2 APRIL 2025 - WESTLETON HEATH and MINSMERE (SUFFOLK)

A 7.45 a.m. start from my house and a relatively easy journey saw us (John; Mike and myself) at Westleton Heath at around 9.40 a.m. John had suggested we begin here to try and get Dartford Warbler; Woodlark, and Stone Curlew.

Despite pristine clear blues skies and bright sunlight, there was a moderate to strong NE wind that was deceptively cold. Whilst John heard and then glimpsed a Woodlark atop a Birch, further observations weren’t forthcoming, as the Stone Curlews apparently just hadn’t arrived on migration, although it was only a matter of days perhaps before they were here. But we had much better luck with the Dartford Warblers, where excellent (binocular) views were achieved amongst the blooming bright yellow gorse, where a beautiful summer plumaged male was seen in a nearby Birch (with an accompanying singing Chiffchaff) and a much drabber female nearby. And then on to Minsmere.

The car park at the reserve was moderately full, so the place was not overrun with visitors, so after checking in at the Centre and checking out the sightings board, we made a beeline for the Sand Martin colony where a handful of migrants were soaring overhead but not yet entering the nest-holes. But we were more interested in trying to find any signs of Adders on banks below the colony.

Initially, all seemed quiet, but at the right-hand side of the bank I detected a movement, and suddenly and quite unexpectedly I was staring at a pair of male adders writhing and twisting round each other on the top of a frond of bracken, clearly engaged in the ritual ‘adder dance’ which I’ve never witnessed before. Regrettably, I wasn’t quick enough to get a photograph, but this was only the start of a period of activity the likes of which none of us had experienced previously. In that hour - leading up to midday - we must have seen at least four or five green-coloured adders with at least one black adder and one brown adder - all varying sizes, with at least one that was approaching 3 feet in length. In previous years we’d had good close views of (probably) female adders tightly curled up on the bank, with little if any movement; but these were extremely active – undoubtedly recently aroused from winter hibernation. And it was a truly wonderful, unforgettable spectacle.

At the nearby ponds the only sense of any activity were the whirligig beetles circling on the surface, with no signs of any Large Red Damselflies which we were hoping to see. There didn’t seem to be much activity on the Scrape (according to the sightings board in the visitors’ Centre) so instead, we thought it best to try for a Bittern either from the Bittern Hide or Island Mere Hide, where recent sightings had been reported.

The woodland on the way to the Bitter Hide was extremely quiet, with just the odd calls of Blue Tits and Chaffinches echoed out. A Muntjac deer was munching on vegetation, giving quite close views, and the opportunity for a photo or two. At the Bittern Hide, a climb up a steep wooden stairway brought us to panoramic views across the massive reedbeds into the sun towards the Sizewell Nuclear facility. There wasn’t a lot of activity, other than two-three male Western Marsh Harriers hawking the reedbeds in front of us and where a female joined them temporarily. I managed a few decent shots before the activity subsided.

Suddenly, a Stoat was seen bounding along the grass below the hide, and I managed a token photo before it was lost to view. Minutes later, and a distant Bittern was giving flight views at the back of the reedbeds (though John missed it) but that too was soon lost to view.

We returned to the car to consume our lunches, before attempting more views of the adders - only one obliged properly - before the guys wanted to try and see what was on show from the East Coastal Hide. I wasn’t so keen as I was becoming rapidly exhausted (due to a health predicament which I won’t go into here) but reluctantly - and very slowly - followed, taking the newly installed wooden walkway that avoids the often difficult sandy coastal path.

There was a lot hive of activity on Scrape - lots of Black-headed Gulls; a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Herring Gull or two - but surprisingly no Mediterranean Gulls; over 50 Avocets; a small number of Northern Shoveler; a pair of Pintail; several Shelduck; Lapwings sporadically over the scrape; a pair of Oystercatchers; 100 plus Black-tailed Godwits; Gadwall; a lone Dunlin; two Ruddy Turnstone; a single Redshank; a Ringed Plover; a newly arrived Little Ringed Plover; a few distant Marsh Harriers, and a distant Sparrowhawk (which looked small, so was probably a male; a female was to be seen later from the car park).

