Carlton Marshes goodies

On Tuesday 26th May, on a very sunny afternoon after work, I walked down the only path available heading due west, the main track, flying alongside me on the southern most dyke was a green- eyed Norfolk Hawker. Looking over Peto's Marsh, I eventually spotted the Spoonbill asleep by some Cormorants standing just left of a blue post in the middle of the marsh. meanwhile at the usual place up to 2 Wall Browns seen flying around often resting on the path and the wall, where I was pleased to get some nice shots. Cuckoo heard too. There were a couple of youths with a small black tent and they had a lit a fire that was now out obn the path right bang in the middle of the Wall Brown's territory so I e-mailed Matt and the Voluntary warden to let them know of their presence, Matt replied saying he had already spoken to them.

Garden wildlife diary catchup

On Monday 25th May early on, looking over the fence amazingly a Turtle Dove flew out from the sallow bush at 12.10pm and away towards Parkhill Hotel grounds, a new garden record, (and lockdown garden list 55) it was later hearing "purring" from Parkhill hotel grounds. Sadly the Whitethroat appears to have disappeared from the garden. A Holly Blue was also in the garden.

Weekend garden lockdown birding

On Saturday 23rd May, still suffering from a sore mouth, I confined my wildlife watching to the garden (weather wasn't very conducive either with high winds and cloudy weather on both days) a fine male Orange Tip in the high winds flew around the garden and for once settled on a a flowering forget-me-not flower in the middle circular border, enabled me to finely get a few pictures of this fine lepidoptera butterfly. Also pleasing to note the male Whitethroat was singing from the top of the Copper Beech tree on both Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th May.

Record number of adult Frogs

On Thursday 21st May, very early on from 6.30am the faithful male Whitethroat was again sining from our Copper Beech tree. I I arrived home from work at about 3pm (I now work, for the past 4 weeks, fit-testing PPE equipment for clinical staff and very proud of the whole team at JPUH) and heard the strident "peep peep" of an Oystercatcher which marks species no.54 on the lockdown list. Mid afternoon, a male Orange Tip flew past the conservatory but typically didn't stop, so I couldn't get any pics. A quick visit to Carlton Marshes was curtailed, when I saw both Chris from EDE and Maurice B and they said the Glossy Ibis had just flown off, so not wanting to exhaust myself after my recent tribulations, I decided to sensibly drive back home. Plus there were a whole host of dog walkers and runners, which put me off too. Back home, Jenny said there were 8 Frogs by the garden fish pond, I counted 1 better with 9 adult Frogs seen here all around the southern end edge (5) or in the water, whilst another was seen by the wildlife pond, making 10 adult Frogs, a garden record! I spent the next 30 minutes or so photographing several of them in the warm evening sunlight.

Male Whitethroat again

On Monday 18th May, 2 summer plumaged Black- headed Gulls flew east over the garden in the evening, only the 2nd garden lockdown record. On both Tuesday and Wednesday 19th and 20th May, the now resident male Whitethroat, continues to sing its hear out from various perched just over the fence in Fallowfields but its favourite perch I am proud to say, remains our Copper Beech tree. Also on Wednesday lunchtime, while recuperating I saw a male Orange Tip flying over the bramble bush just over the fence at lunchtime.

