lesser Black-backed Gull and a few common duck and wader species (I had seen 3 Shags here recently).

I decided to loop round before going to Wherstead Strand and went through Bourne Meadows to Bobbit’s Hole where I got Reed Bunting, Stonechat and Jack Snipe and in the woods Siskin. Up past the sewage works along the track to the top of the Ski slope road and along the A137 and down the road to Jimmy’s Farm. In the stubble field behind the house on the corner with the masts, the bunting/finch flock was present with Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Skylark and Meadow Pipit (I also had Reed Bunting previously and Grey Partridge has been seen there.) Back through Wherstead past the church where I saw Kestrel and out on to Wherstead Strand where I picked up the Peregrine on Orwell Bridge before it flew off down river (no sign of the Med Gull I had seen recently or the Black-throated Diver – I was told it was off Woolverstone Marina). A Rock Pipit was along the shore.

Next to Freston shore down by Stoke Sailing club, where I saw Knot, Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit along the shore, Shag and Goldeneye on the river and in the trees Coal Tit. I had been told a Chiffchaff was in the hedge by the layby but I did not manage to find it – a Firecrest was also seen there later in the day! Up Freston Hill and on to Woolverstone Marina where the Black-throated Diver was distant toward Pin Mill, Brent Geese flew up river and a Common Seal was lying on the end of the jetty. A Tawny Owl was hooting in the woods behind.

Back towards Freston where at the Water Tower I saw Red-legged Partridge – and I foolishly went to find the Chiffy again after I was told it was in the lower layby, not much fun cycling up the hill again after not seeing it for the second time!

On to Alton Water, where en route I saw a large herd of deer including two stags and a Stoat ran across the road. At Alton Water I picked up several duck species including Gadwall, Shoveler and Teal along with two Slavonian Grebes. I decided to finish the day at Holbrook Creek and I as I arrived a large flock of Fieldfares with some Redwing was present. I went to the sewage works and managed to find a Grey Wagtail and heard two Little Owls. Out on the Stour Pintail and Red-breasted Merganser with lots of waders including Grey, Golden and Ringed Plover. Back to the track from the car park where in an area of reeds which had been cut back friends had said they had seen water Rail. While having a cuppa I heard Cetti’s Warbler – later hearing two – and as it was getting dark I saw a Water Rail creeping along the edge of the reeds making the total for the day 94.

I had cycled 20-25 miles and was out for 13 hours – though I only got back late as between Holbrook and Freston I realised my tyre was going down and I had no puncture repair kit; I had just had my brakes serviced and they had removed my bag with kit and pump and not replaced it, which I had not realised until early that morning! I had to cycle the few miles home slowly with a flat tyre, it was dark and foggy and I did not fancy walking along small winding roads!

Day list:

Holywells Park
1. Robin
2. Woopigeon

Foxhall
3. Carrion Crow
4. Tawny Owl
5. Blackbird

Ipswich
6. Herring Gull
7. Black-headed Gull
8. Dunnock
9. Great Tit

Victoria Nurseries
10. Mandarin

Christchurch Park
11. Blue Tit
12. Song Thrush
13. Magpie
14. Stock Dove
15. Nuthatch
16. Treecreeper
17. Green Woodpecker
18. Mistle Thrush
19. Starling
20. Pied Wagtail
21. Wren
22. Redwing
23. Jackdaw
24. Goldfinch
25. Jay
26. Goldcrest
27. Long-tailed Tit
28. Great Spotted Woodpecker
29. Mallard
30. Moorhen
31. Canada Goose
32. Linnet

Ipswich Docks/New Cut West/ Bath St.
33. Redshank
34. Mute Swan
35. Oystercatcher
36. Feral Pigeon
37. Shelduck
38. Coot
39. Kingfisher
40. Turnstone

Wherstead Road
41. Chaffinch
42. Collared Dove

Fox’s Marina
43. Scaup
44. Lesser Black-backed Gull
45. Cormorant
46. Wigeon
47. Little Grebe
48. House Sparrow

Bourne Meadows
49. Reed Bunting
50. Stonechat
51. Meadow Pipit
52. Jack Snipe

Bobbit’s Hole
53. Siskin

Pannington Hall Road (Jimmy’s Farm road)
54. Corn Bunting
55. Yellowhammer
56. Greenfinch
57. Skylark

Wherstead
58. Kestrel

Wherstead Strand/Orwell Bridge
59. Peregrine
60. Rock Pipit
61. Little Egret
62. Lapwing
63. Curlew

Freston
64. Dunlin
65. Great Crested Grebe
66. Black-tailed Godwit
67. Shag
68. Goldeneye
69. Common Gull
70. Pheasant
71. Knot
72. Coal Tit

Woolverstone Marina
73. Black-throated Diver
74. Brent Goose
75. Grey Heron

Freston Water Tower
76. Rook
77. Red-legged partridge

Alton Water
78. Tufted Duck
79. Pochard
80. Gadwall
81. Shoveler
82. Teal
83. Greylag Goose
84. Slavonian Grebe

Holbrook Creek
85. Fieldfare
86. Grey Wagtail
87. Little Owl
88. Pintail
89. Red-breasted Merganser
90. Grey Plover
91. Golden Plover
92. Ringed Plover
93. Cetti’s Warbler
94. Water Rail

[gi2012]

I used to live in Stowmarket for some of the 80's and my patch was the area behind the football field and the farmland beyond and the Gipping valley.

