Birdwatching is all about timing. Typically you get it proper, however typically you don’t. Final week my companion Andrew and I set off for the Suffolk coast within the hope of discovering White-fronted Geese. They’re scarce however common winter guests to Suffolk, their numbers right here relying on the climate in Holland, which is a significant wintering floor for this arctic-nesting chook. If the climate is chilly in Holland, then flocks are liable to cross the North Sea to jap England. Frustratingly, Aldeburgh Marsh held a whole lot of Greylag Geese, a 100 or so Barnacles, however not a single White-front. Two days later a flock 86 was reported there. By no means thoughts: there are nonetheless lots extra weeks of winter left to see them, whereas Barnacle was new for my 2025 listing.
A household of Barnacle geese
Simply north of the Aldeburgh Marshes is the curious village of Thorpeness, constructed a century in the past as an unique seaside vacation resort by Glencairn Stuart Ogilvie, a Scottish barrister whose household had made a fortune setting up railways all over the world. The village is clustered across the Meare, an in depth, shallow synthetic lake that Ogilvie had dug for boating. On a freezing day in January there wasn’t a ship to be seen, whereas a lot of the mere was ice-covered, so all of the geese have been clustered round just a few patches of open water.
Goosanders on Thorpeness Meare
There have been two species that we have been in search of right here. One was a North American Ring-necked Duck that has been reported usually from the Meare for a second consecutive winter, the opposite was a Goosander. Frustratingly, we failed to seek out the previous, however did ultimately discover three Goosanders, two geese and a stunning drake, his white physique blushed with pink. They have been swimming in firm with Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler and Teal, plus a Mute Swan, on a small stretch of open water surrounded by ice.
A Bittern, into the sunshine (however at the very least you’ll be able to see it!)
As we watched there was a sudden panic, and we regarded as much as see the reason for the alarm, a low-flying Bittern. Right here in Suffolk we have now a very good breeding inhabitants of bitterns, however they’re shy birds which might be troublesome to see, so this sighting was an actual bonus, particularly because the chook landed in full view, although frustratingly into the sunshine. Not lengthy after seeing the Bittern we added two extra surprising geese: a few drake Mandarins, and a trio of Wooden Geese.
Drake Mandarin
A pair of Wooden Geese – not a chook on the British listing
Mandarins turned established in southern England within the early Thirties, however these unique Chinese language geese have now unfold all through the nation, although they continue to be scarce in Suffolk, with only a few breeding pairs. The North American Wooden Geese have been, we gathered, the results of an area launch. The three birds we noticed have been full-winged, and had been hatched within the wild. They could not have been tickable, however they have been a pleasure to see, for a drake Wooden Duck is without doubt one of the most good-looking of birds. By the way, Wooden Geese are invariably known as Carolinas by keepers of decorative waterfowl, and they’re highly regarded in collections right here.
The Scrape at Minsmere
From Thorpeness it was only a quick drive north to Minsmere, the RSPB’s flagship reserve on the Suffolk coast. Minsmere is at its finest in spring, however on a chilly January day it will possibly nonetheless supply a very good number of birds, with wildfowl the simplest to see. The attraction of Minsmere to each birds and birdwatchers is the wealthy number of habitats, from the coastal Scrape (a synthetic shallow wetland) to intensive reedbeds, oak woodland and heaths.
Geese loafing on the ice on the Scrape
The Scrape was the brainchild of Bert Axell, who was warden of the reserve from the Fifties by means of to the mid Seventies. Utilizing a bulldozer, he remodeled the moist coastal meadows into an in depth marsh, with mud, everlasting water and islands for nesting. Our go to was on a brilliantly sunny day, so the crowds of wildfowl – Shelduck, Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall and Mallard – regarded magnificent. With the surface-feeding geese have been just a few Goosanders, plus a trio of Whooper Swans.
A trio of Goosanders over the dunes
The Scrape is normally an amazing place to see waders, however on this January day they have been noticeably scarce, simply Lapwings and some Avocets. A bit of labor with the scope added a single Turnstone to the listing, feeding in firm with a Purple Sandpiper. The latter is a chook of rocky seashores and as such is an uncommon customer to the Scrape: this was the primary one I’d ever seen there. It had been current for just a few days.
Snipe on ice
From the Scrape we walked inland, our path taking us by means of a belt of woodland edging the reedbed. Right here we have been happy to seek out three Chiffchaffs. These warblers are mainly spring and summer season guests to Suffolk, however growing numbers now overwinter.
Our closing vacation spot was Island Mere, ignored by an elevated cover that offers high-quality views over the mere and surrounding reedbeds. Right here we heard however did not see Bearded Tits, watched quartering Marsh Harriers, and have been entertained by a trio of Snipe, feeding in entrance of the cover. Few birds are as cryptically plumaged as Snipe, and it took some time to identify them. They have been feeding actively, probing the mud with their ridiculously lengthy beaks.
What number of? Counting enormous flocks of birds, similar to these Starlings, is a problem
Our day completed at one other nature reserve, Hen Reedbeds. We arrived at nightfall, hopefully of being entertained by a Starling murmuration, for the reedbeds are a favoured roosting website. We hand’t been ready lengthy when an enormous flock of starling appeared, excessive within the sky. It was troublesome to estimate what number of there have been, however we estimated about 10,000. Frustratingly, we weren’t handled to the sight of them weaving patterns within the sky, as they flew resolutely east in the direction of the coast, quickly disappearing from view, by no means to be seen once more. It wasn’t the conclusion to the day we have been hoping for, however with 10 new species for the yr within the bag, our yr lists each now topped the 100, a satisfying complete for thus early within the yr.