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Having had a nature free day yesterday (more out of necessity than choice as it was  even really too cold to enjoy pottering around the shops and cafés in Southwold) today we chose to have a walk around Walberswick National Nature Reserve. Fortunately the biting cold wind of the day before had subsided and, although the dismal light was not good for photography, it was not too unpleasant for walking.

The first part of the walk took us along the Sandlings Walk (long distance route from Ipswich to Southwold which explores what remains of the once extensive Sandlings Heath). There were great tits, blue tits, chaffinches, blackbirds, robins and wrens and a single buzzard. On the heath land to our right there were lots of crows and sometimes small flocks of starlings. To our left there were extensive silver birch woods. We passed Westwood Lodge, an interesting large 16th century manor house with a huge turret which was still sporting a very large fully-lit Christmas tree .

A pheasant more worried about the distant shots than our prescence

A robin breaking cover

Crows on the heath land

Not much bird life here

At the furthest point from our base in Walberswick we had a choice of taking a return route through Dunwich Forest or a route through the reedbeds of Westwood Marshes. We chose the latter in the hope of seeing some wildfowl but the reeds were so tall that all we saw were a pair of marsh harriers, a grey heron and a mute swan flying in the distance, although we did hear the pinging of bearded tits,  several Cetti’s warblers and occasionally a cacophony of wild fowl from behind the reeds.

The silver birches would have benefited from a ray of sunshine or two

Plenty of interesting fungi to see

… and lichen

The beginning of this section of the walk was interesting and testing. Our guidebook told  us that “the footpath takes you through an area of wet woodland with willow and alder trees and then through dryer birch and oak woodland before emerging in to the reedbed”. The footpath through the “wet” section was elevated and well maintained and quite easy, but the “dry” section was often a quagmire and at times almost unpassable.

Not much chance seeing the wild fowl in the marshes behind the reeds although we occasionally heard the pinging of bearded tits and the easily recognizable sound of Cetti’s warblers

We could just make out  tags on the distant marsh harriers

The welcome sight of the ruins of the wind pump which told us “home” was not much further

We missed out the shingle section at the end of the walk as we didn’t want to be subjected to the coastal winds and we could see a quicker route to the Bell Inn which, by that stage, was a more attractive option

Dunwich Bay in the distance

By the time we arrived home we had covered 10 miles and would have been feeling virtuous except that any good it had done us had probably been wrecked by the pint and the ploughman’s in the pub.

 

We went to RSPB Minsmere on a bright but bitterly cold day full of optimism. This time last year, although a dull dreary day, we had seen many species of birds and had had good views of lots of waders. This year, on arrival, we were told that many of the hides were inaccessible due to flooding and that the East Scrape was no longer a scrape but part of a larger lake caused by the rains and a series of high tides which prevented the area from draining.

This view from near the visitors’ centre showed the East Scrape in the distance fully flooded.

We were told that the Wildlife Lookout was accessible but when we reached the path we discovered that at least wellies were necessary if not waders. We went on to the Bittern Hide. As soon as we arrived there was plenty of action with cormorants, mute swans and marsh harriers in flight. But it was not a pleasant experience as the sunshine was so bright that it was painful to sit there alone watch the birds.

Marsh harrier from the Bittern Hide.

We reckoned that the same would apply at Island Mere and so we made our way back to the visitors’ centre for a coffee. Through the woods there were great tits and long-tailed tits.

Long-tailed tit.

After a warming coffee we decided to brave the cold winds of the North Wall and head towards the sea. There was nothing to see en route and only a few lesser black-backed gulls on the coast. It was, however, much too cold to hang around. We did find that we could get to the hide on the East Scrape by skirting the flooded path but the rewards were not great with only very distant waders (mainly lapwing) at the back of the East (formerly) Scrape and 3 dunlin.

In the bright sunshine Southwold lighthouse and pier can be seen across the heavy seas of Dunwich Bay

The heavy seas reminded me of the storms of 1286 and of the mid 14th Century which washed away the town of Dunwich which are mentioned in the book I am reading by Rosamund Richardson “Waiting for the Albino Duck – how birds can change your life” and which, if the cold weather persists this week, I shall get a good chance to read.

It really was much too cold to hang around so we scurried back to base to catch up with some sports action; however, this brought me no solace as Arsenal  put in a disgraceful performance to get evicted from the FA Cup in the 3rd Round. At least Wendy could feel some satisfaction as their victors were Nottingham Forest (although she was decent enough to hide her glee).

 

 

 

There was persistent rain in the morning but fortunately there was a little window of opportunity with the weather to get out this afternoon (back on home territory in Eastville Park); however, it was quite dark and, although my young companion and I managed to spot 2 male kingfishers regularly around the lake, it was difficult to get clear photos. But never mind eh! Oli enjoyed the afternoon pointing out the kingfishers to people who had never seen one and enjoyed chatting to Cliff.

