A 2 Shrike day

On Sunday 14th June, another late start (having booked a trip to London see the Ramesses exhibition- basically a range of Ancient Egyptian artefacts heard by the Ramesses II coffin) I started out at Westleton parking on the Minsmere approach road. A few people had gathered to view for the male RBS that had been ranging widely. Unfortunately it didn't show for some 45 minutes before I picked it out in the far north- east corner, perched on a tiny tree right at the back, reddish brown back, grey crown and black mask showing it was a fine male Red- backed Shrike with a pinkish flush to the chest to. It spent some time here but flew to the ground and then perched on another perch nearby. A male Stonechat and several Linnets seen too. Next stop was Dunwich Heath parking just outside the Heath I walked down the road and left and saw a group of people looking north, I scanned and spotted the fine female Red-backed Shrike with drabber grey crown barring on the chest and a browner back she hunted from a top of a tree and then moved to the next bush before flying back. Also seen was a male Stonechat and a young juvenile Stonechat too. Next stop was somewhere in the Blyth valley, where i saw a singing male Yellowhammer singing from a top of a bush, later a male Linnet was also perched here too. Walking around the field margins, I spotted the fine Lizard Orchid, maybe slightly past its best but still impressive.

Late start to a day around Westleton Heath & Minsmere

On Saturday 13th June, a late start meant I didn't reach Westleton Heath until 1.30pm, the news wasn't good as the RFF hadn't been seen for an hour but I met Paul & Jane F. who drove up to the parking area near the quarry. We then heard the Gull- billed Tern had been seen at Island Mere, so we drove to Minsmere and parked up only to hear the bird had flown off. We guessed it might fly over to the Scrape, so we walked to the West Scrape hide and I spotted a fine immature Spoonbill over the north side of the Scrape nearer the North Hide. Meanwhile on an island at the back of the West Scrape, 2 fine Little- ringed Plovers were running around. We then walked to South Hide, There were the usual assortment of Terns and I spotted the 1st year Little Gull to the right of the bund splashiong in the water. A kiitiwake flew onto the wooden step, as did a Common Tern later. By the bunds at the back, a Roseate Tern seen just to the left of a BH Gull and an immature bird. We then saw a strange looking Mediterranean Gull type with black hood but covering the same hooded area as a BH Gull, a blood red but thin bill (shape like a BH Gull bill) and black edgings in the primaries like a second year bird, probably a hybrid. Meanwhile at the back the Roseate Terns flew up, 2 birds and we followed one bird that flew over to our side and briefly settled on a small circular island with Common Terns, when it flew again another followed the Roseate Tern with a Sandeel in its mouth. The 3 adult Spoonbills flew over and south and settled on the southside of the south scrape. Later the trio of Spoonbills became a quartet when the juvenile Spoonbill joined them. One or two Black- tailed Godwits also seen and many Sandwich Terns c50 & c20 Kittiwakes at the back. Very satisfied, we left and I stopped off and saw 2 red and black Firebugs together, I went to retrieve my macro lens but they had gone when I went back. I then parked up by the area near the Westleton Heath quarry and news wasn't good here as a chap walking back said he had been there for 9o minutes not seeing the Falcon. I walked up and I saw a Falcon just east of the path in a Silver Birch, checking it with the Bins it looked very promising and using the cope confirmed it was the excellent 2nd calendar year female Red- footed Falcon. I quickly sent messages around all the Whats App groups. The female Red- foot sat here for around 20 minutes occasionally dropping to the ground before returning to the same tree before she flew away. I then went over to another area and saw a fine Little Owl in the 4th Oak tree, nearby a female Stonechat was also seen. I walked back and saw Tim O. where the bird had been seen over the road, we walked over and it was perched up on a distant Pine it flew a little closer where it was perched on a dead tree before it flew straight towards us and then left. I heard a Dartford Warbler and Wood Lark singing, whilst I walked back to the car I decided to call it a day but Tom O. and a newlyu arrived Phil D. walked back to the quarry and east.

Peregrines again

On the evening of...

A Five Falcon day

On Sunday 7th June, I started off locally and saw a juvenile Peregrine Falcon at the very top of the Silo, it walked over to the north-east corner and spent most of its time here occasionally calling and an adult male Peregrine Falcon sat half way up on the east side of the Silo. Later on the female Peregrine Falcon was flying just west of the Silo. The juvile then flapped its wings on 3 occasions and then flew down to the railings by the 3 cylinders but quickly disappeared behind a tank. After hearing the RFF was still at Walberswick, I parked at Hoist Covert and walked along by the path just before the Mill, a Moth larvae seen on the path I then walked to the Bund by the high gate looking west over Westwood Lodge marshes, as I walked down I saw Richard D. and who said it was still there. At the end I saw Steve A. who said it was still about but had just gone missing. Forty minutes later still bno sign, whilst we were sorting through 5 Hobbies flying over, with one browner immature bird. Steve A. the said he had it, but as the sun strenghthened the heat haze got a lot worse and a browner bird flying at the back with more flappy flight indicated this might be the RFF. It was only when it clouded slightly that the browner bird with a cream head was indeed the fine female Red- footed Falcon that would often hunting just over or just below the reeds. It was then seen around 5X, once flying constantly for 15 minutes or so. Maurice B. and Dave H. arrived. As we walked back, lots of Peacock buttefly larvae seen on the path, so I moved quite a few of these into the dsafety of other vegetation. As we walked though Hoist Covert woods, a fine female Broad- bodied Chaser seen flying away. Later on I went back to the Peregrines, the juvenile Peregrine was again right at the top of the Silo and a male Peregrine Falcon was sat up half way up along the North side, I took 2 shots of it before it flew. Finally a 2nd juvenile Peregrine Falcon was seenn on the east side of the Silo. On the way back at Nick B's I saw a Norfolk Hawker perched on Buddlea in his back garden.

2 imm Peregrines at the Silo

On Saturday 6 June, I had a look early morning on the Suffolk coast and saw 2 immature Peregrine Falcons around building but they were perched half way up and the light was awful, so no pics. It then started raining so I left. I tried again in a brief sunny interlude in the afternoon but this time there were no Peregrines on show.

Early morning PL and late afternoon Heath Spotteds

On Wednesday 3rd June, a Painted Lady was posing nicely on the flowering Raspberry bush in the garden before work 7.10am and I managed a few pics. Being early finish day I went into the wilds of East Anglia and located a fine colony of c150 Heath Spotted Orchids in a slightly boggy area just off the reserve at 6.30pm and managed to get a few pics. I managed to dodge the frequent rain showers fortunately.

Mating Painted Ladies & visits by HBHM to the garden

On Sunday 31st May, an eventful evening in the garden revealed 2 mating Painted Ladies disturbed as I watered the hanging basket by the pagoda and they flew up and over to the plastic garden chair by the back door and settled by the plastic watering can! Slightly later on a Hummingbird Hawk Moth very briefly visted the Red Valerian at 6.36pm again gone by the time I raised my camer but I was ready for it when it came back at 6.40pm and spent 3 minutes feeding from various Red Valerian plants before flying opff north-east down the passageway. PTBA