Never saw a Hen Harrier though - a superb find!

Gi

[On-Firecrest]

Wow Gi that is an amzing total! Well done indeed! :t:

Thanks Jim, that would be great! Out of interest have you seen the ixworth short eared owls? It's an amazing sight as they quater the road side verges near you. (In a parked car as a hide, i should add.)

[jimbob]

Just been out, and after a fairly extensive search no sign of the Harrier. It could of course be sitting comfortably in a tree somewhere, but my feeling was from the start that this bird was passing through.
No, I havent been to see the Owls Steve, and as I am supposed to go back to UEA in a couple of days Im not sure I am gonna get there this winter. Whereabouts are they, incase I get there?
EDIT- maybe I should go back tomorrow, White Crowned Sparrow at Cley. Could be an early start either monday or tuesday morning! Birding is never boring is it.
Cheers,
Jim.

[On-Firecrest]

hi jim,
you can view them from the road at puttockshill or queach lane which is the road at the right angle to puttockshilll. The short eared owl favours the hedge near the top of queach lane and a barn owl can be seen, but i only saw an seo today.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl hmm, this link didnt work but if you type in puttockshill ixworth it points to where you want to go.

[jimbob]

Cheers Steve, might squeeze a look tomorrow afternoon, hopefully post- Sparrow at Cley!

[matt green]

Headed into Suffolk for a spot of coastal birding with a friend today, first sightings were two Barn Owls along the A144 just out of Bungay..

Southwold town marsh gave excellent views of the Lesser Yellow Legs along with distant...

Water Pipits (7)
Snipe (Approx400)
Black Tailed Godwits (40)

Then walked out to Walberswick/Tinkers Marsh

Water Pipit (8)
Peregrine
Female Stonechat

pics..

[PaulE]

Decided to try and start the new year with a bang so went to minsmere today.Pretty good start with a flyover barn owl on the A12.
Highlights at minsmere were a drake smew and very close views of a water pipit from island mere hide plus the usual antics from the marsh harriers but probably the most impressive birds today were the great crested grebes on the sea i'm not very good at estimating numbers but i reckon there were well over 100
also had good views of a large flock of siskins moving through the treetops .
cheers

[birderbill]

Alton Water, Sat 05 January.

Managed to get out for a late afternoon stroll at Alton Water and walked from the Lemonshill Bridge car park along the north west shore towards Holbrook and then back across the fields to Tattingstone. Despite the fading light (hurrah for Leica's) it was great to be out and I was rewarded with my best views of water rail in nearly 25 yrs of birding! The bird could be heard in the reeds "squealing" but typically it appeared to be in several locations as the same time. I eventually saw it moving towards me and so I stayed still expecting it to sense me and disappear again. However, it continued to walk until only about 15-20 feet away. It then "jumped" up onto an partly submerged branch. It then started preening and cleaning it's bill. After this it then started to call constantly, sounding like a dogs squeaky toy. Then as calmly as it appeared it dropped down into the reeds and wandered off. In all, I watched the rail for about 15 minutes and left with a big smile on my face!

Bill.

[Stand on Zanzibar]

Also, I see there were 20+ Red-crested Pochards reported yesterday at Flixton Gravel Pits. Does anyone know if these are part of the growing (and I assume wandering) UK feral population and therefore tickable? Surely 20 odd haven't all escaped at once? Are they regular at that site?

Tim

Went to see these birds on the 31st December. There were easily 50+. Chatting to people at the Lesser Yellowlegs, the consensus seemed to be that they are a wintering feral flock, rather than escapes. That'll do for me!

(Looking at the 2006 Suffolk Bird Report, it doesn't look like they have wintered there before.)

Enjoyed that Yellowlegs and lunch at the Crown Inn in Westleton.

Tim

[On-Firecrest]

Huge flocls of siskins at lackford in glorious weather this morning. The jack snipe is still there at the bernard tickner hide, showing dreadfully. Trip report on my blog when i can be bothered. (look tommorow ;))

[NoSpringChicken]

My OH and I went for a walk on Carlton Marshes on Saturday afternoon. It was pleasantly sunny but incredibly muddy, which led to a certain amount of domestic disharmony.;)

There were not many small birds about, apart from the usual Great and Blue Tits, although we did see a couple of Stonechats posing on some brambles on the way back to the car park. We got nice close views of a Kestrel and there were four Barn Owls quartering the marshes, including one which kept resting on the river bank.

On the way back we came across a pair of Mallards paddling about in the dyke and they were accompanied by another duck with a Mallard coloured head and the curly tail but a distinctive white bib. A bit of googling suggests it could be a domestic Mallard, possibly a Cayuga. Is this likely to be the case or could it have been something else? There were lots of guys with guns on the marshes so I don't know what the chances are of the ducks still being there.

Ron

[Greysands boy]

Hi all,

My fiancee and I had a wonderful 3 days at minsmere last september and vowed to come back this year to hear the Booming male bitterns (and taste some more Broadside), When would the earliest We could return to get to hear this awesome spectacle (Not sure you can here a spectacle but you know what I mean). We would like to guarentee it so be safe.

Cheers

Darryl

[gi2012]

Hi all,

My fiancee and I had a wonderful 3 days at minsmere last september and vowed to come back this year to hear the Booming male bitterns (and taste some more Broadside), When would the earliest We could return to get to hear this awesome spectacle (Not sure you can here a spectacle but you know what I mean). We would like to guarentee it so be safe.

