Suffolk Birding (1 Viewer)

[GiG]

Hi gi2012, Blackpond Meadow is about 25 mins walk away from the main carpark at Lemons Hill, (as you come from the Tattingstone White Horse it is to the Left) You will come to a nice observation hide & Blackpond Meadow is the next inlet on from here, it can be very muddy along the path. There is also access from coxhall road (a small lane) but parking is very difficult.

Hi Jon,

Thanks for that. I know where you men though didn't know name. 30 Corn Buntings at Lings Lane, Chelmondiston today.

Gi

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Minsmere today

Over 50 species on the reserve. Highlights:

1 Firecrest
2 Red-head Smew
2 Bewick Swan
Marsh Harrier
Water Rail
Sausage sandwich and cuppa in cafe:king:

& Red-throated Diver and Great Crested Grebe off-shore.

I LOVES MINSMERE

 

[scott m]

Hi Paul E
Ashwood is an area out of reach from public rights of way in Eastbridge. The chap is reporting them as they are in his garden coming to feeders, I could ask him if he would mind you coming to see them. If you want to see them at another spot, there are several at beach(beech?) farm Benacre in hedges to the north of the footpath. Hope this helps. PM me if you would like to see them at Eastbridge and I will see what I can do.

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Suffolk Birds 2007

got a copy at Lackford and its well good :t:

White-fronts and Snowy still at Micklemere this morning. Also, huge volume of Gulls, Ducks and Geese at Gt Livermere all the usual suspects but nice looking through 'em.

Water Rails still very visible at Lackford by Orchid hide yesterday, Yellow-legged in roost last couple nites and a lady I met had good views of the Bittern over near Bess's hide. Lesser-Redpolls is also using the Niger feeders rite in front of centre.

Stayed after dark yesterday to have a look for owls - no joy but at least two Woodcock B

 

[Original PaulE]

got a copy at Lackford and its well good :t:

White-fronts and Snowy still at Micklemere this morning. Also, huge volume of Gulls, Ducks and Geese at Gt Livermere all the usual suspects but nice looking through 'em.

Water Rails still very visible at Lackford by Orchid hide yesterday, Yellow-legged in roost last couple nites and a lady I met had good views of the Bittern over near Bess's hide. Lesser-Redpolls is also using the Niger feeders rite in front of centre.

Stayed after dark yesterday to have a look for owls - no joy but at least two Woodcock B

sounds like it might be worth a trip out west soon has there been much at cavenham heath
i also went after owls today so headed for shingle street unfortunately got caught up watching the australia/south africa twenty/20 on tv so didn't get an early start so apart from a few false alarms, blooming curlews,didn't manage any owls however a flock of about 30 snow buntings on the beach/grass was an excellent consolation
cheers

 

[Jonny Rankin]

A m8 went Cavenham yesterday & said it was very quite - I was thiking of having a look soon... try catch up with little Owl and theres outside chance of Lesser-spot. Still yet to visit the pit I've only been to the Tuddenham village end...

Theres also been Rough-legged Buzzard reported not far from there... I aint seen it meself, but could be worth a look around the Timworth area if you visit. Happy hunting:t:

 

[Daffyduck]

After L-heath headed back to West Stow and got 1st Nuthatch of the year, gave it a bit but, no Brambling.

Hi Jonny what is West Stow like for birding - any particular areas/ species to note? I drove past it on the way to lackford today and wondered but didnt have enough time as it was just a quick pit stop at the lakes.

Managed to see the snow goose (blue Morph) at lackford today and the red polls, very nice indeed:t:
Tina

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Hi Jonny what is West Stow like for birding - any particular areas/ species to note? I drove past it on the way to lackford today and wondered but didnt have enough time as it was just a quick pit stop at the lakes.

Managed to see the snow goose (blue Morph) at lackford today and the red polls, very nice indeed:t:
Tina

Hi Tina,

Glad you got the Redpolls... really nice to see them from the warmth of the visitors centre too!

Also, good to know the goose is still about - I thought it a blue-morph Snowy too but I've heard it called everything from a Snow Goose or Emperor Goose to Emporer Goose x Ross's Goose Hybrid! Not sure if anyone else on hear knows any more about it!?

