Trimley Marshes

Sunrise at Trimley and Anna has an audience while she processes a young Reed Bunting. Sometimes we have the whole herd around us including the bull but they are not interested at all; its a waste of time talking to them although Anna's tries hard to communicate.

Mostly young birds were caught today including 8 Reed Buntings but still no young Sedge Warblers; it appears that they have failed to produce any youngsters.

During the early part of the morning we had lovely views of two Barn Owls.

Trimley Reserve

Another hot sunny day; the breeding season for our waders and wildfowl is almost at an end and it has not been too successful.  Despite this, bird numbers are building on the reserve with ducks moving in from elsewhere to moult.  Soon these birds will be in eclipse making identification a nightmare.  Waders too are returning, Black-tailed Godwit 55, Avocet c70 plus a few Lapwings and two Spotted Redshanks.

On the river, towards the Trimley retreat, there were three Common Scoters.

On the reservoir I photographed a Heron eating a fish (is it a Rudd or Roach?), note how thick its neck is in the second picture. Double click on image to see it better.

Snape Marshes

Dorothy, myself and volunteer wardens Derek and Lesley led a guided walk around the marshes for the Snape WI.  A very enjoyable evening, plenty of banter and laughs.

Newbourne Springs

Stuart and Margaret helping me or perhaps I was helping them to repair the kissing gate to prevent the sheep from escaping.

At least two Turtle Dove territories.

Trimley Marshes

The reserve is very quiet at the moment with just the usual species.  Birds of note included a pair of Mediterranean Gulls, Marsh Harrier and Yellow Wagtail.

We did, however ring four Barn Owl chicks in the Barn.

Trimley Reserve

An early start to survey birds at a site on the edge of Ipswich.  Breeding Linnets, skylarks and a variety of summer migrants were abundant.  Then it was onto Trimley Marshes where there was a Red Kite (Paul Oldfield), 3 Spoonbills over and other birds of note included Buzzard, Barn Owl, Bearded Tit, Cetti's Warbler, Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit. Below is a photograph that I took today of one of my favourite grasses, Meadow Barley.

Levington

Two male Grasshopper Warblers were caught today; one was a new bird and the other was a retrap, a returning young bird that fledged on site in 2010.  Other observations of note included Water Rail, Marsh Harrier, Garden Warbler and the first young Reed Warblers of the summer.

Earlier in the week, two young Little Owls were ringed from the Barn Owl box located in the huge oak tree in the meadow.

Julie and Anna with young Little Owl chicks

Reserve News

At Trimley this last week the customary birds have been present, up to 3 Buzzards and 2 Marsh Harriers.  Several Black-headed Gulls have now fledged whilst duckling numbers have been very low.  Two broods of Shelduck and a brood of Pochard have been seen.  The Kestrels have five chicks and the Barn Owl too has five youngsters.  The Bearded Tits have chicks to the flying stage and the first of the Sedge Warbler chicks have left their nest.

At Newbourne Springs there was a Red Kite on Thursday and on Friday a Spotted Flycatcher was seen near the car park.

Trimley Marshes

This evening there was a 1st summer Little Gull on the reservoir.

Trimley Marshes

A Spoonbill was present on the reservoir today.

Snape Marshes

I was on the marshes this morning with my line manager to monitor the site in these drought conditions that we are experiencing as well as looking at recent management work.

There were hundreds of Marsh Orchids in flower and we had a pair of Marsh Harriers hunting over the reserve.  Dragonflies this morning included  Black-tailed Skimmer, Four-spotted Chasers, Hairy Dragonflys, Azure, Blue-tailed and Large Red Damselflys.