Category: Birds

Barn owl out again this evening over the fields. It now seems to be appearing here every night –wonder where it is roosting or breeding. Anyone know?

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.

Two marsh harriers over Shingle St airspace today. I think they are breeding just a few miles away near Butley/Boyton.

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.

Juliet Redding reports that the following birds were seen by their Boathouse guests, Hilary and David, during the week of 5-12th June. They seemed pleased with their haul, they’d seen 45 species within 2 days! The full list is Here

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.