Suffolk 2015

Another annual holiday with Kev, Budgie & Greg.
We set off early to spend the first morning at Lakenheath and once again we were not let down by the Hobbies and Cuckoos in abundance. We managed to see two cranes and also a Little Bittern dropped in on us but alas stayed in the reedbed cover until the following day. We then went on to our cottage in the village of Westleton just next to the Common, we went for a walk down the lane early evening and located at least 10 singing Nightingales and also located 6 Stone Curlews an excellent end to the day.
We spent the next days just walking the area taking in Minsmere and Dunwich Heath in search of Dartford Warblers, once again they were forthcoming. We just missed the Bluethroat by a day but did have a Red Necked Phalerope on the reserve for a few days and also a Broad Billed Sandpiper at nearby Tinkers Marsh in Walberswick which was well worth the visit. At the end of the week we managed to meet up with the springwatch team who were staying at the local in the village and spent the evening chatting with them, no heirs and graces just ordinary people who are passionate about wildlife and conservation a very pleasant end to the holiday. Here are a few snaps from the trip.

Greg, Budgie & Kev.

Barn Owl

Bittern

Bearded Tit.

Burnett Moth

A Pheasant that decided to try and eat my camera.

Whitethroat

Sedge Warbler.

Spoonbill.

Marsh Harrier.

Buzzard.

Little Egret.

Dartford Warbler.

Around the Village.

Our Cottage for the week on Mill St.

The Springwatch Team.

It took all week but finally got a Nightingale.

 

Minsmere.

Barn Owl field at the back of Eel Foot Pub in Eastbridge.

Bempton Cliffs

Had a day out on the East coast today with Budgie and Kev Mac. The morning started well with cracking views of  dark phase Barn Owl quartering a field near Selby. Once at the cliffs there was plenty of pelagic action with all the usual suspects trying to stake a claim on the ledges, it was good to see the gannets collecting grass for nesting material close in on the cliff tops. The highlight of the day though was a juvenile Rough-Legged Buzzard in the bottom field we had good views until the local crows got their way and harassed it off towards Buckton. Here are a fews pics from the day.

                                                                            
                                               Rough-Legged Buzzard

                                                        Tree Sparrow

                           

                                                             Gannet

                                                              Fulmar

                                                             Razorbill

 

 Gannet

 

 

 

Laughing Gull

Today myself and Jon Slater had a drive down to the Dark Side (Wirral) today to see the Laughing Gull, we were not let down as it was in the usual place on the pontoon in the marina. It seemed like an age we waited before it finally decided to have a fly around the marina. On leaving we decided to have a look at Parkgate marshes and we were treated to a bonus as there was a high tide of 10.5 meters which we did not know about, we were treated to a spectacle of both bird and mammal life, all in all it made for a good end to the day.

Shore Lark

We managed to get down to Rossall point today, Myself along with Jon Slater and Kev McNamara to see the Shore Lark, We did not even have to get out of the car to notice it feeding away on the green. It was a very confiding bird and did not seem to bother about all the people and dog walkers around.