Trimley update

I had a Kittiwake today, an unusual bird for the reserve. On the Trimley retreat mudflats there were 34 Avocet and 400 Knot.


I am now off on holiday for a few weeks – Birding.

Reserves Update

At Trimley there were many waders in with the wildfowl; species included Avocet 43, Dunlin c100, Lapwing c500, Curlew 15, Black-tailed Godwit 35, Grey Plover and Snipe. Over the weekend there were two Ruffs – are these the first birds of spring passage?


On the way to Newbourne Springs a male Hen Harrier floated across the road. At Bromeswell there was a Tawny Owl, Buzzard and a few Siskins and at Levington a Sparrowhawk and an adult Mediterranean Gull in summer plumage.

Orwell update

Today saw the last of the Stour and Orwell coordinated low water counts; these counts are organised by SWT and involves 45 fieldworkers.  My count section of shoreline is from Cliff Quay to Bridge Wood, which, in fact, was almost devoid of waders.  I did have a count 430 Oystercaters and 160 Redshank, other totals included 110 Pintail, 19 Little Grebe and one female Scaup.

In Thorpe Bay there were 58 Avocet while at Trimley there were five Barnacle Geese, one Smew and one Ruff on the winter flood.

Trimley Marshes

It was Anna's last day with us, for awhile at least, as she is starting her garden busines up again after a winter break.  We will miss her, especially her camaraderie as the biggest 'wind-up merchant' Trimley has ever seen.

Tasks today included repairing stock fencing and creating a glade in the plantation.

A pair of Little Owls have returned to the box in the oaks in the back meadow.  Other observations of note were Avocet 40, Buzzard 2 and a male Marsh Harrier.

Left to right; Rob, Tom, Mike, Anna and John (double click to enlarge).

Snape Marshes

I had to scrape the frost from my windscreen this morning before carrying out fieldwork for the bird Atlas in mid-Suffolk.  Dawn broke and promised to be a good day and it was, with blue skies, sunshine and no wind it was by far the best day of the year so far.  I could not have picked a better day for a site meeting at Snape Marshes.  It was like a spring morning with many birds singing.  However, I found a dead Adder which had ventured out too early from hibernation.  A pair of Treecreepers busily fed in the oaks along the footpath and several Yellowhammers were in the blackthorn bushes.

Trimley Reserve

A 50th Anniversary Wildlife Spectacle at Trimley Marshes.

A small group braved galeforce winds to see close views of wildfowl on the reserve today.   We had to suppress the Golden Eagles but we did have fun identifying all the ducks; they were the ones sitting on the water.  The observations included Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Pintail, Shoveler, Goldeneye, Pochard and Tufted Duck.  In amongst the duck were 1,000 Lapwings, 50 Black-tailed Godwits and a few Curlew.  It was a very enjoyable morning, we had a good laugh and several hot teas.

Trimley Reserve

The Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserves site managers enjoyed a ‘Team Day’ out on Trimley marshes. The task was to coppice all the sallows growing around the perimeter of the reservoir as quick as possible – we blitzed the job. All the cut branches were pushed into the reservoir to improve the habitat for birds and also as refugia for fish; by midsummer the new growth will be supporting a variety of insects for breeding birds such as Reed Warblers.

FIFTEEN chainsaws were all going at once; surely this must be a record. Also, probably, another record was set as everyone got wet due to the sallows being in deep water.

Dorothy and Jane had to help out with bow saws and Dorothy (Team Leader) doubled up as our nurse for the day.

Thanks everyone, my Trimley volunteers will appreciate that this winter job has been completed.