Cheers

Darryl

Hi Darryl,

I looked in my notes and I went in late March last year and had a couple of boomers. I was there early morning walking along from Eastbridge.

Gi

[aythya_hybrid]

Some superb birding around Thorpeness/North Warren today.

Great White Egret showing on Thorpeness Mere, and was later seen on North Warren.

During a quick session on North Warren around midday today, I managed to score:

a first winter Iceland Gull which showed briefly before drifting south; a resplendent first-winter Caspian Gull; 2 Yellow-legged Gull; adult Med Gull.

Geese included 8 Tundra Beans, c100 of each Barnacle and White-front. Top quality action all round!

[JonH]

Hi All,

Been over at Alton Water at various times the last week with my walking companion (dog). On the water the highlights for me have been, a (still) single female Goosander,a Slavonian Grebe and several Goldeneye & Shovelers. Saw about 30+ Great Crested Grebes together, only a couple had what seemed to resemble adult summer plumage while the rest were either juvenile/winter plumage. On the land a Buzzard, Barn & Little Owls, Greater Spotted Woodpecker and a small flock of elusive Bullfinches.

[jimbob]

Alton Water Yesterday.
Really seems to be producing the goods at the moment. 2 Drake Smew were cracking as ever. Drake Scaup and a possible female Scaup a little further out. White band around the bill- but im aware some female tufties can get this band too, so ill leave that as a possible. Redhead Goosander and 3 Common Buzzard overhead made up the rest of the supporting cast. The real star didnt put in an appearance......
No sign of the LT Duck. Shame!
Today I see someone has reported Slav Grebe (had a few of these here last year) and a Black Necked Grebe! Go Alton!
Cheers,
Jim.

ps at least 2 Barn Owls now present in my village, breeding suspected after an absence of 20+ years. Suffolk Barn Owl project have done a great job.

[On-Firecrest]

ps at least 2 Barn Owls now present in my village, breeding suspected after an absence of 20+ years. Suffolk Barn Owl project have done a great job.

I know what you mean, i have noticed loads this autumn/winter in west suffolk, whereas before they were very scarce. According to steve piotrowski from the barn owl project they've had several very successful breeding years in a row. I once saw one while being driven through the vilage of hunston, right over the car and flying down the main village street! It's a fantastic sight.

[PaulE]

hi all
thinking of heading over to thetford area this sunday wondering if anyone knows if there are hawfinches at lynford at the moment also i beleive there was a great grey shrike at santon downam earlier in the winter anyone know if it is still about and if so where the most likely place to connect with it might be
would also apreciate any other info of worthwhile places to visit while im in the area
thanks in advance
cheers

[On-Firecrest]

hi all
thinking of heading over to thetford area this sunday wondering if anyone knows if there are hawfinches at lynford at the moment also i beleive there was a great grey shrike at santon downam earlier in the winter anyone know if it is still about and if so where the most likely place to connect with it might be
would also apreciate any other info of worthwhile places to visit while im in the area
thanks in advance
cheers

There are hawfinches at the paddock at lynford arboretum, only three when i went earlier in the year but now a few more are being reported. The shrike might still be there or at grimes graves but a visit to santon downham is always good for other woodland birds like lesser spotted woodpecker (although you may accidently stray into norfolk)
good luck:t:

[PaulE]

There are hawfinches at the paddock at lynford arboretum, only three when i went earlier in the year but now a few more are being reported. The shrike might still be there or at grimes graves but a visit to santon downham is always good for other woodland birds like lesser spotted woodpecker (although you may accidently stray into norfolk)
good luck:t:
cheers for that steve
i've been through santon downham before is there a specfic area where it's best to look or is it just a case of moving around would like to see redpolls as well is there anywhere you would recommend i would stand a good chance
cheers

[jimbob]

PaulE,
Although the Shrike has not been reported from Grimes Graves for a week or so (I think?) it would be worth a look, and when I went last year the lady in the visitor centre was very helpful regarding directions.
I had a large flock of Redpoll at Santon Downham last year, in the trees around the churchyard. The trees alongside the river are supposed to be good for Lesserpecker, watching from the bridge would be a good spot I reckon.
Few folks on the Norfolk thread are reporting brief glimpses of Golden Pheasant at Wayland wood, might be worth a try....
Cheers,
Jim.

[On-Firecrest]

cheers for that steve
i've been through santon downham before is there a specfic area where it's best to look or is it just a case of moving around would like to see redpolls as well is there anywhere you would recommend i would stand a good chance
cheers

I saw lesser pecker last year in the trees by the river fairly near the rail way crossing.
The scrub at lackford lakes normally holds some redpolls although it can be a bit hit and miss, theres normally a big finch flock of some kind. Is that to far out of the way?

btw the car park and pines near the paddock are also meant to be great for firecrest. Not that i have ever seen one, but the last time i was down there literally everyone else had one in the long tailed tit flock.

