Blandford Birder
Active member
I know that a week in Suffolk may not compare with more exotic Trip Reports, but here's an account of our - me Brian and my wife Ann - holiday in Suffolk. From Wiltshire, we're both retired, and I'd describe us as keen all-round, lifelong birders, not in the Premier League of Birding by any means, but to continue the football analogy, more Championship, Ann in the play-offs and me more mid-division.
We stayed at Warren Lodges along the lane between Theberton and Eastbridge, Google Minsmere Holidays if you think you might be interested, which is very handy for both RSPB Minsmere and the Eels Foot Pub. Timber lodges may not be everyone's cup of tea, but ours was fine and in a very peaceful location. Bear in mind that there was no wi-fi connection and we didn't phone any of the Information Services so all the birds we saw were either self-found or from information gleaned at Minsmere or from fellow birders. The weather was dry and mostly sunny, but with a keen northerly or north-easterly wind.
Also take into account when reading this the week was a HOLIDAY, not wall to wall birding. I'll post the account in bite sized chunks.
DAY 1 - Saturday 1st June
We arrived in Suffolk at mid-day, and as we coiuldn't get into the lodge until 4 p.m. we went straight to suss out RSPB Minsmere. We were soon into all the Minsmere residents such as Cettis, and Reed and Sedge Warblers, Bearded Tits, Avocets of course, Hobbys, and good numbers of Kittiwakes on The Scrape. As we were walking back across the car park we heard, then saw two Mediterranean Gulls flying over.
After Minsmere we went over to Saxmundham for provisions and then settled in to the lodge. After an evening meal we walked down to the bridge at Eastbridge and were treated to a Barn Owl flying alongside the road.
Species total after Day 1 - 69
DAY 2 - Sunday 2nd June
We woke very early this morning to sun streaming in through the Bedroom window and the sound of a "purring" Turtle Dove, which as it happened, was to serenade us all week. After yesterdays drive, and assuming Minsmere would be heaving, we sat in the sunshine and logged the birds at Warren Lodges for the morning. We recorded 34 species without any effort, which included Mistle Thrush, Kestrel, a skein of five Greylag Geese, Greater-spotted Woodpecker, a Marsh Harrier, a Hobby, Jay and an ever present Cuckoo. We also recorded 5 species of Butterfly, and a Grass Snake.
After lunch we walked the lanes to the new Island Mere hide at Minsmere, our first impression of the new hide wasn't favourable, we much prefer the older style hides, but as the week went on, it grew on us. The hide was busy, but we eventually bagged some seats and in a couple of hours we'd seen a Great-white Egret, Bearded Tits, had long flight views of a Bittern, and heard Cettis Warblers and a Water Rail.
At dusk, back at Warren Lodges a Barn Owl was sitting on a branch of a dead tree.
Species total after Day 2 - 80
To be continued .......
We stayed at Warren Lodges along the lane between Theberton and Eastbridge, Google Minsmere Holidays if you think you might be interested, which is very handy for both RSPB Minsmere and the Eels Foot Pub. Timber lodges may not be everyone's cup of tea, but ours was fine and in a very peaceful location. Bear in mind that there was no wi-fi connection and we didn't phone any of the Information Services so all the birds we saw were either self-found or from information gleaned at Minsmere or from fellow birders. The weather was dry and mostly sunny, but with a keen northerly or north-easterly wind.
Also take into account when reading this the week was a HOLIDAY, not wall to wall birding. I'll post the account in bite sized chunks.
DAY 1 - Saturday 1st June
We arrived in Suffolk at mid-day, and as we coiuldn't get into the lodge until 4 p.m. we went straight to suss out RSPB Minsmere. We were soon into all the Minsmere residents such as Cettis, and Reed and Sedge Warblers, Bearded Tits, Avocets of course, Hobbys, and good numbers of Kittiwakes on The Scrape. As we were walking back across the car park we heard, then saw two Mediterranean Gulls flying over.
After Minsmere we went over to Saxmundham for provisions and then settled in to the lodge. After an evening meal we walked down to the bridge at Eastbridge and were treated to a Barn Owl flying alongside the road.
Species total after Day 1 - 69
DAY 2 - Sunday 2nd June
We woke very early this morning to sun streaming in through the Bedroom window and the sound of a "purring" Turtle Dove, which as it happened, was to serenade us all week. After yesterdays drive, and assuming Minsmere would be heaving, we sat in the sunshine and logged the birds at Warren Lodges for the morning. We recorded 34 species without any effort, which included Mistle Thrush, Kestrel, a skein of five Greylag Geese, Greater-spotted Woodpecker, a Marsh Harrier, a Hobby, Jay and an ever present Cuckoo. We also recorded 5 species of Butterfly, and a Grass Snake.
After lunch we walked the lanes to the new Island Mere hide at Minsmere, our first impression of the new hide wasn't favourable, we much prefer the older style hides, but as the week went on, it grew on us. The hide was busy, but we eventually bagged some seats and in a couple of hours we'd seen a Great-white Egret, Bearded Tits, had long flight views of a Bittern, and heard Cettis Warblers and a Water Rail.
At dusk, back at Warren Lodges a Barn Owl was sitting on a branch of a dead tree.
Species total after Day 2 - 80
To be continued .......