John and Mike wanted to go on to the South Hide so I left them to it, choosing to make my way back to the pools and the adders - and promptly missed out on seeing at least three Mediterranean Gulls, and a couple of Sandwich Terns. Back at the pools, it was becoming too cool for adders, and the Sand Martins had disappeared - Mike and John soon joined me, but I missed out on a Kingfisher that circled high over the pools before exiting the area.

But I couldn’t complain, I’d increased my yearly birdlist to 101(though still way less than the guys); we’d had a super time watching the adders (definitely the highlight of the day - we all agreed on that); with lovely views of the Dartford Warblers at Westleton Heath. And despite a relatively quiet day bird-wise at the reserve, there was a lot to look forward to here later in the year.

 

ADDER (Black colour form)

ADDER (Brown colour form)

ADDER (more usual Green colour form)

ADDER (Green colour form)

ADDER

ADDER

MUNTJAC

MARSH HARRIER (M)

MARSH HARRIER (M)

MARSH HARRIER (M)

STOAT

23 MARCH 2025 - FROG FEST & RED KITE

Continuing my previous post, I was lucky enough to have more than 26 pairs of frogs visiting my wildlife pond on one single day in March 2022, the downside of that being that only three were seen the following day. On 21 March 2025 there were at least 30 individual frogs in the pond, with at least 24 (though I’m convinced there were more) remaining on 22 March – though only one so far as write this on 23 March.

There was an intensity of activity with all those frogs - with some paired up or in ‘holds’ of three or more frogs - and it really was an incredible spectacle of Nature, that was doubtless repeated throughout the country in people’s ponds. But what made it even more special was the diversity of colour and size of the individual frogs, and more especially, that some of the (what I assumed to be) female frogs, were simply enormous – indeed, amongst the biggest frogs I’ve ever seen.

And with all that activity I was able to obtain some very pleasing photographs (and indeed video) that are amongst the best I’ve ever managed to achieve.

It must be said that when I approached the pond, all activity abruptly ceased, so I needed to be patient, and wait (for up to ten minutes or more) - I brought a chair out to make that process more comfortable - until the frogs emerged again, and the mating orgy and often quite loud male croaking recommenced.

I was out in the garden for a couple of hours and observed a Red Kite appear in the cloudy sky on the horizon above the rooftops, but it was circling in my direction, so I watched it get closer and closer until it veered away. I could see the direction of flight it was taking so when it went out of view, I hi-tailed it to the front garden and watched it continue in a northerly direction over the rooftops until quite unexpectedly the bird veered again and took a more southerly flight back towards my house, eventually coming quiet close, from where I could get a few shots - some of which were probably the closest I’ve yet achieved at this location.  As the skies were rather grey and dull, I’ve replaced the skies with a more favourable option, to bring out the plumage details more readily.

14 COMMON FROGS

COUPLET

ENTANGLED 

RED KITE

RED KITE

RED KITE

20 MARCH 2025 – FROG FEST IN MY WILDLIFE POND

I’d been out in the morning, returning to the house about 12.15 pm and just happened to peer out of the kitchen window in time to see the pond seemingly ‘boiling’. Of course, I knew exactly what was occurring and quickly snatched the camera and headed for back garden and the wildlife pond. But, as soon as I approached the pond all activity suddenly ceased.

I waited a while - possibly ten minutes or so - when a head plopped up; and then another; and then there were three entangled together; and then the ‘boiling’ began again, and soon a mass of frogs continued an orgy of activity, the likes of which I hadn’t seen here for three years.

In the spring of 2022 - for just one morning in March - I counted at least 26 mating couples, and there were likely more as it was almost impossible to determine the exact number – but only three individuals remained the following morning. And now, in March 2025, it was happening again, although not on such a large scale as this time I counted at least 32 individual frogs, with a single ‘coupling’ of five individuals atop one very large female frog. Of course, I had a field day with my camera, taking over 40 shots.

The next day, all seemed very quiet, with just the occasional ‘ripple’ of activity. About midday however, I could see from the kitchen window that several pairs were still in the throes of mating, although of course, they could well have been new arrivals. But I wasn’t getting anywhere near the number of photos, and when I attempted videoing the scene, all participants either slinked back into the water, or submerged beneath the mass of frog spawn. However, I was pleased to be assured that all this activity meant that my pond was in a pretty good condition, otherwise surely, this wouldn’t be happening.