Some wonderful wildlife goodies

On Sunday 16th May, a trip to Sotterley revealed a Frog in the water butt, couldn't find the Early Purple Orchids. At a mid Suffolk site, we parked up in the fortunately deserted car park and while Jenny read her book on a newly installed bench, I went hunting for Adders. We heard the brief snatch of the wonderful song of the Nightingale. The bramble bush, which had been a hotspot for Adders, had sadly been taken out and consequently no Adders seen, despite an extensive search As I walked along to the quarry part, 2 squawking Rooks alerted my attention to them mobbing a Red Kite, with some secondaries missing from its right wing. It spent sometime soaring around and then eventually flew south. A pale Small Copper seen flying around some gorse and settled once on the ground until dog walkers walked past. At another location, Jenny & I walked along a footpath and saw 2 Wood Larks feeding by a fence line on a grassy strip. At another location, viewed from the fence we scanned for Stone Curlews, couldn't see any. Suddenly a Buzzard flying over, got mobbed by a Carrion Crow and abruptly the loud "Curlee" "Curlee" calls calling from the dip in the field we couldn't see (staying strictly at the fence line) of Stone Curlew and 1 excellent Stone Curlew flew up vertically & suddenly like a Harrier jump jet briefly attacking the wandering Buteo and then dropped down again and out of sight. An incredible sight to witness!

Green Hairstreak again & Whitethroat still in song

On Sunday 16th May, very early morning, the very virile male Pheasant from the previous evening at hopped over the garden fence and was strutting his stuff at the back of the garden. early morning, the Green Hairstreak was again seen early morning on the flower Lilac bush. The male Whitethroat was again seen singing from the top of the Copper Beech. At 11.20am, a male House Sparrow in Sallow bush just beyond the garden fence, bring the garden lockdwonlist up to 53 (3rd garden record), also the male Whitethroat still singing from our Copper Beech and Holly Blue in the garden. A male Pied Wagtail on next door's area at 11.22am only the 3rd lockdown record of this species. At least 2 Swift going west, 1 seen and 1 heard at 11.27am. 4 Southern Marsh Orchids and 2 presumed hybrid Spotted X Southern Marsh Orchids have appeared in th garden although no sign of Old faithful at the front yet (although that plant is usually a late flowerer.

Whitethroat again, male Pheasant & other garden goodies!

Early morning on Saturday 16th May, the male Whitethroat was singing regularly from the Copper Beech tree again and the very verile male Pheasant who was strutting his stuff from yesterday, had a brief strut around the back of the garden, a very fine beast indeed! Before he flew up to the garden fence and flying onto Fallowfields again. Badger building permitting, (very sadly as regular readers to this site will know, the site is being developed for housing despite my best efforts to legally thwart this by attending Council planning meetings, corresponding directly with the Council Planning Officer, lobbying local councillors, parish councillors, leasing with the Suffolk Police Wildlife Crime officer and Suffolk Wildlife Trust (I was disappointed SWT didn't do more to help protect this site) as well as lobbying local residents, and reporting some Japanese Knotweed to the local Biosecurity Officer ) admittedly badger did come and remove it, full marks to Badger for that at least!)all to no avail, but my thanks to all these groups for their efforts) I hope to see tiny little Pheasant chicks in the next few weeks. Just over the fence, I saw a Male House Sparrow in the sprouting Sallows bushes, 3rd record (2 in garden, this one just outside and 53rd lockdown record. Later a male Pied Wagtail flew onto next door's (west) of us aerial. Really heart warming to see the 2 spotted leaves of 2 hybrid Spotted X Southern Marsh Orchids coming up naturally from the back garden back bed. A definite 4 Southern Marsh Orchids sprouting their leaves plus 2 suspected ones just starting to sprout, the one in the middle circular flowerbed and fingers crossed "old faithful" in the front garden.

