Captains Wood

This morning Crispin Chalker (01502 478615) installed a beautifully crafted bench seat that he had made out of Oak for Jude Banks in memory of her late husband Paul.

Jude (right of photo) with her friend

Crispin and Jude

Trimley reserve

My small duck trap caught 3 Teal and 1 Gadwall and I also caught a Water Rail in another trap. Anna who has only been ringing with me for 5 months has just ringed her 66th species of bird.

Anna holding a Teal that she has just ringed

Anna over the moon with the Water Rail

Trimley Reserve

Tim Day creating a shallow scrape in a low area on the main marsh.  Note how dry the marsh is.

Levington Lagoon 'Turn-over Project'

We managed another wadering session last night/early morning, fourth in six days.  Once again conditions were excellent and there was a predicted surge tide of 28 inches. There was a frost by 0100 hours making it the coldest night night so far this winter.  Over 60 waders were caught, which included Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Dunlin, Knot, Lapwing, Curlew and 6 Golden Plover.

Anna A. with colour ringed Black-tailed Godwit

Golden Plovers

Trimley Marshes

Volunteers were busy today coppicing sallow.  Habitat enhancement started on the summer flood.

Observations included Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, 50 Avocet and one Jack Snipe.

Tom M. coppicing sallows

Tim Day started work on the summer flood

Levington Lagoon

We had another wadering session last night.  Conditions were excellent plus there was a flood warning because of a surge tide putting another 18 inches on the height of the tide.  It was a busy night, high tide was predicted to be at 2300 hrs but we were still ringing waders at 0230 in the morning.  Over 110 waders caught including more Redshank and Black-tailed godwits individually colour ringed as part of our ‘Turn-over Project’

Paul N. and a colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit

Julie M. with a culew

Julie M & Anna A. ringing Dunlin

Falkenham Marshes

Two nights this week we have been on the marshes to catch waders. We caught 27 mostly Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 2 Grey Plover, 1 Knot and and 1 Jack Snipe.