Suffolk Birding (1 Viewer)

[Original PaulE]

just back from an evening walk around the village delighted to see my first spotted flycatchers of the year and they appear to be nesting also great views of our local grey wagtails looking mighty fine
cheers

 

[Des!]

I'm in Norfolk over Bank Holiday & fancy a trip out - Can anyone advise on Minsmere & what's showing?

Cheers!

Des

 

[NoSpringChicken]

I'm in Norfolk over Bank Holiday & fancy a trip out - Can anyone advise on Minsmere & what's showing?

Cheers!

Des

Have a look at the RSPB Minsmere site here:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/m/minsmere/sightings.asp

Also this site normally regularly updates the highlights seen there:

http://www.freewebs.com/suffolkbirding/may2008.htm

Ron

 

[Original PaulE]

Had 5 buzzards having a great time in the wind this afternoon from what i know as the watchpoint between thorington street and stoke by nayland
cheers

 

[Stuart Read]

Had 5 buzzards having a great time in the wind this afternoon from what i know as the watchpoint between thorington street and stoke by nayland
cheers

This is a very good spot for Buzzards, I had at least a dozen from here one day back in mid March plus a couple at Thorington Street Reservoir & at least another half dozen along the river Brett Valley.
There was a Black Tern at Thorington Street Res early morning on the 16th May & 3 Hobbies there on the 22nd.

Stuart.

 

[Essex Tern]

Day off work yesterday, so hopped counties and went along to Lakenheath Fen.

Thankfully my persistence with the Orioles paid off, and unfortunately (for them!) the group who were standing in the same area as me had moved on leaving me alone to view one. I could hear singing, probably about half a dozen bursts or so, and eventually a bird flew out from the trees, round and behind me. The light wasn't the best, but the yellow that did catch the light, the undulating flight and thrush type shape were a give away - nice to see a life tick out in the open, as I was expecting I might catch a glimpse of a head or more likely totally dip like I did last time I came.

Other than the Oriole, which made my day, highlights for me were lovely views of Reed Bunting, a Sedge Warbler, Bearded Tit, Marsh Harrier and Kingfisher. I did hear Cranes and Bittern, but oddly I didn't see any Hobbies - possibly the weather was not quite right while I was there, or it was too early in the day.

After lunch popped along to Weeting Heath. Got another life tick there being Wood Lark. Also got Stone Curlew, Little Owl and some very pretty Mistle Thrush.

Did think I would miss out on the Stone Curlew this year, being as they were just over the hill, however a fox came to my rescue! The fox was looking for food and flushed a Stone Curlew - pretty sure he didn't find the nest as he didn't seem to stop at the point I believe the nest to be for long, however there was a bit of a stand off for a while when the fox came back where I could see the fox's head to the left and Stone Curlew's head to the right with probably about 10m between them - they seemed to be sitting there staring at each other for ages!

All in all not a bad day out - 2 lifers and a total of 8 year ticks including the lifers. Shame about the Hobbies (would like to have seen more than 6 which is the most I have seen this year) and would also have liked the Red Foot! But you can't have it all!

Malvin.

 

[Original PaulE]

Had a Red Kite being mobbed by a couple of crows opposite wolves wood in hadleigh this afternoon ironically as i was returning from a birding holiday in wales where i only managed to see two,i wasn't in their area much and the one day i was it was peeing with rain, lets hope we see more of these in suffolk
cheers

 

[On-Firecrest]

Lovely showy Nightingale on the path at minsmere, Common terns fishing in front of the hides and some little terns are using the cockleshell islands the rspb prepared for them. The highlight was definately 6+ bitterns though, 2 booming, and 4 different birds in flight, including 1 female persued by 2 males (presumably) for about 5 minutes back and forth over the reedbed. Pictures on my blog.