Garden Whitethroat & amorous Pheasants on Fallowfields

On Friday May 15th, having been woken up by Cosmo, one of our cats who has been isolated at home, following a nasty fight he had with another cat. I could hear the fine male Whitethroat singing regularly from within the garden. He was singing from the top of our Copper Beech tree and was reasonably obliging I set up the tripod and camera half way down the garden. The Whitethroat would vary his song posts, from our garden Copper beech (a favoured perch) then singing from scrub 25 metres away left and right from there (on Fallowfields) and then 40 metres away further back. The Male Whitethroat would always return to the top of the Copper Beech. Meanwhile, 4 Jays flew right over the garden and north- east. In the evening the male Whitethroat was again singing from the Copper Beech tree and a pair of amorous Pheasants were just over the garden fence and the male took full advantage and then they had a look around afterwards! Really pleased to see that the leaves of the hybrid Spotted X Southern Marsh Orchid (back flower bed) & 3 Southern Marsh Orchid leaves are coming through in the back garden pots. I am still awaiting the one at the front to send leaves up (fingers crossed it would the sixth year if it does?) Rather ominously, British Gas was doing some drilling work along the Fallowfields road bordering the sight, maybe getting ready to install underground gas pipelines in advance of the building work which will be undertaken at some point on this site in the future, the arrival of Badger building will mean no future wildlife including Whitethroats, Green Hairstreaks, Pheasants or Stock Doves (the latter may return once the buildings have been constructed?) on the site.

Whitethroat singing from our Copper Beech

On Tuesday 12th May, from 6pm a fine male Whitethroat was seen singing from the very top of our Copper Beech, it also flew over to bushes just beyond the garden fence. It would regularly vary its song perched from bushes just beyond the garden fence. I also heard a "scolding" Lesser Whitethroat (no.52 on the garden lockdown list) calling from the Parkhill Hotel grounds.

Early morning visit to Fisher Row

Oh how I wish I had gone too Fisher Row last night, although my tooth was playing up and I wasn't in a fit state to cycle there. The male Whitethroat was still singing just over the garden fence at first light. Instead I was up with the Lark and by 6am on Sunday 10th May, on my early morning exercise ride, I heard and then saw 2 scolding Lesser Whitethroats, 1 flew over the path by the sloping field (just before the railway line and fresh in) and 1 stayed in the big bush. Whitethroat and Willow Warbler and Grasshopper Warblers, 1 of each hard too. At the end of the Fisher Row path, there was no sight nor sound of the Great Reed of yesterday evening. A bubbling female Cuckoo was heard by the Cettis' Bush just over the river and both Cetti's Warbler and another Cuckoo heard on the marsh too plus 1 also heard before the railway line and 1 heard opposite St. Michael's Church so potentially 4 Cuckoos recorded, great news! Walking round opposite the entrance slope the Grasshopper Warbler was still reeling when I left. Being so early several 3 Muntjac Deer seen, one by the horse paddocks just before St. Michael's Church, one down Fisher Row and one also in St. Michael's Church graveyard walking between the gravestones. Meanwhile in the garden only a day of seconds with 2nd garden lockdown record of Pied Wagtail which flew south at 8.35am & then closely followed by a 2nd garden lockdown record of Yellow Wagtail that flew east over the garden at 8.41am and the Bee Fly around again but no sign of the Green hairstreak so far!

Green Hairstreak, Holly Blue, male Whitethroat & calling waders

Spent most of the day in the garden, today, Saturday 9th May, it was lovely to photograph the obliging Green Hairstreak who alternated between 4 plants including our flowering Lilac bush. A Holly Blue joined it several times and both diminutive butterflies would spiral up in the sky usually for the Holly Blue to disappear and the Green Hairstreak to settle again. The male Whitethroat again was singing from the bushes just beyond the back fence and sang from within the garden in the Copper Beech. At 2.25pm it was both singing and collecting white nest material! I also heard a2 2.20pm an Oystercatcher calling east of where I am so somewhere over the Parkhill estate and was species no.50 in the garden lockdown list, species no. 51 swiftly followed in the form of a calling Curlew at 6.25pm.