[oakes12]

I arrived at Wayland Wood at first light. I did a couple of circuits but no sight or sound of any Golden Pheasants.
Next stop was Lynford Arboretum and I was a bit disappointed to see no Hawfinches in the paddocks. I had a quick walk around the back of the lake (GSWood, Treesreeper, Goldcrest) and luckily on the walk back there was a single Hawfinch sitting high in the tallest tree.
I spent an hour walking along the river at Santon Downham looking for a Lesser Spot but had no luck. On the plus side I did see a single Redpoll feeding on seed heads which allowed me to approach within about 12 feet and I managed to get a few half decent photos.
I stopped at the Elveden Monument and scanned the skyline and got a distant Common Buzzard for my 3rd year tick of the day.
Next stop was Lackford Lakes and listed on the board was a Jack Snipe from Bernard's hide. I was advised that the bird was usually to the left of the hide but very hard to see. Luckily I found it within a minute, bobbing up and down feeding on the water's edge. It eventually reverted to type and went to sleep with it's head under it's wing.
Final stop was the Orwell Bridge where there were 2 Peregrines for my 5th year tick of the day.
All in all a good day (the weather helped) although would have liked to have got Golden Pheasant or LSW. I'll try again later in the year when the Goshawk's are displaying.

[PaulE]

went to brantham today had a walk down to flatford on the estuary in amongst a small flock of canada geese were a beautiful pair of red breasted geese i've not seen them before at brantham but i presume they are escapees
cheers

[JonH]

Hi to all,
my sightings last week included female Goosander still at Alton Water, seperate flocks of Bramblings and Siskins in the woods near the Wonder. This morning, had a great look at a Barn Owl in full sun returning to it's roost? Also 3 Greater Spotted Woodpeckers, what appeared to be a pair and another male, lots of drumming from the males and chasing one another about, great stuff.
On saturday, a glorious day with clear blue skies, whilst watching my sons football match at Whitton Utd, heard a lot of commotion from the local gulls, had a look up and saw a pair of Buzzards soaring above the area, watched them on and off for about 15 mins, missed my lads 2nd goal oops!, last saw them heading in a SE direction.

[jimbob]

Had a look round Santon Downham few days ago, no sign of any Lesser Peckers, they will have to wait.

Cheers,
Jim.

[dbradnum]

Had a look round Santon Downham few days ago, no sign of any Lesser Peckers, they will have to wait.

Cheers,
Jim.

Lesser spot was drumming and showing well right next to the road by the bridge early on Sunday morning, and then drumming again in the adjacent woodland an hour or so later.

I'll send you a PM!

[jimbob]

Thanks David.
Jim.

[gi2012]

Lesser spot was drumming and showing well right next to the road by the bridge early on Sunday morning, and then drumming again in the adjacent woodland an hour or so later.

Hi,

Is this the bridge near the picnic site towards Santon House?

Many thanks,
Gi

[PaulE]

went to minsmere this morning as me and my boys were walking up from the south hide towards the woods a cracking male hen harrier flew across the reeds in front of the trees giving a great view before it disappeared towards the bittern hide
also had two water pipits and my first view(in flight) of a bittern this year,
cheers

[jimbob]

Minsmere today. 25 Bewicks in a field just outside Westleton, so a good start. Lovely drake Smew from the public hide, good numbers of Pintail on the levels. Searched the South Belt of woodland for Firecrest, to no avail.
In light of this, tried out kessingland sewageworks for size. A good fit, one Firecrest after well over an hours worth of searching! Chiffchaff also.
The places you end up.....
Cheers,
Jim

[jimbob]

Apologies for any crossover into Norfolk but many sites I visited were on or not far from the border.
I had a few Hawfinch earlier in the week, so gave Lynford a miss. A site near thetford produced a cracking Goshawk (many thanks to Dbradnum and Oakes12 for directions). The bird drifted into view as I arrived at a clearing in the forest, and drifted away just as quick.
Santon Downham produced zero Lesser peckers, and today a few Redwing and Greater Pecker were no consolation. I spoke to a couple of birders- was one of them you Connor?
Mayday farm didnt have any Goshawks but there were some lovely Brambling and Siskin drinking from a pool off the main track. Where were all the Crossbill that are supposed to hang out in these parts?
Finished off at Wayland wood- not a sausage, no calls from Golden Pheasant let alone a sighting.
A typical day in the brecks, some fantastic moments but ultimately you are left wanting more.
Ill be back.
Cheers,
Jim.

[PaulE]

went to brantham today had a walk down to flatford on the estuary in amongst a small flock of canada geese were a beautiful pair of red breasted geese i've not seen them before at brantham but i presume they are escapees
cheers
i've just noticed on the rare bird alert forum and on the suffolk bins website that have said that two red breasted geese have been reported from chelmondiston near shotley i reckon these could be the birds i saw at brantham on sunday does this mean that these are genuine wild birds and not escapees as i presumed

cheers

[jimbob]

i've just noticed on the rare bird alert forum and on the suffolk bins website that have said that two red breasted geese have been reported from chelmondiston near shotley i reckon these could be the birds i saw at brantham on sunday does this mean that these are genuine wild birds and not escapees as i presumed

cheers

I was suprised no-one replied to your original post PaulE. Could have found yourself 2 genuine rarities here! Nice one. Origin still unknown, although one has a yellow ring on its leg, for what its worth?! Always difficult with wildfowl as we all know.
Any more details will be posted on this website:
http://www.freewebs.com/suffolkbirding/
Cheers,
Jim.

[On-Firecrest]

Had a cracking view of the jack snipe at lackford lakes today and with excellent views of a water rail their earlier in the week (aint half term great;)), lackford is the place to be (as always;))
dodgy record shots and an even dodgier trip report on my blog;)

I will be doing santon downham on my way up to norfolk tommorow, i'll let you know how i get on.