West Stow can be superb... on the whole its the most reliable locally for Brambling - beneath the feeders with the Chaffs... similarly its good for Nuthatch - there is a sightings board inside and there is regular Tree Sparrow, Crossbill sighthings there although I have never seen them. From the Visitors centre you can walk down adjacent to lackford - the hide you can see from Lackford is at West Stow, although doesnt afford such good views of the water. There is a really good circular walk to Culford and back up through some forestry to the Visitor centre. The local RSPB group did it the other month and it was a top walk... good mix on Wildfowl and Woodland birds.

The shorter plantations are home to Nightjars in the summer too, there was a pic in a recent birdwatching mag from there :t:

Defo worth a look - but I find it hard to drag myself away from Lackford!

Cheers.

 

[Daffyduck]

Cheers Jonny will def pop in to take a look at W. Stow next time. The snow goose looked like this

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=158977

Wished I'd managed to get a photo like that! Do you know why its not on the bird map latest sightings? or is it quite a common migrant?
Cheers
Tina

 

[NoSpringChicken]

It was unusually quiet at Minsmere today. I think the strong wind combined with the fact that most of the water was still frozen was keeping the birds away. The highlight came just as we about to get into the car to leave. My other half said there was something under a bush about four metres away. When I looked there was a perfect view of a Woodcock snuggled down out of the wind. I hadn't noticed it at all.

Ron

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Cheers Jonny will def pop in to take a look at W. Stow next time. The snow goose looked like this

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=158977

Wished I'd managed to get a photo like that! Do you know why its not on the bird map latest sightings? or is it quite a common migrant?
Cheers
Tina

Morning Tina,

Yeah W. Stow is defo worth a look :t:

There is a couple of Snow Geese resident around West Suffolk... including a more traditional White phase that has favored Micklemere... I think people assume they are escapees due to there long staying... I haven't seen any rings or tags on either goose, so who knows!

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Talk by Natural England at Bury St Edmunds libary tonight, about the proposed White-tailed Sea Eagle re-introduction. Could be worth a look...

 

[Daffyduck]

Meeting at BSE tonight re. WT Fish Eagle

Would have liked to have gone, but couldn't. If anyone did go, I would be interested in hearing what was said and what the common views were from the audience about the re-introduction for E.Anglia..

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Would have liked to have gone, but couldn't. If anyone did go, I would be interested in hearing what was said and what the common views were from the audience about the re-introduction for E.Anglia..

Hi Daffy,

Was a superb presentation by a chap from Natural England - he went through the species former range and subsequent persecution (by the church! with clergy men largely responsible!) with the last birds holding on in the highlands till the early 1900's.

Then he explained the reasoning behind wanting to re-introduce and the strict criteria they have to meet.

Interestingly, if the scheme was been led by another organisation as opposed to a government organisation we'd probably already have S-Eagle's!

There was a vote at the beginning & end of the meeting with around 90% in favor at the beginning and a few more at the end... a couple maintained there no-vote. This 90% figure seems typical of all the consultation NE have done to date.

The earliest we could hope to see SE's around is 2010... although it would have been last year but the release sites one in Norfolk one in Minsmere both had to be abandoned...

In Norfolk the landowner received a lot of opposition/threats and Minsmere because of the really successful breeding year for Bittern - although studies from the continent show SE's don't take Bittern and the two co-inhabit without incident it was decided it wasn't worth the risk on the off chance!

Overall, the release scheme is only for about 10 birds I think... with the maximum East Anglia population thought to be about 10 pairs (20 birds)... they do take 4 or so years to reach maturity so it'll be in the 20-teens before we have our first East Anglian Eagle, should things go ahead...

heres hoping! :t:

 

[J Jones]

Whats the effect on waders though Jonny?

I don't know many serious birders who are keen at all.

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Whats the effect on waders though Jonny?

I don't know many serious birders who are keen at all.

Is a serious birder one that doesn't laugh much?

With regards to Waders a negligible effect... a Sea Eagle is unlikely to catch a Wader on the Wing, they would more likely predate young on the nest, with large territories (c10km) a feeder pair are unlikely to compare with the existing predation, in particular Gulls and Crows... Black Headed Gulls alone were responsible for all the Avocet's nesting on the scrape at Minsmere failing (last year or year before).

In Norway and other wetland strong holds, waders and wildfowl co-exist with the Sea-Eagles. Compared with however many Marsh Harriers (wouldn't like to guess how many we have 100, 200+ pairs in EA?) the impact of 10 SE's dispersed over the whole of EA coast line doesn't concern me in the slightest.