AIR BUBBLE FROM A SUBMERGED FROG

MASSES OF FROG SPAWN

18 MARCH 2025 – THE BRECKS (NORFOLK)

A 7.30 a.m. start from my house with John and Mike - our first birding trip since early January - and we were intending to do the Brecks (bordering Norfolk and Suffolk) beginning at Cockley Cley for Goshawks.

We arrived at Cockley Cley shortly after 9.00 a.m. It was still cold, but bright sunlight and pristine blue skies (not always good conditions for watching distant raptors in flight). It was quiet at first with just the odd sighting of buzzards soaring over the forest, and very little else, except two Red Kites were seen very nearby.

The fields opposite the inlet where we were parked (not a formal car park) were now a pig farm, with ‘porkers’ spread out over the landscape (formerly just plain grassland) some in their styes and others rolling about in the mud - with close views of several Red-legged Partridges intermingling with their hosts. It wasn’t immediately apparent why these birds were associating so closely with pigs, but one could reasonably assume that flies were a readily available food source in such conditions. But what it meant for me personally was that I was able to get some reasonably close photographs of these otherwise shy birds – as well as being able to gain close views of these undeniably attractive yet quite gaudily-plumaged partridges.

About 30 minutes in, John got the first views of a high-flying Goshawk soaring over distant trees, with more Buzzards also soaring (in groups of up to five individuals). Then, a second Goshawk seemingly joining the first implying a possible pair; but it wasn’t until a while after when display flight was obvious, though again the birds remained stubbornly distant. But that soon changed when up to two pairs were seen in display flight, with both pairs giving reasonably close views when one could discern the size difference between the larger female and the males. These were by far the best views I’d seen here for quite some years.

So, apart from the four Goshawks, up to eleven Buzzards were observed, with a male Kestrel, and at least three Red Kites (one pair soared right overhead, enabling me to get some excellent photos) completing the raptor toll. A displaying Stock Dove; two Fieldfares; two Shelducks; two Woodlarks seen by me, and another heard, and of course up to seven Red-legged Partridges.

On to Lynford Arboretum for hopefully, a good tally of passerine species, but the place was extremely quiet overall bird wise, and we struggled to general finches and similar species, with no sightings of Hawfinch or Crossbills that were seen in 2024. We did see a couple, of Siskin, with good views of a pair of Nuthatches that were nesting near the coffee house, and a probable Chiffchaff. A Tawny Owl called somewhere in the near vicinity but wasn’t breaking cover! We concluded that despite the sunshine, it was still quite cold with a strengthening easterly at times which might have deterred birds, together with the fact that the feeding stations had been removed, with the obvious consequences.

Given the general lack of birds and the overall weather conditions, we decided not to visit Santon Downham, and John suggested a new area for Mike and me - Lynford Stag Trail - which was a commercial forest owned by the Forestry Commission, but although it was a pleasant enough area of mixed woodland, it didn’t produce anything other than species we’d seen earlier in the day.

RED KITE

RED KITE

RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE

RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGES

RL PARTRIDGE WITH THE PIGS

8 MARCH 2025 – THORLEY WASH

On 17 February I’d attempted to walk along the towpath north to Bishop’s Stortford but was prevented from doing so by the extremely muddy (and dangerous) conditions. Almost three weeks later I gave it another go – taking the bus down to Spellbrook with the intention of walking north along the towpath.

Thankfully, this time the conditions were more favourable, although parts of the towpath were still extremely difficult to negotiate, even though we’d had very little rainfall since my last attempt, and the towpath had dried out considerably. I made my way carefully along the towpath, and was making good progress, when I came upon a part that was exceptionally wet and muddy, but was fortunate enough to be given a helping hand by a kindly gent - out with his wife and two dogs - who took me by the arm until we were clear of the worst (well I’m certain that I just wouldn’t have made it to the bridge without his help, as it would have been too dangerous for me to try it by myself).

One thing I’d noticed straight away was the distinct lack of birdlife along the river. Given that the weather was warm and sunny (very warm for early March in fact at around 17 degrees Centigrade) I just couldn’t fathom out why there was so little evidence of birds. The drumming sound of a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and the gentle mew of a Buzzard, together with the ‘screech’ of a Jay, and the welcome call of a male Chiffchaff, gave me hope, but after that the quietude returned.