[oakes12]

Had a good time in the Brecks today. Arrived early at Santon Downham (it was freezing) but failed to get a Lesser Spot. Nice bonus of a Water Rail made up for it though. Moved on to a nearby site and after a two hour wait a distant male Goshawk, shortly followed by a much closer female showed for the waiting gallery (of 30+). The waiting time was spent adding Woodlark and Crossbill to my year list and I must thank my daughters for their patience. Off to Grimes Graves and after a long walk eventually found the Great Grey Shrike. It was in a clearing south of the Grimes Graves boundaries and took some finding because it had taken to hiding behind a Great Spotted Woodpecker (see below). It did eventually show very well.
All in all a great day, helped by the weather and the many friendly birders encountered.

[On-Firecrest]

Had a good time in the Brecks today. Arrived early at Santon Downham (it was freezing) but failed to get a Lesser Spot. Nice bonus of a Water Rail made up for it though. Moved on to a nearby site and after a two hour wait a distant male Goshawk, shortly followed by a much closer female showed for the waiting gallery (of 30+). The waiting time was spent adding Woodlark and Crossbill to my year list and I must thank my daughters for their patience. Off to Grimes Graves and after a long walk eventually found the Great Grey Shrike. It was in a clearing south of the Grimes Graves boundaries and took some finding because it had taken to hiding behind a Great Spotted Woodpecker (see below). It did eventually show very well.
All in all a great day, helped by the weather and the many friendly birders encountered.

That is one intriguing photo! Do you have it in a bigger size you could post?
I saw the santon downham lesser spot yesterday and i'm convinced the key to success with it is absoloutely no disturbance, so you may have to wait for a long time, with no cars, walkers, dogs, etc. Sounds like you had a nice day out, that reminds me to stick a proper brecks bash in, not just a few quick trips.
cheers

[oakes12]

That is one intriguing photo! Do you have it in a bigger size you could post?
I saw the santon downham lesser spot yesterday and i'm convinced the key to success with it is absoloutely no disturbance, so you may have to wait for a long time, with no cars, walkers, dogs, etc. Sounds like you had a nice day out, that reminds me to stick a proper brecks bash in, not just a few quick trips.
cheers

On the original the birds were just specks and the image has been blown up 14x - hence the poor quality. I actually think the GSW was feeding on the shrikes 'larder' and surprisingly the shrike just watched and did nothing.

[PaulE]

went to alton water today walked up from the bridge towards the wonder had great close views of the female gooseander,scaup and slav grebe also saw bullfinch ,siskin and loads of long-tailed tits
it was also nice to see the great crested grebes starting their courtship behaviour
cheers

[matt green]

went to alton water today walked up from the bridge towards the wonder had great close views of the female gooseander,scaup and slav grebe also saw bullfinch ,siskin and loads of long-tailed tits
it was also nice to see the great crested grebes starting their courtship behaviour
cheers

Do you happen to remember talking to two chaps in a blue Vauxhall Corsa?

If it was you we spoke to near the carpark then I'm glad you found the Slav!!

Afterwards went for a quick scan over Stour Estuary from Holbrook Bay and located another 3 Slav Grebes along with 16 Red Breasted Mergansers, 45 Golden Eye and Kingfisher among others.

Last visit back to Flatford Mill to check out the reported Dipper, was a bit of a long shot but didn't see it ~ did see 3 Wagtail and heard Kingfisher by the river though.

Matt

[jimbob]

Great shot of the wagtail Matt, one of my favourite birds.
Im loving living up in Norwich, but I still miss Suffolk. Spoilt with so many good sites in either county.
Bittern grunting at Mins apparantly, should be booming before long. Wonder if the Purple Herons will be back again this year? I missed them last year, I was in Ecuador! That will do I guess.
Cheers,
Jim.

[Ilya Maclean]

Dear All

Do any of you regularly visit the Stour-Orwell Estuary and see colour-marked birds? If so, the BTO & SWT would really appreciate your help by receiving your sightings (see here: http://www.bto.org/research/wetland/turnover.htm).

About the project:

A large number of Dunlin and Redshank are being colour-marked on the Stour-Orwell this winter. This exciting new study will help to determine just how many birds use this important area for resting and feeding, and help to protect other sites that are used by waterbirds. It will also help us to work out how well they survive from year-to year. All visitors to estuaries this winter can provide an invaluable contribution to this work.

The study launched in partnership with the British Trust for Ornithology, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Newton & Wright Ringing Group and Natural England, aims to significantly increase our understanding of just how important estuaries like the Stour-Orwell are for wintering waterbirds. Over the winter a large number of Dunlin and Redshank are being fitted with
individual combinations of brightly coloured rings, allowing each bird to be individually recognized.

Thanks in advance for any help

Ilya

[PaulE]

Do you happen to remember talking to two chaps in a blue Vauxhall Corsa?

If it was you we spoke to near the carpark then I'm glad you found the Slav!!

Afterwards went for a quick scan over Stour Estuary from Holbrook Bay and located another 3 Slav Grebes along with 16 Red Breasted Mergansers, 45 Golden Eye and Kingfisher among others.

Last visit back to Flatford Mill to check out the reported Dipper, was a bit of a long shot but didn't see it ~ did see 3 Wagtail and heard Kingfisher by the river though.

