12 MAY 2025 - LYNFORD ARBORETUM; SANTON DOWNHAM and LAKENHEATH

An 8.20 a.m start from mine with heavy-ish traffic through Bishop’s Stortford, eventually saw us onto the M11, arriving at Lynford Arboretum, Norfolk around 9.45 a.m. The main aim was to try and get Firecrest, which breeds here - with a good breeding population in recent years; but an hour or so later, none of us had connected with any (by then we’d split into two parties, but it didn’t make an  iota of difference) - maybe they were late arriving this season). The only saving grace was the sighting of a male Garden Warbler which was singing from high branch overlooking the lake; other species seen or heard included Reed Warbler; Lesser Whitethroat; and Cuckoo. A Hairy Dragonfly was hawking the lake edge. The Aboretum itself was lush in fresh green foliage and was stunning in the bright, warm sunlight.

And so, on to Santon Downham where first we tried (again unsuccessfully) to locate a Firecrest at the nearby Church); then shortly after leaving the car in the car park, I spied a bird atop a distant dead tree, which proved to be a singing male Tree Pipit (with good views through John’s scope); then as it flew away, a Common Buzzard took its place, and after that, a male Stonechat ; so, a popular tree from which to survey the surrounding countryside. Then, much nearer to where we stood, a male Woodlark arrived totally unexpectedly and sang sweetly for us, then thrilled us with a lovely display flight. I believe a second male was seen overhead, though not by me.

A short while Later, Mike found a male Green Hairstreak butterfly (which I only glimpsed, though I think John managed a slightly better view) and nearby I found a couple of Small Copper butterflies. Large; Small and Green-veined Whites; Orange-tips were also seen, as were at least two male Brimstones; a Peacock, and a couple of Holly Blues.

Then on to Weeting for the Stone Curlews. It was a great surprise to learn that the Norfolk Wildlife Trust visitor centre here had permanently closed, although the hides were all still available to the public free of charge – so permits were no longer necessary. From the West Hide - views of a wide-open field in front of the hide were disappointingly without said Stone Curlews (just a Eurasian Curlew and a couple of Northern Lapwings remained). We learned from a fellow birdwatcher (who was a warden at the reserve when it was open) that they had apparently nested successfully, but the young birds were sadly predated. And there were no Stone Curlews either on the fields on the other side of the road.

We tried for Spotted Flycatchers (we’d heard there were at least three that had arrived within the last week), and although John and Mike were lucky, I frustratingly couldn’t find the bird in the forest of pines and other trees, so missed out on this occasion. John and I also missed another Green Hairstreak that Mike found in the car park.

It was getting late in the afternoon, so although we planned a visit to the RSPB Reserve at Lakenheath, we restricted our stay to a brief foray for a pair of Garganey, which - thanks to John scoping the huge freshwater lake behind the Little Ouse waterway - we got quite surprisingly quickly. John and Mike left me here to get a different view of the lake in a vain attempt to locate a Wood Sandpiper that had been reported recently; whilst still seated at the original viewpoint, I managed to get a slightly better view of another Green Hairstreak as it whizzed by me. Back near the centre entrance, I sated myself on photographing Azure Damselflies (most were tandem views) and a Large Red Damselfly. We left the reserve shortly before 4.00 p.m.

LYNFORD ARBORETUM

LEAF SHADOW ON BEECH

LYNFORD ARBORETUM

AZURE DAMSELFLIES IN TANDEM

AZURE DAMSELFLIES IN TANDEM

LARGE RED DAMSELFLY (M)

CARDINAL BEETLE

1 MAY 2025 – WEST CANVEY MARSHES and HANNINGFIELD RESERVOIR

This was originally intended to be a trip with just me and Mike, but John was a late addition (having just returned from a couple of days in Weymouth); and he offered to drive. An 8.10 a.m. start from mine, saw us eventually arriving at West Canvey Marshes, Essex within 90 minutes or so - the delay caused by a road traffic accident around Chelmsford.

