Marsh harrier patrol
28 Jun 2015
Saw a nice male marsh harrier patrolling the grazing marshes today. Since I've also seen barn owls and short-eared owls doing the same in the last few days this must be good news for the mammal survey team. These raptors wouldn't be here unless there were voles and other rodents around. They are probably better at catching them than we are, but keep trying please!
Jeremy
Short-eared owl
27 Jun 2015
The short-eared owl was around again today. I wonder if they have been breeding nearby? We usually only get them in winter (roughly Nov. to March), when they migrate in from Scandinavia (and attract all those photographers). Lovely birds.
Jeremy
Short-eared owl
23 Jun 2015
A short-eared owl was recorded from the sea-walls this morning. Interesting to know where this might have come from. A few have bred in past years on Orford Ness, but most of the ones we see here in winter months migrate over from Scandinavia when the vole supply gets low over there.
Jeremy
Marsh harrier
20 Jun 2015
Two marsh harriers over Shingle St airspace today. I think they are breeding just a few miles away near Butley/Boyton.
Jeremy
Little terns
12 Jun 2015
I did a little tern count, as a contribution to one being conducted along the whole Suffolk coast today at the same time (to avoid double-counting). There were three here, mostly fishing off-shore. They were near the enclosed area but they didn't seem to be using that at all and I doubt they will now attempt nesting there this year. I also saw the first grey seal of the year hauled up on one of the shingle banks at low tide. The numbers will probably build up over the summer now, and I think we had over 20 by August last year.
Jeremy
Little Terns
28 May 2015
Two little terns fishing off point and along our shoreline, but no sign of them using the cordoned-off area at this point. I suspect they will be perverse and try outside it again.
Jeremy
Barn owl
27 May 2015
Barn owl hunting in the evening over the fields. A welcome return since they've been less regular in recent months and I gather they have been suffering regionally as a result of a cold spring last year and a downturn in the rodent populations on which they depend. This tends to be a cyclical process so let's hope they will be breeding again here soon.
Jeremy
Corn buntings
26 May 2015
Back in SS now and took a walk to see if the corn buntings were back by the sea-wall walk to East Lane. I was worried about this small, precious colony after the sea walls were stripped of their bushes last year. To my relief I heard one singing, half way along. Will hope to relocate the others in the next week or so. Glad to see that the sheep have been moved back into the usual fields now too – they were trampling some of our best habitat in the area between the dykes. Threats on all sides ...
Jeremy
First swift
06 May 2015
If you look at my article on migrant dates on the website you'll see that I nominate 7 May as the day to look out for the first swift. In fact I saw one on 6 May, beating low over the fields on a most unsummery day of huge SW winds and rain. Clearly eager not to be unpunctual.
Jeremy