Abusive & threatening teenager down Fisher Row but Cuckoo sighting very welcome

On my usual jaunt down Fisher Row, which is always very pleasant. However, at 6.15pm, I had a rather unsavoury encounter. Having heard Willow Warblers c3 down the track that bisects the main path tp the river taking the narrow track that goes west just north of the Yea garden. I encountered a teenager, 17- 19 years old with grey tracksuit bottoms, dark top, brown slightly curly hair, with trainers and his height was about 5 foot 8 or 9 inches tall. You cannot socially distance along this track, as it is very narrow. so I kindly asked him to please stop whilst I quickly put on my mask and goggles on (please respect my right to stay safe during this pandemic), he disregarded this polite request and he started to verbally abuse me, ridicule and make fun of me wearing the mask and goggles. He was even shouting to his 3 mates further back to get me! I cycled on and I said "I come in peace!", I didn't expect such abuse down Oulton Marshes! Fortunately I was wearing my NHS badges which the other 3 teenagers saw and they were absolutely fine and they even apologised for him being an idiot and I cycled on. I cycled round to the river overlooking the tea garden and just east of there I saw and heard a Cuckoo in full atop a bush calling away, which gave me welcome respite from the earlier encounter. Whimbrels were gain heard on Petoes plus 4 Little Egret together there and another further along. Going back along the SEO field tailway gate a family of Greylag Geese, 2 adults and at least 5 goslings. Lastly at the back was a reeling Grasshopper Warbler. (I am sure these teenagers have been down before at this time as I remember hearing 4 teenage voices emanating from this area on a recent evening trip to Fisher Row).

Garden Lepidoptera goodies

On Friday 8th May, by the flowering Lilac bush, lovely to see my first Brimstone of the year at 9.30am, where it briefly alighted before flying off, but before it did, it disturbed a wonderful Green Hairstreak that spent the whole morning in the garden. It spent the time family high up in bushes along the western edge of the garden just behind the Grandaddy Hebe, a descendant of a Hebe bush, my late father gave me 26 years ago. I also heard a Whimbrel fly over and a singing Whitethroat just beyond the garden fence calling on Fallowfields. I also heard the peuu, peuu calls of a Bullfinch, long overdue addition to @lockdowngarden birding 49 species. At 4.35pm, I saw lovely female Whitethroat in the garden perched on the rocks by the garden fish pond, its white throat very apparent.

Back Gunton Way

On Thursday 7th May, at 7pm, a look around the Gunton area, by the set aside reserve, a male Blackcap seen in the Lesser Whitethroat bush, whilst a Lesser Whitethroat heard scolding from the bushes running parallel just north of the road. By the Meadow 43 Green Winged orchids seen, an increase of 1 on the other day, so taking into account the 7 counted in the next east field, 50 in total. An adult Fox was seen and quickly slunk into the brambles undergrowth.

Owl surprise at Fisher Row

On Wednesday 6th May, at around 6pm, I cycled to Fisher Row, just over the railway line I heard and saw 2 newly arrived Whitethroats and by the narrow dyke walk just past the bowl, by the start by the big bush a Willow Warbler was seen. Walking around anti- clockwise the river walk I just past the south- west bend in the river and approaching the tea gardens when I was amazed to see a Short- eared Owl fly out past a bush and right out in the open almost by the path then it flew back in again and disappeared. So pleased to see this having failed to see them anywhere this year before Lockdown. Seen well it was bigger, long winged than the normal Barn Owls seen with brown barred wings. Not to be out done slightly later accompanied by Rob H we had the smaller Barn Owls one more golden coloured and 1 browner with the silky white underparts. Wh heard a cuckoo on N&S Rede fen, but we didn't see it sadly. Meeting a young birding couple from CEFAS Paul & Sarah was good, a Barn Owl flew towards us on Pulton Marshes and as we walked back we heard a close reeling Grasshopper Warbler (having heard 3 earlier) but it remained hidden. I cycled back along Camps Heath road and it was getting dark, I was joined by a charming loft of Pipistrelle Bats probably at least 6 seen.