Mike chose this site as he and his wife Anita have often visited and found it within easy driving distance of home, and is a relatively flat area too, so not an excessively difficult terrain. It comprises a couple of small lakes (or ponds) with smaller ditches and reedy areas, over extensive grasslands, interspersed with hedges (mainly hawthorn and similar bushes).

We made straight-for the nearest hide - but before we got there John spied a distant Cuckoo (which as it didn’t call might have been a female) though we did see a male later on in the morning;  and as soon as we were inside, we were accosted by an incredibly loud Magpie-ish ‘noise’ which in fact turned out to be Marsh Frogs in a nearby pond! Investigation revealed many Marsh Frogs, spread out amongst small lilies and similar plants, with some seen to expand their voice sacs as they ‘sang’ . Birds from the hide included a single Little Egret two Little Grebes; a pair of Great Crested Grebes; a Pochard; and some Tufted Duck, but nothing untoward. We then made for the Pantiles - which was a fair distance way and which was another area of water, where different species could be seen including a pair of Black-necked Grebes (in full summer plumage – apparently a pair bred nearby in 2024); a couple of Mediterranean Gulls, along with other common gull species; Common Terns; Lapwings and Avocets (both with young); a male Marsh Harrier; several Black-tailed Godwits; Redshank; Shoveler; a Teal; and a Wigeon. All around, there were sounds of Reed Warblers; Sedge Warblers; a single Garden Warbler (which refused to show itself); and at Redhill (a nearby hillock), a male Corn Bunting. There was a later record of a Garganey, which we only heard about when we were at Hanningfield Reservoir later that afternoon.

Butterflies included several Small Heath; Green-veined Whites; Large and Small Whites; Speckled Woods; a few Peacocks; and Mike had a single Red Admiral. Dragonflies included a Hairy Dragonfly; a probable Four-Spot Chaser, and a Blue-tailed Damselfly, which I missed. We also saw a lovely Brimstone Moth, my second of the week.

I must admit that although progress around the site was relatively easy - being mainly flat grassland - the weather was exceptionally hot, although there was a light S Easterly wind, which was very welcome in the circumstances - I still struggled in the heat, and with my right hip impairment, found it very difficult to keep up with my fellow birdwatchers.

It was around 1.30 p.m. when we made the decision to move on to Hanningfield Reservoir, where we’d heard that at least 10 Black Terns had been seen that morning. It didn’t take long to get there, but a very long walk through the Visitor’ Centre and on to the relevant hide, eventually saw us viewing the said 10 Black Terns constantly moving up and down the reservoir (and what a sight) together with several Common Terns, and a distant Little Gull. There was a couple of Red-Crested Pochard; a lovely Little Egret showing off its plumes to full effect; an Avocet and an Oystercatcher. In the woodland, a male Garden Warbler showed itself briefly, and on a small pond, a male Broad-Bodied Chaser; an Azure Damselfly, and a Large Red Damselfly delighted us still further.

MARSH FROG

MARSH FROGS - ONE ON LEFT SHOWING INFLATED VOICE SACS

THREE MARSH FROGS

CRANE FLIES IN TANDEM

DANDELION - NATURE'S CLOCK

SHIELD BUG Sp

SMALL HEATH BUTTERFLY

NURSERY WEB SPIDER

28 APRIL 2025 – SOUTHERN COUNTRY PARK (SCP)

I hadn’t been to SCP for a while, so I thought I’d try and see if any migrant birds had come in. Due to mobility issues, it took me just shy of an hour to walk there from my house in Bishop’s Stortford, arriving at 010.00 hours, with the sound of Reed Warbler echoing over the reedbeds, though surprisingly no Sedge Warbler, which I expected to hear first (as they usually arrive earlier). But it took me a while to locate the Reed Warbler to reeds along the boardwalk at the northern end of the lake.

