A few years in the past I used to be a motoring correspondent. It was a lot simpler, and much more enjoyable, to put in writing about Porsches moderately than Peugeots, or Ferraris than Fiats. There’s one thing of a parallel in writing about birds. Describing encounters with rarities, and even scarce birds, is rather more interesting than widespread on a regular basis birds, or noting outings when little of particular curiosity is seen. Nonetheless, all of us have days once we don’t see lots, and when nothing surprising seems to quicken the heart beat, however they will nonetheless be pleasing. Final Monday was simply such a day.
It dawned shiny, chilly and sunny, however there was a haziness within the sky that steered the sunshine wouldn’t final. It didn’t, however it remained shiny sufficient in the midst of the morning to tempt me out for a stroll alongside the Little Ouse, the river that defines the border between the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk. It’s a modest little river. It rises simply a few miles east of my home, then flows virtually instantly west for 37 miles till it joins the Nice Ouse, which drains into the Wash.
Emma and the Little Ouse. Emma is on the Norfolk facet of the river: the other financial institution is in Suffolk
I selected to stroll alongside the Little Ouse at Santon Downham. That is about 20 miles from residence, and right here the river has gained enough middle-age unfold to be large enough to be known as a correct river, and although it’s hardly fast-flowing, it waters transfer with enough urgency to remind you that they’re clearly heading someplace. There’s a slim bridleway (footpath) on the north financial institution that runs parallel to the river, and it was right here that I walked.
One of many points of interest of the stroll is that Emma, my spaniel, can be part of me. She’s birdwatching canine, as she potters alongside fortunately with me, staying shut and resisting the temptation to swim or chase birds or beasts. I all the time carry a lead and whistle, however on this event I had no trigger to make use of both. It’s noteworthy that in our 90-minute stroll we didn’t meet one other individual.
A Little Egret surveys from its lofty perch
Our stroll began effectively, as firstly I noticed a Little Egret perched excessive in a lifeless tree. It’s fewer than 30 years since Little Egrets began breeding in Britain, so there’s nonetheless one thing of a novelty about them, a minimum of for birdwatchers of my technology. Immediately they could be comparatively widespread and widespread, however they’re not a chicken I anticipate to see on a regular basis, whereas such a chic chicken all the time delights the attention.
The egret was perched in a stand of aged poplars which had been planted a few years in the past – the biggest of the bushes have huge boles many toes in circumference. On earlier events I’ve seen some good birds in these bushes, starting from Crossbills to Brambings, however as we speak the egret was the one chicken of notice.
A juvenile Mute Swan
There was moderately extra motion on the river, the place six Mute Swans had been feeding actively on the underwater weed. With them had been a few Little Grebes, diving enthusiastically, and infrequently staying above the floor for any size of time. They had been surprisingly tough birds to identify, and except you appeared exhausting you’ll have missed them. I used to be to come across a number of extra farther down stream.
The Little Grebes had been straightforward to miss
There have been a number of Mallard, too, mainly loafing underneath the lee of the far financial institution. They watched me and my canine with a contact of suspicion, however they weren’t sufficiently anxious to do something extra. Mallard weren’t the geese I hoped to see, for within the spring and summer time I can normally discover Mandarins right here. These pleasant little Chinese language geese are one in all my favourites, and one of many few alien birds which have discovered their very own ecological area of interest on this nation, with out upsetting the pure steadiness. The place the Mandarins go to in winter I’ve no thought, however they do desert the river.
Cautious however not anxious: a drake Mallard
This stretch of the river, with its stands of alder bushes, was one of many final strongholds of Lesser Noticed Woodpeckers in Suffolk. Sadly, these diminutive woodpeckers have disappeared, and might be extinct in Suffolk. I did see a flashy Nice Noticed Woodpecker. I’ve taken a lot better photos of those woodpeckers on different events, however the chicken (beneath) did a minimum of let me take a shot or two.
A flashy male Nice Noticed Woodpecker
As I walked the odd Moorhen scuttled throughout the water. The previous Suffolk title for these birds is Waterhen, which is basically rather more applicable, as they dwell on water, not moors. As soon as, from the boggy, reeded floor to the north of the river, I heard a Water Rail squeal. It’s an unmistakable, virtually pig-like sound, however you might be more likely to listen to a Water Rail than see it, and that was the case as we speak.
Dunnock
As I walked on I got here throughout a flock of Siskins, excessive within the alders.They had been feeding so busily that they had been surprisingly silent, whereas none got here wherever shut sufficient for me to even take into account elevating my digicam. A Robin, after which a Dunnock, had been somewhat extra co-operative, whereas I had some enjoyable with a passing tit flock. Each Blue and Nice Tits paused lengthy sufficient to have their {photograph} taken, however the Lengthy-tailed Tits had been simply too fast. I did moderately higher with a Treecreeper (beneath) that was tagging together with the tits.
Treecreeper: a follower of the wandering tit flocks
Blue Tit
After a mile and half I turned spherical and retraced my steps. As soon as, from the far facet of the river, a number of Blackbirds chimed their alarms, utilizing their plaintive, muted warning name that steered that they’d noticed a predator. Had they seen an owl, or maybe a fox? I paused, listed and watched, however after some time they calmed down, and I by no means found what the fuss was about.
Nice Tit
My stroll won’t have produced a grand checklist of birds (my species complete, logged on BirdTrack, revealed a mere 19 species), however Emma and I had loved the recent air and the great autumn colors. It was merely good to be out – no time spent birdwatching is ever wasted. Who is aware of, maybe subsequent time I’ll see one thing extra thrilling, however each Emma and I got here residence completely happy.