Southwold

A visit to Southwold Town marshes on Sunday afternoon, looking over the marshes from the entrance to the Golf Club was ultimately unsuccessful as the hoped for Glossy Ibis had flown off 20 minutes earlier. Dick W & Roy H from Beccles were already there but had also just missed the bird.

No wonder since loads of walkers were crossing the marshes. A Cetti's Warbler sang it's explosive song from a nearby bush and calling a soft "tchik" it flew across the road showing it's distinctive rustic brown upperparts and paddle shaped tail as it dived deep into a bush right in front of us and out of sight.

A visit to Southwold Churchyard nearby was for once devoid of migrant birds. A very tame young Blackbird perched on a hedge nearby showed down to a foot. It appeared quite scruffy as the feathering on it's nape was almost bare and it sadly had 2 ticks attached like Limpits to the side of it's neck, 1 large one and 1 small one. Their size equates to the amount of blood they have sucked out of their unfortunate host and eventually they become so big that they fall off, severely and often fatally weakening the host. So I don't hold out much hope for this young Blackbird's prospects sadly.