One had to be very patient of course, so once the bird was located, I was ready with my camera, But the Reed Warbler remained stubbornly hidden as its song reverberated loudly over the reeds. Then, suddenly, at the rear of the reedbed, a movement; and then the bird moved to a small willow, where it continued to sing, without revealing itself fully. This went on for around 20 minutes, until the bird moved to the reeds again, but this time much higher up, so I could see the bird properly, and could try and get some decent images through my lens. Eventually, with around 40 images I managed to get some decent results, as the following shots hopefully convey.

Away from the boardwalk (where it didn’t seem likely that Sedge Warblers were in fact present) reedbeds along the eastern edge of the lake revealed another Reed Warbler, with a rather shy Sedge Warbler singing nearby, which eventually showed itself. A male Cetti’s Warbler sang nearby too, though of course, photography just wasn’t on the cards.

Strangely, I didn’t catch the song of any Blackcaps (though surely, they were in), with only the occasional scratching song of Common Whitethroats in places. A single Chiffchaff was heard, but nothing other than a single Robin; Blue Tits; Great Tits, and a single Long-tailed Tit was seen. Rooks and Jackdaws were feeding amongst the Daisies and Cowslips in the wildflower meadow. As the morning progressed and the warm spring sunshine beat down, many Small Whites; Orange Tips and a couple of Large White; a Peacock Butterfly and a single Red Admiral were seen; then later Brimstones became more profuse, which included my very first Brimstone Moth.

I wanted to try for Yellowhammers, which had sadly declined in numbers in recent years; so I made for farm fields towards Mathams Pit (a small private fishing lake) where I’d seen a pair in the past two years, and eventually, was lucky to see a male and a female (though they weren’t paired up) in different locations - although photography was extremely difficult. Up towards St, James’s Church, I was hoping to see Yellow Wagtails and/or Northern Wheatears but was disappointed in that regard. There were no hirundines either, or no obvious movement of Sand Martins observed here in 2024 (though, maybe it was a tad too early in the season). At the Church - where I took a welcome rest on a seat in the graveyard (which was full of delightful spring flowers) I saw an adult Mistle Thrush - the first ‘local’ one I’d seen this year; and nearby my first view this year of a male Blackcap singing vociferously from a hawthorn bush.

So, nothing exceptional in the five hours I was out, but I was really pleased with some of the shots of the Reed Warbler in particular.

REED WARBLER

27 APRIL 2025 – GARDEN BIRDS ETC

I hadn’t planned anything in particular except some garden maintenance, so once that was out of the way, and as it was such a beautiful calm, sunny morning, I thought I’d just sit in the garden for a couple of hours - with my camera close at hand - to see what birds (and possibly butterflies too) could be observed, and was utterly surprised at what photographs I managed to get.

Nothing untoward of course, but a good selection of common birds in and around the garden were seen - such as Great Tit; Blue Tit; Robin; Starling; House Sparrow; Common Crow; Jackdaw; Woodpigeon, and Magpie. Wild flowers included Herb Robert; Dandelion; Cranesbill, with Tiger Hoverflies the only insects (as butterflies didn’t in fact materialise).

CARRION CROW ON TV AERIAL

MAPGPIE ON TV AERIAL

STARLING ON TV AERIAL

FOLIAGE OF CRANESBILL

DANDELION HEAD

HERB ROBERT

HOUSE SPARROW

MAGPIE

MAGPIE

MAGPIE

ROBIN

ROBIN

TIGER HOVERFLY

16 APRIL 2025 - ABBERTON RESERVOIR, ESSEX

John had things to do early on, so we didn’t leave my house until 10.15 a.m. There had been reports of a movement of Arctic and Black Terns, but the reliability at Abberton wasn’t that great, and although John gave us options for birding in the Ouse Fens - for Garganey and Glossy Ibis - Mike and I thought Abberton might be the better option on balance. The weather was bright, with some cloud and sunny intervals, and a moderate to strong south-westerly wind.

Just over an hour later, we were looking out over the expanse of water from the Layer de la Haye causeway, where we could already see numerous terns circling above the water amongst a throng of gulls (the majority Black-headed Gulls), together with some Tufted Ducks; Mallards; Shoveler, and some Great Crested Grebes.

