Reserves Update

Two Spoonbills at Trimley.

At the moment it is excellent for butterflies at Newbourne Springs.  Species include Ringlets, Purple Hairstreaks, White-letter Hairstreak and two White Admirals (per Mike Wise).

Two interpretation boards have now been erected at Snape Marshes.

Trimley Reserve Update

I only had one volunteer with me today but between us we completed a rewarding amount of work, mainly grass cutting using a tractor and topper, brush cutter and mower.

The usual migrant waders were present.  The Spoonbill was seen several times and there a Hobby was hunting House and Sand Martins.

There was also a stunning example of an Emperor Moth caterpillar.

Trimley Reserve update

Working and birding in the rain; by noon we were drenched.  Whilst enjoying an extra cup of tea we saw a juvenile Spoonbill, 4 Ruffs, 3 Greenshanks, c140 Black-tailed Godwits, Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Egrets, 54 Avocets and 2 Mediterranean Gulls.  The reservoir is now beginning to fill up with wildfowl and today there was over 200 Coot.

Reserves update

Hazelwood Marshes:

Monday July 5th: 5 Spoonbill, 12 Greenshank, 150 Curlew and several Redshank chicks.

Snape Marshes:

Tuesday July 6th: A very enjoyable evening walk with the Snape Rustlers around the reserve and then a stampede to the Golden Key for drinks.  The Barn Owl has three chicks which are almost ready to fly.

Trimley Marshes:

Observations during the last few days include Avocet (53), Black-tailed Godwit (85), Dunlin (7), Spotted Redshank (5) and Ruff; most birds are still in summer plumage.  Also, Spoonbill, Marsh Harrier and the first Painted Lady butterfly of the year.

Snape Marshes update

Glorious day again. Site meeting at Snape all morning discussing future management of the reserve. I had sightings of three very large Adders.  Birds included 2 Turtle Doves and a Marsh Harrier.

At Trimley Marshes there were more autumn passage waders, Spotted Redshank, Ruff and Little Ringed Plover.

This evening was spent in mid-Suffolk with Reg Woodard, Paul Newton and Patrick Barker visiting nest sites where I ringed 3 broods of Barn Owl (one brood totalled 5), and broods of Sparrowhawks and Kestrels.

Trimley Update

Hi everyone, I am back. I enjoyed my annual fill of country music at the CMA Country Fest in Nashville. Then it was onto Vegas where I won and lost. I had a brilliant day birding in the desert and mountains. New birds included Mountain Bluebird, Crissal Thrasher, Phainopepla, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Lazuli Bunting and Sprague’s Pipit.


While I have been away it has been quiet for birds on the reserve but we are now seeing the beginning of the autumn migration with several Spotted Redshank, male Ruffs and Green Sandpipers. Today, there was a brood of Yellow Wagtails and Cetti’s Warblers.

Good news, Barn Owls have produced 4 chicks, the first for anywhere on the Orwell in years.

Snape Marshes

A busy day at Snape, the main track was refurbished with 100 tons of crushed asphalt thanks to Cemex, Anglian Water and Barry Day and Sons.

Observations - Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoos, Marsh Harrier, Barn Owl, Four-spot Chasers, Hairy Dragonflies, lots of Azure, Blue-tailed and Large Red Damselflies.  Butterflies included Orange Tip, Small Copper and Common Blue.