Trimley Reserve

More heavy rain overnight brought flooding in many places throughout Suffolk.  The reserve is saturated with large areas of standing water almost everywhere.  The top meadow is flooded and the reservoir is full and has just started to flow over the spillway; it has never been seen this high at this time of the year before.

The pictures below show the summer flood, which is fine; any further rain or seepage will automatically be discharged.  However, the winter flood is far too high due to last nights rain.  I managed to take a pipe off the sluice to drain the water.  The Lapwings nest now surrounded by water was yesterday surrounded by grass.  The four eggs must be just a few days from hatching as there are chicks in this area who thankfully made it through the night.

Summer flood

Winter Flood with a Lapwings nest in the middle of the picture

This Lapwing has made an extra large nest to keep the eggs out of the water

Newbourne Springs

The Fen meadow at Newbourne yesteday.

Cuckoo Flower/Lady's Smock

Liverwort sp.

Trimley Reserve

Atrocious weather conditions again today yet we had a Flamingo grace the winter flood with its presence. Other observations of note include a Black Tern and an adult Little Gull.

Trimley Reserve

It's still wet and windy but there were more migrants about today.  Observations included Swift c50, Swallow c20, Sand Martin <10, House Martin 5, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat and a Short-eared Owl.  We now have three broods of Greylag Geese, a brood of Mallards and the first lapwing chicks.

Trimley Reserve

The Trimley Weekly Round up    19^th – 25^th April 2012

By Anna Alum (Volunteer) 

Rain, rain and more rain has been lashing down over the reserve over the last week with few breaks in cloud.  Temperatures remain unseasonably low, however this has not affected some of the hardiest of volunteers who have continued their observations and counts.  

Last week we were thinking about the Reed Warblers arrival on the reserve and just  after last weeks bulletin was being pinned on the board, a lovely Reed Warbler appeared in one of the ringing nets.  This just so happened to be a bird, which was ringed last year on the reserve.  This little bird had succeeded in its mammoth return journey across the world to Senegal and back to Trimley. A tiny miracle, and a tiny bird in the hand. How many of us could travel such a huge distance while producing no carbon footprint?   It was given a very warm reception by us. We hope the weather improves so that we can play host to further Reed Warblers. 

The reserve is becoming a very sensitive area  as birds begin their busy nesting period and raising young.  This period highlights the importance of keeping dogs on leads at all times when walking through this internationally significant wetland site. It is not only birds that are raising young. Voles are also nesting in the long grass. Voles  provide a crucial  food source  for Barn Owls and other raptors. Red-legged partridges are also trying to find suitable ground nesting sites.  

 On Sunday 22^nd, 19 Goslings appeared on the summer flood with their Greylag geese parents.  Two sets of swans are beginning their 6-week incubation period and in some of the worst spring rain and winds we have seen for some time. The visitor centre Wren is also seen regularly flying in and out of her nest. During the next few weeks we will provide up dates of further arrivals of youngsters.  

Although quiet on the reserve in terms of migrants, there have been some very nice sightings over the week. Dave and Ernie counted 107 Black tailed Godwit on Sunday 22^nd. Their extensive counts of other species also included 112 Shelduck and 1 Nightingale. Chiffchaff and Sedge warblers are beginning to build their numbers. 7 Ring Ouzels were seen on Landguard Common on Tuesday 24^th but unfortunately did not get as far as Trimley Reserve.  

Carol from SWT HQ came over to Trimley on Wednesday 25^th to work on her Birding Challenge of 150 birds for the year, on SWT reserves.  Despite the terrible rain and wind she was able to see a lovely Bar tailed Godwit, which added to her species list. In addition the first 2 Common Terns appeared and 60 Black tailed Godwit.  Trimley’s youngest volunteers, students Danni and Lucy also braved the hides to increase their birding knowledge. 

Wednesday 25^th April provided sunshine and a lovely warm wind. Another Yellow Wagtail appeared and at least 10 swifts’s, the first of the year.  

We hope the weather will improve over the next week and bring in further migrants.

Trimley Reserve

Another dreadful day, rain, rain and more rain.  Observations included six battered Swallows, two Common Tern (first for the year), a pair of Mediterranean Gulls, Bar-tailed Godwit 1, Black-tailed Godwit c60, Grey Plover 15, Ringed Plover 4 and c1,000 large Gulls, which appear to be taking over the reserve.

Peregrin Falcon update

I have received information from Didier Vangeluwe (Head of the Belgian Ringing Scheme) on the Peregrine found on one of the cranes at the Port of Felixstowe.  The bird was ringed in spring 2010 in Antwerp, it was then observed later that year in the Netherlands.  Interestingly it is only the second Belgian-ringed Peregrine to have crossed the channel.

More Peregrine news:

One of the Peregrines that I coloured ringed on the Orwell Bridge in 2010 has set up residence on a silo at Lowestoft.