John was scanning the terns with his scope as (through my binoculars) I spied a small tern with greyer wings than the  Common Terns and  gulls around it, which I initially claimed as a probable Black Tern, but Mike has seen the same bird and although he  made the same assumption, quickly corrected it to being an Arctic Tern. But the  bird was extremely difficult to follow as it was continually weaving and circling, occasionally dipping to the surface of the water - presumably catching flies; but it soon  disappeared from view, and I’m not at all sure if John even managed a sighting.

Across the road, looking north over the reservoir, there was little activity of note, but right below where John and I stood, a pair of Little Ringed Plovers were displaying, giving exceptionally close views, and where I was able to photograph the full nuptial process – something I’d never previously witnessed, yet alone photographed.

We could see numerous terns at the Layer Breton causeway from here, and John thought it might be an idea to drive down and try for the Arctic Tern but were unsuccessful in relocating it. There wasn’t  a great happening here either, although there were several male Yellow Wagtails, probably newly arrived; a pair of Yellowhammers (which seemed out of place here); and a pair off Egyptian Geese, with a family of goslings. Opposite, the colony of breeding Little Egrets appeared quite active, with nesting Grey Herons, when suddenly a passing Spoonbill flew in and landed on the edge of the reservoir, clearly looking for nesting material; and was seen to take a bill-full off twigs etc to a nest high above the Egrets nests.

On the way to the Visitor’ Centre - a small group of Black-tailed Godwits flew high overhead - then we stopped awhile at the ‘old road’ to try and see if we could bag a Nightingale, but although there were at least four vociferous males (with another across the main road) none were seen. But it a fantastic experience being so near to singing birds, together with a couple of singing Blackcaps, Robins, tits etc; with a few Small and Large White, and Speckled Wood butterflies.

We attempted viewings from the Hide Bird Hide, but there was little of interest to see, with no sightings of a reported Lesser Whitethroat, although Willow Warblers and Blackcaps were present, then made our way to the Centre for a welcome Cappuccino each, before setting off home.

                                                                        

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (M)

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (F)

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER - BEFORE THE MALE MOUNTS FEMALE

MATING LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS

EGYPTIAN GEESE WITH GOSLINGS

LITTLE EGRETS AND HERON COLONY

PIED WAGTAIL (M)

YELLOW WAGTAIL (M)

SPOONBILL COLLECTING NEST MATERIAL

SPOONBILL

SPOONBILL TAKING MATERIAL TO THE NEST

SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY

10 APRIL 2025 - ABBERTON RESERVOIR, ESSEX

A reasonably early start from my house at 0800 hrs saw John, Mike and I arrive at the Layer de La Haye causeway shortly after 09.30 hrs, but too early for the Visitor’ Centre which opened at 10.00 hrs. So, we tried unsuccessfully, to see at least two male Nightingales which we could hear singing loudly from a wooded area nearby. On the reservoir, we gained distant views of at least two Little Gulls (though John had five through his telescope) among a myriad Black-headed and other Gulls, with a group of five Black-necked Grebes much nearer - all approaching full summer plumage; whilst overhead a couple of Mediterranean Gulls made their presence felt. Towards the Layer Breton causeway in the distant south of the reservoir there were huge concentrations of mainly Black-headed Gulls; Tufted Ducks; Great Crested Grebes etc with at least one Common Tern in their midst (though I couldn’t get on it) before we decided to try for Lesser Scaup reportedly seen recently from the viewpoint at northern end of the reservoir, near St. Andrews Church.

Here, we were more successful, with good views of two male and a female Lesser Scaup amongst the Tufted Ducks. We also saw a large flock of Sand Martins (approaching 100 strong) which appeared suddenly from the east; three Swallows on nearby telephone lines, and a male Sparrowhawk. There were several Chiffchaffs at this location too, all singing heartily.

The morning thus far had been very dull and rather chilly it must be said, with the prospect of the cloud breaking to bright, warm sunshine around midday. It should be noted that even under grey skies there were huge clouds of mosquitos, which intensified dramatically as the day grew warmer and brighter, providing nourishing food for gulls and passerines alike, though were nothing less than plain annoying to us birders.

