Tuesday: Black Terns and Pantaloon Bees.

Following a long walk around the woods and  a coffee in the golf club house, a latish start saw us at Minsmere at around nine. We walked out to the West Hide and soon found ourselves enjoying views of two Black Terns, a few Med gulls and a solitary Little Gull.  Walking round to the East Hide, we added Wood, Green and Common Sandpiper to the day list, as well as a couple of delightful Spotted Redshanks. I think we found a pair of Little Stints too!

We drove back to base via Woodbridge, Melton and Snape: no more birds, but some interesting sights, including a female pianist playing in the middle of a reed bed!  After another barbecue (salmon from Woodbridge) we tried out the hot tub,  staying in it until the stars came out!

 

 

 

First day in Suffolk

Arriving in Suffolk at midday, we unloaded and drove a couple of miles to Framlingham  (seeing numerous Buzzards and a Nightingale on the way!) to pick up a few bits and pieces and have lunch. We took a walk to the ruins of the Norman castle and then made our way back to the car. Crossing a small stream, we glanced down and saw a Grey Wagtail picking about on the watermint.

From Framlingham we drove south  to Sizewell to look for Black Redstarts. Despite a good search of the sandy slopes (and a ‘friendly’ interrogation by the local constabulary!) the only interesting birds were the many Kittiwakes that now nest on the water intakes of the power station. Lots of Common Blues flying, which was nice!

 

Back home for a barbecue and great views of a party of Goldcrests and some of the many Green Woodpeckers that seem to enjoy the closely-cropped grass of the fairways and greens!

Casual birding in Suffolk!

To celebrate her retirement, Linda & I enjoyed an excellent few days and nights at a fabulous lodge in the middle of a golf course at Cretingham in Suffolk. Now we're back I can attach some photos and complete our diary...

'Tree Fair' at Strumpshaw Hall

Linda had seen this curiously-named event advertised and, interested in gardening as we both are, we thought it might be worth a look. In the event, the eight pound entry fee each was a bit of a rip off: most of the stalls were aging hippies selling cr*p, while the few wood carvers attending were charging top prices but didn't take card payment: welcome to the modern world, guys!

However: a couple of traders made all the difference: one guy was selling excellent wicker-work bird sculptures (of which we bought two!) and another - Panache Plants - had a fabulous stock of unusual specimens: air plants, sensitive Mimosa and insectivorous plants. Since these were all hardy, I bought a good number to add to the collection.

I attach photos of Panache Plants delightful display! (Oh! Amazing to bump into David and Jane Dibb, with whom I used to work at a school in Yarmouth)

Another milestone reached!

Well: Linda has actually retired! She took her job (as Bursar of a large primary school in the city) when she split from her first husband: we got married a year later: that's 23 years ago, now! As you'll imagine,  it has been quite a wrench for Linda, saying goodbye to so many friends and colleagues, so - kind of on the spur of the moment - I bought some nibbles and champagne and invited friends Sue and Peter to join us in a low-key celebration. In the event, the weather was kind (although we did need to use one of our patio heaters!) and we had a thoroughly enjoyable soiree... We were also joined at the table by a Brown Hawker and a Migrant Hawker: sadly, for P & S, no sign of our 'daily' Hummer!

Garganey and Small Red-eyed Damselfly at Strumpshaw Fen

A very quick circuit of the Fen this morning, because I had to get home to prepare a few surprises for the retirement Queen! Nevertheless, despite the wind and scudding clouds, I managed some decent images of a confiding Garganey in front of Tower Hide, as well as Migrant Hawker, Scarce Chaser and Small Red-eyed Damselfly in their usual spots. Hundreds of Peacocks, Red Admirals and Small Torts and more views of the Sparrowhawk family.

Nice to have a long chat with Warden Ben: he really does think deeply about his job and I'm sure his responsibilities at the Fen (and parenthood!) have curtailed his twitching instincts somewhat: nevertheless, a relaxed chat reveals how passionate he remains about wildlife and his local patch... About time he made an entry in his blog, though! It seems like all the other bloggers (apart from Penny and me) have gone over to the dark side (Twitter!)

Holt Country Park: the best site in Norfolk for Butterflies!

Friends Sue & Peter had yet to enjoy the Silver-washed Fritillaries at Holt CP, so, dodging the thunderstorms, we dashed northwards for a walk around this delightful reserve. While I was buying the (incredibly cheap) parking ticket I noticed that the nearby Buddleias held perhaps a dozen Silver-washed Frits as well as Peacocks, White Admirals, Red Admirals, Commas, Brimstones and Small Torts: incredible! Our walk around added Painted Lady, Small Heath, Small Skipper, Ringlet, Large and Small White, Common Blue and Meadow Brown: fifteen species! (One of the SWFs was nearly a valesina!)

A detour to the marshy valleys on the heath gave us good views of lots of Keeled Skimmers, as well as Emperor, Brown Hawker, Common Darter and Southern Hawker: the sphagnum pockets were full of Sundews, many in flower.

S and P are keen students of church architecture, so, after lunch in the excellent Earle Arms, Heydon, we investigated Wood Dalling Church: some terrific brasses and grotesques.

And so home: a lovely day out (even if Sue wouldn't let Peter and me have scones!)