Captains Wood update

Today at Captains Wood two bench seats were erected in memory of George Ford, a botanist and lifelong supporter of the Trust. Pam Ford was there to help and to select the location. The seats were made by Crispin Chalker of Big Wood woodland products and services (Tel: 01502 478615). The seats are unique, artistic and superbly well made out of chunks of Oak and Chestnut.


From the seat overlooking Black Walks we saw four Hares running riot and 124 Fallow Deer while Skylarks sang overhead. Pam and I hope that visitors to the wood will appreciate the opportunity to be able to sit and rest in these tranquil surroundings.

Murry, Pam and Crispin



Thanks Pam



Trimley update

Birding is very good at the moment; plenty of breeding activity, displaying birds includes Great Crested Grebe, Buzzard, Redshank and Lapwing. We have a pair of Garganey on the flood behind the reservoir hide, so at the moment 12 species of duck can be seen on the reserve.  Other birds of note today include Common Scoter (river), Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Ruff, Mediterranean Gull, 2 Bearded Tits, 2 Marsh Harriers and 6 Chiffchaff.

Trimley update

A pair of Garganey on the flood behind the reservoir hide (Ernie Lucking and Dave Langloise).

Snape update

The Snape volunteers under the guidance of Derek (warden) have completed another session of enhancing the heathland area.  Scrub and bracken have been removed and a small pond has been dug.

During this past week Comma and Brimstone butterflies have been noted and the first Chiffchaffs have arrived from their wintering quarters in West Africa.

Snape volunteers digging out a pond. photo by Derek Walduck

Trimley update

I had two new volunteers (Dave and Charlie) helping me on the reserve today.  Six pair of hands accomplished a variety of jobs from stock fencing to barn door repairs.

Noteworthy birds included Peregrine, Marsh Harrier 2, Buzzard 2, Greenshank 2 and a Chiffchaff.  The sunny weather brought a few butterflies out in search of nectar; Comma 4 and Small Tortoieshell1.

Yesterday there were two Sand Martins over the reserve (Paul Oldfield).

Trimley update

Two volunteers were with me today working in and around the barn area catching up on some overdue maintenance and clean up work.
Hares were very active on the back marshes; both Redshank and Lapwing were displaying as were two pairs of Great Crested Grebes on the reservoir.  Other birds of note included a Chiffchaff, Black-tailed Godwit 120, Avocet 26 and a Spotted Redshank.


Spotted Redshanks are seen on the reserve mainly during spring and autumn migration;

occasionally over-winters (photo Mick Wright).



Bird updates

Trimley: Scaup 5, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and Chiffchaff.

Levington: Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter, Black Redstart and White Wagtail.

Loompit Lake: Goosander.

Snape Marshes: a Barn owl chick that I ringed on July 6th 2010 was found dead at Benhall Green on February 17th - road casualty.

In the garden over the weekend I had Brimstone and Comma butterflies.

Trimley update

I had an eventful start to the morning having received a phonecall from a birder saying that there was a big dog barking at the reservoir gate and that there was no one around. In his opinion it was to scary to go past.  I contacted the council and then went down to the reserve; by the time that I arrived the dog was nowhere to be seen.  I drove around the reserve but could not find it.  I probably know all the dogs and their handlers as I see them so regularly. The dog was a chocolate coloured Boxer, sort of, the same dog that I saw the previous day at 0630 hours on the bridleway adjacent to the dock bund with no handler.  I reported the fact that we have an abandoned dog or a dog that is taking his own morning walks from the village (over 2 miles away, no distance at all for a boxer).

Today we had our first Chiffchaff of the summer, which was singing in the bushes next to the Visitors Centre.

Birds nearby: Red-necked Grebe and Long-tailed ducks on the river in front of Levington marina.

I would like to say Hi to Jan in Nashville, who reads my blog, have a great time in Hawaii, hope you get to see the Palilas, take care and I will catch up with you again in due course.

Trimley update

There was not much improvement in the weather this morning, still misty and chilly. A flash of blue brightened up the morning as it flew to perch by the Visitor Centre hide.  Other birds of note include Marsh Harrier and 50 Siskin.

This afternoon there was a drake Long-tailed Duck on the river infront of Levington marina.

Trimley update

We have just had two days of mist and fog with visibility sometimes down to only a few yards; it has also been very chilly. On Tuesday twenty keen people came to the Trust’s ‘Wildlife Spectacle’ Hares at Trimley. Thank goodness they were a happy bunch and dismissed the weather as just one of those things.


After a hot cup of tea we ventured out onto the marsh where visibility was appalling. There’s one, someone shouted, No that’s a Canada Goose, oh look there’s two more over here, No that’s two Canada Geese. Eventually we did see some Hares, yes they were definitely Hares, you could tell by their large ears – just. In the end we all had reasonably good views but no boxing matches.

We had another cup of tea then visited the hides to look at some birds. Many thanks to the ladies who helped me to make tea and tidy up – much appreciated.

Today, in the fog again, my volunteers helped to clear reed and grass from in front of two of the hides.

Trimley update

Hi Y’all


I am back from a great wildlife holiday in Thailand where I saw two of the world’s most endangered species, the Spoonbill Sandpiper and Gurney’s Pitta. I wish that I could put names to all the butterfly and dragonfly species seen. I was also pleased to see Lesser Mouse Deer and Tree Shrew.

Now it’s back to work, so I will endeavour to add to my blog. A frosty start to the day but what a day, very much like spring, birds were singing, two Buzzards were calling and displaying over the reserve, the Black-headed gulls were manic and already squabbling over nesting sites, Great Crested Grebes were displaying and a pair of crows were courting on the winter flood hide.

Other birds of note included 6 Scaup, a Bittern and a Water Pipit. I also saw my first Peacock butterfly of the year.

Nearby news: Black Redstarts and a Wheatear at Landguard.