Newbourne & Falkenham Marshes

I left home in a blizzard at 0600 hours.  At Newbourne, a Little Owl perched on a post.  The falling snow and frozen ground would mean lean pickings today.  I put up a few nets in the dark but left them furled until it stopped snowing.  In the end only 15 birds were caught, which included one Tree Creeper.  Observations included at least four calling tawny Owls, 60 Sisken, Snipe and a Sparrowhawk.

In freezing rain I headed off to Felixstowe Ferry to walk the sea wall to Falkenham Marshes. The weather was poor, visability was low due to fog and it was cold.  In such conditions when no one else is about, the estuary becomes a wilderness and home to wading birds and geese who were busy seeking enough food to see them through the night.

Observations included c1,000 Brent Geese, two Water Rails, Marsh Harrier and Rock Pipit, plus of course many species of wading birds.

Wilderness