Fisher Row bound and Gunton Orchids, Thrushes and Lesser Whitethroats

On Monday 4th May, later on around 5.30pm, I cycled to Fisher Row, no sign of the Moorhen by the reed patch adjacent to the road but 4 Stock Dove again the fields just north east of St. Michael's Church showing well. By the area at the bottom of the entrance hill, Blackcap heard and walking around, 3 Willow Warblers heard, a Reed Warbler heard and looking over the marsh by the lookout platform, a delightful pair of Sand Martin flew past as did a Swift beautifully back lit by the evening sun. On Tuesday 5th May, at last I was feeling 100% again after my recent illness (save for the niggling tooth!), around 6pm, I cycled to Gunton Orchid meadow and was delighted to count 42 Green- winged orchids all in the same area, typically small stunted plants barely and inch- 2 inches tall, around 4 were higher c4 inches and I was able to get some pics of a fine plant (see header pic and attached) in the meadow just east of there managed by Pleasurewood Hills I was glad to see the grass had been left to grown just west of the tree copse thicket and a further 7 Green- winged Orchids seen, totalling 49. back at Gunton Orchid Meadow, there were several, 2 confiding Song thrushes and another 5 singing totalled a great tally of 7 Song Thrush locally, a Green Woodpecker was yaffling from the big tree on the border with Gunton Hall grounds and Chiff- Chaff singing too. Looking at the Gunton loop next to the Tesco Petrol station, I walked anti- clockwise around the loop prioritising the sunlit areas and by one thicket I was delighted to see a pair of Lesser Whitethroats, my first of the year. One flew right across the path and darted into cover, whilst another was in sub song deep into the bush just left of me, it eventually showed albeit heavily obscured before delivering its very recognisable scolding chatter.

The big day: Garden lockdown bird race day

On Sunday 4th May, at 2.20 am as part of Team B, I rose at 2.20am and immediately heard a Tawny Owl hooting. First species of the day, next was a Pheasant and its loud single "cough" call rather resonant of the virus hit world we are in at the moment. I then went back to bed but rose at 6am to continue the count in earnest. By 6.49am I was already up to a respectable 24 species including a Grey Heron that flew north over the garden (good one to get as they are not seen regularly), a female Sparrowhawk seen from the front garden and the surprisingly late rising song of the Dunnock brought the tally up to 26 species at 7.19am. A very vocal Lesser black- backed gull mobbing an early flying Buzzard flying south brought the tally up to 30 by 8.25am. The view of a Chaffinch flying away and the beautiful song of a Sky Lark right over the garden further added to the tally, making 32 by 8.41am. A really good one to pit out was the 7 note whistle call of a Whimbrel flying over (yard only) at 33 at 8.52am with a long overdue House Martin fling over the house at 9.03am. A nice male Sparrowhawk flying south over the house viewed from the back garden was nice but failed to add to the tally. At 9.34am, a nice adult Stock Dove seen on the next door but ones house roof just west of us was notable but already counted for the day. A real bonus I heard the twitter of a Swallow fling over at 11.11am bringing the total up to 35. Last species to be added was the evening hunting flight of a male Kestrel at 7.48pm that has been a regular over the past few days. The total list included: Mallard, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, LBB gull, Whimbrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, real Pigeon, Collared Dove, Tawny Owl, Magpie, Jay, Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Sky Lark, Swallow, House Martin, Swift, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Wren, Linnet, Chiff- Chaff, Blackcap, Dunnock, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit. A total of 36 personally recorded, very enjoyable and I put a lot of effort into this (especially as I was still recovering from my newly discovered Tree Pollen allergy and I still had a blocked left ear) and a great collective tally of 131 of 61 species, we were second in the number of species recorded between the 4 of us. Great effort especially from Rob M (Bullfinch, Marsh Harrier, Common sandpiper) and also Gus H (great Black Red, Peregrine & Kittiwake recorded) and James W. (Pied Wag)

First Orange Tip seen

On Saturday 2nd May, my first Orange Tip, a lovely male flying around the garden briefly in the morning and then seen flying just over the fence around the developing bramble around Fallowfields. Later a Peacock butterfly also posed on the garden lawn and the Violet flowering bush.