We headed off to Suffolk to visit my family on Monday 10th July, it was cool and cloudy as we set off from Plymouth but by the time we reached my Mums house it was hot and humid and we were frazzled after a nightmare journey in the car (8 hours!) beset by delays and traffic jams.
Along the journey the usual road kill was sadly seen by the kerb side and the usual patrolling Red Kites were seen overhead but the highlight was a singing Corn Bunting heard near Stonehenge whilst we were stuck in a queue of traffic.
The weather during our time away was mixed with sunny spells, breezy spells, cloudy spells and showers but it was quite warm and humid and I planned my wildlife watching activities based on the weather forecasts which mostly worked out quite well.
Wednesday 12th July saw me heading off early to catch the 07:34hrs train to Darsham and then a taxi to RSPB Minsmere for a few hours birding before meeting Mum and David at the Visitors Centre for lunch. It was breezy and warm and mostly sunny until I rendezvoused with Mum and David at 13:00hrs when it had clouded over but I had a fantastic time, very reminiscent of the days I used to spend at Minsmere in July and August when I was in my early teens.
I did my usual walk starting at the Island Mere Hide and finishing at the Visitors Centre, visiting the Bittern Hide, West Hide, South Hide and East Hide along the way. The Island Mere Hide was quiet but out on the water amongst the assorted wildfowl were a male Pochard and a male Tufted Duck with Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe also present. Marsh Harriers were quartering over the reed beds giving some great views and Common Terns were hovering over the water while both Reed and Sedge Warblers were heard singing.
I stopped off along the path between the Island Mere Hide and the Bittern Hide in a sheltered spot out of the wind and spent a good hour watching all the insects present, longer than I had planned to but it really was a hive of activity. Dragonflies and Damselflies were flitting about and very active in the warm and sunny conditions but I eventually managed good views of Ruddy Darter, Norfolk Hawker, Black-tailed Skimmer and Four-spotted Chaser along with assorted Blue Damselflies and probable Brown Hawkers which were just too quick and active to view properly.
Plenty of butterflies were present too including a White Admiral nectaring on brambles with Painted Lady, Comma and Red Admiral. There were Essex, Small and Large Skippers dashing about amongst the grass along with Small Copper and Brown Argus and there were Purple Hairstreaks flitting about in the Oaks, some were quite low down allowing for some good views.
It was quiet at the Bittern Hide too but a Great White Egret showed briefly as it flew across the reeds. However The Scrape as viewed from the West, South and East Hides was alive with birds and it was nice to see the Tern colony thriving with Common, Little and Sandwich Tern all seen amongst the Black-headed Gulls although there were signs that Avian flu is still present with a few corpses dotted about. Also present were 2 Kittiwakes, a Mediterranean Gull and 4 Little Gull but only 1 Herring Gull and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull which both flew overhead.
There were plenty of waders too with a Knot, a Common Sandpiper, a Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpipers, 3 moulting Spotted Redshanks and 3 moulting Ruff amongst the usual Redshank, Lapwing, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit and Oystercatcher.
A pair of Egyptian Geese with small goslings was a Minsmere first for me and feral Barnacle Geese were also seen along with 2 Spoonbills fast asleep as usual and hidden amongst the vegetation on one of the islands. At least 3 Hobby were hawking insects high overhead but they were quite distant and Bearded Tits were heard pinging in the reeds but unfortunately not seen.
A quick look along Digger Alley gave some nice views of Bee-wolfs and a quick look at the pond revealed my first ever Emerald Damselfly.
After lunch in the cafe we all headed off to Snape Maltings where I had a short walk along the river with a Marsh Harrier, a Great White Egret, 2 male Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, a Greenshank, 4 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Kestrel all seen and a Water Rail heard before it was time to head home.
Thursday 13th July was originally forecast to be the best day of the week and so we headed off to Bradfield Woods to look for butterflies. Unfortunately the forecast had changed and it was cool and cloudy and breezy but eventually the sun did appear for short periods and the butterflies duly appeared. Sadly there was no sign of any Purple Emperors again and White Admirals were conspicuous by their absence but Silver-washed Fritillaries were everywhere with Comma, Red Admiral, Ringlet and Meadow Brown also very obvious.
Friday 14th July saw us heading back to Plymouth and we endured another nightmare journey (8 hours again!) beset by delays and traffic jams and not helped by unseasonably wet and windy conditions but it had been a very enjoyable trip away as usual.
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