 

[Original PaulE]

Had my first roseate tern at minsmere today also had 4 bitterns flying together over the reedbeds and a couple of hobbies zooming about
cheers

 

[cjay]

Found Six Bullfinches today on my Suffolk Common

 

[Steve Babbs]

Hi

I would urge anyone who regularly watches wildlife in Suffolk to join and contribute the Suffolk Wildlife newsgroup on Yahoo groups. It more for other groups then birds but there is some bird stuff and certainly at the moment you won't get overwhelmed with messages.

Cheers

 

[Xenospiza]

My first visit to the Suffolk coast (rather wet camping in Southwold) this weekend (with colleagues, so I had limited opportunities for birding). And Saturday was pretty dismal weatherwise anyway...
A singing fly-by Common Rosefinch this morning showed them what happens when I see something rare. I was quite surprised to see Siskins (3 north, 2 south). Later, I had myself dropped off at Minsmere where I dipped everything by 15 minutes in the 4 hours I was there... but I really enjoyed the Dartford Warblers (4 male, 2 female) on less than half a mile of Dunwich Heath footpath.

 

[NoSpringChicken]

There was a Bittern showing well in front of the Island Mere hide at Minsmere on Sunday. It kept appearing from the reeds to fish then disappearing again after it had caught something. We had several good views of them flying too. A tree in the north bushes had two Nightingales singing in the open at the same time, giving the best views I have had of these birds.

Ron

 

[Original PaulE]

Interesting lark

early this morning i went for a walk from cattawade to flatford a little way on the walk as i scanned the far side of the river on the muddy bank was an extremely pale lark so pale that i originally at first glance thought it was a snow bunting however closer examination showed that it was a lark it had a small not very noticeable crest and showed white edges to the tail.
i looked in my collins and i think that it was most likley a juvenile skylark, there were a lot of other skylarks about although they were all much darker, it did however resemble the picture of a short toed lark unfortunately as i am unfamiliar with this species and didn't have the book on me at the time i didn't really know what to look for although the bill looks right
if anyone else gets a chance to have a look and knows the area the bird was on the muddy bank on the first bend of the river down from the white bridge at cattawade opposite the concrete structure with the metal rails
other birds seen on what was a very pleasant walk were 6 avocet numerous redshank, lapwing,oystercatcher 5 little egret 4 herons loads of whitetroat,reed and sedge warbler great spotted woodpecker feeding a youngster 3 cuckoos and probably the highlight a turtle dove
cheers

 

[cjay]

My birding pals and I went to have a look but could not locate the bird. It could have been anything. thanks for letting us know through the forum.

 

[Original PaulE]

My birding pals and I went to have a look but could not locate the bird. It could have been anything. thanks for letting us know through the forum.

cheers cjay must be a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack it's a large area with alot of cover
i'm kicking myself i must have had it in the scope for a good minute to come up with such a rubbish description i should be better than that by now my only excuse was it was five o'clock in the morning i must have been half a sleep
i think i'm going to have to invest in a camera
cheers

 

[Original PaulE]

well not much to report on the birding front at the moment but on my evening walk around the village i saw two massive flying stag beetles this is quite pleasing as quite a bit of work has been done to encourage them and it seems to be paying off
does anyone know how there doing in suffolk generally
cheers

 

[Steve Babbs]

Don't know how numbers are fairing generally but the Ipswich area has always been a strong hold

 

[Connor Rand]

Hi all,

I (and quite a few others...) noted with interest the report of an 'immature' Red-footed Falcon at Lakenheath. My first reaction was hmmmm sounds interesting. Anyone know what was meant by 'immature'?

Cheers,

Connor

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Aye up,

Hi to all Suffolk birders.

My car was recently scraped & I am saving for a bike, was wondering if any birders/twitchers from Bury St Edmunds (or near by) fancied lift sharing on the odd day out.

I am getting a few places via bus/train... like Lackford Lakes & even managed Sea Palling last week via a myriad of public transports! But it would be great to put in for petrol if people are planning a big day out.

I would gladly meet in a public place initially and can provide character 'references' to assure people I am not a nut bar.

Be good to get further afield and even bird with others as I dont know anyone in the area.

I look forward to hearing from people.

Ta,

Jonny