Matt
hi matt
no it wasn't me i didn't go to the wonder i parked by the bridge and walked up in that direction the slav and scaup i saw were right up against the far bank not sure if they were the birds viewable from the wonder the goosander was right in the middle in open water and i think it would have been viewable.
i may have seen you as i did scan across the water towards the wonder to see what was on the feeders although i was a bit tired by this time and couldn't be bothered to walk all the way round
nice haul at holbrook i havn't had a good view of a merganser this year yet although there were quite a few goldeneye at alton. i prefer the stour estuary from wrabness or manningtree mainly because you have the sun behind you
was that dipper seen more than once as i've come to regard the flatford to brantham walk as my local patch and it would be a good tick
hi ilya
i go to the stour estuary on regular basis and will certainly keep an eye out for your colour ringed birds although judging by the sheer numbers of birds present i think it is pretty obvious that this sort of habitat is very important for wildlife.
cheers

[matt green]

was that dipper seen more than once as i've come to regard the flatford to brantham walk as my local patch and it would be a good tick


Hi Paul

I was told about the Dipper by a friend, apparently not confirmed but a chance conversation with another birder along the river said the bird was seen by an ecologist from wales!!

I think if the bird had been seen by others it would have been on the pagers pretty sharpish so I guess it's just going to remain a mystery ~ eitherway thats one very nice local patch/area you have there!!

If I can gather anymore information about the sighting I'll PM you.

Matt

[NoSpringChicken]

Went to Minsmere yesterday and the biggest change from previous weeks was that the Snipe seemed to have disappeared but there were large numbers of Avocets to replace them.

I spent far too long straining my neck to see if the little bird at the top of a tall conifer was a Goldcrest or one of the Firecrests which have been reported recently. I think, as I saw it, it was probably a Goldcrest.

The highlight of the day was the sight of thousands of Starlings roosting on the Scrape in front of the North hide. Some of them were forming shapes in the sky like tornadoes beside the power station. Very dramatic.

Here's a couple of photos which I took:
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/181764/ppuser/53267
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/181766/ppuser/53267


Ron

[PaulE]

Hi Paul

I was told about the Dipper by a friend, apparently not confirmed but a chance conversation with another birder along the river said the bird was seen by an ecologist from wales!!

I think if the bird had been seen by others it would have been on the pagers pretty sharpish so I guess it's just going to remain a mystery ~ eitherway thats one very nice local patch/area you have there!!

If I can gather anymore information about the sighting I'll PM you.

Matt
cheers matt
it is a very nice area, the walk from brantham to flatford is great and seems to throw up something new everytime i go,although i don't know what the offical definition of local patch is, brantham is about 10 miles from my house so i reckon i'm pushing it a little, although it is probably the place i spend most time birding at the moment although in the spring/summer evenings i tend to go out most nights at walking distance so then i guess i would have to call that my local patch,can you have more than one?
hi ron
great pictures of the starlings i never seem to connect with a realy big display but even the ones i've seen with a few thousand birds have been impressive
cheers

[NoSpringChicken]

Hi all,

My fiancee and I had a wonderful 3 days at minsmere last september and vowed to come back this year to hear the Booming male bitterns (and taste some more Broadside), When would the earliest We could return to get to hear this awesome spectacle (Not sure you can here a spectacle but you know what I mean). We would like to guarentee it so be safe.

Cheers

Darryl
I don't know if you are still interested but according the RSPB site there were ten Bitterns booming on Wednesday night and several booming this morning. I didn't hear any on Sunday though.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/m/minsmere/sightings.asp

Ron

[AJC]

Hi.
I'm up in Norfolk next weekend and will be stopping off en route in the Thetford area for year ticks of Woodlark, Goshawk and Crossbill among others. Would anybody be so kind as to PM me with details of sites were I stand a good chance of seeing the three named species as I will, unfortunaly, not have alot of time to spare.

[jimbob]

Just sent you a PM AJC.
Cheers,
Jim.

[jimbob]

Any news on the LEO at Ickworth park? Last seen on friday according to RBA. One seen at Lackford last week also, birds obviously on the move at the moment.
Cheers,
Jim.

[On-Firecrest]

I have no news on the bird but "showing well" is an understatement.
http://www.birdguides.com/pictures/default.asp?f=164949&r=1&st=0&v=1&q=
Must of given the finder a shock!:eek!:

Are they regular there? I dont know any reliable sites for the species in suffolk...

[PaulE]

I have no news on the bird but "showing well" is an understatement.
http://www.birdguides.com/pictures/default.asp?f=164949&r=1&st=0&v=1&q=
Must of given the finder a shock!:eek!:

Are they regular there? I dont know any reliable sites for the species in suffolk...
fantastic picture i have only seen leo on one occasion and that was buried deep in a tree nice to see what awhole one looks like
i went to brantham this morning highlights were greenshank green sandpiper , i think these birds have both overwintered here as i have seen them on several occasions,assuming there the same birds of course,also had good views of kingfisher,little egret golden plover and ringed plover although the most noticeable thing was that everything seemed to be fighting shelducks having a right old go at each other canada geese likewise and most of the small birds wren, robin dunnocks,etc seemed to be chasing each other about i guess spring is on the way
but the most obvious sign were the skylarks they were everywhere chasing each other hovering high in the sky singing for all they were worth i don't know how many there were as they are surprisingly hard to see on the ground however the singing accompanied me for the whole length of my walk
on my return to the car i popped round the corner for a quick look of the manningtree walls and was rewarded with loads of black-tailed godwits with strangely a single bird in full summer plumage he must have got carried away,also on view were about 30 pintail great close views and in the distance a pair of red breasted mergansers and a small group of female goldeneye
cheers

[jimbob]

I have no news on the bird but "showing well" is an understatement.
http://www.birdguides.com/pictures/default.asp?f=164949&r=1&st=0&v=1&q=
Must of given the finder a shock!:eek!:

Are they regular there? I dont know any reliable sites for the species in suffolk...

