matt green
Norfolkman gone walkabout
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
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
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