Well it seemed a good idea a few weeks ago when we booked a short Summer break, in a new area for us in Suffolk. Our second day here, mid-summer's day and it's 14C blowing a North-Easterly with frequent rain showers. Not really ideal for some of the bird species I am hoping to encounter, such as Hobbies and Nightjars - a distinct lack of flying insects is quite apparent in these temperatures. Our base is in Kessingland, a few miles South of Lowestoft. With a cottage overlooking the sea, passing Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls have made up the only marine species here so far. There are a wide expanse of dunes before the shingle beach and one of us is extremely happy with the surroundings. The dunes have many paths criss-crossing them, well visited by people and I'm happy to let Ellie run free as there are virtually no birds around. A little further up the beach, it's a different story with a very important Little Tern colony. I have 'scoped it from a distance and can see many Little Terns actively flying around. I may visit the area later in the week. Walking the dunes you come across a section of low cliffs. Sand Martins are breeding here and appear to be doing very well. Young martins were observed in many of the nest-holes, with two or three birds waiting for food. This morning, we went to Dunwich Heath (National Trust), a large swathe of heather, gorse and other heathland plants, also on the coast. With the weather as previously described, we set off for a 3-mile walk and anything was going to be a bonus! Halfway across the heath, we came across another couple who had heard a Dartford Warbler singing and, almost immediately I heard a brief song from within the gorse. Despite hanging around for a few minutes, this bird didn't appear and we walked on. A little further we came across a bright male Stonechat and the occasional Chiffchaff called from treetops. Then, there was a loud 'cherrr' and a Dartford Warbler flew from a bush, crossing the path we were on and disappearing into some more gorse. I have seen many Dartford Warblers in Portugal and it didn't dawn on me immediately that this was an addition to my British List, having not visited a suitable area before now!! In the wooded areas, Chaffinches were mostly seen, a Garden Warbler showed almost long enough for the camera and the occasional Treecreeper was heard. The afternoon was spent close to Minsmere, which we didn't visit having Ellie, but instead settled at a breeding site for Stone Curlew. Again, plenty seen in Portugal but here, a sighting would be only my second British record having seen one in Lincs, many years ago. It turned out well, seeing one Stone Curlew straightaway and later, a second possibly nesting bird. Areas within these fields have been fenced to prevent foxes from entering and the Stone Curlews were in this protected area. Suitable area for Stone Curlews with Sizewell Nuclear Power Station in the distance. The Stone Curlew seeing-off a Magpie. Second bird settled down, lower left of image.
So no Hobbies today but at least four Common Buzzards were watched and a Red Kite was seen close to the A12 on the way down this morning. Comments are closed.
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