Bl**dy hell! I reckon there are more LEOs than people realise out west suffolk way...
Some nice estates and farmland probably harbour the odd pair, certainly overwintering birds.
A relative of mine worked on a farm out near Great Livermere. Winter 2006 she phoned me up, said she had an injured LEO, found on the farm track. Sadly the bird died, but the farmer himself is pretty sure he has seen owls on his land. I have never been out to look, huge areas of land to cover, a lot of it private. My favourite bird personally, elusive, difficult to pin down particularly down here in the south of the country it would seem. A bird that certainly suffers suppression, but I can see the logic behind people doing that.
Lackford has had birds on the reserve 3 years in a row I believe, 2 roosting in the bushes near the centre and 1 hunting on the reserve itself. Must breed somewhere nearby? Cant all be migrants surely.
Cheers,
Jim.

[NoSpringChicken]

There were reportedly ten Mediterranean Gulls on the East Scrape at Minsmere yesterday. I managed to find seven and found it quite easy to pick them out by the white wing tips. They do look quite different from the Black-headed Gulls.

Here is a couple of photos of two of them, with two BH for comparison. They are not brilliant photos as they were quite a distance away but they give the idea.

I think I also spotted Matt Green wandering about but I didn't introduce myself as I wasn't absolutely sure it was him.


Ron

[matt green]

There were reportedly ten Mediterranean Gulls on the East Scrape at Minsmere yesterday. I managed to find seven and found it quite easy to pick them out by the white wing tips. They do look quite different from the Black-headed Gulls.

Here is a couple of photos of two of them, with two BH for comparison. They are not brilliant photos as they were quite a distance away but they give the idea.

I think I also spotted Matt Green wandering about but I didn't introduce myself as I wasn't absolutely sure it was him.


Ron

Hiya Ron, you should have introduced yourself as it would have been nice to have a chat!

We were on the reserve most of the day, managed to pick out some nice sightings....first notable sighting was picked out by my very observant lady friend! who found a Chiffchaff while watching Reedbuntings. Highlights of the day were Rock Pipit, Water Pipit, Cetti's (which showed very well along the North Wall) Caspian Gull, Med Gull, Bittern (heard booming only), female Smew
along with the more usuall stuff!

Also had the usuall very confiding views of the Muntjack Deer in the woods as well as two female Red Deer on Whin Hill....

Considering what was forecast the day before I think we were very lucky as regards to the weather!!

Matt

[NoSpringChicken]

Hiya Ron, you should have introduced yourself as it would have been nice to have a chat!

We were on the reserve most of the day, managed to pick out some nice sightings....first notable sighting was picked out by my very observant lady friend! who found a Chiffchaff while watching Reedbuntings. Highlights of the day were Rock Pipit, Water Pipit, Cetti's (which showed very well along the North Wall) Caspian Gull, Med Gull, Bittern (heard booming only), female Smew
along with the more usuall stuff!

Also had the usuall very confiding views of the Muntjack Deer in the woods as well as two female Red Deer on Whin Hill....

Considering what was forecast the day before I think we were very lucky as regards to the weather!!

Matt
A belated "hello" Matt. I saw you near the GS peckers on the path back from the Island Mere hide. I was in a navy blue coat with a black rucksack on my back. I'll introduce myself if I see you again.

The weather was very good considering and you had some good spots there. I missed the Caspian Gulls but I'm only just coming to terms with the Mediterraneans! There were Reed Buntings all over the place yesterday but I didn't see any Stonechats, which is very unusual.

Ron

[matt green]

A belated "hello" Matt. I saw you near the GS peckers on the path back from the Island Mere hide. I was in a navy blue coat with a black rucksack on my back. I'll introduce myself if I see you again.

The weather was very good considering and you had some good spots there. I missed the Caspian Gulls but I'm only just coming to terms with the Mediterraneans! There were Reed Buntings all over the place yesterday but I didn't see any Stonechats, which is very unusual.

Ron

Hi again

As expected Mins can be very popular on the weekends so passed quite a few birders but vaguely remember passing folk while watching the two Peckers(we'll have to get some BF member identification tags made up!!)

Regarding the Caspian, myself and the lady would have missed it too if it had not been for the more experienced birder friend who very kindly drove us to the site..

The Stonechats were seen on top of a twiggy tree along the dunes, the males were particularly striking in there summer plumage...

Matt

[joannec]

We were on the reserve most of the day, managed to pick out some nice sightings....first notable sighting was picked out by my very observant lady friend! who found a Chiffchaff while watching Reedbuntings. Highlights of the day were Rock Pipit, Water Pipit, Cetti's (which showed very well along the North Wall) Caspian Gull, Med Gull, Bittern (heard booming only), female Smew
along with the more usuall stuff!