Anyway, back through the Visitor’ Centre we began the normal circuit of hides beginning with Gwen’s Hide, where a male and a female Goosander were still present on reservoir, together with a couple of Goldeneye; a pair of Wigeon, and a pair of Northern Pintail. A male Common Whitethroat obliged from the scrub in front of the hide. Further on at the Island Bird Hide - as the cloud lifted into warm, bright sunlight - a couple of Little Gulls could be seen in front of the distant water plant (though the views weren’t especially good); a few Wigeon and Pochard were seen here too. On the way to Hide Bay Bird Hide a male Blackcap could be heard singing loudly (but wasn’t seen), but good views of a singing male Willow Warbler (though there was probably two in the vicinity) and a Chiffchaff or two lifted one’s heart. Overhead a Western Marsh Harrier and a displaying Kestrel were seen. At the Hide Bay Bird Hide, there was very little activity of note, except for another Goldeneye and a singleton Green Sandpiper which was the only wader on view (courtesy of John’s scoping prowess). On the way back to the Centre I managed to get some reasonably close photos of one of the Willow Warblers, which was extremely pleasing given that I’d hadn’t recorded any local birds for the past few years and certainly hadn’t achieved any photos for getting on for fifteen years.

We enjoyed a Cappuccino each back at the Centre, choosing to sit outside in the fresh air, whilst enjoying watching a Little Grebe at very close quarters, together with the very surprising addition of a superb Barn Owl which was observed hawking the vegetation around Gwen’s Hide for a while. Nearby, Goldfinches and Chaffinches, along with a few Blue Tits and Great Tits were busy at the feeders, whilst on the ground below, a Brown Rat and a Mallard shared close company with each other with no apparent problems.

Following the coffees, we stopped for a moment or two to watch a Common Newt in one of the lily ponds, before returning to John’s cars for our lunches; after which we tried once more to see the Nightingales.  There were at least three males singing vociferously, vying with a couple of Cetti’s Warblers but none revealed themselves - par for the course for the species, although some brown jobs were observed flitting over the roadway between Blackthorns, which could readily have been either species. There were Chiffchaffs; Blackcaps; Blue-Tits; Great Tits; Long-tailed Tits; a Robin and a Dunnock, whilst high overhead  a trio of Common Buzzards soared in pristine blues skies. Butterflies were well represented at this location too, with good numbers of Speckled Woods and Small Whites, together with single Commas and Peacock butterflies. Spring was most definitely underway.

On the way to the Layer Breton Causeway, we called in at Billett’s Farm hoping to see a Yellow Wagtail or two and were flabbergasted when at least fifteen stunning males (but no females) all in pristine summer plumage were seen in a nearby grassy field, with some on the wire fencing, although only two remained within just a few minutes; clearly new arrivals here. From the hide nearby there was little of much note, although a close encounter with a beautiful adult Hare, which came to within fifty feet or so before moving off.

Our last port of call was at the Layer Breton Causeway, where I eventually caught up with the morning’s Common Tern (thanks largely to Mike’s exceptional directions) which was difficult to keep up with amongst the melee of gulls; Mute Swans; ducks and Great Crested Grebes. The colony of Great Cormorants contained many nesting pairs, whilst on the opposite side of the Causeway at least three pairs of Spoonbills, along with several pairs of Little Egrets and Grey Herons were nesting in the Willows. Two further Spoonbills (possibly non-breeding birds) were observed on a nearby islet.

We left Abberton shortly after 3 o’clock after what could only be described as a memorable days birding, with a few butterflies thrown in for good measure.

BLACK-NECKED GREBES

DRAKE TEAL

TUFTED DUCKS

BROWN RAT

 

LITTLE GREBE

WILLOW WARBLER

CORMORANT COLONY

SPOONBILLS AND LITTLE EGRETS NESTING

SPOONBILL OFF THE NEST