I managed a decent view of one of two male Chiffchaffs calling, before noting three immature Cormorants at rest atop an old oak; and then at least six Mallards and a single Moorhen on the river. At the bridge (and by then it had taken the best part of 40 minutes to negotiate the towpath successfully due to the mud) the sight of a Buzzard soaring over the reserve was pleasing. And then there was a Red Kite soaring with it, and another nearby that appeared to be carrying prey. A few photographs were taken, but the birds were quite distant throughout (so the photos here are enlarged). But I believe this was the first time I’d seen two Kites at the same time at this location, and it was encouraging to know that they might be nesting nearby.

Around the reserve, virtually nothing stirred – at least two male Robins were singing, and a Cetti’s Warbler joined in without revealing itself; a male Reed Bunting (my first of the year) alighted briefly atop a Willow was gone before I could focus my lens, with a Great Tit the only other passerine seen. Further along the towpath there were several freshly made Mole hills, and the mud on one was ‘moving’; hoping to see a Mole appear (it would have been the first time) the action suddenly stopped when two people walked by (although they could see I was watching the molehill intently with my camera poised but chose to ignore me) - and of course, all chances of seeing any mole rapidly eroded as a consequence!

There were several anglers along the towpath, but they too were having little luck - with fish  seemingly refusing the bait. Sadly too, and despite the warm conditions, Brimstone and Peacock butterflies (which had been seen recently in other locations) failed to materialise.

So, with no Kingfishes to see; no finches; no thrushes (other than Robins); no Bullfinches; no Green Woodpeckers (or sightings of Great Spotted despite their drumming); no Kestrels; no Egrets or Herons etc. etc I called it a day. Surely, the birds would return once the spring proper was underway??

CORMORANT

MALLARDS (I liked the reflections).

RED KITE

RED KITE (CARRYING PREY?)

THE ANGLER

DAFFODILS AMONGST THE BEECHES

 

17 February 2025 – Spellbrook and 18 February 2025 – Southern Country Park

It was my intention to take a bus down to Spellbrook - south of Bishop's Stortford - then walk north along the towpath towards Twyford Lock - but as soon as I began walking, it was obvious that the path was extremely treacherous due to extremely muddy conditions, so I turned around to walk southwards towards Tednambury. However, the muddy conditions prevailed here too, and with the notable lack of birdlife, I decided to call it a day.  New species for the year included a lone Little Grebe and  a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers, but there was very little else of note, apart from a few tits, Mallards; a pair of Mute Swans, and a couple  of Cormorants.

FEMALE MALLARD

DRAKE MALLARD

LITTLE GREBE

On my way to Southern Country Park the following day - a pair of Rooks and a pair of Greenfinches were new birds locally at Thorley Wedge. At the Rookery in Thorley Lane East the old rooks’ nests were gone, and a new one was seen with an attendant Rook in the conifer opposite - and where a large contingent of Jackdaws (c20 - the largest number I'd ever seen here) and more Rooks soon joined the throng. In Thorley Lane East Wood - below where the rookery used to be - Snowdrops carpeted the floor of the woodland; more than I'd noticed previously. SCP itself was very quiet – seemingly almost devoid of birds at times. The lake was partially frozen except for an area by the boardwalk. The ice-free area was busy with Mallards and a few BH Gulls (being fed bread by a mother and her children) but predictably the Moorhens and gulls had trouble walking on the ice. A lovely Red Kite came in from the north a gave me wonderful views as it soared round above my head and rounded the lake before moving away - but my camera was on the wrong settings for a fast-moving raptor, so all I got were a few shots as it moved out of view. Apart from these birds - a few Blue Tits; Great Tits; a Wren and a Robin the place seemed like a 'ghost town' with the noticeable lack of passerines - finches; buntings etc. And add insult to injury the footpaths were incredibly slippery with mud; ugh!!

JACKDAW

ROOK AT THE NEST

THEN MORE JACKDAWS AND ROOKS DESCENDED

A PLETHORA OF SNOWDROPS

LAKESIDE

'SKATING' MOORHEN

MOORHENS AND BH GULLS - ON THE ICE

MOORHEN - WALKING ON ICE

RED KITE

GOLDCREST