Matt

Sounds like you saw some good birds yesterday Matt...nice you saw the cettis well and the water pipit. WP remains elusive for me.

Love the landscape.

Joanne

[On-Firecrest]

Sitting at home ill, I have just recieved an E-Mail from my dad saying there is one very nearly summer plumaged Shag at Ipswich docks. Brightened up a lunch break walk i suppose...
Assuming i'm feeling better, I should be up at Minsmere this saturday, does anyone know if the Firecrests are still there and what area they're frequenting?
cheers
steve

[Connor Rand]

Sitting at home ill, I have just recieved an E-Mail from my dad saying there is one very nearly summer plumaged Shag at Ipswich docks. Brightened up a lunch break walk i suppose...
Assuming i'm feeling better, I should be up at Minsmere this saturday, does anyone know if the Firecrests are still there and what area they're frequenting?
cheers
steve

Dont know about the Firecrests Steve but I see nobody else has commented about your Marshmallow Tit at Santon. Come on folks! I cant be the only one with an opinion out there... ;)

Connor

[simon]

Firecrests were frequenting the area between the turning to the West Hide and the bittern hide when i was last there a couple of weeks ago but have had no reports of since

Does anyone know anything about the Long-eared Owl that was reported at Ickworth on the 7th March? Photo on bird guides, is the bird still there? What area was it seen in ? Ickworth park is a big area. Please Pm if neccessary

[jimbob]

Steve,
I was looking for the Firecrests with some of the regulars a couple of weeks back. Just after the Bittern hide (heading away from the visitor centre) you have that patch of woodland on your left- this is where the 2 birds have been seen. They range as far as the hedges where you turn off for Island Mere hide apparantly so worth a thorough check. Seen from the track. Did I see them? Did I f**k. Also Juv Glauc on the scrape.

Seems the LEO news has gone quiet...suprise suprise ;).
Cheers,
Jim.

[gi2012]

Sitting at home ill, I have just recieved an E-Mail from my dad saying there is one very nearly summer plumaged Shag at Ipswich docks. Brightened up a lunch break walk i suppose...
Assuming i'm feeling better, I should be up at Minsmere this saturday, does anyone know if the Firecrests are still there and what area they're frequenting?
cheers
steve

No recent news of a Firecrest at Minsmere lately, but one was at Landguard earlier in the week so well worth checking the coast such as Sizewell for any.
I should be going to Minsmere on Saturday, so will have to wait until Sunday to have a look for that Shag.

Firecrests were frequenting the area between the turning to the West Hide and the bittern hide when i was last there a couple of weeks ago but have had no reports of since

Does anyone know anything about the Long-eared Owl that was reported at Ickworth on the 7th March? Photo on bird guides, is the bird still there? What area was it seen in ? Ickworth park is a big area. Please Pm if neccessary

Apart from the photo no news at all!

Gi

[PaulE]

had my first trip to carlton marshes today, it was a bit windy not helped by the fact i forgot my coat. a right mixture of winter and spring, had fantastic close and prolonged views of a hunting short earred owl, large flocks of starlings,fieldfares,meadow pipits and reed buntings.but representing spring were the singing skylarks,cetti's warblers,actually managed to get good views,wrens and blackbirds. also had good views of marsh harrier, kingfisher and a rock pipit(99.9% sure not water pipit)
also had my first view of chinese water deer ,very strange, for a rather worrying couple of seconds thought i was looking at two large dogs
altogther a very nice day although my legs are starting to ache must have walked a good 5 miles mostly along the river waveney.
places like minsmere are great but it's nice to get out on your sometimes,only saw two other people all day,to enjoy the peace and solitude and beautiful open countryside of our county
cheers

[NoSpringChicken]

A nice report, Paul. I agree Carlton Marshes is a great place and it seems not too many people know about it. I don't know if they have reopened the ponds at the top yet (they were closed off when I went there a few weeks ago) but they are really good in the summer for dragonflies and insects. I will have to pay it another visit soon as it's only a ten minute drive for me to get there.

Ron

[gi2012]

..does anyone know if the Firecrests are still there and what area they're frequenting?
cheers
steve


Two Firecrests in the south belt again at Minsmere yesterday and 1 still at Landguard.

Two Bearded Tits on the patch today was a treat along with the overwintering Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank yesterday - probably one from Martlesham Creek. Chiffchaff still singing at the sewage works and 1 Rock Pipit again this morning.

Gi

[On-Firecrest]

Ok thanks for that Gi, unfortunately I cant go anywhere this weekend due to my personal situation, but I maybe able to go to minsmere in a few weeks.

[On-Firecrest]

I managed to get an early morining walk around Landguard point today managing to get very wet and cold and two bright male black redstarts on the common, and the busted up crane in the dock. Nothing much at wherstead strand.
cheers
steve

[JonH]

Had a walk in the area of the Wonder today, wind was blowing straight onto the shore, it was bitterly cold. Most water birds were sensibly in the shelter of the trees on the opposite bank. There were a couple of pairs of Goldeneye in the open water, at the back of the wood a large flock of mixed Long Tailed, Blue, Great and one pair of Coal Tits. Earlier in the week in the same area I had a brief glimpse of a small hawk, my best guess was that it was probably a Merlin. On the 20th heard and then saw several Chiffchaffs, on checking my diary it was exactly the same day as last year. Had great views of a pair of Barn Owls, must remember to take the camera along next time !