A week in Suffolk

We plan our holidays carefully, research into habitats and reserves and species likely to be seen sometimes take months between start and finish. Locating suitable self catering cottages is much easier nowadays with improved search facilities on websites, deciding on areas to visit can be tough with so many beautiful areas in the UK and so many species to enjoy.

It is not often we venture south, our love of Scotland with its magnificent rugged landscapes pulls us back time and time again as does the love of the wildlife we see there. However some species can only be seen by heading for gentler landscapes and warmer climates, we hoped Suffolk would provide some sightings of birds we cannot hope to see in the north. The landscape was guaranteed, the wildlife we would have to seek out ourselves.

Our cottage for the week, very near RSPB Minsmere...more on later...was super with over 20 species of birds seen from the garden the first evening! We even had a red legged partridge in the garden...

...and a lovely sunset

The aforementioned RSPB Minsmere was a few minutes drive away and we had our first visit there the following day.

Lovely reed warblers were plentiful...

And a skulking cetti's warbler, their call is loud but brief and this is the best view we got!

Beautiful avocets were numerous...

Common terns were hunting

Sedge warblers were singing loud and proud...

A sight of mixed emotion, I love seeing wild creatures hunt and they all have families to feed but the sight of a weasel with a water vole catch was not easy to accept, water vole numbers are on the rise though!

The sight of a bittern is rare enough, getting one close and with a fish catch was special!!

Whitethroats were seen and their delightful songs enjoyed...

An evening walk when the reserve was very quiet brought us a lovely experience with bearded tits, watching and listening to a male in the reeds...

I heard a soft "pinging" behind me and turned to see this beautiful youngster...just magic!

Walks through woodlands brought us a sighting of a large male adder basking on a path, due care was taken!

Marsh harrier sightings were often and good...

Dartford warblers were located and seen....

More lovely sedge warblers...

And another superb bittern experience!!!

And just before home, cuckoos...lovely!

A wonderful holiday and lots of happy memories.

Many thanks to all who read, if you do comment please do not forget that they come to me first for moderation.

Our first Scotland trip of the year in a few weeks, can't wait!

Summer and the invisible chorus

Here we are in many peoples favourite time of year, not mine unfortunately as many birds become invisible in the heavy cloak of foliage that develops during summer. Not to say I don't enjoy summer as there are plenty of things to enjoy and the warmth is certainly welcome! It is also a delight to witness the wonderful songs of the birds and try to identify all the different sounds emanating from their invisible perches...

A moorland walk did bring some sightings of juvenile stonechats perched on bracken stalks

...and a lovely brown hare taking a rest...

A green woodpecker down by a woodland..

A few days later on another moor and by a reservoir inlet a grey wagtail on a wild and blustery day..

I found a sheltered spot and was delighted to be joined by a willow warbler, obviously seeking shelter too -

We had a day at RSPB Leighton Moss, sightings were slow and unusually sparse on the day. A couple of marsh harrier shots...

A young black headed gull

Redshank

Avocet

and nuthatch

On duty with my volunteering for the RSPB at Malham, apart from my beloved peregrines we have redstarts...

and a green woodpecker chick peeping from the nest

The three peregrine fledglings are doing well, photography is so difficult from our viewpoint though!

This is an adult and a juvenile in high speed mode!

A weekend out on the east coast of Yorkshire, RSPB Bempton Cliffs is a delightful place for gannets...

An adult and two juveniles....and kittiwakes one of the most delicate and beautiful sea birds...

Lots of razorbills

and of course the delightful puffins!

The sweet singing whitethroat

And a beautiful selection of flowers, butterflies and dragonflies over the weekend, just a delight.

While we were at North Cave Wetlands on our way home we had a delightful encounter with a stoat...

Before reaching home we diverted to a favourite bird of prey site...it worked out rather well :-)

Buzzard...

Red kite

Kestrel

Red kite

and another kestrel....animal magic !

And as the old cartooons used to say...that's all folks....cheers for taking a look at our wildlife wanders.

I continue to be fascinated and much in love with the wildlife to be seen in totally natural situations, others may get better photographs, I work with what I can afford and my natural intuition and knowledge of how the birds and animals will react to my presence. The great author John Muir wrote of how we should behave when we intrude into the world of wildlife, sit quietly and let nature accept you and become accustomed to you and then you will be become part of nature, my way too and the best way.

Many thanks to all who read, don't forget if you comment they come to me first for moderation.