 

[Original PaulE]

Hi Daffy,

Was a superb presentation by a chap from Natural England - he went through the species former range and subsequent persecution (by the church! with clergy men largely responsible!) with the last birds holding on in the highlands till the early 1900's.

Then he explained the reasoning behind wanting to re-introduce and the strict criteria they have to meet.

Interestingly, if the scheme was been led by another organisation as opposed to a government organisation we'd probably already have S-Eagle's!

There was a vote at the beginning & end of the meeting with around 90% in favor at the beginning and a few more at the end... a couple maintained there no-vote. This 90% figure seems typical of all the consultation NE have done to date.

The earliest we could hope to see SE's around is 2010... although it would have been last year but the release sites one in Norfolk one in Minsmere both had to be abandoned...

In Norfolk the landowner received a lot of opposition/threats and Minsmere because of the really successful breeding year for Bittern - although studies from the continent show SE's don't take Bittern and the two co-inhabit without incident it was decided it wasn't worth the risk on the off chance!

Overall, the release scheme is only for about 10 birds I think... with the maximum East Anglia population thought to be about 10 pairs (20 birds)... they do take 4 or so years to reach maturity so it'll be in the 20-teens before we have our first East Anglian Eagle, should things go ahead...

heres hoping! :t:

hi jonny
sounds like a good meeting i'm quite surprised at the high yes vote threads on the forum suggest a more mixed reaction
i personally would like to see the eagles in suffolk i have read that the birds are on the increase in Europe and that here is a chance that they will colonize naturally which would make a re introduction programme a bit of a waste of money which i think would be better spent on habitat creation perhaps another lakenheath fen type project
cheers

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Yeah another couple Lakenheaths would be SWEET!

I think there is a certain pool of money they call upon, like businesses that have to spend an amount on good causes. Like Anglian water sponsoring Ospreys & that. Dare say another company sponsored Corncrake & Red Kite etc.

Nearest breeding pair is Holland, chap reconned we do get wandering juv's but once they are mature they head back within a few miles of there birth place. Don't know how far the Scottish birds have spread? But I know the population has taken a long time to increase.

I'd be pumped to see Harrier Kite Falcon Hawk & Eagle all in a days birding round Suffolk! Mad thoughts!

 

[Daffyduck]

Thanks for the report on the WT Sea Eagle. It sounded like an excellent evening. I too am surprized at the 90% vote for reintroduction as the media had reported a negative reaction. Mind you if the event was full of birders then no wonder

The daily mail yesterday was showing a picture of a phalarope being predated by a common buzzard down in cornwall :eek!: to the concern of twitchers who had travelled miles to see the phalarope..... I guess a phalarope would be a little snack or appetiser for a WT SE! see this link

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...s-hours-rare-bird--snatched-away-buzzard.html

Was at Lakenheath yesterday - Great Grey Shrike still showing well, lots of Gt Black Backs on the lake along with yellow legged gull (but dipped on the Icelandic and Caspian Gulls apparently visible more in the afternoon?).

One thing I noticed was the lack of ducks this year on that lake. Previous years its been full of tuffy's, widgeon, shovlers and shelduck but this year Ive seen hardly anything - Do you know why? Its certainly turned into a haven for gulls now.
Tina

 

[GiG]

An interesting day yesterday, with the high and lows of birding. I'd got a new scope mid week and was keen to use it. First thing, on a SOG trip to Felixstowe Ferry - Kings Marsh. The weather made it hard work with good numbers of Golden Plover and Brent Goose and good views of Rock Pipit the highlights. Unfortunately a 4x4 was driving around the farm fields and a collie was chasing hares etc so there was little over the fields.

A mate was going for the Lapland Bunting at Dunwich so I decided to join him. At the car park we were having a cuppa before starting off - I had decided to stand outside because my back was playing up and I'm glad I did as a I picked up a Great White Egret flying north going over Dingle Marshes. Managed to call me mate out in time for him to see it too. The sea was quiet as we walked towards the feeding station, and half way there we came across a group of Twite, one of which had a pink ring. Further up at the feeding station no sign of the Lapland B but now 50+ Twite was an excellent sight.

Final stop to look for Hawfinch at Sotterley, a bit late in the day so no luck, but close views of a pair of Marsh Tits and heading back towards Blythburgh two Woodcocks flew over to finish of the day.

Gi