Trimley Reserve

Another snowy start to the day, at dawn there were six Woodcock along the bridleway.

Trimley Reserve

Many of our open water areas have been frozen for several days but today with our first covering of snow the reserve looked desolate. Where there was open water it was packed with ducks and geese.  Observations included Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier, Woodcock and Avocet (41).  Fieldfares, Redwings and Blackbirds fed on the abundant supply of berries and one fortunate lady saw four Waxwings in the bushes by the Visitor Centre.

Scenes at Trimley today:

Trimley Reserve

More coppicing work was carried out on the viewing platform hedge.  We also cleared much of the brash thanks to Ben for bringing along the Sandlings chipper.

Snape Marshes

At Snape today we finished cutting the bracken on the heathland in readiness for another volunteer workparty next week.  Also, Alan created new footdrains in one of the meadows using the Trust's new specialised implement for such management tasks.

Observations included a sleepy Adder on the heath, 20 Redpolls, Marsh Harrier, 12 Pied Wagtails and four Bearded Tits.

Snape Marshes

On Wednesday 17th a group of local people volunteered to carryout management work on the heathland area of Snape Marshes. The work included raking cut bracken, removing pioneer saplings and making habitat piles.

Thanks go to our wardens Lesley and Derek Walduck and volunteers Alan, Alice, David, Graham, Helen, Mike, Roger and Sue.

Trimley Reserve update

At first light it was white and bitterley cold, I only had a bow saw to keep me warm!  No butterflies!  There were six Bearded Tits and a Cetti's Warbler in the borrow dyke next to the Visitor Centre.  Other observations of note included Buzzard, Greenshank, Avocets, two Rock Pipits and there were a few Redpolls and Fieldfares over.

Trimley Update

Observations include Chiffchaff, Short-eared Owl and Water Pipit.

Trimley Reserve

A firecrest today in the bushes by the Visitor Centre (Paul O & Paul H)

Reserve Update

Snape Marshes: cut bracken in a heathland glade in readiness for a volunteer work party scheduled for next Wednesday.

Hazelwood Marshes: the hide is temporarily closed as the track and footpath are impassable due to extensive revetment work to the sea wall.



Trimley Update

What a day!  A howling wind and driving rain forced wildfowl to seek whatever shelter they could find.  Ducks are still increasing in number and are now almost up to 2,000.  Wildfowl counted today included 700 Teal, 450 Coot, 230 Mallard, 110 Pintail,  160 Gadwall, 110 Shoveler, plus smaller numbers of Pochard, Tufted and Shelduck.  I am not sure where the Wigeon were hiding.

Levington

This morning I spent some time at Levington marina with a TV crew from Anglia Television .  The morning was all about filming the East Anglian Sailing Club (EAST) in their bid to win funding.  Filming took place on the pontoons and boats to capture shots of youngsters being hoisted  into boats and sailing, guide dogs, scenery and wildlife etc.

Nearby on Loom Pit Lake there was a Grey Phalarope.

Grey Phalarope at Loom Pit Lake today

Suffolk Winter Bird Atlas

SUFFOLK ATLAS


We are now a few days into the fourth and final winter of fieldwork for the Bird Atlas and we are in a terrific position to achieve full coverage here in Suffolk. Out of 1100 tetrads we only have just over 30 left to survey. One last push is required to achieve complete coverage; so if you do not have a TTV site to survey please contact me.

We also need comprehensive species lists in every Tetrad.

Many thanks in anticipation

Mick

Trimley



Grazing, topping and grazing the aftermath has produced a meadow
 in readiness for this winter's wildfowl and geese.



Twitter

Follow me on Twitter @KupeBushshrike

Trimley Marshes

Early this morning a Barn Owl was hunting over the tussocky grass headlands of the marshes. Bearded Tits were seen and heard calling from a number of reedy areas; our best winter by far for numbers.


John, Dave, Tom, Mike and Rob (volunteers) worked hard on hedgerow work. Rob also cooked lunch, Chilli con carne – delicious.

Taking a well earned rest.

Trimley Marshes

Compared to yesterday it was a slow start to the morning with barely any Blackbirds and only a few Fieldfare and Redwing.  The Bearded Tits were still calling and showing well in front of the hides.  There were three Buzzards, a Peregrine and Marsh Harrier and at lunchtime a Hen Harrier caused havoc amongst the Teal and Lapwing flocks.


Double click to enlarge image



Trimley Update

I arrived at Trimley before dawn; it was clear that there had been a big influx of Blackbirds overnight.  Other birds of note included Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, up to nine Bearded Tits, Water Rail and three Greenshanks, and, of course, hundreds of waterfowl.

It was arduous work today and Dave, John and Margaret (volunteers) worked extremely hard.  We worked on enhancing the ride and glades and also made a start on coppicing part of the bridleway hedge.