One of the two male kingfishers at the lake today

One of six cormorants at the lake

The grey heron spent an awful lot of time looking but never took the plunge.

Thought this photo of a squirrel might be the best nature photo of the day at one stage.

Oli’s photos  on his page.

 

What a lovely way to see out the old year with a trip to RSPB Old Moor near Barnsley in Yorkshire with our friends from Sheffield.

It was our first visit to Old Moor and we were very impressed with the two trails with numerous high quality hides and viewing platforms which gave good views over the extensive reserve. There was also a good visitor centre with a decent café.

The highlights were a peregrine, 2 green sandpipers, goldeneyes, goosanders and a redshank which strutted its stuff at close quarters.

Peregrine

Redshank

Redshank

Goldeneye ducks with peregrine keeping a beady eye

Goldeneye ducks

Goosanders

A pair of green sandpipers

Wigeon

Teal

Pied wagtail

Shoveler

Tufted ducks

I couldn’t make out these distant birds and others that flew up regularly even further back but I think golden plovers.

 

 

 

A late start (post Christmas) and an early finish (rain) but there was plenty to see and photograph from the nearby hides. No particular rarities but lots of familiar friends and not enough time to visit the main site.

Common redshank

Lapwings

Shelduck

Pintails

Bewick swans

Shovelers

Greylag Goose

Tufted ducks

Gadwall

Wigeon

Teal

Jackdaw

Wren

Robin

Song thrush

Blackbird

Blue tit

House sparrow

Rat

Flamingos

Click below for gallery of all of today’s photos:

It wasn’t really a day for photographs as it was very poor light (apologies for creating light in these photos where there really wasn’t light) but it’s worth posting a blog to show some of the things we saw at Westhay Moor and RSPB Ham Wall. It was quite mild and it is also worth mentioning that we had an al fresco picnic with friends on Christmas Eve at Ham Wall (no hiding in the car).

We saw plenty of gadwall at Westhay Moor, a great white egret, shovelers, tufted ducks,  wigeon and even a bull finch.

Gadwall

Gadwall

Shoveler

Great white egret (flying right to left – just in case you can’ tell)

At Ham Wall there were more lapwings than anything else, a marsh harrier, several great white egrets, two glossy ibis and lots of mute swans in flight

Lapwings

Glossy ibis among the lapwings

Glossy ibis among the wigeon

Mainly lapwings and wigeon

Marsh harrier

Great white egret

Great white egret

Great white egret

Mute swan

Shoveler

We stayed along with several hundred people to see the murmurations of thousands upon thousands of starlings but, even though murmurations took place, they were all quite distant and difficult to see as they didn’t really rise above the horizon.

Starlings making their way to join up with the massive roost

Difficult to make out the starlings against the hills in the background

There was a bonus at the end as the sun appeared for the first time in the day just as it was setting.

Mute swan

Mute swan

Despite the disappointment of the murmurations it was a really splendid day out.

Click below for gallery of photos from today.

 

 

My young 12 year old apprentice photographer and I were out before sunrise looking for otters this morning (his idea not mine) and saw one on the lake. We also heard a tawny owl.

Once the sun had risen we were treated to the display of 2 male kingfishers and 3 grey herons fishing. The best of the kingfisher photos are his.

Oli’s page

The days are very short and we weren’t able to get out until after 2 pm but, on the eve of the shortest day, my young apprentice and I managed to get a few good spots. We must have seen two different kingfishers in seven different venues and pushed our cameras to extremes in poor light late in the day. The last photo was taken at 3.56 pm.

As well as the kingfishers we saw a grey heron, a grey wagtail, 2 mute swans with a cygnet and a dipper on the way home in the twilight.

We also thought we saw in the lake the movements of an otter and its bubbles but will  keep hoping to get a full sight of it or its family.

Oli’s photos are on his page.

A very dank misty morning as we walked around Eastville Park. However, there were some good sightings of some colourful birds to cheer us up including a wood duck and a kingfisher. We struggled as much as some of the birds with the icy conditions.

Video of kingfisher

Click below for a gallery of this morning’s photos

It’s been more a day for being inside today, so I’ll start with an inside “bird” photo from the Tate St Ives.

John Wells 1907-2000
Sea Bird Forms
1951
Oil paint on board

These turnstones sum up the weather conditions nicely:

But it didn’t rain all the time

Pied wagtail

Great black-backed gull

Turnstone

Spent more time dodging the heavy showers rather than looking for birds. Thought I might see some pelagic specials but only saw a song thrush, a dunnock and a robin; oh and quite a few gulls, turnstones and pied wagtails.

 

 

 

We arrived in St Ives as the light was fading but I wasted no time in getting a few shots before it was dark.

The turnstones were behaving as house sparrows do at an outdoor café and the only difficulty in getting a photo was that they were too close. The oystercatchers were also not too far off. I’m sure over the next few days we shall have plenty of chance to compare the gulls.

Turnstone

Oystercatcher

Herring gull