Event Reports - 2007
April
Bradfield Woods
Sunday 15 April
Blackcap
Twenty members assembled on a beautiful spring morning for our
group walk in this Suffolk Wildlife Trust managed ancient woodland.
As
we moved off a male blackcap was foraging in the canopy of a large oak
that was just starting to break into leaf.
There was plenty
to see for those more interested in the flora. This wood has a wide
range of soils, which account for the amazing variety of plants - 370
listed. Wood anemone, oxlip and early purple orchid were amongst many
recorded. On the butterfly front we observed
several species including
speckled wood, comma and orange tip.
This
wood has been
under continual management since 1252 and there is much evidence of
this continuing work today. Although there is little old established
dead wood standing we did see two pairs of greater spotted woodpeckers
busily collecting food.
Orange
Tip
The warblers for
the day included
many chiffchaff heard and seen, at least five blackcaps, and a single
willow warbler. Marsh tits were also added to our list.
One
of the group thought he heard nightingale, but we could not locate to
confirm.
Although we did not arrive early enough to glimpse
any of the three species of deer present - that is something to look
forward to on another day and season.
listen to the woodland ambience (chiffchaff, blackcap, song thrush in the distance. From 6am)
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Bluebells
Oxlips
Purple
Orchid
Comma
Wood
Anemones
Barry Cooper
March
Winter Birds on the Stour
Sunday 11 March
Kestrel
We enjoyed distant views of large numbers of waders, which included Brent geese, dunlin, grey plover, curlew and redshank. A trio of sanderling were busy on a shingle spit in the bay.
Good views of a male yellowhammer made a welcome year tick for several in the group. Two common buzzards were spotted flying over Erwarton – a bird that is at last becoming established in Suffolk with several now on the peninsular. As we returned to our starting point with the tide rushing in we had excellent close views of a kestrel. It was so intent on its prey and unconcerned about the approaching walkers. Using the wind off the river, it hovered motionless over the path, giving the photographers amongst us time to get good shots.
Barry Cooper
February
Kingfisher
Winter Birds on the Deben
Saturday 3 Feb
We had excellent weather for this walk led by Stephen Marginson from Woodbridge to Melton including great views of this Kingfisher posing in the reedbed for us.
View an audio slideshow of the trip
Richard M
January
Mistley Walls guided walk Sunday 7 January
Pintail
After a very wet start to the weekend, Sunday morning was cooler and dry for the thirteen members who turned out for our now annual walk. This spot is always a good choice to kick start those new year lists and this January was no exception with many waders feeding over the vast expanse of intertidal invertebrate rich mud. We were also treated to mass aerial displays by golden plovers, knot, dunlin and lapwings as they shifted locations with the turning tide.
Good numbers of golden eye, pintail and wigeon mingled with the waders and geese and of course the local population of swans waiting on the path for their daily feed.
Moving onto the quay we managed to find a male goosander in the main channel and a female ruddy duck amongst a group of golden eye.
Barry Cooper
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