Seasonal Wild Flowers 5 – Oxlip

Thought, once, to be hybrid between Cowslip and Primrose these delightful woodland flowers are on the 'Near threatened' list.  Local to East Anglia (not Norfolk) they are always a welcome find.

Distinguished from Cowslips by their paler appearance.

East Anglia Year Count: 119

Life bird count: 399. Year bird count: 119. Month bird count: 41.

Photo: Oxlip (Primula elatior)

Seasonal Wild Flowers 4 – Celandine

The rhyme goes “Celandines in May” but these yellow flowers are brightening up spring walks much earlier these days.

This photograph was taken in our local wood.

East Anglia Year Count: 119

Life bird count: 399. Year bird count: 119. Month bird count: 41.

Photo: Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria)

Suffolk – Combs Wood – 3rd April 2011

Watch out for: Summer visitors, Woodpeckers, Tits and Wildflowers

This ancient woodland was recorded in the domesday book and although quite small it is a rich place to walk around at any time of the year.

We were particularly looking for “spring arrivals” and the number of singing Chiffchaffs was very noticeable along with at least one Blackcap.  Alas no Nightingales yet (they do normally at least pass through).  However we did get a Marsh Tit and numerous Robins & Wrens singing for their territory.

More photos of the flowers to follow.

East Anglia Year Count: 119

Life bird count: 399. Year bird count: 119. Month bird count: 37.

Photo: Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Summer Visitor update – Swallow – 7th April 2011

First Swallow this morning, over Hatfield Heath. A bit late, as there have been reports over East Anglia for a few weeks now, but this was my first of the year.

Dates so far for visitors:  Chiffchaff 14^th March, Wheatear 25^th March, Blackcap 3^rd April.

East Anglia Year Count: 119

Life bird count: 399. Year bird count: 119. Month bird count: 37.

Seasonal Wild Flowers 3 – Red Deadnettle

Spring is now well upon us and the flowers are starting to appear in numbers, so I thought I’d do a couple of entries on those I’d seen whilst birding.

To start with this herbaceous flowering plant can be found in many places, there are actually some down our road, but I photographed these on the coastal path around SWT Trimley Marsh.

East Anglia Year Count: 118

Life bird count: 399. Year bird count: 118. Month bird count: 23.

Photo: Red Dead Nettle (Lamium purpureum)

Suffolk – Trimley SWT – 25th March 2011

Watch out for: Wildfowl, Gulls & Waders

It is a great walk to this site from Levington marina, great views out across the Orwell, some open grass land, a small wooded area and some marsh land.  I saw Skylarks and a Meadow Pipit in the grass and lots of Redshanks and Shelducks feeding on the shoreline.  Out on the water there were Great-crested Grebes & Brent Geese.

When on the reserve there are four hides, the views may differ but the birds remain constant except for the last which is great for Gulls and, later on in the year, Terns.

On the marsh there were Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe, Ruff, Shelducks, Shoveler, Gadwall & Teal, with Marsh Harrier over along with plenty of Gulls including Common.  Finally in the margins there were Linnets & Reed Buntings and I heard Cetti’s Warbler.

East Anglia Year Count: 115

Life bird count: 399. Year bird count: 118. Month bird count: 85.

Photo: Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)