Suffolk Birding (1 Viewer)

[Jonny Rankin]

Had a free day so my mate and I did a bit of birding on the Suffolk coast. Started off at Southwold for a seawatch - not a lot, mostly small groups of Gannets north, the odd tern, surprisingly few waders with the highlight a Marsh Harrier in off.

A colour-ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull was on a post but was unfortunately at an angle where I could not read the lettering, a walk down to the beach and standing on the waters edge I finally manged to get it. At Southwold harbour a Herring Gull with a colour ring was much more straightforward to read. Both probably ringed on Orfordness.

Next stop Hen Reedbeds for the Great White Egret and also heard Whimbrel and Bearded Tit and saw a Common Sandpiper.

At Minsmere very litle water on East Scrape with 3 Green Sadnpipers present. More water and waders on South Scrape including several Spotted Redshanks, 8 Common Sandpiper and a Knot. Nearby on the Konik field a lovely Wood Sandpiper. Back at the centre and outside the toilet block on a Buddleia a very worn White Admiral was a nice surprise.

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We decided to finish off at Staverton Lakes for the Willow Emerald that have been seen there - managed good views of a male and female while on the track down there we had superb views of an immature Common Buzzard circling overhead - one of the best I've had of this species.

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Gi

Top day out that...

As you mentioned very lil water on the scrapes at Minsmere (so lil wet mud for waders) coupled with all the Terns and Gulls deserting made for a bit of an anti-climax Friday night.

Is the Konik field the newer scrape beyond the North Bushes? I am gutted I didn't look there Wood Sand would have made my evening!

Much as you described present on Fri evening with the addition of Yellow Wagtail and juv Gannet at sea.

Was still a magic evening but defo my least productive visit :-C

 

[GiG]

Hi Jonny,

Yes it was a good day out. Forgot to mention we popped down to Sizewell and saw singles of Black and Artic Tern around the outflow along with Common Tern and 20+ Little Gulls.

The Konik field is the wet area on the right past South Hide going towards the sluice, also saw a Yellow Wagtail there. Hopefully they will again open up the temporary footpath at the back there, along the river to overlook the pools at the back of Island Mere.

Gi

Top day out that...

As you mentioned very lil water on the scrapes at Minsmere (so lil wet mud for waders) coupled with all the Terns and Gulls deserting made for a bit of an anti-climax Friday night.

Is the Konik field the newer scrape beyond the North Bushes? I am gutted I didn't look there Wood Sand would have made my evening!

Much as you described present on Fri evening with the addition of Yellow Wagtail and juv Gannet at sea.

Was still a magic evening but defo my least productive visit :-C

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Konik Field

Cheers for that Gi,

Gave that area a look & had Lil Egret - should have looked harder!

Sizewell is a cracking spot - I read an article about Canary Warf acting as a migrant draw like sum kind of 'lighthouse effect' for migrants... I reckon that Sizewell dome could have a similar effect... got to worth a close look in a month or so... :t:

 

[Original PaulE]

nice evening walk at boyton tonight good views of barn owl marsh harrier several egrets and a spoonbill
on the wader front had several black tailed godwits,a snipe, 3 avocets 4 green sandpipers don't think any of em were wood and a couple of juvenile litte ringed plovers
also on arrival had good views of a turtle dove inthe dead trees on the right of the entrance
cheers

 

[Original PaulE]

2 in 2 days barn owls are getting easy saw this one at cattawade also good view of kingfisher and lots of egrets
most of the flashes have dried up so scoured the river bank for waders slim pickings a couple of common sandpipers and a couple of greenshanks my only reward
probably the best action of the evening were the several large flocks of very noisy swallows going through looks like summers nearly over
cheers

 

[Duke Leto]

As always walking the dog today but with my son and no camera and I get the nicest view of an Osprey that you could want, circling over the fishing pits at Barham before heading towards Needham Market. Isn't that some ones law.........

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Needham Osprey

As always walking the dog today but with my son and no camera and I get the nicest view of an Osprey that you could want, circling over the fishing pits at Barham before heading towards Needham Market. Isn't that some ones law.........

Haha, yes some one...

The prospect of seeing it over Needham Mkt will get me thru the working week tho :t:

Good look with the snap, there's always a next time...

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Wood Sands

nice evening walk at boyton tonight good views of barn owl marsh harrier several egrets and a spoonbill
on the wader front had several black tailed godwits,a snipe, 3 avocets 4 green sandpipers don't think any of em were wood and a couple of juvenile litte ringed plovers
also on arrival had good views of a turtle dove inthe dead trees on the right of the entrance
cheers

Bad luck on the Boyton Wood Sand PaulE I was tempted to look for it after work too.

Good to hear it's a nice spot tho, on me list of places to visit :t:

Wood sands continue to elude neva seen so many greens as lately so must b getting warmer!

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Lackford & bird fair

4 green sands, marsh tit, hawking hobby & 1st snipe in months highlights at lackford today.

Also, anyone heading to bird fair along the A14 next weekend? If so I'd chip in petrol £'s it's a killa train ride & they keep striking!

 

[Original PaulE]

Bad luck on the Boyton Wood Sand PaulE I was tempted to look for it after work too.

Good to hear it's a nice spot tho, on me list of places to visit :t:

Wood sands continue to elude neva seen so many greens as lately so must b getting warmer!

hi jonny yes wood sand is becoming bit of an obsession only seen one before thinking of trying boyton early doors tomorrow i to have seen loads of green and common sands this year
you should go to boyton one of my favourite reserves sometimes can be quite difficult birds not on a plate like minsmere but you can winkle out some good stuff also best thing is there is usually no one else there!

cheers

 

[matt green]

possible Scaup in the Waverney

Posted this on the ID boards a short while ago, pretty much inconclusive but if anyone fancied a look it's at Flixton gravel pits in the Waverney Valley to the west of Bungay. A footpath (angles way) leads past the first large pool where the bird was seen mid afternoon...

Also a few Red Crested Pochards knocking about but these are obviously duffs!!

Clutching at straws but who knows!!

Matt

 

[NoSpringChicken]

They have opened two new temporary trails at Minsmere. The one through the north bushes to the North Hide has been reopened and should be good for migrants. There is also a new looped trail through the reedbeds near the West and South Hides. About half way round it gives extensive views over the reeds and should be great for Bearded Tits and Marsh Harriers. Unfortunately the whole reserve appeared to be largely birdless yesterday so we were unable to take full advantage of it.

One unusual sight for me yesterday was a female Marsh Harrier cruising about just in front of the public hide. I haven't seen them there before.

Ron

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Needham Osprey Watch

Had Duke's Osprey on me lunch break & an absolute cracker it was. Purely delighted :king:

At 13:43 it was flying down the Gipping towards Needham Market then it circled high over Bosmere Hall & back towards Barham. Absolute class.

Also Spotted Flycatcher & Hobby while walking along the Gipping.

Also, does anyone have any more info on the Redgrave Wood Sand, as reported last night:

One just south of Hinderclay Fen on a farm slurry pool; also 11 Green Sandpipers, Greenshank and Common Sandpiper TM028786

I'll go for it after work if its still aboot :t:

 

[Jonny Rankin]

:t:Hinderclay Wood Sand still showing a treat in NE corner of pool. Difficult to get a view through perimiter fence but 6+ Greens & Wood Showed a treat.

Pure delighted:t:

 

[Original PaulE]

early morning visit to minsmere this morning a couple of really bright lesser whitethroats in the north bushes,i reckon the new trail going to be real handy gets you right in there, also a nice whinchat on the bushes at the start of the north wall and another on whinhill
a couple of real nice yellow wags on the levels along with a spotted redshank three green sandpipers on the scrape from east hide,still couldn't get a wood sandpiper, and a juv little ringed plover on the koniek field viewed from near the south hide
finished off at island mere good views of a hobby ,cracking male marsh harrier and a ruddy duck amongst the coots, grebes and wildfowl which are building up in numbers now

cheers

 

[jimbob]

Like PaulE, had Lesser Whitethroats on show and Yellow Wag, Whinchat still on the reserve.
Sizewell produced a lot of Little Gulls, 1 Black Tern and an Arctic Skua. Details on my blog.
Question- Mandarin, Christchurch Park, Ipswich. Yes? No? Whereabouts? Can I tie this in with some shopping?! I also read somewhere that a garden centre/nursery has a population, perhaps someone can shed some light.
Cheers,
Jim.

 

[Andrew Goodall]

Hi

I am about to move to Suffolk so I am reading with interest.

Andrew

 

[Jonny Rankin]

Hi

I am about to move to Suffolk so I am reading with interest.

Andrew

Hi Andrew & welcome to Suffolk town!

Are you going to be based in Bury St Eds?

 

[oakes12]

Like PaulE, had Lesser Whitethroats on show and Yellow Wag, Whinchat still on the reserve.
Sizewell produced a lot of Little Gulls, 1 Black Tern and an Arctic Skua. Details on my blog.
Question- Mandarin, Christchurch Park, Ipswich. Yes? No? Whereabouts? Can I tie this in with some shopping?! I also read somewhere that a garden centre/nursery has a population, perhaps someone can shed some light.
Cheers,
Jim.

http://www.information-britain.co.uk/maps.php?Place_ID=9961&type=shop

Victoria Nurseries has a very small pond which certainly had Mandarin on in early spring. The pond is visible from the road through a fence so you don't need to go in. I haven't been to Christchurch Park recently but Mandarin are usually on the Wilderness Pond. If you park in the Crown St multi storey it's a short walk.

 

[jimbob]

http://www.information-britain.co.uk/maps.php?Place_ID=9961&type=shop

Victoria Nurseries has a very small pond which certainly had Mandarin on in early spring. The pond is visible from the road through a fence so you don't need to go in. I haven't been to Christchurch Park recently but Mandarin are usually on the Wilderness Pond. If you park in the Crown St multi storey it's a short walk.

Thanks for your help.
Jim.